For my upcoming Yoga & Coaching experience ’40 Days: Intend: Commit, Transform’ this January and February - I’ve chosen this specific length of time as it's said we can heal our habits by doing something daily- we break old negative patterns and set in motion & cement new positive ones!
Author archive for: heatheryoga
Ardha (HALF) Chandra (MOON) Asana (POSE)
A regular feature in many Vinyasa Yoga classes, this pose can be a tricky one for most people! The body is not only balancing on one leg, but the hips are externally rotated meaning the glutes have to work even harder to keep you stable.
5 Reasons Why Yoga Can Ease Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints that lead people to a yoga class. The lower back is naturally the most flexible part of the spine and since our modern lifestyles can lead us to excess stiffness in the mid and upper back, our naturally most flexible area ends up taking on too much. So how can yoga help?
Celebrating Menopause
For too long menopause has been spoken of in whispers only with an air of shame clouding its story. It’s time to speak loud and proud about this change occurring in your body – one of the most natural things for a woman to experience.
It Is The Mind Itself Which Builds The Body’ – How Pilates Grew In Popularity
Pilates was created in 1883 by Joseph Pilates from Germany. Joseph was an extraordinary teacher who dedicated his life to the human body, researching and partaking in every kind of exercise he could.
Staying Strong, Looking After Your Health & Being In Harmony With Nature
The colours are emerging, the lambs are being born and there’s a new sense of vitality in the air!
Ayurveda and other ancient healing systems recognise the change of seasons as a strain on the body as our whole being needs to renavigate our centre. When we recognise what is occurring, we’re much better equipped to offer ourselves support.
Springtime Ayurvedic Practices
The transition from Winter into Spring is understood as a ‘Kapha time’, then as we progress towards Summer, Pitta rises. Kapha and Pitta, along with Vata, make up the three ‘doshas’ meaning ‘that which can cause imbalance’.
The Benefits of Rolling and Myofascial Release
The Benefits of Rolling and Myofascial Release
‘Myo’ refers to muscles and fascia is what wraps around all the tissues inside the body, acting like an internal cling film. A foam roller or myofascial release balls allow for pressure to be applied to soft tissues while applying traction to this facial ‘film’.
Yoga As A Support
Yoga isn’t a ‘quick fix’ solution but it a long-term practice that helps us to navigate the demands of life, be that mental, physical or emotional. Yoga is a powerful tool of self-regulation but takes time and consistency to notice the deeper long-lasting benefits.
Sometimes we come to yoga due to a pain or discomfort such a as back problems. This could have been set off years ago when pregnant, making a quick twist in football or from a desk job with insufficient support. Yoga may not be able to cure this issue that you’ve been dealing with over years, but it can deepen your connection to your body, in turn, shining a light on what may be continuing to aggravate it and that which supports and soothes the discomfort.
The Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system responds to environmental demands and helps us through changes and threats. Homeostasis is needed to put energy toward the important yet longer term projects of rest, repair and growth.
The sympathetic response, known as ‘fight or flight’ is effective and useful at times. It evolved to keep us safe and is a great way to increase our level of performance in a short-term act such as delivering a presentation or exercising. This response is an immediate and urgent one that draws our body’s energy away from ‘non-essential’ functions in that moment. Our heart rate and blood pressure increase while our immunity, fertility and digestion are put on hold.