Posted by Live Yoga Life in Beginners, By Teachers, Styles of Yoga, Updates on October 10th, 2013
Beautiful Kundalini yoga teacher Siri Gopal Kaur has compiled this series of seven classes suitable for all levels of ability.
Kundalini Yoga incorporates pranayama (breathwork), mantra (chanting), dynamic movement, mudra and meditative focus to balance your energetic body and fine tune your physical body. Kundalini Yoga is said to be “the mother of all yoga”, the yoga of awareness.
Classes are available individually (see below) or as a Complete 7-Class Set at a discounted price.
CLASS 1 – Basic Spinal Energy Series. This class is an easy practice designed to increase the flexibility of your spine. Youth can be defined by the range of movement of your spine – age is no excuse! Keep moving and maintain your youthful flexibility.
CLASS 2 – Kriya for Elevation. This class is a beautiful way to tune up your physical body. Working internally and externally, it stimulates the lungs, organs of elimination and digestion, increases spine flexibility, circulation and balances the chakras.
CLASS 3 – Surya (Sun) Kriya. This class works to enhance your sun energy. When you have a lot of sun energy you don’t get cold, you are energetic, expressive, extroverted and enthusiastic. It’s the energy of purification, it hold the weight down, it aids digestion, it makes the mind clear, analytic and action-orientated. The exercises in the class will systematically stimulate the positive pranic force and the kundalini energy itself.
CLASS 4 – Awakening to your 10 Bodies. The ten bodies are: Soul Body, Negative Mind, Positive Mind, Neutral Mind, Physical Body, Arc Line, Auric Body, Pranic Body, Subtle Body, and Radiant Body. This class will support you to clean and rebalance all of our bodies to leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised.
CLASS 5 – Kriya for Morning Sadhana. This class is a beautiful kriya to get your energy moving. It will stretch and strengthen your back, and get the energy moving along your spine. It is an excellent series of postures to do after you wake up in the morning or before bed at night.
CLASS 6 – Kriya for Disease Resistance. This class focuses on building your physical strength, improve your digestion and elimination, strengthening your metabolic balance, and hence building your resistance to disease.
CLASS 7 – Pituitary Gland Series. This class is designed to cleanse and balance the pituitary gland, which is known as the ‘Master Gland’ as it controls the entire glandular system which includes the thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pancreas and reproductive glands.
Liveyogalife.com is an online yoga studio offering MP3 yoga and meditation classes for a wide range of styles, interests and levels.
Posted by Live Yoga Life in Beginners on January 10th, 2013
For anyone wishing to start practising yoga, it can be quite daunting. Many questions can come up, such as “Is yoga right for me?”, “Which yoga style should I choose?”, “How will I know if I am doing it right?”, etc.
Yoga is the art of controlling our body and mind. Developed in India over many years, it is now available all round the worlds. With life getting more and more complex, it is a very effective way to add some relaxation and calm into our busy lives.
Here are some suggestions which may assist you in starting your yoga practise.
1. TRUST YOUR INNER JUDGEMENT. We sometimes forget to listen to that quiet voice inside ourselves that knows when something is not right for us. When it comes to choosing a style of yoga, a studio or teacher – go with your gut feeling. It is alright to let the yoga studio or teacher know that you are just checking out what feels right for you. This is especially appropriate during a yoga class if you feel really out of place or where the postures are too hard for you. Listen to that voice – you can always come back to the class at a later date.
2. BE POSITIVE ABOUT YOURSELF. We all have inner conflicts at some time or another – that is just part of being human. When you catch yourself in this state, try focusing on something positive you want from the yoga practice, or give yourself a pat on the back for coming in the first place. Never lose your patience – just being in the yoga class will have a relaxing calming effect on you. Also let the yoga class do the work for you (go along with the flow) rather than putting pressure on yourself about whether you are doing it right. You will be surprised by the results.
3. CHECKOUT YOUR LOCAL YOGA STUDIOS. Most of us will have at least 1-2 yoga studios in their local area. You may also find that your local community centre may have yoga classes run by local teachers who don’t belong to a studio. Attending a local yoga class in their area is the best way to learn the basics. If you don’t have any local yoga studios, there are a range of yoga classes available online from MP3 audios to DVDS. We have a range of high quality MP3 audio classes from experienced yoga teachers. Two of the best programs for beginners are Vinyasa Hatha Beginners Complete Set (Classes 1 to 6) and Hatha Yoga for Beginners Complete Set (Classes 1 to 7). They are designed for anyone who is new to yoga and wants to learn the basics.
4. PRACTICE REGULARLY. When you start yoga, we recommend that you commit to doing it at least once a week for 4-6 weeks. When you start something new it often takes at least 4 weeks to get used to it. Signing up for a beginners program is often a good idea as they typically run for 6-10 weeks and are aimed at your level.
5. BUY YOUR OWN YOGA MAT. Having your own yoga mat is a really good idea, and they are pretty inexpensive. Often studios will provide mats, however it is much better to have your own for hygiene purposes. It is also a great item to have around your home if you want to practice at home.
6. IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR BREATH. The busier we get, the more we need to breathe. Physical, emotional and mental tension is usually accompanied by shallow breathing. At the heart of yoga is the idea that every pose / movement / action you do should be complemented by slow deep breathing. Studies have shown that Olympic rowers can improve their performance by up to 10% by using slow deep breathing. All it takes to use your breath is a little awareness of when you are holding your breath and focus on deepen and slowing your breathing. Give it a try and see whether you can feel any difference. You may also find it useful during your yoga classes.
Posted by Live Yoga Life in Styles of Yoga on March 2nd, 2011
We have attended and enjoyed many Iyengar Yoga classes over several years. To someone who hasn’t tried Iyengar before it can seem a bit daunting. Not to worry – it is a very enjoy style of yoga that can provide amazing benefits if it matches what you need.
To help you get started we have outlined some things that you may find of use.
1. First cab off the rank – we would recommend finding a teacher in your local area who is certified by BKS Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia or Yogacharya BKS Iyengar. The reason for this is because teaching Iyengar Yoga is challenging. There is also the safety element – better teachers are safer teachers. Hence the quality of their teacher training is very high to ensure you are properly instructed in a safe environment.
2. Ask whether the teacher specialises in beginners. We have come to realise that some teachers are great with beginners, while other teachers are better with more experienced yogis. Basically – horses for courses.
3. Discuss with your chosen teacher any medical or fitness related issues they should know about. Your teacher should ask you if you have any medical problems or any other concerns before you start the class. However if the class is busy this can sometimes be shorter or may not happen. So we would recommend you discuss this when you first speak with the teacher about attending their class. It is also a great way to check out whether the teacher is right for you.
Women only: If you are menstruating it is advisable to inform your teacher. They may give you more appropriate postures during the class. Also it is highly recommended to advise your teacher if you are pregnant. Consult you doctor before starting any physical exercise like yoga. Also check with your teacher as to whether they are qualified to teach a pregnant woman.
4. Ask whether the studio runs a beginners course or something similar. This is often a great way to get into Iyengar Yoga as the instructions are aimed for beginners, and you can enjoy learning with classmates who are at your level.
5. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows you to stretch in. For example – shorts, t-shirt, track pants. Also it is recommended (and we wholehearted agreed from experience) that you shouldn’t eat 2-3 hours before hand.
These tips should assist you in finding the best class for you. We hope you thoroughly enjoy your Iyengar Yoga experience as much as we have.
Posted by Live Yoga Life in New Product Release, Updates on February 20th, 2011
Check out this new release – the complete set of 7 Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga classes for Beginners.
This set of seven classes takes you through the fundamental postures and breath-work in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. It is a perfect for anyone wanting an easy introduction to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
That said, these set of classes are dynamic and require you to be physically fit. Previous yoga experience is ideal, but not essential. If you are a regular practitioner in yoga and you want to be introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, this is the set of classes for you.
We recommend that you practise and familiarise yourself with each class as many times as you like, before moving on to the next class. All you need is a clean space and a yoga mat!
Class 1: The focus of this class is Sun Salutation A (Surya Namaskar A). This series of yoga poses is one of the most commonly practised in yoga, and this class is an excellent introduction for anyone who hasn’t practised this free-flowing form of yoga before.
Class 2: The focus of this class is Sun Salutation B (Surya Namaskar B). Sun Salutation A and B is one of the most commonly practised in yoga, and generally starts off an Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga class.
Class 3: This class combines Sun Salutation A & B with the first set of Standing Postures.
Class 4: This class adds to your knowledge of the Standing Postures in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and continues on from the standing postures learned from class 3.
Class 5: This class introduces the final set of standing postures in this introduction to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga – introducing the final set of standing postures. These new poses focus on balance, arm-strength, and lunges.
Class 6: This class introduces you to the Seated postures in Ashtanga Yoga that work on your hamstrings and flexibility, as well as two gentle Back Bend poses – these work on building your core and back muscles as well as your flexibility in these areas.
Class 7: In this last classes, it integrates all the postures and techniques learned from classes 1 to 6, and introduces you to more of the seated postures. This included seated Twists which are beneficial for your digestion and energy-circulation around the abdominal region.
Posted by Live Yoga Life in Styles of Yoga on February 19th, 2011
Practising Ashtanga Yoga on a regular basis is a great way to stay fit, flexible, and healthy. It promotes good physical health through exercises called yoga poses. These poses are done in a flowing sequence which is generally the same wherever you practice.
It is a great workout for your cardio-vascular system – the continual flowing poses coupled with a focus on breathing means you will generate a fair amount of body heat. Regular practice will hence significantly improve your level of ‘active’ fitness.
It is also excellent for improving emotional and mental health. The exercises / poses support improved focus and stability – which are important ingredients in having a balanced emotional and mental state.
Before you start doing Ashtanga Yoga it is worth noting that it is designed for people who have a reasonable level of fitness, or know have some yoga experience. It is not recommended for anyone with an injury or a health condition. It may be better to improve your level of fitness before starting Ashtanga Yoga.
The best way to start Ashtanga Yoga is to visit your local yoga studio that teaches Ashtanga Yoga or check out our downloadable Ashtanga Yoga Beginners Program. The seven class series is the perfect introduction to the fundamental postures and breath-work in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
When practising these classes, we also recommend that you familiarise yourself with each class as many times as you like before moving on to the next class. Each class is a progression from the previous class, so if you find one of the classes too much then just go back to the previous class.
In terms of equipment – your local yoga studio should have all the equipment you need. That said, you may want to get your own yoga mat.
When practising our downloadable MP3 yoga classes, the only equipment you will need is a clean clear space and a yoga mat!
Posted by Live Yoga Life in New Product Release, Updates on February 16th, 2011
Check out this new release – the complete set of 6 vinyasa hatha yoga classes.
Designed for complete beginners or someone new to yoga who wants a proper introduction. This is the complete set of six classes that introduce you to breathing, body awareness, and some yoga postures that form part of Hatha Vinyasa Yoga.
This program is perfect for anyone who has never done yoga before or someone new to yoga who wants a proper introduction. It assumes no prior knowledge and will take you step-by-step through each aspect of the practice.
This program is a great way to gain the skills and/or confidence to attend a yoga class in your local community. The principles behind this program are at the heart of yoga – how to bring harmony to every aspect of ourselves, and developing awareness of our physical, emotional, and psychological nature. Its aim is one of transformation and spiritual happiness – something which is often missing in our modern day lives.
As each class builds upon the material in the previous classes, you will have the opportunity to see your healthy and well-being increase over the course of the program.
Class 1 – provides you with a gentle introduction to Hatha Vinyasa Yoga, and focuses on breath and body awareness.
Class 2 – introduces you to the distinction between good and bad stretches in a yoga practice. He explores the yoga principles of Ahimsa (‘Non-violence’), as well as breath awareness, gentle stretches and foundation postures of the sun salute.
Class 3 – in this practice you are encouraged to suspending judgement on how you perform, incorporating self-observation with Ahimsa which was introduced in the previous class – meaning non-violence to others and towards yourself.
Class 4 – focuses on alignment and your sense of stability in the postures, and introduces you to some new postures.
Class 5 – focuses on being focused and relaxed during your yoga practice, and will reinforce the concepts of alignment and stability from the previous class.
Class 6 – introduces you to more basic yoga postures, comfortable awareness of the breath, and lengthening & strengthening the spine.
