An interesting concept - we are not called human doings or human tryings - we are called human beings for a reason.
Maybe it is because if we enjoy being on our own, by being still for even a short time each day, by listening to what we actually need and want and honouring ourselves by slowing down to enjoy life -we become more aware of ourselves and can truly enjoy life's treasures.
Or maybe this is too simple for us to understand in a world that encourages us to rush, to be busy and stressed?
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Yoga Retreat at Ohui
Yesterday a group of 9 from Waihi and Waihi Beach visited Ohui Yoga Retreat at Opoutere. We started out at 7am. What a wonderful day. The drive along Opoutere's estuary and through the native bush to get to the retreat was beautiful in itself. When we got there we enjoyed a cup of herbal tea and I felt relaxed at once.It was lovely to see Atma and her darling boy Lazlo who has an enchanted life at the ashram. Shantimurti led a 2 hour yoga session for us and I felt in the zone right through. A delicious lunch and then yoga nidra. During the 2 hour break following some went for a walk, some swam in the warm surf, some slept, some read and others just chatted. The next session was yoga nada - all about using sound to purify one's emotions and mind. Another tasty vegetarian meal and then goodbyes and we were home by 8pm. If anyone thinks they need time out from their hectic life I can recommend a fantastic day, place and people.
www.ashramyoga.com
www.ashramyoga.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
pregnancy yoga
Tonight Pregnancy yoga is starting again. I love the way yoga helps with pregnancy - not only does it help with aches and pains that develop, it makes more room for baby and during the yoga session mums to be can really relax. During yoga nidra I see them going into a beautiful place where they can communicate with their babies and prepare for child birth and motherhood. These yoga sessions are so precious and it is so lovely to share their pregancy.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
yoga on Waihi Beach to see2011 in
Had an amazing start to 2011. At 6.30am led a group for yoga in front of the surf club at Waihi Beach. About 10 people came along - some yoginis and some holiday makers who had never done yoga before. Together we did yoga for an hour while we listened to the surf, birds and felt the warm sun on us. It was magical. I understand feeling at one with nature when I do yoga on the beach. It probably sounds weird, but when we were doing downward facing dog, I looked at the horizon 'upside down' and was astonished how beautiful it seemed.
People gave a donation to the surf club, and I love helping our surf club who always are there for us. Starting the new year with yoga on the beach was such fun,I would like to make it an annual event. Maybe next year there will be more people coming along.
People gave a donation to the surf club, and I love helping our surf club who always are there for us. Starting the new year with yoga on the beach was such fun,I would like to make it an annual event. Maybe next year there will be more people coming along.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
New Year
I am thinking ahead to the New Year. Last year my New Year's Resolution was more spiritual - and harder for me to achieve than something physical! It was always there for me to aspire to.
In yoga there are yama and niyama as the first two limbs of an eight limbed path to samadhi. They are moral and ethical restraints and observances.
Ahimsa is harmlessness. It is not harming anyone or anything by your thoughts, words or deeds. It is about walking and moving gently and treating everything in a loving and gentle way - this creates a harmless vibration on the physical level first.
Then there are words - how often do we say something that is cruel or harsh and can cause pain to others? Speech should be non harmful, truthful, beneficial and pleasant and this will cause a harmless vibration with your speech.
Then there are thoughts - these are energy too - each thought affects every part of your body and then creates your mood. Instead of hurting the other person you are thinking harmful thoughts about, you are hurting yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.
These negative thoughts create negative energy. By dwelling on negative experiences, you are reliving negative experiences physically and emotionally.
The yogic way is to replace with love - love everything and everyone unconditionally. No expectations - with expectations you are always going to end up disappointed.
No one can make you happy. No one or nothing can be relied upon to make you happy
Now maybe you can see why I think Ahimsa will be my new year's resolution forever.
In yoga there are yama and niyama as the first two limbs of an eight limbed path to samadhi. They are moral and ethical restraints and observances.
Ahimsa is harmlessness. It is not harming anyone or anything by your thoughts, words or deeds. It is about walking and moving gently and treating everything in a loving and gentle way - this creates a harmless vibration on the physical level first.
Then there are words - how often do we say something that is cruel or harsh and can cause pain to others? Speech should be non harmful, truthful, beneficial and pleasant and this will cause a harmless vibration with your speech.
Then there are thoughts - these are energy too - each thought affects every part of your body and then creates your mood. Instead of hurting the other person you are thinking harmful thoughts about, you are hurting yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.
These negative thoughts create negative energy. By dwelling on negative experiences, you are reliving negative experiences physically and emotionally.
The yogic way is to replace with love - love everything and everyone unconditionally. No expectations - with expectations you are always going to end up disappointed.
No one can make you happy. No one or nothing can be relied upon to make you happy
Now maybe you can see why I think Ahimsa will be my new year's resolution forever.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
get into summer fitness
Before Christmas there are lots of get-togethers to attend, work still happens each day and the food can be very different from our daily routine. Gradually we may become more lethargic in the mornings.
A great way to energise ourselves, do our body and mind good and give our energy a kick start for the day is to do some salutes to the sun. They are a complete yogic workout and will leave you feeling a different person ready to face the day.
It only takes 10 minutes for 12 sun salutes. Highly energising sun salutes will provide challenge for the fittest person by working many muscles and parts of the body you may not have known you have. It is just as good for a person who is not used to working out - they can be done as slowly as you wish - just like any yoga - it is very personal.
Sun salutes are ideally done first thing in the morning and are guaranteed to uplift our spirits, calm our minds, exercise our body and set us up for an amazing day ahead.
If you are interested, this is how you do them.
Salute to the Sun Sequence
• Stand with your arms bent at the elbow, hands pressed together in prayer position in front of the chest
• INHALE; raise your arms up over your head then lean backwards as much as is comfortable. Look behind you. Hold for a brief few seconds
• EXHALE fold forward slowly bring your arms down in front of you all the way to the floor. ( knees are extended but not locked)
• INHALE step your left foot back to lunge position, while bending the right knee. EXHALE
• INHALE bring your right foot back to meet the left foot you are now in (downward facing dog) position. Hold your breath for a second or two
• EXHALE, lower your body down, raise your elbows, and rest on your hands, here the hands, chin, knees and toes are all touching the floor
• INHALE, raise your head, shoulders and chest up into the cobra position. The hips should not leave the floor. For those who are able to go from the downward facing dog position straight into the cobra position please do so, then EXHALE and come back down to the floor with your head and shoulders
• INHALE, raise your body to form a peak or the downward facing dog position again. EXHALE
• INHALE, assume the lunge position as in step 4 by bringing your left foot forward and placed flat on the floor between the arms
• EXHALE now step the right foot forward so the feet are together, try to touch your nose to your knees
• INHALE Lift your arms and torso up above your head and if you can lean backwards and hold your breath for a second or two
• EXHALE resume prayer posture with your hands in front of the chest the back is straight the legs are straight.
Stimulates digestive fire
Builds up endurance and resistance to illness
Builds up pranic energy
Removes toxins
Balances all of body’s systems
Balances pineal gland and hypothalamus (which regulates pituitary and therefore all glands
Makes body supple and toned
A great way to energise ourselves, do our body and mind good and give our energy a kick start for the day is to do some salutes to the sun. They are a complete yogic workout and will leave you feeling a different person ready to face the day.
It only takes 10 minutes for 12 sun salutes. Highly energising sun salutes will provide challenge for the fittest person by working many muscles and parts of the body you may not have known you have. It is just as good for a person who is not used to working out - they can be done as slowly as you wish - just like any yoga - it is very personal.
Sun salutes are ideally done first thing in the morning and are guaranteed to uplift our spirits, calm our minds, exercise our body and set us up for an amazing day ahead.
If you are interested, this is how you do them.
Salute to the Sun Sequence
• Stand with your arms bent at the elbow, hands pressed together in prayer position in front of the chest
• INHALE; raise your arms up over your head then lean backwards as much as is comfortable. Look behind you. Hold for a brief few seconds
• EXHALE fold forward slowly bring your arms down in front of you all the way to the floor. ( knees are extended but not locked)
• INHALE step your left foot back to lunge position, while bending the right knee. EXHALE
• INHALE bring your right foot back to meet the left foot you are now in (downward facing dog) position. Hold your breath for a second or two
• EXHALE, lower your body down, raise your elbows, and rest on your hands, here the hands, chin, knees and toes are all touching the floor
• INHALE, raise your head, shoulders and chest up into the cobra position. The hips should not leave the floor. For those who are able to go from the downward facing dog position straight into the cobra position please do so, then EXHALE and come back down to the floor with your head and shoulders
• INHALE, raise your body to form a peak or the downward facing dog position again. EXHALE
• INHALE, assume the lunge position as in step 4 by bringing your left foot forward and placed flat on the floor between the arms
• EXHALE now step the right foot forward so the feet are together, try to touch your nose to your knees
• INHALE Lift your arms and torso up above your head and if you can lean backwards and hold your breath for a second or two
• EXHALE resume prayer posture with your hands in front of the chest the back is straight the legs are straight.
Stimulates digestive fire
Builds up endurance and resistance to illness
Builds up pranic energy
Removes toxins
Balances all of body’s systems
Balances pineal gland and hypothalamus (which regulates pituitary and therefore all glands
Makes body supple and toned
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Yoga
Coming home from work really tired can be an ordeal. All you want is to relax on the couch with a glass of wine or beer.
Just once, try lying on the floor with your feet up the wall for 10 minutes. Feel the small of your back firm on the floor with your legs at 45 degrees to the wall. The other option is to have your buttocks against the wall with your legs vertically. See which you prefer.
Relaxing like this is heavenly for aching legs, puffy ankles, hot sweaty swollen feet. As well as helping relieve tiredness, lack of energy and sore legs it is great for your whole body. Because it is an inversion, fresh blood, therefore oxygen and nutrients are brought to your brain, bringing energy to your body. If you suffer from varicose veins or haemorrhoids, you may notice an improvement. What have you got to lose - nothing - but you have a lot to gain. A great habit to get into. I remember when I was in a very stressful teaching position and when I look back - putting my feet up the wall - and relaxing when I was on my own - certainly helped the situation, which is why I recommend you try it.
Just once, try lying on the floor with your feet up the wall for 10 minutes. Feel the small of your back firm on the floor with your legs at 45 degrees to the wall. The other option is to have your buttocks against the wall with your legs vertically. See which you prefer.
Relaxing like this is heavenly for aching legs, puffy ankles, hot sweaty swollen feet. As well as helping relieve tiredness, lack of energy and sore legs it is great for your whole body. Because it is an inversion, fresh blood, therefore oxygen and nutrients are brought to your brain, bringing energy to your body. If you suffer from varicose veins or haemorrhoids, you may notice an improvement. What have you got to lose - nothing - but you have a lot to gain. A great habit to get into. I remember when I was in a very stressful teaching position and when I look back - putting my feet up the wall - and relaxing when I was on my own - certainly helped the situation, which is why I recommend you try it.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Yoga and Reflexology at the Beach: Welcome...
I was interested to read an article in the NZ Herald on Saturday 13th November in the boating section, written by Mike Rose (who happens to have a bacht at Waihi Beach).
The article is titled ' Mind power can beat sea sickness'
It has been discovered that ' biofeedback training' is more effective than even the powerful anti-nausea drugs given to astronauts.
It outlines all the benefits of the biofeed technique, making it sound very scientific.
'We don't teach relaxation, we teach control. It improves with practice, like any other skill,' says Dr Patricia S.Cowings from Nasa's Ames Research Centre.
Here's the interesting part - If you get nauseated, get your breathing smooth and even, with two seconds of inhalation and two seconds of exhalation. Breathe from low in your abdomen and keep that up for as long as you can... Of course you can always knock yourself out with a pill... if you don't mind drowsiness. However, AFTE has no side effects and once you learn, it lasts forever.'
Hello!!! This is a yogic breath that has been discovered 5000 years ago. When I read the article I wondered if it was for real - and I am still wondering.
The article is titled ' Mind power can beat sea sickness'
It has been discovered that ' biofeedback training' is more effective than even the powerful anti-nausea drugs given to astronauts.
It outlines all the benefits of the biofeed technique, making it sound very scientific.
'We don't teach relaxation, we teach control. It improves with practice, like any other skill,' says Dr Patricia S.Cowings from Nasa's Ames Research Centre.
Here's the interesting part - If you get nauseated, get your breathing smooth and even, with two seconds of inhalation and two seconds of exhalation. Breathe from low in your abdomen and keep that up for as long as you can... Of course you can always knock yourself out with a pill... if you don't mind drowsiness. However, AFTE has no side effects and once you learn, it lasts forever.'
Hello!!! This is a yogic breath that has been discovered 5000 years ago. When I read the article I wondered if it was for real - and I am still wondering.
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