yoga4healthyliving

kashmir yoga

Recently I attended a workshop by Jay Rossi who taught 10 classic yoga postures in the style of kashmir yoga.  Jay's teaching style is very special.  He is obviously very knowledgeable and yet open to new ideas and new ways of adapting and 'being' in a posture.  What particularly resonated with me was his keeness to work 'with' the body rather than aim to have everyone performing the asana in the exact same way.  The understanding that every body is different, due to their feelings, injuries, or whatever is extremely freeing.  What I found was that instead of aiming to perform the perfect, for example cobra, I was much more relaxed in finding a variation that suited ME and the way I was feeling in that moment.  Further Jay loves students to explore how they are 'feeling' in the posture.  Again, I love this 'going inside' element of yoga. 

So thank you Jay for an extremely enjoyable and enlightening day of yoga.  I will definitely attend another of Jay's workshops or weekends.  To find out more about Jay's teaching you can find him at www.kashmiryoga.com

Here's Jay showing us that yoga can really lengthen those hamstrings!

Flow Yoga

Recently I signed up for a one day workshop on 'Flow Yoga'.  Being a Hatha Yoga teacher I thought it would be excellent to broaden my knowledge and learn something new.  It all started off really gently with some easy warm ups and lovely stretches.  Gradually the pace increased and I became hotter and hotter and regretted that we 'd had asked for the air conditioning to be turned off to reduce  noise!   David Olton was a great teacher.  His style was encouraging and yet  he had an awareness that we may need to rest and resume when we felt ready.  What did I learn? I certainly learned that Flow Yoga is demanding and needs stamina and strength rather than flexibility.  Though I was surprised at how flexible I felt towards the end when we eased into the asanas such as a forward fold.  I also learned tips on how to build strength in the standing postures and use warrior, spread leg forward and triangle as deep hip openers. 

However most of all I learned...that I can physically go further than I imagined.  As I also run my own Life Coaching practice this was a joy to me.  I loved that feeling of taking myself to the edge.  I always do - though something when you teeter on the edge it can feel a little scary! 

All in all I have already begun implementing some of the new ideas David taught me into my own teaching practice and so far my students haven't deserted me!  And...watch this space as I am attending another, different, yoga workshop tomorrow! 

Om shanti

Iyengar

How relaxed is that?  Don't think that was really what was on Iyengar's mind...