Blog II Col With RHS

04 Dec

How yoga and breathing help the brain unwind

Here’s one of the more recent studies into how yoga practice helps normalise neurotransmitters in anxiety and depression – essentially helping the brain unwind. Note – the group in...

29 Nov

The union of Western Somatic Psychology & Eastern Traditional Yoga

Developments in western somatic psychology in recent years are increasingly being integrated with the scientific insights of traditional yoga. Their union is helping in the development of a well...

03 Nov

Opening the Hips

Hip opening practices are another great way of releasing stress and tension from the body and mind. According to yoga tradition; stress, negative feelings and emotions can be stored...

23 Oct

Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga Presentation at Westmead Hospital – NSW Health Pathology

It’s been a pleasure to give a mindfulness and yoga presentation this week at the Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney – NSW Health Pathology #workplaceyoga #corporateyoga #workplacewellness #humanresources #mindfulnessatwork...

22 Sep

Spine Twists

Twisting and stretching your spine in this way helps to massage your abdominal organs, stretch your shoulders, hips and hamstrings, open the chest and relieve some types of lower...

01 Sep

Triangle Pose with a Block

The ‘Triangle Pose’ strengthens the legs, improves flexibility in the hips, stimulates the nervous system and relieves backache. Some of the abdominal organs receive a squeeze which helps improve...

08 Aug

Evidence of Yoga Benefits – Some Studies

An article reviewing the impact of Yoga interventions on risk factors for chronic disease found evidence that Yoga elicits favorable changes in body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood...

28 Jul

Reverse Triangle

Spine twists are a wonderful way to help manage back pain. The reverse triangle pose for example increases the flow of blood to the lower back region and helps...

23 Jul

The Stomach Lock and Lift

Lots of friends lose energy through the digestive tract by eating too much manufactured and unnatural foods. Foods from nature invigorate the body and the mind and help keep...

18 Jul

Down Dog with Hip Opener

The “Down Dog” combined with a hip opener is a wonderful way to warm up as we begin a physical yoga practice … it gives us the benefits of...

08 Jul

Hip Opening Posture

Negative stress and tension appears in the body in various locations and commonly in the hips creating tightness. This is why the hip opening stretch can feel so good....

18 Jun

Chair Yoga :-)

The simple use of a chair can be a great way to stretch the spine and back muscles, hamstrings and side waists bringing quick relief to back stiffness and...

11 Jun

Yoga Mudras

Yoga “mudras” tend to be underused in western yoga but are powerful in creating energy shifts according to yoga tradition. Their subtle physical movements can alter moods, attitude and...

06 Jun

The Half Plough Pose – Ardha Halasana

For friends who have difficulties sleeping with physical symptoms of raised or lowered blood pressure, the ‘Half Plough’ pose with a chair can help alleviate the problem with the...

30 May

Dhanurasana – The Bow

The adrenal glands found above the kidneys play a crucial role in how we experience stress via the secretion of “stress hormones” including adrenaline and cortisol. The bow posture...

14 Apr

Gomukhasana – “The Cow Face Pose”

The “Cow’s Face Pose” moo, moo … this practice is very helpful for inducing relaxation. Sitting in this position for at least ten minutes helps to greatly ease away...

11 Apr

Spinal Twists

In the spine twist, use the breath to lift and turn, relax the shoulders while moving them away from the ears and into the body. Press the left finger...

04 Apr

Supported Downward Facing Dog

Most friends know that a regular yoga practice can help heal and improve parts of the body that have been injured, neglected, traumatised or overly stressed. For example, the...

26 Mar

Chair Yoga

Using a chair and a cushion to calm the nervous system, cool frustration and generally feel better after a stressful work day is easily accessible for most friends in...

19 Mar

Paschimottanasana – ‘Creative Power Posture’

In this version of the forward fold, sometimes referred to as the ‘Creative Power Posture’ the idea is that we keep the spine straight without collapsing forward with a...

11 Mar

Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog

The classic ‘downward facing dog’ is so popular probably because it feels so good … and the benefits are vast. In particular, any inversion is stimulatory to the brain...

05 Mar

The Stomach Lock & Lift – Uddiyana Bandha

Incorporating the ‘stomach lock & lift’ throughout your yoga practice is an effective way to manage negative stress and excessive appetite. Either practiced on its own at the end...

26 Feb

The Reverse Triangle Pose – ‘Parivrtta Trikonasana’

Some of the benefits of practicing the ‘Reverse Triangle’ pose in workplace yoga include the twisting and opening up of the spine which helps in the alleviation of a...

25 Feb

Trikonasana – The Triangle Pose

Some of the benefits of doing the ‘Triangle Pose’ in workplace yoga include the stretching and strengthening of the thighs, knees, hips, groin, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, chest, ankles and...

19 Feb

Dwikonasana – “The Double Angle Pose”

The ‘double angle pose’ is a wonderful practice for loosening the tight upper back and shoulder muscles, especially for friends in the workplace sitting at a computer and desk...

18 Feb

How yoga practice eases symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and the psychological distress that usually accompanies the condition

New research, published in the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, finds that an 8-week program of practicing yoga eases both the physical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and the psychological...

12 Feb