by Marianne Elliott When it comes to working with fear, yoga is one of my secret weapons. Fear is not just a thought or idea. Fear is a neurobiological reaction to perceived threat. This is where modern neuroscience catches up with the wisdom of yoga and meditation. The autonomic nervous system (i.e. the part you don't consciously control) is divided into two sections: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system acts to mobilize the body's 'fight or … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2014
What Qualities & Strengths Make the ideal Ayurveda Client/Student?
By Vaidyar Mani and Nicky Hewett, Ancient’s Best – Ayurveda & Yoga Ayurveda, ‘the Yoga of Life’, where the body and mind is understood and then used as a means or instrument to attain Self-Realization, sadly is not for everyone. This is not a statement of arrogance or exclusivity but is based on individual evolution and Karma. The one who is ready now is spiritually evolved, able to think differently, and ready to take responsibility. The primary function of Ayurveda and all other … [Read more...]
How to Find Your Perfect Yoga Class After Relocating
by Andrea Leber, author of BEST of YOGA: Melbourne I’ve lived in Germany, France, Hungary, and Malaysia, then spent seven years in the UK and finally, two years ago, moved to the other side of the world: to Melbourne. Apart from the usual challenges relocating always throws at you (no matter how often you’ve gone through the whole process!) if you’re a dedicated yogi, one particular challenge is finding a new place to roll out your mat. No, not just any yoga studio, but somewhere that … [Read more...]
How to Uncover the Treasures of the Chakras through Yoga
by Kara-Leah Grant Back in 2000 I was living with chronic back pain including agonising spasms, searing sciatica on the right side and a right foot that was half numb, meaning I walked with a limp. I had no faith in doctors because I'd had a spinal fusion eight years earlier (aged 16). I'd felt like like the doctors I'd seen then or since didn't understood my back or what was causing my pain. Yet I dutifully took myself off off to the Whistler Medical Clinic to get x-rays and see if … [Read more...]
Giant Integration: Feeling Good vs The Truth of the Moment
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat For over a decade now I've been living deep journeying into the Self. Post-Bali was no exception. I'd stirred up, identified and released a negative core belief centred around the third chakra. This was difficult work and intensely liberating all at the same time. I'm already seeing concrete results from the clearing of this old belief in the way i'm organising my yoga classes and new chakra course here in Wellington. But that old third chakra … [Read more...]
How do I Deal with Different Levels of Students in the Same Yoga Class?
by Kelly Fisher, Urban Yoga Kelly, one of our go-to senior teachers, answers questions from readers about how to teach and what to do when issues come up. If you've got questions you'd like to be answered in our blog, email us at editor@theyogalunchbox.co.nz. The Yoga Teacher’s Question: “How do I deal with very different levels of students in the same class? As much as I would like to have all the students of similar levels in one class, it never seems to work out that way. Also, how do I … [Read more...]
Whereupon the Giant Flashes Back to Early Childhood and Wakes Up
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat I'm on a 500hr Yoga Teacher Training with the Power Living Crew called Allow the Giant to Emerge. I'm triggered, massively, and have spent four days of mired deep in my shit. This Thursday evening I'm exhausted and I'm sitting in a Core Belief session with Keenan Crisp and Kristi Clark leading. (Which is really all about working with vasanas.) I'm sick of hearing about core beliefs, I'm sick of hearing about people's childhood memories, I'm even … [Read more...]
Putting the Flow Together: A Complete Mandala Surya Namaskar {video}
by Kara-Leah Grant Welcome to the last article and video in this series of Yoga Explorations. Yes, you've made it all the way to the end and now it's time to bring everything together in one smooth flow. Circular sun salutations work on a few different levels. Usually on our mats we work in a purely linear manner - we move left and right, back and forward. Plus we usually only face forwards, or sideways to one direction. However when we do circular sun salutations we use all four sides … [Read more...]
But First The Giant Must Dissolve in a Puddle of Tears on the Yoga Mat. Again
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat It's post-Bali yoga teacher training with the crew from Power Living and I am totally spaced out. I don't know whether I'm coming or going. One minute I was in conversation with Duncan & the PLAY crew poolside at Potatohead in Seminyak, then I was in a taxi and off to the airport, flying for eight hours overnight, arriving the next day in Auckland, driving 2.5 hours to Tauranga to pick up Samuel, sleeping some more, and driving four hours to … [Read more...]
How to Open Your Wide-Legged Forward Bends using Variations {video}
by Kara-Leah Grant Welcome to the fifth article and video in this series of Yoga Explorations. You've now learned how to spontaneously allow the body to move within the structure of a posture, as well as two breath pairs - the Ascending and Descending breath, and cultivating the core and radiating from the core breath. Last week you learned how to use core cultivation to open the body in Lunges and Lunge variations. This week, we take a look at the Wide-Legged Forward Bend and ways to … [Read more...]