I was asked before - why must we have deep relaxation at the end of our yoga class? Maybe she was thinking, "Why does Vanda make us lie here in the dark? Why not just let us go home earlier?"
There is a purpose to the darkness. Deep relaxation at the end of a yoga session helps us to regulate our breathing and enjoy the benefits of all the poses we just did. In addition, we learn to observe our body and breathing and be aware of any imbalances in our bodies.
Additional benefits for mothers-to-be in our prenatal yoga classes are learning an abilty to unwind upon demand and need for rest.
So let go and enjoy that few minutes of darkness after class!

 Starting a yoga practice can be an intimidating thing for a beginner.  But we know that anyone can do yoga, and everyone has to start somewhere.    So, here are a few yoga tips for anyone looking to start a yoga practice. 

-Choose the right yoga for you.  There are so many different types of yoga, if you don’t like one type, give another one a try!  Iyengar, Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa, Bikram…the list goes on!  There’s a yoga type for any type, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a few tries to find the perfect fit!

-Don’t worry if you can’t touch your toes in the first class.  Yoga is a gradual process of lengthening and strengthening muscles, if you can’t touch your toes now, no worries!  You’ll definitely be able to as your practice develops. 

-Take things slowly and listen to your body.  Even if the yogis next to you are flowing into amazing poses, listen to where your body wants to go.  You’ll get there slowly, but surely!

-Go for the experience, not an end goal.  Try to enjoy the calming experience of yoga one class at a time. 

All that said, the best tip for any beginner yogi is:  get started!  Contact VandaYoga for more information about classes and yoga styles. 

With great sadness we bid farewell to Guru-ji, B.K.S. Iyengar. He passed away in the Southern Indian city of Pune yesterday. He lived a ripe old age and was 95 years old.
Thank you to the great teacher who brought yoga to the West and lit the path of many.
Namaste. RIP Guru-ji.

Need a laugh this Monday afternoon?  We found this video compilation of pets interrupting yoga quite funny and adorable.

How about you?  When you roll out your mat at home, does your dog, cat or other pet think that means playtime?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/10/why-pet-owners-are-better-at-yoga_n_5574985.html

I simply love the softness of this Bamboo jersey. The drape is gorgeous too! The elegant and practical elasticated hem, cuffs and waistband - makes it perfect for a great yoga session. I love this top so much I wear it outside of my yoga classes too!

When advancing your yoga asana practice, it’s important to develop strength and balance all over the body, but it’s essential to focus on a strong core!  The centre of the body is a major source of strength for all asanas. Try doing a chaturanga using mostly your arms, then do one while holding your entire core tight – it makes a huge difference! 

Core strength is more than six-pack abs.  Actually, the strongest parts of your core are hidden deep in the body, and only specific exercises will strengthen those. 

Here are a few work-out moves to focus on those deep core and abdominal muscles:

-Planks:  all types of planks - regular plants, forearm planks, side planks.  Hold for as long as your can.

-Crunches and other abdominal exercises that engage your oblique muscles, and the entire length of your abdomen.

-Stability ball exercises:  crunches and other abdominal exercises done on a stability ball are greatly intensified. 

A strong core makes a strong yoga practice! 

**If you’re pregnant, please contact Vanda for more information about which core exercises are safe and which should be avoided in different stages of pregnancy. 

Recently, we’ve been hearing a lot about organic food and its huge advantages for your health.  It’s becoming more common to see a big organic section in many grocery stores, and hard not to notice the higher prices that comes with these foods.  So, the question becomes: is it worth the extra cost?

Especially for families with small children, who are more sensitive to harsh chemicals as their brains and bodies develop, we think it’s definitely better to go organic.  A few reasons why:

-No pesticides or harsh chemicals are used, especially on fruits and vegetables. 

-Organic farming is better for the environment, adding fewer chemicals to the soil and water supply and more sustainable for long term.

-Higher quality products because most organic farms are quite small, producing smaller batches of food

-Organic meat and dairy products don’t contain antibiotics or artificial hormones, two things that have shown to cause developmental delays and other adverse effects in humans. 

In general, if it’s within your means, organic is always better.  Give it a try and see if you feel more energetic and healthier after a few months of eating organic foods, especially fruits and vegetables! 

Happy 2014!  The beginning of a new year always brings a feeling of a fresh start.   It’s an ideal time to break bad habits, and start new good ones (like yoga!).  Many people set New Year’s Resolutions that include the big goals for the year.   

These resolutions can feel a bit overwhelming at times, especially once the New Year glow has worn off and you’re back in the daily grind.  The key to setting resolutions that will stick is to keep them simple, keep them small, and make sure you’re not going for huge changes immediately. 

One way to get motivated to keep your resolution is to create an Inspiration Board.  To make one, gather colourful magazine clippings, quotes, cards or anything that inspires you to reach your goals for the year.  Post them on a small board and put it in a highly visible place.  This way, every time you walk by, you’ll gain inspiration and remember why you set your goals in the first place.  And that’s how goals get accomplished – constant work and one day at a time.  Check out Pinterest for some great examples of Inspiration Boards!  www.pinterest.com/everythingetsy/inspiration-boards/

When traveling long distance, few things feel better after a long, cramped flight than getting back on the mat and stretching out of your body.  Several airports around the world are making it easier for tired, traveling yogis to get in their stretches, by opening yoga studios within the passenger terminals. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the latest airport in the USA to open a yoga studio; joining San Francisco International Airport, also in the US, and Amsterdam, among others.  Our own Changi Airport has a gymnasium to be used for yoga, stretching and other work outs. 

With mats, quiet space and mood lighting, these airport yoga studios and meditation rooms are becoming a haven from the hustle and bustle of travel.  Next time you find yourself in an airport with a long layover, see if they’ve caught onto the yoga studio trend!  Or if you’re not shy, bring your own mat, and make your own studio in an empty space!  Either way, yoga is a great option to keep blood circulating, reduce aches and pains and overall add some calm to the tiring pace of traveling.   Next time you travel, try to fit in a few sun salutations between flights.