Summer Flow Sunday Session - Yoga Workshop

Summer Flow

Safe Backbends
Open Heart 

Yoga Workshop

 

Sunday 26th of June 2011

10am-12.30pm £25 



 

 Backbends are a wonderful way to create more space to breathe, energise the spine, broaden the chest...

We will start with a slow and gentle flow to warm up and get to know our body, understand safe alignment principles and then
explore a selection of backbends in different variations and modifications.

With a foundation of being grounded, aligned andmoving with the breath our backbends are opening our chest and heart with grace, awareness and spaciousness.

Please RSVP by email, in class or by PAYPAL (online)

What would you like to explore in you practice? Let me know on Facebook or email...

Read the full newsletter HERE

Folding forward - I bow to...

This is the second part of the Sun Salute series written for Families Online on the 17/04/2011 3:55 pm

 

:

I am enjoying April. We have had some beautiful summer days, some very changeable days and are sure to get some April showers too. But every cloud has a silver lining and we are continuing our celebration of the Sun through the practice of Surya Namaskaram - the sun salutation. For a full yoga practice or shorter sunsalutes session please visit http://anjayoga.podbean.com for FREE and £4.99 audio classes - and even better join a class!

Standing Forward Bends

Having a firm foundation in your mountain pose (tadasana) is the perfect starting point for our forward bends. Basically you aim to literally fold forward from your hips keeping both legs and spine long and strong just like your tadasana. But most of us have either very tight hips or hamstrings (muscles at the back of our legs) and we suffer with tension in our back. Suddenly coming into a forward bend can seem rather challenging. However in yoga there are always modifications and you always work with your body and how it feels at that present moment.

Let’s start:

From mountain pose with the arms above your head exhale and - with a straight spine - hinge from your hips. Think of lengthening the heart forward. Bring your fingertips to the floor or place them on blocks next to your toes. If your hands do not reach the ground bend your knees. In fact bend your knees so much so your belly touches your thighs. This way you are not over-stretching your spine making your back vulnerable to injury or strain. Your are now in Uttanasana (translated as ‘intense stretch’).

The half way point - extend your spine:

On an inhale extend your chest to ‘half-forward bend’ (Ardha Uttanasana). Now your spine is complete straight (within its natural curves). Your finger tips are resting on the floor or on your shins. Think of creating space between your pubic bone and your navel - and from your naval to your heart. Exhale as you fold into your standing forward bend once again.

Moving with the breath - follow the flow.

For a few breathes move between your Uttanasana and your Ardha Uttanasana.

• From tadasana inhale - raise your arms above your head.
• Exhale - hinging from your hips fold into your standing forward bend. Bend your knees if appropriate.
• Inhale - extend your heart to a half forward bend.
• Exhale - fold forward.
• Inhale - repeat into your half forward bend
• AND either continue between your two forward bends
• OR exhale, take your hands to your hips keeping a straight spine

then inhale up to standing with a straight back - tadasana.

As always have fun, follow your breath and listen to your body.

If you have any injuries, medical conditions or any health concerns or if you are pregnant or a new mum please speak to a yoga teacher or health professional before starting a new exercise programme. Vvisit www.yogaembodied.com for further details on yoga and ayurveda.

Anja is yoga teacher specialising in Vinyasa Flow (all levels), Pregnancy Yoga and Postnatal Yoga..

She has a BSc and PGDip in Ayurveda from Middlesex university. This qualifies her to practice as an Ayurvedic practitioner, advising on herbs, lifestyle, diet as well as giving body treatments including massage.

Visit www.yogaembodied.com for further detail and to sign up for her newsletter. You can also find herinfo@yogaembodied.com, Twitter (twitter.com/anjayogini) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/yogaembodied)

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.