Hatha Yoga
In my classes I hope to bring a sense of purpose into the practice not just as a physical exercise for one hour, but as an experience that we can take with us into our everyday activities. We practice to tone our muscles, strengthen our bones, oxygenate the blood, improve our balance and increase flexibility using the poses and movements to accomplish that and we use the breath to support us as we move through, in and out of the poses. We also use it as a point of focus for mindfulness. Mindfulness is non-judgemental observation, the ability of the mind to observe without criticism. With this ability we simply take a balanced interest in things exactly as they are in their natural states. The breathing techniques, or Pranayama, we offer in class are mostly focused on breath awareness promoting a natural and effortless breathing pattern and quieting the mind to relax the body creating a peaceful calm within.
In a typical class we’ll begin with a relaxation either resting on the back or occasionally sitting in a comfortable position, centering, and focusing on the breath, pranayama, and body awareness. It is followed by gradual stretches and a variety of postures (asanas), at a slower pace and sometimes with a flow. The class ends with a visualization in Savasana (Classic relaxation pose), the most important pose of them all, a deep relaxation where the awareness is focused inwards to experience an inner stillness, peace and harmony with which we can approach our everyday activities.
Ways Yoga improves Health (source: Yoga Journal – partial list)
Improves your flexibility * Builds muscle strength * Perfect your posture * Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown * Betters your bone health * Increases your blood flow * Drains your lymphs and boosts immunity * Ups your heart rate * Drops your blood pressure * Regulates your adrenal glands * Makes you happier * Founds a healthy lifestyle * Lowers blood sugar * Helps you focus * Relaxes your nervous system * Improves you balance * Maintains your nervous system * Releases tension in your limbs * Helps you sleep deeper * Boosts you immune system functionality * Gives your lungs room to breathe * Prevents some digestive problems * Gives you peace of mind * Increases your self-esteem * Eases your pain * Gives you inner strength * Builds awareness for Transformation * Encourages self-care * Benefits your relationships.
Meditation
What is meditation?
Meditation is the process of experiencing a state of pure awareness. Through calming the mind and emotions you can experience a state of peace and tranquility. Meditation is a simple technique that can be learned in a few minutes. To master it requires continued practice, guidance and mature knowledge of the process.
According to the science of meditation, optimum existence is experienced when even the most subtle aspect of your thought leads you to the experience of peace or harmony. Subtle forms of thought are called waves of perception. Through the practice of meditation you can train yourself to de-identify with the passing thoughts or waves of perception that lead the attention towards identifying with stressful situations. Instead you focus on the pure awareness state, also called the knower or experiencer of thoughts. When you no longer identify or become mixed in any particular thought or physical sensation, then the space behind the thought, which is always peaceful, is experienced. This is termed by psychologists as a peak experience, the transpersonal self, and by yogic practitioners as the fourth state of consciousness.
Through the practice of meditation and the observation of your thoughts, you develop the power to discriminate between those thoughts that are useful and those that are not. The mind is seen as an instrument that is used to perceive the world. You can develop the power to observe your mental functioning and maintain the awareness that you are the observer of your mind. You can then choose which thoughts to identify with and which ones to act on, de-identifying with irrational or destructive thoughts or beliefs. These negative thoughts or waves of perception can be allowed to pass without holding on to them, or they can be observed as if watching them on a screen. As you focus on the consciousness out of which these thoughts or waves are arising, you are led to experience the peace that is at the back of the thought. ~By Sherrie Wade, M.A.~
Meditation and relaxation Training Benefits. (Based on recent research)
Psychological/Emotional Benefits: (Partial list)
- Reduces anxiety
- Reduces stress and reverses the fight-or-flight reaction
- Creates a sense of inner peace and calm
- Useful in smoking and weight reduction programs
- Improves grades at school
Physical Health Benefits: (Partial list)
- Increases blood flow to the heart
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces chronic pain
- Strengthens the immune system
- Increases athletic performance
Work-Related Benefits: (Partial list)
- Improves Productivity
- Improves work performance
- Stimulates creativity
- Increases job satisfaction
- Improves relationships (with supervisors and co-workers)
Source: Transformation Meditation
8 Limbs Of Yoga – A Course For Beginners
This is a course for beginners. Beginners in the sense that we see things with a beginners mind for entering the deeper dimensions of yoga. Each week we’ll be building on the previous week giving you a foundation for understanding and experiencing some of the many benefits of yoga. Each class will have the same structure but every week we’ll focus on a different aspect of the 8 limbs of yoga. Classes will include gradual stretches, correct alignment, pranayama, relaxation, guided meditation, exploring the chakras, and an introduction to the Sutras of Patanjali, prana, mudra, bandas and mantras with focus on the primordial sound of OM/AUM
75 minutes. We meet weekly for 8 weeks.
This class is currently being offered to private individuals and groups only. We will advise place, dates and times as public classes are being added. In the meantime, contact us for more information at +45 50 26 39 51
Yoga Nidra For Stress Management
Come experience Yoga Nidra as a tool to manage stress. We will begin with some gentle yoga stretches and Pranayama. Movement helps relieve physical tension in the body and some breathing techniques calms the mind and body preparing for yoga nidra. Rest comfortably during a guided relaxation and visualization in which you’ll set a Sankalpa, making a resolve of what you want to achieve.
- Top 7 causes of Stress in the U.S. according to 2014 Stress Statistics.
- Job Pressure * Money * Health * Relationships
- Poor Nutrition * Media Overload * Sleep Deprivation
- Percent who say stress has a negative impact on their personal and professional life * 48%
- Source: The American Institute of Stress
90 minutes workshop
Contact us for further information or to arrange a workshop at your space at +45 50 26 39 51.
Reiki
More information coming soon…
More information coming soon…
