Radiant Light Yoga Classes with Melissa

Friday 9.30 till 11.15am
at the RSL, 1 Bunya St, Maleny
Contact the shop for more information

Radiant Light Yoga embraces the philosophy of:

• Encouraging the individual to blossom in a safe & nurturing environment.
  
  
• Giving correct alignment in each posture,while making the pose your own, modifying the pose to the individual if needed.
  
  
• Developing strength & flexibility.
  
  
• Honouring where you are at, going a little deeper, or drawing back what is needed for your in that moment
  
  
• Letting the breath be your guide. Focussing on the breath allows the mind & body to become as one
  
  
• Resting in the stillness of deep relaxation - Shavasana.

SPRING INTO SPRING
YOGA RETREAT

Open into Spring with a nurturing Yoga retreat at
Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.

Explore Yoga practices that will help you shed the heaviness of
Winter and move into Spring with a spring in your step!

Enjoy delicious nurturing Ayurvedic style meals.

Experience a deep sense of relaxation with meditative practices, Yoga
Therapy and restorative practices.

We’d love for you to join us on September 9th to 11th, 2011

$350 - Earlybird $325 
Hinterland Yoga Ph:07 5478 5334

Email: info@hinterlandyoga.com

Website: www.hinterlandyoga.com

inner stillness

Many times I am asked the same question.
What is yoga, what does it do for you?".

Usually I address this with explaining the physical aspect of yoga, "asana" - posture, balancing, strength with flexibility and vice versa.

In our Western society we connect very strongly with the physical, the "doing" and not always as strongly with "being".
I then move on to explain, as you link breath with movement, the mind is drawn into the body and the everyday "stuff' or clutter of the mind seems to disappear.

Your focus is in the present moment, not on chores, shopping, errands, or even on what the next posture may be in your yoga class or personal practice.

Hence, as the body becomes strong and supple, the mind does also. This is a gradual unfolding that continues on well after your yoga class has finished.
Issues such as - work, relationships on an emotional, physical or mental level all become a lot clearer as the mind and body become focused and steady.

A sense of ease is felt as you deal with your everyday "stuff".

Yes you may become challenged - this is the dance of life - but yoga keeps bringing you back to the present moment, not the maybes, what ifs, or the what has been. Each and everyone of us has that inner peace and stillness within - yoga helps you to tap into that sacred place - not just in class, not only on your yoga mat.

It ripples out with you into your everyday life. We each experience this at a different pace, and in many different ways to one another - that's okay - this is your yoga.

Keep the joy            namaste           
Melissa

Tree pose is a wonderful way to tap into your inner place of stillness.

Before we start, please understand that if you wobble during this pose, it is fine, just come back to your breath and focus on the inhalation in through the nose and the exhalation out through the nose - find that place of ease and steadiness.

Be present with where you are at in this moment, you may need to practice with your back to a wall, or you may find this pose more easeful if your lower your lifted leg a little, find your place of stillness.

• stand in Tadasana (standing mountain pose) in the centre of your mat, feet parallel and just slightly apart. Connect with your breath and clear the mind
• press down strongly through the sole of the left foot and broaden the sole of this foot also.
• find a focus point on the ground just in front of you or slightly higher up.
• on the inhaling breath, bring your right foot to either:
  • your left ankle
  • just above the knee
  • inner thigh
  • or half Padmasana (lotus pose)
• on your next inhalation ...
  • bring the hands to the heart, or raise them above the head in hakini mudra.
  • continue to inhale and exhale, steady, easfully - tap into the stillness tree pose creates within.
  • soften the gaze - "drishti", soften the skin on your face, release the jaw and throat, breathe into the belly and as you exhale, release any tension.
  • stay in the pose for 5 to 10 breaths.
• Exit - slowly, releasing foot back to the earth and lowering hands and bringing back to the heart.
• Stand for a moment, breath, clear the mind - no expectation - and repeat on the other side.

Benefits:

Tree pose develops focus, balance and coordination. The pose strengthens the legs, ankles and arches of the feet and gives the spine a wonderful sense of length. Tree pose is also a gentle hip opener.

Caution:

Do not hyper-extend the knees. Lengthen the tail- bone towards the earth to avoid a sway-back, and gently draw in through the belly to support the spine.

A vinyasa to create an experience of deep awareness, inner balance and harmony.

Vinyasa first appeared in Aust Yoga Life magazine www.ayl.com.au

Click on the image to open the full PDF of the article.

The Buzz About Yoga, as seen in Sunshine and Soul Magazine

Yes there is a definite buzz about yoga at the moment, with celebrity's and reality TV shows espousing how yoga makes them feel and the benefits it brings into your busy everyday life.

You would be forgiven for thinking that it was some kind of new found fad .......

To read the entire article, click on the image to open a JPG image (filesize 1mb).

This article was published in the Sunshine and Soul Magazine.

Our yoga pants, as seen in Australian Yoga Life Magazine.

Click on the image to visit the website.

Click here to have a look at the pants

OTHER LINKS

Some more of our favourite websites:

www.intouchyogabyronbay.com

www.radiantlightyoga.com