Wordless Wednesday

                                                     WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

                                                     WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

                                                    STILLNESS SPEAKS

Matsyasana - Fish Pose

                                       Matsyasana 

The yoga tradition is one that brings the practitioner close to nature.

The story of the fish pose tells us, the very first yogi was Shiva. Shiva is said to be the originator of the yoga tradition . Matsya over heard Shiva talk about the nature of life and the universe to Parvati and the words sounded important. He was enlightened by the words and became the first student of  yoga. It is important to have an inspiring relationship with a teacher, the listening and the connection from within, therefore a student can follow the footsteps of  Matsya.

Matsyasana opens our heart and most of us struggle to open ourselves to the outside world. This is why back bends can be challenging. We learn to fully open to the outside world and to be in the moment. When fear grips us, we want to contract and turn ourselves inwards.

Benefits:

• Strengthens the back
• Opens the heart
• Stretches the abdomen and the intercostal muscles in the ribs. Increasing lung capacity 
• Stimulates the thyroid

Contraindications: Always be mindful there are modifications 

• Neck injury
• Low-back injury
• Headache

Wordless Wednesday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

                                                                                             

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WORDLESS WEDNSDAY

 

Boys Of Yoga

                                                     Men and their yoga practise

                                                               

                                                                 YOGA    

                                  AN HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WELL BEING.

After having had treatment for chronic back problem my physiotherapist introduced me yoga because he believed that that would be a positive way forward. I was indeed baffled at his suggestion and could not understand how sitting down and meditating had any thing to do with my medical problem.

Any how I joined yoga classes with the intention of attending classes a couple of times only to tell him that yoga was not for me as the whole idea seemed a bit bizarre. My knowledge of yoga at that point was that it was something done by Swamis on mountain tops in India who had nothing to do whereas I was a businessman busy running my own business.

After attending classes a few times I realised how unfit I was and that the weak muscles in my back was indeed the cause of my problem.

I have now been attending yoga classes regularly ( only once a week ) for the past 12 years and benefits achieved during that time are: 

                         1) My muscles are more supple and stronger.

                         2) My stamina has improved.

                         3) I have lost weight and kept it off.

                         4) I feel much calmer although this could be mellowing through age.

                         5 ) Receiving one to one attention from the teacher makes the classes so much enjoyable.

These benefits became so apparent that my wife decided to join in and she has now been attending classes for the past 5 years. Life has certainly become richer and I do not mean in a materialistic way either.

I joined yoga classes in my fifties with a chronic back problem and I have benefited immensely. Any one can start yoga at any age. However, my advice would be to start early. If you stick to it the benefits are guaranteed.