Came across this quote recently …. which struck a chord with me:
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves’ Dalai Lama
yoga a body and soul workout ….
Nice little article published on the Saga website about yoga … take a look
http://www.saga.co.uk/health/fitness/howyogabenefitsbothbodyandmind.aspx
what can yoga do for me?
Yoga can offer so many benefits … on so many levels. Yoga includes not just postures but also breath control, concentration and meditation and it is the combination of all these that give the optimum benefit.
People often think first in terms of the physical benefits – increased flexibility muscle tone and strength. Better posture. Relief from back, neck and shoulder pain. Regular practice of yoga is likely to lead to all of these.
Relief from stress – taking time to practice yoga not only gives benefits whilst practicing, but also afterwards … and gradually seems to pervade your whole life leading to greater calmness, more patience and less feeling a need to rush.
Better self-esteem – regular practice of yoga changes the way you view yourself … you seem to have less need to compare with others and have a greater sense of your own value (in a non egotistical way).
Improved health and wellbeing - regular yoga practice improves vitality and your immune system…. you just feel better inside and out.
So what are you waiting for … find a good yoga teacher now! Look for someone who has done a proper training course – for example with the British Wheel of Yoga. Try out a class and see how good you feel afterwards!
yoga thought …..
Just come across this little quote ….. and really like it :
“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings” ~Henry Ward Beecher
Isn’t it true … look for good and you find it … look for bad … and of course you find that too but just bring yourself down. Look for the good in people and situations and life feels very different. Easy to say when things are going well, but much much harder when you’re having a tough time … but of course that’s when the old glass half full pays dividends!
To my yoga colleagues … try a little meditation on finding things to be thankful for …… once you start thinking there are so many …. right now as I type this … the roses in a vase on my desk, the glass of wine on my desk, my lovely cat sitting on the desk …. and that’s just what’s no more than 12 inches away from me!
According to Wikipedia … this is who Henry Ward Beecher is:
Henry Ward Beecher (June 24, 1813 – March 8, 1887) was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century. An 1875 adultery trial in which he was accused of having an affair with a married woman was one of the most notorious American trials of the 19th century.[1]
Yoga can do you good!!
Great new research published by the University of Sheffield confirming that yoga really can do you good!!
The research highlighted benefits for those with osteoarthritis, back pain, asthma, stress … and much more.
As a longtime student and also teacher of yoga it’s great to see confirmation of what I’ve always believed … that yoga really is very, very good for you!
You can read more about the research on the British Whee of Yoga website: http://www.bwy.org.uk/yoga-can-improve-common-health-problems/
Valentine’s Meditation
Have just received this little note from the Dru Yoga team …. many of you will know that I bring Dru yoga ways into my yoga teaching …. and I thought you’d like to read and try this:
As Valentine’s Day approaches, read these words from a Dru Yoga teacher about loving ourselves!
Using Dru Meditation to Love Yourself More
As I sit and reflect on love, it occurs to me that we almost always consider it in the context of ‘another’. We love our family (sometimes!); we love our friends; we love our partners. Valentines Day is all about being ‘in love’ with someone. But we rarely ask, ‘do we love ourselves’ or ‘SHOULD we love ourselves?’
Some people are shocked by the idea and say that even to consider loving ourselves is narcissistic and self-centered. But I am not talking here about a self-love that says we can never do anything wrong, that is full of puffed-up pride, that believes we are better than others, or that we are perfect in every way. That is not love, which is kind; but arrogance, which is not.
But consider what a lot of us do a lot of the time: we constantly criticise ourselves, beat ourselves up, get angry with ourselves. If we listen to the constant mental chatter of our minds, much of it is to do with thinking we don’t measure up to our rather high expectations of ourselves, often much higher than our expectations of those around us. Where we would show sympathy and compassion to a friend in difficulties, would we honestly always be as kind to ourselves in a similar situation?
I would suggest, perhaps controversially, that loving ourselves, in the sense of being KIND to ourselves, is a prerequisite to truly loving someone else, anyone else. Because if we are insecure in our own sense of self-worth, we are very vulnerable to criticism – from others as well as ourselves – and this means that we become dependant on other people being nice to us. When they aren’t – maybe because of their own insecurities – it can lead to conflict. This can apply on an individual or a global scale.
Loving ourselves does not mean believing we are perfect, but accepting that we have imperfections and being tolerant of those. It’s simply part of the human condition. EVERYONE has imperfections, everyone makes mistakes, everyone sometimes does or says things they later regret. There may be things we would like to change about ourselves, but let’s try to change them with kindness, with humility and with calm inner strength.
This is truly loving ourselves. And it is no different from truly loving someone else.
Today, try a Dru relaxation to accept and love yourself just as you are!
Relax body and mind
Dru Yoga is a powerful tool to help you relax. It systematically stretches and relaxes the muscles using graceful, flowing movements which bring calmness and increased energy. I often teach this relaxation at the end of a Dru Yoga class.
Do some stretches then lie down on the floor on a firm yet comfortable surface (a soft carpet or blanket is fine). Cover yourself with a blanket so you don’t get chilly. Make sure that your body is aligned in a straight line.
Starting from your feet, tense and relax each part of your body. Contract the muscles first in your feet, and then feel each of the toes relaxing as you soften the feet against the floor. Work up the body, through the legs, hips, abdomen, chest, back, neck and head. Then focus on your breathing, and each time you breathe out, let your body release tension. As you breathe in, take peace and calmness into the body. Repeat for 5 minutes.
To finish, gradually bring your awareness back to your body and feel how your body is positioned on the floor. Move your toes and fingers gently, then stretch and sit up without disturbing that wonderful feeling of relaxation.
Being present
Lovely little article published today on yogajournal … well worth a read … takes just a few moments and may really make you think
http://blogs.yogajournal.com/goodlife/archives/2013/01/one-deep-breath.html#.UQgYU7bnLuU.facebook
Lovely day of yoga
Have been to a lovely yoga day today with two fabulous teachers – Freddie Jones who teaches in Bucknell and Robin Lipsey who teaches in Wolvercote.
The day was held in Robin’s yoga studio – a wonderful old barn, and was a lovely way to spend a day.
Starting at 10.30 with some chanting, we worked through a good warm up before re-exploring well known asanas with a view to seeing or experiencing something new and setting intentions …. something I’ve blogged about before. After lunch Robin took us through a variety of again familiar but great to refresh asanas … and then a lovely relaxation session.
What a good way to spend a cold Saturday in January …. investing in wellbeing and being in the company of other yoga lovers!
Enjoying yoga
Beating the cold
In this cold weather we tend to huddle up ….. rounding shoulders, sagging spine etc. Here’s some ideas for yoga students – some yoga poses to help you ‘open up’ and loose the tightness that inevitably follows the huddling:
Some warm-ups first – gently swing arms from side to side increasing the movement as you loosen up bit; shrug your shoulders a few times then circle them forwards and backwards. Then some gentle lunges and knee circles.
Try Bridge pose – remembering to move slowly verterba by vertebra
Then some laying Twists
Follow with Cat and Down Dog
Then some Sun Salutations
That should leave you feeling envigorated and ready to face the world again! Enjoy!
from doing to being
This article gets it right …. the way to become more mindful …. in all aspects of life, not just during a yoga practice
http://www.yoga-abode.com/practice/from_doing_to_being
When I set up my yoga classes several years ago, I though carefully about what to call my ‘business’ …. and I chose yogabeing … not doing yoga but being yoga… because that’s when the connection to more than a physical practice happens … and when you really feel the richness of yoga.
