What style of yoga do you teach?
Both my personal practice and teaching style are influenced by Strala Yoga–a way of moving that encourages freedom. This intuitive style focuses on natural movement and breath cues, rather than rigid posturing.
Every body is different. What works for you may not work for someone else, so why do we put ourselves into identical textbook shapes when a pose that might feel great for our neighbour brings us distress?
My students are encouraged to explore around a framework of planned sequences to find what works best for them, so each individual dictates how the practice evolves for him/her. This yoga practice is yours, and you should allow yourself to practice in a way that is nourishing and sustainable.
What do I do if I am a beginner?
First things first, never do anything that hurts. Of course, muscles stretch and strengthen during the exercise, but that should feel like a good sensation–the ache of exertion, not the warning pain of injury. So if you feel pain, ease off. Listen to your body when it tells you to stop.
In a group setting, put yourself in the middle of the room so you can see people in front and behind you. Don’t wear socks, you’ll slip. Bring a face towel and water just in case. Don’t worry about being new, there's no judgment and we’re all here to practice!
If there are any health concerns, or if you are pregnant, the extra individual care from private yoga will offer you the necessary support and empower you to adjust your practice to suit your needs.
Why should I do yoga?
There are many different reasons why people start yoga. Some common reasons come up over and over again though, and you might even have considered some of them yourself (think: weight loss, stress relief, flexibility). Whether you plan for them or not, here are several benefits that will usually come from doing yoga:
when you take time to care for yourself, you are recognising your body in a way that is mindful and joyful. It’s a great way to release stress that can build up in the mind and body. Very often, even when we believe we have stress under control mentally, our bodies still hold on to it
faster-paced practices like vinyasa can be beneficial for weight-loss. In fact, this focused attention on your body combined with the natural strength training of a yoga practice can help to curb cravings
health is not only about physical fitness, but also maintaining emotional and mental balance. Yoga helps us to acknowledge this mind-body connection which contributes to an overall sense of well-being
the mind is constantly involved in activity–swinging from the past to the future, but never taking time to stay in the present. By simply building awareness of this tendency through yoga and controlled breathing, we can bring the mind back to focus on the present moment
we are all so busy with work and our personal lives that the day-to-day is often exhausting. In our yoga practice, we often narrow our focus down to just one thing–this helps to clear the mind and increase your energy
yoga is all about finding the right balance between mobility and stability in our lives. A regular yoga practice naturally leads to improved posture as you become mindful of better ways that you can stand, sit and move
the movements are load-bearing, which means that instead of lifting weights, you use your own body weight. Besides helping you to tone up, this aspect of yoga also strengthens the bones and keeps them healthy
What are the benefits of private yoga?
One-on-one sessions are completely tailored to your needs. They cut through the noise and create clarity within your yoga practice–which is especially great if you are:
recovering from injury or have specific health conditions and need extra individual care
new to the practice and want to learn the basics and have the confidence to progress to a group setting
constantly on-the-go with a busy lifestyle and want scheduling flexibility to keep you on top of your practice
looking to refine your practice and want the support to help you get there
looking for experienced help to build a home practice that meets your goals and suits your lifestyle and health needs
Do I need to see a doctor before starting yoga?
If you have any underlying medical conditions, it's always recommended to seek advice. Let your doctor know that you would like to start practicing yoga so that they can tell you what to avoid and look out for.
What should I wear to yoga?
Anything that feels comfortable to move in. Most people opt for a tank top and breathable leggings.
Can I eat before yoga?
I prefer to leave at least two hours between a main meal and yoga.