Filtered by Category: Yoga Practice

Saturday, 10 March 2018

Class Chant for Student and Teacher.

Chant For Teacher And Student.     Om saha navavatu saha nau bhunaktu saha viryam karavavahai tejasvi navadhitamastu ma vidvishavahai Om shanti shanti shantih               Let us both (teacher and students) be protected Let us work together with great joy, energy, and enthusiasm. Let us work together with clarity Let our interaction be happy with no dispute Let the...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Adjustments

On adjustments in class. I notice as I move around making small adjustments in class how some students are quick to come out of a posture before I can get to them! I know that there are those who are not comfortable with the intensity of a physical adjustment which can require a real trust in the process of sudden change and may result in resistance and increased tension in the body. It also draws attention and may not be welcomed by every student. In contrast, ...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Advasana

Advasana (reversed corpse pose) It was recently brought to my attention that Advasana has a releasing action on the neck. I have asked the students with neck problems to practice this on a daily basis and let me know what they think. The posture is a relaxing one and is normally practised lying on the front of the body with the arms resting on the floor above the head with the palms facing downwards and the forehead on the floor, however in this instance we have...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Core Strengthening

Core strength in Yoga practice. As we have observed throughout this term our core muscles are very important in Yoga practice and by now it is becoming very noticeable that these core muscles are linked intricately with the breath. So whilst we may hold some of the core muscles in practice it is imperative that we release them once we come out of the asanas. Equally there are some bandhas that can only be held with the breath out and it would be pointless to att...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Hasta Mudras (Hand Mudras)

  Using Hasta(Hand) Mudras   Gyana and Chin Mudras These two mudras are regularly featured in class and are the best known hand positions of hatha yoga. They have an effect on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels and are primarily helpful in bringing the mind into a meditative state. As most of you will know they are practised by folding the index fingers so that they touch the inside root of the thumbs. An alternative me...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Holding an Asana

Holding a pose. A question arose during the Thursday morning class whilst practising Kandarasna (shoulder bow). How long to hold the posture? A physiotherapist had advised to hold for 30 seconds and no more. Whilst I have great respect for physiotherapy and understand that they are looking at very specific problems, it is important to appreciate that we are working in a very different space in Yoga practice which requires a Mindful approach and there...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Hridaya Mudra (Heart Gesture)

  Hridaya Mudra (Heart Gesture) Placing the tips of the index fingers at the root of the thumbs as in Chin and Gyana mudras whilst joining the tips of the ring and middle fingers to the tips of the thumbs. The little finger remains straight but relaxed. Place the hands palms facing upwards on the knees. (Please ask me for a demonstration if you are unsure about this.) This Mudra diverts the flow of energy from the hands to the heart. It is said t...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Preparing for Ujjayi Breathing

Preparing forUjjayi Pranayama. (Psychic breath/Ocean breath/whispering breath) The difficulties with Ujjayi breathing for many new students arise when too much effort is put into this practice so that breathing becomes dramatic and intense. It is the smooth relaxed quality of the breath that will bring the most benefits. All breathing techniques in Yoga are done gently with no struggle. Once we start to struggle with the breath we create conflict and discomfor...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Sukhasana

Sukhasana. (Easy pose) We have been starting the class in Sukhasana (easy pose), and I am aware that for some this is far from easy, and that making the necessary physical adjustments in order to sit in this position may take our attention away from the intended core practices. Sukhasana is intended to be a relaxing posture that allows us to sit for prolonged periods of time. It is therefore one of the base postures. So what do we do when it is so uncomfortable...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Ujjayi Breathing

    Ujjayi Pranayama Continued. When you have settled into a comfortable space and have made any subtle adjustments for aligning the spine so that breathing can take place without structural restrictions you can start to make a soft sighing sound (haaaaaaa...) as you exhale. At first it is best to open the mouth on exhalation so that the sigh can be heard and felt. Make a long, smooth, soft sigh each time you exhale until you feel calm and at ease ...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Utthanasana (Squatting with feet apart)

Utthanasana Squatting with feet apart. Some of the reported problems in this asana so far have been concerning the alignment of the joints in the lower limbs and the holding of the core muscles. All standing postures should begin with an awareness of the feet; how we position them will determine the outcome of the posture and affect the potential benefits of the practice. This term we have been practising Utthanasana with the toes turning outward in order...

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Categories: Yoga Practice

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Yoga Practice

This is a space where we can discuss our difficulties and share our experiences of Yoga practice. As teachers we do this a lot especially when we attend training sessions. I have found it really helpful to listen and learn from other people's experiences and I think it would be nice to use this space so that anyone can share what works for them in practice. I have found students to be really enterprising when it comes to using resources to help them overcome obs...

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Categories: Yoga Practice