Yoga Path Sydney

Clearing the mind with the Feb Fast?

2012-02-02T16:38:00.001+11:00

February hosts the Feb Fast where we are encouraged to dry out from the alcohol-fuelled Christmas and New Year period. The Feb Fast is designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce alcohol consumption all while raising much-needed funds and awareness for support, mentoring and assistance for young people with alcohol and other drug problems. We can fall into unhealthy and destructive behaviours - such as excessive drinking - almost by accident when we stop paying attention to ourselves. Taking time out to simply stop and breathe can bring an awareness which shows us where our behaviours need a bit of modification. So investigate meditation or pranayama (yoga breathing) as valuable tools to keep your mind clear and focussed. More info at Yoga Journal

What's your New Year's Sankalpa?

2012-01-03T15:02:00.002+11:00

In yogic traditions a Sankalpa is an intention - stated mentally at the beginning of a practice to assist in focusing the mind on the purpose or intention of the activity and the desired result. We can apply this to our approach to New Year's Resolutions to not only assist in acheiving these desired outcomes but to begin to understand our attitudes and behaviours which are detrimental to our health and happiness. For more reading on this topic go to http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/yoga-international-magazine/inspiration-articles/inspired-intention/

Strong is the New Skinny

2011-11-30T21:16:00.002+11:00

Being strong is so much more than lifting weights or smacking a tennis ball at 200 kph. Physical strength is vital to fitness and longevity and plays an important role in gaining and maintaining health and happiness. Physical strength through fitness provides a formidable foundation on which the body is able to defend itself against disease and injury. It also leads the way to mental and emotional strength which makes life worthwhile. This month's featured yoga poses (Asana) build strength on all levels of your being. See STRONG

National Carers Week 16 -23 October

2011-10-18T17:28:00.003+11:00

Carers around the country are the unsung heroes of the community. Providing not only physical care and emotional support, carers are also responsible for guiding those they help through the medical system, government departments, social situations and all of life's everyday elements. This week aims to shine a light on the great work of these people and demonstrate some support for those who dedicate their lives to supporting others. If you are a Carer stress and depression can very easily plague your life. When you can take a few minutes for some simple yoga stretches or breathing exercises. If time is very limited perhaps get a relaxation or meditation CD to play before you go to bed. Remember to share some of that love and care with yourself. For more information on support for Careres go to www.carersaustralia.com.au

RU OK? Day - Yoga's role in helping with Depression

2011-09-14T13:29:00.000+10:00

http://www.ruokday.com.au RU OK? Day is September 15th and encourages us to reach out to those around us who may be withdrawn, depressed, isolated or in need of some compassion and support. Yoga practice can assist with symptoms of depression and anxiety and be a great complement to modern medical treatments and medications. Talk to your doctor about incorporating Yoga into your treatment and illness management plan.

After Dry July - Maintaining Awareness

2011-08-01T15:25:00.002+10:00

Now that Dry July is over are you bolting back to the pub after work tonight? Or did the exercise of abstinence from alcohol give you a clearer picture of your habits and the triggers for drinking. Yoga philosphy talks about the Niyamas - or observances and attitudes towards ourselves. One of the Niyamas is TAPAS which literally means to heat the body therefore cleansing it. To relate it to modern life it can be viewed as keeping the body internally clean by paying attention to what we eat/ imbibe and being aware in any moment of what we are ingesting and why. This casts a whole new light on a night at the pub and the often unthinking way we knock back the drinks. So perhaps stopping the rounds and taking one drink at a time to think about how and why you are using alcohol may be helpful in making the move towards a clearer head and a healthier body. www.dryjuly.com

Diabetes Awareness Week - Yoga can help

2011-07-10T20:13:00.001+10:00

Along with your professional medical advice and diabetic medication - yoga can be an important part of your management program for diabetes. An easy and effective place to begin with Yoga is with the essential elements of breath awareness (pranayama) and relaxation. The key is managing and relaxing your breathing. Deep, slwo breathing delivers immediate benefits and taking the time to step out of your busy life for a few minutes a day can do wonders for your mental and physical health. Here is a simple breath awareness technique to get you started:

sit or lay comfortably in a quiet place
place your hand on the diaphram area (between the bottom rib and the belly button)
bring your attention to your breath and simply observe your breath quality
when you feel settled you can begin to guide your breath:

inhale to the count of 4
exhale to the count of 5

keep the jaw and face muscles relaxed
observe the movement of your diaphram and gently encourage deeper, slower breathing
continue with this breath pattern for as long as you feel comfortable
over time see if you can double the ratio of inhale/ exhale to 1:2 counts

Once you have mastered this you will be amazed at how you can summon this breathing exercise anywhere, anytime. So now you have the ability to reboot the body and mind in a minute or two.

The hardest part of a yoga class...

2010-11-13T21:43:00.003+11:00

... is getting there. Hands up all of you whose health practitioner has told you that you would gain benefit from doing yoga. Insomnia, anxiety, diabetes, back pain, digestive disorders - can all be relieved by regular yoga practice. And yet, you just haven't made it to a class. Why? There are probably many reasons but one that rings true for all of us is the low priority we give to our own health and well being. Kids, work, family all come before we give anything to ourselves - especially on the health front.

Well, now is the time to reprioritise because, as well all know, without your health you have nothing. So give it a go. I recognise that the popular representations of yoga in the media show classes of perfect bodies in frightening pretzel-like positions, but there is a style suitable for you. So do a bit of research - check out www.findyoga.com.au and explore the myriad of approaches to yoga to find one that is right for you. As we say at the IYTA - yoga is for every body www.iyta.org.au

What do you think? What stops you doing yoga?