Yoga and Pilates newsletter October 2017

Finally the cooler breeze is here in Hong Kong, yay!. Even though the summer heat is wonderful for me, I think we are all over it now and welcoming a change in seasons. After the full moon in Aries (very fiery) for the mid-autumn festival there, has been a weariness felt in classes. This last Wednesday evening was instead a quiet and soothing restorative yoga class. We had our legs up the wall and also did a few passive poses to rest and recuperate. Restorative Yoga can be even more difficult than energetic yoga due to the mindset required. We often are more used to Doing than Being. Long periods spent in a restful pose may cause the mind to wander (or wonder…what you are doing there!) Remember that these poses are doing you a lot of good especially if you fully inhabit your body by bringing you conscious attention into any areas of tension. Trying to breathe this tension out. Conscious relaxation is so beneficial because even when we think we are relaxing whilst watching a movie or by sleeping, those tight bands of muscle that we habitually hold may still be there. Willing them to release is a first. It may not happen straight away. Be patient and aware of where there is pain or tightness and that is the first step to changing.

What is the difference between Yoga and Pilates? This is a question I get very often.

During Yoga we do specific poses which have certain benefits for both the muscles and the organs and the mind too. We aim to balance our strength with our flexibility. The poses naturally keep the core muscles strong.

During Pilates we do specific exercises to strengthen the core muscles or the powerhouse of the body which includes the abdominals, Back muscles and buttocks. We also stretch to keep the joints and muscles healthy. Arms and legs are also worked in the process.

I think both workouts are beneficial and would encourage you to at least try both. You do not have to be flexible to do yoga. That is another reason many people are reluctant to try it. We focus mainly on resistance stretching which creates freedom in the body because it also targets the entire fascial system.

In both Yoga and Pilates we coordinate our breath with the movements. Full, deep breathing is encouraged at all times. If we get out of breath we stop to regain the control of the breath and work at our own level. It is certainly not bootcamp!

What are Chakras? These are energy centres located along the central plane of the body. There are 7 chakras in our bodies.

I recently attended a Throat Chakra Workshop hosted by Gillian Harrison, Gold Coast’s own crystal healing expert, ph 64760509

We learnt techniques to keep our throat chakras healthy. If we struggle to speak up for ourselves our throat chakras may be low in energy. Some people may have overly active throat chakras for instance if they are very talkative. Certain crystals are also beneficial for the various chakras. We got to pair off and do a crystal healing on our friends. It was an entirely fun afternoon.

Mindfulness Coach, Ralitsa, will be offering a series of Mindfulness workshops for the Gold Coast community, introducing some of the main themes and core practices included in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme. You can watch more about the MBSR programme here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch? time_continue=552&v= WGUWt4TjBKE

The first mindfulness workshop will be on October 31, Tuesday from 10-12AM

Where: Aegean Coast, Multipurpose room

Cost: HK$180

Please bring a mat if you prefer to sit on the floor rather than on a chair. Meditation cushions will be provided. Clothing needs to be comfortable, especially not constricting around the waist area.

Ralitsa will also be offering a complimentary class for those of you who are around during half term, on Wednesday the 25th of October from 2-4PM.

Please let her know if you are coming by text/whatsapp on 9768 3977.

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Remember to protect your neck in these cooler windy days. The thyroid gland situated at the front of the neck needs protection as does the throat chakra. Also tight neck muscles either from poor posture or "tech" neck may be exacerbated by a cold wind on your neck. Now is the time to take out those pretty bright silk scarves and actually wear them. Enjoy!!