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THE POWER OF YOGA
Yoga is a pathway to enlightenment winding back 5,000 years in its
native India. It is now a way of life for those of us who used to
think ‘practice’ meant mastering the art of carrying all
your groceries in one go as you crossed the supermarket car park.
Encouraged by reports of the rich and famous doing it, many of our
frequent spa goers are wanting to know more about yoga and how it
can assist with achieving the ultimate goal of life balance.
Simply, yoga is a series of techniques and practices aimed at harmonising
the mind, the body and the spirit. Yoga is ideal for people in highly
competitive, stressful working environments and can heal the rift
between the mind and body. Yoga has been highly recommended for those
who suffer headaches, back and shoulder pain and other stress related
ailments.
Spring is a great time to begin your Yoga practice and enjoying the
benefits of improved posture and oxygen intake and boosting your respiratory,
digestive, endocrine, reproductive and elimination systems. Yoga focuses
on both the mind and the body and has a positive effect on your emotions;
thereby attuning you to the environment, calming your mind and diminishing
the mental restlessness that may be keeping you awake at night.
Your first yoga practice can be done at home and in less than 10 minutes
with a few simple steps. Work on a couple of simple Yoga poses to
begin with and when you feel you’ve mastered a move, extend
your time in that pose. Yoga’s growing popularity means there
are many Yoga centres, gyms and spas now offering yoga as a group
or individual practice. Choose to work slowly in your practice with
group or individual classes and you will experience a great sense
of achievement and life balance.
Spring into this season with two simple yoga poses that are easy to
follow, a great start to your body-mind-spirit exercise routine, and
are aligned with the season of bliss.
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Courtesy Jessie Chapman:
Postures for your mind, body and soul. |
Child Pose
The first of our poses is "Child Pose". This stretch is
great for people who store stress and tension in the lower back. This
simple pose is an excellent way to relax the lower back and find tranquillity.
The Child Pose lengthens the spine, rounds out the inner curve of
the lower back and widens the back of the pelvis.
Step 1
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Beginner:
Kneel forward, placing your head on your arms outstretched in
front of you on the floor. |
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Medium:
If this pose is comfortable, spread your arms apart and rest
your forehead on the floor. |
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Advanced:
If you are still comfortable in this pose, take your arms behind,
resting them on the ground, palms up. |
Step 2
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Exhale
toward the back of the waist, and relax the hips. |
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As
the in-breath comes, feel the back ribs widening. |
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Stay
in the pose, breathing, as long as is comfortable. |
Master each stage one at a time. Go back to the previous stage if
you feel uncomfortable.
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Courtesy Jessie Chapman:
Postures for your mind, body and soul. |
Tree Pose
This pose is perfect for the season of spring, signifying a wonderful
upward growth that refreshes body and mind. The Tree Pose enhances
our sense of balance and centredness. In the Tree Pose, everything
below the waist sinks down, while the upper body lengthens up with
the exhalation. We recommend doing this pose barefoot. Use a chair
if you need to help yourself balance.
Step 1
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Stand
with your feet shoulder width apart, distributing your weight
evenly on both feet. |
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Take
your weight onto your left leg. |
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Exhale
and bend your right knee up, rotating your hip and placing your
right foot on your upper thigh of your left leg with the heel
close to the crotch and your toes pointing down. |
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To
move your foot higher, hold your ankle with your right hand
and move the foot up. |
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Allow
the bent knee to press your right heel in against your thigh,
while your left thigh is strong against your foot. |
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Inhale
as needed. |
Step 2
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Keep
your left leg and ankle standing tall and straight. |
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Your
left foot stays quiet, expanding against the ground, weight
in the heel. |
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When
balancing, feel the vertical action of gravity drawing you straighter
over your supporting leg. |
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If
the balance is difficult, place your hand on the back of a chair.
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Fold
your knee in towards the chair, as this improves straightness
and balance over the supporting leg. |
Step 3
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As
you exhale, drop your weight down through your tailbone, while
lengthening your spine up to the crown of your head. |
Step 4
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Exhale
and place the palms of your hands together in the prayer position
a few inches from your chest. |
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When
you feel ready, raise your arms above your head. You may want
to spread your hands apart and visualize them as branches. Don’t
be afraid to sway a little, just as a tree sways. |
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Let
the in-breath come easily. |
Step 5
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After holding the pose for a few moments, lower your arms and foot and repeat the pose standing on your right leg. |
Namaste! (a symbol of gratitude & respect) |
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Good
health and happiness,
