Find what is holding you back from the mat:

I have heard many times from people that I have come across since becoming a Yoga instructor that either I am not flexible or I'm too fat to give Yoga a go.

None of these are true , anyone can do yoga , I mean I am both of those statements and I'm sure before finding yoga I possibly said the same thing.

I have a very tight shoulder girdle but poses like Eagle Pose (Garudasana) , I modify by either using a strap or find a variation, even in my teaching I offer variations as our bodies are made up differently.  Even though I have a tight shoulder girdle I'm flexible in the hips, so therefore some postures are harder for me than others. But it doesn't stop me from trying and let's face it; it is about finding what works for you.

Numerous postures I find difficult as I’m a bigger frame person than most students on the mat but I've learnt to stop judging myself.  I've learnt that the skeletal frame, muscles and tendons move the same on a bigger person as they do on a smaller person, the only difference is the fat around them so it can make some postures a little harder to get into, but I can still do yoga, I can still relax, breathe and feel good.

What is stopping you?

Do Yoga Instructors judge themselves?

I have been a yoga instructor since graduating in 2011 and I really love continually helping students in their journey of well-being. It is always fantastic to hear students feedback weather it is good or bad, either way I know that all student responses will eventually help me help others.

Knowing that receiving feedback as an instructor, be it good bad or ugly is extremely helpful in furthering ourselves as teachers and providing a better practice for current and future students. Although, sometimes the ugly feedback it’s rather hard to swallow and makes you question your ability as a teacher.

Truthfully, I often judge myself in terms of my teachings on and off the mat. I have shed countless tears thinking that I may not have what it takes or be good enough for my students as their instructor. In the beginning I thought I was completely out of my depths and wondered how much I actually knew and how can I teach others what I actually do know about practicing yoga. In some instances I have even judged myself against the abilities of other teachers and students feeling inferior.  I know it’s not the yogic way but the positive of self-judgment and the feeling of inferiority is being able to understand my flaws and things that I need to work on to better myself and to transfer that into YogaLou.

On the flip side, there have been numerous moments where I have had and still have great energy within each class and have walked away feeling fantastic and confident in my teachings.

All said and done, I have realized that even as a yoga instructor I am still human, have the same emotions or doubts as I would if I wasn't teaching, it's just how process them that makes the difference. I am working hard to work through my doubts and ask why I'm feeling these feelings and learn from them. It is probably always going to be a learning journey about myself but I look forward to meeting my more mature yogic self.

Namaste

Active Body, Calm Mind

Being a Yoga Instructor , I am normally pretty active on  a weekly basis, however coming up to the festive season I decided to take 2 weeks break to rejuvenate the mind and body, which is also important.

The first few days of my break I noticed my sleeping patterns still normal as the body and mind was winding down. But now in my second week I noticed that I am going to bed later and later and while lying  in bed I'm wide awake, thinking of my business, family and things I have to do around the house, I even try using my breath to meditate in hope to clam the mind down, I eventually drift off to sleep , but while laying there trying to sleep and thinking why I can't sleep, I noticed my pattern and when it changed.

It changed once my body was not as active which helps calm the mind down to a restorative state that can assist in sleep.

I'm looking forward to teaching again bringing balance back into my life.

Namaste

Diet drinks are no good for you!!!

 
Please ditch all those diet drinks that are no good for you!!!


Still drinking SODA, DIET SODA, VITAMIN WATER, PROPEL AND OTHER DRINKS WITH ARTIFICIAL COLORS, FLAVORS AND SWEETENERS?????
TRY THESE INSTEAD!!!

Infused waters. Here are their benefits to help with detoxification energy and hydration. Put as much fruit in water as you like and let the water sit for at least 30 minutes before drinking.

1. Green tea, mint, lime-fat burning, digestion, headaches, congestion and breath freshener.

2. Strawberry, kiwi-cardiovascular health, immune system protection, blood sugar regulation, digestion.

3. Cucumber, lime, lemon- water weight management, bloating, appetite control, hydration, digestion

4. Lemon, lime, orange- digestion vitamin C, immune defense, heartburn, (Drink this one at room temperature)

For Recipes click here: http://www.infusedwaterrecipes.com/#!infused-water-recipes/c1jm3

12 Days of Christmas - Day 12

Day 12

Savasana: (Corpse pose)

Corpse Pose commonly called Savasana, may look easy, but it can be highly challenging. It requires total “Surrender” and quieting of the body and mind. Your goal is to let gravity – not your muscles – do the work for you.

Therapeutic Applications
•    Stress

Benefits:
•    Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
•    Relaxes the body
•    Reduces headache, fatigue, and insomnia
•    Helps to lower blood pressure

Contraindications and Cautions
•    Back injury or discomfort: Do this pose with your knees bent and your feet on the floor, hip-distance apart; either bind the thighs parallel to each other with a strap (taking care not to position the heels too close to the buttocks) or support the bent knees on a bolster.
•    Pregnancy: Raise your head and chest on a bolster.


Lay down on your back, nice and comfortable. Legs at hip distant apart, allow the feet to fall at the ankles. Arms resting by the side. Make some space between the arms and the body and then turn palms to face the roof (If this is not comfortable you can rest your hands on your belly). Lengthen the spine by drawing the tail bone down towards the floor, and tuck in the chin, just enough to feel a natural lengthening in the back of the neck (you don’t want to feel a pulling, just a natural lengthening). Close your eyes and bring your focus to the breath. Take three long deep breaths and three slow breaths out, on each exhale allowing the body to sink down into the mat.
(Stay here for about 3 – 5 mins)

Beginner's Tip
Often it's difficult to release the heads of the thigh bones and soften the groins in this pose. This creates tension throughout the body and restricts the breath. Take two 10-pound sand bags and lay one across each top thigh, parallel to the crease of the groin. Then imagine that the heads of the thigh bones are sinking away from the weight, down into the floor.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

Day 11

Bhujangasana - Cobra Pose

Anatomical Focus
•    Upper back

Therapeutic Applications
•    Stress

Benefits
•    Strengthens the spine
•    Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen
•    Firms the buttocks
•    Stimulates abdominal organs
•    Helps relieve stress and fatigue
•    Opens the heart and lungs
•    Soothes sciatica
•    Therapeutic for asthma
•    Traditional texts say that Bhujangasana increases body heat, destroys disease, and awakens kundalini.


Contraindications and Cautions
•    Back injury
•    Carpal tunnel syndrome
•    Headache
•    Pregnancy

Beginner's Tip
Don't overdo the backbend. To find the height at which you can work comfortably and avoid straining your back, take your hands off the floor for a moment, so that the height you find will be through extension.



Lie prone on the floor. Stretch your legs back, tops of the feet on the floor. Spread your hands on the floor under your shoulders. Hug the elbows back into your body.

Press the tops of the feet and thighs and the pubis firmly into the floor.

On an inhalation, begin to straighten the arms to lift the chest off the floor, going only to the height at which you can maintain a connection through your pubis to your legs. Press the tailbone toward the pubis and lift the pubis toward the navel. Narrow the hip points. Firm but don't harden the buttocks.

Firm the shoulder blades against the back, puffing the side ribs forward. Lift through the top of the sternum but avoid pushing the front ribs forward, which only hardens the lower back. Distribute the backbend evenly throughout the entire spine.

Hold the pose anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds, breathing easily. Release back to the floor with an exhalation.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10

Day 10

Ardha Matsyendrasana: ( Half Lord of the Fishes Pose )

Anatomical Focus
•    Upper back

Therapeutic Applications
•    Sciatica

Benefits
•    Stimulates the liver and kidneys
•    Stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck
•    Energizes the spine
•    Stimulates the digestive fire in the belly
•    Relieves menstrual discomfort, fatigue, sciatica, and backache
•    Therapeutic for asthma and infertility
•    Traditional texts say that Ardha Matsyendrasana increases appetite, destroys most deadly diseases, and awakens kundalini.

Contraindications and Cautions
•    Back or spine injury: Perform this pose only with the supervision of an experienced teacher.

Beginner's Tip
In this version of the pose, the opposite-side arm is wrapped around the outside of the raised-leg upper thigh. This may be impractical, and potentially harmful, for beginning students. Be sure to sit up well on a blanket support and for the time being just wrap your arm around the raised leg and hug the thigh to your torso.

Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you, buttocks supported on a folded blanket. Bend your knees, put your feet on the floor, then slide your left foot under your right leg to the outside of your right hip. Lay the outside of the left leg on the floor. Step the right foot over the left leg and stand it on the floor outside your left hip. The right knee will point directly up at the ceiling.
Exhale and twist toward the inside of the right thigh. Press the right hand against the floor just behind your right buttock, and set your left upper arm on the outside of your right thigh near the knee. Pull your front torso and inner right thigh snugly together.
Press the inner right foot very actively into the floor, release the right groin, and lengthen the front torso. Lean the upper torso back slightly, against the shoulder blades, and continue to lengthen the tailbone into the floor.
You can turn your head in one of two directions: Continue the twist of the torso by turning it to the right; or counter the twist of the torso by turning it left and looking over the left shoulder at the right foot.
With every inhalation lift a little more through the sternum, pushing the fingers against the floor to help. Twist a little more with every exhalation. Be sure to distribute the twist evenly throughout the entire length of the spine; don't concentrate it in the lower back. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then release with an exhalation, return to the starting position, and repeat to the left for the same length of time.