Thin acupuncture needles inserted into soft tissue

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a safe and quick treatment used by professionals such as Remedial Massage Therapists and Physiotherapists to support their traditional approaches.

It is not Acupuncture which works on energy lines in the body, the practice works on the soft tissue of the body.

Very fine needles (which are used in acupunture) are inserted into the muscles to relieve areas of hyper-irritability known as myofascial trigger points (TP’s). These troublesome areas can be palpated as nodules within taut bands of muscle fibres.

Trigger Point Therapy can be applied using the hands but the precision gained using the needles makes the technique even more effective. (more…)

Trauma informed trauma sensitive yoga

Trauma centred trauma sensitive yoga (TCTSY) is an approach to guiding clients/participants who (may) have a history of trauma, through a series of yoga forms or poses, from the perspective of facilitating a journey of re-associating and building a positive relationship with their own body.

TCTSY differs significantly from our traditional perception of a westernised yoga class in that the attainment and mastery of poses is not the goal. The practice of TCTSY is an invitation to explore our bodies, to notice, to distinguish and be able to take appropriate action in response to knowing what our internal environment is trying to tell us.

A yoga teacher trained in TCTSY will have an understanding of the bodies response to trauma, sustained through a history of an abusive relationship(s). A sensitive and well-attuned yoga teacher will create an environment, both physical and energetically which is intended to help participants feel safe, respected and empowered. The environment will be one of power-sharing, non-coercive and without expectation.

A TCTSY class is not in itself therapy for trauma survivors but used in conjunction with the participant’s main forms of therapy may provide profound benefits which will support the therapeutic healing process which comes from being better able to interocept (recognise what our internal state is telling us) and to respond to our internal environment. It is only from a place of ‘having a body’ and having a positive and sensitive relationship with that body that we can truly embark on the path of healing.

Alexandra Cat is a Trauma Centred Yoga Facilitator who runs workshops and courses in TCTSY and her three day workshop has instantly changed my approach to teaching yoga in subtle yet profound ways and I look forward to learning more on her more extended courses.

To find out more about her training courses and services visit https://www.theyogaclinic.co.uk/alex-cat

Photo by Jay Castor on Unsplash

There are many different strands to yoga, for example, ethical and cleansing practices, meditation, breath-work, chanting and even working towards experiencing a higher state of consciousness. The ASANAS are the physical poses which most of us will readily identify as yoga practice.

When these yoga poses are laced together in such a way that breath and movement are synchronised, we create a movement meditation which can be so absorbing, that the experience cleanses the mind of intrusive thoughts and constant internal chatter.

On completion of the sequences we are often left feeling not just physically balanced and more free in our bodies but also more settled in our mind.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR YOGA CLASS TO ACHIEVE A CALM MIND (more…)

MIGHT ADJUSTING OUR LIFESTYLES TO HONOUR SEASONAL CHANGES BE THE ANSWER TO OUR FRENETIC, STRESSFUL AND EXHAUSTING LIVES?

Seasonal Fruit & Vegetable Calendar

Changing our diet to reflect the season is a great step toward harmonising ourselves with the natural world.

We, who live in the ‘developed’ westernised world, are in the very fortunate position to live in an age of abundance, to have opportunities to express and develop ourselves in many ways. To live in a democracy, mostly free from persecution and with enough disposable income to enjoy a vast array of leisure pursuits. So why is this not enough? (more…)

By Patrick McKeown, (2015)

Nasal Breathing

Patrick McKeown, author of the Oxygen Advantage, The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Technique Which Will Revolutionise Your Health And Fitness,  transformed his sleep, anxiety and need for asthma medication by addressing his dysfunctional breathing patterns and training himself to become a nasal breather.

He asserts that ‘it’s never too late to correct your breathing; breathlessness, nasal congestion, sleep apnea, stress, anxiety, snoring and improved performance in any aspect of your life be it athletic or otherwise’.

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Dr. David Hamilton describes the exponential spread of kindness from a single gesture.

How Being Kind Helps Your Immune System

In this post we talk about how being kind can boost the immune system but many more benefits are to be gained by simply choosing to do the kind thing.

Being kind not only makes the receiver of the kind act feel better and improve their health, it improves the health and wellbeing of the kindness giver and also those observing acts of kindness. It is the gift that keeps on giving and has come to be coined the Mother Theresa effect in the ‘industry’ following a study which measured antibodies in the subject’s saliva which were found to be elevated from simply watching images of Mother Theresa caring indiscriminately for others.

Dr. David Hamilton is a Scottish pharmacist turned author who passionately studies how the mind, emotions and behaviour has a profound effect on our body and development. Working within pharmaceutical research Dr. Hamilton became intensely interested in the mechanics of the placebo effect. (more…)

Hatha Yoga Classes Glasgow

Hatha Yoga – Balancing the opposing energies of the sun and moon

The Roots Of Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is a broad term which refers to an Indian tradition of spiritual and physical practices to prepare the yogi (student) to achieve a higher state of consciousness.

Encompassed within are a set of ethical guidelines and correct behaviours to help the practitioner ascend to an enlightened state.

The goal being to finally free oneself from the wheel of birth and rebirth (re-incarnation and karma).

Hatha yoga practice therefore has many elements; behavioural, spiritual and physical.

In our westernised culture, Hatha yoga is mostly understood as asanas (physical postures) and is largely practiced as such.

In Indian and Tibetan traditions Hatha yoga is however much more, extending well beyond a sophisticated set of physical exercises to ideas of ethical living, physical and spiritual cleansing, breath control, meditation and ascention to a higher state of being.

Hatha Yoga Classes Today

The practice of Hatha yoga as we experience classes today have evolved away from being an ethical way of life and being to a practice of the physical postures with some styles emphasising the more energetic aspects such as breathing exercises, chanting and meditation practices.

Hatha yoga does remain about bringing balance to both body and mind, with ‘Ha’ representing the energetic elements of the sun while ‘tha’ represents those of the moon. The sequence of poses and counterposes within most Hatha yoga classes, opening with a Sun Salutation (Suryanamaskar) and closing with Relaxation (Savasana) aims to bring balance to the opposing energetic forces within us.

A yoga class described as ‘Hatha’ will usually involve a set of physical postures (yoga asanas) and breathing techniques, practised more slowly and with more static postures than for example a Vinyasa flow or Ashtanga class.

Hatha yoga is therefore a more traditional presentation of postures taught in a methodical way and less stylised than modern varieties which have emerged over recent decades.

Classes advertised as Hatha may be a more appropriate starting point for those new to yoga and exercise to ensure they have grasped safe and proper technique before advancing into, for example, Vinyasa Flow or Power Yoga style classes.

Yoga Classes in Glasgow For All levels and Abilities

Drop in classes, beginner’s courses and one to one yoga tuition are available with Deborah of Restoring Balance. Visit our yoga classes glasgow page for more info:

Or simply give Deborah a call or complete our online form to discuss the best option for you to begin your own yoga journey.

Seasonal Yoga Glasgow

Would you like to live in greater harmony with your environment and your self?

Could it be that the disconnection we experience is because we actively ignore the changing energy in our natural environment and how this should be reflected in our lifestyle and behaviour?

We (in our westernised culture) have become accustomed to living a 24-hour lifestyle, not a seasonal life.

Due to electric lighting, artificial heating and cooling systems, relative ease of travel, telecommunications, global economies and never-ending expectations most of us (we must admit) are completely out of touch with seasonal conditions and do NOT make adjustments to reflect the changing aspects of nature.

Is it any wonder we are all exhausted and out of kilter?

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Some very exciting news on the BBC news this morning that British Olympian and national treasure Jessica Ennis-Hill has launched a fitness app called Jennis which focuses on short efforts of fitness training drawn for her experience of training for multi events. (Necessary when life, especially having small children seems to be ever more busy).

There is a section for general fitness training pitched at three different intensity levels and also a section for both pregnant ladies and ladies post natal. Again, Jessica wishes to share some of the expertise she benefited from while having children and still maintaining a rigorous training schedule. This is not likely to be most of us but it is great news that women have a trustworthy resource to explore as their body changes through the various trimesters of pregnancy and after birth to maintain and reclaim lost elements of their fitness.

Exciting times! An affordable monthly subscription provides a rolling programmes of exercises including cardiovascular bouts, yoga, pilates and conditioning along with lots of other interesting information on health and wellbeing.

Restoring Balance thoroughly recommends this app for busy people who want to improve their health, fitness and knowledge.

To find out more go to www.jennisfitness.com

 

Author Katherine Roberts of best selling Yoga For Golfers – A Unique Mind /Body Approach To Golf Fitness asserts that consistent yoga practice offers massive potential to improve ‘our game’.

In her book, Katherine takes a Western approach to yoga, selecting poses and practices specifically to address the physical and concentration requirements a golfer needs.

The main benefits to be gained are:-

  • Flexibility
  • Strength
  • Balance
  • Core Conditioning
  • Breathing Awareness
  • Focus

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