Welcome to BuyAssociation.co.uk

Bringing Yoga Home - Lara Chandler, YogaBrats.co.uk

Bringing Yoga Home

We’re pummeled with the message from all media: magazines, TV and the Web. It’s all about adopting a new lifestyle, developing a new body and new career for the New Year. But how about a new way of being – a real change in outlook?

Since January is the traditional time to focus on self-improvement, why not set up a regular home yoga practice – a new timetable for yourself (‘new you- time’)? It’s more about shifting priorities than outright change.

Even if you already have a home practice of Yoga, Pilates or Tai chi maybe now is time to refresh! Try poses you have not done for a while or ones that you shy away from. Be proactive by getting up earlier, or going to bed slightly earlier so the morning practise can be enjoyed rather than rushed. Incorporate a yoga class into your lunch break or evening space.

Prioritise space for you. Remember you are a human being rather than human doing!

A home practise doesn’t have to last for hours. A twenty minute session first thing in the morning is enough, and also a brief one before bedtime. This will bring balance to your day both mentally and physically – to truly absorb all your lifestyle changes and daily demands.

Unlike slimming diets and other ‘outward’ adjustments, you will feel the joy that yoga brings from the starting point, and your wellbeing will be enhanced by knowing you set a goal that you can really keep.

For a beginner’s home practice I would suggest going to a yoga class first, to set foundations in asana (poses). Then to start, work with three or four standing poses with one standing balance until you feel fully confident. Everytime you start the practice, have a seated quiet time where you can concentrate and be aware of the breath and relax your state of mind. Also at the end of practise set aside 5 to 10 minutes for quiet relaxation (savasana).

For Savasana practise it may help to have background music to subdue any outside distractions or even a guided relaxation CD.

If your home practice has always been set in stone then have a go at changing it. Refresh your memory by challenging yourself. Maybe try another way of going in and out of asana. Adopt another way of sitting for mediation or improve your chanting with a Kirtan CD. See if you can incorporate yoga philosophy off the mat and in to your world!

Surya Namaska: salute the sun! To spice up any cold winter morning…

Vinyasa: moving with the breath.

Lara Chandler

Lara Chandler has nearly 10 years' experience teaching yoga and is a qualified instructor accredited by the British Wheel of Yoga. She specialises in Vinyasa Flow, a discipline which uses props to achieve safe poses. She's co-Founder of Yogabrats.co.uk, which teaches children yoga in schools and after-school/holiday clubs.

More pages

Page 1: Bringing Yoga Home

Find fantastic Spa Pamper Days from only £32.50 per person

Botanic Choice UK Extra 25 % Off Sale Prices for Natural Vitamins Supplements Teas and Spa Products

Buy discount contact lenses - Up to 70% discount