Inspire Yoga

he 7 Chakras is a yogic system of energy, the first chakra keeps us rooted and grounded, something most of us lack living in high rises, away from nature and competing in the rat race of Hong Kong’s urban lifestyle. The first chakra, or root chakra, is important as it brings us the power to manifest, whereas the 7th chakra, the crown chakra, governs the power of transcendence. If we are working towards fulfilling objectives and creating a change we want that change to manifest and thus the root chakra needs to be balanced and aligned. The First Yoga Chakra is the Most Important & Needs to be Balance Probably the most common chakra to be in a weakened state is the First Chakra. The Root Chakra is located at the very base of your spine. It deals with issues of physical survival, safety, and security and is blocked and weakened by fear and insecurity. The first chakra acts as a pump at the base of the 7 wheels of energy that help energy rise and flow because it is at the...

Iyengar’s discussion of Prajna- Insight, and Intuition, in his book entitled ‘Light on Life’ is highly inspiring. Challenging conventional definitions of intelligence, he gives meditative insights on spiritual intelligence purporting that it is the ability to see oneness and the positive qualities in all to allow the light of knowledge from the conscience to shine forth. Yoga Iyengar is Practicing How to Focus & Concentrates Our Mind When we have countless thoughts swirling around our minds we are unable to focus, the constant chatter thereby mutes our inner voice as there is no silence within for it to be audible. During our practice of yoga, we are refining our concentration by clearing our mind and focusing only on our body and breath. When we establish a state of tranquillity we are able to free up the clutter in our minds in order for our inner voice to be heard, only then can we realize our intuitive powers. The ultimate purpose is to extrapolate this tranquillity...

In yoga is it essential that you  respect and listen to your body . Allow the practise to be for yourself rather than to keep up with a class at large. If you feel exhausted or dizzy during the practise, child’s pose is great to rest in and it helps to renew your energy. If you have delicate ankles or knees sit on a block or place your feet on a cushion to provide more support. One of the Yoga Basic Poses That Can Renew Your Energy To set up the pose, bring your feet and knees together and sit your hips on your heels. If the front of your feet feel too push pressure, tuck your toes under on to the mat. You’re your abdomen on the top of your thighs and place your head on the floor. If you you’re your back is too rounded in this position, keeping your feet together separate your knees to the width of your mat, lengthening your back further in this pose. You may feel a slight stretch around your inner thighs, if this is the case, bring your knees to close together. You can a...

This is an easily accessible pose to your body, the main challenge is holding your balance- thus this is a  great concentration exercise . However, if you have delicate ankles or have injured them previously please do not attempt the full pose, if standing on one leg is uncomfortable to feel free to place your toes on the floor.   Best Yoga Exercises That Improves Your Sense of Balance To set up the pose, simply stand up with you feet together, lift one foot up and place in the inside of your standing leg, be it your inner thigh or on the side of your shin. Your standing foot should be planted firmly into the mat and  the standing leg anchors the pose by actively pushing downwards . At the same time, the lifted foot is engaged by pushing into the standing leg and the standing legs resist maintaining equilibrium between the opposing forces. You want to imagine that your legs are hugging into the mid-line of your body. On the same token, your palms should push t...

Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar is a series of 12 asanas that are done rhythmically synchronized with the breath. Surya Namaskar is a fundamental aspect of every yoga pose as it stretches and warms up the entire body. The breathing during surya namaskar is very important as it guides the rate of movement and helps to improve co-ordination and control. It can either be practiced quickly or slowly, depending on the nature of the class. When practiced slowly it provides muscle regeneration and deeper stretches and when preformed quickly it has an immediate aerobic effect burning calories and increasing blood circulation. If you are a beginner it can be considered the challenging portion of the class and for those more advanced it’s considered a warm up. The breath should be used to move you from one posture to the other- most attention is paid to the breath during the transitions. When holding a pose it is important to continue breathing normally, the only point where the breath ...

As we welcome 2018 it is important to prioritize our long term health. It is common knowledge that yoga brings strength and flexibility. The importance of strength that yoga brings is accepted as developing your muscles to take the weight off your bones so your joints stay healthy in the later stages of life, we develop our musculoskeletal structure so we are able age well. However, there is a misconception that the modern man doesn’t need flexibility- that it is only for ballerinas and gymnasts! This article hopes to clear up that misconception once and for all. With flexibility and proper body alignment you will notice that most of your movements feel smoother and can be preformed with ease, with minimal resistance. The yogic ideal of movement encourages the body to move freely and increases your range of motion. By regular practicing asanas you will begin to experience your spine and muscles become more supple thereby preventing joint stiffening and muscle shortening that of...

From the time we enter the world to the time we leave; our breath is with us every moment. Breathing is the critical sign of vitality- however if we are not breathing correctly it can drain our energy. The breath itself can help bring life and energy to the body- that is why in yoga we treat it as the fabric of health and wellness. The human body can go 3 weeks without food, 10 days without water but only 3 minutes without breathing- our breath is our most important source of energy. In yoga, breathwork is called Pranayama, Prana means energy, so these breathing exercises facilitate the movement of energy. Stress causes tension and tightness around the neck and shoulders, affecting our posture to slouch which restricts our breathing. The full contraction and relaxation of muscles is thwarted causing the volume of the chest cavity to increase and decrease to a much smaller proportion than their capacity. The result? The breath becomes shallow and short, to compensate for the small...

Now more than ever we need to ascertain what we choose to entertain in our minds. Being unaware of your mental conditions can trap you in a habit of forming stress which is physiologically, psychologically and energetically damaging. The introductory techniques of breathing, meditation, and mindfulness help to look within and start to clear the clutter in your mind, the release of stress by the power of your intention of compassion will feel so freeing and liberating it will connect you with a whole new way of being and interacting with yourself. When we think of going for a movie, catching up with friends over drinks or getting a massage as a way of de-stressing, they help up relax temporality by providing a distraction from the root cause of the feeling. The next time you are in a state of angst, take a moment to examine your thoughts and determine how much are you contributing to this stress response by the way you think? Stress is formed by a repeated negative thought pattern...

Mindful movements provide a productive outlet to release pent up energy that would otherwise make us feel aggressive and anxious, helping us to feel more relaxed and experience better quality sleep. Exercise decreases the risk of developing certain diseases especially high blood pressure and cholesterol. Chronic stress physiologically releases a hormone called adrenaline which contributes to increased risk of heart disease, signs of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, exercise decreases stress levels and regulates adrenaline levels keeping heart disease at bay. The mindful movement is an embodied learning, it releases endorphins but also forces us to pay attention to our breathing that promotes feelings of calm and wellness and frees us from the cycle of negative thought patterns.  The movement paired up with breath awareness releases stress, physiologically the release of hormones from the exercise decreases the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol  from...

ositive psychology advocates meditations from the Buddhist concept of lovingkindness, where we consciously fill ourselves with positive emotions of harmony and gentleness. A clinical trial by Carson et al in 2005 published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing found that this meditation lead to a decrease in pain, anger and psychological distress in a study of patients with chronic lower back pain. When we bring the mind towards peace it finds it within ourselves. From this state we have the confidence to be authentic as we accept and love ourselves for who we are and not an unrealistic gold standard. This peace within radiates out enhancing our relationships as we connect from a place of harmony and not competition, Pema Chodron quotes “Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves”. The relationship we have with ourselves is a determinant factor in how we view the world, relate to others and deal with pressure.  Strong interpersonal skills begin with an intrapersonal...

Sleep is a fundamental to good health – but are we getting enough? In Hong Kong it is cited that 80% of the population are sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation is classified as getting 6 or less hours of sleep per night, we wait to aim for an optimal 8 hours of sleep every night. The seminar exposes the health risks involved in running a constant sleep deprivation. If you are suffering from any of the below symptoms it is important to address your sleep hygiene: -Low energy – Poor mood -Sluggish digestion -Erratic appetite -Sudden weight gain While we are asleep major repair works take place in the brain, cardio vascular system and immune cells. Waking up refreshed is important for your health as well as setting the tone of each day. The workshop provides practical tips around improving quality of sleep and what to do if you suffer from insomnia. Experiencing breathing techniques, meditation and basic yoga poses to help induce sleep if you suffer from restlessness and sp...

Brain health is intrinsically connected to wellness. Do you feel like your mental sharpness is predetermined? Your intelligence and memory will fade over time? In this workshop we demystify the brain and mind to bring tangible differences in how much you retain, absorb and learn. Discussing diet, lifestyle and awareness we are able to change our state of mind from stressed to active which transforms our ability to think and assimilate information. The takeaways from the workshop you can expect are as follows -The one food that promotes inflammation and decay -The role of stress on the brain -Breathing techniques to balance right and left hemisphere of the brain The first step to making a change is to bring awareness of the problem, these seminars facilitate open discussion and reflection so we are more empowered to direct effort into healthier habits and more sustainable practice. We combine yoga and mindfulness with scientific research and findings for an effective wor...

How does stress affect our breathing? We experience stress as the ‘fight or flight’ response which is rooted in the emotion of fear stimulated it is governed by the limbic brain. This causes a physiological domino effect causing us to hold our breath or hyperventilate, causing muscles to tighten, the heart rate to increase, cortisol levels to raise and sustained periods of this leads to lower immunity, sleep disruption, digestive issues, lower fertility rates, and premature aging. What connects the stimulus on a mental level (stress) to a physical manifestation (deterioration of health)? It’s the breath! By addressing breathing patterns we can reverse engineer the effects of stress to ensure we stave off the adverse health conditions. Setting up the  breathing exercise Long Back, Fluid Breaths A long extended spine allows for maximum lung capacity breathing, fluid breaths. As we breathe in first fill up the abdomen then the rib cage and finally ...

Feeling a dip in energy in the middle of the day is inevitable, especially when you already had your morning cup of coffee and wanted to limit caffeine is a new years resolution. The great news is that there are many ways to give ourselves a nudge and stay focused for the rest of the day.  Controlled breathing techniques are arguably the most powerful tool; as a quick fix to brain fog, there are different ways to breathe to reach different results. One of the easiest ways is to close your eyes softly, take 10 long deep breaths, and count down in your heart. Stay seated at your desk with your spine neutral, avoid leaning toward the back of your chair.          With your right hand, use the thumb for the right nostril and the ring finger for the left side, and feel free to fold the index and middle fingers down.          To begin, take a full breath with both nostrils first.    ...

Are you looking for a natural way to relax and sustain your energy levels? Don’t miss this  exclusive event , where the founder of Inspire Yoga, Neelam Harjani, will be explaining her proprietary 5 step model of tension release included in her book ‘Secrets to Live Stress Free’. Learn about the science of sleep from Dr Kate Bridle, Founder of Sleep HQ and experience instant calming and restorative exercises that will ensure you get a deep restful sleep every night. Get your tickets  here ! “ A brief overview of the science of sleep including practical take-home tips on how to immediately start improving your sleep quality.” Speaker : Kate Bridle, BSc, RPSGT, CSSC With over 14 years experience working in the field of Sleep Medicine, Kate is one of a small number of highly accomplished, globally certified sleep physiologists. She has vast clinical experience having spent 9 years working in the UK’s largest Sleep Disorder Centre in London. She has contributed to pub...

The yogic ideal of movement encourages the body to move freely and increases your range of motion. By regularly practicing yoga postures you will begin to experience your spine and muscles becoming more supple thereby preventing joint stiffening and muscle shortening that often accompanies injury, inactivity, and aging. The 4 main elements of yoga pose used in Spinal Care Therapy include: Forward Bends Backward Bends Lateral Stretches Twists A Basic Yoga Exercises Can Protect & Develop a Healthy Spine Maintaining a healthy and limber spine is of utmost importance as it has a direct effect on your health and vitality; the structure is the foundation of your body. The 33 vertebrae enclose the spinal cord which houses all the nerves that stem to the brain. Each vertebra has nerve openings that branch out to every part of the body. During a yoga class, we often stretch our back in 6 directions: forwards and, laterally on each side and on each side. This creates a ...