Improving Your Immune System

Here is a lovely picture of a sunset in South Africa on our recent visit to see family in February. We certainly got our fill of sun and outdoors there.

Back in Hong Kong we are enjoying a lot of outdoor time too with all classes being at the beach and some in the garden.

Being outdoors helps me to sleep better and feel good. Deeper breathing and sunlight energize us all.

The weather is amazing at this time of year. Its Goldilocks weather...not too hot, not too cold, just right.

Pilates classes have been strong and many participants say that they feel it in their butts (glutes) the next few days. We have been using the barres at the beach which allow one to do a perfect squat in good form, holding on and not using your arms to pull up. Pulsing in the squat is the key to feeling it as it provides extra workload and more repetitions.

Yoga classes are very grounding when enjoyed outdoors especially when we are barefoot on the sand.

In Mountain Pose we face the mountain and feel its strength in our bodies. Tree pose is more challenging than usual facing a moving body of water and on an uneven surface strengthens our knees and ankles even more! Warrior Pose provides a time to visualize ourselves being strong and powerful.

Energy Medicine techniques are sometimes used mainly during Yoga Classes to improve our energy flow both in our energy fields and in the energy systems within our bodies. We thump our Thymus to boost the immune system, we tap our spleen points to help us adapt to changes and we tap the Kidney 27 points to wake us up!

Sunshine is so important in staying healthy so we are getting our dose or vitamin D during class when the weather is fine. Deep Breathing is encouraged to remove toxins accumulated in our systems. Ensure you get lots of sleep too to stay strong.

Simple energy techniques to calm down the stress response can also help to keep our immune systems running at their best and reduce panic.

I will describe my favourite one called the Triple Warmer Smoothie ....and no its not a drink ;)

Wash your hands.

Sit or stand comfortably and take a deep breath.

Place your fingertips above your eyebrows pressing into your forehead firmly (facing each other). Take a deep breath

Drag them slowly across your forehead to your temples while

breathing out.

Press into your temples on either side. Breath in deeply again and then drag your fingers around your ears on your scalp until you reach the back of your head and neck. Allow your elbows to drop and hang your hands off the back of your neck for another breath. Finally, let your hands rest on your heart and breathe deeply again twice. How do you feel?

Looking forward to seeing you on the beach at class. Keep Well and Stay Positive!!!

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