Yoga Challenge
My motivation for writing this blog is to get everyone who hasn’t tried yoga, to try it!
I’ve been on a 4 week yoga introduction package with The Yoga Lounge based in Bournemouth and beginners need not to be scared!
The poses can look insane, be uncomfortable, and seem impossible!
I often fall over, feel stupid, feel exhausted, feel emotional, feel silly and yet, feel powerful and empowered all at the same time and … I also fall sleep during the meditations!
It’s been a super family experience and my daughter Lily and fiancé Paul have made it our new family “together” time activity as we can laugh at ourselves or at least smile in a difficult pose, as we struggle to do what others may find to be easy. Real family bonding time and opens up a whole new set of conversations!
My proudest moment was surviving my first Hot Yoga class. I used to pride myself on my ability to complete the most challenging of workouts and ultra marathons without ever breaking a sweat ….until I tried hot yoga.
Listen to me when I say this: There's absolutely no way any human being with a pulse can exit that sauna of a yoga studio without being completely soaked in their own sweat and actually love every moment of it!
I remember my first Ashtanga class vividly, particularly the point at which the teacher, Eduardo, instructed everyone to ‘lift up and swing forward”. Try as I might, I couldn’t get my sit bones more than a fraction of an inch off the floor and there was absolutely no way that my legs were going to get through my arms. Yet after 3 classes, my swing through is coming along nicely.
So here’s my thoughts on the different classes I’ve tried so far:
1.Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is all about balancing energies. It's about listening to the body after a day full of work and chores, it's about taking time instead of hussling from one appointment to the other, it's about perceiving sensations and actually staying with them.
It's about giving in, letting go. And that place of letting go and stretching deeply, breathing deeply and holding poses for balancing. My class was on a Friday evening so a perfect way to end the week.
2.Hot Yoga – Bikram
Hot yoga is, without a doubt, very challenging. The room is always set to a toasty and humid 40 degrees Celsius, so, uh, you could say things are going to get a little bit heated during your practice.
As uncomfortable as that sounds, though, I can tell you with confidence that hot yoga can be an extremely satisfying experience.
The poses are the same each week so you can build a beautiful routine and see your improvements weekly.
3.Aerial Yoga
There are a lot of benefits to learning Aerial Yoga, (Floating Yoga / Swing Yoga) is a combination of yoga, Pilates, callisthenics, and aerial acrobatics using a suspended hammock. Suspension training enables you to stretch deeper than traditional forms of yoga while providing a full body workout.
Going upside down and seeing the world from a different perspective can be both exhilarating and terrifying too.
Lily & I loved this class, so wonderful to see her confidence grow just after the first pose in the hammock.
4.Ashtanga
The practice is often called a moving meditation due to these combined aspects of yoga and the way that they synchronise and flow together. All of the series have a level of commonality; the sun salutations, main asana practice and finishing series. Needless to say, all of the series demand dedication to achieve to the best of one’s ability.
More than anything the practice will move you towards a sense of stillness and inner calm. Due to the way that various yogic disciplines are combined greater self-awareness on a physical and mental level are likely also to occur. You will become stronger, more flexible and supple, but not overnight.
Conclusion:
Yoga strengthens and open tight areas of the body like the shoulders and muscles of the upper back. This can help you keep good posture and develop body awareness.
Yoga can improve your mind and body. If you'd like to reduce stress, increase concentration and walk with confidence, you should try yoga at the open day at Yoga Lounge based in Boscombe, Bournemouth.
For info, contact Yoga Lounge on www.yoga-lounge.co.uk