Welcome to our third newsletter and month of operation. What a beautiful time of year, blue skies, cool mornings, and warm days. Maybe a little cool in the mornings, with some of us finding it difficult to drum up the required motivation to get to a 7am class.
If you have not tried a morning class, I really do recommend giving it a shot. Although the body is not as warm and flexible to start with as an arvo class, and we may not get the same depth in the initial postures, the awesome feeling we have after the am class is quite invigorating. What a way to start the day!
How about some extra incentive? Bring a friend to their first class during the am this month, and your class is free. I hope that can wrench that blanket from your grips.
I also received the same question a few times last month - "How many classes should I do a week to get Yoga's full benefits?"
The simple answer is - the more classes you take, the more rapidly you will see results in your strength, flexibility, balance, and focus. Having said this, you will see a slight improvement in your asanas by attending one class a week. Any less than this and you will find that you are barely maintaining your current level.
I have a couple of students regularly doing two classes a week and have seen steady improvement in their first two months. My teacher once said to me that once you get to the three/four classes a week level you will really start to feel the differences in the body's systems, and as usual, he was correct.
Unlike some other forms of exercise, you will not injure yourself by practicing daily, in fact I totally encourage it. I am currently doing 17 classes a week, and although I get a little tight in the hamstrings after 5 classes on Tuesday, the rest of my body is thanking me immensely.
My only suggestion is that you go with what you are comfortable with, including all factors, such as time, costs, physical desire. You will know when you are at your desirable level. I look forward to seeing more of you all!
Have an awesome month of May Bryan Castle
A message from Dr Howard Cameron - Proprietor Ecolife Chiropractic.
How to Sleep Efficiently & Effectively
Sleep is essential for healing, rejuvenation and restoring your energy. Correct sleep posture ensures you get the maximum benefit from the time you spend sleeping. As an expert of the spine and central nervous system, below is a list I have compiled of the major prerequisites required for a peaceful sleep.
When sleeping, the natural curves of your spine (when viewed from the side) need to be maintained. To achieve this ‘neutral’ position, sleeping on your back is essential. The cervical (neck) curve needs to be supported. Chiropractic or Orthopaedic pillows are designed to fill in the space made by the neck curve and have a hollow for the head, which prevents forward head posture. Your arms should be by your side and not above your head, a sleeping habit indicative of poor postural curves.
When there are normal neck and thoracic (mid-back) curves, breathing through your nose is more likely. We are designed to inspire and expire through the nose. Nose breathing aids in oxygen exchange, immune system function and the prevention of snoring. Mouth breathing increases the likelihood of eyes, ears, nose and throat infections.
This means that if you sleep on your stomach it is not possible to have your spine in neutral. In this position your head must be turned to breath. In addition, it normally involves one arm being placed above your head and the opposite knee and hip being flexed. Sleeping on your side, although better than lying on your stomach, still causes changes to ‘normal’ spinal curves. Rarely will the trunk not be flexed (assuming the foetal position or part-there-of). Lying on your back uses gravity to your advantage. This helps unwind the postural stresses of sitting and slumping. If it is uncomfortable to sleep on your back it is a sign your spinal cord is under postural tension. Misalignment of the spine and poor posture (subluxations) dictates your sleeping position. Get a family member to take a photo of you in your favourite sleeping position and look for yourself. Being in this position for eight hours every night makes this postural pattern further engrained.
Your Mattress needs to be one of quality. It must be firm enough to support your overall spine but have enough compliance to fill in your postural curves. Example; in a hammock you loose all your postural curves. Whereas lying on the floor will definitely support your overall spine but you will not have the normal hollows supported, hence not be neutral. Stretching before you go to bed unwinds your spine and spinal cord. When inflammation caused by poor posture and micro-trauma (repetitive strain) occurs during the course of the day it means you wake up stiff and sore the next morning. When your spine is well balanced and you are breathing properly, disciplined in relaxation techniques, participating in cardiovascular exercise, and have an innate diet, you are well on the way to sleeping more efficiently and effectively.
Written by Howard Cameron BSc (Anatomy/ Physiology) Master of Chiropractic. www.ecolifechiro.com
A message from the Personal Training Community and one of the Coast's most dedicated professionals in this wonderful form of training -
Noni from Play, Fun, Fitness and Performance
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The Purpose of Yoga - Finding Direction By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
One of Yoga's benefits is that it enables the practitioner to find direction, purpose, and self-discovery. How often do you hear people say, "I need time to find myself?"
Another popular statement is, "Why am I here?" This is another example of the limits of the human mind. We cannot help it, but many of us suffer from limited thinking.
Even when you ask a crowd of Yoga students to visualize what they want - they may not be able to focus. Many people do not know what they want, but they desire everything. Take an adult or a child to a shopping mall, and you may see limited thinking, combined with unlimited desire.
When a child is confused, we find this acceptable, but when an adult is confused, with unlimited desires, and limited thinking, we have a dangerous combination. How can a man or woman be at peace when each object of our desires promises us satisfaction once we possess it?
What moral code can stand up to unlimited wanting? Schools of thought, philosophies, and religions, have guidelines for coveting and non-attachment, but mankind still pursues its desires.
This cycle is then repeated throughout life. Much like a "dog chasing its tail," we jump from one object of desire to the next. This can even occur with non-material desires.
At an Asian culture and arts workshop, I once met a young martial artist who wanted to understand the true purpose and meaning of God. His parents had brought him up as a Christian.
Later, he became a devout Christian, Hindu, and a Moslem, within the span of one year. When he was at any point in his religious studies, he could have found the answer to his questions, but instead he kept jumping from one religion to the next.
All he could see was conflictive thought, but he missed the universal principles of good, which exist within all religions. Years have passed by, with confusion, and he cannot piece his spiritual health together because he is still grasping at the differences between all religions. His parents, friends, and all the Holy men he has met, have told him to pursue just one religious path and he will find his answers.
Swami Krishnananda once said, "No saint has been able to maintain the spiritual balance throughout his life. There have been occasional reversals, though these might not have left any impression, on their minds, any more than the mark left by a stick drawn on water. But the mark is there when it appears. Such is the difficulty of leading the spiritual life. The case of immature seekers is much more precarious, indeed."
The limited ability for mankind to see a commonality with his neighbor, and his neighbor's right to worship in a different way, has caused conflicts, killing, and warfare. We are all connected to each other, but sometimes we see only the disconnection, or we wish to set limits on the connection.
The truth is: From birth until death, we are connected to those around us. Whether we like it, or not, we are part of nature and the universe.
In Yoga, we learn the Law of Karma. This is a universal principle and makes us aware that we must always be responsible for our actions, regardless of how small they may seem at the time. It is not "rocket science" to behave well at all times.
