Do Chakras Really Exist?
yoga mind
Do Chakras Really Exist?
Do chakras exist and what does it mean to “balance” , “open” or “activate” them? Let’s face it, it’s unlikely the chakras exist the way they are depicted in most images but if we can suspend our disbelief for one moment, we could accept that many ancient cultures were incredibly sage. It appears they managed to work out…
Read MoreWhat is the Surprising Difference Between Yoga & Meditation?
…for many years, I practised the physical part of my yoga as if I was training for Olympic gold! At the end of the class, like lots of others, I would gratefully flop down into Savasana for a rest, often with twitchy muscles because I had completely over-stimulated my nervous system.
Read MoreWhat is the Difference Between Stretching and Lengthening Muscles?
Does your body often feel tight and stiff? What’s is the difference between stretching muscles and lengthening muscles do you think? One thing you may not realise is that when you feel a sensation of stretching, actually that’s just your nervous system sensing danger and shortening the muscle. It’s a total stress response so all…
Read MoreWhat Causes Stiffness & Physical Tension in Our Body?
What causes physical tension in our body and what kind of chain reaction can occur? Obviously these things are cyclical just like the chicken and egg, but to offer a few examples, physical tension may be caused by unnatural posture such as sitting for extended periods, or tasks that require constant micro-movements. It’s also the…
Read MoreHow to Boost your Immune System (Reproductive System, Digestive System….et al)
We often talk about “boosting” our immune system, but what does that mean? Sure, diet is important, but sometimes, if there is other stuff going on in your life, then diet may not make any difference to how we feel. So why is that? The answer comes back to those two expressions that describe activity…
Read MoreYoga, Gut Health & What the Ancients Knew…
Being Human The best – and perhaps the worst – thing about being a human being is our brain and sense of consciousness. We can think, we have ideas, we imagine, discover, create and evolve. The downside is that human consciousness is at the source of ego. And it’s our ego combined with our imagination that often totally gets the…
Read MoreDo We Truly Understand The Deeper Dimensions of Actual “Yoga”?
I’ve been pondering this question since I got back from my recent annual “pilgrimage” to Sydney, where I got to hang out with many similar souls – people excited by all that is yoga; body, mind and spiritual health – and, of course, my teacher, modern-day “Guruji”, Simon Borg-Olivier. It’s fair to say that Simon has one…
Read MoreDoes the Physical Practise of Yoga provide a Cardiovascular “Workout” ?
Does yoga improve cardio-vascular health? Interestingly I reckon most people would say no, so it’s worth examining the whole concept of the meme that we describe in the modern world as “cardio”. In reality, “cardio” is actually aerobics and it’s become the term we use for any kind of intense activity or exercise where we…
Read MoreWhen Does our Natural Spine Become Compromised? (and how do we manage this?)
Today’s intention – how does your body feel right now? Stiff? Sore? Injured? Got a Fit Bit? When did you stop being able to squat down or sit on the floor easily? When did your body begin to ache and not move quite as easily as it once did? We can all blame this on “getting…
Read MoreAnyone Out There NEVER Had a Sore Neck?
This week I’ve been explaining in a little more detail the importance of “bandha” again – particularly when it comes to your neck and also, if it’s relevant, when/how you breathe in these instances. This is particularly the case when/if you randomly throw your head back, niggling (once again) usually the most niggliest and most vulnerable vertebra in the neck and combine this action with a deep inhale. Seriously, if you happen to be a mouth breather, it could be one of the most dangerous things you ever do.
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