Tagyogalondon

December 19, 2019

Christmas Yoga for the Whole Family

Christmas Yoga for the Whole Family

The holiday season means different things to each of us. For many people, it offers the chance to spend some quality time with family and friends. This may mean travel, staying away from home or maybe welcoming others into your home. Parties, family meals and presents are all wonderful for those lucky enough to get to enjoy them but they do bring First World problems too. The reality is that the holiday season is often stressful, challenging and can be a struggle in so many ways. And just when we need our ‘me time’ to get on our mat and yoga it all away there never seems to be the space/time/energy (delete as appropriate).

So what is a good yogi to do at Christmas? Simple – get the family to join in with your yoga practice. It will reduce your stress and maybe theirs too. It will work off some of the excess calories that seem to be an inevitable part of the festivities. And it is fun! Ready to give it a go? Read on … (more…)

Posted By

Sally Schofield

December 12, 2019

Yogi’s Guide: Yoga for Painful Knees

Yogi's Guide: Yoga for Painful Knees

I love knees – they are simple, honest joints that work hard for us and tell us when they are not happy. Very few people get through life without ever having sore knees and many unfortunate folks suffer painful knees on a daily basis.

And knee pain is horrible. It is often enough for people to stop doing things that they love – running, hill walking, dancing, even yoga – but this does not have to be the case. Most sore knees will feel better if they are used and kept strong and mobile. In fact, as a physiotherapist, I regularly see patients that can get back to being pain-free after a period of rehabilitation based on stretching and strengthening. The secret is that knees love to be used and love to be worked – rest and avoiding things SO is not the answer. And the really good news? Yoga IS the answer. (more…)

Posted By

Sally Schofield

December 1, 2019

The Super Six: Seated Yoga for Senior Yogi’s

The Super Six: Seated Yoga for Senior Yogi's

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 late because you are 50 / 60 /70 /80 years old… Wrong! It is SO not too late – in fact it is never too late to start yoga.

Actually NOW is the perfect time for you to try yoga because yoga is about movement and breath. It is about how your body responds to what you do NOT what your body looks like when you do it. So, it does not matter that you are unlikely to ever rock the iconic single leg balances. Or that you would be unwise to start with a handstand. If you can move and are still breathing then yoga is for you! (more…)

Posted By

Sally Schofield

November 29, 2019

Yogi’s Guide: The Ankle

Yogi's Guide: The Ankle

Ankles are amazing things – they (literally) hold us up and propel us around. They absorb HUGE amounts of impact when we run and jump. And yet we rarely pay them any attention. Unless they are a problem, of course, then they can cause pain and suffering. Let me introduce you to the incredible world of ankles and how to get the most from them on your yoga mat. (more…)

Posted By

Sally Schofield

October 30, 2019

5 Poses to Prep for Shoulder Stand

5 Poses to Prep for Shoulder Stand

Salamba sarvangāsana, or shoulder stand, can be a thing of beauty – it combines strength, flexibility and balance in one scrumptious, iconic pose. Children do them. How hard can they be? Answer – very hard. Actually, incredibly hard! As a novice yogi I remember the indignity of trying to launch my feet over my head and failing miserably – time and time again… Eventually my efforts resulted in balancing precariously on my upper back with my chin embedded in my chest and legs flapping in the breeze. I felt like a claustrophobic apostrophe – not exactly the elegant inversion I had hoped for.

Somewhat dismayed, I reflected on my failure and planned a new path. A path of baby steps towards more serene shoulder stands. It is a path I am still travelling but here are some of the early steps on my pathway. These simple poses will bring you closer to super shoulder stands. (more…)

Posted By

Sally Schofield