|
|
Yoga and Pilates NEWSLETTER
Term one 2005
What a good start to the year we have had this year. In Pilates we have been doing mat work focussing on the mobilisation of the spine using the abdominals to try and get movement into each vertebrae. This process can be particularly difficult for those of us with achy lower backs, but it gives us the focus to really work the correct muscles. We have also been doing a lot of thigh and buttock movements from the matwork repertoire. Next term we will continue with the matwork and complete the level 2 & 3 routines. The Monday night class will be a strong Pilates class from next term, so if you want a strong class please try it. The Thursday essential class is now at 6:15 at the Guide hall so is available for a makeup lesson. I would like to congratulate the men who take part in the Pilates classes. You are making a direct effort to improve your body in a safe and core strengthening way so well done. I would also like to congratulate the people from Pilates who took the challenge, I know many of you have taken this very seriously and have found the benefit that such a challenge can bring. Well done. There are a few weeks left so keep it up. Remember to see me if you need your challenge updated. In yoga we have been opening the heart and strengthening the big muscles of the body and now with Autumn we are working the meridians of the Large Intestine and Lungs. This means getting rid of stuff from our bodies that isn’t needed so as to prevent illness in Autumn as well as keeping the lungs open. This is a good time of year to get up and walk, run, exercise early in the morning to keep healthy and prepare the body for the coming winter. As a result of this I will be running a 5 day detox using both yoga and pilates as the exercise form so all students can participate. The yoga and pilates will be combined with relaxation and meditation and a diet. You can book in for the whole detox or you can come to one or two or more classes a week in the April holiday period. As these classes will be held at my home studio bookings are essential by Friday 1st April please. In yoga we have also been listening to the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali wrote these in the first or second century AD and they are considered the core of the yoga path according to the 8 fold path called astanga. The other school of Yoga philosophy is the Shivaite which is based on the guru and a lineage of spiritual teachings. Nowadays practices from both these paths can be interwoven. We have been also focussing on breathing and the meditative technique called ajapa-japa. This is considered one of the best ways to calm the mind and ground us along with the following of energy up and down the spine, combining consciousness of the Crown centre (Sahasrara cakra) with the energy of the base centre (Mooladhara cakra) while repeating the mantra of the breath SO HAM. Our relaxation at the end of the class has been focussing on Manipura shuddhi – the channel between the navel and the spine, to strengthen our courage, confidence, and ability to create change. Next term in yoga we will be looking at ways we can move prana in the body and start holding postures to create strength and stability. Many students from both Yoga and Pilates will be doing the City to Surf on August 14. It is not too late to start training so take the challenge and do it – guaranteed a fun day. This is also a challenge for me, so I need as many people as I can to inspire me to continue to do my training and actually do it!!! Remember you have til the end of term to design the t-shirt we shall wear for the City to Surf, get together with your classmates and make a design!! The t-shirt will then get printed and you can put in orders for as many as you want. It can have a yoga or pilates theme, have some fun and put in a design! Next term there will be a space in the Friday morning class, if you would like to do this class for a term please let me know. On 14th April the yoga class run by DARTS will be going to the Satyananda ashram at Mangrove Mountain to experience ashram life. I know we will have a lovely day. As always I would like to thank the volunteers who make yoga accessible to our students with a physical disability in this and other classes – THANK YOU. Thankyou too to all the people who have allowed me to massage them over the past year, I have nearly completed my course and have learnt a lot by having such a range of body types to practise on. Always let me know if you have any problems before the class so I can modify movements. If you need help always see me. Many students this year have booked in for private classes to get extra help. This is always a good option if you feel you need it. Finally, at the beginning and end of each lesson many of you always help put out things and pack up, or stay to walk out of the hall with me – thankyou. If anyone can advise me on good heaters for winter please let me know. “I believe that every human being has an innate desire for happiness and does not want to suffer. I also believe that the very purpose of life is to experience this happiness. I believe that each of us has the same potential to develop inner peace and thereby achieve happiness and joy. We share troublesome emotions as well as the positive ones that bring us inner strength and tranquillity. I think that it is important for us to be aware of our potential and let this inspire our self-confidence. Sometimes we look at the negative side of things and then feel hopeless. This, I think is a wrong view…” HH the Dalai Lama 2001 Please book in for next term and the holiday program by April 1st. Have a lovely Easter and I look forward to teaching you next term. Annette |
