Yoga
Yoga to shine from your Soul,
Beginning the journey to become one.
A moment of Balance, a moment of Joy,
Yoga to relax, to be fit, the word has begun.
Beginning the journey to become one.
A moment of Balance, a moment of Joy,
Yoga to relax, to be fit, the word has begun.
The journey of Yoga is much for the Soul, in understanding that the more you relax your life the better it becomes. Life is not about sacrifice, it's about enjoyment. Yoga has been a passion of mine for many years. In being structured enough to do at least thirty minutes everyday, it gives me the peace of mind to continue with the other paths in work that I have been gifted to do.
Where do you start with Yoga. Well very slowly indeed. No instructor should push you beyond your limits. Any injuries that you may have must be talked about, and you should have had the ok for a medical professional, a doctor would be my preference. I would have to make sure that you could handle a class that I am teaching. It's about posture. Always make sure that the Yoga Studio/Room you step into is warm, I prefer mine extremely warm having taught Bikram Yoga that comes with the territory. So the first thing you must learn is to stand properly, and to sit with grace.
To stand is to stretch, at first please do not over stretch. Take your arms above your head and stretch, bring your arms to your sides and release. While you are doing this breath slowly, breathing in while you stretch, and release when you release your arms. Find a place of perfect peace as that is what we strive for in this hectic world of uncertainty.
When you sit, release all the anxiety of your life, back straight and tummy in. You can either sit with your legs crossed as the picture shows, or you can stretch your legs out, if you stretch you legs out to the front of you please place a cushion underneath your knees. This time with breathing, just relax, breath slowly inwards, and slowly release. It's no good an instructor teaching you anything if you are not relaxed.
Where do you start with Yoga. Well very slowly indeed. No instructor should push you beyond your limits. Any injuries that you may have must be talked about, and you should have had the ok for a medical professional, a doctor would be my preference. I would have to make sure that you could handle a class that I am teaching. It's about posture. Always make sure that the Yoga Studio/Room you step into is warm, I prefer mine extremely warm having taught Bikram Yoga that comes with the territory. So the first thing you must learn is to stand properly, and to sit with grace.
To stand is to stretch, at first please do not over stretch. Take your arms above your head and stretch, bring your arms to your sides and release. While you are doing this breath slowly, breathing in while you stretch, and release when you release your arms. Find a place of perfect peace as that is what we strive for in this hectic world of uncertainty.
When you sit, release all the anxiety of your life, back straight and tummy in. You can either sit with your legs crossed as the picture shows, or you can stretch your legs out, if you stretch you legs out to the front of you please place a cushion underneath your knees. This time with breathing, just relax, breath slowly inwards, and slowly release. It's no good an instructor teaching you anything if you are not relaxed.
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Navasana Boat Pose; Yoga
Navasana Boat Pose; this is a pose for everyone even children can have fun with this pose. The bendy bodies of little people and the calmness it will instil. Mat down; sit with knees bend, first to stretch your arms above your head taking time to stretch your body as you stretch your arms, to a significant back stretch.
Slightly bringing your bended knees up to create the Half Boat Pose, all in good time to create the Full Boat Pose. Tummy tight breathing in as you are going into the pose, releasing your breath as you complete your pose, each movement must be an in-breath and each completion of the pose must be the release of the breath.
The benefits of this pose are to the core, the abdominal muscles. Strengthening and a balance to your life, taking stress as it comes and allowing it to flow past as you find the balance to your life.
It's about living your own journey for you in the most balanced way that this world allows; going beyond the balance and creating a world of peace, tranquillity and serenity in the most elegant way.
Benefits for the Boat Pose in both Yoga and Pilates.
Abdominal muscles; Strengthening the core.
It improves the function of the Liver and Kidney's.
It De-stresses the body and the mind.
Rectifies back problems.
Helps weight loss.
It helps blood circulation.
It helps Naval displacement.
It also balances the Hormonal System.
Half to Full Pose; All to be done slowly and elegantly to a position that suits you, to bring the pose to the stretch for you. Always for you. If you come to the completion of the pose in a slow manner you will never go wrong.
Slightly bringing your bended knees up to create the Half Boat Pose, all in good time to create the Full Boat Pose. Tummy tight breathing in as you are going into the pose, releasing your breath as you complete your pose, each movement must be an in-breath and each completion of the pose must be the release of the breath.
The benefits of this pose are to the core, the abdominal muscles. Strengthening and a balance to your life, taking stress as it comes and allowing it to flow past as you find the balance to your life.
It's about living your own journey for you in the most balanced way that this world allows; going beyond the balance and creating a world of peace, tranquillity and serenity in the most elegant way.
Benefits for the Boat Pose in both Yoga and Pilates.
Abdominal muscles; Strengthening the core.
It improves the function of the Liver and Kidney's.
It De-stresses the body and the mind.
Rectifies back problems.
Helps weight loss.
It helps blood circulation.
It helps Naval displacement.
It also balances the Hormonal System.
Half to Full Pose; All to be done slowly and elegantly to a position that suits you, to bring the pose to the stretch for you. Always for you. If you come to the completion of the pose in a slow manner you will never go wrong.
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Yoga Leg Stretches
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Yoga & Pilates has to be a way of life, not just an exercise. It begins with the soul, and the calming of the body. It is about keeping yourself at one. It's what I call an acceptance of living with the divine you. An intelligent exercise and a smart way of living.
To take your own body to it's limits in mind, body and soul. The pose for knees and back is is the photo, when you have finished stretching your arms, take your body over the knee in front of you for the final step to completion. |
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At least thirty minutes a day should be kept for Yoga and Pilates. It has so many benefits for you. Rather than the normal treadmill, or the treadmill of life. Each time you allow your body to enjoy the love of Yoga and Pilates is the acceptance that a slower pace of life has so much to offer.
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Start with the Pose in the above picture then take yourself to the pose in the picture to the side. Going towards the leg to the back, take hold of the foot and stretch towards your back. Slowly; and hold still. Release and repeat the pose again to completion. Make sure that you are warm, the studio that you are working in is also warm. Sunshine is good, we all need a piece of that.
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Yoga to Love ... Yoga to Live ...
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Keep calm you say I am just getting myself into the zen place of Yoga. Making time for you, is like making time for your heart and soul to replenish in love. Yoga can be achieved anywhere. But the best place for yoga is either beside water or in the mountains where the air is clean.
The energy is changing as you step into the position that you choose. I have chosen The Balancing Stick pose that will take you into a balance. Keeping that pose, keeping yourself with breath, and holding for the time that you want. See yourself as the capital T. T is for the transformation of you. Love your Life regardless of what you are going through, live your life as you have no tomorrow. And the calmness that transforms you will give you the peace of mind to live for you on the journey of your path. |
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This is The Butterfly Pose which will give you fine ankles. Start by stretching, to the balancing in a prayer position. Close your eyes, and see what there is around you. Strong hips, strong ankles, strong spine.
Then you can take yourself to the floor in a seated position and bring together the butterfly. Then slowly push yourself to the block that you have in front of you. This is a pose that will again give you strong hips, strong legs and a strong spine. All in a day of the defining yoga. Enjoy a simple way of living, enjoy, and love the way of yoga. |
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Tree Pose ... into ... The Eagle
Stand straight to start the pose the lifting one leg into the pose above, there are different variations of this pose and you must find what your body feels comfortable with, yoga is about you not the teacher or any competitor in or out of the class. The straighter you are in this pose the better it is for your back. Then slowly take your leg around the other leg and your arms entwine around each-other. Benefits are to strengthen you legs and back, for balance, and complete meditative stance of completeness. Leading to The Eagle Pose.
Different variations of this pose brings another form of completion. Slowly taking yourself down as to balance setting a stillness in the pose. This will supply fresh blood to the hips, knees and lower organs. It helps firm arms, calves, thighs, hips, abdomen, knees and ankles. so an all rounder in yoga. make sure you achieve for you and not for others.
Pilates
Pilates, to stretch, to manipulate, to find,
Bending, and shaping the body in kind.
The structure to be fit, to live, to shine,
The strength to the body is sublime.
Bending, and shaping the body in kind.
The structure to be fit, to live, to shine,
The strength to the body is sublime.
Now what's the difference between Yoga and Pilates, I am a Yogalates teacher which combines the two together. It can be done. It is faster than Yoga, and more vigorous than Pilates. There is a difference between the two. As Yoga will stretch you into a position much like Pilates will. But Pilates will take you further. You can go to the extremes with Yoga, but I find the extremes of Pilates much safer. You also have more tools with Pilates. With Pilates I would still make sure that the room is warm and even warmer, stretching your body in a cold room is not recommended at all. And also you should have warmed up in some way. Either a brisk walk, a short bike to your centre or room. That goes with both Yoga and Pilates.
Again if there are any injuries I would have to know that a doctor has said it's ok for your to be in my class. In the beginning you must learn to lay straight and allow your spine to stretch itself to where it's meant to be. If you have a back problem always keep a cushion under your knees. Tummy tight, stretch and hold for as long as you can. Make sure you breath. Then release. Keep doing this until your body, spine, back has completely sunk into the floor.
Then slightly bring your feet back a little then lift your bottom, and back stretching and breathing as you go. Release and continue. Don't rush into any of the position, we have time, if you haven't got the time, and are looking at your watch don't do the class. Take all watches off. The only person who should be keeping the time is your instructor. You are here to change your body, not stress your mind.
To sit you can do many positions. It's about stretching your back, and legs. Don't overstretch keep it simple.
Again if there are any injuries I would have to know that a doctor has said it's ok for your to be in my class. In the beginning you must learn to lay straight and allow your spine to stretch itself to where it's meant to be. If you have a back problem always keep a cushion under your knees. Tummy tight, stretch and hold for as long as you can. Make sure you breath. Then release. Keep doing this until your body, spine, back has completely sunk into the floor.
Then slightly bring your feet back a little then lift your bottom, and back stretching and breathing as you go. Release and continue. Don't rush into any of the position, we have time, if you haven't got the time, and are looking at your watch don't do the class. Take all watches off. The only person who should be keeping the time is your instructor. You are here to change your body, not stress your mind.
To sit you can do many positions. It's about stretching your back, and legs. Don't overstretch keep it simple.
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Navasana Boat Pose; Pilates
Pilates can take this pose further into the advanced stretch. Remember you are not in competition with anybody not even yourself. It's about getting yourself fit and in the most balanced place for you in this moment of your life.
If you follow the Yoga sequence of taking time, slowly and elegantly you won't go wrong. Start with sitting with your knees bent and slowly straightening your arms above your head stretching into the pose. When you reach the pose take yourself slightly further, hold onto your ankles, make sure you are sitting in a balanced pose.
When you have taken hold of your ankles stretch them slightly apart. Releasing your ankles and taking yourself back to the Half Boat Pose, when reaching the Half Boat Pose twist the top half of your body one side to the other, holding onto the pose as you reach each pose. Stretching your arms as you flow from side to side. Taking yourself into the position breathe in, reaching your position release your breath.
Enjoy what life has to offer, and don't ever let anyone push or stop your path from reaching it's destiny, it's designated goal and the right outcome for you.
If you follow the Yoga sequence of taking time, slowly and elegantly you won't go wrong. Start with sitting with your knees bent and slowly straightening your arms above your head stretching into the pose. When you reach the pose take yourself slightly further, hold onto your ankles, make sure you are sitting in a balanced pose.
When you have taken hold of your ankles stretch them slightly apart. Releasing your ankles and taking yourself back to the Half Boat Pose, when reaching the Half Boat Pose twist the top half of your body one side to the other, holding onto the pose as you reach each pose. Stretching your arms as you flow from side to side. Taking yourself into the position breathe in, reaching your position release your breath.
Enjoy what life has to offer, and don't ever let anyone push or stop your path from reaching it's destiny, it's designated goal and the right outcome for you.
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Pilates; To Sit with Poise
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The posture of sitting creates the way of life. Again Pilates has to be a way of life, a way of living for you and for what you want from your body, a mental way of keeping stock of your well-being. Looking at this picture at least her back is straight, but it's not the way to sit.
Your back needs support and this way of sitting is not supportive. Finding how to sit with grace is something that should be started at a young age. However we also must allow our children to see how we present ourselves as a sitting posture. |
An example of sitting with the spine not supported and how it is so easy to damage. There are ways and means to see if you are helping your future life. Sitting at a table, sitting on the floor, you should always have your spine straight and secure in a position of health and well-being.
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The Picture to the side gives an example instead of the normal office chair you could find something to balance yourself on, which makes the back stay still. Straight and secure.
I have given two examples of home and office, going home after a day in a pose like this will clear the head, as your spine is your head. All in a day, it's a way of life. Pilates in not just for the studio it's for life. A way of sitting that your whole posture will change. The Lady! |
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Pilates ... To Stretch ... To Define ...
Finding what it is that you want to achieve is like finding the goal of life. The definition of Pilates is to strengthen the core, to allow your body to complete what it needs in fitness. You have sections of fitness that your body comes together in completeness. This is also when you can add a ball together with your mat and stretch yourself even further than before.
Stretch before you take yourself even further into any strong stretch. The ball does allow you to move yourself to a different heights of Pilates. It is a stretch and hold, then stretch a little further. You cannot go wrong in this. A simple way to bring together the joy, the love of Pilates.
Stretch before you take yourself even further into any strong stretch. The ball does allow you to move yourself to a different heights of Pilates. It is a stretch and hold, then stretch a little further. You cannot go wrong in this. A simple way to bring together the joy, the love of Pilates.
Pilates in Dance
To dance, to spring into action, to define you in the way of movement. It's good to have a sense of dance, of movement. Pilates has a way in ballet and can compliment ballet routines and help shape the dancer that you want to be.
It's stretching, it's defining your body. Each picture here shows you the way that you should be moving around in elegance and control. Take time to explore each movement in the world of dance. Ballet, Pilates and Yoga will completely compliment your life and allow you to grow into the elegant positions of the pose. In life we become what others want us to be. Be firm in you and allow you to be the person you are meant to be not a form of what other's think you are. Be tall not small and insignificant. Be Different.
