Hatha Yoga:

  Hatha Yoga, or the yoga of the physical body is the foundation of the yoga program at Solis. Individual needs of the students will be assessed and the teachers will adjust to the needs of the students. The primary focus in these classes will be on poses to build strength, flexibility and balance. Some classes may include more attention to the detail of alignment and restrictions within the body with the teacher incorporating the use of props. Please bring a yoga mat and a blanket. Yoga supplies include mats, blankets, straps, blocks and bolsters can be purchased at Solis Wellness.

Ashtanga Yoga:

 Ashtanga Yoga is a vigorous form of postures linked together is a traditional sequence flowing with the breath. It may be considered a method of staying physically fit or to travel the path of exploration of spirituality. Both paths contribute to the restorative nature of the practice. Either way, there is only one way to reap the benefits: Practice!

Vinyasa:

  Vinyasa is a term that covers a broad range of yoga classes. The word Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” In other words, the teacher will instruct you to move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale. This technique is sometimes also called Vinyasa Flow, or just Flow because of the smooth way that the poses run together and become like a dance.

WHAT IS PILATES?

Pilates is a form of exercise, developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s. He emphasized the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness in order to support efficient and graceful movement. It was originally used as a rehabilitation program for prisoners of war and was later found to be of great benefit to anyone seeking a higher level of fitness. Pilates is a unique method of exercise as core strength and torso stability, along with the six Pilates principles, set the Pilates method apart from many other types of exercise. Weight lifting, for example, can put a lot of attention on arm or leg strength without attending much to the fact that those parts are connected to the rest of the body! Even running or swimming can seem like all arms and legs, with either a floppy or overly tense core. Ultimately those who really succeed at their sport learn to use their core muscles, but in Pilates this integrative approach is learned from the beginning.

The “core” is the foundation of Pilates exercises. When the core muscles are strong and doing their job, they work in tandem with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support the spine and movement. Pilates is a body/mind/spirit approach to movement founded on the integrative effect of 6 principles. These principles are as follows:

Centering: Physically bringing the focus to the center of the body, the “powerhouse” or “core” area between the lower ribs and pubic bone. My goal is to ensure that you are connecting to these deep layers.

Concentration: If one brings full attention to the exercise and does it with full commitment, maximum value will be obtained from each movement. Someone once told me that you need to "arrive" for Pilates, meaning you have to be there mentally as well as physically. To get the most out of Pilates, you have to be very present!

Control: Every Pilates exercise is done with complete muscular control. No body part is left to its own devices. Do not misinterpret control with tension.

Precision: In Pilates, awareness is sustained throughout each movement. There is an appropriate placement, alignment relative to other body parts, and trajectory for each part of the body. I will be going around making sure that your movements are done with precision. You will gain greater body awareness as you progress.

Breath: Joseph Pilates emphasized using a very full breath in his exercises. He advocated thinking of the lungs as a bellows -- using them strongly to pump the air fully in and out of the body. All Pilates exercises are linked with the breath and using the breath properly is an integral part of Pilates exercise. BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE !!!

Flow: Pilates exercise is done in a flowing manner. Fluidity, grace, and ease are goals applied to all exercises. The energy of an exercise connects all body parts and flows through the body in an even way. Tensing, holding and gripping is not flow!

I teach by using a lot of visualizations and imagery. Your brain understands and sees images much better than a concept. If I were to say the word “sister” to you, typically, your brain would not see the word sister, but rather an image of your sister would appear. If you have not had any experience with visualization, then at the beginning, this concept maybe hard to grasp and can be frustrating. It is not an easy task to connect to these deep intrinsic muscles, but with repetition and visualization, you will get it... I promise! Please try not to be too hard on yourself, trust me when I say that it will get easier!

Pilates is not a cardiovascular workout, but one that will challenge your mind and body connection. You will be developing an increased body awareness. You will notice that you are lengthening as you are strengthening. I do not advocate the philosophy of ”no pain, no gain”.

To me what indicates a good exercise regime is:

Am I improving week to week/month to month?

Can I complete an exercise I wasn't able to before?

Do I have more control over my muscles/body?

Do I feel stronger?

Do I feel better?

 If you can say “yes” to most of these points, your body is probably gaining from your workout even if you don't feel sore. We need to retrain our brains not to believe soreness equals a productive workout. At the same time, we do need to push ourselves. Challenging ourselves during class and then not feeling sore would not be a sign of a good Pilates class.

I will be going around touching and feeling, it’s the only way for me to feel if you are connected to the core or not, if you are not comfortable with me touching you, please let me know.

As I usually have classes back to back, if you have any questions, the best way to reach me is to either e-mail me or give me a call. My door is always open. I hope you enjoy Pilates as much as I enjoy teaching it!

My favourite quotation and will serve you well as you journey through Pilates is:

"The more slowly trees grow, the sounder they are at the core and I think the same is true of human beings." –Thoreau

BE WELL…….LIVE WELL!!

Pearl

Meditation:

Meditation is a natural process of withdrawing attention from external conditions and directing it inward to a chosen focus of concentration.

The beneficial side-benefits of regular meditation practice have been widely reported in a variety of secular news magazines and newspapers. These can include stress reduction, strengthening of the body's immune system, better organized thought processes, improved powers of concentration, enhanced powers of memory, refinement and enlivening of the nervous system, awakening of regenerative energies, slowing of biologic aging processes, development of the capacities of the brain to process perceptions and states of consciousness, and orderly functioning of the body's organs, glands, and systems. For these reasons, regular meditation practice is now increasingly recommended by many physicians and other health practitioners.

Ayurveda:

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means “the science of life and longevity”.  It is a 5000 year old healing system from India.

Ayurveda is the art of daily conscious living in harmony with the laws of nature.  It provides guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior, and the proper use of the senses.

Health, according to Ayurveda, is defined to be more then the absence of disease.  It is a dynamic state of energy balance and integration of body, mind, and spirit.  Nothing exists in isolation.

What is an Ayurvedic Cleanse?

An Ayurvedic cleanse is an opportunity to cleanse the body/ mind system of accumulated toxins, (ama.) Ama accumulates as a result of our inability to digest and process what is happening in our mind and body. Ama accumulates in the body/ mind system from many sources including the environment, the food we eat, our experiences and the information we process.

Why Do a Cleanse?

At the time of seasonal change (transition), our bodies can be more susceptible to imbalance.  The accumulated toxicity (ama) in the body/mind system can be aggravated during transitions, potentially providing symptoms of health imbalance.  One way to heal the imbalances is to release some or all of the toxicity build-up by cleansing the body/mind system.  Fall and spring are recommended as a minimum.

What Does a Cleanse Involve?

A cleanse involves giving the body/mind system a time to rest, cleanse and rejuvenate. The cleanse starts with preparing the body/mind system for releasing the ama by completing three days of internal oleation, (ingest oil). The next three days involve eating a specific diet to rest the digestive system and enhance the release of toxins. Ayurveda does not recommend fasting for the body/mind as it sets up a deprivation scenario.  Instead, a mono-diet (one food) of kitchari (an easy to digest dish of spices, rice, and split mung beans) is used for cleansing so that consistent energy is maintained while the working systems within the body get to rest.

Maintaining a peaceful, restful environment during the cleanse period is highly recommended as well.

Yoga, meditation and meridian tapping continue to enhance the cleansing experience and the integration of the body/mind system.

Ayurveda requires that we take complete responsibility for our own bodies as well as the thoughts that comprise our minds.  We still can and want to accept help from knowledgeable people.  However, once we take complete ownership of our own body and mind, then we have the option of making changes towards healing.