On and Off the Mat…

A teacher once told me that you can tell how you live your life by the way you approach paschimottanasana. At that stage of my yoga, I was so desperate to get my head to touch my legs that I would grab hold of my feet and pull with all my might until my head almost touched my legs. My feet would be splaying out to the side, my spine would look like a steep mountain and my head would be tucked as I strained to achieve the position.  That isn’t to mention the tension in my jaw and shoulders and the holding of breath…but who cared? I almost touched my head to my legs …I was a real yogi!

Excuse the sarcasm, but it was not too far from the truth. I was so worried about looking a certain way and keeping up with the person next to me that it didn’t matter to me at the time that my practice of the posture was far from beneficial and probably counter productive.

When I looked at my personal life there was a certain resemblance to my practice. I had just moved to a new city, was trying to fit into a new job and make new friends. I was trying to keep up with the person next to me. Being a type A personality, I pushed my limits to succeed, inversely effecting my health and my outlook on life.  This very tight grip on life was not leading me where I wanted to go.

So, after some self reflection, I loosened my grip. I stopped taking myself so seriously and stopped trying to be someone or something I wasn’t. I worked at being content with where I was at in my life rather that trying keep up with the crowd. Not surprisingly, a lot of changes in my life and my relationships followed closely behind.

About this time, I was in another yoga class and when we moved into paschimottanasana, the teacher said “Good Jane.”  This was not because I had finally achieved perfection; in fact my chest and head were far away from my legs and my hands were rested on the floor beside my feet, BUT my spine was straight, my neck relaxed, my legs active and neutral, I was breathing and I had no idea what the person next to me looked like.  In fact, I was practicing yoga.  I now finally understood what my teacher meant when he said the way we practice paschimottanasana reflects how we live our life.

This is true for all postures, not just paschimottanasana. The way we are on and off the mat should not be separate; if there is a difference then we are not being true in some area of our life or practice. Being aware of this link can tell you a great deal about your state of mind and your current approach to life.  An awareness of this connection will let you know if there is a tension in your life you need to work through and will subsequently help the progression of your yoga.

So, take the time when you are next on the mat to pay some attention to the way you approach paschimottanasana…you may get more from that class that you expected.

By Jane

 

The Man for the Job.

We have an all women’s retreat, “Personalise Your Practice,” coming up this September. So you may find it strange that our guest teacher for this retreat is in fact….A MAN! We have asked Remy Quinter, a Canadian instructor living and teaching in Australia, to be part of this great 10 day exploration into Yoga and India. But if the retreat is just for women, why include Remy?

As part of our philosophy we ask only teachers we have personally worked with and whom, by experience, we know support and share the vision and theme of a particular retreat. And we think Remy is the perfect fit for this retreat.

Remy was my mentor at a very special time in my life. He was teaching in Sydney, where I was living at the time, and after hearing about his capabilities at helping individuals develop their personal practice, I asked for private yoga sessions. Remy arrived every Tuesday at 5:30 am by motorbike and we would spend the next one and a half hours in my lounge exploring the world of Yoga. Those ninety minutes became my most precious time of the week.

My weekly sessions with Remy involved far more than just some adjustments and yoga asana; we explored the relationship between yoga and daily life. I was going through a challenging time when I was considering some major life changes, including a change in career and my country of residence. Other changes were happening too, I had recently ended a relationship and I was suddenly rediscovering my independence and feminine power. I was far from grounded and even though my yoga was one of the things pushing me to make these changes, I was finding it hard to stay focused in my practice with so much happening around me.

Remy helped to guide and to ground me. Sometimes all we did was talk, but even then, he helped me direct my thoughts and bring forth clarity. We used asana meditation and pranayama to help channel my energy, improve my concentration and give me some fun yoga challenges to keep me going.

The fact that I am now living in India running yoga retreats takes away the suspense as to whether I decided to leave my job and country but ultimately it doesn’t matter what the decision was, the important point is that through yoga and Remy’s mentoring, I had the guidance to find my own truth and clarity and discover my power and independence. And as a result, my decision to change my life came from a place of authenticity and was not a reaction to what was happening in my life.

So when we were deciding on the guest teacher for this retreat, “Personalise Your Practice”, there was only one answer for me…Remy Quinter. In this case, he’s the man for the job.
By Jane

Let’s do the Twist!

One of the questions that my students have asked me more than once is “Does twisting in yoga really aid detox?”

If you have attended enough yoga classes, you have definitely heard at some point that twists are good for detoxing.  Now, yoga practice is good for detox for a number of reasons which we can look into in later, but what about twisting in particular, does it really help the body detoxify itself?

You will be happy to know the answer is … yes!

When we twist we are actually twisting from the middle part of the back, not the lower back.  This is the portion of the spine with more mobility, (the neck has the most!) and therefore it is the area of the rib cage that gets worked out the most in lots of the common twists. This is great for detox because most of our organs are located inside the ribcage.  So, every time you twist in your yoga practice you expand and contract this area giving all those busy internal organs a great massage!

When we ‘massage’ these organs the blood and fluids in this area get pumped faster and moved around more.  Circulation is increased and stagnant liquids get shaken up and stirred around. Engaging the muscles also improves the flow of lymphatic fluid, an important component in the removal of waste products.

Finally, just like muscles in our body, our organs are wrapped in fascia which becomes stiff when it is not moved or exercised.  When we twist,  we move and re-shape the fascia as well, helping to keep the organs inside healthy.

So go ahead, twist away (in your best yoga postures)!  Doing yoga is helping your body stay healthy and detoxifying it all at the same time.  Don’t you love multitasking?

We couldn’t agree more…..

 5 REASONS TO GO ON A

YOGA RETREAT

  

Something magical happens when a group of like-minded individuals gather together in a beautiful location to share the practice of yoga.  I can’t think of a better way to escape on a holiday.  Whether it is by yourself or with a friend or  two, a Yoga Retreat may be just want you need to recharge your life.

5 REASONS TO TO GO ON A YOGA RETREAT:

1. Deepen your practice.

In these busy lives we lead, finding the time to practice yoga can be a challenge.  A committed week of yoga could be just what you need to deepen your practice. On a retreat you will likely have 2 classes a day.  Practicing every day you will notice the changes not only in your physical body, but in your mental state as well. Coming home afterwards, you might even be inspired to start a new home practice or take your existing practice to a new level.

2. You will create a new perspective.

Going to a new and different place creates an opportunity to see the world, and yourself, in a new perspective. Experiencing the unknown is an accelerated way to grow and learn. You will have the luxury of time to do just what you want to do.  When you change your routine and your surroundings, you see things in a different light. 

3. Rest and relax

Being on a retreat is all about you, your yoga, eating healthy foods and slowing down.  Sometimes it is easier to give yourself that indulgence when you leave your comfort zone of home and go somewhere far away and exotic. And if your retreat is all-inclusive you get 3 healthy and delicious meals every day prepared for you. Most retreats also have free time in the afternoon to do what ever you like to make the most out of your day.

 4. Meet new like-minded people.

When a bunch of people on a similar path get together in a beautiful place, new friendships are bound to happen.  It is inspiring to surround yourself with other yogis from around the world and to practice together. Gathering like this in a group is sometimes the perfect mirror to remind us that, although everyone is unique, we are all connected.

 

5. You deserve it.

You work hard in your daily life and you can always find reasons why you should or excuses for not doing something for yourself. We all lead busy lives, and we often neglect to live life to its fullest. When you immerse yourself for a week, you find the creative juices just waiting to come out.  Not only do you find your own inspiration, but you come home and are able to share it with others.

From:  http://www.mandalayogamat.blogspot.in/2013/03/5-reasons-to-go-on-yoga-retreat.html  Posted Sunday, 24 March 2013