Spring Workshop 2017 *news*

My dear Yogis and Yoginis..

I had a really bad experience with one of our leisure centres so I decided to have the Yoga workshop in a nicer place with positive energy and nice floor heating :P

The only thing that is not so great (in a way) is that I can fit only 12 of you there - so it will be a nice little cosy workshop and I will see all of you :) Who is up for it? (I will need you to tell me asap, plus paying the fee, too, as the places are really limited - sorry about that) oh and... - only 11 places are left at this minute :)

More info -

Spring Yoga Workshop

Sat 22nd April 2pm-5pm

Markyate Village Hall, Cavendish Rd, Markyate, St Albans AL3 8PS

Fee - £30 (payable to me asap when booking - only 12 spaces are for this workshop)

What will we do -

- breathing technique (15mins)

- yin yoga to get us well stretched (60mins)

- vinyasa yoga to get the energy in our bodies flowing (60)

- hatha yoga to cool us down (15mins)

- meditation (30mins)

Winners of the Spring Challenge 2015

We had a 21 days long Spring Challenge started from the 21st of March.

There wasn't so many people posting photos, which was a bit of a dissapointment for me, to tell you the truth, but there were few people who send me pics every day. 

I would like to announce 3 winners, people who really lived through these 21 days wigh so much enthusiasm for yoga, thank you!!! They are winning a 2hours private class with me :) Can't wait! 

It is John, Sarah and Lucka :)

Congratulations and Ill keep giving you some challenging poses once in a while :P 

Have a great day!

Final Day Spring Challenge

Here we are!

We made it...

Not so many of you took part, bat ones who did, made me so happy!!! 

I honestly thought you will post more pics, since it was you who wanted to continue, but never mind, I enjoyed every day of the challenge, and here is the 

FINAL POSTURE:

Scale Pose - Tolasana

Strengthen your wrists, arms, and abs, hanging in the balance of Tolasana :)

Good luck, my beautiful yogis, have a great day, an amazing weekend and tomorrow I will announce 3 winners who will win 2hrs private class with me :) 

Namaste!

Day 20 Spring Challenge

Today's pose is

Handstand

Like its inverted cousins such as Forearm Balance and Headstand, a major obstacle to Handstand is a natural fear of falling. So make sure you are trying it with the heels supported against a wall. Make sure that there are no hanging pictures or other decorations on the wall directly above you ;-)

Good luck!

Namaste 🙏

Day 19 Spring Yoga Challenge

A bit late, but still - a pose for today: 

Boat Pose - Paripurna Navasana

An ab and deep hip flexor strengthener, Paripurna Navasana requires you to balance on the tripod of your sitting bones and tailbone.

Day 18 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning everyone, we are coming closer and closer to the end of our challenge, only 4 more poses to go, and I can´t wait to announce 2 winners. They each will win a 2hrs private class with me :)

Today´s pose is: Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

Matsya, the Fish, was one of the incarnations of the Hindu God Vishnu. Vishnu assumed this form to save the world from the Flood. The Fish Pose or Matsyasana in Hindi, is the counterpose to the Shoulder Stand and must always be practiced after it. Doing the Fish Pose also relieves the stiffness of your neck and shoulder muscles and corrects any tendency of having rounded shoulders. Holding this Yoga Pose exercises the chest, tones the nerves of the neck and back, and ensures that the thyroid and parathyroid glands obtain the maximum benefits from the Shoulder Stand. Performing the Fish Pose also expands the rib cage fully, increasing your lung capacity and aids in deep breathing. You should remain in this Yoga Posture for at least half the amount of time you spent in the Shoulder Stand in order to balance the stretch. 

Day 17 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning Yogini!!

Happy Easter to everyone :)

Today's Challenge is to remain in an Egg Pose for 30 breaths (5-6 mins :P)

The Egg Pose is perhaps more of a state of mind than a posture in yoga. The Golden Egg involves sustaining and concentrating your core strength, creating what Sadie Nardini calls an "abdominal balloon."

Day 16 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning my lovely yogis - we have a pose for today and a bit of more challenge in it as it is an Easter Sunday today :)

Light As a Feather, Stiff As a Board: Plank Pose

You can take a picture and send it to me, but the real challenge is to stay in the pose for 3 long minutes!

Good luck with it! 

Namaste

Day 15 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning Yogis, here is the pose or today:

Warrior Seal - Virabhadra Mudra

Day 14 Spring Yoga Challenge

Hello, hello my beautiful yogis, I am a bit late today, but the Easter just began...

Thank you for all the photos posted to me and... 

today´s pose is 

Seated Wide Legged Straddle - Upavistha Konasana

Day 13 Spring Yoga Challenge

Today's pose is a king of hip openers - Pidgeon Pose

Yoga handles stiff hips in a variety of ways, but most directly through a family of poses that are known loosely as “hip openers.” Some hip openers increase the external, or outward, rotation of the femur bone in the hip socket. Others lengthen the psoas muscle, a primaryhip flexor connecting the torso and legs that gets chronically shortened in our chair-bound society. Pigeon Pose is an extremely effective hip opener that addresses both areas, with the front leg working in external rotation and the back leg in position to stretch the psoas.

Pigeon is actually a variation of the advanced pose, One-Legged King Pigeon Pose. The two poses share similar alignment in the hips and, more important, an imperative to be approached thoughtfully and consciously. Most practitioners recognize that One-Legged King Pigeon is an advanced backbend that requires precise alignment. Yet many of us are likely to thoughtlessly fold into the forward-bend variation of Pigeon, which can put a lot of stress on the knee and sacrum. To avoid injury, I approach Pigeon by first doing variations that will open the hips gradually and safely. Once your hips are open, you’ll be able to craft a well-balanced Pigeon that benefits your hips and lower back. If you practice it consistently, you’ll notice more ease in your lower half as you sit, walk, and stand.

Pose Benefits:

Increases external range of motion of femur in hip socket
Lengthens hip flexors
Prepares body for backbends
Prepares body for seated postures such as Lotus Pose.

Contraindications:

Knee injury
Sacroiliac issues

Day 12 Spring Yoga Challenge

Today´s Challenge Pose is:

Crescent Moon Pose 

It strengthens your legs, back, shoulders, and arms, building stamina. It opens your hips and chest, and improves balance. This is an excellent exercise to start a number of backbends with. The lower back gets relaxed, the leg muscles are stretched and you build up strength in your legs. You also improve your coordination and concentration.

Day 11 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning my lovely yogis, I was very pleased with all the crows yesterday :) 

Today's Challenge Pose is:

Pyramid - Parsvottanasana

Day 10 Spring Yoga Challenge

And today pose is:

Crow Pose - Bakasana

Day 9 Spring Yoga Challenge

 Today's posture is 

Goddess Squat

Utkata Konasana

Day 8 Spring Yoga Challenge

 Today's posture is 

Eagle

Garudasana

Day 7 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning, yogis.

Today´s pose is 

Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)

Day 6 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good Morning :) :) I hope you are having as wonderful morning as I have :)

Are you up to for some challenge pose today? :P 

I have chosen a nice easy pose we were doing in Power/Fitness Yoga classes this week

Extended Side Angle - Utthita Parsvakonasana

Day 5 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning, my lovely yogis... 

I am not sure if you are still enjoying the challenge, I would love to thank everyone 

who posted their pictures in our group :)

Todays Challenge pose is:

SEATED FORWARD BEND - PASCHIMOTTANASANA

Day 4 Spring Yoga Challenge

Good morning, lovely yogis, how do you like the challenge so far?

Today's pose is a quiet challenge, it is a backbend - Upward Bow, Urdhva Dhanurasana. 

Maybe you'll know it by another name, that is ok, but be very very careful doing it and taking a picture.

Have a great day!

Namaste!