Below is a link to an interesting article providing a backstory to Yoga and how it has emerged in the current more physical form that we find it in this country. It focuses purely on the physical teachings of Yoga however this if you have every practiced much Yoga you'll soon realise that this is just the tip of the iceburg. Yoga when taught well, skillfully uses body and breath to develop a still mind, and also offers a wealth of knowledge for self-development and wellbring through key texts such as Patanjali's Yoga Sutra (2000 years prior to this). The physicality and postures have emerged with influences from western culture and some classes this is more obvious than others. Some interesting video clips too. bbc.co.uk.bodybuildingandphysicalculturearticle>>>>>Also see this article I wrote last year covering a related aspect PerhapsYogaPosturesAren'tAncientBack to homepage
 The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards Interesting article on the Today show this week interviewing William Broad who has published a book on the benefits and risks of yoga ( The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards). He highlights the caution that some yoga postures should be treated with, and the importance of a well trained teacher to introduce some of the more advanced and riskier yoga poses. Shoulderstand and Plough postures, along with Headstand. These postures aren't for beginners or those with any neck issues and who aren't pretty fit and strong. The stakes are high if stroke risk is considered from tearing the vertebral arteries when putting the neck in these extreme conditions. Respect for the bodies limitations, and the posture, and plenty of preparation to ensure the student is ready and the pose is appropriate. Group classes are possibly not the place to explore them unless the group is experienced, and appropriate teaching and supervision is essential. Listen to the interview here... http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9693000/9693928.stmBack to Homepage
Yoga uses the body, breath and mind to help establish stability, health, strength and balance. This can start on the yoga mat, but it's reach goes beyond into life with regular practice. It could be considered a form of meditation in action. A moving meditation as you practice yoga, focusing the mind on the breath and body. If you find a sitting meditation hard, perhaps a moving meditation might be a good starting point. For an interesting overview on Yoga as a moving meditation, I came across this article which provides a nice overview beyond the bodywork that we often see in yoga classes. Read more... Yoga, a moving meditation?Enjoy. Back to homepage >
The forms of Yoga change with time but the essence remains unchanged. The living principles work their way into forms that suit us. Strong and physical for one person, still and quiet for another. Trends that weave into the larger tapestry of Yoga. Different groups emphasise different aspects but all fall under the umbrella of yoga... Yoga Hatha Yoga Relaxing Yoga Hot Yoga Yoga Postures Yoga Breathing Meditation Yoga Therapeutic Yoga Intellectual Yoga Academic Yoga Practical Yoga Yoga Mantra Retreat Yoga Devotional Yoga Social Yoga Health and Healing Yoga Chanting Yoga Vegetarian Yoga Tantric Yoga Eclectic Yoga Esoteric Yoga Raja Yoga Find your flavour?
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A joyful open-air yoga gathering captured on video to brighten up a dull day :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l7lHR8E-Lg
An article published in the British Medical Journal in October has confirmed what I anecdotally hear from students - that mild to moderate back ache is helped by yoga. Great that there is now some medical research to provide evidence. Interestingly the study, taken over 12 weeks acknowledged that it takes a few weeks for the improvements to really settle, but that staying with it helps. The style of yoga used in the research was viniyoga, which is what I teach (and Catherine on Wednesdays and Fridays also teaches). Another article last month also noted how yoga performed better than physiotherapy on back ache (I suspect because yoga is engaging and enjoyable so you are more likely to do it and stay with it to gain the benefits!). All good evidence to encourage those with back ache to take up yoga practice anyway. http://besthealth.bmj.com/x/news/658800/news-item.htmlhttp://bjsm.bmj.com/content/44/Suppl_1/i70.2.abstractBack to YogaSpace homepage
There was some positive media coverage last weekend about how Yoga was used to help David and Samantha Cameron's late son Ivan. Using Yoga Therapy tailored to his needs, Ivan, who suffered from Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy took part in regular yoga sessions at the Special Yoga Centre in London. Yoga for children can be helpful for a wide range of needs, ranging from the therapeutic for serious health needs, to simply being fun and active to help get kids engaged and get them moving. Children can gain confidence, strength, coordination, balance, focus and concentration through practicing yoga. I recently took my Yoga for Children teaching module which trains you for running yoga classes and activities with children. The classes are very different to adult classes! Much more playful, fun, noisy, energetic, and hopefully leading them to a calmer and more focused space by the end of the session. I'm running my first Children's Yoga Party soon which promises to be loads of fun!
Many fitness classes are available just to drop-in whenever you feel like it. So why do we encourage students to take Yoga as a course of classes? Yoga is of course different from a fitness class, and our aim is to encourage everyone to get the most they can from learning about and practicing Yoga. It's true, you can get some of the benefits from your very first Yoga class, or by turning up every now and again to a class. We are very open to students coming along to classes in that way. Simply by stretching and moving the body, and breathing more deeply, you are starting to energise and open up a bit more. But this is just the very tip of a rather large iceburg, and our aim is to deepen your experience. One of the aims of Yoga is not only to improve your overall health, but also your wellbeing, and much more besides. This includes physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga is working not only at the physical level, but also on the mind, and many of the practices of Yoga aim to help cultivate clear thinking and a sense of connection to your body, and also aim to open up and release the tension and energy in the body.
By committing to a course of Yoga, you are actually taking the first step towards disciplining your body and mind, agreeing that every week, whether or not you mind or body is saying to you you'll give it a miss this week, you turn up anyway and work on cultivating positive practices. And you'll always be glad you did. Over the weeks of the course, you'll start to become familiar with the basic, foundation aspects of the postures, and get to know your bodies stiffnesses and weaknesses feeling them gradually improving. You'll also start to learn the more subtle aspects of practice: your ability to gradually control your breathing (in turn starting to control your over-active mind and intensifying what you are able to achieve in each posture), developing your focus and attention during practice, releasing deeply held tension and blocks, and the ability to gradually deepen your weekly experience. It's true, some of the techniques take years to learn, but each week you gradually take it further, and each term, you'll build on the various layers of practice that will enhance your experience and get the most benefit. I've been practicing Yoga for many years, and I still take regularl classes and always learn something new. Regular practice also makes practicing Yoga safer. Allowing your body to become familiar and confident with the unusual positions you may find yourself in. By regularly stretching and maintaining health in the muscles, joints you can worry less about if you can get into the postures and start to develop the more subtle aspects of practice. We're just getting going with the Autumn term where there are many Yoga Courses you can enrol in. Our experienced teachers are passionate about Yoga and all of us have studied the philosophy and methodologies of Yoga in depth over many years giving us the opportunity to carefully structure the classes so that they are appropriate to develop each student. Feel free to get in touch to find out more. Don't just do Yoga, learn YogaBack to homepage
The good news is that Yoga is becoming increasingly popular and many of us are starting to realise and take advantage of all that it has to offer. Two new yoga studios have opened their doors this month which is a wonderful addition to the range of yoga classes available in Bristol. YogaWest in Bishopston has reopened with new owners Diana and Mike Penny - a warm welcome to BristolBCY Bishopston is a brand new branch of BCY (Bristol City Yoga) on Kennington Avenue near Ashley Down Road The ancient philosophy and methodology that is Yoga is becoming more and more accessible to us here in the west and has so much relevance to our lives today. If you haven't already, come along to a Yoga class soon (the YogaSpace term is about to get started and we always recommend taking a course of yoga wherever possible rather than a few one-off classes) and start to experience and learn the tools and practices that can support daily life and deeply enhance your wellbeing (and the wellbeing of those around you too!). Back to homepage
I went to a lovely yoga workshop this weekend where we were invited to rediscover the spring in our feet, ankles and knees. As someone who has struggled with dodgy knees in the past, and who works hard to keep my knees and legs strong to avoid the pain that creeps in if I don't, I was particularly interested in what the teacher said... that if your feet aren't animated and vibrant, your ankles and knees and the whole rest of your posture can suffer. I looked down at my feet, trained from years of yoga to be more alive than many I see, to notice that they are rather less than the vibrant source of life that they could be.We were invited to try this... stand up tall, but without locking out any part of the body, you should still be able to move through the shoulders, knees and ankles. Then bend the knees just a little, and try lifting the heels of the ground. Perhaps one, then the other, and then both if your balance permits. Try springing a bit, staying on the balls of the feet, sort of bouncing, feeling the feet come alive. The strength and activity required will soon become obvious, you might find you tire quickly, or if you are strong, you might start to feel more alive and springy after doing this for a few minutes. Allow the spring to move up through the body, the legs, hips, spine, and shoulders and neck responding and working with the springy balance. Our foot foundationThe feet are the foundation for most of us. They are the basis for standing and for supporting the whole rest of our posture. They are the source of our balance and connection to the rest of our bodies. They are packed full of nerves, alert to many sensations once we pay attention. Our focus and awareness can be heightened by developing our attention back into our feet. To neglect them is tantamount to letting the garden get rather weedy so you can't see the ground anymore. For those with disengaged or even flat feet, there are a few postures that will be great for bringing them to life. You could try...- Tadasana (Mountain Pose, arms and heels lifted)- Utkatasana (Squatting)- or Vrksasana (Tree Posture, one legged balance) to reenergise yourself from the feet up and reinvigorate them back into focus. See this link for a few more ideas:http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/finder/therapeutic_focus/t_flat_feet(although some of the more advanced postures I would avoid without supervision) Guess what my classes will be exploring this week... Back to YogaSpace homepage
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