The Ultimate Downward Facing Dog
Downward Facing Dog on Adho Mukha Savanasana is such a yoga staple. It is one of the most recognisable yoga postures and there isn’t a yoga practitioner around who doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) train this one daily. It’s there in the sun salute, so you really have no excuse. This asana is excellent for all sorts of things and can help calm the mind and relieve stress. It’s great for stretching out the shoulders, calves and hamstrings and general strengthening. It’s also purportedly great if you suffer high blood pressure, asthma, sciatica and can relieve menopausal symptoms. The calming effect on the mind can help with insomnia and the stretch into the arches of the feet helps people with flat feet. The list of goods for this posture simply go on and on.
Continue Reading
What we do to others, we do to ourselves – The Ghandi Neuron
This is absolutely incredible – I’m not much of a scientist, but if I understand this talk correctly, these mirror neurons mean that we really are intrinsically connected to everyone else and what we do to them, we do to ourselves as well. Most every religion talks about compassion and “do unto others”. Many spiritual practices cultivate compassion and kindness to others – many even encourage kindness and compassion to one’s enemies – and they are right because we only harm ourselves by harming others. On the flip side, when we help others, when we give them kindness and compassion, we are giving back to ourselves as well.
How cool is that?
Way of the peaceful warrior
You can’t read Dan Millman’s Way of the Peaceful Warrior without making comparisons to Carlos Casteneda. It has such a similar feel to it in some ways, but without the drugs – erm I mean legitimate use of peyote as a spiritual eye opener.
Seriously, I guess Millman gets sick of hearing that, but everyone I know who has read the books says the same thing, so I think he is kind of stuck with the comparison now. Anyway, being a bodyworker, the part of the Peaceful Warrior that really sticks out in my mind (even though it must be 10 years since I read it) is the bit where Socrates is showing the kid how to massage and how tight his body is, even though he thinks he is so supple. The comparison to the cat where you can feel through the moggy’s muscle right to it’s bone is brilliant and really epitomises what we strive for – a strong body, that is at the same time devoid of any unnecessary tension.
Anyway, like all things in this day and age, the book was turned into a movie, which I haven’t seen yet. Looks to have some rather cheesy moments in it, but I do like Nick Nolte, so it might be worth a watch.
Create a flip-flop from your old yoga mat
I’m sure enough of you got new cool yoga mats for christmas, so what are you going to do with your old mat? Throw it away? Give it to the dog to chew? NO! You’re going to make your own flip flops…..which, let’s be honest is going to tickle your eco-self and give you something to wear on your yoga retreat in the summer:
Kick start your new decade yoga with a little blog reading
We are well into the new year now, and it’s just about that time when the novelty wears off and we really start to flag a little on the old new year’s resolution. So, to help you out on a chilly Monday morning in the office (possibly your first work day back from the festive season), here are a few blog posts about yoga and new year’s resolutions.
Continue Reading
Make training a habit
New Year’s Eve always brings out the resolutions. I know many people use the new year as a time to renew their commitment to their training – yoga, tai chi, pilates, music, makko ho whatever it is.
Continue Reading
Yoga and the Tabata Method
Even though I’m an advocate of slow, relaxed and dare I say gentle exercise, variety is the spice of life. I’ve been playing around with the tabata protocol a few times a week – using it as a good morning workout when I’m short on time as so often happens around this time of year. Continue Reading
Get a jump on your New Year resolution
It’s only a few weeks before the new year. The time for New Year resolutions fast approaches and if you are anything like me, the run up to the holiday season is always a bit too hectic. I know so many people who make the same resolution every year – to practice everyday. And it is only through daily practice that we bring our yoga or our tai chi or our makko ho our lives completely. At the same time, for anyone who is not a teacher of these arts or a full time practitioner, it can be difficult – it can be more than just a balancing act – work, family, general household tasks all take time and we can be left feeling frazzled and dazed and confused and not sure where to even start our practice. Continue Reading