Flexibility Flexibility Flexibility

Fascia is often referred to as the “shrink wrap” that encases the body. According to Ida Rolf it is the “organ of form”, which gives shape and form to our body. Fascia is made from collagen and elastin covering every muscle group, internal organs, glands, nerves and blood vessels, the entire body from head to toe, it also changes its composition depending on its location in the body. Fascia is plastic, it tears if stretched quickly but stretched slowly and gently it will elongate and hold its new shape.

It is important to remember that fascia throughout the body is interconnected and is largely oriented vertically. However, there are four transverse planes of fascia in the body. They are the pelvic diaphragm, respiratory diaphragm, thoracic inlet and cranial base. A restriction in one of these planes of fascia can have a “drag” effect on the fascia elsewhere in the body. Fascia is often described like a 3D sweater, when there is a trauma to the fascial network it is pulled out of alignment, just like a pull in the sweater. This in turn inhibits the underlying soft tissue of nutrients. Myofascial release and Rolfing are two alternative therapies which can alleviate the “drag” and tightening of fascia. These techniques provide gentle, sustained pressure to allow the fascia to elongate and lengthen back to a near normal state.

A lot of people come to yoga to improve their flexibility, and in the society we live in, they want that flexibility instantaneously. However, the fascial network is there to protect the body in order to maintain a balance and will resist any form of stress. Fascia will respond to slow gentle pressure and eventually over time and through regular practise better flexibility will come. When we go into a yoga pose it is the muscular system we initially work with, the longer a pose is held, the muscles relax and we begin to work with the fascia. Fascia is very unforgiving, if its not stretched it will keep on contracting as we get older, muscles surrounded by deep fascia will become tighter and tighter and freedom of movement will eventually be compromised. Fascia also contracts during illness, injury and trauma, it’s a built-in mechanism to protect the body, giving it time to heal. The contraction of fascia outwith illness, injury and trauma is all part of the natural process of ageing. Yoga allows us to improve and maintain our flexibility longer as our body remembers the neuro-muscular patterns which have been created over time. Every movement, thought and behaviour creates patterns which the body remembers.

So the next time you say to yourself "why can't I be more flexible", just be aware that the tightness you experience in your legs, shoulder etc is your bodies way of protecting itself. Building a strong body and mind from the inside will help you become more supple.

om shanti, Alison

Yoga Sutras & The Pursuit Of Happiness

Fundamentally we are all looking for the same thing...happiness. This pursuit of happiness can be wrongly channelled by surrounding ourselves with material possessions. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of wanting something to make us happy. We say to ourselves if only I had a bigger house, another pair of shoes or won the lottery that would make me happy but the reality is these things don’t give us lasting happiness. The sutras tell us happiness comes from the self-realisation of who we are. We have the capability for happiness within us but we have to liberate the mind from its complexities before we see our true Self, our Purusha. What makes this a difficult path to follow is our Prakriti which is ever changeable. From the moment we are born our Prakriti which encompasses our intellect, personality and ego grows changing all the time. In modern day fashion is a good example of something that is always changing. Women’s clothing has changed dramatically throughout history. At certain points, historians talk about women being liberated from their corsets in the 1900’s and the freedom that came from wearing trousers for the first time in the First World War. We changed the way we thought about the clothes. These changes made headlines at the time and were very much frowned upon by certain members of society. The Sutras teach us to accept that change is the only thing that is certain in life. We mustn’t hold onto it as this will allow our ego to surface.

Alison :-)

Tayside Yoga Association Sun 26th April 2009

Todays full day workshop was with Fife yoga teachers Margaret and Gordon Hume. Margaret has been practising yoga for many years and did her teacher training with the internationally respected Ruth White in London and a one month's teacher training at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in India. Gordon also trained at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in India. It was a very enjoyable session with great care placed on anatomy and simply observing the subtle movements of the body both in and out of a posture. I enjoy experiencing other styles of yoga which are in stark contrast to the rhythm and pace of Ashtanga. Its all yoga just a different flavour.....

om shanti
Alison
x

Workshops...Workshops...Workshops

26th April - Tayside Yoga all day event with Margaret and Gordon Hume, starting at 9.45am Ward Rd Gym.

13th May – Paul Dallaghan in Glasgow. Guaranteed to learn something new about Ashtanga on and off the mat.

8th – 13th June – David Keil in Glasgow. Amazing authorised Ashtanga teacher and anatomist. http://www.yoganatomy.com/

23rd – 28th Aug – Sharath Rangaswamy is coming to London as part of his European tour. The grandson of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Sharath is now running the shala in Mysore.

26th-30th Sept – Manju Jois in Glasgow, www.chiyogacentre.com. Son of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. Traditional Ashtanga as taught by his father. Pranayama and chanting great.

Class Information Over The Next Few Months

Monday Yoga – Methodist Church
There will be no classes on 6th July. Classes will carry on throughout the summer.

Wednesday Yoga – East Church Halls
I will not be teaching on the following dates; 29th April, 13th May, 17th June, 8th July, 12th Aug. Stephania who trained with Union Yoga in Edinburgh has offered to cover the above dates. Please support the class as normal, its always refreshing to your practice to experience other teachers. Class carrying on throughout the summer.

Sunday Morning Yoga – JJB Gym
I will not be teaching on the following dates: 26th April, 7th June, 5th July, 16th Aug. All other classes will be taught by me. I believe JJB will put on another class.

First Blog

So this is blogging....

I hope to give class notes, workshop information, thoughts and any other yoga related information via this blog.

Alison

P.S. Well done Monday 6pm class, it was a good self-practice session on Monday night. Remember to practice at your level and breathe.