The Warrior Dance

I trust you have embodied some of the strength and assertiveness of the Goddess Warrior Durga during your practice of the Warrior pose sequence discussed in the previous blog entry. Maybe you want to experience the flow, instructions and creative sequences with other yogis and yoginis? You can join my classes in Streatham on Tuesdays and Thurdays at 8pm and they are for all levels. Pregnant yoginis can join the prenatal classes at 6.30pm or Fridays at 1pm in Chelsea... There are more classes in the near future, including in the Parson Green area, so do look on my website (www.yogaembodied.com) and sign up for the newsletter.

Now, we will continue with the openness and strength which we felt in our Warrior Pose Two and play a little. Revisit the description for this pose and feel proper grounded and strong.

Have your right knee bend and your toes pointing in the same direction as your knee. Left leg is straight and strong. Hips are squared and spine lifting out of your pelvis - arms radiating to the side. Take a few breathes.

Come into Extended Side Angle Pose by bringing your right forearm to the right thigh. Stretch all the way from your left outer edge of your foot to the left fingertips reaching your left arm above your head. Create lots of space in your ribcage to breathe. The Extended Side Angle Pose needs as much power as your Warrior Poses. Keep your legs as a support for your torso. Be very aware that your do not collapse into your right shoulder try instead to lift and rotate your chest upwards towards the sky. This is a beautiful pose which opens the hips with your own strength, it creates space in your ribcage to breathe better and requires firm and strong legs. When you are ready inhale back into your Warrior Two.

From Warrior Two slide your left hand down your left thigh as your lift your right arm upwards into Side Warrior. Once again your legs are strong and supportive allowing a lift through your chest. Let your shoulders relax and encourage your heart to face upwards. There is no pressure in your left hand - it is just guiding the movement and openness of the pose. Come out of this pose back into your Warrior Two.

Now dance your warrior dance. Either enjoy a few breathes in each pose or proceed with continuous movements co-ordinated with your slow and relaxed breath. Exhale to Extended Side Angle Pose and inhale lift into your Side Warrior then let your out-breath move you to Extended Side Angle and continue this flow of movement and breath. When your are ready change sides.

Gently warm up before this sequence and familiarise yourself with the yoga practice by joining a few classes or see a qualified teacher. Maybe start with some Sun Salutations, lunges and do your Warrior sequence and finish by resting in Shavasana or Childs Pose. If you have any health concerns please speak to your medical adviser or your yoga teacher. Have look at a Sun Salutation HERE.

The Warrior Dance

I trust you have embodied some of the strength and assertiveness of the Goddess Warrior Durga during your practice of the Warrior pose sequence discussed in the previous blog entry. 

 

Maybe you want to experience the flow, instructions and creative sequences with other yogis and yoginis? You can join my classes in Streatham on Tuesdays and Thurdays at 8pm and they are for all levels. Pregnant yoginis can join the prenatal classes at 6.30pm or Fridays at 1pm in Chelsea... There are more classes in the near future, including in the Parson Green area, so do look on my website (www.yogaembodied.com) and sign up for the newsletter.

 

 

Now, we will continue with the openness and strength which we felt in our Warrior Pose Two and play a little. Revisit the description for this pose and feel proper grounded and strong.
Have your right knee bend and your toes pointing in the same direction as your knee. Left leg is straight and strong. Hips are squared and spine lifting out of your pelvis - arms radiating to the side. Take a few breathes.

Come into Extended Side Angle Pose by bringing your right forearm to the right thigh. Stretch all the way from your left outer edge of your foot to the left fingertips reaching your left arm above your head. Create lots of space in your ribcage to breathe.

The Extended Side Angle Pose needs as much power as your Warrior Poses. Keep your legs as a support for your torso. Be very aware that your do not collapse into your right shoulder try instead to lift and rotate your chest upwards towards the sky. This is a beautiful pose which opens the hips with your own strength, it creates space in your ribcage to breathe better and requires firm and strong legs. When you are ready inhale back into your Warrior Two.

 

From Warrior Two slide your left hand down your left thigh as your lift your right arm upwards into Side Warrior. Once again your legs are strong and supportive allowing a lift through your chest. Let your shoulders relax and encourage your heart to face upwards. There is no pressure in your left hand - it is just guiding the movement and openness of the pose. Come out of this pose back into your Warrior Two.

Now dance your warrior dance. Either enjoy a few breathes in each pose or proceed with continuous movements co-ordinated with your slow and relaxed breath. Exhale to Extended Side Angle Pose and inhale lift into your Side Warrior then let your out-breath move you to Extended Side Angle and continue this flow of movement and breath. When your are ready change sides.

Gently warm up before this sequence and familiarise yourself with the yoga practice by joining a few classes or see a qualified teacher. Maybe start with some Sun Salutations, lunges and do your Warrior sequence and finish by resting in Shavasana or Childs Pose. If you have any health concerns please speak to your medical adviser or your yoga teacher. Have look at a Sun Salutation HERE. 

You can also follow my blogs on Families Online Magazine

The Warrior Goddess

Here is another blog from my blog on Families Online. I will explore different asana and sequences so please continue to log for more blog entries!

The Hindu tradition has just finished their nine day/night celebration of Navarati. A festival dedicated to the female form of the Divine - the Goddess in her various shapes and manifestations.
Durga is one aspect of the Goddess. A gorgeous fierce protective warrior Goddess riding on her lion. She is power - Shakti.

In a yoga asana (posture) practise we often incorporate a series of postures dedicated to the Warrior. These are standing poses where we are grounded, strong and stable. Being firmly connected to the earth we have the strength to stand our own ground and speak our truth.

Physically the Warrior poses create strength in our legs, open our hips and helps us balance. The muscles in our arms become firmer and stronger as the arms are as involved as our legs. Feel the power from your core - your abdomen - as you firmly press your feet to the Earth and reach out your arms. These poses require and gives us stamina.

In Warrior One your arms reach to the sky and your heart lifts. Feel spaciousness in your front body especially in your front hip. Stay grounded.

 

From Warrior Two your arms reach outwards from your heart. Open your hip in your bend leg. Create space in your pelvis - expansion.

 

 

Warrior Three keeps you strong and balanced. Your lifted leg reaches in one direction and the crown of your head in the opposite. Stay connected to your pelvis, your hips and your core while experiencing the opposite directions.

 

 

The warrior Goddess is the manifested creative power of Shakti. She is divine, stands her ground and protects herself and her loved ones. Allow yourself to experience your own power incorporating these postures into your practice.

I would recommend to warm up with a few Sun Salutations before commencing these postures and get further advice on alignment and modifications from your yoga teacher.

If you have any injuries, medical conditions or any health concerns you may want to speak to a yoga teacher or health professional before starting a new exercise programme. Please visit www.yogaembodied.com for further details on yoga and sign up for our newsletter HERE.

Wellness in Pregnancy - Pregnancy Massage

In Ayurvedic health, massage is essential to balance our doshas (our body/mind constitution). Oil massage starts by giving baby massage to newborns and continues throughout life as part of our daily routine. In Ayurveda we use different oils depending on what effect we would like. Every part of the body is being massaged with care and appreciation. To apply oil is also called Snehana which can be translated as Love.

Pregnancy massage is a great way to keep you body balanced and your skin moisturised and elastic. Receiving a massage can help relax you physically, mentally and emotionally. It may relieve back, neck and shoulder aches and help oedema. Apply oil throughout pregnancy but massage only after the first trimester.

Blissful Body

You and your partner may want to think of paying special attention to specific areas to support your changing body, prepare for birth and post pregnancy.
Belly - Massage very gently. Think of it as your baby’s first massage! Either massage in clockwise circles respecting the digestive system’s elimination. Or massage/stroke from your sides towards your belly button - bringing attention and awareness into your center.
Breasts - Many women, pregnant or not, do not pay much physical attention to our breasts. They are strapped into bras often underwired and they do not have much space for movement. Our breasts are part of our circulation and lymph system. Massage encourages circulation and lymph flow. Circulation, including the lymphatic, is encouraged by our muscles (think of our calf muscles helping the lymph and circulation both from our legs to our heart) however our breasts do not have much movement and massage is a way to encourage stimulation and discourage stagnation. Massage using gentle kneading and circular movements.
Perineum - From week 32-34 you and your partner can support the elasticity of the perineum. Use a very oily oil. Wheatgerm is good as it contains plenty of vitamin E which benefits the skin’s elasticity. Start by massaging the perineum gently with plenty of oil. First a couple of times a week and then gradually increase it to a daily massage. After a few weeks start massaging the inside of your vagina. Very gently start stretching the skin just inside. Experiment by using either a thumb or the index and middle finger making U shaped movement towards the perineum and then start stretching the skin. As with everything else in life be aware of what feels comfortable and don’t go anywhere that feels uncomfortable or painful.

What oils to choose

The best oils to use are vegetable oils preferable grown organically. There are plenty of inexpensive good quality cold-pressed organic oils in the health food shops so find an oil which feels nice on your skin and has a smell you like. There are specific Pregnancy oil but do have a look at the ingredients list before choosing. The same goes for baby oils which are often mineral based with no real benefits to the skin. Obviously take into account any sensitivities or allergies you may have.

• Oils to calm a restless and anxious Vata mind include: Sesame oil (cold pressed and cured if possible).
• If you are hot and irritable in mind or body (Pitta) use cooling and calming oils such as coconut and olive oils.
• Or use lighter oils such sunflower or safflower to relieve congestion and heaviness associated with Kapha.

Embrace your changing body and enjoy your massages.
If you have any medical conditions, allergies or have specific health issues you may want to talk to your health consultant before your massage.

Calm down man - and boost your masculinity

A few weeks back I wrote about the ayurvedic herb Shatavari. A great remedy for the female reproductive system. This article is all about the MAN!

According to ayurveda everything in health - physical, mental or emotional - is down to digestion. If we don’t digest our food properly we create toxicity, or unhealthy material, in our body. In ayurveda we call it ama. If we don’t deal with emotional issues or stress we also create ama manifested in our mental health. So first thing first; finding a diet to suit our digestion and find a way to detoxify our mind. If we accumulate ama it will affect our body. Ayurvedic anatomy recognise seven tissues in the body. These will be affected by ama. From our plasma level, next the blood, fat tissue, bone, bone marrow and finally sukra or the reproductive tissue. Diet and stress definitely have an effect on the reproductive tissues which include sperm quality, motility and quantity and therefore conception.
The qualities of sukra (the reproductive tissue) include sweetness, cool, oily and liquid. You increase “like with like”. To increase sukra you can cook with ghee, take vegetable oils on your food and drink warm milk to the capacity of your digestion.

A branch of the Ayurvedic medicinal disciplines is Vajikarana which is dedicated to fertility and sexual health. A number of herbal remedies, diets, treatments and counseling are recommended. Here are the top three herbs:

• Ashwagandha: a favorite herb for male reproductive system and for stress for men and women. It is reputed to increase strength both muscle tone and for the nervous system. A bit like ginseng it works to relieve and balance stress levels. Translated as “the smell of a horse” is may be due to the smell of the fresh root or due to the fact that it is thought to give you “the sexual stamina of a horse”. Is believed to promote sperm health.
• Kapikachu: a vajikarana seed meaning it has aphrodisiac actions and improves sexual vitality. Traditionally used to bring health to the whole reproductive system: sperm quality and quantity, improve libido and is a sexual tonic for men and women.
• Guduchi: is also refered to as amrt or “divine nectar” as it has rejuvenating, strengthening as well as detoxing qualities. It is said to be anti-ama (anti-toxin), promote the sukra, or reproductive tissues, and being an aphrodisiac.

There are many reasons for imbalance in our body and mind and there are as many ways to create balance. I would highly recommend to see a qualified practitioner before embarking on any treatments, changes in diet or taking herbs. If you are on medication or under treatment please consult your consultant and speak to your practitioner.

You can stay up-to-date with my blog on Families Magazine or sign up for my newsletter HERE

Welcoming Autumn

As I am enjoying the sunshine this early September it is difficult to believe it is autumn.

In autumn the element of air is increased. Ayurveda and yoga recognise five different elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. It is believed that we and all around us are made of a unique combination of these elements. In a person the elements combine with each other and manifest as the three Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). Our constitution is a unique combination of the doshas. If the doshas get out of balance we experience ill health in mind, body or emotions.
Autumn is generally described as being windy, cool, with a feeling of dryness and it is time of change. The change from summer turning into winter. These qualities symbolise the element of Air. When there is an increase of Air in our surroundings it will increase the same qualities in our body and mind. In ayurveda this relates to an aggravated Vata dosha.
During this time of seasonal change we will try to balance and reduce anything that may aggravate Vata dosha and the Air element in our body.

• Enjoy warm food with sweet, a little spicy, sour and salty tastes. And avoid cold raw salads. Skip the frappucinos and enjoy a mug of spicy warm chai. Porridge is great as breakfast and have a look at Rachel’s blog for the great pumpkin recipes, create your own stews and soups.

• My favorite is a nice massage with warm oils. Sesame oil is slightly warming in nature and reduces Vata. So give yourself a massage with a heated sesame oil (coldpressed and organic). If not the whole body then just your feet and any painful joints. This also alleviates the dry skin which can increase during autumn and winter.

• Your favorite yoga asana, pose, is a relaxing and grounding pose such as forward bends, squats or balancing poses like tree pose. All calming down an aggravated Vata dosha and Air element.

In ayurveda we aim to keep our doshas in equilibrium by adjusting our diet and nutrition, lifestyle including yoga and breathing exercises, herbal remedies or body treatments to suit our doshic balance. So listen to the surrounding and to your body. Both will give you a very good indication of what you need right now!

 

 

 

This is another article from my blog at Families Magazine - keep up to date here

Staying Centered - steps for an enhanced daily routine.

Take small steps for feeling calmer and more centered. Too much rapid change can actually aggravate us rather than balance us. Change your habits little by little allowing the new food/diet/exercise regime/meditation practice/waking up/going to bed ratio/[insert your own resolution here] to become a normal part of your routine and then you can enhance that choice by adding to it.
So if you are feeling stressed, worn out and exhausted you don’t want to add another stress factor to your daily life.

First step is to breathe.
I know I go on about breathing exercises a lot. This may be a byproducts of being a yoga teacher and ayurvedic practitioner, but I really can not stress the benefits enough (please look at the previous posts). We are a population too busy to actually take notice our own breath and we live in this constant agitated breathing pattern making us even more stressed. The exercise here is to just observe your breath. “I am breathing in - I am breathing out” the continuous flow of your own breath. Observe when the inhale becomes an exhale and when the exhale turns into an inhale. This is a simple breathing exercise and meditation - combined! You can do this at any time: In the morning as you wake, on the tube, in the office, before bed...

Relax at bedtime.
Take time to wind down by making a bedtime ritual. Give your feet a nighttime massage with either the slightly warming sesame oil or a cooler coconut oil. Warm the oil in your hands and enjoy massaging your feet, especially the soles of your feet and ankles. Our feet are connecting us to the Earth and grounding us. Bringing some attention to our feet can help us get out of our heads, into our body and create balance. Either leave the oil on overnight, wear some old socks to cover the feet, rub them dry or have a warm foot bath.
Incorporate these two steps into your daily routine allowing them to be a natural part of your life. They may seem very simple but that is usually the most effective too.

And how will husbands cope?

As a response to the previous post: 'The Woman who has a hundred husbands' I am in the process of writing a sequel which considers how the Man can improve his health.

Keep in touch on this Blog or on Families Magazine.

The woman who has a hundred husbands...

A post from my blog at Families Online: 

This is one translation of the original Sanskrit name Shatavari - an Ayurvedic herb which has a unique effect on the female reproductive system. Yes, it is reputed to have aphrodisiac qualities however it is also an amazing herb to promote both men’s and women’s fertility.

For women it is the herb of choice for all menstrual problems. It regulate menses, is helpful for PMS and strengthens, nourishes and supports the reproductive organs. For men it may promote the quality of sperm and is used for its nutritive and calming properties.

But it is also a balancing herb that gives us physical and mental strength. The stresses and pressures of our day to day living is often a contributing factor in difficulties to conceive. We become too tired and stressed to actually try. And then lovemaking may turn into a means to produce a baby and not sensual loving connection to your partner. Thus creating more anxiety and tension.

Taking time to really feel what is going on in our body and mind is helpful for us all but we rarely set time aside to do this. To promote our physical and emotional health we need to allow our body to tell us when we need rest, when we need food and when we need to be active!

If you are considering becoming a parent (again or for the first time) give yourself time to listen to your body, your cravings and your feelings. Take time out where you do not need to be “efficient”! Go for a run, meditate, enjoy a walk in nature, do some yoga, enjoy a swim or have a massage. Allow yourself a break.

There are many options for support for conceiving and before you take any herbs, supplements or start any new exercise routines check with your health consultant. To get personal advice on suitable ayurvedic or other herbs, a specialised diet and yoga routine see a qualified practitioner for advice.
For your inspiration I have included two yoga postures which are great for reproductive health - in men and women.

Think of openness, creating space, movement and fluidity. Enjoy!

Anja offers yoga classes, pregnancy yoga, Ayurvedic consultations and massage in SW London. To learn more please visit www.yogaembodied.com

Take a Breath

Is is my 2nd Blog from Families Magazine Online where I write inspirational articles on wellbeing - yoga, ayurveda, life! Please have look at their website.

I seem to be surrounded by radiant pregnant ladies in all stages of pregnancy at the moment. Or by women who are preparing for motherhood and trying to become pregnant - but more of that issue in the next blog.

Teaching yoga and advising on Ayurvedic lifestyle and diet I come into contact with men and women from all backgrounds. But at the moment there appear to be an abundance of mothers-to-be. It is amazing to follow the changes that happen as the baby grows. But one thing that is challenging with a increasing bump is breathing.

The body breathes on it own. We don’t actually need to do anything but somehow a lot of us still find it difficult. We breathe only in the upper part of the chest, we get palpitations, we hold our breath for no reason...

To promote complete breathing try this - pregnant or not:

Three Part Breathing.

Sit in a comfortable position and bring both hands to your lower abdomen. Imagine you can breathe into your hands. As you inhale the abdomen will press into your hands and as you exhale the navel moves gentle towards your spine. When we inhale the lungs expands and the diaphragm muscle beneath our lungs presses towards our intestines making our abdomen expand. However for some people it seems to do the opposite. If it is challenging to expand the belly on an inhale just imagine it happening - eventually it will. Pregnant women may not feel this movement physically but can make this breath a time to connect with their baby.

After a few breaths bring your hands to the sides of your ribcage and breathe in to expand the muscles between your ribs. The ribcage will widen and broaden. Allow a sense of creating space inside your body. More room for oxygen and Prana (Chi, life-force energy and maybe even love or healing...). For pregnant ladies this is where you can create the greatest expansion of breath.

Next bring your hands to the top of your chest and feel the chest lift as you inhale and relax as you breathe out. Most of us will be familiar with this breath as we have formed a habit of only utilising the upper part of our lungs to breathe.

Physiologically this is where we breathe when we are in a stressful situation. A situation which can be catogorised into ‘Fight or Flight’. Either we run for our lives or we put up a fight to survive. Breathing here produces adrenalin, gives us a buzz and creates stress to deal with a life or death situation. It can also result in hyperventilation and panic attacks. Now, our stresses are generally (and luckily) more trivial but the body-response is the same. We don’t need to get into the ‘Fight or Flight’ mode when we are stuck in traffic, working to a tight deadline or dealing with
hyperactive children. We can learn to respond from a centered and well balanced place.

The simplest way to become balanced, relaxed and focused is to breathe properly. Learning to use the full capacity of our lungs will make us healthier in body and mind.

To connect to the complete breath bring one hand to your abdomen and one to your heart.
Imagine that your can fill your lungs by breathing into your abdomen, continue to the sides of your ribs and then to the top of your chest. Breathe out gentle and slowly from the chest, then ribs and finally bringing the abdomen towards the spine.
Allow your body to breathe effectively with the full capacity of your lungs - naturally and relaxed!


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Calm Cool and Collected

This is my first blog for Families Online Magazine ( http://bit.ly/bHr5QU )

Summer is finally here. We have had a few weeks of sunshine and warmth and are now feeling rather hot and bothered. The weather - we can not stop complaining about it.
Here are a few tips on how to stay cool, calm and collected when the heat just becomes too hot to handle.
Cool.

Drink coriander tea. In Ayurvedic Medicine we usually treat with opposite qualities to what is bothering us. To alleviate heat we suggest a cooling quality. Coriander has a cooling nature which calms burning sensations and it is thirst quenching. Coriander is also recommended in fever.
Infuse fresh leaves or seeds with boiling water and steep for a few minutes. Drink it warm or at room temperature. You can add sugar (preferably candy sugar which you can purchase in any Indian shop) for added sweetness and anti-heating properties.
Calm.

Taking a deep breath is the antidote of stress and anger. Sitali pranayama (cooling breathing exercise) is a fantastic tool to cool body and mind. Here is the tricky part:
You need to roll the sides of your tongue up making the shape of a U. Extend the tongue out. Breathe in through the tube shaped tongue. Close your mouth and exhale gently through the nose. Continue for a few slow breaths. Enjoy the cool sensation of the inhale on your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
Collected.

The ancient teachings of Yoga and Ayurveda are great tools for transformation. They teach us how to live in the present and with awareness. Taking time to listen to our body and to feel our feelings can bring great healing. Our body is very intelligent so allow your mind to be guided by your body to avoid illness and let your heart bring peace to your mind.

Enjoy the summer - come rain or shine.

For more information on how to enhance your physical and emotional well-being through Ayurveda and Yoga, please visit www.yogaembodied.com. I teach Yoga and offer Ayurvedic consultations in SW London.

“I love yoga - yoga is a transformational tool, a way of living with grace, love and inspiration. It is more than a physical workout, more than becoming flexible and strong. It is about how we can live our life in a positive way. I wish to bring these ancient, but more than ever relevant, teachings into the class.”

Anja achieved her BSc and PGdip in Ayurveda from Middlesex University. She has completed the ayurvedic massage program which is part of the degree as well as internships in Ayurvedic hospitals in India.

She is a qualified Yoga Teacher focusing on Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga. She is teaching yoga to people from all walks of life in classes, workshops and private yoga training.

Anja Brierley Lange, YRT, PGDip Ayurveda
Yoga instructor and Ayurvedic Practitioner (BSc, PgDip Ayurveda)

www.yogaembodied.com

info@yogaembodied.com
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Online magazine article

I am very excited to be part of Families Magazine's new online bloggers.

Here is the first blog on how to stay Calm, cool and collected in the hot summer we re experiencing at the moment.

Families Online SW London

Hope you enjoy reading it and please share it with your friends and let me know if you have any requests or ideas you would like me to explore.

Email me here

Chakras, The Elements and Energetics of Yoga

In yoga and ayurveda chakras (energy centres or wheels of energy), The 5 elements, Marmas (Vital points) and Nadis (energetic channels) are part of our anatomy. These places connect our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being.

Feeling butterflies in our stomach, having a 'gut feeling', a broken heart, lightness of heart, 'restriction' in our throat or a knot in our stomach are all physical sensations of our energetic body reacting or responding to our environment or energies surrounding us.

The Workshop:
The focus in this workshop is to understand what the chakras symbolises and how to connect with them in our yoga practice. We will discuss these subtle energies and how they affect us and how a focus on the energetics in our yoga practise can influence our response to our environment.

It is a practical yoga class with asanas relating to the 7 main chakras, pranayama (breathing exercises) aiming to balance the nadies connecting the chakras, meditation, shavasana (yogic relaxation) and discussion.

For further information and to book please call, email or look at www.yogaembodied.com.

Saturday the 26th of June 10am - 12.30pm
To book your space:
Please secure your space by booking online through www.yogaembodied.com or in class.

Workshops cost £25 and take place at the Capoiera School in Streatham Hill. Discount: Book by Monday 21st for £20.

Please note the 24 hours cancellation notice.

Namaste

Anja

Resources:

Workshops and New Yoga Class

Greetings
I have a couple of exciting announcements for June!

I will offer two Saturday Yoga Workshops where we have time to explore and discuss our practice in more detail. This is great for regular yoga practitioners who want to have a greater understanding and newer students will benefit from learning in depth and fundamental principles of yoga

The Ayurvedic clinic expands... I am now also offering evening appointments at the Lavender Heal Clinic in Clapham Junction in addition to the The Tulip Yoga Studio in Clapham Common. 

New yoga class in Clapham. I am really excited to add a lunch time class to the timetable. The class is at Lavender Heal near Clapham Junction. Sign up for a 6 week course for £75 starting the 8th of June. We will practise our yoga between 12-1pm. Please contact Lavender Heal to secure your space.

Yoga Workshops:
12th of June 10-12.30
A Firm Foundation - fundamentals of Yoga and Vinyasa Flow. We will work on alignment, using block and belts to get maximum benefit from our yoga practice and lessen the strain or stress that can lead to injury. The principle being: “Stability before Flexibility”.

26th of June 10-12.30
Yoga and the Chakras - the energetics of Yoga. In yoga and ayurveda chakras (energy centres), marmas (Vital points) and Nadis (energetic channels) are part of our anatomy. These places connect our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being. When you practise yoga or other bodywork both our physical body and emotional body will be involved. The focus in this workshop is to understand what the chakras symbolises and how to connect with them in your yoga practice.

Workshops cost £25 and take place at the Capoiera School in Streatham Hill.
Discount:     early bird - book one week in advance for £20
        Book both at the same time for £40

Book online on www.yogaembodied.com or in class. Please note the 24 hours cancellation notice.

Optimum Health Ayurveda is a practical application of keeping our body and our mind healthy through lifestyle, diet and if necessary herbs and body treatments.

Health is the absence of disease and cultivating happiness in body and mind! Disease and imbalances are usually formed by what we eat, the way we eat, our thoughts and the things we do. We might believe we eat healthily and exercise hard but our choices may not suit our unique constitution. In our stressful society where we are bombarded with contradictory messages of what is good or bad it is easy to get confused and out of balance.

Ayurveda believes that every one is unique and therefore our way of maintaining health or dealing with illness will be individual.

An Ayurvedic practitioner can help determine what foods, herbs, lifestyle and activities (including yoga) would be beneficial for you - to maintain and enhance your health, promote immunity, or when dealing with any form of imbalance or illness. You may benefit from a specific diet if you plan a pregnancy, after childbirth or are recovering from illness.

What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the traditional Indian medicinal system still practised in hospitals across India. Ayur can be translated as Life and Veda is knowledge or science. Hence Ayurveda is the Science of Life!

The aim of ayurveda is to focus on health and it is said that the ‘the best cure is prevention’. Living according to Ayurvedic principles is living according to your own individual constitution promoting health in body and mind.

You may seek advice because you have a certain ailment, maybe because you are feeling tired and sluggish, because you want to prepare your body for pregnancy or just want to start taking care of yourself. Ayurveda has and is being used for many reasons and is a way to live one’s life in balance - in body, mind, spirit, senses and emotions.

Consultations, Ayurvedic body treatments such as massage and personalised yoga programs can now be booked with Anja www.yogaembodied.com at Tulip Yoga Studio and Lavender Heal in Clapham where is also offers Yoga classes.

Anja also teaches yoga classes, pregnancy yoga and yoga at work in SW London. You can find further details on ayurveda and yoga on www.yogaembodied.com

Living yoga - Embody Yoga

I have recently thought very hard about how to live, practice and embody yoga. I have had an amazing, transformative and very busy year. Getting married, then going to India to study at ayurvedic hospitals as part of my Post Grad in Ayurvedic medicine, spent time there relaxing and experiencing Southern India with my husband after 3 months apart. I came back to a very hectic time at university finally concluding my post graduate studies in ayurvedic medicine. Having handed in my assignments and done my exams I have some new found freedom.

I have a social life again, seeing my friends, creating and baking tasty cakes and meals. I enjoy reading - for pleasure. And yes that includes yogic and ayurvedic texts but reading for pleasure is very different from reading for university and exams. I am also spending time figuring out how to work: offering more yoga classes and ayurvedic consultations. Where, how and when...

But all these changes leaves the questions of how to live ayurveda and embrace yogic living. Finding time to practise asana, pranayama, meditate - when times are changing, when stressed, when busy, when tired... But I guess that is what yoga is. It is the journey of finding a way to embrace life and live it to the fullest. Of finding pleasure in life and seeking happiness. I know that after having practised asana I breathe better, I am more alert and more focused. So why is it sometimes so challenging to get on the mat on a daily basis?

A while back I went to a workshop with yoga teacher Mark Whitwell.  A very inspiring teacher who asked if we could commit ourselves to practising just 7 minutes every day. It sounds like such a small time to spend so of course that wouldn’t be a challenge! And it wasn’t - for a while. Getting into a habit takes about four weeks and I got into the habit  usually staying on the mat for an hour or longer - feeling great! However to break a habit takes... one day... Now I am once again committed to devote 7 minutes to my practise every day! Maybe 7 minutes of Sun salutations, maybe pranayama, a few asana and highly possibly a much longer practise!

I endeavor to inspire myself and possibly you as well by posting some sequences online. Keep in touch on my face book page (Anja Yoga fan page) where youtube clips will be posted for your inspiration and join me on this journey! Let’s commit to 28 days to get into the habit...

Celebrating Earth Month

In ayurvedic and yogic philosophy everything in and of this World is made of a combination of the five elements: space (Akash), Air (Vayu), fire (Agni or Tejas), water (Jala) and earth (Pritvi).

The attributes of Earth are grounding, heaviness, the connection to Mother Earth - gravity. Earth is stability, permanence and rigidity. In our body we can connect physically with the Earth element in our bones, flesh and muscles - even our teeth!

In our asana practice we can find the connection to Earth through strong grounding posture like the warrior poses, mountain pose, and downward-facing-dog. In every asana we need this relationship to Earth - a grounding which provides stability. When we have this stability we can expand, lift up and grow. For example in mountain pose we feel that the soles of our feet are pressing into the mat and through this connection we can lift up through our chest and the crown of our head - literally growing taller. Another example is in a seated crosslegged position such as sukhasana or padmasana where we instead of grounding through our feet press down through our sitting bones and that way lengthen our spine.



On a spiritual level the Earth element is located in muladhara chakra at the base of the spine. This is also our base for growth and related to our basic needs and our survival instincts such as having somewhere to feel at home, a family/friends support network and being able to feed our selves.

In our anatomy Earth and Water makes up the dosha of Kapha. This manifests as strength, heaviness, soft, cool, oily and sticky qualities. In everyone one of the locations of Kapha is in our respiratory system and too much kapha can become chest infections, colds and a runny nose. People who are predominately kapha will generally have large eyes, strong white teeth, smooth skin and they look stabile and strong often having a larger body frame. They are usually down to Earth, taking it easy and likes to sleep. If imbalanced, Kapha people may put on weight due to their love of tasty food and sweets and may have a tendency to become lazy. We are all made up of a unique combination of all five elements and the three doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) and learning to listen to our body we can create mental, emotional and physical balance - starting from our foundation, our root - the Earth Element!

Pregnancy Yoga classes starting soon

Pre-natal yoga classes for Mothers-To-Be...

I am delighted to offer yoga classes to South London's pregnant women!

Pregnancy is a time of growth and transformation. Becoming a mother is an exciting development in a woman’s life. Yoga is a tool that can benefit the expectant mother to embrace this time. Yoga is a way of living mindfully and consciously and going to a Pregnancy Yoga Class may help to feel more aware of the changes in one’s physical body as well as the emotional changes. Ailments such as back ache and shortness of breath may benefit from from practising yoga.

Practising yoga during your pregnancy may benefit you in many ways.
Enhance strength and fitness

Yoga is a great way of bringing awareness to your body while gaining physical body strength and better stamina

Improve balance, posture and stability
Being mindfull of how we use our body we will explore safe ways to find our centre of gravity as it changes with the growth of baby. A good posture can alleviate many aches and pains such as lower back ache and sciatica as well as breathlessness.
Relieve emotional stress and anxiety
With the awareness of breath we connect our physical body and mental/emotional state.
Yoga gives us a positive attitude as we explore how our body moves and accommodates for a growing baby.
Learning breathing exercises helps us to relax and is also a great tool for birthing.

The instructions and sequences will be different at every class. Classes are inspiring and safe with attention to correct alignment, flowing movements and exploring the physical body and breath (pranayama).Classes include a final relaxation and some meditation.
Traditional yogic scriptures, ayurvedic knowledge and contemporary spiritual texts inspires the creative sequencing of the class to challenge your mind as well as your body!
Options of modifications and variationsof postures are given during the class to suit both new yogis and more experienced. Everyone is different and we all have individual challenges in our practice.
The classes are open to women who have never practised yoga before as well as experienced yoginis!
Come and be prepared to move, sweat a little, stretch and relax!

About Anja:
“I love yoga - yoga is a transformational tool, a way of living with grace, love and inspiration. It is more than a physical workout, more than becoming flexible and strong. It is about how we can live our life in a positive way. I wish to bring these ancient, but more than ever relevant, teachings into the class.”
Anja first encountered yoga in her native Denmark in the late 1990s and from then on continued to practise and study various styles of yoga. Living in London she has studied and trained in the capital and her interest has brought her to India and America for further studies. She is currently studying for her PGDip in Ayurveda while teaching yoga in classes, privately and to a charity.

Streatham Classes:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 8pm - 9.20pm (Vinyasa Flow) £10
Tuesdays 6.30pm-7.40pm (Pregnancy Yoga - starts 13th April) £10
Thursdays 6.30pm-7.45pm (Slow Flow Yoga - starts 15th April) £10
Capoeira School (above Barclays Bank)
136 Streatham High Road, Streatham
SW16 1HD (entrance on Woodbourne Avenue)

Clapham Classes and Clinic:
Mondays 10am - 11.15am (Vinyasa Flow - starts 12th of April)
Ayurveda Clinic, Tuesdays (see www.yogaembodied.com for details)
Tulip Yoga Studio
3b, 9 Park Hill
Clapham SW4 9NS

For more information contact Anja:
07963820702

www.yogaembodied.com
info@yogaembodied.com

Expanding new classes and venues

So many exciting things are happening at the moment!

I am at the end of my Post Graduate degree in Ayurvedic Medicine. And I am so excited! I can finally set up my practice and devote my time to Yoga and Ayurveda.

Well I guess that is what I have been doing the past 4 years while I have been studying as well teaching... But I am looking forward to put it more into practice.

So will I am doing my last assignments, studying for exams and doing my homework I am also expanding my classes, seeing more private classes and seeing clients for Ayurvedic consultations.

I am trying to keep my self focused, calm and centered - though it is a challenge at times I am pleased that I have my yoga practice. Practising physical asana helps getting me out of my head and connect with my body again, breathing helps me keep calm (or calms me down at least!) and I am now taking Brami a herb good for the intellect (!) and memory... I keep my essential oils burning while I study...

See the newest newsletter below for what is happening in the very near future with regards to yoga and ayurveda:

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=972153ab28dd98cc4b734604c&id=30a31500ca

Newsletter!

https://us1.admin.mailchimp.com/blog-publish?u=972153ab28dd98cc4b734604c&id=17

Om magazine & Yoga classes

I was featured in the first edition of Om Magazine - have a look:

OM Magazine - article

Yoga classes starting - come join us!

VINYASA FLOW
YOGA CLASS
CLASSES, ONE-TO-ONES, WORKSHOPS

- Greater Strength and Stamina
- Increase Flexibility and Focus
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Better Balance and Posture

Drop in Classes for all levels


Tuesdays and Thursdays 8pm - 9.30pm £10
Capoeira School (above Barclays Bank)
136 Streatham High Road
SW16 1BW
entrance on Woodbourne Avenue
Starting 2nd of February 2010

See www.yogaembodied.com for details and teaching schedule
Anja is a qualified yoga teacher registered with the Independent Yoga Network

YOGA classes