Sian Rule Yoga

19/12/2013
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The Guardian’s Weekend magazine’s regular article What I’m really thinking is often an interesting perspective and insight into someone’s life. On 14th December the article revealed the innermost secrets of a Yoga Teacher. As a yoga teacher myself, I was intrigued. More so as a student had texted me asking had I seen it. As I read, I could hardly believe the content was serious.

The author seemed indeed to have a suspect sense of humour at the expense of their students. I even burst out laughing at some of the ridiculous and farcical thoughts. This yoga teacher is enough to put off me going to try out the benefits of any yoga class – and I’m convinced that yoga can help all of us one way or another. With that as my motivation, I, like all other yoga teachers I know, try to address our students’ needs thoughtfully with positivity and empathy, not cynical judgment as expressed in the article. That picture of a yoga teacher is not the norm even if you take the view it was simply written to get a cheap laugh.

What do you think? Read the full article through the link below.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/14/what-really-thinking-yoga-teacher

Dangers of high intensity training high-lighted

High 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

22/10/2013
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Meals double in size

In 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

26/09/2013
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Stress 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.

06/09/2013
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Yoga in-store

News 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?

06/08/2013
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Wind-down in the Willows

Magor 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!

30/05/2013
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Yoga for Pregnancy

Pregnancy 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.