In an image-obsessed society, learning to love our bodies can seem like a hard task. Negative self-talk and comparisons to media-driven ideals often lead to ‘body-bashing’, frustration, and shame. Instead of viewing our bodies as an ally, we tend to critically assess the different parts and make an enemy of what we don’t like. Asana… Read more »
Any kind of yoga you undertake will move you closer toward your highest expression of self. But there’s something especially powerful about ashtanga yoga when it comes to discipline and accomplishing our goals. The most distinguishing trademark of Ashtanga yoga – more precisely called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga – is the connection of movement and breath…. Read more »
Adho Mukha Svanasana or downward-facing dogpose, is a posture practiced in every Yoga class in most lineages of this ancient art. In Ashtanga Vinyasa it constitutes one of the major building blocks of the practice. Function Most emphasis is placed on AMS (Adho Mukha Svanasana) in the sun-salutations – surya namaskara – where it is… Read more »
The opening mantra marks the beginning of each Yoga practice. It is a new start to what will be a different journey each time we move through our asanas. As at New Year we take stock, recognising where we are at in this given moment. We let go of the past, anticipating the path ahead… Read more »
The last decade has seen yoga experience the biggest boom yet, within its six thousand year practice. New studios are cropping up all over major cities, regional areas and even small towns, and more and more people are leaving their hectic lives behind to train as professional yoga instructors. All of these teachers were once… Read more »
Many beginners are intimidated by what they believe they need to ‘be’ before starting with yoga. Concerns over being too overweight or out of shape to commence practising yoga are common, as is feeling overly self-conscious or worried about what others in your class may think of you if you’re not able to achieve the… Read more »
To truly appreciate the benefits of yoga classes, it helps to understand how your body is being affected by the many different asana you learn. Here is a brief overview of the most important and influential parts of your yoga anatomy. Muscles and bones It probably won’t come as a surprise to many that your… Read more »
We all experience times of emotional turmoil once in a while. Someone might have wronged us, we feel misjudged or we are in conflict with the views of someone close etc. How can we use Yoga to stay in our centre, detached and calm, able to discern and communicate well, and then successfully move closer… Read more »
As the school year comes to an end, students across the country are sitting down to their final exams. This can be a busy and stressful time, with the outcome of studies often resting on the performance over the next month. If you’ve found the pressures of university or school are starting to weigh on… Read more »
There’s no denying that yoga is one of the few proven fitness trends out there that works wonders for both your body and mind. Not only does it stretch and tone the entire body, but it is an all-natural way to ease many symptoms of various mental health issues. Few sports or fitness methods can… Read more »