6/7 This is the final movement of the spine, twisting. With an emphasis of elongation through all the movements, an ideal yoga class should include forward bends, back bends, side stretches on both sides and twists in both directions. Spinal twists are powerful detoxifiers. They put emphasis on the organ body, and flushing toxins from… Continue reading Time To Twist!
Category: health
The Beauty Of The Side Stretch
5/7 In my opinion, side stretches are under-rated in yoga! The power of a side stretch should not be overlooked or forgotten. Side stretches emphasize length through the spine and they give the 'squishy' spinal disc between each vertebrae a deep squeeze which helps keep them spacious and healthy. Side stretches help keep the spine young and mobile.… Continue reading The Beauty Of The Side Stretch
The Magic Of Moon Energy
4/7 Yoga is a powerful balancer of energies. As we discussed in the last blog back-bends focus on sun energy, and create vitality and openness in the body. Forward bends naturally do the opposite: they focus on the moon energy, and are very calming and soothing. With this being said forward bends are often very challenging. I… Continue reading The Magic Of Moon Energy
Here Comes The Sun!
3/7 Youth Resides In The Spine! Now that we have covered the topic of elongation, we will move into the discussion of back-bends in our yoga practice. The six movements (forward, backward, side, side, twist, twist) are key in a well rounded yoga session. On top of these six movements a well rounded practice should also… Continue reading Here Comes The Sun!
Wake Up!
2/7 In continuation of "Youth Resides In The Spine" we will discuss elongation as the basis of the six movements of the spine in yoga. I suppose the reason that 'elongation' is not included as a specific movement of the spine, is because it is one that is assumed in all of the movements. The… Continue reading Wake Up!
Youth Resides In The Spine!
1/7 Hatha Yoga is based on keeping the spine strong, flexible, spacious and therefore young. When I did my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training we learned a well-rounded class should include all six movements of the spine: One forward bend, one back bend, two side stretches and two twists. As I started teaching I reflected on… Continue reading Youth Resides In The Spine!
No Human Being Is Worthless
"I'm not afraid of dying. Sometimes I'm more afraid of living." I am reading a book called "In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts" by Gabor Maté. The quote above is from one of his clients. It makes my mind race with words: Addiction. Suicide. Depression. Self-harm. We all suffer. Perhaps some just hide it better then others.… Continue reading No Human Being Is Worthless
Defining Hatha Yoga
The term yoga means 'to yoke' or 'unite'. However there are many different types of yoga in our modern world. There is a type of yoga for everyone, and it is amazing how yoga has blossomed around the world making it accessible to every body, for a realm of different needs. Hatha yoga is the… Continue reading Defining Hatha Yoga
Guilt, Let It Go.
I have heard that of all the emotions we feel, guilt has the lowest vibration. I am the queen of 'feeling guilty.' It is something I have been aware of, and worked with stopping, for years; but yesterday was a challenge. My son had the flu all weekend, and I managed to pick it up… Continue reading Guilt, Let It Go.
Strive For Wholeness
A part of my journey through life has been to find wholeness. Yoga has helped bring me to a place in my awareness where wholeness is accepting ourselves and our lives exactly as they are. Much of the work I have done, on myself and others, I would define as 'healing' work. However as I… Continue reading Strive For Wholeness
The Gentle Way of Hatha 