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Yoga and Pilates NEWSLETTER
Term one 2008  
Please remember, unless people are away for many weeks, whatever the reason, payment is by the term, 6 week pass or casual(casual not available for Pilates). Everyone pays a concession rate, which includes a makeup policy for missed classes, which most other providers do not include with term payment – thank you for your understanding.
Yoga I am always interested in why people come to yoga. I think it is something we all need to consider at times. As you know, many of us have been attending for many years now, our lives are filled with happiness and sadness, health and illness, and yet we continue to commit to our weekly class through all the ups and downs of life. Many of us have to miss a term at times through illness or holiday or work and yet we return. So why do we return and why do we continue to come? One of the Rishis from the ashram I attend described her reason for her daily yoga practice: “Through yoga we embark on an inner journey of awareness of the mind and mental perceptions, and then attempt to integrate this deeper understanding in our day to day life, finding a balanced, harmonious and complete awareness. It allows us to endeavour to add vitality in and perform every action to the best of our ability. Our postures give us steadiness of the body, stimulate our circulation and revitalize the internal organs, the brain and the nervous system., they increase stamina and relieve tension. They balance exertion with rest and relaxation.” (Yoga, issue 10, October 2007, p40-41) As well as creating a type of family within a class, I realize there are several actual families who attend together. I thought I would profile one of these families in this newsletter and ask them their feelings about yoga and what it means for them. Jacqui, Vicki and Celine are beloved members of our Tuesday night yoga class and were happy to generously share their answers with us below. As well as reading their answers, try to answer the questions in relation to yourself. Why do you come to yoga together? “Because we love being together and we love yoga and our Tuesday family yoga night helps get us through the week.” What do you talk about on your way to yoga? “Our days and what happened.” What do you talk about on the way home from yoga? “How much more happy and relaxed, more aware and peaceful we feel.” Can you tell me your favourite postures? Jacqui – Salute to the Sun Vicki – Arch of the Cat Celine – Shoulder stand Can you tell me what you like most about yoga? Jacqui- the feeling of bliss that flows throughout my body and mind, the stillness. Vicki – the feeling of peace, tranquility and relaxation I get from practising the poses and the breathing. Celine – It gives me time to detach from my thoughts, worries and try to focus on yoga only, I try to leave the outside world behind. If each of you had one wish what would you wish for? Jacqui – to have more time to enjoy the beauty of yoga and to one day be able to share the joys of yoga with others. Vicki – for peace and harmony in the world. Celine - equality Thank you and Om Shantih to Jacqui, Vicki and Celine.
Pilates As you have noticed, there are lovely photos on the notice boards of students doing the various positions of Pilates showing the correct form, whether it is a stability movement or a stretch. Thank you to all those people who smile back at me from the wall! Once again we spent the first three weeks of term checking each other in all the positions of Pilates. Remember we are checking that the belly doesn’t bulge (if it does, our stabilising muscles aren’t strong enough to hold us in position and that the arch in the spine doesn’t move (again, an indication that we are using the big muscles rather than the stabilising muscles). We also double checked alignment and correct positioning of the body such as the neck, which we checked by having a stretchy strap behind the back of the skull, gently pushing into it and then gently using it to lengthen the neck. We have also spent time with the positioning of the feet, so that having pressure on the three areas of the heel, the ball under the little toe and the ball under the big toe, gives us our arches and stability for our standing and many of our lying with bent knees movements. Remember, people with flat feet, to apply a little more pressure on the outside of the foot! This rigorous self-checking is so that you can check yourself in the movements as we progress through a class, as well as hopefully giving you the confidence to apply this knowledge in other aspects of your life, whether in sport, at the gym or doing everyday actions like driving or cleaning! This term, we have also continued from one movement to another, done some sequences using the upper body and lower body in opposite directions and pre-tired muscles before doing a certain move. These are advanced practices to challenge your core muscles in a functional way. We shall continue this theme of Pilates next term but with the added challenge of using different pieces of equipment. Most of you commented that you really enjoyed the class with the chair. Please continue to get into and out of the chair in the way we practised, as it will increase your stability and strengthen you; remember to move slowly and then, when that is mastered, you can begin to move more quickly..
Yoga and Pilates Pals, on Good Friday – eating Hot Cross buns!
Thank you for a wonderful term, your continued enthusiasm and your |
