Another thought provoking podcast hidden on BBC Sounds....An interesting 15 minutes introducing how yoga has evolved from multiple influences - east and west, from thousands of years ago to the present day, that may include physical movements, personal actions as well as meditation.It was summarized that yoga is a combination of psychology, philosophy and technology […]
Yoga explained
In the past, I think there has been a perception that Prince Charles has come up with some unusual ideas, contrary to the general or mainstream ways of thinking at the time. However, it also seems that he may have been ahead of the curve on a few things – such as organic food, for […]
Starting any new hobby or activity can be tricky, however, it could be said that yoga can make it particularly difficult as the teacher is providing names in English or Sanskrit, asking you to breath and then look at certain points… it’s hardly a surprise that students can feel a bit lost sometimes when there […]
This morning’s practice was particularly special for me….. As normal Shannon was giving the Wednesday morning class. It was however, the first time my mum, also known as Bibi, has been in the same class as me. It was wonderful to share our practice together and hang out afterwards. Who knows, she may even become […]
Firstly – I appreciate the winters in Wisconsin are slightly harsher than we have in UK – though I believe the sentiment of the article is still relevant about how ‘yoga-snacks’ and breathing (both integral parts of yoga) can be integrated into every day life. Ultimately yoga in the winter can Enable physical strength and […]
I appreciate we have just moved into February so can just about still be thinking about New Years resolutions - if you haven't made one or want to make a new one - an article from Australia. (The word seems to be getting out about yoga).So - the article outlines a number of benefits of […]
Our summer holiday: We have been looking forward to it for months. Easy journey to airport, smoothish flight on Alitalia, fresh Italian coffee immediately upon landing at Rome airport and the long wait at the baggage carousels. Still waiting. No bags left at carousel. How is this possible? I am not sure why I was surprised […]
Many people feel intimidated by yoga because they feel as though they feel inflexible and worry they can't do all the poses. I have been doing yoga for years and I can't do all the poses like the Instagram yogis and sometimes I feel a bit self conscious.We all may look different in a pose, even with […]
The answer to the question can be answered in a hundred, if not a thousand ways as it will not only depend on who you ask but also when you ask them; teacher or student. Of course no answer is wrong as everyone has their own reasons and motivations for their practice. (Aside from this – who are […]
Yoga Bandhas In our classes, we are constantly throwing out words like ‘bandhas’, energy flow, throat lock… ‘lower abs’… ‘pelvic floor’. The deeper abdominal muscles should be responsible for supporting your body, but many people do not engage them while doing yoga or other exercise. If you learn to engage those muscles, you will be […]
After doing yoga for a while, sometimes we want a little more than a downward dog or triangle. Sometimes we want to push ourselves a bit further, sometimes not. I did yoga regularly for years and didn't push myself, which is fine, too.When I started regular yoga in 2001, I dreaded the class where the […]
We tried our first glowing yoga class on Halloween. It was really fun to teach.Some yoga purists might question fluorescent light and glow sticks mixed with respected ancient asanas but it does have benefits.Doing yoga in the dark:heightens the senses. Since your sight is limited, you have more opportunity to focus on the body and how […]
I was training for triathlon in 2004 and couldn't figure out why I was having so many hamstring problems. I constantly stretched, I was going to yoga twice a week at work, and I was careful not to 'overdo' it during training sessions. I had massage, physio and finally went to a sports doctor who […]
This summer, we trialed some kids classes. They were 30 minutes long and was designed to get the kids moving in a focused way. The format was similar to adults class: Starting off with 5 long breaths to centre and then start moving into some fun sequences.The kids liked the names of the poses, as […]
Tight hamstrings is a common complaint for most people I speak to. The lower back, hips and glutes have to overcompensate and can become strained. Why do we have tight hamstrings? Most people get tight hamstrings from sitting all day… over an accumulation of years (studying or working at computer). Hamstrings can also become tight from running and/or […]
Posture tip: Lengthen spineWhen sitting at your desk or standing, try to lengthen your spine by lifting the crown of the head towards the ceiling (like we do in mountain pose, tadasana). This will improve your posture immediately.Mindfulness tip: Focus on 1 thing at a timePut all your concentration into the task you are doing […]
For the first 3 weeks post cycling accident, my tibial fracture required me to have a straight leg splint. This restricted me to sitting in a chair with leg elevated or a wheelchair. This put a tremendous amount of pressure on my back. I completely lost my yoga mojo but out of necessity, I found […]
Apparently, yoga isn't only about the "asanas", the postures. This is often the reason why people do yoga, to become stronger and more flexible by doing postures. And I admit, this is still the main driver for me doing yoga. It has been very hard to not practice every day, while the knee heals. I […]
Doing our final practical teaching exam was a challenge on crutches. I was lucky that I had practiced my verbal instructions before the cycling accident. The week leading up to the exam was tough. I was so sore from the wipe out, it was hard to hop down 2 stairs to our gym to teach. […]
A few months ago, it seemed like a great idea to sign up for a mid-week cyclosportive in Surrey. Paula and I drove to Box Hill to cycle part of the bike route used in the 2012 Olympics. The roads were immaculately paved and the views were breathtaking. And the roads were very slippery after […]
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