Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

I wish I could answer that question. Really. Even more, I wish I could answer in the affirmative.
I haven’t seen evidence that the claims of weight loss directly due to yoga practice is true. In fact, I know quite a few long-term yoga instructors who have stacked on weight as they get older. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Computer Blues

The other day my computer crashed. I felt like a baby that had lost its dummy. My first thought was: do I have back-ups? I wasn’t sure, and that’s bad.
I wonder if other people get as mad at their computers as I do at mine when it won’t bend to my will. My thinking is that a computer is this labour-saving device that is supposed to make my life easier. And, most of the time it does. Then, just when I’ve been lulled into thinking we’re working as an efficient team, the machine does something completely  aberrant. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

This Moment

My housemates have gone off to our community choir practice. I opted to stay home. I’m tired and didn’t think I could generate upbeat energy this evening, despite the general cheeriness of the group.
I thought I’d listen to a new download of an MSIA meditation practice and that might help me rebound. Instead I was seduced by the sunset occurring as I write, so I’m sitting on our deck with my iPad and a drink. I’m telling myself this is just a different sort of spiritual activity. […]

Tootling Up & Down the Coast

Tootling Up & Down the Coast

One of the things that you just have to surrender to when you move to the country is travelling huge distances. (Other things to let go of: seeing art house films near-by and having interesting eateries to choose among. The solution – subscribe to Netflix and eat at home!)
When I lived in Sydney, it took me 30 min. at peak hour to travel from Mosman to Crows Nest, a distance of 5.5 km. It takes me about 10 min. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

YogaAnywhere feedback

I wanted to share a couple of items relating to our YogaAnywhere practice cards.
First off, here’s a testimonial from a happy customer/practitioner:
Dear Eve
I just wanted to let you know I have received your YogaAnywhere cards and have been using the Managing Back Pain consistently over the last week with some real benefit. Thank you. […]

Burdened by Weight: Does Yoga Help?

Burdened by Weight: Does Yoga Help?

An article on the news today pointed to a problem that is troubling so many people in society these days – osteoarthritis.It’s not just my imagination. Statistics say that two million Australians currently have the disease. However, within 10 years that number is expected to double to four million.We think that osteoarthritis is just what happens as we get older. We call it wear and tear, but in actual fact, osteoarthritis is not inevitable with ageing. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Vulnerability = Aliveness

It’s probably no wonder that people are wary of allowing themselves to be seen as vulnerable. The dictionary defines being vulnerable as “susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.” According to that way of looking at vulnerability, you’d have to be mad or masochistic to practice it. Perhaps I am somewhat crazy then, as I do try to cultivate vulnerability and openness. Why? I’ve discovered over time that the effort it takes to keep up defences only serves to make me isolated, inauthentic, and not fully self-expressed. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

User-friendly Yoga for Beginners

A yoga teacher who is a reader of “Yoga Suits Her” asked a very good question regarding progressing beginner-ish student through their postures when they are challenged by injuries or other restrictions.
Say, for instance, the pose you ultimately wanted to teach to students or learn yourself is the backbend Urdhva Dhanurasana (pictured above), you would start by understanding what sort of flexibility or strength is required of you. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

A Delightful Yogi's Salad

This is a first for me. Perhaps a never-to-be-repeated event. I’m publishing a recipe I found on the Internet (Food Network); I prepared it as a main meal this week for dinner.
My, my…. Was it ever delicious!
I may be the last wholesomely-oriented person on the planet to discover the superb grain, quinoa, but I am completely enrolled in its taste now that we’ve become acquainted.
It’s a perfect grain for the Australian summer. Even lighter than rice and couscous, it’s full of protein, I’m told. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic Yoga Learning Styles

Anybody in the education game should know about ways of learning. They should also know their preferred way.

These styles of learning can roughly be presented in three categories: auditory, visual and kinaesthetic.

Sometimes the styles overlap. It’s possible to be an auditory/visual learner, or any other combination.

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Generosity

As good yogis we are meant to practice the precepts set forth by Patanjali in the Yama and Niyama. One of the “thou shalts” that I needed to work with today is called Aparigraha – the practice of non-greed.
I’ll just say that I fall from yoga grace not infrequently. When I do, I try to remember two things.
1. The reason it’s called yoga practice is because I’m still working on it.
2. […]

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight?

Breathe It In

      Everywhere you look in the Manning Valley these days, you’ll see the signs of the most luscious growth of many seasons – the culmination of several years of good rains without overheating. The low rolling hills west of the Pacific Highway are full of luxuriant pastures with fat cows and horses. The rivers and streams are fully flowing and oyster farming has started up again. We bought our property on Mitchells Island during the drought. And then we watched our wetland dry out, our lawns growing brown, and most of the planting we did dying off. […]