Sian Rule Yoga

17/01/2014
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High Intensity Training – updated

Reading about High Intensity Training (HIT) and Tabata a few weeks ago, I was concerned that as it was originally designed for the Japan Olympic Team it would be unsuitable, even dangerous, for most people, yet many gyms were advertising it for January 2014.

Since then the media has been publicising the author of Fast Exercise, Michael Mosley’s research and participation into HIT and the benefits for us mere mortals. They include increased sensitivity to insulin to process sugar, improved muscular strength and overall fitness. Perhaps the most attractive aspect in this age of time paucity is that it can take as little as 2 minutes intense activity (plus a few minutes warming up and cooling down) three times a week. Everyone can fit that in! Read the whole article and be impressed!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2538858/Can-exercising-just-60-seconds-week-transform-health-The-BBCs-Dr-Michael-Mosley-says-fast-exercise-powerful-experts-thought.html

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

16/12/2013
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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”.