Posts

Notes About Zen Yoga's Origins

Zen Yoga is a yoga system that combines elements of Taoist Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Qigong. Zen Yoga synthesizes the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the 8 Trigrams of the I Ching, “the Book of Changes” and the asanas of traditional yoga into one cutting edge system. Around the time of 527AD, an Indian monk named Da Mo, or Bodidharma traveled to China from India and brought yoga to the Chinese monks. This informed the already present practice of qigong in China and the two fused together into the system of qigong that is passed along today. In this way, what many have practiced as qigong has long been married to the art of yoga. One main principle in Zen Yoga is the “Water Wheel” teaching where you learn how to cool the head and warm the abdomen. In TCM, many ills are experienced because we have excess heat in the head and heart (heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure are examples.) You will notice the water wheel teachings throughout this book and corresponding video...
Post a Comment
Read more

Poem About Changes & Acceptance

"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory." I have a garden which I love Once in a while it looks perfect All the watering, feeding, pruning and love Add up to a moment of beauty Then I think.... If only I could keep it this way Preserve this moment for ever But my garden is alive Time and seasons bring changes Living things must change Life is like a garden Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved Except in memory I am a living thing which must change If I can accept the changes, I can accept myself And when I can accept myself, I can enjoy the changes And the beauty of the changes In the garden of my life  by Leonard Nimoy
Post a Comment
Read more

Experiencing Yoga - Yin Yoga Workshop

Yin Yoga directs the stimulation normally created in the asana portion of the practice deeper than the superficial or muscular tissues. Yin Yoga works the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and the joints of the body that normally are not exercised very much in a more active style of asana practice.  Yin Yoga mainly targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine. All floor based poses. The poses held for many minutes were challenging but deeply loosening and relaxing. The extended flexibility lasted for days. The practice of Yin Yoga is a wonderful compliment to the Yang of Hatha Yoga. It provides a wonderful balance to the body for the practice of yoga. Teacher : Cheryl Edwards 2 hour workshop with 1 hour QiGong 2018
Post a Comment
Read more

Breath work - Physical Preparations For Pranayama

As pranayama involves an expansion of the breath, asanas can be used prior to open the chest in preparation. Mountain Pose Tadasana opens up the shoulders and begins chest opening. Lifting the arms up overhead continues this process. Putting the back up against a wall prevents the lower back hollowing and stabiles the trunk. Trikonasana Triangle Pose can identify asymmetries and enable correction. Pranayama can be practiced sitting or lying with the focus on maintaining the chest opening gained from the preparation. Using a wall to support the back and feel alignment is useful. Lying over a folded blanket, blocks or a bolster encourages more chest opening.
Post a Comment
Read more

Breath work - Kumbhaka

The fourth pranayama technique. The cessation of movement in the breath. Experience of stillness. Gradual practice, full expression to able acquired by gradual diminishing of the distance covered by the movement of the breath in exhalation as well as inhalation. Not sound to be heard. Breath from the diaphragm. Experience of stillness as the breath feels like it has stopped. Not similar to holding the breath or any type of retention but more of a feeling of the air existing and being shared with the universe to maintain life. The breath feels more and more invisible. But the ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide feels completely different. Almost like there isn't enough oxygen, bringing a state or feeling alert but also very calm.
Post a Comment
Read more

Notes On Breath and Rhythm

The quality of your breath is the quality of your life. How you breath is how you live your life. Breath deeper longer breaths for a deeper longer life. Balance between the inhalation and the exhalation. Conciousness is being the present moment. We can expand the present moment through yoga practice For self exploration and self realisation. Ourselves is all of us. Not just the physical body.
Post a Comment
Read more

Notes on Life Balance, Quietness & Stillness

There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither. Alan Cohen
Post a Comment
Read more

Breathing Practice/Meditation Poem. BREATHE by Madisen Kuhn

BREATHE by Madisen Kuhn Don’t forget to get away every once in awhile, To lose yourself in a book  Or in the woods behind your home Ride your bike into the sunset, Sit on your front steps and count the cars passing by, Lay on your roof and gaze up at the night sky, Drive along backroads with the windows rolled down Listening to nothing but the sound of rushing wind I hope you take the time to be alone, To sort through the cluttered shelves of your heart I hope you take the time to be silent, To close your eyes and just listen I hope you take the time to be still, To quiet your mind and experience the beauty  Of simply Being In a world that tells us we should always be  Connected, on the go, and doing something worth sharing, I hope you know it’s okay to  Disconnect, slow down, and keep some memories Between you and the moment you shared it with.
Post a Comment
Read more

Breath Work, Rhythm, Energy Flow and Qi

Qi (chi) Is bio magnetic electrical energy, it will flow if given the opportunity to do so.  Air is Oxygen and other gasses, vapours, micro organisms, moisture, electrical particles, spirit.  Breath is the bridge between the mind and the body. Breathe in Qi / Prana a vital life sustaining source that feeds your body and mind. When Qi is balanced and moving the body and mind are healthy. When we breath in we breath in Qi (Chi) energy. For the next 60 seconds the air and its content fill our lungs, the oxygen moves across the chest and into the tiny blood vessels from the lungs into the heart. This is Qi flowing. As we take another breath in within about 60 heart beats / 60 seconds the heart has pumped all the old breath used oxygen around the body and it’s now carbon dioxide back into the lungs to trade it for more good clean air. And we breath in again, the new fresh oxygen is pumped around the body. It combines with blood and nutrients from food to make vital energy, Qi....
Post a Comment
Read more

Breath Work - Breathing Into The Heart Space

We might associate emotions with the heart space. Emotions could breathe in a spiritual and energetic way. As with using the chest space for both physical action and breath space in Cobra, Bridge and Fish poses the energy can be felt as uplifting helping us raise the heart towards the sun, this opening of the chest area collaborates naturally with “healing breath” breathing in positivity and light. When we open the heart space physically and expanding it with breath we open a space where warmth and compassion can be felt. It is very easy to smile when we open the heart space.
Post a Comment
Read more