Yoga for the back
Back pain is currently one of the most prevailing ailments of the western world.
Through Yoga, we can not only re-develop a feel for our body again but also rehabilitate malfunctions brought about by malalignment and injury.
Not all backs are the same and it is crucial to look at every body individually to understand the underlying reason for a person’s pain
and discomfort to achieve good results. It is therefore necessary to begin the process of rehabilitation with some one on one tuition.
Once a person has not only understood the principles of good alignment and body mechanics but is also well able to implement them in the way they move it is safe for them to join the ‘Yoga for a Healthy Back‘ group class.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga, also known by the name of Vinyasa Flow, is a dynamic, flowing style of Yoga. Each movement works closely together with the breath.
The aim of this class is to build heat and strength in the body, centre and clear the mind and bring energy into each and every cell of your body – it is an active practice whilst maintaining a deep regular breath and heartbeat.
In Helga’s Vinyasa classes alignment is of foremost importance and she will help you maintain this connection to yourself throughout class.
Helga did her 500 hour YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) with the Nosara Yoga Institute and deepened her knowledge as a volunteer at Kripalu in Massachusetts, US. She has studied with many leading teachers, among them Sean Corn, Max Strom and Star Townsend. And the journey keeps unfolding…
Yin Yoga
In Yin Yoga, postures (or asanas, to give them their technical name) are held longer than in a more dynamic (Yang) Yoga session.
The longer a floor based posture is held the more it targets the connective tissues of the body (that is tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage) and deeply held tension in the muscles. It also gives an opportunity to work more deeply with the mind and breath. So every Yin pose becomes a little meditation in itself.
In this way, this style of yoga offers the perfect counterpart to a dynamic, Yang Yoga practice. Together, they create a whole.
Helga did her initial Yin Yoga training with Biff Mithoefer.
She also studied with Sarah Powers, Suzie and Paul Grilly and Ann Hunt
Core Yoga
Core Yoga helps to reconnect to our centre. Ideally, every move we do is initiated and supported by our core, our energetic centre. As children, most of us still have this connection but as we grow into teenagers/ adults, disconnection often sets in.
Yoga can be an effective way to reconnect, to centre ourselves in movement as much as in stillness. Once we have embodied this principal in a conscious way, we can take it off the mat into anything we want to do. Core connection enables us to move in harmony with body and mind, to be strong without forcing, straight without being rigid, to be graceful and fluid.
Individual Yoga Tuition
Individual Yoga tuition used to be the traditional way to pass on yogic knowledge and train a student. Classes and/or groups are a more recent development. Even though they have their benefits in the practice of Yoga, we cannot evolve without one-on-one or individual tuition. Time and again we have to be met on this individual level to be able to move on effectively and expand our self awareness mirrored in our practice.
One-on-one or individual tuition is also the most effective and safest way to begin your Yoga practice, especially if there are any underlying issues.
