Yoga

ThaiYogaFit
The Change in Your Life Starts Here!

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Yoga (Group or Private)
New to South West Florida

Vinyasa Flow, Yoga for Osteoporosis, Yoga for Stress Relief
Laughing Yoga, Yoga Warrior (speciality class for our Veterans)

Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” You will be instructed to move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale. This technique is also called Vinyasa Flow, because of the smooth way that the poses run together and become like a dance.

Relaxation: Yoga exercises, such as gentle stretching, breathing, meditation and guided relaxation, release body tension and calm the nervous system and emotions.

Concentration: Focus, attention and concentration are promoted by a yoga practice of mindful movement and body awareness. The practice of balancing postures, in particular, builds concentration.

Toning: Holding yoga postures creates isometric exercise which tones every part of the body, including the internal organs.
Healing: Yoga exercises the glands, organs and endocrine system, massaging, toning and increasing circulation to stimulate, heal, and eliminate toxins from the body.

Flexibility: Yoga postures gently stretch the muscles in the body, increasing the flexibility and lengthening the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Nourishing: Slow, gentle movements with deep breathing energize the body rather than tire it. This, in combination with yoga’s relaxation and healing benefits, allows daily renewal and nourishment of the body-mind-spirit.

Yoga is a 5,000 year old scientific technique for spiritual development. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning "union," thus its goal is the unification of body, mind, and spirit. Yoga is not a religion, but a toolbox for spiritual, mental, and physical health and well being.

Yoga for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects some 10 million American women and 34 million more have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for this disease. When too much bone is lost the bones become weakened and susceptible to fracturing and breaking. Osteoporosis can be prevented and treated through regular weight bearing exercise with proper diet and lifestyle habits. Weight bearing exercise is any movement that requires your muscles to work against gravity. Yoga is an excellent weight bearing exercise as it stimulates bone building for both the upper and lower body while being low-impact.

Weight-bearing Yoga
All standing poses will bear weight on the bones in the lower spine, the hips and the legs, encouraging them to strengthen. Lunging poses, such as Warrior 1 and 2, will be the most strengthening to the bones and muscles of the legs. Standing balancing poses will not only build bone but improve balance to reduce the risk of falls. Simple back bending poses, like sphinx, cobra and bridge help to strengthen the spine as well as help prevent and correct kyphosis (excessive curvature of the upper spine). Practicing bridge pose also stimulates the thyroid gland to balance the endocrine system and affect its ability to encourage bone growth. To strengthen the upper body use poses such as downward facing dog, plank, crab, and balancing table.

Increasing Intensity Builds Stronger Bones
If you have been diagnosis with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia (decreased bone density) talk to your doctor before starting a yoga or other exercise routine. To build bone mass with yoga and other exercise, it must be done consistently, the best course of action is to start slow with simple yoga poses and gradually build up the length and difficulty of both the postures and your practice. Increasing the intensity of your yoga practice will build stronger bones, but never push yourself past your edge to reduce any risk of injury.

Laughing Yoga Workshops:
Laughter Yoga combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can Laugh for No Reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter.

Participants of Laughter Yoga report significant general health improvements, many have felt a reduction in the frequency of respiratory infections like common cold and flu, and some others reported overcoming depression, relief/cure from chronic medical problems. With people's committed participation, Laughter Yoga has helped many people become healthier like real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.

Clinical research on Laughter Yoga methods, conducted at the University of Graz in Austria; Bangalore, India; and in the United States has proved that Laughter lowers the level of stress hormones (epinephrine, cortisol, etc) in the blood. It fosters a positive and hopeful attitude. It is less likely for a person to succumb to stress and feelings of depression and helplessness, if one is able to laugh away the troubles.

Stress Managaement Workshops:
This training was presented at the Virginia Recreation Conference 2011, Hampton Convention Center.
What is Stress? The physiology of stress, how to reduce the negative impact including guided stretching, breathing techniques, practice deep relaxation, and attitude aware with focused thought.

To schedule a Thaiyogafit class or workshop at your location
Contact: jea coffman (757) 778-2400, thaiyogafit@gmail.com