Yoga A Hip Opening Workshop

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Phillip
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Yoga – A Hip Opening Workshop

Learn how to open the hips safely to release tension and improve energy flow

Our lifestyles often cause us to habitually move in certain ways and be in postures that lead to discomfort and pain in the body.

Daily habits such as sitting in office chairs, cars and sofas, combined with limited movement can lead to discomfort, tightness and even pain in our hips. This discomfort often then spreads to other parts of the body such as the lower back or knees.

Tightness in the hips and pelvis can also affect digestion causing you to feel sluggish and lacking in energy and it is also common to find that emotional tension and anxiety ends up stored in this area.

In this hip opening workshop, you will learn to mindfully release physical and emotional tension and old holding patterns in the hips to allow more freedom of movement and increase energy flow in the body.

Gillian will lead you through a combination of standing and seated hip opening poses along with some restorative hip openers, followed by a deep, healing relaxation to leave you refreshed, relaxed and full of energy.

Yoga Workshop Reigate

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New Pregnancy Yoga Dates In October Now Live

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Phillip
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New Pregnancy Yoga Dates
In October 2010 Now Live

The Pregnancy Yoga Classes for October are now live and can be booked via the normal page on our website.

There are a limited number of spaces as normal and now the system we use will tell you if they are full when you book.

There are still places available in September but August is full.

If you have any questions on Pregnancy Yoga or would like to speak to Laurence you can contact Yogamoo here.

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Manduka Black Magic Limited Edition

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Phillip
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Manduka Black Magic Limited Edition

Well they have finally gone and released it and wow it looks nice.

The thing about Manduka is they always do a very nice mat.

They are certainly not your cheap mat from Amazon for a few pounds, this baby will set you back $100 BUT you get a Lifetime Warranty so on the scale of things you probably save in the longrun.

They do a recycling program and say the mat is 100% recyclable. From the very start looking at different mats these guys are certainly up there with the best of them.

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Why we like the Yoga Alliance

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Phillip
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Not really a news update more a thank you.

Yogamoo has dealt with the Yoga Alliance on many occasions this year and we can honestly say every time the organisation has been really helpful and supportive.

Laurence Turner is qualified through the Yoga Alliance and we have really been amazed at their determination to help.

So Yoga Alliance gets a big thumbs up from Yogamoo!

Well done on your support and we wish you well with your future and your new website.

All at Yogamoo

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Yoga Classes in Central Reigate are Here to Stay

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Phillip
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Yogamoo started Yoga Classes in Reigate in April 2009 as a test bed for local residents.

The studio is located five minutes walk from the Reigate Town clock and is the most accessible classes ever.

Reigate town has quite a few places to park and opposite is a medium sized car park for Reigate Priory park so makes it very easy.

It seems our customers love the Studio and it all makes it very easy as its only a short distance from us and the town.

Yogamoo runs yoga workshops from here and really enjoy the time spent here.

We look forward to bringing you much more in the future.

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Which Yoga is for you?

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Phillip
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Which Yoga is for you / Different Styles

Ashtanga Yoga: Inspiration for many Vinyasa Dynamic Yoga Style. Traditionally Mysore India Style, sequences.  Practice is smooth and uninterrupted moving with the breath using the Ujjayi victorious breath.

The student learns to observe whatever arises from the mind/body without holding on to it or rejecting it. With continued practice, this skill of attentive non-attachment takes over outside the mat into all aspects of life.

Founder K Pattabhi Joi’s.

Lyengar yoga: using props and variations in a few poses to understand basic structure of the poses and master the proper alignment. Props make the practice accessible to all. Obj for beginners is physical awareness, strength and flexibility. Founded by BKS Lyengar.

Both BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois were trained by Krishnamacharya, whose lineage includes many more Yoga Schools such a Viniyoga style from Desikachar his son.

Hatha Yoga: recoups all of the styles above and many more, broadly referring to the physical practice of yoga, with more emphasis on the breathing than alignment and a non sequential order of postures.

Here we hold postures for a number of breaths.

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Benefits of Yoga Postures

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Phillip
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Benefits of Yoga Postures

The Postures that aim at the mobility of the Spine are primarily Back-Bends such as Setu Bandha (Bridge), Bhujangasana (Cobra) and Dhanurasana (Wheel) or Ustrasana (Camel).

Those should be practiced after some spine warm-up kneeling postures such as Bitilasana (Cat-Cow) or Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog). Standing postures aim to promote good skeleton-muscle alignment and increase strength and stamina in the muscles of the limbs in particular the Warrior series.

When postures are held for a few breaths the muscles work isometrically, promoting muscle tone and strength.

Balance Postures such as Tadasana (Mountain) or Vrksasana (Tree) require concentration and are therefore an excellent way to practice one-pointedness and quietening of the mind while warming and strengthening the leg muscles and working energy flow with Moola Bhanda (Pelvic Floor Lock)

Inversions such as Sirsasana (HeadStand) or Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) and Arm Balances work the muscles of the Arms and Shoulders, as well as Shoulder joints, shoulder blades.

Variations should be used for beginners so that they can also experience the main benefits of Inversion such as increased blood flow to the head, rest of the heart and cardio vascular system, and stimulation of the thyroid which is known to improve conditions such as diabetes. These poses are called the King and Queen of all Poses for these reasons among others.

Seated yoga postures such as Forward Bends are closing and calming postures. They work on stretching the Arm String and elongating the Spine while Twists work on mobility of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine.

Some of the cross-legged postures such as Sukhasana (Easy Seated) and Padmasana (Lotus) increase flexibility in the hips. In particular Twists such as Marichyasana III (Marichi Twsit) massages the abdominal organs and promotes the health of the digestive system and relieves from constipation.

Some of these Postures in combination will aim to open the Chest and Heart Centre, for instance Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I), Bhujangasana (Cobra); Matsyasana (Fish); Salambhasana (Locust) or Parsvakonasana (Side-Angle) or Supta Virasana (Reclined Hero).

The benefits derived are the health of the respiratory system, with better lung performance, full relaxation of the Diaphragm, improvement of lower back pain and on the emotional side help with opening up to life and others. On the energy and emotional level, a chest or heart opening practice is energising and revitalising and more expansive.

Yoga Classes in Reigate and the Yoga Class Timetable

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Postnatal Yoga Guidelines

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Phillip
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Postnatal Yoga Guidelines

It is recommended to not resume any exercise routine prior to a minimum of 8 weeks after the birth. This is the length of time that it takes for all organs to shrink back to normal size and come back into place. In addition, the strain that has been put on the body and the lack of sleep make it a time prone to injuries.

The relaxin hormone is still present in breast feeding women therefore care must be taken to not overstretch the joints and ligaments. The Pelvis is still over mobile at this time. The abdominal muscles are still very weak while the rectus abdomini reshapes and positions itself back at the front of the abdomen therefore the support from core muscles is not there yet to support strong yoga postures.

It is a good idea to start the practice with some pelvic floor exercises, some bridge postures dynamically to warm up the spine and continue with some simple abdominal exercises such as Abs crunches.

Standing postures are ideal to get back into Yoga and rebuild strength and stamina. Some Sun Salutations performed slowly are ideal to build up strength and overall well-being.

Standing postures should be practiced dynamically and held for just a couple of breath initially while the overall body is strengthening. Chest Opening postures and Twists should be practiced gently as the spine’s mobility has been reduced for many months and work should be gradual in this area.

You are welcome to join our general Yoga classes any time after 8-10 weeks after the birth of your baby.

The Yoga Class Timetable has all the details of classes and courses.

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Should I exercise while Pregnant?

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Phillip
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Should I exercise while Pregnant?

Yoga is widely recommended by the healthcare practitioners to pregnant women in their pregnancy as a way to keep fit and flexible.

Whether you have practiced Yoga before or not, Pregnancy Yoga is available to you as soon as your pregnancy is well established. Hence we offer a 75 minutes Yoga session to expecting new mums in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters only (from week 14).

This form of Yoga focuses on the breath for general well-being, body awareness, connection, visualisation and relaxation with the view to prepare and open the body for labour.

The techniques employed are recognised by the Yoga Alliance and developed by Vicky Oliver from WhYoga:

The emphasis on breathing makes space for the internal organs, instils mindfulness, draws a higher level of oxygen into the womb and more overtly fosters the mother and baby bond; for you share one breath.

A mother who connects with her breath in pregnancy will be able to draw upon its support during the mystery and wonder of labour and childbirth.

This class is available as part of a course which will provide the expecting new mum with a wide range of targeted exercises, breathing techniques and guided relaxation.

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What is Yoga?

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Phillip
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What is Yoga?

In its basic definition, the word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit Yogum or Yuga and to Yoke is to unite, join, or union.

At the simple level, it is the union of body, mind and spirit and the practices to achieve this union.

3000-5000 years old, encapsulated by the Sage Patajanli (-300BC) into a system of Yoga with 8 steps: personal and universal commandments, posture work, breathing work as the initial outer steps, leading to the inner steps: detachment, concentration, meditation and enlightment.

Most systems and schools of Yoga in the world (and western world) do emphasise today 3-5 fundamental points:

Proper exercise,

Breathing,

Relaxation/meditation

Proper diet/nutrition

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