Updates | | Yoga classes in Amersham, Chilterns, Bucks

Category: Updates (page 14 of 16)

Chair Yoga

Chair yoga might not be something you’ve heard of, as it’s relatively new to the UK. Also called Seated Yoga, Corporate Yoga or Workplace Yoga, it’s popular in the US, and took off as a great alternative yoga practice for those who cannot easily get to the floor. It has evolved to become what is now one of the most accessible forms of yoga available to those of all mobility capabilities.

As the term suggests, it describes a yoga practice which modifies poses so that they can be done while sitting on a chair or standing using a chair for support. Many of the basic technicalities of the postures are kept intact, no matter what the position of the practitioner. While seated on chairs, yogis can do versions of twists, hip stretches, forward bends, and mild backbends.

In addition to a good stretch, chair yoga students can still delight in the other health benefits of yoga, including improved muscle tone, breathing habits, a decrease in stress, enhanced sleep, and a sense of well-being.

Who can do chair yoga?

Traditionally, chair yoga classes were targeted at older adults as those with mobility difficulties are a key beneficiary, but office workers are now more commonly taking advantage of chair yoga’s modifications to allow them to fit their yoga practice into their busy, sometimes stressful day. Employers are now recognising the value in promoting positive practices of relaxation and physical wellbeing within the workplace and many are now funding chair yoga sessions. The advantages of chair yoga classes in the workplace are clear, not only do you not need a big exercise space; chair yoga does not require a change of clothes as you can do it in work clothes if necessary, and as a result it is quicker because there is no need for changing, showering and changing back again. It’s perfect for the lunch hour.

Is it too easy to feel the benefit?

Don’t be fooled! When I went to my first chair yoga session, I felt it more the next day than from any other class I had taken. I was surprised! Yes, chair yoga has been adapted for use within a chair and as such, some of the benefits drawn from standing poses cannot be replicated in a seated pose. However, this simply means that the yogic focus is moved elsewhere within the body, and these poses can be just as challenging and helpful as those carried out whilst standing.

What about the chair?

Since chair yoga is all about adaptability, it should come as no surprise that the precise chair you use is not significant; you don’t have to run out and buy a specialist yoga chair. Chairs with wheels are not ideal, since they are insecure, but almost any other chair without arms will do.

How do I sign up?

Unfortunately, here at Aquarius Yoga we do not run regular chair yoga classes for individuals. However we can deliver bespoke chair yoga sessions on demand for groups, organisations, workplaces and companies who wish to provide an adapted yoga practice to their population. Please contact us for more details and a very affordable quote.

Slow Yoga

May 16, 2016 / Sima / 0 Comments

Woman doing yoga in ruined ancient temple with columns at sunset in Hampi, Karnataka, India

For some people the trend for power and hot yoga is intimidating. Will it hurt? Will I be able to keep up? For others, who’ve tried it, it can become like that friend who you at first had so much fun with but now it just feels stressful, like a chore and simply exhausting. Eventually, you part ways. Because of this, many people are returning to Slow Yoga. The concept of “Slow Yoga” is not simply about the speed with which we move ourselves. It’s a question of meaning. Are you doing yoga because you want to sweat excess fluids? Are you practicing yoga because you want to be leaner and more flexible? Are you practicing because you are in pain and want some respite? Or are you practicing yoga because you simply want to learn how to be well? Maybe it’s all of the above. Whatever meaning you’re searching for, taking time to reflect on the question is going to be necessary. Slow Yoga takes the emphasis off achieving something and puts more focus on <>the experience and the journey. Like any connection, as your yoga practice progresses through time, the initial thrill wears off and we are left with either an appreciation for the subtleness and nuance of the in-between moments or the empty feeling of it not ever being enough. We can tussle and battle against this, attempting to alter things and find new ways to add interest or we can embrace this quiet inward opportunity and see what it offers. One thing is for sure: yoga practice that seeks what has yet to be achieved will always hide the beauty of what already is. There is no way to separate what is happening in the “yoga world” from yoga practice – it consists of people who are interested in yoga practice! The drives at work and the realities of people’s lives that make up the yoga world are everything to do with yoga. Until recently, singing the song of simplification and slowing things down has always felt like pushing against the tide. Now I’m seeing a surge of new voices picking up the wave. Fast and intense may help for a time but it is not sustainable and will often need some re-evaluation. It is in the stillness of our lives that we are able to perceive its worth. Yoga practice is no different.

Yoga Etiquette

April 20, 2016 / Sima / 1 Comment

Portrait of beautiful mixed race caucasian, african, middle eastern girl meditating and doing yoga at sunset on the grass in a park or forrest

Yoga Etiquette

Whilst yoga encourages a mindful practice without strict adherence to rules and standards, there can be some principles of yoga etiquette which, if we follow them, can allow us to benefit even further from our time on the mat. In addition, as many of us practice in a group environment, the way we approach each class can also have an impact on those around us, and vice versa, which means that in respecting the following principles we can ensure that everyone in the room experiences a meaningful and focussed yoga session.

Wear something which doesn’t restrict your movement – some people prefer yoga-wear, many choose lycra garments made for general sports activities, some may prefer loose fitting jogging bottoms and a t-shirt. For your feet, however, it is best to be barefoot, as this allows us to grip and balance safely and to ground ourselves to the earth. If you do feel the cold, wearing socks at the beginning and end during the breathing exercises is of course fine. Some yoga wear companies also make yoga socks which allow you to keep warm and move through your practice in safety.

Bring water if you feel you need it – whilst our yoga classes do not normally require constant hydration in a way a gym session might, not all of our venues have access to drinking water, so if you do feel the need to sip water during your practice, please bring your own bottle with you.

Please turn off all electronics – this is your time to step away from stresses and strains, or thoughts of others, and focus on your wellbeing, and this is hard to do so with added distractions from phones and alarms.

Sign in – for health and safety reasons I must have a log of who is attending so that in case of an emergency (not that we expect there to be one!) we can keep account of everyone and ensure everyone is safe. In addition, payment for many of your yoga classes are received via an honesty system; this allows me more time to both prepare the room and attend to your individual concerns and needs before we start

Be quiet and focus inward as you arrive and set up – From the moment you enter I would encourage you to step into your yoga practice both mentally and physically. This may take a moment to calm, and to focus your mind. I value the fact that for many of you, your yoga class is a wonderful opportunity to see your friends and catch up, however, to enable us to fully embrace our own personal practice, it can be helpful to leave these conversations until you are away from the class.

Stagger your mats – As our classes can get busy from time to time, it may be useful to stagger the mats so that our arms and legs do not catch one another’s as we practice, as below:

yoga mat

Leave your personal belongings out of the way – Please endeavour to leave your things on the window sills, tucked away under tables and chairs, on top of tables and chairs but avoiding the floor space. This will allow us to use the floor without limitations, and can be particularly useful when we have a busy class.

Please refrain from wearing lotion on your hands and feet – Lotions can leave a residue on the hands that can both limit our ability to grip the mats and floor, but can also transfer onto other surfaces, leaving the area slippy and / or greasy for others.

Please refrain from wearing strong perfumes and cologne – Breathing deeply is an important part of our yoga practice, and thus strong odours, no matter how much you enjoy them, may not be so easily enjoyed by others when we’re in such close proximity. Indeed it can cause sneezing and restrict breathing for those who have more sensitive airways. Please save your wonderful scents for outside the class.

Respect your fellow yogis’ space – Please try to avoid walking on other people’s mats by walking round them instead. This allows others to identify their own, protected, safe and secure space for yoga, where they can be alone, and focussed on their practice.

Please wipe down mats with organic spray using the towels provided – if you do not have your own mat then please do use one of the mats provided, but please do help us keep the space clean and hygienic for others who may use the mat after you, by cleaning them after each class.

Mats and props should be put away neatly – this allows me more time to spend talking to you after class but more importantly it means we can keep a safe and accessible space for all of us.

Be silent after class and allow the yoga practice to resonate with you – You have invested time and money in attending a yoga class which serves to ground your mind and body in the present and in stillness. By taking time to allow your mind ‘sit with’ this experience for a little longer you can extend the benefit you reap from the class into the rest of your day and beyond.

Thank you for your time in reading this guide.

So many people tell me how rewarding they find our yoga classes, and by respecting some of these principles we may be able to ensure that the experience is even better for everyone.

spring has sprung.

April 5, 2016 / Sima / 0 Comments

“You, yourself; as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Gautama Buddha Spring is a great time to begin or to recommit to your yoga practice. As nature wakes up after winter, so too we feel more energised and more motivated to recommit to practices that we know are good for us. So celebrate this season of reawakening by taking time out to rest, renew and be kind to yourself. New term begins next Monday 11 April at Market Square – Prepare for a powerful standing pose practice that will tone, strengthen and develop flexibility in your whole body with a focus on your lower body, leading to a creative flow. This class is for you, if you have short hamstrings, tight hips, experience back discomfort or simply wish to become more root conscious. Hatha yoga class at St Mary’s will resume on Thursday 14 April – The purpose of this class is to open the hips. Sitting for long periods of time results in consistent compression of the hip flexors – The muscles that join your abdomen to your legs. This compression in the hip flexors can affects the muscles and structures both above and below the hips resulting in knee and lower back pain. Running and cycling can also result in unhappy hips due to the repeated use of the hip flexors to lift the leg to propel you forward. The hips are also the most common storage place for unresolved emotions. By releasing muscular tension in the hips, suppressed emotions can be freed. Wednesday evening Core Conscious class has been suspended for 3 weeks – revised date to be confirmed. My sincere apologies to yogi/nis who put their names down for this course. I saw this article in The Guardian about yoga going viral among global leaders and thought you might like to see it. …..! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2016/mar/30/why-justin-trudeau-and-other-world-leade Introducing Heather Hall…… Most of you know Heather as a fellow Yogi – I know Heather as a spiritual yogi and a competent Hypnotherapist and am excited to announce her LIFESTYLE & WELLBEING event on Friday 08 April. See below for more details…….. For more information or to find out about term dates, please refer to my homepage aquariusyoga.co.uk/ I hope you had a good Easter break and look forward to seeing you back on your mats next week. Om Shanti Have a wonderful Easter. Shine on 🙂

All you need is love

February 14, 2016 / Sima / 0 Comments

Namaste friends, I hope you’re spreading the love today and not forgetting the most important person: YOU. After all, how can we share what we don’t give ourselves! Don’t think of this as an act of selfishness, It is not selfish to learn to love and understand your true self ( not ego self ) – It is a gift for your partner to be with someone who is happy and at peace. So let today also be about self love. I wish all you ” loved up ” yogi/nis a great day & would like to share this with those seeking love: ” Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Muhammad Rumi Finishing with a quick reminder that there are no classes this week. Classes will resume from Monday 22 Feb. keep spreading the love Om Shanti

Yogi update!

January 27, 2016 / Sima / 0 Comments

Dear yogi/nis, It is almost the end of January and I hope the execution of the goals and new objectives you set for 2016 are well underway…..The New year is a time of opportunity, of new beginnings and goal settings….. But how long does our self discipline hold us up to it! We pride ourselves on choosing our mark, aiming and trying to hit it dead centre. In much of the western world we are told that objectives and contingency plans are what will keep us safe. There’s nothing wrong with this, dedicating yourself to consciously creating the life you want is admirable as long as you appreciate and enjoy what you already have, things you created that you like, are proud of, being alive could be one! This term has got off to a good start. Monday evening Vinyasa class is full most weeks so please be more conscious of how you set up to avoid yoga rage. You want to stagger your mat from your fellow yogi/ni to avoid hitting them during any sweeping arm movements or when you are in the wide legged standing forward bends so you don’t end up with your butt in your neighbour’s face or your other neighbour’s butt in yours. Leave your personal belongings well away from the mats. While mats are provided, you may wish to bring your own for the energetic benefit of its continuous use. We have been practicing the 5 Tibetan Rites (T5T) for warm up before the Hatha yoga class every Thursday morning. The 5 ancient rites of rejuvenation are said to be 2.500 years old. They were first publicised by Peter Kelder in 1939 publication called “The Eye Of Revelation” – exercising these 5 rituals daily is said to keep your entire body tuned up, toned and reverse the ageing process. Rock on…..:-) I’m going to leave you with the last track from the Monday evening class to help you feel a little more grounded. Om Shanti 05-Returning.m4a

Yogi update.

November 25, 2015 / Sima / 0 Comments

Aum everyone, I hope this emails finds you happy and sublime wherever you are at this present moment. How could it possibly be that it’s nearly the end of another term! With a little over 5 weeks to go before this year ends, let us remind ourselves of the goals we set at the beginning of this year…..How long did your self-discipline hold you up to your goal? A few days, weeks or maybe even months. Eventually, though, we slip back to where we were before or further back even. So let’s end this year with the same self-discipline and positive energy we started. Research shows that people who talk about their ambitions may be less likely to achieve them. Watch this short video on YouTube by Derek Sivers ( student of life ) about keeping your goals to yourself. Anyway – Here are some dates for your busy diaries….. Join me in welcoming my guest teacher Stephen price for Tai Chi on Monday 14 Dec in Market hall from 7:30 – 8.45. pm – This class suits all levels of practitioner and is open to all yogis who practice with us, their friends and family. I feel very privileged that Stephen has agreed to give us a taster of this ancient discipline for health and longevity. Click on the attachments below to find out more about Stephen and his work. Please book your place in advance-see me or Melissa before the 14th. Cost £10.00 **Note, Vinyasa flow class ( last class ) will be held on Wednesday 16 Dec at the normal time of 7:30 pm. Yogis who wish to challenge their balance and sharpen their other senses are welcome to move through their Vinyasa blindfolded. Class will resume in Market hall on Monday 04 January 2016. Last class at St Mary’s will be on Thursday 17 Dec – Back to rock the mat on Thursday 07 January 2016. Our Yogi evening is going to be held at Season’s Cafe, Old Amersham on Thursday 10 Dec from 7:30 – Fleur and Andrew run a great Tapas bar there every Thursday with a good range of vegetarian dishes. To get an idea of what’s on the menu click here…..http://www.seasons-cafe-deli.com/ See you all soon, Om Shanti x doc icon Steve-Experience-.doc
Tai-Chi-blurb.doc

Back to the Mat

October 29, 2015 / Sima / 0 Comments

Aum everyone, I hope you are happy and well wherever you are at this present moment – and your mats have not been gathering dust under your beds:-) I am writing to remind You that the second and final part of the autumn term starts again next Monday 02 Nov at Market Hall, Market Square, 7:30 pm & next Thursday 05 Nov at St Mary’s Church room 9:30 am. Thursday morning Hatha Yoga will focus on core strengthening asanas ( postures ). Back pain is the most common complaint – whether it’s upper back pain or lower back pain – This is partly caused by weak abdominal muscles. Since your abs are the front anchor of your spine, If they are weak, then the other structures supporting your spine ( your back muscles, for example ) will have to work harder. Your core is a complex series of muscles, extending far beyond “six pack” and toned back muscles ( exterior core muscles ) people typically train. Muscles hidden beneath the exterior muscles, known as inner core muscles are respiratory, diaphragm, pelvic floor, transverses abdominis and lumbar multifidus ( muscle of the deepest layer of the back ). It’s important to incorporate exercises that work the entire core system – that is the entire human body besides the arms and legs. Monday evening class will be all about movement to increase the cardiac activity and circulation, giving your practice that flowing dance-like feel. We will practice an asana dynamically before holding it. Moving into and out of poses dynamically is a great way of easing yourself into the pose. It allows you to go deeper and your body is less likely to clench and fight back. I am really looking forward to seeing you and working with you for the next 7 weeks. I am going to leave you with this short video on youtube by Deepak Chopra about reversing biological age ( timeless you! ) As always, Let your light shine. 🙂

Blindfolded Yoga

October 10, 2015 / Sima / 0 Comments

Increase your mental focus and emotional reflection by shutting out the visual noise during your Yoga practice.

Tuesday 13 October – Market Square 7.30-8.45.

Bring an eye mask if you have one, otherwise a short scarf works very well.

Om Shanti

Pratyahara

October 7, 2015 / Sima / 0 Comments

I hope this email finds you happy and sublime wherever you are at this present moment.

First, a reminder to yogis who didn’t make it to class last Monday…….. Next Monday’s yoga class at Market Hall will be held on Tuesday 13 October at the same time, 7.30-8.45. I apologise if this is causing disruption to your weekly practice, but the hall is being used for function next Monday.

Next Tuesday will also be our last class before the half term break. Some of you may remember, we spoke about blindfolded yoga! I have to thank Madelyn Postman for the inspiration….Madelyn tried blindfolded Yoga while holidaying in Mexico last Aug. She said “It was great for mental focus but impossible for balance!” we’ll be thinking of you Madelyn when trying to balance on one leg without visual references!! 🙂

On a serious note…..In Yoga Philosophy, the withdrawal of the senses is the practice of Pratyahara, the fifth limb of Yoga, which is designed to shift the focus inward and refine the other senses. I know some of you like to practice with your eyes closed, but to actually remove the choice of opening them during the practice is a completely different sensation.

I’d like to suggest that we shut out the visual noise during the short flow and NOT the entire practice, but please don’t feel you have to do it, your practice, your choice. Just bring a scarf or an eye mask in case you decide to give it a go.