Yoga

Our Aura Yoga Community came together to celebrate, with a Christmas themed, dinner and dance evening this month, demonstrating the true essence of word ‘Kula’ in Sanskrit. More

I was listening to Radio Bristol last Saturday and John Hoare from the Bristol Laughter Club, the oldest Laughter Yoga Club outside India, was being interviewed about Laughter Yoga and inevitably there was lots of laughter! More

Yoga means “Union”. It is a centuries old practice that promotes balance, harmony, energy, deep breathing and relaxation.

The practice of yoga during pregnancy can be extremely empowering and have a very positive effect on mother and baby/babies, both emotionally and physically. I believe Women’s bodies are designed for pregnancy and birthing so my job as a pre-natal yoga teacher is to remind and awaken that innate knowledge and power within each expectant mother attending.

Benefits of Yoga during Pregnancy:

• Builds a harmonious bridge of contact with your developing baby/babies.
• Teaches positive use of body, mind and breath.
• Assists in the toning and control of the pelvic floor muscles – critical for childbirth.
• Improved efficiency and expansion of breathing capacity.
• Improved sleeping patterns and relaxation.
• Alleviates stress and anxiety levels
• Improved posture can result in a reduction of lower back, neck, shoulders, hips and chest pain.
• Reduction in sciatica pain.
• Reduction in Pelvic Girdle Pain and SPD pain (Symphysis pubic dysfunction).
• Calms and disciplines the mind.
• Improves concentration.
• Reduces tension and can help to restore energy levels.
• Cardiovascular and muscular endurance is increased.
• Stretches and strengthens the skeletal and muscular systems of the body.
• Works on internal organs and the endocrine system which regulates metabolism.
• Helps to improve digestion, reduce heartburn and acid reflux.
• Assists in stabilising blood pressure.
• Empowering.
• Positions and breathing techniques specific for labour and birthing.
• Postnatal recovery time can be reduced.

The Pre-natal yoga groups are relaxed, fun, wonderfully supportive, informative and nurturing environments where life-long friendships are forged and social connections made, especially when family and friends live a long distance away.

Safety Considerations:

It is highly recommended to check with your medical practitioner and/or midwife before you begin any form of exercise.

It is advisable for the physical practice of yoga to begin only after the 16th week of pregnancy.

In brief, lying on the front; strong back bends; inversions and over-exerting the abdomen should be avoided regardless of a woman’s prior yoga experience. If any pain is felt during or after yoga then you should cease exercising immediately and contact your GP or midwife.

It was a lovely sunny August evening for three of my yoga students, my yoga teacher and I to travel to Cardiff to see Dr David Hamilton in person to hear him talk about the scientific effects of Kindness, Self-Love, Mindfulness and the Placebo Effect on the human body. More

I recently attended a workshop working with the art of adjustment led by Monica Voss entitled ‘The Power of Touch’ based on her new book of the same title.

The workshop was organised by Diana O’Reily a British Wheel of Yoga County Representative, who describes Monica Voss as “an incredibly subtle, intelligent and experienced teacher with 35 years experience working with students as well as student teachers of yoga. She is co-owner and director of the Esther Myers Yoga Studio in Toronto, Canada. In addition to teaching weekly classes at her home studio, she conducts workshops, retreats and teacher training internationally.” More

We all come to Yoga for different reasons – to improve our health, to learn new and better postures, for the meditative, soothing calm that persists after a particularly good yoga session. As we often practise Yoga in a group setting, is it always so easy and so tempting to look at what and how others are doing and compare ourselves with them. More

I’m frequently asked this question and decided I would share my thoughts with you.

Yoga practice provides us with so much more than a bend and stretch, working on every system of the body, mind and breath. Weight loss or weight gain can also be a side-effect as regular yoga practice often stabilises our metabolism. My yoga students frequently report they experience a wonderful feeling of ‘well-being’ plus: More