Iyengar Yoga With Rachel Lovegrove

“Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos and has long been considered a mystery and incurable. However, over the past two decades, physicians, scientists and researchers have begun to unravel this mystery and help people diagnose mesothelioma in its earlier stages, while providing more extensive forms of treatment, vast resources, and general information to make coping and survival more about optimism rather than uncertainty.”

I was recently contacted by the Mesothelioma organisation, which provides detailed information on mesothelioma and the ways various treatments can improve the lives of patients. They told me that “while mesothelioma remains incurable, patients have found ways to surpass typical life expectancies through innovative treatments. For thousands of years the practice of yoga (and its many variations) has been a respected lifestyle due to its focus on physical and mental wellness. As a complementary therapy, yoga has been used to ease the physical and emotional pain associated with cancer as well as cancer treatments.”

They are dedicated to raising awareness and ultimately finding ways to prevent it from occurring from the start. Visit the Mesothelioma website for information on how researchers are now recommending alternative therapies including yoga to relieve symptoms and treat this rare form of cancer.

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(Article by Rachel first published in Algarve Resident October 2011)

The benefits of a regular yoga practice are wide ranging and extensive and are not limited to the purely physical advantages.  In a nutshell, the practice of yoga works on all levels of the body and mind to bring about overall good health.  Yoga helps everyone in so many ways, from those who need to manage their stress levels or cope with depression, those who are preparing for childbirth or want to improve fertility, to those who are recovering from injuries or illness or who simply want to improve their overall fitness and mobility.

The focus on postures or exercises helps to keep the joints strong and flexible, muscles toned and stretched and bring poise and balance to the body.  This is important at any age but particularly as we get older, we need to keep moving, keep active to improve our chances of a happy and healthy old age. Breathing techniques helps one to harness quietness and stability of mind as well as helping with a wide range of physical ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and circulatory problems.  Yoga also helps with our concentration and memory and gives one a sense of stability of the mind as well as the physical steadiness and strength of the body.

Because yoga works also on the organs of the body, not just the musculo-skeletal system, it also serves as a detox system helping to keep all the processes of the body, digestion, circulation, hormonal balance, liver function etc, healthy and functioning normally.

When you begin yoga, you may experience it as merely a physical exercise as you stretch your body and learn the yoga postures.  As you continue with your practice (a regular class once or twice a week is recommended), you will find that you also start to experience a greater sense of well being as your whole body, inner and outer, is toned and nourished.  Each yoga posture has a particular emphasis and effect on the body and an experienced and trained teacher will be able to advise you on specific programmes to help with ailments such as neck or back problems, sports injuries, insomnia, hormonal or digestive disorders and many other issues.  Under the guidance of an experienced teacher, those with drug or alcohol problems, depression or anxiety can also be helped by regular yoga practice.

“Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul, create the symphony of life.”  BKS Iyengar

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I met a lady recently who said that her husband loved it when she went to yoga.  He told her, “You always come back a much nicer and calmer person after the class!”  The practice of yoga can help to unlock the blocks and emotional disturbances in our life, often associated with loss of confidence, anxiety, depression, nervous disorders and stress. Coming to a weekly, or twice weekly class, gives us the time and space to reflect on our lives and also shows us a more peaceful way of being.

The practice of physical yoga postures, breathing techniques and relaxation actually starts the process of “detoxing” the body of stress.  We hold our tension in our muscles and our posture is often a tell-tale sign of our state of mind. For example, someone with a collapsed chest and rounded shoulders may have depression or lack of confidence or simply be fearful of experiencing life, due to past experiences and their ways of coping with them.  Someone who is a shallow breather, who feels their muscles aching more than others or who’s eyes won’t relax is often someone with anxiety or unreleased anger or frustration.  They tend to rush into their postures and be impatient when doing relaxation postures.

Over time, the practice of yoga postures helps people to come back to their true nature, peace.  We get glimpses of it from time to time, moments of clarity when all our problems, worries and habitual clinging on to life are let go of, and we are simply just in the moment, on our mats.  The idea is then to take this feeling of groundedness into our everyday lives and learn to live a little more in balance.  We learn to create the state of mind that can help us to change the way we perceive life’s stresses and strains, the way we deal with them and to help us move more freely through them.

A skilled teacher can help individual students through the process of change with specific postures and techniques tailored to alleviate our more negative feelings and to enhance positive feelings.  Very broadly, and obviously these postures need to be modified to suit all levels of physical ability and experience also, back bending or chest opening poses are beneficial for depression and anxiety; inverted postures such as headstands, shoulderstands are good for combating fearfulness and lack of confidence; forward bends are very good for emotional stress and fatigue; breathing techniques can be applied for a wide range of stress disorders and twisting poses are a great way to release the physical blocks we create in our bodies when we hold ourselves in tension.

Yoga can also help those who have gone through serious trauma, drug or alcohol addiction and many offenders in prison practice yoga to help them rehabilitate back into society, to come to terms with their path they have created and to start the process of change.  A carefully balanced programme of postures and relaxation will guide students to maintaining emotional strength and stability and to releasing gently and slowly many of the emotional disturbances and habits associated with their conditions and life choices.

BKS Iyengar says of yoga & the mind:

“The primary aim of yoga is to restore the mind to simplicity and peace, and free it from confusion and distress. This sense of calm comes from the practice of yogic asanas and pranayama. Unlike other forms of exercise which strain muscles and bones, yoga gently rejuvenates the body. By restoring the body, yoga frees the mind from the negative feelings caused by the fast pace of modern life. The practice of yoga fills up the reservoirs of hope and optimism within you. It helps you overcome all obstacles on the path to perfect health and spiritual contentment. It is a rebirth.”

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Summer is fast approaching but it is not too late to join us in one of the forthcoming retreats in June, July, August or September.

25th June we are at Monte na Luz near Loule, Portugal and 3rd July we travel to just beyond Malaga, Spain to Casa el Morisco. Last minute places are still available but hurry as bookings are closing in the next 10 days.

The August and September holidays, 6th and 3rd are both at Quinta Mimosa, near Loule, Portugal.

Spaces are still available and there is a €30 discount to all yoga teachers up for grabs.

Contact Rachel for further details and booking information.

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SALUTING FOR CHARITY – 108 Yoga Sun Salutations

All Proceeds Donated to 3 Charities – Sunday 15th May 2011

On 15th May this year, I will be taking part in a 108 Sun Salutations for Charity Event at Dunas Duradas Beach Club, Algarve in aid of 2 local and one international children’s charities.

Anyone wishing to sponsor me (I’d be very delighted to receive donations) or wishing to join in, please contact me at rachel@orangetreeyoga.com or use the PayPal donation button below.  Thank You.

The Charities

Pirilampos Orphanage

Albufeira (Portugal) based orphanage which is in desperate need of a new bus to fit the legal requirements for transportations. Most proceeds will go towards the bus; others will be put towards groceries, nappies, outings and utility bills in order to keep the centre running efficiently.

ACCA Kids

An officially registered Portuguese charity that supports underprivileged children (and their families) in the Algarve, through a network of volunteers and in association with a number of social partnerships and aid associations. For more information regarding recent projects and ACCA updates, please visit: www.accakids.com

SIS Project

Service in Satchidananda (SIS) is a non-profit international collection of charities established in honour of H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda and based on his core teaching of selfless service. SIS, founded by Nalanie Harilela Chellaram one of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s beloved disciples, exists to serve global projects that are working in a sustainable way and giving back to their local communities. If you wish to view more information about upcoming projects, such as helping families affected in Japan, please visit: www.sisproject.org

How to Sponsor Rachel

To sponsor me, you can email me at rachel@orangetreeyoga.com for a sponsor form or you can donate using the PayPal button below. Thank you.

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Great Summer Single and Group Discounts Available

If you are an Iyengar Yoga teacher, receive €30 discount of any yoga retreat. If you are a group of friends of 8 or more persons, you will receive a €40 discount per person. Contact Rachel for further details.

Retreats and Workshops with Rachel 2011

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We have just had the most marvellous week at Quinta Mimosa for the first yoga holiday of 2011.  The weather was perfect, hot sunny days with a cooling breeze, spring flowers and greenery and the most wonderful group of people from France, Germany, Holland and the UK.  It has been a great start to the year’s calendar of events.

The next retreat will be at Monte na Luz from 25th June followed the week after by a week in Spain at Casa el Morisco. Do join us for a week of yoga, sun, great food and good company.

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We have a special offer on the June Yoga Retreat at Monte na Luz, Portugal this year.  Book and pay via BACS or PayPal in full before the end of April 2011 and receive a €30 discount, per person on all bookings.  Accommodation is still available for single and shared accommodation.

Monte na Luz is a beautiful and tranquil retreat centre overlooking the historic town of Loule.  The Dutch run centre is tastefully furnished and carefully managed to provide a unique and nurturing atmosphere for its guests.  The retreat is fully catered and there will be daily yoga classes with Rachel and the opportunity for biking, walking and nature trails.  Contact Rachel today for further details.

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It is with great pleasure that I return to Curracloe Iyengar Yoga Centre, near Wexford, this March to teach a weekend of yoga. Places are available to locals and visitors and although the weekend is non-residential, we can help arrange accommodation for those travelling from other parts of the country or abroad.  Since being invited to teach here in May 2010, I have been coming regularly to teach in this tranquil and picturesque location.

March 18th to 20th 2011
Friday 7pm to 9pm – Introductory Session

Saturday 10.30am to 1.00pm & 1.45pm to 3.45pm

Sunday 10.30am to 1.00pm followed by optional walk

Cost: Weekend €90 (Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, Sunday morning)

Individual classes €25 per session.  Pay via PayPal or email confirmation and pay on the day.

Residential options are available – contact Rachel and she will send you a list of recommended accommodation and help you with your travel arrangements.  Fly in to Dublin airport where there is a very good train (from Connolly Station, the journey is one of Michael Palin’s top ten!) or bus service straight to Wexford or alternatively fly to Waterford which is 40 minutes drive away – transfers can be arranged. To book, email Rachel at rachel@orangetreeyoga.com or call +44207 5588658.

Curracloe Iyengar Yoga Centre is just a 5 minutes walk from a protected forest and the miles of beautiful, unspoilt beach at Curracloe.  The beach at Curracloe is one of the finest in Ireland.  With over 12 miles of sandy beach, it is a haven for nature-lovers, bird & wildlife enthusiasts, walkers and riders alike. The beach and village were used in the filming of Saving Private Ryan and you can walk to the beach and woods from Curracloe House without using any main roads or passing any cars.  It’s a wonderfully peaceful and magical place.

Here is a video montage of images from the May 2010 holiday in Ireland.

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Next Yoga Workshop in Northampton

March 5th 2011, Om Studio, Northampton

10am to 4pm.  £35 for whole day or £20 for morning only.  Suitable for all students of yoga including beginners (morning or all day only).  We will be looking at the basics of alignment and precision to enhance our practice and expand our knowledge of Hatha yoga.  For bookings please contact Debbie at Om Studio – www.theomstudio.com

Rachel no longer teaches regular classes in Northampton but does return from time to time to teach workshops, short courses and private tuition.  She can recommend two local fully qualified Iyengar Yoga teachers for those that are looking for classes.  Try Mark Brougham or Sue Hill (www.susan-hill-iyengar-yoga.co.uk). Both are excellent teachers and fully qualified to teach the Iyengar method of yoga.

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