It's a pass

Mudras to unlock your 7 chakras

I wanted to write a short extract on what yoga has bought to me. 

Yoga is good for personal strength, wellbeing and flexibility. It works with the breath to enable energy and space within the body. 

The practise of yoga has given me an awareness of my breathing patterns. Before, I held a lot of breath in my chest but now I can breathe deeply into my stomach. 

Firstly, it has helped improve my posture, overall flexibility, whereas before I had tightness. Moreover, it has increased my energy levels. Secondly, my digestion has improved.  Furthermore, I have learnt to meditate and concentrate on one thing, whereas in the past my mind has been hectic and worried. 

Here is the article about mudras. It's worth a read - 

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20543/7-mudras-to-unlock-your-7-chakras.html

✊👌

Yellow pepper and cherry tomato soup

Today, I experimented a little in the kitchen and came up with a yellow pepper and cherry tomato soup. It's really tasty, low cost and presentable. 

Simple ingredients (for two cups) including;

Yellow Peppers x2

Cherry tomatoes x 6

Vegetable stock 1/4 cube

Cooking oil 

Oregano 

Pinch of salt and pepper. 

I started by chopping the vegetables into manageable chunks to blend. Lightly pan fry them in oil, (with a pinch of salt) to make them soft. Sprinkle oregano and crushed pepper to taste. Leave the ingredients to cool off before blending. Pour over the vegetable stock and blend. 

Pour into mugs and drink as a warm snack or light meal. 

Hope you enjoy it! 

  

The 7 chakras revealed

Chakras are focal points used in a number of ancient meditation practices popular today. They include the Root; at the base of the spine, the Sacral; below the navel, the Solar Plexus; below the chest, the Heart; in the centre of the chest, the throat; in the centre of the neck, the Third Eye; in the centre of the forehead and the Crown; at the top of the head.  

Each of these actions correspond with an action we can be spiritually aware of and align in our daily actions - 

to know

to see

to speak

to love

to do

to feel 

to have or to be

Learn the hand mudras to correspond with each chakra for a deeper meditation. 

 

Relaxation techniques for eyes.

It's very often that after a long day of working at the computer, we need some chair yoga to unwind from a long day. I find that my eyes are tired and I look to ways to reduce this fatigue. Yoga techniques suggest that making small circles on your eyelids, with the tops of your fingertips, can gently massage the eyes. This can help reduce the appearance of tired eyes and increase the blood flow to the sockets. Moreover, gently take the finger tip around the socket starting from the inner brow, can also have the same effect. 

For a final relaxation, take a few moments out of your day, to close your eyes and count down from a given number, say 36. Each time you breath out, through your nose or through your mouth, count down a number. If you skip a number start from the beginning again. 

The healing power of hands

Hi readers,

I found this very interesting webpage which writes about the healing power of hands and has great illustrations of mudras used for healing within alternative therapy.

Copy the below link into your URL to find out more...

http://foreverconscious.com/the-healing-power-of-your-hands

Thank you. 

Inspirational quotes from Lao Tzu

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

The science behind yoga video

Check out this link about yoga in the world of modern science.

http://upliftconnect.com/watch-science-behind-yoga/

How yoga can help mental health.

Here is the URL to an interesting article on how regular yoga practice can help balance bipolar. 

How yoga helped balance my bipolar

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-34833015 

(Accessed November, 2015) 

Namaste 

Suryalila yoga retreat in Andalusia

Set in the rural countryside of Andalusia with magnificent views of the mountains and an old castle ruin, is a yoga lovers paradise. Organic vegetarian cooking served daily (three times a day) and a selection of herbal teas and fresh coffee. Vinyasa flow morning classes and restorative yoga classes in the late afternoon. A great new breathing technique learnt on the trip that opens the chest and balances the brain is a simple breathing exercise that entails breathing in through the nose for the count of one and exhaling through the mouth. Repeat the same process for the count of two and then three. You'll feel the effects of leaving the mind and focusing on the breath. This is also a heart opening pose.  

Tilted head and neck stretch

Sitting in lotus position take your right hand over your left ear and tilt the head forward towards the right armpit. The left hand is stretched outwards with the heal of the left hand pushing forwards. Rotate the neck slightly as to elongate the various muscles. If you have neck pain, it's beneficial to adjust the position so that you work the relevant muscles in neck. This exercise really works. Repeat the exercise on the other side. To finish interlace the fingers and press the forehead against the palms of the hands for a few seconds.  

Upper body strength

Another great asana for deep relaxation is to sit in Lotus Pose with arms stretched outwards and rested on the knees. Hold thumb and forefingers together on each hand and open the jaw slightly whilst pushing the tongue against the palette. Breath deeply through the nose whilst pushing the thumb and forefingers together and pressing the other fingers which are straight out, against each other. Push together on breathing in and relax the fingers on breathing out. After this warm up excercise has been repeated for ten to fifteen breaths, raise the arms above the head and interlace the fingers. Hold this pose whilst continuing with a steady breath for as long as possible. You will start to feel the forearms working for upper body strength.  

Revitalise

Revitalise with this easy asana in sitting position. Firstly, begin with your hands on your knees and chest open forwards and chin tucked slightly inwards. Rotate your chest forwards and round in a clockwise direction breathing in through the nose towards the front of the rotation and outwards towards the back of the rotation. The movement should be coming from the waist and chest, whereas the hips and legs should be still and rested on the mat. Keep rotating with momentum and feel the effects of an energised body. Do the same in an anti-clockwise direction for the full benefit. 

Yoga Breathing Techniques

A simple and quick breathing exercise to relax the mind and cleanse the body is by sitting comfortably in Lotus Position on the mat and taking the thumb and forefinger to the nostrils. Start by blocking the right nostril with the thumb and breathing through the left nostril for 8 seconds. Hold the breath for a further 8 seconds and release through the right nostril for 8 seconds. Maintain a natural breathing state to prevent hyperventilation and simply enjoy the excercise. Repeat this several times at the end of your practice. 

Tongue and Eye detox

Tongue and Eye Detox

Tongue detox

Curl your tongue from the outside, upwards into the mouth and breath deeply inwards for the count of eight and outwards for the count of eight. You will begin to get a metallic taste in your mouth after a few breaths which is the toxins coming out of the body; including the internal organs and the tongue. If you're unable to curl the tongue this way you can curl the tongue towards the front and behind the top teeth. Both will have the same end result. 

Eye detox 

To remove toxins from the eyes, light a candle and stare at the candle without blinking until your eyes water. Even though this sounds dangerous, it isn't! The water from the eyes help to detox the eyes and leaves you feeling fresh and revived. 

Roll out of bed yoga

Hello from Spain!

So we devised an easy beginners routine to transform any yoga virgin into a sun kissed yoga guru.

1) FORWARD BEND: stand in mountain pose, then exhale as you bend your trunk over your legs. Let your head and neck relax and hang. If your hamstrings feel tight, keep a minuscule bend in your knees to give them some more space to relax and open. Press your hands and finger tips into the ground.

2) DOWNWARD DOG: from all fours, lift your hips and press backwards, keeping your arms outstretched. Reach your heels towards the ground. Relax your shoulders towards the ground and relax your head and neck. Stay here for five long, deep breaths.

3) PLANK: Press your palms into the ground and step your feet back ensuring your wrists are under your shoulders, knees under hips. Straighten your legs and arms, so your body is in a straight line from the top of your head to the bottom of your heels. Keep your stomach strong and lift the front of your thighs up. Stay here for five long, deep breaths.

4) SIDE PLANK: from your plank, press into your right hand and roll to the outside edge of your right foot, stacking your left foot on top. Straighten your left arm so it's in line with your shoulders. Look up. Hold for two long, deep breaths. Roll down and through plank pose and repeat on the other side.

5) UPWARD DOG: Lower your knees gently to the ground. Roll your shoulders down your back and lift your chest through your arms with a big inhale. Straighten your arms, keeping your shoulders down. Sway your torso a little from side-to-side if that feels good and keep your body relaxed.










  

Morning stretches in the park

In todays outdoor yoga session we soaked up the morning sun with some great postures, starting in a sitting position and focusing on breathing. After a quick warm up session we focused on a mat sequence beginning in mountain pose and linking a few of our favourite poses together. Crab pose felt particularly good this morning as it elongated the spine and opened the chest. This is great to counteract spinal curvature caused by everyday activities such as leaning over a desk, holding heavy shopping or curling up in bed.

Outdoor yoga session this Saturday / Sesión de yoga al aire libre este sábado

Hi Friends, I'm starting an outdoor yoga session on Saturday at Jardines del Real (opposite the fountain with the pillars), Valencia. 11.30am to 13.00pm. Bring a mat or a towel. €5 suggested donation.

See you there!


Hola amigos, estoy empezando una sesión de yoga al aire libre el sábado en Jardines del Real (frente a la fuente de los pilares), Valencia. 11.30 a 13.00 horas. Traiga una colchoneta o una toalla. € 5 donación sugerida.

Nos vemos allí!

Yoga Life Today has moved to Valencia!

Hello yoga enthusiasts! Today we are practising from Valencia. Situated on the east coast of Spain alongside the Mediterranean sea. Valencia is a perfect location for yoga-lovers. Well known for its natural setting and agreeable climate. Valencia is the perfect place to enjoy a yoga holiday during the summer. Watch out for photos and blog entries from Yoga Life Today coming soon.

Yogic Backbends

Something new to try as a counter active posture from leaning forward for most of the day; either from sitting at a desk, driving or carrying heavy shopping bags, is Crab Pose. This is one of the various backbends you can do in yoga and is a great way to release energy and realign the body.

From lying flat on the mat you bring your feet in so the buttocks are lifted and the shoulders are still on the floor. Roll the shoulders back so the front of the chest is open. You can use your hands to support your lower back or buttocks either with palms facing upwards or in Prayer Position at the bottom of the lower back.

You may wish to rise onto tiptoes if you really feel the lift. Hold this for a short while if it feels comfortable, and to come out of the posture, slowly lower the spine back to the mat.