“Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin….”

Note from the editor..this isn't me.

Nope, not a blast from the past "Listen with Mother" programme but some thoughts and observations about the opening question.

(If you are of a certain age, you’ll know what I am referring to…if you are not, no matter but please indulge me and read on).

I do remember sitting comfortably, sat next to the ‘wireless’ after lunch, hearing the posh BBC voice and getting lost in the story. I don’t remember much after that as presumably it did its job and I fell asleep!

Sitting comfortable probably meant cross legged, or sukhasana (easy pose) as we yogis call it, which is not a bad thing. As adults however, sitting more often than not will be in a chair or comfy seat.

I’ll go out on a limb here and state we weren’t designed to sit on chairs, they came later in the evolutionary path. There are still communities on this planet that don’t have them, they probably squat most of the time.

Sitting is a relaxed hip flexion position, meaning these brilliant hip flexor muscles are not working against resistance, they are simply not working. The full weight of the upper body above is resting on the pelvic floor area, our lower limbs inactive.

If this were to be taken to extremes and held too long it will inhibit muscle conditioning, nerve response and circulation, leading to potential lower back, psoas and sciatica issues. The hip flexors shorten and weaken which will probably impact on the pelvic position and lower back. Not good.

Have a think about how much you sit during the day; having breakfast, the daily commute, the day job, evening meal and relaxing with a book or in front of the TV. I was quite surprised when I added it all up.

Simply incorporating more movement will help counter some of the negative consequences of too much sitting. We probably are aware of taking breaks from desks at work, if that’s your situation, but try to stretch the body out if watching TV or reading. There are a number of comfortable postures we can get into that will help and I can provide some guidance here, just drop me a line…

Also ensure that if you do take exercise, the movement of the hips is occurring in the 3 planes, front to back, side to side and in rotation, otherwise the programme may not be serving you as well as you believe.

There’s a lot going on in the hip area. Ask any yoga teacher and they will happily tell you about the iliiapsoas, hip rotators, SI joint, flexion, piriformis, lordosis, pelvic tilt etc, but be prepared, they will go on and on, in fact you may need to sit down but at least they can show you the best way!

And signing off in good old BBC fashion:

“Goodbye now ‘til tomorrow…. goodbye!”

Which type of yoga is right for me?

A question that probably serves as possibly a barrier to entry from most. Given the considerable rise of popularity of yoga and many different blends and styles of hatha yoga, it can be quite daunting to determine what will be right for each person.

A recent conversation I had went along the lines of: “ yes I would be interested…but not really slow stuff and certainly no chanting.. “ - they clearly have an idea of their intention, although had landed in a couple of classes that weren’t quite right for them, or at least at that moment in time, yoga is after all, a journey.

Many people struggle with trying to find the right yoga class for them. Some can spend years jumping from class to class, type to type, or different yoga teachers before finding the right match. I would suggest making your decision on more than just the location or name of your yoga class. Instead taking the time to sit down with each of the teachers and getting a feel for their technique of teaching.

I think teachers need to take a lead here and be open and honest about their style, I have checked a few websites and some are really good, clear concise about what students will get from their classes, some are not so.

My style is contemporary, focused on the physical benefits through asana and I will try to clarify the more philosophical and astral attributes and how they play into a physical practice. I probably won’t be chanting or getting any crystals and incense out because I would not be very good at weaving these into my approach, there are great teachers out there that can though.

It may be helpful if you can find a teacher that will allow you to sit in on each type of class. This will give you a first-hand view of what would be expected of you during your yoga class. While some may promote the use of props and focus on slow and controlled movements. Others may focus on spirituality, or exercise. All of which are beneficial to many different people in their walks of life. However, power-yoga may not be the best choice if you suffer from chronic back pain. For this reason, you should take care in choosing the right type of yoga.

Of course, before we embark on any physical programme, we need to ensure we are ready, especially if there have been any diagnosed health problems, consult with our GPs. The teacher will ask you about this in any case, your safety is paramount.

Once you have a better idea of the yoga classes available in your area, you will find that there is a common denominator among them - they are focused on bringing oneness to one's life. A unity between body, mind, and soul. This will creep up on you and it is one of the most wonderful things about yoga, it could be the class, or teacher, that best brings this out which determines your search.

Unfortunately, there is no real way to answer the question of "what type of yoga is right for me?" It a moment of inspiration once you have attended the 'right class.'

As with so many things in life, yoga is specialised, and your needs, requirements and expectations will develop in time with more practice, as will your strength, flexibility and mindfulness.

If you are not sure, please don’t let this prevent you from taking up yoga, drop me a line and I will help point you to a teacher and class that would appear to be what you are looking for..

Best yoga studio!

...in Park Lane, I think...

I'm really pleased with my new yoga studio just completed, I have finally found the right place for yogi-gnome, you could say he's "taken his seat." Looks pretty chilled, certainly will be in the frosty mornings.

The intent is to provide a nice warm environment for yoga practice, when public classes are either at the wrong time or just not the thing. Watch the website and my Facebook page for courses and classes, and please let me know if you are interested in a personalised practice plan, your time, even your music….

The studio has underfloor heating and all mats, blocks belts provided, I have to mention Nelly in the photo below…..but we find it awkward to talk about her…..

(think about that one…..)

This week’s class at the FBC, Tuesday 6:45 to 8pm is themed around the locks and in particular mula bandha and uddiyana bandha. This was something I really struggled with when I first started yoga, not only knowing where they are, what they are but what’s the point of them? It seemed a bit left of field to me. With some research and my natural inquisitiveness, I feel, for me at least, I have now found the key to the locks…

Come and join in for some lightness and lifting.