Iyengar Yoga With Rachel Lovegrove

Saturday 28th November 2009

BALANCE Yoga & Pilates Studio, Northampton

We had a wonderful yoga day today in Northampton with the studio full to capacity for the morning session and an enthusiastic group staying for the afternoon session.  The theme this month was Inversions & Backbends.  We spent the morning studying different preparatory postures building strength, flexibility and understanding for the more advanced inversions such as Headstand, Handstand and Elbow Balance.  One lady was able to achieve a headstand for the first time in her 47 years, even though she had been practising yoga for around 30!

In the afternoon we looked at a variety of back-bending postures such as upward facing dog (urdhva mukha svanasana), camel pose (ustrasana) and upward facing bow pose (urdhva dhanurasana).  Lots of preparatory work was done to stretch the thighs and open the groins as well as opening the upper body and strengthening the arms and shoulders.  We finished with a lifted back arch to help those who had trouble lifting up and straightening their arms.

Thanks to everyone for coming, it was a wonderful day and I look forward to seeing you all again in February.

Popularity: 6% [?]

We enjoyed a great morning of yoga at the lovely Yoga Akasha Yoga Studio in East Grinstead, West Sussex.  I hope to return there next year for more of the same!  When we arrived the early morning class were just leaving and everyone looked very calm and relaxed – so we began the morning with a lovely atmosphere left to us by the previous class.

My mother accompanied us and as always, inspired all the younger students to carry on with their yoga – although in her late 70’s she is still fit and active and puts it down to her years of yoga practice, swimming and walking.

The morning began with a few moments of quiet reflection, shoulder and chest opening poses followed by standing postures supported at the wall to give focus on the back body, postural alignment and opening across the pelvis.  The two pregnant ladies appreciated the wall support too especially when it came to the balancing posture, Ardha Chandrasana!   The last third of the morning consisted of extended supine and recuperative postures with deep awareness of the connection of the body and breath to still the mind and deeply relax the body.

Yoga Akasha is a wonderful city centre yoga space and I look forward to returning there next year for more workshops.

Popularity: 6% [?]

YOGA HOLIDAYS DATES 2010
April 25th to May 2nd – Turkey
May – Wexford, Ireland – Date to be confirmed
June 5th to 12th Quinta Mimosa, Portugal – Booking Now
July 10th to 17th Quinta Mimosa, Portugal – Booking Now
September 4th to 11th Quinta Mimosa, Portugal – Booking Now
September 18th to 25th La Hacienda, Spain – Booking Now
October 9th to 16th Quinta Mimosa, Portugal – Booking Now

EARLY BOOKING OFFER:  We welcome early payment to secure bookings.  For all 2010 holidays  (sorry, except Turkey) we are offering a €15 discount on all holiday deposits received before the end of January 2010.  To secure your place and receive your discount, please pay your deposit via PayPal using the button below, or contact Rachel for other payment options.

Popularity: 7% [?]

This month’s focus is on seated forward bends.  When practised regularly, seated forward bending movements have many benefits:

Let’s look at a classic forward bending posture, Pascimottanasana (intense stretch of the West). If you have a back or hamstring injury, please only practise this posture under the guidance of a qualified teacher.

1. Sit on the edge of a folded blanket or yoga foam block with your legs extended away from you. The legs should be together but can also be a little apart if you are a beginner or are pregnant. Toes look at the ceiling and heels stretch strongly away. The more you extend your heels, the stronger your legs will feel.
2. Using your hand beside your hips, turn your fingertips towards your feet and press into the floor – the elbows should be slightly bent, not straight. From the base of your spine, lift up, lift the chest but keep the shoulders back and down. See that you’re not leaning backwards but lifting straight up from the hips.
3. On an inhalation, raise the arms up above your head, stretching strongly to the finger tips and feeling the chest lifting higher, the trunk extending upwards. Keep the arms straight, extend forwards from the hips towards the feet. If you can reach the feet easily, catch the outsides of the feet with the hands or use a belt to catch the feet. Keep the arms straight, head lifted up and chest extending upwards.



4. If you can go further, bend the elbows out to the side and move the trunk further forwards, finally releasing the head down last.  Once you have adjusted your pose and reach your final extension, try to stay quietly without fidgeting.  Relax your belly, your jaw and gently draw the shoulders away from the neck. Stay for between 1 and 5 minutes.
5. If you are stiffer, have back ache or are heavily pregnant, stay sitting up with the belt around the feet, arms straight and practice the leg extension and the trunk lifting up. This preparation work will progress you towards the final pose but don’t rush or force yourself to bend forwards – it will come in time.

Popularity: 10% [?]