Yoga not only tones muscle groups but also works on internal body organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys, as well as flushing out toxins from the body.
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Welcome to Sue Nash Yoga
What is Hatha Yoga
It’s not about wrapping your legs around the back of your head….!!
The most common thing people say, when asked about yoga is, ‘I won’t be any good at it because I’m not flexible’. This is exactly the reason why you should be giving it a try. Everyone can benefit from being more flexible, particularly those of us with a sedentary occupation, such as desk jobs. Our bodies are designed to move and practising yoga puts your joints and muscles through a range of beneficial movements.
But yoga is about more than being flexible. It is about respecting your body and using it correctly. It stretches and strengthens the muscles, ligaments and tendons; it lubricates the joints through a set of gentle and fluid movements. It is non-competitive and everyone works within their own limits. This makes it suitable for people of all ages and capabilities. The exercises improve your balance, body alignment, increase your stamina, tones your muscles, releases muscle tension and strengthens areas of your body, particularly the back. It promotes body awareness in everyday life.
Yoga not only tones muscle groups but also works on internal body organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys, as well as flushing out toxins from the body. It is therefore excellent as a means of preventing illness and of boosting the immune system. Above all, it is relaxing and has a remarkable calming effect on the body thereby improving your quality of sleep.
Don’t hold your breath!
Another important aspect of yoga is breathing. Obviously we’re all breathing, involuntarily, but place one hand on your stomach and one hand just below your collar bone and see which one is moving the most with your breath. Most of us breathe far too shallowly due to stress, lack of exercise and poor posture. Yoga retrains us to breathe more deeply which brings large amounts of fresh oxygen to the brain, muscles and cells and generally giving us a feeling of invigoration and a boost of energy.
If you’d like to give it a try, come along to one of my classes. It is best to wear loose clothing and not to have eaten a heavy meal for a couple of hours beforehand. Beginners are always welcome.
Chakras
We all have 100's of chakras located within our physical body but there are seven main ones, located along the spinal column. They are connected by three major energy channels known as ida, pingala and sushumna. These channels run from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Sushumna runs up the centre of the body at spinal cord, ida moves up the left side of the spine and pingala to the right. Where these last two channels intertwine, we have a chakra. Ida is connected to the left nostril and pingala to the right nostril. Ida is linked to lunar energy and pingala is linked to solar energy. Yoga can help to balance these lunar and solar forces in the body and can assist in moving energy through the central channel. As each exercise stimulates various nerves and muscles, energy will begin to flow more smoothly through that central channel, which will enhance health and vitality.
The lower chakras spin more slowly than those which are located higher up the body. The lower ones correspond to issues within the material world and the upper ones are more focussed on spiritual things and intuition. Each chakra has a colour with which it resonates. The upper ones are cooler colours and the lower ones are warmer colours.
If possible, during yoga practise it is beneficial to try and bring your awareness to the organs, glands and chakras associated with the posture we are performing try to initiate the movement from them.
Root or Base Chakra
This is located at the base of the spine and resonates with the colour red. It is concerned with issues of physical security, aggression, survival and well-being, such as finances, career, home and feelings of safety, needs and possessions.
This chakra is also our link with nature. Physically it is linked with the endocrine system through the adrenal glands and its energies affect the lower pelvis, hips, legs and feet.
Sacral Chakra
This is located below the navel and resonates with the colour orange. It is concerned with our creativity and cravings for physical pleasure such as food, drink and sex. Addictions stem from this chakra and also thoughts about your appearance. If you are worried about how you look then this will affect your sacral chakra.
Physically it is linked to the kidneys, the reproductive glands & organs, lower back and lower part of the digestive organs.
Solar Plexus
This is located above the navel and resonates with yellow. It is concerned with the lower or negative emotions such as, worry, insecurity, jealousy and anger. Emotionally it is all about power and control. A fear of, or a desire to be a powerful person stems from this point. It generates our determination and individual strength.
Physically it is linked with the digestive system, liver, gall bladder, pancreas and the middle of the back.
Heart Chakra
This is the first of the upper chakras. It resonates with the colour green and is located in the chest area. It is linked with love, our relationships, compassion and forgiveness.
Physically it is linked with the thymus gland, heart, lungs, chest, upper back, arms and hands.
Throat Chakra
Located in the region of the throat, it resonates with the colour blue (sky blue). It is all do with expression, creativity, communication and speaking our truth. We express ourselves through singing, speaking, chanting.
Physically it is linked with the throat, thyroid gland, neck, nose, mouth, teeth and ears.
Third Eye Chakra
This is indigo in colour and is linked to our inner sight or intuition. If this chakra is working effectively we are able to use our imagination, we can visualise things, people and places in our head. It is linked to the pituitary gland in our brain (often known as the 'master gland') head, ears, eyes, face and nose. If this brow chakra is overworking this can sometimes feel like a tight band of pressure around the head.
Equally if we ignore our intuition and believe only in the things in life we can see and touch physically, then we prevent a healthy flow of energy around and through this chakra. We become very rigid in our view of life.
This is a chakra that is developed and balanced through regular visualisation practise.
Using a grounding visualisation technique can help to release a build up of energy around this chakra and take it down towards the ground so that the energy flows. Even activities like running, walking (around trees and greenery) or doing things around the house (physical not mental activity) will help some of it to flow.
The Crown Chakra
This is purple in colour and deals with our spirituality and wisdom.
Physically it is linked with the pineal gland and the brain; therefore it has an affect on the whole of the body.
Cleansing the Crown Chakra
To cleanse the Crown Chakra from negative thoughts and build inner confidence (as well as exercising the shoulders, arms and heart) sit cross legged, inhale and lift both arms up above the head, fingertips meeting, exhale and bring arms back down by your sides. Repeat 10 times if you can. After the last one, exhale completely, keep arms down, pull stomach muscles back towards the spine, hold the breath and then exhale fully.
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Hatha Yoga
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