ANDREA - a full time Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi instructor.

I fell in love with yoga over seven years ago, when I got a Nintendo DS and bought a game called Let's Yoga. From then, I began 'playing' yoga everyday, sometimes twice a day. At first, the practice was more physical for me, but after few months I started to really count on yoga to bring me a sense of calm during especially chaotic days. Soon after, I began recognizing the benefits of a regular asana and meditation practice and continued to incorporate yoga daily - not just during times of chaos. I found myself feeling more energized, more compassionate, happier, and with more awareness. Now, I teach full-time and couldn't be happier to do what I love. What began as a physical practice for strength and flexibility quickly became a lifestyle. I teach my students to take their yoga off the mat and apply the principles learned in the class to their lives outside of the studio. I do not only teach my philosophy, I live it.

Sunday 9 December 2012

Cleansing Breath



Instructions for performing the Cleansing Breath. 

1. Stand with feet slightly apart, arms hanging by the sides, back straight and head erect. 

2. Inhale deeply with the mouth closed.

3. Form the lips as if about to whistle (do not puff the cheeks) and then, using a considerable amount of vigour, exhale a small amount of breath. Force the exhalation as if receiving a punch in the diaphragm area. Then, after a pause for about a half a second, exhale a little more breath as before, using considerable force to expel the breath from the lungs.

4. Repeat these short exhalations until the lungs feel empty.

5. During each short exhalation, it is necessary to bend forward a little from the waist in order to minimise resistance to diaphragm relaxation. The bending forward movements should be progressive, causing the head and chest to move forward and down a little further each time.

6. Finally, with the mouth closed, inhale deeply as you straighten the body to return to the original starting position, and relax. 

Benefits: when properly performed, rids the lungs of residual impurities by a very thorough form of exhalation. 
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