Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Summer Solstice - Yoga and Lunch - June 22, 2014

Celebrate the coming of Summer with Summer Solstice Yoga and Lunch

A fun way to start off summer. Join some friends for yoga, lunch and laughs :)

 
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson


Mother's Day of Yoga - May 10th, 2014

Looking for a nice treat for yourself, your mom or sister?

Join me May 10th for Mother's Day of Yoga

 
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson


REstore Your Practice and Deepen Your Practice

Join me for two special classes over the next few months to Restore and Deepen Your Practice.
Come to one or all!
Classes start soon.
Please contact me to register.
plnyogastudio@gmail.com



 
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

The Digestive System

 
 
We take food into our bodies for energy, to help us grow, repair tissues and keep us healthy.
It is a basic life requirement!
So the statement, you are what you eat, is very true.

The digestive track starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is very long, especially with the coiling of the small and large intestine. It can be up to 9 meters long!

So much goes on from the beginning where the food is taken in through the mouth. Digestive juices, saliva and enzymes that are secreted start to break down the complex foods.  The teeth and tongue help with this process.

From there the food goes down the esophagus to the stomach. The food is churned more and the stomach releases even more digestive juices.  Food needs to be broken down to be absorbed and used in the body as it makes its way down into the small and large intestine.

In this amazing process what remains is the waste. The body taking the most from the foods we eat to benefit the body.

So, we want our asana practice to help benefit this system as much as possible. This means keeping all the organs healthy so they can function at their optimal to help with this process.

Standing poses and forward bends help to stretch, tone and massage the abdomen bringing a fresh supply of blood with it.

Twists help the movement of digestion which again improves blood supply but also helps with waste removal.

Inversions are great to help with the venous blood return and gas release.

The calming and restorative aspects of yoga are also not to be forgotten. So much stress and anxiety is held in and around the organs which can lead to irritation and constipation that just the calming breath and meditation can be a great benefit.

Body, breath and mind in unison.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com
plnyogastudio@gmail.com




Monday, April 28, 2014

Thank you!

 
 
 
Thank you to the Family Yoga Centre in Edmonton for hosting this assessment. It is a beautiful studio, with great teachers!

I'm happy and relieved to be one of the 8 to have passed my IJI Certification.
Thank you to my family, friends, teachers and students who have supported me. 
 I continue to be a student for life and love improving my teaching skills.

Thank you also to the assessors. They really want to bring out the best in us all to succeed.

Namaste.
Pam Nelson

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Let the Practice Transform You More


Prasant Iyengar says,
"Become a student of the subject. 
Do not look only for what you 'get' from the practice. 
Be motivated to learn the subject so that the practice transforms you."

Namaste. 
Pamela Nelson 
Www.plnyoga.blogspot.com
Plnyogastudio@gmail.com

Let the Practice Transform You

Mr. Iyengar writes about how the practice can transform you and then you transform your practice. 

"Confusion is removed- confidence comes. 
Confidence develops clarity. 
Clarity develops maturity.  
Maturity gives wisdom - through wisdom you practice."

Namaste. 
Pamela Nelson
Www.plnyoga.blogspot.com
Plnyogastudio@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Circulatory System

The Circulatory system is another amazing system in the body. Not only does it circulate fresh, oxygenated and nutrient filled blood throughout the body, it also works to remove poisonous waste products.

The heart, arteries, veins and capillaries all work to keep the cells nourished. Any compromise in the circulation to an area of the body means that blood supply to a tissue is decreased which could lead to disease.

The heart is a muscular pump located behind the sternum in the chest. The beating of the heart provides the force necessary to pump the blood throughout the body.  This blood is pumped through the arteries. The veins carry the impure blood from the tissues back to the lungs to be re-oxygenated.

Good circulation at any age is therefore required for healthy tissues. As we age our blood supply decreases so various tissues and organs may not get the required blood it needs.

Yoga asana can help keep the blood circulating to every corner of the body with its many movements.
The poses also help to keep the arteries stretched so they maintain their elasticity and do not become hard.  The capillaries remain open and the heart is stretched.
The postures also help the venous blood return from the legs back up to the lungs and heart so circulation in the lower body is improved.

So, take some time today to not only bend and stretch with your yoga poses, but also do a few supported forward bends and chest openers to support the heart that beats day and night to keep us alive.
Include viparita karani (legs up the wall) to rest the legs. Here gravity helps to bring the blood back to the heart.
Then of course end with savasana, the remover of fatigue.

Geeta Iyengar writes about savasana - Savasana is a link connecting the body and the mind.  It connects asana and pranayama and leads one to the spiritual path.
Breathing in savasana should be subtle, smooth, and quiet as the flow of water in a river so that the mind remains undisturbed."

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com
plnyogastudio@gmail.com