Welcome to Yoga Vida's second newsletter, and our second month of operation. Thank you for your patience during the transitions between Kawana and Mooloolaba. Also, thanks for the continued (and hopeful increase in) support, for the remaining Kawana classes.
As the new Ecolife studio in Mooloolaba continues to grow, I look forward to watching each of you develop and grow in your own practises, and have indeed witnessed some leaps and bounds already (you guys know who you are!)
As you all continue to grow in your asanas, you will also start to notice the progression of the class levels. While all classes remain available for all levels, the future may hold some changes in the way they are structured. A future schedule will soon include classes dedicated to Hip Openers, Back Strengthening, Cardio Vinyasa or Stress Busting.
Please visit www.yogavida.com.au to check for new classes being added, and feel free to send any ideas or feedback to me at jed25@hotmail.com, or call 0414 219 478, or of course stay after class for a chat. Hope to see you at a class this week.
Enjoy this month's newsletter, including some introductions to a great crew of our local wellness providers, our posture of the month, and a little medical info from one of India's leading yogic doctors.
Love and Light, Bryan Castle
Introducing Dr Howard Cameron - Senior Chiropractor and Proprietor of our lovely new studio
Dr Howard Cameron BSc(Anatomy/Physiology), Master of Chiropractic.
I aim to help everyone in the community from any walk of life. Anyone equipped with better health and lifestyle information can reach their full life potential. Once one human being performs any task(not just physically) it opens the door for everyone else. What's really exciting is how that first challenge was pondered? What you think is what is materialised.
I enjoy learning about life, health and the science of spirituality. Understanding how to unlock peoples' limiting beliefs drives my learning.
Being associated with elite athletes and highly motivated people allows me to understand what mental, physical and chemical attributes are required to perform at the highest level. I will endevour to always pass on vital information to people who value themselves enough to find out how they can live a more fulfilling life.
I hope to see you @ Ecolife Chiropractic soon.
Kind Regards, Dr Howard Cameron.
POSTURE OF THE MONTH - SURYA NAMASKAR - SUN SALUTATION SEQUENCE - by Jimmy Barkan, Founder of The Barkan Method of Yoga
Introduction:
I believe the sun-salutes are by far the best “warm-up” one can do. The Sun-Salutations generate internal heat to properly warm up every area of the body, especially if you’re doing yoga at home and can’t heat the room. When teaching seminars or conferences on the road, many times I’m forced to teach in cold rooms. I lead the class through multiple Sun-Salutes to generate internal heat, otherwise students may get injured!
If you are not familiar with our Sun-Salutes, here are the instructions:
Start with feet together, all four corners of the feet rooted to the ground, hands in prayer position, palms flat at the heart chakra. Inhale, bring arms overhead, interlace fingers and stretch up toward the ceiling while grounding your feet. Exhale, swan dive, fold in ½ forward bend, hang and soften like rag doll. Squat, inhale and float the right leg back, lunge, making sure the left knee is directly over the left ankle, extending right leg back to open the hips, (modify by dropping back knee), and step left foot back. Plank or push-up position, (shoulders over the wrists, hands and feet shoulder width apart) Push up, Chaturanga (modify both knees on floor). Push down into Upward Facing Dog/URDHVA MUKHA SHVANASANA/ with tops of feet on floor, inner thighs lifted to the ceiling, and lower the hips one inch from the floor, shoulders down (modify by lowering hips all the way to the floor in a lifted cobra). Exhale Downward Dog/ARDHO MUKHA SHVANASANA, spread fingers and toes, set the shoulders back toward the ceiling, then out to the side walls, point middle fingers to front mirror, work to bring your chest and head to the floor, lift hips up to the ceiling feeling the stretch from your hands all the way to your lower spine. Lunge right leg up, then left leg. Squat. Forward bend. Roll up, hands to prayer position at the heart. Half Moon backward bending (optional). 2nd set Flow right into forward bend and repeat. First set 6 counts each part, second set 3 counts.
JIMMY'S HINTS & TIPS: Beginners: The Sun-Salutes are meant as a warm-up, so take your time and go into “warm-up mode”. The downward dog (step # 8) is such a wonderful pose but you must protect your shoulders. Set the shoulders toward the tailbone away from your neck, then out toward the side walls, then rotate your elbows in. In order to do the Downward Dog properly, think of by bringing your chest down toward the floor. As you push into the floor, think of pushing all the way up the spine to the tailbone (root-chakra). Don’t forget to breathe. Many times beginners are too focused on alignment and forget to breathe.
Intermediate: I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters the importance of excellence. If you’re practicing yoga frequently it’s real easy to get complacent and just “go through the motions”. Since the Sun-Salutes are not too demanding on physical positioning, use this sequence to stay in the moment. Bring excellence into each movement and each breath. Through consciousness and awareness find the prefect position. And in so doing, you’ll honor your yoga and honor yourself.
Advanced: The last Niyama, of Patanjali’s Eight-limb Path is called Ishvara Pranidhana, which means “dedication”. It is an ancient tradition in Hatha Yoga to honor the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and God in beginning a yogic practice. In my “Hot Vinyasa” class along with the Sun-Salutes, we also do a sequence called “Salute to Gods and Goddesses”. If you want to take your practice to another more spiritual level, dedicate your Sun-Salutes, or any Asana to a significant person in your life or to whatever image of Divinity is in your heart. One of the most important benefits yoga can bring into our lives is the ability to shatter the illusion that we’re separate. Use your Yoga practice to connect to the world and the universe.
OBESITY AND SURYA NAMASKAR By Dr. Rita Khanna
The dynamic series known as Surya Namaskara (Salutation to the Sun) is the best way to burn the calories and reduce weight. Surya Namaskara is full Yoga by itself. It tones up the whole body & has a unique influence on the endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous system, helping to correct metabolic imbalances that cause and perpetuate obesity.
Being a dynamic practice, it is also an excellent exercise equated to cycling, jogging, or swimming. Practiced daily, it will not only help you in reducing weight but will bring flexibility to your spine and joints. It will rejuvenate you & bring in beauty and longevity. It is best done while the stomach is empty.
The Sun Salutation is a graceful sequence of twelve positions performed as one continuous exercise. Each position counteracts the one before, stretching the body in a different way and alternately expanding and contracting the chest to regulate the breathing.
Introducing Bridget Jane - Food Body Lifestyle Guru - director & founder of New Leaf Nutrition. Visit www.newleafnutrition.com.au
Bridget is an accredited practicing dietitian (APD) with a special interest and passion for transforming lives. Having been an overweight and bullied child herself, Bridget understands only too well how excess weight can impact on the quality of a person’s life.
Not wanting to become an overweight teenager and adult, Bridget set about finding a sensible way to be able to enjoy food, never be hungry AND lose weight.
Learning over time just how good healthy food could be, and discovering how well exercise made her feel, Bridget developed an intense passion for health and fitness. She wanted EVERYONE to know there was an enjoyable and fun way to lose weight, an achievable answer that lead to an unbelievably fulfilling and energetic life.
Bridget's message is a simple one. She wants everyone to have the opportunity to realise:
Health and an amazing life are to a large degree, your choice.
Learn how to make the decisions, live the behaviours, and take the action that enables you to live a wildly fulfilling, fun and energetic life!
This message is for EVERYONE at ANY AGE!
Health, vitality and wellness are your right! Claim them today!
