Dangers of high intensity training high-lighted

Izumi TabataHigh Intensity Tabata training has come to the UK. Once developed for the Japanese speed skating Olympic team, it has now caught on with less highly developed athletes.  Fitness First gyms are launching Tabata (named after it’s developer) classes this month before taking them UK wide.  The stroke Andrew Marr almost died from while training intensively on his rowing machine has been a warning to those over 40 to train carefully.  Most people simply need to raise their overall fitness levels to increase their quality and length of life. Several brisk 20 minute walks a week can do that, but athletes high intensity training has been shown to increase rather than reduce their mortality. Read the full article through the link below.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/15/fitness-tabata-high-intensity-regime

Meals double in size

fat tummyIn the last 20 years meals have doubled in size, claims an article in the Sunday Times. These super-size meals are damaging the nations health as a study by the British Heart Foundation says. Some portions of food are “out of control” and contributing to increasing cases of heart disease. A chicken curry with rice is 53% bigger than it was in 1993 and plain bagels are 24% bigger.

In yoga we are reminded through Ahimsa not to harm living things beginning with ourselves first and foremost.  This requires self-control these days as we remember the long term health and life-style benefits for eating only what we need rather than the whole supermarket portion of 2013.

Read the full article at http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Society/article1329931.ece

Quick relaxation

Young Woman Meditating on the FloorStress can quickly build up. If you’ve only got a few moments to yourself to spare find a quiet space to sit in – even the ‘smallest room’ is better than no-where – and take your awareness around the body relaxing each part by simply increasing a sense of relaxation there. Don’t even move a muscle.  Just deepen feelings of relaxation. Then take your awareness inwards and deepen feelings of relaxation there too, so you’re feeling relaxed both inwardly and outwardly. Feel stress melting away.

When you’ve practised this a few times you’ll be able to relax quickly anywhere, at any time, physically and mentally preventing stress building up and affecting your health.

Yoga in-store

fruit and veg Sept 2013News this week is that the big supermarket we have in Chepstow (subtly not mentioning the name) is to offer Yoga in some of their ‘family destination’ stores! Baby gyms and cooking are going to be offered too. Is that taking blending different activities together too far? Walk in with your yoga mat and leave with your weekly shop. It may save a journey, but would you be able to hold onto that relaxed feeling after the class as you tackled the busy aisles? Would you consider a session of yoga behind the fruit and veg aisles? Could a trip to the supermarket really be a fun family day out?

Wind-down in the Willows

Magor Marsh_Open Day_2013sianyogaMagor Marsh’s Open Day invited visitors to stretch and wind-down amongst the reed beds on a hot and sunny afternoon, Saturday 20th July.  Down dogs, warriors and yoga games for younger participants joined the more familiar sights of dragonflies, herons and trees in Magor Marsh.

Organiser, Kathy Barclay, reported “People really enjoyed themselves and were fully engaged in the activities and we got 7 new members! We had 170 visitors and there were 40 staff manning the event- we raised in the region of £600 on the day”.

If you’d like sianruleyoga at your event, please get in touch. We do yoga anywhere!

Yoga for Pregnancy

pregnant womenPregnancy is enhanced by the practice of gentle yoga poses, quiet periods of bringing the awareness to the breath and the growing baby within. The Daily Mail online has published an article about Hilaria Baldwin’s favourite poses for preventing back-ache during pregnancy.

The Spanish born yoga teacher has produced a video on WhatToExpect.com but as some commentators mention she only suggests physical aspects of yoga and omits to mention some of the other aspects of yoga such as meditation and breathing practices which help to calm the mind and connect within. Another says she needs to go through the whole experience before she advises others.

What do you think?  Read the whole article at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2331814/The-expecting-childs-pose-Hilaria-Baldwin-reveals-favorite-prenatal-yoga-stretches-relieving-pain.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

TO ADD (02/06/13):

Always go to an experienced teacher to guide you through this special time. Specialised classes will bring another dimension to your pregnancy, but always listen to advice to stretch gently to avoid stressing joints and over-stretching ligaments which are so much more pliable during pregnancy.

To read further, try any book by Wendy Teasdill.  Yoga in Pregnancy, published by Gaia books gives excellent advise on the body and mind at this time, the changes women go through, suitable stretches and short meditative practices, tips for the best birth possible and how to attune to each other and move on through life together and with your baby.

YOGA HELPS CONTROL DIABETES

The Times of India is the latest source to mention how yoga can help control diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by stress, diet and lack of fitness.  When you are stressed, your body secrets glucagon which increases glucose levels in the blood. Yoga poses, breathing practices and deep relaxation and meditation can help relax body and mind, increase fitness and improve the digestive system.

sunset poseRead the full article at http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-23/fitness/39475076_1_diabetes-control-blood-sugar-levels-yoga-nidra

Wildlife Workshop

yoga woman Mar 13In the wonderful rural surroundings of Redwick, we were visited by several curious visitors from the animal community, but they all managed to find their way out again to let us return to the yoga workshop!

The weather was warm, the atmosphere was relaxed and the group, though small, was well and truly into investigating a number of the promised unusual postures and sequences throughout the yoga workshop last Sunday morning.

Check back here for my next workshop and don’t miss it!

 

Frank Lampard takes up yoga in bid to last like Ryan Giggs.

Frank-Lampard-takes up yoga

Impressed that 39 year old Ryan Giggs is still playing at the top of his game, Lampard has started yoga. He has no plans to hang up his boots at the age of 34.

He told the Mirror, “I looked at Giggs when we played United last Sunday.  He was as fit as a fiddle and had an aura around him. He is the benchmark really.  I’m doing a little bit of yoga.  I had to fight myself to do it because I like training outside and it’s a different mindset.  But, certainly when I do it, I feel the benefits.  I’ll try to keep it in my schedule.”

Yoga’s not just for his missus!  Perhaps we’ll see lots more sports men and women taking yoga up for their health and fitness.

Read the full article at http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/europa-league-final-chelsea-record-1882428

NEXT WORKSHOP

Sunday 19th May 9.30am – 1pm

REDWICK VILLAGE HALL

Redwick Hall

Get your body moving through flowing yoga moves, increase your stamina through strengthening exercises and feel fit as you prepare for summer days and long evenings outside.
Tone your body for the beach and enjoy your summer adventures, whether it’s hiking the hills, canoeing the rivers or badminton at the campsite!
Learn techniques to get rid of the long winter blues and lighten the mood for relaxed, chilled days ahead. (See ‘Beat the Blues’ on the ‘Home’ page). Finishing with a lovely relaxing Yoga Nidra, you’ll be in top form for more than the week ahead!

£25 each, or £20 if you bring a friend along.
Don’t miss out, book with Sian to get you on the road for a fit and healthy Summer.