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Don’t be afraid of yoga!

yoga_Jan27_APerhaps because of the images of pretzel-shaped poses or the connection with more mindful inner workings, yoga, despite its massive popularity, can intimidate many would-be beneficiaries. If you are afraid of yoga then it is probably because you don’t understand what it is about and just how fantastic it is!

What do you think of yoga?

Despite attracting legions of avid fitness fans, yoga is often seen as being for a certain type of person only: a woman who doesn’t really want to keep fit but likes a more leisurely approach to exercise. It is also often seen as being ‘hippy’ or even ‘far-out’ because of some of the meditative breathing exercises and the fact that yoga is about making mind-body connections. Yoga is often viewed as being too difficult to enjoy or benefit from and an exercise for the super-bendy! The fact is that none of these ideas are true!

So what’s the truth about yoga in a nutshell?

Yoga attracts all types of people, of all ages and fitness levels. It is as popular with the corporate crowd looking for after-work fitness as it is with those looking for a more integrated mind-body workout. Yoga is challenging yet accessible and while it often lacks the cardio-power of such training as high intensity interval training (HIIT) it can be a perfect complement.

Yoga is in fact a perfect way to strengthen your core and to improve flexibility and inspire stability. This can help guard against injuries in other activities, explaining why yoga is so popular amongst top athletes.

With an ever growing focus on the negative impact on health of stress, there is nothing ‘hippy’ about addressing a very real threat to our wellbeing. Exercise can reduce stress levels and yoga is one of the best ways to clear the mind and inspire greater clarity. This cleansing effect is felt physically too, as yoga helps with the process of eliminating toxins from the body and the release of feel-good hormones.

Don’t shy away from yoga because you are:

  • Frightened of making a fool out of yourself – Yoga is focused on being non-judgemental which means it is perfect for those looking to get back into fitness.
  • Not flexible – Being flexible is not a sign that you are unfit. In many respects we all have a certain level of flexibility to begin with and yoga helps you improve that. Haven’t you ever met someone who is really bendy and yet does no exercise at all?
  • Worried about exposing your inner vulnerabilities – It is true that yoga can be incredibly transformative but this is about your own inner development and does not have to leave you feeling exposed. Yes, yoga may change some of your ideas and attitudes, as well as how you live your life, but yoga is about positive change and development is a natural process. Yoga is inspirational and you are likely to feel elated from the way that yoga helps relieve any mental tension.

The best way to face your fear of yoga is to try a class. Contact us if you are not already benefitting from the joy of yoga.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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Mindful of New Year changes!

yoga_Jan22_AHow are you doing on your New Year resolutions to get fit and live a healthy life? If you are yet to really get going or have faltered before the month’s end then no fear, help is here! While you might want to look at how realistic and practical your plans are, you also need to make sure that your approach and intention is giving you the best chance of success too. In other words, you need to be mindful of New Year changes and yoga can definitely help!

While not all yoga classes are centered on breathing techniques and meditation, and instead offer a more physically challenging workout, mindfulness is still a core value of this ancient, holistic exercise system. Mindful living and mindful exercise can transform your life way beyond your resolutions and fitness goals.

What is mindfulness?
In essence, mindfulness is really about bringing a greater awareness to the present moment. When we listen to others we are often focused on what we want to say next or in quiet moments we are going over past events and analyzing them in our minds. Mindfulness is about letting go of what has been and also what is to come. It is about acceptance and being fully present in the here and now.

What are the benefits of mindfulness?
There are huge benefits to mindfulness and that is why it is such an intrinsic part of yoga practice. Awareness in the present moment can lead to clarity of thought, help release stress and allow you some mental space to just ‘be’. In turn, this can pave the way for personal development and for making positive change in your life. If the idea of this present moment being makes you feel in any way anxious then that could be a strong sign that you need greater mindfulness in your life.

How can mindfulness help me stick to my resolutions?
Yoga can bring about a state of mindfulness but you can also adopt this approach in your everyday life. You may feel this is somehow avoiding dealing with real issues in life, but actually mindful living and mindful exercise can help you achieve your resolutions, through:

Greater focus – By steadying the mind and not becoming bogged down with thoughts from all directions, you are able to clearly concentrate on what you are doing and really get into the zone.

True intention – Mindfulness frees-up the mind and inspires an internal honesty mechanism where your true feelings can come to the surface. Have you made resolutions you truly want or because you feel you should be making them?

Takes away the pressure – Mindfulness practice is not about preventing thoughts but about letting ideas and emotions flow in and out of your mind, with no active holding on or analytical process. As a result you can feel less burdened by what you have not achieved and less focused on negative emotions such as feeling as if you have failed. It is amazing how much lighter and brighter the world feels as a result and how much more achievable change can be.

Yoga can help you achieve your resolutions as it not only keeps you fit and strengthens and stretches your whole body, but it also calms the mind. On top of this, yoga practice influences other aspects of your life, such as your lifestyle and your diet, as well as how you spend your time and with whom. To change your life and to reach your resolutions get in touch with some yoga sessions with us.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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Yoga is a top fitness trend for 2015!

yoga_Jan14_AIt might be as old as the hills, but yoga is still a modern, popular practice that tops the fitness charts year after year, with an increasing number of new recruits realizing the huge benefits of yoga to the body, mind and whole being. According to the respected American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) annual survey, yoga comes in the Top 10 for their Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2015.

A study just a couple of years ago revealed that 20 million Americans practice yoga and that as well as seasoned practitioners the ancient practice attracts beginners too. Over recent times, knowledge about fitness in general has increased and much more is understood about the value of exercise and the human body. This has served the practice well, as today there’s even more understanding about the benefits of yoga.

Holistic exercise for the whole of you

While there is an emphasis on working on specific muscle groups, such as the abs and core muscles, for example, what many love about yoga is that it is a whole body practice that takes a holistic approach to fitness and wellness. Yoga is credited with boosting energy and your immune system, as well as providing cardiovascular benefits and helping improve circulation and detoxification. In other words, yoga gives you a real all-over good-feeling!

Complementary to cardio workouts

Whereas in the past, it was often popular to just sweat it out with some cardio burn classes, nowadays there is a growing fitness style of adding more into the mix. Strength training can actually improve the power of fat burning activities and yoga is a great way to strengthen the whole body, especially when it comes to powerful yoga inversions where the head is below the heart in movements and poses. Flexibility and suppleness also help prevent injuries and support better mobility, which explains why yoga is such a popular practice with athletes as well as part of functional training regimes.

Accessible and progressive

Aside from the mind and body benefits, yoga is also open to beginners or those returning to practice after time away. If you enjoy seeing progression then yoga fulfils that too as poses become more complex and you challenge your body more. You do not already have to be superfit to enjoy and feel the benefits of yoga. In fact, it is amazing how you feel after just one session!

Healthy mind and body

There is much more of a focus on the health not just of the body but also of the mind these days as well. Stress can have a huge impact on all of us and really take its toll on you physically and mentally. Fitness trends today are much more about exercise for a better lifestyle and of how you feel, rather than simply about creating a buff body that looks great. By mentally giving yourself some space and de-stressing the mind and body, you are promoting health and quality of life too, which keeps you motivated to live your life in a healthy and active way.

Yoga is all set to transform bodies, minds and lifestyles in 2015 and if you have yet to explore this thousands of years old fitness practice then this could be the year to try. We are waiting to welcome you so get in touch.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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Why yoga is perfect for 2015!

yoga_Dec26_AIt is always an exciting time of expectation at the start of New Year; with plans to make positive change. If you are planning to make a difference with your health and your fitness levels, then yoga could be the practice you are looking for in 2015. Yoga might have been around for what seems like forever, well thousands of years, but it is still as popular and as relevant as ever; making it into the top 10 of the American College of Sports Medicine’s 2015 fitness trends, an annual worldwide survey of industry professionals.

So, what’s so perfect about yoga for beyond New Year and into 2015?

Yoga embraces new beginnings and change – Yoga is a non-competitive exercise program that is deeply personal. You progress at your own pace and when you start your practice there is a feeling of being at the start of a wonderful journey. This fits with New Year, where you are looking ahead at new chapters unfolding and alternative fitness routes to follow.

The breathing techniques and meditative elements of yoga are connected with the idea of letting go and living mindfully; aware and present in the here and now. New Year too is about saying goodbye to the past and looking forward; of starting from this point onward.

Yoga is a great entry level exercise program – This time of year, many people who have long been out of the habit of regular exercise or even activities, are propelled to make a difference. However, if you are not used to working out, the world of health and fitness can be a little overwhelming to say the least. You want to feel motivated and not humiliated or out of your depth and yoga is one of the best exercise programs to do this.

Even beginners with little or no experience, and those who have led a sedentary life as of late at least, can feel comfortable with yoga and progress without any pressure.

Yoga destresses you after the holiday season – The festive holidays can be great fun for some but also a source of stress for many. There is often a real feeling of internal stress building up in individuals, while relationships and socializing can intensify, not to mention the general hubbub about this time of year, which can put strain on anyone.

After a frenetic or simply an indulgent holiday, you really need to reduce your stress levels. Yoga is a calming and soothing practice that lets you escape your everyday world and suspend your mind in its own time and space; a perfect exercise antidote that helps you energize and revitalize.

Yoga inspires lifestyle changes – Yoga is a holistic practice and which really encourages greater mind-body connection and awareness. Of course, there are also many poses which are aimed at one part of the body, say to strengthen or stretch, but the overall idea behind yoga is about general wellness.

This wider approach, along with an enjoyable practice, often extends into other areas of life, such as nutrition, patterns of behavior, and relationships. Health is about much more than fitness after all.

Yoga grounds and creates balance and stability – Many yoga poses are concerned with strengthening muscles so that the spine is well supported and there is a sense of equilibrium, both mentally and physically. Breathing, correct posture and awareness of your body has a wonderful effect of making you feel strong and in control and gives you a grounded feeling.

Yoga focuses on wellbeing in general – Because yoga is all-encompassing and about your whole being, it is ideal to get involved with for New Year and beyond. In January your focus is on this wider health and fitness philosophy too.

Yoga is perfect for 2015, so get in touch with us and make some moves towards a healthier and happier fitness journey for the year ahead.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.