Category: Yoga

Things we wish we'd known before going to our first yoga class

13/1/2019

New Year, New You?

Christmas is widely accepted as a time of over indulgence and in turn, January is full of declarations of “New Year, New Me”, wildly optimistic resolutions and deprivation diets on a scale not seen anywhere else during the year.  Towards the end of January and into February the air is full of the sounds of new year's resolutions being broken and people falling off the wagon, hard.

Why do we do this to ourselves?  We set ourselves up to fail and then berate ourselves when we don’t live up to the unrealistic expectations we set at the start in a fit of good intentions and determination.

Yoga isn't about deprivation, or punishment.  It's not a punishing fitness regime that you can’t stick to and it's not about fitting into some physical ideal.  Yoga is about building a solid foundation of self care.  Taking care of your mind and your body.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve broken your new year’s resolutions, you can start again anytime. It’s not the succeeding, it’s the trying, the doing and the learning.

At Office Om, we love it when people say our workshops have inspired them to go to a yoga class. If you're inspired to try one or have been meaning to get back to a class, why not do it? It's so easy to make ALL the excuses, but you'll thank us when you do.

We asked our followers what they wish they’d known before going to a yoga class for the first time. Here's what they said:

1. It’s not about changing the way you look - although it can change your physical appearance Yoga is about self care and overall health.  Yoga teaches you to stop, take a breath and take time out to concentrate on all areas of your well-being.

            “I think sometimes I’m not in the mood to do yoga and kind of settle down to do it begrudgingly because I know I need to so when someone says “take the time to congratulate yourself for showing yourself and your body some love today” it really shifts my perspective” Natalie J

Our lives are jam packed with family, work, commuting and we are constantly bombarded on social media. We struggle with brain space and overwhelm.  Yoga enables us to take the time that we need to listen to our bodies and find some peace and stillness.

2. You don’t to wear fancy stuff in fancy places - on social media, there's an image presented of people doing yoga in either a bikini or some psychedelic leggings in beautiful places. You really don't need to throw on Lycra and jump on a jet. Yoga is about the connection between the body, mind and breath. You can do it anytime, anywhere and wearing anything.  All you need is your body, your mind and to be breathing.

“To be reminded that the time on the mat is a gift to yourself ” Alison M

3.  You don’t have to be 'good' to start - It's about the practice and about listening to your body. It's about giving it a go. Some people are stronger, some people are more flexible. Everyone has something they need to work on in whatever condition their body is at the moment. Just like with anything else in life, to deepen the benefits of yoga can take time and practice, but yoga isn't about being perfect. You'll start noticing the benefits in just a few sessions. If you can't touch your toes, that's all ok.

“Being told there is no such thing as being bad at yoga” Chrissy K

4. You don't need to know all the names of the poses - yoga poses do have names, but the teacher will explain everything you need to do clearly and demonstrate the poses too - you can just copy.

            “Being told not to worry about the pose names yet but to follow the moves with my means, as you can feel overwhelmed by all the terms and moves combined” Saief K

And if you do feel confused by anything, just ask. We're a friendly bunch.

5. It doesn't matter if you do something different to everyone else or your body makes any noises -   sometimes people move in different directions to the teacher. Someone might wobble in a balancing pose. Sometimes someone's tummy might rumble, someone might cough and someone might giggle. We're all human and our bodies do these things. It's all ok.

"It didn't happen to me, but the yogi reassuring new people that when you twist and bend and sqidge up your insides in new ways it is normal and fine for gases to want to escape always seemed like a nice thing to say." Phil L

Whether you want to increase your strength, learn how to relax or improve your mental health, yoga can help.  From relieving the effects of depression to improving digestion and quality of sleep yoga is not for the few, it’s for the many.  Don’t let your fears or preconceptions around yoga prevent you from experiencing its benefits first hand.

At Office Om we want people to feel less stressed and improve their overall wellbeing.  We want you to feel better, cope better and live better. Find out more by joining our mailing list.

Or if you'd like to be supported whilst trying out the benefits of chair yoga in our NEW five week online course, you can find out more here

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Want more Christmas cheer? Here are five festive yoga poses to help

21/12/2016

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Well, my last post about looking after your wellbeing in winter was going to be my last one before Christmas. Then after being struck by a flash of seasonal inspiration, I couldn’t help but post a blog with some yoga poses to help Christmas be even more brilliant.

Please also note that usual yoga rules apply at Christmas – warm up first, consult a professional if you have any medical issues, don't do a physical yoga practice if you’ve just eaten a load of mince pies (or other food) and it’s not clever to do yoga after drinking sherry and other alcoholic beverages.

Moments of mindfulness will also help this Christmas. Bring your mind to your body and notice how you are feeling, observe your breath for a few breaths or just bring your attention to whatever is going on in front of you. Practicing mindfulness can help you really be present, which can have more benefits than even the biggest presents.

Here, then, are some suggestions for festive yoga poses:-

Warrior

Feeling stressed about getting through the day or you have some challenging visitors coming? Warrior poses can help you feel strong and confident. Taking your feet about a leg-length apart, turn a front foot outwards and your rear foot inwards, bend your front knee so it remains above your ankle and keep your back leg straight. Raise your arms to shoulder height (a straight line from fingertip to fingertip is great) and feel strong and confident like a warrior. Ready to crack open some chestnuts, stuff the turkey or take out the recycling.

2. Forward bend
Paused from peeling Brussel sprouts for a minute and noticed tension in your upper body? Try a standing forward bend to release tension in your upper back and shoulders. Link your hands together, stretch your arms out in front of you, turn your fingers away, drop your head between your arms if that feels okay for your body and breathe into any tension you can feel. Hold as long as feels good before releasing slowly.

2. Backbend
Spent a load of time replying to Christmas messages on your phone or checking out what presents everyone else has had on Facebook? Try a mini-backbend to re-open up your chest area. Standing with your feet about hip-width apart, link your fingers behind your back, stretch your hands towards the base of your spine and feel your chest opening up. Breathe into your chest area and release when ready. Notice how you feel after this energising pose.

3. Lairy Lion
Did Santa forget to buy you a Mr Frosty AGAIN? Lairy Lion can be a great way to release anger. Stand with your feet hip width apart, with your elbows bent, raise your hands to shoulder height, then on an exhale, bend your knees, make your hands into claws, stick your tongue out and and make the noise ‘RAAR’. Maybe one for in the kitchen when no-one is looking, unless you have understanding guests.

5. Legs up against the wall
Had a long day? Lying on your back with your legs in the air is a brilliant way to destress. Let your arms fall by your sides, close your eyes, let your body relax and let any tensions melt away. Come out of this pose very gently, rolling to one side for a few moments and coming to standing very slowly. This pose is a great way to relax.

Thanks to Liz Childerley (The Salemaker) for the photos.

Would love to know what you think - please comment below. Wishing you health and happiness this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

Follow Office Om on any of these social media channels for more office yoga, mindfulness and wellbeing in 2017, to help you feel at your best.

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Movement, Mindset and Mindfulness

Things we wish we'd known before going to our first yoga class

New Year, New You?

Want more Christmas cheer? Here are five festive yoga poses to help

Cathy Bailey

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Movement, Mindset and Mindfulness

Things we wish we'd known before going to our first yoga class

New Year, New You?​

Want more Christmas cheer? Here are five festive yoga poses to help

Cathy Bailey

Archives

Categories

more info

Search

Get social

New Year, New You?