Yoga plus Therapies in Norman Park, Queensland, Australia | Medical and health

Yoga plus Therapies

Locality: Norman Park, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 7 3342 1480

Address: Parooba Ave 4152 Norman Park, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.yogaplustherapies.com

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25.01.2022 Does Yoga work? The Science of Yoga For those of you who have practiced yoga for some time, you need no evidence of its worth. However, some of you may be new to yoga, or maybe are natural sceptics. Its not a bad thing to be a little sceptical. Im a little that way. Its good to have some evidence that something is true. Ultimately that evidence can come from self-discovery and self - science. This is why yoga is sometimes called a science. It can also be helpful to know... that western science has also found that yoga can be good for us, and there is much more yet to be discovered. (I will also take a side step here and say naturally not all yoga is good for all people. However the principles of yoga can be applied and be helpful to most people, if adapted to suit their needs.) There is a new video (released on international yoga day), which goes into this science of yoga. If you can, have a look at the video. Go to: http://upliftconnect.com/watch-science-behind-yoga/ In summary the key points are: The Physical Practices have many benefits through movement, breathing and relaxation. The Slow Breathing can calm the mind and manage the stress response ie reduce blood pressure. Yoga teaches us more about Self Control so we can better Self Regulate ourselves. Science has shown that children with more self control become more successful as adults. Yoga improves Mind Body Awareness and Attention so you can observe the responses in the body, the flow of our thoughts, and be more available to make positive changes to our behaviour. Yoga has psychological benefits such as reduced Depression & Anxiety, and more Resilience. Yoga can help us combat challenges By practising doing a challenging action or balance, we can learn to use breath and adjust our efforts to regulate our thoughts and reactions to that challenge. Yoga aids in integration and helps us to develop connections for the flow of information & energy. Yoga creates space in the mind & body and allows prana (energy) to flow. (One benefit you can experience more with practice, than can be tested by science yet.) Yoga practice leads to changes in the brain: Changing its activity; Changing the Molecules ie neurotransmitters; Changing its structure; Changing the Gene activity. Yoga can be adapted it is not as the glossy magazines portray ie that only thin flexible women do yoga. It is for All: all ages, all body types, male & female. It is even adaptable if you have a health condition. And ultimately yoga can lead us toward deeper spiritual states and even the possibility of Self Realisation

25.01.2022 Yoga for Grounding Ourselves - Reducing our Fear in this time of COVID 19 Virus "Yoga for over 40s - Yoga tailored to older bodies" Link for Yoga for Grounding & Reducing Fear https://youtu.be/TgwgyEkyY-0 https://youtu.be/TgwgyEkyY-0... Join us for a 49 minute Yoga for Grounding session. This session is designed to ground our minds in our body - instilling the qualities of the earth element - stability & security. By getting out of our heads & practicing this great yoga class you feel less fear & more calm clear mind. This is a good practice in this time of COVID 19 or any time the fear breaks free in your mind. Be mindful/aware, do only what is comfortable, take it slow, leave out what is harmful to you. Namaste Rad & James Join us for a 49 minute Yoga for Grounding session. This session is designed to ground our minds in our body - instilling the qualities of the earth element ...

22.01.2022 Become Heart Savvy - Heart Rate as your Mirror of Health & Fitness With many people now using Activity trackers like Fitbit, many now also include a measure of heart rate. So here are some quick facts about heart rate (HR) and how you can use it... The heart has an innate rhythm of about 100 beats per minute. Your autonomic nervous system is responsible for modifying the beat. The parasympathetic nervous (rest & recover) slows it down. The primary nerve to the heart is the Vagus nerve. The sympathetic nervous system speeds it up. The heart rate will vary according to your needs & activity. The hearts priority is to supply blood & oxygen to your brain first, then meet other needs. The normal resting heart is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If you are very fit then it can be below 60 ie 40 beats per minute, due to the heart being a more efficient pump. It can also be lowered by blood pressure medications. The heart rate can be influenced by many things including: High Temperatures & humidity can increase HR. Your HR may go up when you first stand up. It will go up with exercise, and works even harder exercising in the heat. Emotions like stress, fear & anxiety can increase HR. Being overweight can increase HR. Thyroid dysfunction can increase HR. Your HR can also be used to determine work load when training to help you get fitter & increase your aerobic capacity. If work load is too low you may not get better, and if too high you may strain your system, especially if you are unfit and untrained. When you are fitter, after exercising your HR should return towards normal more quickly. Your maximal HR tends to decrease as you get older ie 220 - age = your maximal HR Your HR is generally NOT steady, but varies beat to beat. This is called Heart Rate Variability. (HRV) When stressed, fatigued, poor recovery, or unwell, then your HRV may become less varied, indicating some imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. Some research suggests poor HRV can be associated with impending chronic illness, like diabetes. When your HRV is more smooth & regular then this may indicate coherence in your system, where you are at more optimal functioning. One very quick way to influence HR is with slow breathing ie at 6 smooth breaths per minute can help slow your HR, and bring more coherence to your HRV. So you can see heart rate can be a great measure for both heath & fitness. However be careful: over monitoring your HR can cause stress. Use it wisely, but dont over do it. Remember MODERATION in all things is usually best.

22.01.2022 Now this is funny!

22.01.2022 How do you direct your Awareness? By definition, to be AWARE is the state of being conscious of something. In simple terms we can respond to every day tasks automatically, or with attention, or with awareness. Automatic is NOT bad. For example driving would not be possible, if many tasks were not automatic, freeing our attention to our surrounds. However, doing everything on automatic means we may not always be aware of the consequences of our actions.... Attention gives us focus, so we take care and do action toward our goal. However, attention can narrow our focus. Awareness is more broad based - to see the bigger picture Even the awareness of being aware But being aware is not always easy. There is much in the world that automatically takes hold of our minds or captures our feelings. So the first thing is always to remember to be aware. Perhaps you could use an external device to help, to stop between tasks, a pause as you wait A teacher a guide a group a course can be ways to help us stay on track. Practice NOW stop in the moment & attend to: What is around you the sounds sights smells sensations tastes To fully experience Or to tune into the rhythm of your breath Or the sensation of your body as you move (for example the practices of Yoga or Tai Chi) Or to experience Gravity and how our balance mechanism works with gravity Or anything else In moments of awareness the simple chatter of the default mind pauses, and at these moments we become free of worry & stress. Its enjoying the experience of movement, rather than trying to do action always. Another way to cultivate awareness is to use what Tantra (a sister science of Yoga) advises - to cultivate curiosity so you can delve deeply into your awareness - to study it from all angles - to know it deeply, in what is described as samyama in the yoga sutras. Its also important to be aware of our awareness. Are we directing our awareness in a limited way? Are we missing something important? This is the skill of being open, trying & experiencing new things, listening to new ideas Anything worth while takes effort, but it speaks more deeply to our soul, and leaves us feeling more satisfied, more fulfilled, happier within our selves.

21.01.2022 Australians love their yoga According to Roy Morgan research released on 13 October 2016, Yoga is one of the fastest growing fitness activities in Australia. One in ten Australians over the age of 14 practise yoga in some form, which has doubled since 2008: now 2 million people practising yoga wow! As expected more women practise yoga than men, but interestingly 1 in 10 men in the 25 to 34 age bracket now do yoga: this is a 3 fold increase since 2008.... Generally people who practise yoga make more healthy choices in life, than the average Australian. People are looking for a more holistic form of fitness, which emphasises both physical & mental health, and be able to manage health conditions like arthritis, back pain & muscular aches & pains. We love our yoga! Radhika & James yogaplustherapies.com

21.01.2022 Did you know doing too much too soon is a major cause of PAIN in your body? It can affect many areas of the body, including your knees, hips, spine and shoulders. The problem is that you load the body structures beyond the capacity to cope, and the brain sends the pain signal to modify what you are doing, but sometimes we ignore this message, and the problem worsens. Usually this occurs because you get too enthusiastic, and increase the load too much in a week, or push ahe...ad too quickly, before your body can get stronger. It is worsened if there is a big contrast between your daily activity ie work is sedentary, and you do a challenging activity, sport or exercise. So the problem is simply an imbalance between your capacity and fitness, & what you are doing. Your mind thinks you can do more, but your body says enough is enough, and stops you with pain. So the FIX to your pain lies in MODIFYING your activity. You need to become better at knowing what is happening in your body (& mind), picking up early on signals of discomfort, reducing your activity load to what is safe for you, and learn to increase activity slowly following an Activity Ladder. For example with the knee, exercise while sitting with low load or in a pool is usually less stressful than walking, and going up stairs would be more difficult than walking on the flat. So what can you do? Back off your activity until you are pain free (or at least minimal discomfort). Develop body/mind awareness skills, so you can better recognise when you are over doing it; yoga & meditation may be helpful here. Slowly return to your activity, increasing the load gently over time. Try to not make more than 10% changes to your training load in one week. Learn to know how much recovery time you need between and after activity. Check for signs of pain, stiffness or fatigue. Pace yourself and stop the "boom then bust" approach. Be consistent and work slowly toward your goal. Build up your resilience to do what you want with patience. Seek professional assistance from a physiotherapist (like James), if you need a specific and targeted program.

21.01.2022 We are having a run on Yoga and Running (no puns intended). Today, we offer a Yoga class suitable for post-run recovery - especially helpful for runners, although I really enjoyed the easy stretches as well from a dancer's perspective. Enjoy this short 10 minute post run recovery yoga session. A simple cool down for all runners to try after their run - a gentle active recovery program, focusing on breathing, easy movement, simple stretches, and short meditation to enhance you...r running. Be mindful/aware, do only what is comfortable, take it slow, leave out what is harmful to you. Namaste R & J Teaching yoga 25 years "Yoga for over 40s - Youthful Yoga tailored to older bodies" www.yogaplustherapies.com

21.01.2022 This week, we offer a VERY short and beautiful standing flow pattern sequence. Harmony Yoga sequence Join us for a 4 minute Hatha Yoga Flow, the Harmony Yoga sequence. It is a gentle flow pattern, composed by James, and excellent to do slowly and flowingly. This is designed for people who work at desks, with keyboards, with phones and so forth to help with reducing neck stiffness, arm discomfort, and aid posture. The link for the Harmony Yoga sequence is:... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N555qcCmSPM Apologies this is not a full class, but I was quite sick and sad on the weekend and did not feel up to doing a full hour for you good folks. Maybe the isolation is getting to me! (haha) Cheers and Namaste R & J Teaching yoga 25 years "Yoga for over 40s - Youthful Yoga tailored to older bodies" www.yogaplustherapies.com youtube yogaplus therapies

20.01.2022 Yoga for Runners 2 Join us for a 30 minute Yoga Class for Runners. This session is designed to help all, and especially runners who are stiff or older, especially older male runners. The class is preceded with a short section on how to check your mobility at home, with some excellent simple self- tests. Though training errors and strength are the major issues related to running, feeling stiff & sore may influence how you run, so this is a short class which may help you feel... better, & move more easily, with less stiffness. Be mindful/aware, do only what is comfortable, take it slow, leave out what is harmful to you. Namaste R & J Teaching yoga 25 years "Yoga for over 40s - Youthful Yoga tailored to older bodies" www.yogaplustherapies.com youtube yogaplus therapies

18.01.2022 Today, I offer an easy stretchy Yoga class for hips, legs and feet. Join us for a 44 minute Hatha (Flow) Yoga for hips, feet & legs. Rejuvenate your lower limbs with wonderful stretches, strengthening & balance improving yoga practices. You always feel better with yoga... Be mindful/aware, do only what is comfortable, take it slow, leave out what is harmful to you. Namaste R & J Teaching yoga 25 years "Yoga for over 40s - Youthful Yoga tailored to older bodies"... The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAx0y3tTh-Q

17.01.2022 How would you like to improve your brain power, boost memory and help prevent Alzheimers in just 12 minutes per day? No, its not drugs; its not brain games; its Yoga, and Meditation. More specifically, its a Kriya Meditation called Kirtan Kriya, a combination of sequential movement, breath, mudra, mantra, and visualization. So what makes this so special? Cant we just listen to some other sounds OR do other relaxing tasks? ... Well, no, substitutions do not work. Yoga gives something more, which cant be replaced. The yogis knew what they were doing when they created this stuff, as research by neuroscientists from the University of California found in a recent study. The technique takes a few minutes to learn, and 12 minutes of daily practice should have your brain function lighting up like fireworks on New Years Eve. So here it is: 1. Sitting quietly, gently visualize light coming from crown to the third eye (midbrain). 2. Touch your thumb to your index finger, chanting Sa. Then touch your thumb to your middle finger, chanting Ta. Then touch your thumb to your ring finger, chanting Na. Finally, touch your thumb to your little finger, chanting Ma. 3. Repeat for 12 minutes. 2 mins aloud, 2 mins whispered, 4 mins silently within, 2 mins whisper, 2 mins aloud. Thats it; give it a try and see what you discover All is Well James & Radhika Yogaplustherapies.com More information about Kirtan Kriya and Alzheimers prevention, including many other benefits, can be found in the White Paper from Alzheimers Research & Prevention Foundation. For details go to: http://www.alzheimersprevention.org//Yoga_and_Medical_Medi

16.01.2022 Your daily dose of Meditation is good medicine Meditation is getting so popular nowadays, and for good reason. Science suggests that meditation can alter muscles and nerves, influence DNA & genes, reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), and positively influence energy production in the cells. Research has shown that those who engage in these (mind-body) practices live healthier and more balanced lives...Continue reading

16.01.2022 Being present with a Grand Master On the weekend, we attended a training with Shaolin Grand Master Shi De Yang 31st Generation Shaolin Warrior Monk, presented via Sifu Ramesh Patel from Shaolin Kung Fu Guan Brisbane. For those unaware of Shaolin, it is 1500 year old tradition of Buddhist Monks who train in the warrior arts to keep healthy, NOT for violence. The Grand Master shared that Movement was a great aid to be able to sit in meditation comfortably for long periods. In...terestingly, the process of physical yoga has a similar aim to train ourselves for meditation & the spiritual paths. Health & physical fitness are the positive side effects. There is always something special when you sit in the presence of a master. One of the first things the grand master said was I am not here to teach you, but rather we learn together. The message is clear: We must always keep our minds open. As they used to say in the old Kung Fu series Keep your cup empty, especially if you are going to learn something new. Within this tradition there is great respect for each other, and the importance of life conveyed by the simple bringing hands together at the heart & bowing to each other. He especially reminded us that STRENGTH came from being in community, not just as individuals, and the importance in sharing of culture. When you practice the Shaolin arts you ultimately make it your own - you become one with the practice. This can only happen with practice, the right type of practice. The aim of movement is for health; this is done in many ways. There is also an element of play - just moving for movings sake, moving how it feels best. Some simple tips to practice any movement: To centre & bring your mind present - hands together at the heart To move with the breath To move the energy through movement then draw it back within by circling your hands up over head & back to your lower pelvis Nothing changes if you do nothing to change is the statement conveyed to Sifu Ramesh by the late Grand Master Shaolin Master Shi Suxi. We left the grand masters presence energised and inspired. All is well James & Radhika

15.01.2022 There is nothing more constant than change!

15.01.2022 Are you very happy, pretty happy, or not very happy? I am asking because, happiness is considered one of the best measures for our wellbeing. Happiness is also considered a better measure for the success of society than GDP. Science reveals for most people across the countries of the world rich, poor, democratic, or autocratic happiness for most is success in doing things of every day life. People tend to be less happy if: unemployed, not having a partner, in poor health ...(physical & mental), lack security, members of a minority, and the less educated. Science suggests there are relationships between income & happiness, but it is relative, meaning that it is based on social comparison, not in absolute terms. Better economics tends to reduce negative emotions & associated pain, but doesnt necessarily improve happiness. Many people strive to gain happiness via power, money, fame, entertainment, assets, hobbies and so forth. However, in reality happiness cant be bought nor can it be achieved. People often confuse happiness with pleasure. Pleasure is different it is a short term satisfaction ie great meal or concert. A scientific review in 2016 found religiosity, meaning ones personal goal was focused on life purpose, mental health, physical wellbeing, gratitude, and inner peace, and was better associated with happiness. Many spiritual teachers describe happiness as an internal, rather than external thing. Mark Manson suggests that happiness occurs when you decide to strive for whats within you to be the best you can be. Happiness is the journey not the destination. Sounds like yoga! Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. Margaret Lee Runbeck Another mistake is to assume that to be happy, that every thing must always be positive and OK. In life stuff happens. Things do go wrong. Mistakes get made. Negative emotions arise, and it is important to feel them and accept them also. Balanced emotions appear to keep us healthy so happiness can be available to us. Accepting ones emotions, and not inflexibly striving for one specific kind of emotion such as happiness, appears to causally contribute to greater psychological health. Isaac Taylor The biggest mistake is to seek out happiness. If you try to sleep, you cant sleep, if you try to be happy, you can never be happy, and the harder you try the further it goes away. Happiness is an outcome of ongoing life experiences. When you are happy, you are just happy, you dont wonder about it you simply are. Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder Thoreau

13.01.2022 Beautifully done. I know many single fan forms, but not double fan form.

13.01.2022 The Human Factor and Yoga "Excellence comes from our ability to achieve greater self awareness" Ben Cook The art & science of yoga is all about going deeper and knowing ourselves at our deepest level...... I read an article recently in Mar 2018 Australian Aviation magazine by Ben Cook. He made note that in the Aviation industry how important is the Human Factor, which relates to aviation safety and performance. Quoting Ben: "While safety management systems play a role, my view is its less about safety and more about the ability of an individual or organisation to uphold & maintain high standards". Old-fashioned but marvellous thought! One definition of yoga means "integration". This is very much the ideal of yoga, to be the best we can be and striving towards becoming more integrated whole beings as well as communities. In another quote of Bens: "The best individuals and teams in all parts of our industry are often not necessarily the most technically proficient, rather theyre the people who understand their own "human" limitations; they have good self awareness of their boundaries and they respond prior to losing the big picture". Self awareness, knowing and understanding our limitations is fundamental to a yoga practice, even at a simple asana level. Doing an extreme yoga practice beyond your capacity and putting yourself (or others at harm) is just NOT yoga. In a world where we rely heavily on technology, we often forget the importance of the human factor. There is much to distract us: phones, ipads, social media.., but it is important that we can maintain focus and attention when we need. Yoga training can help us to learn to focus, and stay focused when we need. Til next time... Radhika & James

13.01.2022 Michaelic Verse We must eradicate from the soul all fear and terror of what comes toward us out of the future. We must acquire serenity in all feelings and sensations about the future. We must look forward with absolute equanimity to all that may come, and we must think only that whatever comes is given to us by a world direction full of wisdom. This is what we have to learn in our times. To live out of pure trust in the ever present help of the spiritual world. Surely nothing else will do, if our courage is not to fail us. Let us properly discipline our will, and let us seek the inner awakening every morning and every evening. ~ Rudolf Steiner

13.01.2022 Circle of Harmony Radhika and I went to an out doors QPAC dance performance recently (We All Dance). It was a collaboration of many groups including the Royal Ballet. It included dancers with disability, older, the youth, and multicultural. What amazed, was how it was linked together seamlessly from one dance to the next, with dancers from the Royal Ballet helping to draw this link. Even though each group, and even individual performers, did their thing, there was also a comm...on thread, which brought it all together in a circle of harmony. To achieve this harmony of course took practice. The outcome was very moving In a way our bodies and minds are like this. When we can find a common thread to link ourselves to i.e. something greater than ourselves, and then practice, we can come to perform action with perfect harmony. In Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) they say when you can paint a beautiful and complete circle (enso), then your body. mind and spirit are complete and in harmony. In yoga such a link may begin with our breath, and transcend with practice, as we move ourselves toward our intention of practice, what ever it may be. What is your link, which moves you toward harmony? James and Radhika

12.01.2022 The question was asked: Free resources? Heres the 1st one we composed for you at this time - only 25 minutes! More to come, once a week. Will also include meditations. An easy standing yoga (qigong) class for vitality and immunity, done from the safety of your own home. An offering from the hearts of James & Radhika, Thinking of you all at this time.

11.01.2022 A different way to counter Stress & restore your Vitality... You may be aware from personal experience, that chronic stress and tension can sap your energy. There is a lot in the science literature about the hazardous effects of stress and tension on your body, including changes in your brain, nervous system and hormonal system, which can lead to damage of all of the major systems, including GUT, Heart and so forth.... Eastern thought has another theory about how stress affects us. This effect is more subtle and affects our energy system. In yoga this energy is called prana, and in Chinese systems it can be called chi. This energy relates to our vitality and how we feel. When we have stress and tension the energy becomes disturbed. Through special exercises connecting mind, breath and body we can correct this energy disturbance and restore our well being, reducing our reaction to stress. In yoga these exercises can include some types of asana (performed more slowly), pranayama, mudra, bandha, relaxation and meditation. In Chinese systems it may include chi kung (qi gong), tai chi and related practices, and standing meditation. These practices are sometimes called internal practices, they are generally performed slowly, as their goal is to restore energy flow, rather than to use energy - which can come from more external based exercises such as running or even fast paced yoga practice. The video section of our website includes both yoga (Yoga videos) and chi kung (Tai Chi videos) samples. We also have a new Breathing & Vitality Yoga Class that you may enjoy. Find it at: https://youtu.be/tGKpuf_CXtM All is Well James & Radhika yogaplustherapies.com

10.01.2022 Finding it difficult to get to sleep? Brain buzzing at night? Unwind and sleep better with this slow and relaxing yoga class: Wind Down Yoga - 30 minute practice for better sleep https://youtu.be/CWpLqDR8X0E

10.01.2022 We are all an experiment of one... I read a story from Runners World Dec 2015 by Sam Murphy, who describes a story where she and her husband, both keen runners, took time off work to train like an athlete, hoping to make great improvements in their marathon times. It all crashed, because she became injured by the extra training and her husband had a disappointing run. It all comes down to knowing who you are. I once trained for a marathon. I only trained 3 times per week, e...ven though the recommendation was much more. Why? Because I knew my body required a certain amount of recovery time. Doing more and I would have become injured. Because something works for one person, it doesnt mean it will work for you. The media often describes success stories, famous people or otherwise, losing weight with such & such diet, or improving performance in sport, by doing a specific routine. Even in our yoga world, the modern yoga gurus (not meaning the wise sages) say, Do this! and many people will follow in good faith, believing what they are doing is appropriate for them, without questioning it. Even random controlled studies average out the effect so some people will have responded strongly while others weakly or not at all. One of the important principles of yoga is to enhance our awareness and to learn to observe in a clear way, not overly clouded by our biases & the biases of others. This is something we can improve through practice, by learning to observe, listen, feel, and understand our selves at a deeper level. So then you can have fun, try new things, and test whether they work for you. Wisely taking what is good for you and discarding what is not Heres a very Tantric saying from a non tantric: Listen to everyone, follow no one Dean Karnazes (ultra marathon runner).

08.01.2022 Do you want to be able to slow your heart rate like a YOGI Master? The secret lies in what you do, not what you think. You cant speak to your heart to tell it to slow down. However, by changing the way you breathe you can influence the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the system which controls your heart, and also all your unconscious actions which keep your body physiology running in a balanced way. In normal breathing, when you inhale the heart is stimulated to beat a littl...e faster, and when you exhale the heart slightly slows, so over all not much change occurs. However if you: Lengthen the inhale greater than the exhale for a few minutes then the heart rate speeds up, and even sends a message to the brain to stimulate the ANS. Breathe out slowly, for example with long Brahmari (humming bee breath) or 1:2 breath, where the exhale is twice that of the inhale, then the heart rate slows down, and a message is sent to the brain to calm, restore and digest ie the parasympathetic response. Science indicates these responses are mediated by the Vagus nerve. So if you want to slow your heart down, then breathe slowly, emphasising the exhale for a few minutes. Happy breathing! Try Brahmari Pranayama - https://youtu.be/gkihvJHwNYA Spread the word about the benefits of yoga on this 2nd International Yoga Day. All is Well James & Radhika

06.01.2022 Try our new meditation video - 5 Elements Meditation In the yoga tradition each finger represents one of the 5 elements: Ring finger for EARTH (Prithvi) energy Little finger for WATER (Jala) energy... Thumb for FIRE (Agni) energy Index finger for AIR (Prana) energy Middle finger for SPACE (Akasha) energy Though there are many mudras variations this is one of the simplest (& short) practices to help focus and calm the mind, and balance the 5 elements. This can be practiced with just a few minutes spare. Enjoy. Find it HERE - https://youtu.be/dWTdDkmhCvg

03.01.2022 Another class of Yoga to get you going - address the problem areas of back, hips & shoulders. Thanks to James for this! https://youtu.be/8_IYVcysR_g

02.01.2022 Snap crackle & pop: Whats best for your knee joints? Studies keep showing that exercise is one the best things you can do for knee health "Exercise for Meniscal Injury"... Injury to the menisci, (the semi-lunar cartilages in your knee joint, which help increase surface contact) can be a common injury with sports, or wear & tear issue in people over 40. It can be a troublesome and painful problem leading to your knee giving way or locking. Such problems can interfere with you exercising, gardening, working or even simple walking can be painful. Surgery is a common treatment approach for meniscal injury, as it often gives more immediate pain relief. However a recent study from Norway & Denmark found that after 2 years there was NO difference in outcome between surgery, or with people who completed physiotherapy specific exercise training. The people who did exercise training also ended up with stronger thighs & knees in the long run! So if you are contemplating surgery, but worried about complications, it may be better to be patient and persevere with exercise. However, it is best if the exercise is guided by your physiotherapist, or appropriate trained health professional, and your knee injury is not complicated by knee osteoarthritis. "High Intensity Aqua Exercise for Knee Arthritis" In another study from Finland, post menopausal women with mild osteoarthritis were able to recover cartilage health and improve fitness through high intensity water resistance training, even though normal exercise was uncomfortable. What was especially interesting with the study was that the exercise was shown to actually help rebuild cartilage health, along with reducing joint pain. "Snap crackle & pop" Do your knees make noise when you exercise or move them? In another study from USA, researchers are investigating these knee sounds. Their findings initially suggest that if the sound is consistent, then this is a more healthy knee, and if it is erratic, then the knee may be injured, and so more care is required when exercising. Reference: https://www.sciencedaily.com//health_medicine/joint_health/

02.01.2022 Our next offering is a Yoga class suitable for all - and especially helpful for younger pre-menopausal women. Yoga for Runners 1 (helpful to all runners especially younger women) https://youtu.be/FEpPG-3kUGY... Join us for a 38 minute Hatha Yoga for RUNNERS session. This class will be great for all runners: it will focus on dynamic mobility suited to runners, core strength, focus & meditation for runners, and a harmonising yoga practice. This may be especially helpful for younger women runners before menopause. (Coming up in future videos is a special yoga for post menopause women focusing on strength, and older stiff male runners needing to restore some mobility & flexibility.) Be mindful/aware, do only what is comfortable, take it slow, leave out what is harmful to you.

02.01.2022 For optimal results! Centre yourself first sounds simple, but it works Generally when we move through our day, our attention is directed outward.... Focusing on the people we are with, the activity we are doing, the thoughts in our heads, our goals, and so forth. Centering is a simple process where we take our attention back within. This may be to attend to: Our Breathing A body part like our feet grounded to the floor, or the area below our navel (our inner point of balance), our heart area, or the space between our eye brows A particular area of stress or tension (and allow it to relax) Our whole body through a body scan Our feelings And so forth This is with awareness, not control, which means without a goal, without judgement, without needing to achieve anything, but simply to become PRESENT. In this way we escape out of our head, our stress, our fears and anxieties. This is a good thing to do before starting an activity, such as: Yoga (centering is actually fundamental to the practices) Tai Chi Martial Arts Exercise Dance Painting Gardening Running Kayak Cycling Chess What ever Why ? Being present, means it brings you focused on the NEW thing you are doing. It creates space and place to clear the head for the new thing you are doing. It helps to break any negative patterning. It allows you to have a choice to respond or not to respond, rather than continuing on automatically. Try it and discover for yourself whether it helps Pause and centre yourself before beginning a new activity. Enjoy, have fun, play with it a little. All is Well James & Radhika

01.01.2022 Today, we offer an unusual and fantastic Yoga class for ankles - a strong program for mobility and strength. Join us for a 43 minute Yoga Exercise program for developing strong mobile ankles, which will help you with sport, balance and doing more difficult yoga practices. It may also benefit some people recovery from chronic ankle issues. A healthy ankle should be able to bend a knee forward to wall with toes positioned 10 to 12 cm out from the wall & the heel is kept flat -... how mobile is your ankle? This program does place more stress on the knees & knee caps, so avoid if you have knee pain issues. Be mindful/aware, do only what is comfortable, take it slow, leave out what is harmful to you. Namaste R & J Teaching yoga 25 years "Yoga for over 40s - Youthful Yoga tailored to older bodies"

01.01.2022 PAIN the illusion is its from the body Pain in the Brain Pain science is a concept (evolving over the last 20 to 30 years) that the pain we feel in our bodies, does not originate in the body, but is in fact created by our brains. The basic premise of pain science is that the brain gathers all the information from our senses, processes this information, which includes past experiences, memories, fears, beliefs, culture, stress levels, and attitudes, and if the brain feels t...Continue reading

01.01.2022 Standing Energy class Yoga for when you sat too much! - get up now & try this 30 mins of standing yoga. Move & groove to standing yoga...