Benefits Of Zoom Yoga
/Dear Yogis!
Happy 2022! How’s your Dry January or Veganury? How are the bones coping with the cold? How is the back handling more working from home? And how’s your energy when the evening starts in the mid-afternoon? I’m hoping I’ll see you in class. We have a friendly time and we iron out some crinkles.
Zoom yoga is well established now, and has benefits that in-person classes can’t offer. You can have anonymity if you would prefer the camera to be off. Everyone is muted so you don’t have the noises you would have in a studio with latecomers, phone-checkers, door-slammers, tutters and chatterers. Even though one of my favourite memories is someone crashing into a class and knocking over weights during a meditation session, quiet is probably more conducive!
I was asked if children can attend. Well… why not! I would suggest that a session of Cosmic Kids might be more interesting, but joining a big people’s class might be inspiring. Another one of my favourite memories is an Ashtanga class I attended in Kythera with Kiros Tzannes where the mothers were practicing yoga and the kids joining in with some postures and playing with little friends when the concentration decided rolling around was better. It was such a natural class.
I’ve been asked if the evening stretchy classes are OK for pre-natal yoga practice. Not during the first trimester but, otherwise, we can work something out. A few things are contra-indicated. While the rest of the class might be in a deep abdominal twist, a mild, upper-torso twist might be more appropriate for a pregnant yogi. No lying on the front for, for example, sphynx pose which combines pressure on the belly and an unnecessary abdominal stretch. Lying on the back may be impossible later in pregnancy so a bolster would come in handy to prop up and take the weight. Other than that... all good.
Anyway, come to class and find out for yourself. You can always ask questions, in class, before or after. I thought I’d introduce a Tuesday morning Ashtanga class, 8.00-9.00am. Let me know if that would be of interest to you. And I wondered if the Friday 5.00pm Stretch could become a Thursday 6.00pm Stretch. Tell me what you think. The Friday class at 5.00pm clearly isn’t at a time that works for most people. I’ve taken it off the menu.
Zoom Classes
At the moment I have Monday and Tuesday stretchy classes at 7.00-8.00pm and Thursday morning Ashtanga at 8.00-9.00am. Changes coming! You can book here.
Yoga in the news
Hello Magazine has: Meghan Markle's secret to her amazing figure costs just £20. “Musically driven and infused with a dynamic flow of toning and conditioning moves, this class inspires endless spiritual muscle growth building awareness, resilience and renewed strength.”
The Independent.ie has: Strike a pose – the experts on how to get your child into yoga. “At the most simple level, kids’ yoga is about playful movement. So incorporate storytelling, dance, props and themes. “Let’s say your child loves all the jungle animals, then you can go on a yoga safari trip. Let’s say your child is an explorer, you can practise yoga in the garden and theme it with birds, trees and even bugs.”” This article is full of tips!
Woman & Home has: Yoga for beginners—how to get into yoga whatever your age or fitness level. “A lesser-known benefit of yoga is it can actually reduce bloating and aid digestion. The gut-brain axis refers to how the gut can be affected by psychological stress. By practicing yoga and reducing stress, some people believe you can actually improve gut health and increase circulation through movement.”
The Irish Examiner has: Noticing leakage? What you need to know about doing 'yoga' for your pelvic floor. ‘Taylor says you can practice the basics at home. “Start by taking a full, deep breath and then exhaling completely,” she says. “Without inhaling, hold your breath, open your rib cage and pretend to take a breath. Hold for a few seconds before releasing and breathing in.” Try to do this for three sets, five to 10 times daily a week, to begin forming a habit.’
