Yoga and Pilates NEWSLETTER

Term one 2006

The Om symbol

A warm welcome back to everyone and thankyou to everyone for being so understanding with my absence on the first week of term this year.  This year is an unusual year as it consists of two terms of 11 weeks and two terms of 9 weeks.  Next term will only be 9 weeks.

Pilates

 The focus this term on Pilates has been on precision of the movements.  One of the principals of Pilates is precision and another is control and most of you are now up to this degree of focus on the movements of the level two and level three repertoire.

 As the accrediting body for Pilates is very strict that the teaching of Pilates does stay pure to the original movements, gaining the precision is very important rather than adding a lot of variations.

 Next term will build on this precision so that the whole of the repertoire for levels two and three will  be completed by the end of June before we start to use equipment again.  We may have a ball class later in the year as many of you have been requesting it, alternatively we could end the term with a couple of ball classes please give me your ideas about this so I can incorporate it into the teaching of your class.

 The essential classes are for people new to Pilates or who prefer to stay at level one for various reasons.  Although some of the movements are gentler than levels 2 and 3, if done with precision and muscle control they are just as effective in maintaining core stability, in fact they are the movements I do to maintain my own core stability.

 Most students in both classes are now using the correct muscles most of the time, however if ever you experience pain please remember to let me know.  I am still attempting to make the long awaited dvds!!

In all classes we have been focussing on the connection between using the stabilizing muscles in the correct order and then using the bigger muscles.  We have also been focussing on really establishing the connection between using the ab muscles and articulating the spine, in standing and lying.  This is the reason we have been using the pillows in the rollup movement.

In the holidays I am offering a longer class on Wednesday 26^th April in order that you can work with a partner to improve and get feedback for the actual Pilates movements and to improve your range in the stretches.  By the end of the  class you should have gained an idea on  what movements you can be doing at home to help your own body.

After the success of the Family Yoga last year we will have a Family Pilates later in term 2.   I’ll let you know next term.

Yoga

Summer yoga is about opening the heart and strengthening the big muscles of the body as well as the abs.  We have focussed on several main moves in order to do this as well as incorporating a variety of other moves.  Both mini and big salutes have helped rebuild our energy after our Christmas break.  We have also been doing ab work with a degree of focus to feel the connection between the spine articulating and the abs contracting by the use of cushions to press the vertebrae into as we curl up and uncurl down.

As well as the strengthening we have incorporated the Tree balance into every class (Vrkasana).  Most of you have felt how calm the energy is when we all achieve a balance as part of a whole group.  Moving into the Warriors has also helped us to feel the groundedness and yet lightness of an open heart that the combination of heart and grounding yoga brings us. 

 The practice has been heightened by focussing on Manipura chakra and Manipura shuddhi (energy channel, located between navel and spine).  Some of the practices have been the expanding and contracting of the abdomen with the flowing of the energy up to the navel from Mooladhara cakra (the base centre) and back, coinciding with the flowing of energy from the throat centre (Vishuddhi cakra) to the navel and back.

 Also we have practised the following of the breath and energy from the navel to the spine and back to strengthen the energy channel.  Manipura cakra is related to the fire element and so regulates heat and the digestive fire in the body as well as radiating prana throughout the whole body.  It is also the cakra that enables us to become grounded, to move on in the face of adversity and to see things more clearly without the illusions of the mind or the emotions interfering.  It is said in many yogic traditions that when we can operate from Manipura we can be free from disease.  Manipura means city of jewels and we have been listening to the Tibetan chant of Om Mane Padme Haum, which is the Tibetan translation for Manipura meaning the beautiful lotus grows out of the murky mud.

 With the long summer this year and the humidity we have also been doing some of the more cooling postures for the Spleen and Stomach meridians, to help us cope with the season.  It is always good to focus on something that makes you content while doing these postures.

 With the coming of Autumn it is good to continue with our Salutes as well as longer relaxations to promote our health and this is what we shall return to next term.  It is also a time we need to prepare our body for the cold winter ahead by having deeper relaxations.  We also focus on more moving yoga with the breath to promote the health of our lungs.

 I shall promote the trip to the Kimberley later in the year for next year with a wider advertising, so if you are interested start thinking about saving for a trip to the Kimberley next May.

 The Good Friday class will be held again this year at South Curl Curl.  The cost for this is to go towards the hot cross buns.  If anyone else has a portable barbecue that can help to heat  up the hot cross buns please let me know.  The aim of this class is to promote spirituality as the sun rises, there is no religious connotation to it.

 The holiday yoga class will be a partner and group class with a longer relaxation.  These classes are fun and promote a togetherness so try and come.

 We will be having a yoga to harp in Winter this year, I’ll let you know when.

 There are a  lot of exciting yoga events in Sydney in the next few weeks which are advertised in the Saturday papers so take time to look them up if you are interested.

Cheerfulness 

Cheerfulness is the quality of being joyful, lively and of good spirit.  Cheerfulness lightens the burden of life and gives wonderful strength and power of endurance.   Cheerfulness strengthens the heart.  A cheerful person is like a sunny day.  Cheerfulness is contagious.  It transforms darkness into light, depression into brightness and sickness into health.

Cheerfulness is a habit of mind.  A cheerful person is full of good spirits and radiates joy everywhere.  Cheerfulness is a potent mental tonic.  Wear a cheerful smile with a cheerful face.  What sunshine is to flowers, cheerful happy smiles are to humanity.  A cheerful person will do more in the same time, will do it better and will persevere at it longer than a cheerless person.

A cheerful word cheers others.  Cheerfulness is a solace in solitude and distress.  It lightens sickness, poverty and affliction.  Always be cheerful.  Cultivate this virtue again and again.  Cheerfulness is a friend to grace.  Swami Sivananda

Enjoy the break everyone and I look forward to seeing you next term.

Annette