Tag Archive for: Vinyasa Yoga

Meet our members: Angela

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Angela:

“I am an IT Business Analyst for a local financial institution in Bundaberg. I am 46 years old. And I love Yoga challenge.

I love Yoga challenge

I started practicing Yoga about 18 months ago. I love Yoga challenge – there are still so many poses I am yet to master!! I also love the feeling of serenity when I am on the mat, and not having to worry about anything else for that 60 minutes – that sense of calmness you feel after the Savasana relaxation – you can’t help but smile when you have completed your practice.

I try to attend at least 4 classes each week, but love how my mind and body feels when I achieve 6. ;-)

I was hesitant to try Yoga, as I was never one to ‘relax or switch off’, and I wasn’t sure whether I would get enough of a workout with Yoga, as I had always done aerobics. However, I had started experiencing some muscle injuries so decided I needed to increase my flexibility and tone/strengthen my muscles without weights – and Yoga has definitely helped me achieve this.

Every Yoga practice is an opportunity for me to develop my stances and this is what inspires me to keep practicing – that and our lovely instructors.

Yoga to me is fulfillment – finding that balance between exercising your body and calming your mind – and this has positive flow on benefits in my everyday life.

Love Life. Live Yoga studio is fresh, beautiful, and inviting, and Carmen and the girls are continually adding these special little ‘touches’ that enhance your Yoga experience.

For anyone new to Yoga, I encourage you to keep at it – it is a practice for ‘life’.

 

Meet Our members: Rebecca Spencer

How yoga helped her recover a long-lasting shoulder injury in less than a year.

What is Vinyasa Yoga? A Short Introduction For Beginners

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Vinyasa yoga is a Sanskrit term. It’s one of many types of yoga and can be translated as “to arrange something in a special way”. In Vinyasa, different yoga poses are combined into a continuous flow – also called asana. It’s a dynamic form of yoga, almost like a kind of dance. According to Wikipedia, the term “Vinyāsa” can also be used to reference a style of yoga practiced as one breath, tied to one movement.

Eventually, the goal is to synchronise your movement with your breath, creating a balance between your body and your mind. Because of its dynamic nature, Vinyasa Yoga is also often called Vinyasa Flow, or simply Flow Yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga and comes in many forms. Depending on your yoga teacher, classes might be taught at a faster or slower pace, depending on the particular style and preference of the instructor. That’s why it is important for you to find a yoga instructor that you can connect and feel comfortable with.

The Benefits of Vinyasa Yoga

There are countless health benefits that come with practicing Vinyasa Flow. With a regular practice, you will not only feel your muscles strength increase and your body becoming more flexible, but it will help you cleanse your body by sweating out toxins. On a mental level, you will experience an increased ability to focus, a clearer mind and a significant decrease in stress levels. Vinyasa Yoga has proven to reduce anxiety levels and even heal depression in many people who practice regularly.

Vinyasa yoga is excellent for beginners, but offers many pathways for advanced yogis as well. It might take a number of classes to get used to synchronising your breath and your movement; but don’t let that discourage you from continuing. Eventually, you will manage to take your mind off the breathing, as your body starts to take care of it for you, and focus more on getting deeper into the yoga poses to amplify the benefits.

 

Vinyasa Yoga Sequence

An example of a Vinyasa Yoga Sequence (Asana).

 

Get Started with Vinyasa Yoga

You don’t have to be overly flexible to get started with yoga either, as you might think. The entire reason we do yoga is to become more flexible and to strengthen our bodies. In time, you will be able to practice more complex sequences that focus on different parts of your body. If your ever feel like you can’t keep up with certain poses, a good yoga instructor will guide you and provide you with variations that are suitable for your particular level, age and body size.

If you don’t have your own yoga mat when you first start out, don’t worry. Most yoga studios, like here at Love Life. Love Yoga. we always have spare mats that you are welcome to borrow at any time.

Curious? Come practice with us!

Our Bundaberg yoga studio is located at Level 1, 161 Bourbong Street, right in the heart of Bundaberg CBD.

 

Are you experiencing pain in your neck, shoulders or back?

Try these 11 Yoga Poses for Neck, Shoulder and Back Pain Relief

 

Watch how yoga has helped these Bundaberg locals improve their lives

 

8 Things to Consider When Practicing Yoga

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1) Avoid coming to class with a full stomach

It is best to wait 2 hours after eating to practice yoga. You may have a light snack like a banana prior to doing yoga. When you have a full stomach, not only are most yoga poses uncomfortable, but blood supply is funneled to your stomach to process the nutrients from your food, leaving your muscles shortchanged on the energy they need for a successful practice.

twist

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2) Don’t forget to breathe

Focus on breathing. Simply breathe in and out through the nose, maintaining a slight contraction in the back of the throat. The first thing you need to think of especially in the challenging poses.

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3) Avoid pushing yourself too hard

Being honest to yourself and avoid to push yourself too hard. Yoga should never feel painful. If it starts to, back off. Yoga is all about awareness, about listening to your body’s subtle signals, and responding accordingly.

wheel pose

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4) Empty your mind

It is hard to clear our mind and not to think of the things are happening around us. A lot of questions are keep floating in our head all the time. One of the top reasons why people practice yoga, is to learn to make an effort to quieten their mind. Sacrificing both your form and the mind-body connection that comes with a focused practice. By concentrating on your body and your breath, you can help tune out the distractions in your head.

meditation

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5) Don’t rush into advanced poses

Being able to complete the foundational ones helps to ensure you have the strength, balance, and flexibility needed to tackle more advanced moves. When you rush into advanced poses, it’s very difficult to hold the correct posture, meaning you won’t use the right muscles, and you can risk injury. Remember, the basics poses are great strengtheners in and of themselves. Try to take advantage of them.

headstand

 

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6) Don’t compare yourself to others

People are practicing at different levels in every class. “Every body is different, and yoga is about treating your individual body,” Focusing on your body and allowing yourself to grow your own practice. It is your journey, you choose to where to do and enjoy every moment.

yogaclass

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7) Find the right yoga class with the right instructor

There are a wide range of yoga levels and styles out there that may or may not suit your needs and preferences. I believe everyone is searching for different types of yoga to practice, some people are looking for intensive yoga practices but others prefer relaxing and gentle. Take your time to find the right class and check with the instructor if you are not sure.

yoga teacher

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8) Enjoy the cool-down

By focusing on stretching postures and deep relaxation, the cool down can help prevent muscle soreness, enhance flexibility, and slowly lower your heart rate and blood pressure to prevent dizziness. Normally we will do some easy spinal twists and few seated poses. There are always just a few minutes left in class for Savasana. It is usually the last pose done and the most important part of a yoga practice. So allowing yourself in this precious moment to let go your thought and enjoying this final relaxation.

savasana

 

Namaste,

Carmen Lee-Schneider