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November 2, 2015

Overcoming your yoga excuses

Practicing yoga on a regular basis helps improve your concentration, relieve stress, and increase your sense of wellbeing. But sometimes your hectic life and busy schedule can really get in the way of your yoga practice. We all have excuses for skipping a class, but sometimes it’s more important to exert self-discipline and stick to the plan rather than abandon it completely. Are you constantly making these common excuses to avoid yoga? Read on and find out how you can overcome them.

I’m too busy

This is perhaps the most widely used excuse for missing a yoga class. You might say you’re too busy to drop by your nearest studio, but guess what? Everyone is busy these days! There are many yogis out there who can carve out time for a daily one-hour practice, and they must be doing something you’re missing. We all have 24 hours in a day – it’s just a matter of prioritizing and making small tweaks to your daily routine to squeeze in yoga practice.

I’m not flexible enough

If you’re intimidated by the extreme flexibility and bendiness of the yogi on that magazine cover, or how easily your fellow classmates can bend over and reach their ankles with their hands, here’s some consolation: it takes time and consistent yoga practice to create and maintain flexibility. You might not be able to twist your body into some of the more complex and demanding poses on your first attempt but, with more practice and patience, your flexibility will definitely improve over time.

I’m overweight

You can’t afford to let this excuse stop you from trying out yoga. Many classes for beginners have no prerequisites, meaning your bulky body shape won’t be a problem. In fact, low-impact exercises like yoga may be more comfortable for overweight people than other types of workouts like running or weight training. What’s more, professional yoga instructors can provide modifications for all fitness levels and various types of bodies in a class, so even plus-size yogis can ease into poses quite comfortably.

I’m too old

It’s never too late to start practicing yoga, regardless of the stage of life you’re in. Although certain postures like handstands can be more difficult for older adults as a result of less flexible joints, the challenge of balancing, and other health concerns, many other poses are not physically demanding at all. There are special classes designed for people in their forties and beyond, where poses are modified and the pace is a lot slower than in other classes. Don’t let your age become an issue!

I don’t know what to do

Are you worried that your inexperience will be a burden and slow the whole class down? Don’t be. The truth is that not everyone really knows what they’re doing in a yoga class, even if they’ve been attending for weeks or months. And even if you’re in a class full of experienced yogis, there’s no reason to feel intimidated. Yoga instructors are accustomed to having new faces in the class, and they can help guide you into sitting, standing, and moving so that your body can find balance and you can achieve the perfect alignment.

Don’t let these excuses hold you back from practice! If you want to learn more about yoga, get in touch with our expert instructors today.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

July 27, 2015

How Yin yoga can transform your life

Whether you’re new to yoga or have been practicing for years, chances are you’ve heard of Yin Yoga and its many benefits to the bodies and minds of all who practice it. Yin is popular as it’s a deep and reflective style of yoga that offers a more meditative approach than the better known yoga practices. So if you’re feeling contemplative then we suggest you give Yin a try. But first, as with any new yoga practice, you should learn the facts before heading out with your mat.

So what exactly is Yin yoga?

Unlike most other forms of yoga that works the muscle through repetition, Yin postures are much more passive, focusing on floor-based moves for extended periods of time. When you perform Yin, you need to focus on exercising connective tissues, joints and bones by holding a pose for three to five minutes, and even up to 20 minutes at a time. The time spent in these poses are much like the time spent in meditation, allowing you to relax and get intimate with your feelings.

Benefits of Yin yoga

But there are similarities with other types of yoga too. Yin provides various benefits to your physical and mental wellbeing when performed correctly. Here are just some of the health benefits you get from practicing Yin.

Increases flexibility – Yin poses are demanding. You need to remain still for long periods of time. But this gives you a greater range of motion and increased flexibility in the longer term. By holding poses and stretches your body will feel longer, lighter, and looser. Yin also helps increase mobility in the body, especially the joints and hips.

Heals the body – Studies show that a Yin practice helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn allows your body to rest and digest so that it can begin to recover from fatigue and chronic muscle pain. Blood, nutrients, and energy can flow more freely throughout your body so that it can replenish lost energy.
Alleviates stress and tension – In some other types of yoga, you need to hold your breath and tighten your muscles to complete the practice. Things are different in the Yin style. Instead of trying to bottle things up, you are free to deepen your breath and lengthen your muscle tissues, lowering cortisol levels (commonly known as stress hormones) and calm the mind during the process.

Improves balance – Yin yoga requires you to stay in a pose for several minutes at a time. The longer the length of time you hold the pose, the more effort you need to put in to balance your whole body. Yin can serve as a foundation for creating a well-balanced body and even after a few sessions you’ll enjoy increased coordination and better balance.

If you are tired, over-stimulated, or you feel that you have too much energy, then Yin yoga is probably worth a try. So if you want to learn more about Yin, and how it can have positive effects on your general well-being, then give us a call and talk to one of our yoga instructors.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

May 11, 2015

Martial arts principles for better yoga

When you unroll your yoga mat and lunge into warrior pose, do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? As your yoga practice develops from an exciting new venture and becomes a weekly routine, it’s not surprising that it can start to feel a bit stale after a while. That’s why it’s important to find ways to keep it fresh. One such way is to combine the principles of martial arts with your yoga practice.

If the idea of mixing martial arts principles with yoga startles you, note that the two practices share a number of similarities: they both encourage strength, flexibility, breath control, discipline and focus. So while it may sound unconventional to mix these ancient eastern practices, there are certainly ideas from martial arts that have the ability to rejuvenate and deepen your yoga practice. Here are three.

Embody your yoga practice fully

In martial arts, practitioners spend hours repeating the same bodily motions to perfect a single block, kick, or punch. Paying attention to not only what you are doing, but how you are doing it, is of the utmost importance because when facing an opponent, mistakes can hurt – literally.

Next time you practice yoga, pay attention to the “how” of your poses and transitions. Feel the stretch in your legs as you hold downward dog. Embrace the ache in your arms as you bend into scorpion pose. Most importantly, be mindful that it’s not about the end result, but the journey.

Remember that a fundamental principle of yoga is to pay attention to your breathing. This helps you stay present in your body, one breath at a time. Try to synchronize your breathing to your movements. This will help you embody your yoga practice fully and breathe new life into it.

Wear a blindfold

Martial arts practitioners sometimes use blindfolds to improve muscle memory and bodily awareness. Transferring this practice to yoga can have a similar benefit. Not only will you be more present in your body, but you’ll also improve coordination and balance.

To incorporate a blindfold into your yoga practice, start slowly. Use it for only one pose at first. As you become more comfortable, add another pose until you can go through an entire yoga session blindfolded.

Yield, instead of force

“Be like water,” Bruce Lee once said. What does water have to do with martial arts? Water never fights or forces no matter what obstacle it faces. It is always soft, always flexible and can dissolve even the hardest of substances in time.

For many martial arts styles, yielding is a fundamental principle. The idea is to use the energy of your opponent against him or her, using as little force as possible. How can this apply to yoga? Don’t force yourself into poses. Instead, listen to your body. Breathe into your poses, and allow your body to deepen and soften into them in its own time. With practice, you’ll be able to ease more fluidly into your poses – as naturally as water itself.

Want more ideas on how to rejuvenate your yoga practice? Call us today to talk with one of our seasoned yoga teachers.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

January 22, 2015

Mindful of New Year changes!

How 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.

November 6, 2014

5 Extra reasons we love yoga!

Yoga is one of those activities that once you get into it you really become a dedicated fan; the reason being that you feel all the great benefits from your yoga practice pretty much immediately. We’ve already looked at many reasons to love yoga and this month we’re going to look at five extra reasons, just in case you still need some encouragement to give this great exercise a try.

While there is definite progression with yoga, what’s great about it is that you don’t have to really train up to feel the benefits and enjoy the practice. Yoga is accessible and leave you feeling energized, with stretching moves which strengthen and inspire flexibility. With yoga you learn to move your body in a different way, in an environment that isn’t competitive or highly-charged. So what else can yoga do?

1. Relaxes the mind – It is not just the body that unwinds with yoga moves but also your mind. Breathing techniques and a focus on proper form combine to center you. The more grounded you feel, the more likely the mental stresses and strains of the day disappear and culmulative anxiety dissipates.

The fact that yoga is generally less frenetic than high-level cardio workouts, as well as the point that you do not have to prove yourself or pit your skills against others, means that your mind can simply relax into each movement. Yoga is more than a form of exercise, it is essentially a philosophy on life and how to live life with less internal turmoil and tension.

2. Creates a sense of space – Following on from the relaxed body and mind benefits of yoga, this type of exercise can really create a feeling of expansion. As you concentrate on certain movements and do not take into consideration other people’s progress, you in effect create your own yoga world. While still feeling connected, to yourself as well as others, you can enjoy the inner sense of space as well as a nurturing feeling within the exercise session.

When you have space you have time to really think about many factors about your life and this in itself can be transformative. Without space to think and feel it can be difficult to initiate positive changes for your health and wellbeing.

3. Instills clarity of thought and better focus – Because yoga does not merely focus on physical benefits but also on deep relaxation and mentally de-stressing, a yoga session can feel refreshing to your mind too. Yoga can be like a spa treatment for your mind almost, and even one session can clear away the cobwebs and help you see more clearly with your mind’s eye.

The advantages of this clarity of thought can be clearly seen in your everyday life, at home and at work. Many yoga fans say that they can concentrate better with mental tasks and cope with potentially stressful situations more easily. With better focus, you can be more productive and this can have enormous advantages in many areas of life.

4. Targets problem areas easily – Yoga may benefit your mind and body but it does so through exercises which can really focus in on one area of your body. If you need to stretch the spin and improve your posture, there are many moves and poses aimed at this. You can help open up tight areas too, and as you pay more attention to each part of your body you become more aware of where weaknesses lie and what you need to work on.

As well as this, yoga can target areas to help support better performance in other types of exercise, or in certain sports. If you need greater flexibility in your hips then there are a raft of yoga exercises to inspire this. Yoga is about functional fitness.

5. Brings holistic wellbeing benefits – Yoga can promote restful sleep and help combat insomnia. Good practice can strengthen muscles to minimize exercise injuries, as well as making you feel good and helping your digestive and circulatory systems. Yoga is about you as a whole person and the health and fitness benefits it brings encompass every part of you.

Experience the power of yoga today. Get in touch.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.