Why we twist in yoga

Twists, what are they good for?

Spine mobility and back health

Twists rotate the spine and stretch the muscles of the back. This helps to restore and retain the spine’s natural range of motion. If we don’t employ our natural range of motion we run the risk of our joints hardening and fusing. The surrounding supportive soft tissue can also become short and dysfunctional. By extending the muscles to their full length regularly with twists once or twice a day we can help to prevent this.

Energising

In twists you work with the spine and the action of ‘lengthening’ is to create space between the vertebrae. When there’s a lack of space our spine tends to slump or get stuck and our energy levels drop. Through twisting we lengthen the spine and get space between the bones. Then our energy can flow better. Twists give us an instant energy lift and decompress the vertebrae in a safe healthy way.

Comprehensive and neutralizing Twists are neutralizing poses so they’re good to include if you’ve been doing lots of strong back bends or forward bends. Twists incorporate the center of our body, working the abdominal, obliques, the muscles that support the movement of our spine, our shoulders, pelvis, neck etc… that is when you are doing them correctly.

Aid digestion

Twists are commonly known to aid digestion. It is important to realize what that actually means! Twists are great for creating movement in and around our organs (mobility and motility). So in terms of helping our food being moved along.. twists are great. 

Are twists detoxifying?

BKS Iyengar said that twists are detoxifying because of the squeeze and soak action. The organs of detoxification and elimination are compressed pushing out old blood and so then when we release the twist fresh blood can flow in. This idea is often passed on in the yoga industry but there is some healthy debate on this.

Twists do affect our mobility (movement of organs in relation to each other) and our motility (movement within an organ). However, a number of factors are involved in stimulation of our organs. It would be safe to say that twists help to stimulate our organs, including our organs of elimination which in turn can help stimulate our metabolism and rate of excretion.

So maybe twists aren’t really “wringing out the internal organs” but it can be a helpful metaphor for when we practice – much in the same way as backbends don’t literally opening your heart!

However, they do stimulate circulation, creating heat, releasing tension in the muscles of the spine, abdomen and rib cage, which has a knock-on effect of helping the other systems in the body work effectively.  

Also, while I don’t want to make claims that I can’t back up, we can get stuck trying to find the (Western) medical evidence for yoga benefits. These can be difficult to find as there is not a lot of large-scale research done in this area.

What kinds of twists are there?

All twist poses can generally be categorized into seated, standing and reclining. Twists are also often variations on ‘regular’ poses. Like Parivrtta Utkatasana (Twisted Chair Pose) and Parivrtta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose

• Reclining twist
  In reclining twists the upper body is stabilized and so most of the twist happens in the lower spine by rotating the pelvis and legs. Here it’s important to keep your core stable and make sure your shoulders remain grounded.

• Seated and standing twists
  Alignment is even more important in our seated and standing twists. Grounding and lengthening should be the initial actions in performing these twists. It’s always important to engage the abdominals when doing seated or standing twists to help stabilize the pelvis and keep support in the lower back. The pelvis grounds as the spine lengthens and moves upwards (seated twists like Half Lord of the Fishes and Bharadvaja’s Twist) or forwards (in standing twists like Extended Triangle Pose).

Alignment is very important so it’s essential to know how to do them correctly.

How can we twist safely?

• Inhale and lengthen the spine first– In seated twists, ground through the sitting bones. If you experience rounding in the lower back here, sit up on a block or blankets so you maintain the natural length and curves of the back.

• Twist from the lower spine up – When twisting be aware that different parts of the spine have different range of mobility. The lower part, the lumbar, rotates only around 5 degrees, the thoracic spine rotates approx 35 degrees whereas the cervical spine has the most mobility with around 50 degrees. These are generalizations but give an idea of the relative mobility. (pg 34 in Yoga Anatomy, Kaminoff)

• To avoid the neck doing all the work involve the whole spine by starting the twist from the lower spine working up, with your neck turning last. This might mean your twist looks less ‘twisty’ than it used to – that’s fine!

Tip for intensifying your twists

Twists are good for the back but they are also great for stretching the muscles of the shoulders and the chest. To intensify this you can bind in the pose – or use a prop such as a wall or the back of a chair  – for example pressing your right hand against the edge of the chair or wall as you twist to your left.

Four ways yoga helps to nourish yourself this Winter

Winter is the season of introspection, manifesting, integration, hibernation, and surrender. It’s the perfect time to curl into your practice and go deeper. The long dark days of winter can lend themselves to physical stagnation, stress and fatigue, and rolling out your mat can help you call upon the light within by honouring the pause. Find a delightful fragrance in the exchange of surrender and support.

Being the fourth season, winter is a time for stabilising. The number four relates to the grounding nature of all things as well as nature itself — the four seasons, the four elements, and the four directions. This foundational number also corresponds with the heart chakra — the fourth energy centre. And the heart chakra, much like winter, is the bridge between the spiritual and the physical.

The winter blues are very common this time of year, with many of us experiencing a mood shift during the colder & darker days of winter. The chilly air might make you less than excited for your yoga practice, or to even leave the house at all. We have got you! Plunge into your practice in our warm studio set amongst cosy lamps and candles.

Here are 4 ways yoga can help you beat the winter blues:

1. WARM UP WITH HOT YOGA

Hot yoga is one of the best ways to warm up during the coldest months of the year! Not only does hot yoga help you to sweat out toxins, but practising hot yoga loosens stiff muscles, and creates flexibility in your body and joints. If your hands and feet are always cold, even a few minutes in a hot yoga room can increase circulation and help spread heat from your core outwards towards your fingers and toes. Stay healthy this winter by sweating it out on your mat!

2. STRETCH YOUR TIGHT MUSCLES

We have a natural tendency to hunch over more in the winter – especially when we need to bury our faces in our scarves and coats in order to stay warm. When muscles are cold, they tend to be less flexible, and movement can sometimes become painful. Yoga (especially in heated classes) gives us the space to open up again. Taking time for heart opening asanas can help counteract ‘the hunch’ and creates more space in your physical body.

3. BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM & MOOD

Research shows that doing yoga regularly can help reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and seasonal affective disorder. If you find yourself missing sunshine and struggling to boost your mood, carving out time to be on your mat can help! Yoga has also been proven to boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Say goodbye to that winter cold and set the tone of your Winter.

4. YOGA PRACTICE

Between the lack of sunlight and frigid temperatures draining your energy, winter is a time when energy levels are at an all-time low. Yoga is a great way to naturally boost energy! Increased breathing allows our blood to constantly receive fresh oxygen, and movement stimulates blood flow and circulation, which increases energy and benefits the entire body. Yoga can also counteract some of the harmful effects of sitting down for too long! Plan for your workplace to start a corporate wellness plan and hold each other accountable. For corporate packages please get in touch with us!

The following four yoga postures are gentle and nourishing for the cold winter months ahead and will help to support your immune system, gently squeezing toxins from internal organs and lowering stress hormones in the body. With these supportive poses in your pocket, old man winter can bring it on.

• Supine Twists

• Legs up the wall

• Lizard Lunge

• Reclined butterfly pose

Beginner’s Guide to Kirtan and Mantra

Yoga is a vast subject, and just when you think you know all about it, a whole new yogic practice hoves into view that you know nothing about – step forward, kirtan. So what’s the story of kirtan? Put simply, it is yogic chanting, meditation through song, or communal meditation. It is an ancient practice that is being brought bang up-to-date and steadily rising in popularity here in the UK. So here’s a handy guide to kirtan, from its ancient origins to its modern-day form.

THE HISTORY OF KIRTAN

Kirtan originated in the Hindu religion. In Sanskrit, it literally means narrating, reciting, or describing an idea or story. The tradition of kirtan began many hundreds of years ago in 6th century India.  Back then, in a time before many people could read or write (let alone endlessly communicate through social media) poets wandered the land singing intricate stories from the Vedas and the Upanishads, which are some of the earliest known religious texts in the world.

The only way these religious texts could be passed down was through word of mouth. So, from one generation to the next, for thousands of years, the Vedas were memorised and passed down through the ages.

In the early 16th century, a Hindu saint called Sri (the Indian terminology for a saint) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also known as the ‘Father of kirtan’ left India to disseminate the power of kirtan around the world, inspiring many thousands of people during his lifetime, and beginning a movement that continues to this day.

IT IS PART OF YOGA

The yoga that most of us know and practice is only one type of yoga. There are varying opinions on how many branches there are, some say seven, some six and in Light on Yoga, B. K. S. Iyengar says there are four paths. According to him, these are:

• Karma yoga, the path of action, in which a man realises his own divinity through work and duty.

• Jnana yoga, the path of intellect, where realisation comes through knowledge.

• Bhakti yoga, the path of emotion, where realisation comes through devotion and love of a personal God.

• Raja yoga, which is another term for Ashtanga yoga, or the eight-limbed yoga that most of us know as ‘yoga’. This branch is the foundation for the three other branches, preparing the mind for enlightenment, or samadhi, the final goal of yoga.

Other sources cite seven (often overlapping) branches which are: Hatha yoga, Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Tantra yoga, Mantra Yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga.

It is bhakti yoga which is the source of the practice of kirtan. The devotional practice of singing, worshipping and chanting to the Hindu deities emphasized the intense longing to know God.

CHANTING IN YOGA

Chanting isn’t just restricted to bhakti yoga though. For example, the traditional way to start an Iyengar yoga class is by chanting the ‘Invocation to Patanjali’. As an Iyengar yoga teacher myself, I begin most of my classes with this chant, using the call and response method. I find that it is a way of punctuating the class, leaving behind any tension or stress that’s accumulated before the class, as well as a way of bringing us all together, teacher and students, in the study and practice of yoga.

THE BENEFITS OF KIRTAN

So what are the benefits of this meditative group singing? As we know (or should do) the seventh limb of yoga is dhyana or meditation. The fact that this comes after the mastery of all of the previous six limbs shows how challenging meditation can be. Kirtan is a way of accessing the mental stillness of meditation without having to sit still for two hours. The practice known as ‘call and response’, when the lead singer, or kirtan walla, will sing the kirtan a phrase at a time and the collected group will repeat the phrase back, is a way of letting go of the mind. This is because it uses the power of mantra (repeated sound) to focus and still the mind, enabling access to that deeper state of stillness within our consciousness. All you need to do is listen and respond.

The power of sound, as stated earlier, also cannot be underestimated. The practice of singing in a group unifies you with those around you, reminding you that you are larger than the individual, and part of a global community.

There is also an element of surrendering to the divine in all of us (ishvara pranidhana), which is the very last of the niyamas.

BUT I CAN’T SING…

This is not an issue! Don’t be daunted if you’re not a professional singer. There’s no judgement if you can’t sing in tune, and you’ll probably be drowned out by all the confident singers anyway. The important thing is to LET GO of your thoughts, and let your sound join the sound around you. The other important thing is to connect to how your emotions link into your voice. When we lock our voices away our inner self goes unheard and unexpressed. By opening up our mouths and letting out what’s inside, we get to unlock our hearts too.

Breathwork: Take a deep breath

In the yoga tradition, the individual soul is called “Atman.” From the Sanskrit root “at,” meaning “to breathe,” a soul is defined as “That Which Breathes.” 

Our life begins with a breath. We know that a baby has been born successfully when we hear a loud cry. Our life ends with a breath. When a body exhales then no longer inhales, we know the soul is gone. If breath is what defines life, breath IS life energy. In yoga, we call this “prana,” which simultaneously means both “breath” and “life-force energy.” The two are seen as virtually the same thing. It follows that there is no quicker way to transform your energy than to alter your breathing pattern.

OUR HEALTH & BREATH

Like training our bodies or training our minds, our breath can also be trained. Not because it’s bad and needs to be fixed, but so that it can be harnessed to work more effectively for us. We are made up of body, mind, and breath, and the breath for many of us is the last frontier. If you’ve been doing practices for the mind and body, but are still struggling with stress or your mood, you may be skipping yoga’s “secret sauce.” Breathwork is the most effective practice for your vibe, otherwise known as your feeling tone or how you show up in the world. 

One of the quickest ways to determine if someone is healthy is to examine their breathing pattern. If the breath is slow or shallow, rapid or irregular, you know that something is off. While doing breathwork cannot replace seeking medical help, it can be used to shift your energy and state of mind. For example, when someone is having a panic attack, we’ve all been taught to have them breathe into a paper bag. The idea is that if a person is panicking, they are usually also hyperventilating. The panic alters the breath cycle and the altered breath cycle creates more panic. This can quickly become a downward spiral.

The wise, old method of breathing into a paper bag does two things. First, it makes the person breathe in more carbon dioxide, which they’ve been losing through their quickened breath. Second, because the bag creates a sort of drag, it slows the breathing down. When the breath is slowed, the body takes the cue and thinks there is nothing to worry about. The act of slowing down your breathing is incredibly potent. Think of it like lifting weights with your lungs. It can be done by anyone, at any time, through techniques that are thousands of years old. It doesn’t require you to be spiritually elevated or psychologically evolved. On the contrary – it costs nothing and is simple to learn.

YOGA & BREATH

Just like yoga and meditation, breathwork has a variety of styles and techniques with corresponding benefits. it can leave you feeling uplifted, focused, calm, or ready for sleep—depending on what type you do. There are energizing practices that require quick, short breaths and those that lengthen the breath for a more relaxing effect. Some techniques retain the breath at certain times or direct you to breathe out of just one nostril. 

While some of it can seem a bit unusual at first, just like embarking on your first downward dog, have an open mind and a sense of adventure. However, remember that no matter what the teacher says, you are in charge of you. If a teacher says “Twenty more like this,” and you feel that you need a break—take it! If nothing else, you are practicing to have a better sense of yourself. 

While it may appear simple on the surface, in the yoga tradition, breathwork was often taught as one of the most advanced practices. Introduced to students after they had mastered physical yoga, breathwork is essentially the synergy, the alchemy, the powerful combination of all yogic practices. 

Unlocking the Secrets of Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra also known as ‘Yogic Sleep’. It is an ancient yogic practice of healing and relaxation facilitated and induced by guided meditation.

The aim is to calm your mind as you move down through the progressive brainwave states where there is naturally less and less thought, ultimately coming to rest in a profoundly deep state of consciousness. Body – breath awareness techniques are used to help us move from the thinking mind into the feeling body, which helps us to sink into a deeply relaxed state of being. The body does this naturally when we go to bed at night, but Yoga Nidra combines the deep relaxation of sleep with a state of alert awareness.

The heightened state of awareness achieved through the practice of Yoga Nidra is not the only aim. By accessing the pranamaya kosha (energy sheath) through the breath the practice unblocks the channels (or nadi) through which prana (energy) flows through us. The free flow of prana through the body allows the body to heal itself. 

Standard Yoga Nidra sessions last between 15 minutes and 1 hour, although advanced practitioners have been known to practice for much longer. There is some evidence that an hour of Nidra is equivalent to several hours of ordinary sleep. Since Yoga Nidra is a very specialised form of meditation, not all yoga teachers are trained to lead it, so sessions must be run by a qualified Yoga Nidra guide.

BENEFITS OF YOGA NIDRA

The state of mind induced by this method of deep relaxation takes the practitioner to a place somewhere between being awake and asleep. It helps to release physical tension and slows the breath, which in turn slows the heartbeat down enough to establish a calm body and mind. The benefits are heightened after an asana class,as it helps to cool and moderate the body’s natural temperature as well as conserving the energy from the movement practice. It also relaxes the entire anatomical system.

Many benefits have been reported by practitioners after doing regular Yoga Nidra and according to research done by clinical psychologist and yogic researcher Richard Miller, PhD, of The Integrative Restorative Institute (iRest) the following responses to the practice have been observed:

• Reduced anxiety and stress

• Better, less interrupted sleep and reduced symptoms of insomnia

• Relief in some chronic pain conditions

• Profound physical and spiritual experiences

• Better, more positive outlook

• Increase in the ability to stay focused

• Healing of emotional imbalances

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Traditionally, the following consecutive steps are used during the Yoga Nidra process:

Step 1 – Preparation of the Body for Relaxation

Yoga Nidra is done in savasana. Lying on your back, place your arms away from the body, palms facing up. Feet should be about hip-distance apart. Let the toes fall out towards the side.

Quick tip: If you experience any discomfort in the lower back then place a bolster, cushion or rolled-up yoga mat under the knees to release those muscles.

Step 2 – Introduction of the Sankalpa

Before you start in earnest it’s good to set a positive intention, also called Sankalpa. Repeating the Sankalpa helps to ground the affirmation in the practitioner’s subconscious, although there is an art to creating a good one.

Step 3 – Body Awareness

Next, you may be instructed to bring your focus to the points of contact with the back of the body. Often, a full guided body scan is introduced where you are asked to bring your awareness to each individual body part for a moment before moving on to the next. Sometimes this is also approached by tensing each body part in turn and then releasing it fully.

Step 4 – Breath Awareness

The practice will often start with your guide inviting you to take note of any faraway sounds, outside of the room, for instance. Then moving on to noticing sounds within the room. After that, you’ll be directed to notice the sound of your own breath.

Step 5 – Visualisation/Imagination

It is also common to be given a number to count back from with the instruction that, if you lose count, you just need to start again. Suggested visualisations can often be a scene of serene, natural beauty or it may be an invitation to imagine energy or light flowing through the body.

Step 6 – Reiteration of the Sankalpa

You will be reminded to bring your awareness to your Sankalpa just before you go into deep relaxation as well as at the end of this phase of the practice.

Step 7 – Reorientation to a Normal State

At the end of the session you will often be guided back up through the layers of consciousness, bringing your awareness back in turn to your breath, sounds and your body before ending the session.

Cultivating joy in your yoga practice

Most practitioners understand that yoga makes us feel better mentally and physically but as our practice evolves, it’s easy to become attached to poses and lose sight of what brought us to yoga. For many of us, it was probably connected to joy or how we felt expansive, grounded or liberated in our bodies.

My favorite yoga lesson is happiness lies within. When I connected internally with my body, I immediately feel ease, find self-compassion, and locate calm and peace from within.

Wouldn’t it feel great to come back into the reason why we started practicing yoga in the first place?

Cultivating joy (or rediscovering joy in our practice) can help us soften around the tendency to push or strain ourselves in practice. We don’t have to take yoga so seriously. We can have fun, smile, and feel joy in practice. And when we do, there are hidden benefits to cultivating joy in yoga.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF YOGA?

Yoga immediately calms my body and mind. It helps my body stay open and receptive during seasonal changes in the cooler months. I am habitually more inclined to retract and tense myself to brace against the cold but have noticed yoga relaxes my body beautifully during winter. Yoga also improves my posture. As I have deepened my practice, I notice myself standing taller, and naturally adjusting my stance to suit each situation I encounter throughout the day. I feel strong in my bones, connected and full of warm energy.

YOGA BRINGS SIMPLICITY

I use the simplicity of just noticing my breath throughout my day. If I find it is quite shallow, I deepen my breath. Elongating both the inhale and exhale calms my system and immediately brings a deeper connection within. Noticing the pause moments between each breath reminds me to take those pause moments into my day.

YOGA BRINGS JOY AND A SENSE OF WELLBEING

Practising yoga ripples out powerfully in unexpected ways. Now I am much more inclined to take “pause” moments when moving between one task and the next. I appreciate how bringing presence and awareness to simple things, like putting my feet up to truly enjoy the ritual of sipping fragrant tea replenishes me. I am then well prepared for whatever is next and can flow with much greater ease between each situation life brings. Yoga teaches me to be very kind and gentle with myself. When I nurture myself with yoga, which promotes joy and space within, I have more space and joy to share with others. I am grateful to the profound impact Yoga has on my life.

The overall health benefits of joy in yoga are enormous. So, the next time you start to grimace, push, feel tension or become too attached to poses, take a pause and tap into your internal joy quotient. It’s available any time we go within. Bringing joy back into our practice can improve the yoga experience.

Love life, love yoga.