14/10/2021 0 Comments Yoga for FlexibilityYoga Myths Part 2 ‘I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible!’If I had £1 for every time I heard this - I’d be very rich indeed! Truth: You CAN do yoga. Even if you don’t feel flexible... It’s not at all surprising at all that we can feel this way (I felt exactly the same before I went to my first yoga class) as we are surrounded by countless images of ‘yoga’ depicted as super bendy contortionism. The extreme pretzel poses and gymnastics can look impressive (and great to have something to aspire to if that’s your goal) however, these images can more than often put us off, making yoga seem unattainable and unachievable as getting into these poses, holding them for a duration (and feeling comfortable whilst in them!) is just not realistic for many of us. Flexible - What does it actually mean?The Oxford Dictionary defines it as: ‘adjective Flexible: Capable of bending easily without breaking’ 😮… I mean who wants to ‘break’ in their yoga practice?! But maybe that’s the point: It’s a practice. To gradually build up with kindness. Taking time and patience to regularly move the body in a nourishing way: Lengthening, contracting, and releasing tension from muscles, gently letting go of tension build up in key joints during our asana practice and hatha yoga classes (coupled with the power of conscious breathing of course)- Helping over time, and with practice, to build up mobility, strength - and yes flexibility! - in the body… and possibly even in the mind 😉 ‘noun Asana: a posture adopted in performing hatha yoga’ Did you know that strength increases flexibility?Benefits A regular practice of pausing into certain yoga postures, with deep conscious breathing, can be especially effective in strengthening, and in turn increasing flexibility in the body (if that's something you’re striving for in your yoga practice of course!) According to Julie Gudmestad, a physical therapist and certified Iyengar yoga instructor - ‘Stretches held 90 to 120 seconds change the “ground substance” of connective tissue. Ground substance is the non fibrous, gel-like binding agent in which fibrous connective tissues like collagen and elastin are embedded. Ground substance stabilizes and lubricates connective tissue. And it is commonly believed that restrictions in this substance can limit flexibility, especially as we age.’ (interested in learning more about the science? Check out the full article here: The Science of Flexibility) Whilst ‘being flexible’ isn’t always the focus - and especially not a prerequisite to joining a yoga class - building up flexibility gently, slowly, and with kindness over time can have its benefits including:
Practice today Why not start your asana practice with these gentle ‘jattis’ - subtle therapeutic exercises - and flowing ‘kriyas’ - movements with conscious breathing - helping you release, feel less tense, and find ease in your day. In addition to increasing flexibility into the joints, loosening, lengthening and releasing, these jattis and kriyas importantly help prevent injury in the body by warming up gently for our physical hatha yoga practice. Let’s try this for 5-10 mins:
If you’d like a little more guidance, check out my step-by-step 8 min Yoga Jattis and Kriyas for Tension ReliefPerfect to refresh first thing in the morning and on your next tea-break away from your desk to gently move, breathe, and nourish the body!
Let me know how you find it in the comments ⬇️😊⬇️ Hazel
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Blog posts written by me: Hazel Parsons | Hazel Lily YogaMore blog posts coming soon :) ... Archives
November 2023
CategoriesRelaxing Yoga Classes in Barry - Best Yoga & Wellbeing Business Vale of Glamorgan
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