Tag Archive for: Yoga

A Playful Discussion of the Concept of Fluid Lifestyle and Ignite Retreat

I began ‘working out’ when I was 16.  I’m 41 now.  Yup, that’s right.  I used to wear the electric blue full body spandex suit and jump up and down for an hour almost every day at aerobics classes.  My instructor had similar tights but her outfit was topped by the spandex g-string body suit over the tights… Those were the days!!

 I must admit at that fresh age, I was exercising for ‘the pursuit of the perfect body’, with little awareness of the manifold benefits of physical activity.  It was not long into my exercise routine though that I became addicted to the shift in energy (many a bad mood turned happy), the reduction of stress, the confidence in my body from increased strength and balance, and the sense of accomplishment that exercise afforded.  It has taken me years, however, to really understand that the pivotal key to exercise is its ability to bring us into the moment and to make us stay present.

When I am doing squat leaps, running stairs, or sitting in the chair of utkatasana in yoga for thigh quivering minutes, I am not thinking about anything but what is in that exact moment… breathing, focusing, and maintaining alignment (OK and maybe trying to not fling sweat at my neighbors).  All the busy rush of my mind is forced out.  It does not matter.  Presence and breath are the ultimate gifts of movement.

Likewise any act of creativity can slow the mind to the simplest task at hand.  I used to endeavor to make crafts as Christmas gifts for years while I was in university (as a means to save money, but also as a statement against mass holiday consumption).  I am not sure how the recipients of the gifts felt about them – but I loved the process!!  Choosing a project, sitting there for hours cutting, pasting, ripping, weaving, painting.  I would often forget to blink…  Again all else melts away and alignment with the moment unfolds.

I have created Fluid and Ignite Retreat as an opportunity to explore the magical energy of inspiration and joy that arise from just such delicious expansive moments of breathing, creating, moving, tasting, playing.

We each have our own paths but I believe that our purpose is to expand our consciousness while here on this planet.  Why not start by making choices that honour our bodies and create the possibilities for this expansiveness of body, heart and soul?

Ignite Retreat

Fluid Lifestyle Presents:

Ignite Retreat… Spark the Fire of Creativity and Movement.  Autumn Equinox, September 20-23, 2012

Unleash your energy, activate your inspiration, learn, stretch and dance into joy. Experience the peaceful setting and deep beauty of Stowel Lake Farm, an organic farm and wellness centre on the south end of sun drenched Saltspring Island.  Ignite your inner fire with creativity and movement. Find balance and soak up the abundance of the harvest season.

 Connect with your breath, still your mind and indulge your body in a daily series of sensual, flowing yoga classes with Maria Filippione. Get your body moving and feel the rhythm of the Groove Method with Sarah Smith. Learn the practice of using hot beeswax, colour and encaustic techniques to create your own work of art with artist Maria Middleton. Feast your senses with a field to table cooking class with Stowel Lake Farm’s Haidee Hart. Divine your personal vision, deepen goals, and tap into the energy of your creative voice in a writing workshop with Danielle Janess. (No experience is necessary  to join in any of these options.)

Cory Judge has been passionate about personal health and fitness for years. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies and Geography from UVIC, but found her path led outside the mainstream and into the entrepreneurial world of artisan design.

For more information or to register go to Fluid

E: info@fluidlifestyle.ca

P: 250-886-5551

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Victoria Clinic Offers Tips on How to Reduce Yoga Injuries

Our Victoria clinic offers tips on how to reduce yoga injuries, starting with how yoga offers great health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance. For most healthy people yoga is a safe form of exercise, however yoga injuries can occur.

Most yoga injuries result from overstretching and strain from repetition; certain types of poses can increase your likelihood of being injured if you have the following conditions such as severe osteoporosis, high or low blood pressure or being pregnant.

Victoria Clinic Offers Tips on How to Reduce Yoga Injuries

Yoga

Here are some tips to help you reduce your risk of injury from yoga.

– Don’t learn yoga on your own. Work with an experienced yoga instructor to learn the proper way to perform the poses.

– There are many different types of yoga so before beginning any new type of yoga, ask about its physical demands. Talk with the instructor and others who do that type of yoga.

– Remember to learn the basics, such as proper breathing and how to maintain balance, before attempting more ambitious poses.

– As with any exercise, warming up is essential: cold muscles can increase the chance of an injury, also if you don’t understand a particular pose, ask to see it again and don’t feel embarrassed if you need to ask further questions.

– Stay hydrated during your sessions, especially if you are practicing Hot Yoga, which is done in a warm, humid room.

– Yoga should never hurt, so if you start to feel dizzy, faint or any type of pain, stop the pose immediately. You can then ask your instructor for a modified pose.

Consult with your health care provider before starting a yoga program if you are pregnant or have a pre-existing health condition. Your health care provider can help you decide what type yoga exercise is safe for you.

Our Victoria clinic offers tips on how to reduce yoga injuries, and we would like to leave you with this thought. Yoga is a perfect exercising routine in itself; it pacifies the mind, and keeps the body healthy.

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Natural Health Practitioners Get Their OM on!

Starting in February, the natural health practitioners get their OM on at Diversified Health Clinic. They are showcasing the benefits of meditation during weekly evening drop in classes.

Meditation is designed to bring our mind to a peaceful state.  If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort and so will experience true happiness and relaxation. One component of meditation is using a mantra.

The sound OM is considered to be the mantra of all mantras.  This is the primeval sound from which all other sounds emerged. The sound OM can also be used during a yoga session.

Can chanting OM help in our daily lives?

Natural Health Practitioners Get Their Om on

The answer is yes, and here are some of the  physical and mental benefits to practicing your mantra.

Your body will experience a calming effect caused by  the regulated, slowed-down of your breathing.

It will help attain the first stage of meditation by drawing your attention from the outside world into looking inward.

The chanting of OM is a pleasant, harmonic sound massage for the chest, belly, spine, and head which helps to improve organ function, concentration and other brain functions.

The end result is a feeling of well-being, peace, and harmony

The OM when sung sounds like A-O-U-M.

Starting February 6th and continuing until March 12th please drop in and join the natural health practitioners get their OM on at Diversified Health Clinic.

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De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health

De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health – Stress is a fact of life. Surprisingly, stress comes in the form of both good and bad. Stress is indeed a disease, causing problems for both the physical body and mental functions. There is however an important distinction: long-term stress (e.g. emotional, drug, and financial) can cause significant damage, but short-term bursts of focused stress (e.g. writing an exam or being in a job interview) can actually help you to function better and be healthier.

Today’s world is tough … not only for us but also for our children. The constant go-go environment refined by busy households, school pressures, video games, malls and competitive sports, are so stress-filled that it is bound to subject our children to the burdens of life at a young age. As parents, it’s easy for us to overlook these influences as stressful for our kids, but they often are.

Regardless of what type of pressures our children face – they need to be taught how to manage stress overall. Amongst many different ways to alleviate and control stress, one method in particular can make quite a difference … yoga, for kids.

De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island healthPhoto Credit; kidsyogaguide.com

Yoga is used by millions of adults to increase flexibility, strengthen muscles, center thoughts, and to handle stress. Yoga followers seek refuge in allowing the mind to reconnect with their soul to create harmony within, while also being relaxed and soothed. There have been many times when I’ve left a yoga class feeling so relaxed that a groovy “yes” response would have been rendered to just about any question. Children can benefit from yoga in the same manner, as it can be used to counter the pressures they experience. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they are given the skill to navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age also encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that’s non-competitive. This non-competitive approach encourages co-operation and compassion—instead of opposition— which is a valuable message to send to our children.

Whether your child is feeling stress from a normal everyday stressor or from something out of the ordinary, yoga can be just the right prescription to help him or her survive stress reactions. Kids not only learn how to experience their physicality with yoga, but they also learn to appreciate the value in proper breathing. Remember times when you were under pressure and the one thing people told you to do …“breathe”. Why? Because breathing deeply and regularly creates a calmer feeling within the body and a clearer feeling in the mind. As a result, this gives you a much better ability to handle stress.

Yoga for children is a natural way to exercise, relax, focus, and strengthen the body/mind/spirit connection. Yoga programs for kids have been available now for almost a decade and are specifically tailored to children’s age groups, which makes it fun! For example younger children are asked to assume poses from nature such as a snake, tree, or a dog. There are also programs in place for those children with special needs, which are geared towards teaching self awareness, self control, and concentration.

This weekend, why not “chill-lax” in the comfort of your own home by hosting a family yoga session using Yoga Pretzels Cards! These colorful cards are full of fun activities for kids and grownups to do together, and focus on teaching the basics of yoga while practicing bending, twisting, breathing, and relaxing. Truly a wonderful family activity to engage on a Friday night!

I encourage all parents to look for kids’ yoga in your area and enroll your children De-stress Kids with Yoga | vancouver island health – you just may be introducing them to one of life’s best survival skills.

Sources: Geeta Bagga
Benefits of Yoga for Kids
Yoga for Kids Guidelines and Poses

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