Were you considering starting the New Year in a healthy way? We all have such good intentions in the New Year and then life seems to get in the way, there may be a solution for all the time starved people out there. One to one yoga sessions or private yoga sessions, the yoga teacher comes  to you mats and incense at the ready. Let’s face braving the cold dark nights is a mini challenge in itself before you have even got on the mat.

Private yoga sessons are an excellent way to achieve the benefits of yoga, track your individual progress, and save time by never having to leave home.  Each hatha yoga class is designed specifically for you, and will focus on exercises for your body type, taking into consideration your fitness level, stress level, and your personal health and goals.

You’ll get more hands on attention than you would ever get at a public class. Each sesson will be adapted to meet your individual needs.  A complimentary wellness consultation is included in your first session.

Dipping into the world of one-on-one yoga classes can be an exciting challenge. Such settings have a different intensity from group sessions, and they offer a chance to really get to know your teacher.

Often private classes move at a mellower pace, as teachers focus on alignment challenges specific to each student. To do this well requires a flexible sense of what a yoga practice entails.

Some teachers, including Kevin Perry who teaches a wide selection of classes, prefers to teach private sessions, Perry adds, “Private sessions give me the opportunity to do a whole-body evaluation of a person, and to test their full range of motion. Then I have more to offer them in a public class because I know them so well.”

Some would say your offering more than the typical workout guidance given by a personal trainer. We look at yoga as a tool for transformation. So whether I’m talking to somebody about posture or something else, in the back of my head I’m really thinking about how yoga can help transform that person’s life in a positive way.

In our Yoga Wellbeing one to one sessions we incorporate Yoga Nidra and through some of the techniques used we seem to be helped a couple of our clients deal with insomnia. It such a rewarding feeling to help someone get a decent night sleep.

Also known as yogic sleep or sleep with awareness, Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice that is rapidly gaining popularity in the West. It is intended to induce full-body relaxation and a deep meditative state of consciousness. Yoga Nidra is a systematic method of complete relaxation.

During a typical class, teachers use a variety of techniques including guided imagery and body scanning to aid relaxation. And unlike a quick Savasana at the end of asana practice, Yoga Nidra allows enough time for practitioners to sink into it at least 20 to 45 minutes.

The ancient yoga text the Mandukya Upanishads refers to four different stages of Yoga Nidra. The practitioner begins by quieting the overactive conscious mind, then moves into a meditative state, gradually finding a state of harmony,  in which the brain waves slow down and a subtle euphoria emerges. Though most practitioners don’t slip easily into the more advanced stages, they still tend to emerge feeling refreashed. Yoga Nidra unwinds the whole of the nervous system which is the foundation of the body’s wellbeing.

Let me leave you with the words of R. L. Hittleman to shed a bit of light;

“From the Yogic viewpoint the body and the mind are so interrelated that they are actually inseparable. The mind is not simply the thinking process relegated to the brain but is the sum total of the intelligence which permeates every atom of the physical and subtle organisms. Whatever affects the body must influence the mind and vice-versa. Since the mind is present throughout the body and permeates its every atom, the Yoga techniques which we perform to stretch, strengthen and otherwise improve and develop the body must have a correspondingly profound effect on the mind and the emotions.

There is nothing more effective for achieving a natural quieting, relaxing and stabilizing of the mind and emotions than the simple Yoga body stretches and breathing techniques! The beauty of this method is that you need only try these exercises for several minutes to experience the immediate results. There is no auto-suggestion, no self-hypnosis. You do not have to be “conditioned” to the method. You do not even have to believe or have faith in this theory. All that is necessary is that you correctly and seriously do the physical techniques exactly as described. The results speak for themselves.

And working with these techniques is both easy and highly enjoyable so that they are suitable for all persons regardless of the type of tension or disturbance. Even those disturbances of a highly serious nature which are being treated by a psychologist or psychiatrist will respond more readily when the patient is able to effect a receptive state through physical and mental relaxation.”

How can one to one sessions benefit you? If you are a beginner and would like to get started in yoga and without being overwhelmed. You would like to reach the next level in your practice. If you have injuries or health concerns. You would like to target problem areas such as tight hips/hamstrings or weak knees. If you would like to increase your mental focus in anyway. You want to work towards a specific physical goal such as increased flexibility, balance, or strength. You would like to add yoga to your weight-loss or strength-training program to cross-train for marathons or triathlons. If you would like to learn more about yourself , gaining awareness.

Traditionally in India yoga was taught on a one to one basis. Whilst all yoga supports you physically, emotionally, and spiritually, one-to-one yoga lets you work on specifics as an individual at a pace that is suitable. There are several reasons why you should add private sessions to your weekly practice. A yoga practice develops according to a plan. It progresses in steps, and gets constantly refined and reassessed over time. In this way you can improve fitness and wider health you can also adress specific health matters and injuries. Yoga done in this way, will help to heal lifestyle issues, practical issues, and psychological issues. The solutions offered to these problems are based on yoga  teachings, as well as experience, insight and intuition.

Research into the benefits of Yoga

Recently I was asked by a client about whether yoga helps you lose weight, so I thought I would attempt to put the answer down in writing.

Yoga can help you lose some weight, although results do vary, and also depend upon the types of yoga one does.

Hatha yoga, does cause some weight loss, over consistent practice of at least one class a day. It can also cause muscles to become more toned and flexible, a desirable benefit. A study conducted by Alan Kristal in connection with the National Cancer Institute showed that those who practiced yoga one hour a week lost an average of 5 pounds over a four-year period. This data was compared to those who did not practice yoga and gained 14 pounds during the same time period. So practicing yoga, even once a week theoretically helps one shed a small amount of weight, while keeping weight gain at bay.

Some believe that yoga causes some weight loss because it focuses on mind/body awareness. Such awareness may translate to different eating habits, and more care regarding what kind of food one puts into the body. People who have greater body awareness may also notice when they feel full and stop eating. This belief actually suggests that it is not the exercise but the philosophy of regular yoga practice.

“Yoga is a phenomenal way to put you in touch with your body the way nothing else can, and yes, it can help you lose weight,” says instructor Dana Edison, director of Radius Yoga.

Celebrity yoga trainers Ana Brett and Ravi Singh, who have worked with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, also believe in yoga’s weight-loss powers.

“We have seen it in ourselves, we have seen it in our clients – yoga can give you a real workout even if you are a beginner,” says Brett.

How Does It Work?

In 2005, medical researcher and practicing yogi Alan Kristal, set out to do a medical study on the weight-loss effects of yoga.

With funding from the National Cancer Institute, he led a trial involving 15,500 healthy, middle-aged men and women. All completed a survey recalling their physical activity (including yoga) and their weight between the ages of 45 and 55. Researchers then analyzed the data, teasing out other factors that could influence weight change – such as diet or other forms of exercise.

The end result: They found yoga could indeed help people shed pounds, or at least keep them from gaining weight.

For the study, he says, practicing yoga was defined as at least one 30-minute session per week for four or more years.

Kristal says it’s not clear just how yoga might help people keep off the pounds, at least from a scientific standpoint. His own opinion is that the effects are subtle, and related to yoga’s mind-body aspects.

Adds Edison: “Yoga makes you more susceptible to influence for change – so if you are thinking you want to change your lifestyle, you want to change the way you think about food, you want to get over destructive eating patterns, yoga will help give you the spiritual connection to your body that can help you make those changes.”

Even if yoga does not offer huge weight loss benefits, it certainly offers fitness benefits, specifically for the muscles. Greater body awareness and honoring the body may also result in changing habits or attitudes toward eating.

It’s easy to see why many yoga teachers focus on one style of yoga. When you immerse yourself, you get a deeper understanding and are able to communicate it effectively. Although styles may at first seem disparate, each approach points to yoga’s ultimate goal of union. Processing, integrating, and teaching in more than one style can both serve your students and enliven your own practice.

Johanna Andersson, who teaches yoga in her native Sweden and worldwide, has a packed weekly schedule that includes classes in vinyasa yoga, Yin Yoga, Forrest Yoga, hot yoga, yoga with kettle bells, yogalates, and dance. Such varied approaches can coexist in one week—let alone in one teacher’s lesson plans—because, at the core, these are all variations on a single subject. Andersson says, “To me, it’s all yoga! It’s just different labels. We in the West have an issue with labeling things—saying this is that and not that, creating frames and boundaries to feel safe, to strengthen our identity, and to be part of a special group. The root of this is actually very beautiful: wanting to unite, which is what yoga is all about. But instead of uniting, this labeling only creates separation.”

While the trend in yoga has been toward labeled or even branded style—Ananda, Anusara, and Ashtanga begin a list that contains more items than letters of the alphabet—many teachers draw on their study in more than one area. They can then teach classes with definitive titles tied to a particular style, or they can combine their experience into an eclectic approach, bringing their students exposure to more than one style.

Tackling Contradictions

How can you teach in many different styles without seeming like a teacher whose knowledge is broad but not deep? By continuing your study and your own practice. Only through continued work with master teachers and through self-studycan you truly process each approach, sorting out what is most useful for you and your students.

Wen has assisted many Western yoga luminaries, including Rodney Yee, Erich Schiffmann, and Judith Lasater. “They’re in the lineage of Krishnamacharya, so they do fit together in one very clear, precise way,” she says. But at the same time, different teachers may have different opinions about alignment. Issues of alignment in poses as basic as Tadasana (Mountain Pose) can differ widely among styles. Wen recommends digesting each style of practice, seeing how it sits in your own body, then carefully observing your students to determine what is best for their individual bodies.

Loebsack agrees that her experiences as a student deepen her understanding of her own practice, and therefore of her own teaching. “Each new style I learn, each new class I take or teach, is part of a process of self-discovery and self-correction,” she says.

This ongoing process of learning is what keeps the multidisciplinary teacher from being a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Through the process of resolving contradictions among various styles, the teacher comes closer to an understanding of yoga as a whole.
Sampling a little bit of everything

Exposure to many different styles will flavor your own yoga practice; it’s similarly good for students to tour various classes. “We travel to different countries and get inspiration from different cultures,” Andersson says. “Then we go home and season our dinner in a new way, with a twist, and we become creative! You can have a core practice and add principles from other styles.”

After tasting various styles, you might then choose to study one thoroughly. Deep study in different styles will give you broad range and versatility as a teacher.

You’ll know you’re ready to teach in a particular style when you feel well versed in its language—and, more importantly, when you see how it relates to the other approaches you’ve studied. Once you reach this awareness of a particular style, you can teach it with integrity. Your teaching will further deepen your understanding, creating a cycle of enrichment that will broaden your understanding of the practice.

Ultimately, it’s all yoga. “Yoga is greater than one way.”

This week we are wrapping up Yoga Wellbeing’s little bit of insight into Yoga classes in Lambeth.

Lambeth is full of surprises, from attractions, such as the London Eye, to some of Lambeth’s lesser known hidden gems such as Windmill Gardens.

The central part of the borough extends from the Oval in the north to Clapham Common and Brockwell Park in the south. It contains the borough’s largest shopping centre in Brixton as well as attractions such the Ritzy cinema.

The Yoga classes in Lambeth are as diverse as the area. Apart from the plethora of Yoga Wellbeing classes on offer. You can always try the local leisure centres such as Brixton Recreation Centre or Clapham Leisure Centre.

Are you finding it difficult to find yoga classes in Brixton? One place to start your search is the Brixton Therapy Centre.

Our well established team of therapists provide affordable complementary therapies from cradle to grave. 

They have a dedicated neck and back pain clinic staffed by registered osteopaths. This clinic deals with any musculoskeletal disorder, from sporting injuries to osteoarthritis. We also treat pregnant women as well as offering craniosacral therapy for babies and children.

Shiatsu is a holistic full body treatment combining the use of acupressure points and massage. Shiatsu, literally meaning finger pressure, balances the energy through your body, relieving pain, reducing stress and increasing flexibility and vitality. Regular Shiatsu is a very effective way of treating recurrent back problems. Click here for to feast your eyes on other services that Brixton Therapy Centre.

Brixton Therapy Centre supports the Brixton Pound. A fantastic way of supporting our local community. Check out brixton pound for more details,

Brockwell Park is a large chunk of beautiful green space located between Brixton, Dulwich and Herne Hill.

As well as ornamental ponds, formal flower beds, a walled ‘Old English’ herbaceous flower garden and a charming 19th century clock tower, Brockwell Park also contains  Brockwell Hall which serves up a mean English breakfast.

There are a wide range of outdoor sports facilities available at Brockwell Park including basketball, football, bowling, cricket, tennis courts and the Brockwell Lido. Brockwell Park has a popular children’s play area, a paddling pool and a purpose and even a built BMX track.

But that’s not only what Brockwell Park offers. When we draw nearer to the months of Spring YogaWellbeing will be out there teaching Yoga in the Park classes. There are so many different areas in Brockwell Park to find a bit of green to practice your sun salutations. We have found at least four brilliant spots that have stunning views and enough space to stretch out in relaxation.

What have you gained in Brockwell Park?

Can we really afford to lose any of the large green spaces in the city? There are so many green spaces in London, perhaps more parks than any capital in the world; but every day, gradually and by minute fractions, the process of building over small open spaces. Therefore, the County Council need to try and take care of our green spaces.

Brockwell Lido, can be found in the corner of Brockwell Park. It’s been at the part of the local community since 1937. The Art Deco Grade II listed building has been extended and transformed. The Lido is managed in partnership with Fusion. As a registered charity, Fusion Lifestyle are continually reinvesting to improve and develop what’s on offer in the local community. The update on the pool is that the ice has broken from the surface of the open air pool for the annual winter swim at the Lido on Saturday 19th December 2009. Vast numbers of people attended to see swimmers aged 8 to 80 making their way through the ice. So when you visit the Lido, you’ll be helping to keep one of London’s few remaining open-air pools open for future generations. Click here to learn more about the lido.

Today there is an active Friends of Brockwell Park made up of local users.  They are working in partnership with Lambeth Council  to protect and enhance this much loved and valued greenspace. Click here to find out a wee bit more.

It’s a New Year and we have decided to start a little feature devoted to the pets in our lives. This month’s award goes to Che, who enjoys taking part in the cat pose now and again. He’s a yogic cat at heart and likes to spend most of his time getting bendy when he’s not trying to get a few treats from Mariel (his proud owner).

The American craze Yoga with Pets is available throughout London and may eventually be exported to the rest of the world. Animal therapist Dan Thomas is head of grooming at London’s Pet Pavilion Company which introduced the scheme to the UK. He says he is amazed at the effect of the classes on the pets taking part.

“A person who does yoga classes usually ends up becoming more placid. For pets it’s just the same, even if they do occasionally require assistance to contort their bodies into the required yogic positions.”

Latest statistics from the US suggest that 15 million Americans now include some form of yoga in their fitness routine – twice as many as five years ago. Backers of Yoga for Pets hope that it too will quickly catch on and show a similar statistical upsurge. We would love to see photos of your yogic pets, so get them sent in.