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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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