Never taken a Reformer Pilates class before? Here’s what you need to know! So what makes Reformer Pilates different from Mat Pilates? Well the one notable difference is that the classes take place on a Reformer Bed, pictured below. Looks a bit scary I know! However this wonderful machine offers so many extra benefits to a Pilates practice. A Full Body Workout The use of the Reformer Bed targets arms and legs while working the core. This increases full body…
By Andrew McGonigle The Vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve that exits the brain directly and extends from the head to the abdomen. The word vagus means āwanderingā in Latin. 80% of the fibres of the Vagus nerve are afferent, carrying sensory information to the central nervous system from our organs regarding how safe/unsafe we feel, helping us to regulate our stress response. The Vagus nerve also innervates the muscles of the pharynx, soft palate, larynx (speech) and part…
This weeks guest blog is by Andrew McGonigle (Dr.Yogi) who will be coming to our Camden studio this October to run two day-long workshops for teachers and trainees, focusing on anatomy and dealing with injuries. See here for more details. Neck tension has become a very common part of modern day life and can have a big impact on our energy levels, mental clarity and general wellbeing. Neck pain is now one of the most common musculoskeletal problems along with…
As the weather changes and thereās a little less sunshine in our days, itās natural for our energy to change in response to our environment. For many of us, that means having a little less energy as the brain is less stimulated which can change our mood and thought patterns.Ā Kapalabhati is a breathing technique to help kick your slump by energising and invigorating the breath and the entire body with it. It is a series of rapid exhales with…
Over the past few years Acroyoga has become more and more popular, but if you havenāt tried it you might not know what to expect from an Acroyoga class or workshop. When I was talking to my Dad about it at the weekend, for example, he asked āIs that the one you do in the water?ā No, Dad, but that sounds pretty awesome too. What is Acroyoga? Acroyoga is a blend of acrobatics and yoga, usually paired with massage or…
There are many yoga classes that fall into the general category of āyoga flowā but what resonates with each student is very personal and depends on what you want from your yoga practice in this particular time of your life. One of the main factors in starting yoga, is choosing what type to try. A very common title of class style in studios is ‘yoga flow’. How it is taught often depends on the teacher and studio. One of the…
Last week was a really difficult one for me – and when I have a bad week, I look for inspiration. I found it in a really honest and raw episode of Rachel Brathenās āFrom the Heart: Conversations With Yoga Girlā podcast. In the podcast, Rachel discusses how Yoga Teacher Training became a really emotional experience as they delved into each traineeās relationship to themselves and how yoga has impacted that relationship. Rachel discusses how each trainee was working with…
A lot of teachers use the expression āroot to riseā in their classes but what does it mean? When I was new to yoga, I was pretty dismissive of this. It sounded a little flowery to me. Then one day during a slower class, I found myself feeling much more grounded and firmer in my foundation than ever before, and I finally understood the expression. Ever since then, this simple expression guides how I practice and teach, because it adds…
I recently started running – and I absolutely love it. I already feel I can breathe more deeply after a run, and Iām full of lots of feel-good endorphins, helping me to stay motivated and strong. I know Iām a little late to the party – lots of yogis are runners and lots of runners are yogis. For good reason – there are many ways these two practices can be complementary. Here are my four highlights so far.Ā Muscular endurance…
I got on the bus on Friday evening for what would be a 45 minute journey – and my phone battery was nearly out. I got this minor sense of panic – what would I do with 45 minutes without podcasts, WhatsApp, email and all the other entertainments I could fill the time with? Was there a charging port on the bus? Why didnāt I charge it earlier? What would I do for the time? My brain was lit up…
