Benefits of Yoga - Improve Health & Wellbeing

Short Bursts of Hyperventilation Can Be Good for Your Health

By Nikki Shilling | 25 November 2015

As many of us have read/seen/heard, the latest research suggests short bursts of intense exercise (1-3 minutes a few times a week) appear to have great ‪health benefits when it comes to general health/blood tests. As of yet, there has been no conclusive answer as to why and no mention of a possible link to ‪breathing. But,…

Sharing & Caring: “Aparigraha”

By Nikki Shilling | 19 November 2015

I find myself challenged by something that relates to this one this week….”Aparigraha”, one of the yogic yamas in accordance with Patanjali’s sutras is generally interpreted as meaning that as humans, we should not give in to greed. Essentially, though, “aparigraha” describes the practice of healthy detachment and perhaps also the ability to be accepting…

Why Oral Hygiene is So Important

By Nikki Shilling | 8 November 2015

According to yoga and ayurvedic philosophy, abiding by a healthy, daily routine (dincharya) and incorporating certain rituals are important if we are to live well and remain on the straight and narrow. This is the essence of the niyama tapas – which essentially means that we should always try to do our best (another interpretation of tapas is “burning enthusiasm”). In short,…

The Secret to Happiness? Enough with The Striving (You’re Good Enough Already)

By Nikki Shilling | 23 October 2015

To strive is to constantly feel there is something we haven’t quite got yet, but when/if we do get it, we will feel better. If we keep striving, we (believe we) will get “there”. “Here” is obviously no good. Eventually, one day, we will fill the empty space that gnaws at us. All will be well and we will finally be happy and content. Unfortunately, once we are “there”, “there” is suddenly here again, but, hey, look over there , because once again, over there seems better…Mmm…

t makes sense that as we build fitness & strength, we expend less energy engaging in the same physical activities so a significant increase in heart rate or breaths per minute is not an indicator of good health.

What is Really Meant By Cardio-Vascular Health & Fitness?

By Nikki Shilling | 19 October 2015

Cardio-Vascular fitness is obtained or maintained by enhancing blood circulation and optimising the ability of our organs and muscles to efficiently move oxygen around the body and into the cells.

Yogic health science might describe oxygen and blood as citta or prana, traditional Chinese Medicine as qi. But what’s interesting here is that although we hear over and over again that we should be “raising our heart rate” (in order to be able to achieve the above), we also KNOW that the healthiest people – elite athletes, yogis, divers – tend to have the lowest, resting heart rates. The resting heart rates of unhealthy or anxious people however – for example those with lots of medical problems due to lifestyle, diet or illness – may be higher than average.

Why All Yoga is “Kundalini” Yoga

By Nikki Shilling | 12 October 2015

Not long ago someone asked me if I taught ‪kundalini‬ yoga. The fact is, that ALL yoga is kundalini yoga inasmuch as labelling different “styles” of yoga began in our Western world. Certainly it is not traditional because at its core (pardon the pun), when taught properly, yoga is yoga. All styles have, at their essence, the same philosophy and the same goal (to not be attached to!).

Alkalise or Die? Not Quite…

By Nikki Shilling | 7 October 2015

Does your body want to be alkaline? Actually, no, not really. Your blood PH wants to be neutral and will do whatever it can to try to maintain that state. For example, calcium will be leached from the bones into the blood if there is too much acidity. But, alkalosis is as dangerous as acidosis.

Keep Calm & Indulge Occasionally: Why Sugar is NOT your Main Health Foe

By Nikki Shilling | 27 August 2015

The online world can be so full of misunderstandings and misinformation that it makes it hard sometimes to differentiate between someone’s opinion, a random thought and fact. But here’s one (a fact that is, not an opinion); Ingesting sugar does not “cause” diabetes. This is not to say that eating lots of sugar is good. Of course it isn’t. If…

A Real Yoga Challenge; Empathy, Compassion & (Healthy) Detachment

By Nikki Shilling | 10 August 2015

I met *Bryce about 20 or so years ago when I was working on an assignment for my university course about alcoholism. Sitting across the table from him at the Salvation Army in Surry Hills, it was easy to recall that I had seen him before, getting on the train at Town Hall Station. He was hard to miss, covered as he was in tattoos, mostly unprofessional, including a huge one scrawled across his neck that spelt out a girls’ name; *Jenny. As intimidating as he appeared, he came across as warm, gentle, affable and vulnerable. He told me that “Jenny” was the name of his young daughter, who was now in care. Her mother was still living the life of an addict but he had opted, a few years ago, to completely change things. One day, he simply woke up and decided to give up alcohol, cigarettes and heroin.

Yoga, Pilates or Body Balance; What’s the Difference?

By Nikki Shilling | 28 July 2015

Sometimes there are questions about the differences between things like yoga and Pilates. Even yogasana-inspired, gym-based Body Balance is often purported to be yoga. Really though, this is like comparing apples with oranges since the true meaning of yoga has little to do with exercise and actually comes back to levels of consciousness and maintaining a healthy mind. How we actively observe our thoughts and ego during the practice of asana, plus our lifestyle and attitude generally – this is yoga.

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