Sever weather conditions have caused disruption to post-Chrismas/New Year plans to get fit and trim in households throughout the country! Forecasters have warned that the conditions will last up to another 10 days leaving us here in Wexford and the country as a whole, with one of the harshest winters in 30 years. Some politicians are even calling on our government to treat the situation as a national emergency.
While this is serious news, all is not lost. Yes you may not be able to leave your home to get to the gym and yes you probably can’t even go for a run because the footpaths are too slippery and lets face it, it is freezing out there, however, the clever yogis came up with a solution to this problem thousands of years ago, long before the first gymnasiums opened their doors in sunny California.
Although yoga may still be associated in many peoples minds with gentle stretching, in fact it can also be a demanding cardio workout when the need arises. Provided you warm up in the usual way there is no reason why you cannot give extra time to your sun salutations in order to ad some heat and cardio to your routine while you are prevented from running, cycling or whatever else it may be that keeps you fit. Unlike other keep fit activities yoga does not require any equipment (a towel on the floor will do), any outdoors (the space at the end of your bed will do) or even a single penny of investment while you are trapped at home.
In a standard hatha yoga class we do around 5 rounds of sun salutations while most Ashtanga classes will open with about 10 (sun salutations A and B together). To ad more cardio to your routine you can easily speed up the pace once you have warmed up and increase the rounds from 5 to 10 or 10 to 20 or 30. If your house is chilly make sure to pay attention to your warming Ujjayi breath to stoke the internal fires and keep you warm and limber while you practice.
So if you are snowed in, just enjoy the snow and enjoy your time at home on the yoga mat as well, burning calories and breathing your way to a deep, focused and mindful state of awareness!
If you have any questions about yoga or want to discuss your practice, send us an email here at info@yogagorey.com and we’ll be happy to advise in whatever way we can.
Namaste,
Liam B.
Yoga Teacher and Director at the Gorey Yoga Studio, John St. Gorey, Co. Wexford
T: 086 408 2428
E: info@yogagorey.com
www.yogagorey.com
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The next Mindfulness Meditation and Hatha Yoga Intensive will be held at Yoga Sacred Space in Wicklow Town on June 14th, 10.30am to 1.30pm. Liam will lead the yoga practice Fidelma will lead the meditation. Eur 40 for all three hours. Great way to spend a Sunday morning, finish the old week and start with the new one – true nourishment for mind, body and soul, no additives, preservatives or colourants – just pure, simple yoga and meditation grounded in moments of absolute presence!
To book just text me on 086 408 2428 or email to info@yogagorey.com
Namaste,
Liam.
Yoga and Meditation
Sunday November 9th, 2008.
It is no secret that for many, Yoga is as much a way to manage and deal with the stress of everyday life as it is to gain flexibility, strength and the other physical benefits of asana practice. The origins of Yoga as practiced in India are inextricably linked with the practice of meditation which has been shown to be a highly effective tool in reducing stress and beating the symptoms of stress at their point of origin, deep within ourselves.
The Goal of Yoga
Today, the link between yoga and meditation is often lost sight of in the enthusiasm students and many teachers have for the, very satisfying and rewarding, practice of physical yoga. The goal of yoga was originally to quiet the body and still the mind in preparation for the practice of meditation – the ultimate inner journey which leads ultimately to a more fulfilling life and engagement with the outside and every day world.
This workshop in November will allow you to experience the effects of a full Hatha Yoga session upon a guided meditation practice. Following a Hatha Yoga class of 90 minutes, with myself (Liam Byrne) you will led by mindfulness trainer, Fidelma Farley, into two basic meditation practices that will enhance physical and mental stillness, and enable you to live more fully in the present.
Regular Breaks
This promises to be a very interesting workshop and I, for one, am looking forward very much to the extended mindfulness meditation after the yoga session. No need to worry about tortured legs either, this is a workshop (not a sweatshop!) and there will be no prizes awarded to those who can sit cross-legged the longest. There will be regular breaks to stretch the legs and opportunities to ask questions and discuss. Personally I can’t think of any better way (well, not many anyway) of spending a Sunday afternoon.
Cost and Duration
The duration of this workshop will be three hours with a cost of Eur 40.
To register your interest contact us at events@yogagorey.com or give me (Liam) a call on 086 408 2428. You can reserve a place on the workshop by sending a Eur 20 deposit to myself – just ask for details when you contact me.
PS Best to reserve early as places are limited to maximum 12 people.