Ever been in class and see someone looking very yogic and wise by making funny gestures with their hands? These are mudras, and they’re more powerful than they look. When used with awareness, mudras can alter our mood, change our attitude and increase our concentration. On advanced practitioners, it is thought that mudras can be […]
I had been taking yoga classes for six years before I even thought about doing yoga practice at home. At first it was not something I would even consider, practising at studios was so normal and seemed to be the only way to practice yoga. Unfortunately, practising at studios was not possible on a regular basis
Are you a more mature person, maybe in the autumn of your years ? Have you heard how yoga is SO good for you but wish you’d known this 10 / 20 / 30 or more years ago because then you were young enough to give it a try? And now it is surely too
Many people are attracted to yoga by its physicality rather than its spirituality. Teaching some simple deep breathing techniques is a great way to introduce pranayama to novice yogis. So What is Pranayama Anyway? In its simplest form, pranayama is just deep breathing. Yes, we can make it technical by using only one nostril, closing
This week gives us the opportunity to move from a passing acquaintance to an established relationship with yoga. Moving From Stage Two To Three In my last article for this series, I talked about the four stages of the yoga journey: commencement, intent endeavour, intimate knowledge and consummation. Having covered ‘starting out’ and ‘staying on
So how is your yoga practice going after the holiday break? It can be such a struggle to ease back into regular practice after the fun and festivities, can’t it? Or maybe, like me, you have been laid low with this horrible flu virus and haven’t even contemplated rolling out your mat for a while
The gravity-defying arm balances of an advanced yogi are truly magical )and the envy of many less experienced yogi’s). There is no getting around the fact that the flexibility and strength needed to perform pincha mayurāsana (feathered peacock) or tittibhāsana (firefly) are way beyond most of us. But that does not mean that arm balances are off
“I’ll have to take up knitting,” a sulking friend confessed to me several days ago. She just conceived, and the advice given to her was to avoid vigorous physical activity until at least the 12th week of pregnancy, after the first trimester. It sounded like a lifetime to a gym-bunny like her. To add insult
Abs, core or midsection — whatever you call it, it should never be forgotten! You guessed it, this week we’re looking at core strength, focusing on the many layers of your abdomen. Before we jump straight in, let’s take a quick look at what it is we’re working out. There are six core muscles going
Twists are integral to most yoga classes. There are obvious twists: ardha matsyendrāsana (seated spinal twist) and twisted lunge. Then there are hidden twists: trikonāsana (triangle) and side crane. With preparation and focus, your twists can be a thing of beauty. Here’s how: Firm Foundations A good twist needs a solid base. A base that
