Whilst we’re soaking up the Caribbean sun here on the island, it’s kinda strange for this weathered Brit to get her head around the fact that it’s winter back home!

Without the scarves, gloves, thermal vests (never let it be said I’m not a stylish girl!) and the associated layers of clothes, it’s really hard to remember that the year has moved on.

An interesting end to 2011 was on 22^nd December when we celebrated the arrival of Winter in the traditional yogic way; with 108 Sun Salutations at daybreak.

Sun salutations (Surya Namaskara in Sanskrit) are an integral part of most yoga practices. Sri K Pattabhi Jois (one of the most important teachers in the Ashtanga yoga lineage) said;

“No asana practice is complete without sun worship. Without its focusing of mental energies, yoga practice amounts to little more than gymnastics &, as such, loses meaning & proves fruitless. Indeed, the Surya Namaskar should never be taken for mere physical exercise – for something incidental, that is, that simply precedes the asanas of yoga”

– Sri K Pattabhi Jois.

‘Surya’ is one of many names of sun and ‘namaskara’ means to bow before or to prostrate oneself. The Sun has been worshipped in many ancient cultures for its life-giving properties. Without it, life as we know it could not be sustained. These cultures also recognised that the sun bestows its power and light on all life; free from discrimination or judgement.

When practiced correctly, you’ll find that they contain elements of four of the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga, as detailed by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. They contain asana (the physical moving of the body), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (control of senses), dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation). 

So we chose to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the coming of new light by completing a traditional Yoga Mala – 108 Sun Salutations. As we reflect on the significance of the sun, we are reminded that the sun is the illuminator of our world, that it is our primary source of heat and the giver of life.

But why 108?

The number 108 carries spiritual significance in many different cultures:

* 108 is the number of “Upanishads” comprising Indian philosophy’s “Vedic texts”.

* 108 is the number of names for Shiva (a really important Hindu god).

* 108 is the number of names for Buddha.

* 108 is the Chinese number representing “man”.

* 108 is the number of beads on a Catholic rosary.

* 108 is the number of beads on a Tibetan “mala” (prayer beads, analagous to a rosary).

* 108 is twice the number “54″, which is the number of sounds in Sanskrit (sacred Indian langauge).

* 108 is six times the number “18″, which is a Jewish good luck number.

* 108 is twelve times the number 9, which is the number of vinyasas (movements linked to breath) in a Sun Salutation.

It’s something I’ve done with students on a number of different occasions; both to welcome in the changing seasons but also as sponsored events to raise money for charitable causes. Yes it’s hard work; yes it’s challenging on your mind and body. But at those moments in time when your mind is telling you that you can’t possibly manage any more, it’s an opportunity to remember that the tiredness, frustration, discomfort will pass. It’s only temporary, just like the cold, wet, winter days. Those moments that might make us feel less than full of sunshine are just temporary; they will always move on.

However cold the weather may be where you are, why not take a moment to welcome winter and be thankful for the gloom. Without it we’d never realise just how beautiful the sunshine is!

When you think about it, life can be a scary experience. And I’m not even talking about the really scary events; like doing a parachute jump, or going pot-holing, or meeting a huge crab half way up the steps to the spa (in my defence it was very dark, the crab really was massive and no-one had told me they don’t all live in the sea!).

But for some of us, we have to face something that pushes us out of our comfort zone almost every single day. It might be making a presentation to colleagues at work, or squashing ourselves onto packed public transport, removing a new arachnid resident from under the sofa, or even stepping onto a yoga mat.

The really interesting thing about fear is that it is such a personal experience. By its very nature, it is usually based on an irrational response which even you, the person holding it, can see. I’ll give you an example; I am scared of boats. Whether they’re the size of the Titanic (you can tell from the example I’ve chosen I don’t feel overly positive about them), or a teeny tiny dingy, as far as I’m concerned as soon as I set foot on one it’s only purpose in life will be to sink as quickly as possible, taking me down with it.

Even I know that on the law of averages, this is extremely unlikely. I know that there are more than a couple of boat excursions going out and about from around here every single day; returning all passengers in the one piece that they set out in. I don’t even have to go any further than our own Cariblue beach to see this with my own eyes. 

To be honest, it wasn’t really an issue before I moved to St. Lucia. Gloucestershire isn’t exactly known for its nautical opportunities or the chance to live life on the ocean wave. But now that I am living on a Caribbean island, I’m starting to get a bit irked with it. There’s the Sunset Cruise, for a start. Every Friday evening we take returning guests off on a rather splendid Catamaran to see the island, and the resort, from a whole new point of view. Then there’s the boat trip to go and spot whales and dolphins (Flipper! Flipper!). And wouldn’t it be amazing to go snorkelling in a secluded bay, coming face-to-gills with a real life Nemo?

So it would seem that so far, whilst my fear likes to give me the impression that it’s doing me a favour (“Oooh no don’t get on the boat. Listen to me; I’m here to keep you alive, silly!) it’s actually just serving to keep me missing what could be a whole lot of fun.

But what my fear has helped me to understand is that there are people who think of coming to yoga in a very similar way as I do of my boats. I’ll admit that the chances of drowning are considerably less, and I hope that no one feels nauseous, but the feeling is exactly the same.

They have probably only listened to the stories of people having a go at a yoga class and either finding it really hard or, at the other end of the scale, getting nothing out of it at all. Perhaps they’ve got a friend (of a friend) who went to a class, had a bad adjustment by a teacher and was off work for a week. Quite often their fear is based around the feeling that they would be ‘bad’ at it (“Oooh no don’t get on the yoga mat. You can’t even touch your toes. You’ll be bad at it. Listen to me; I’m here to keep you alive, silly!”)

Sometimes the only way to slip under the radar of that little voice is to take it by surprise. Last week, due to a slight mix-up with timetables, two ladies came to my ‘Dancing Warrior’ class (a slightly more challenging vinyasa flow session) by mistake, thinking it was a beginner’s class. They only told me this at the end of the lesson, when they came up to me beaming from ear to ear. They explained that they would have never had the courage to come, believing that it would have been far too difficult for them. As it turned out, they had a wonderful time (releasing their ‘Wild Thing’ as if they’d done it a hundred times before!) and loved every minute of it.

I think it’s safe to say that I’m not going to be the next Ellen MacArthur, just like the folks who take their first step onto a yoga mat might not be the next David Swenson or Shiva Rea. But who knows what potential we are denying ourselves by listening to the voice that says “oooh no” instead of the voice that says “ooooh – YES!”?

Get on a mat….and go places!

“With yoga all is possible” said one of the leading lights of Ashtanga yoga, Sri K Pattabi Jois. And I think he was right. Of course, I can only comment from my own experience, but I know that without yoga I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today; geographically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually!

Exactly 4 weeks ago today my yoga mat and I (along with surprisingly heavy baggage; how do clothes suddenly double their weight when they enter a suitcase?) boarded a plane from Gatwick to St. Lucia. Up until that point I had heard myself telling friends, family and students that I was leaving the UK to come to a Caribbean resort to be the resident yoga teacher at The BodyHoliday for 6 months. But it wasn’t until I actually clunked that seatbelt around my waist, and jammed my thankfully short legs under the seat in front of me, that the reality of where yoga has taken me began to sink in.

I started going to yoga because I wanted to get arms like Madonna. There. I’ve said it. Shallow, but true. It was during the time that she had particularly toned limbs, and I found out from some font of knowledge that it was thanks to Ashtanga yoga. Great! No more sweating at the gym for me. All I had to do was go to a class, get on a mat, bend myself around a bit and ‘voila’.

If someone had told me, at that point, during my first ‘Downward Dog’ I would be looking for the fastest way out of the room, I may have been a little more cautious. My arms were shaking, my knees were wobbling, my heels felt like they were miles away from the floor, and the teacher wanted me to breathe at the same time?!

Suffice to say that my relationship with yoga got off on a bit of a bad note. But, thanks to a friend who was more determined than I was, I kept going. As time went on I began to realise the more I did, the more I wanted to do. Yoga and I had our fights sometimes. Occasionally we would take a break from each other, go out and experiment a little, but always ended up being reunited with an even greater appreciation for each other.

Then I began to realise that my yoga practice wasn’t just about what was going on in my body. It was showing me what was going on in my life too. I realised that when I knew a pose (an ‘asana’) was coming up which I didn’t think I was very ‘good’ at; I’d try to rush it or miss it out altogether, rather than have a go at it. The same went for the poses which made me feel a little bit claustrophobic or trapped; a quick side-step around them and I’d be off to the next one.

So by stepping onto a mat, I actually took a step towards understanding my life off the mat a little better.

Fast forward a few years, and thanks to those first painful, frustrating, unpleasant dates with yoga, I couldn’t be more grateful for all the possibilities this amazing practice has opened up for me. I have met beautiful people from all corners of the world, been challenged personally and professionally, found physical wellbeing and strength I never knew I had, learnt more about myself than I ever thought possible….and laughed…a lot.

Even more exciting for me, is that not only has yoga done all this for me, but here at The BodyHoliday I am privileged to see this happen for other people. They come to a class, a little wide-eyed, very apprehensive, wondering what on earth they’re letting themselves in for. Then, if you look very closely at just the right time, yoga works its magic on them and they get their first “ah haa!” moment. Then they’re off; that world of possibilities begins for them too.

If you’re coming to join us here I really hope that you’ll come and see what might happen for you if you spend a little time on a yoga mat. And if quoting a yoga guru isn’t quite your style, you may want to instead keep this gem from Audrey Hepburn in mind: ‘Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!’

Namaste! This is the customary Hindu greeting used when meeting and parting – traditionally done while holding the palms together in front of the bosom. If you’re saying to yourself: ‘hey I already knew this’, you’re already on the right track.

A recent study released by Yoga Journal reports that Americans spend $5.7 billion a year on yoga classes and products. The same study also indicates that 6.9% of U.S. adults or 15.8 million people practice yoga. Pretty impressive stats right? Put it on a global scale and you can add millions more to that figure.

If you’re already a seasoned yogi, then you can testify to the benefits of yoga which include but are certainly not limited to increased flexibility, muscle strengthening, increased relaxation and a powerful sense of calm. If you’ve been considering yoga, then you’re already half way there!

When you think of yoga what comes to mind? Perhaps visions of a slender and limber person contorting their bodies in the most difficult of poses. Conjuring these sorts of images is probably not the best way to begin your yogic journey. Yoga is just as much mental as it is physical. Clear up your mind of all the preconceived notions that yoga is difficult and only for the double-jointed. Yoga should primarily be about the journey. Set your mind to invite positivity and this will be the outcome.

There are just a few things which will come in handy for your first yoga session. A yoga mat (preferably a sticky or slip resistant rubber one) to set down on the normal hardwood floors of most yoga studios. These normally retail for $20 to $60 and can cost more if you want to get really fancy with it. A towel, this is a good idea for your first class because not all studios provide them. Straps help with stretching and holding various poses using the legs. Your studio might provide these, but at a cost of $10 it’s worth getting your own.

Your normal yoga class will run for just over an hour. It’ll start with warm-ups and breathing exercises to prepare you both physically and mentally for what’s ahead. The centre and main part of the session will be the asanas or poses. Your teacher will normally provide simplified variations to help beginners adapt until you are able to move like the pros! You’ll then close with a period of savasana or relaxation.

The BodyHoliday has daily dedicated yoga offerings. You can start your sessions from home and look like a complete pro or you can start with us and return home a pro! If you are deeply interested in yoga, my recommendations for the best times to visit The BodyHoliday are during our yoga themed months: Yoga June and Octoba Yoga.

Get started today! Namaste!

What is the main goal of yoga? It is important that we understand the benefits we can derive from yoga before embarking on our yogic journey.

According to Feuerstein, the traditional purpose of yoga has always been to bring about a profound transformation in a person through the transcendence of the ego. Look to Hinduism and the word yoga means spiritual discipline.  Fast track to the present day and perhaps one of the most common answers to this question is – mastering postures.

Yoga is helpful in creating a union in body, mind and spirit:

• Physically – it can lead to an increase in flexibility and strength, as well as a more toned body (something that’s highly coveted these days). At The BodyHoliday, our guests have reported physical benefits including improved respiration, increased energy and vitality. In some cases, guests have experienced relief of pain and mention feeling more limber.
• Mentally – our guests (and I know this is potentially even further reaching) feel much more relaxed during and after a yoga session. It has very calming qualities. It is ideal for stressful lives and assists in quieting the mind. Yoga also encourages more positive thoughts and encourages self-acceptance.
• Spiritually – it’s all about achieving oneness –balance and interdependence among mind, body and spirit. Yoga encourages awareness of the body, your feelings and those of others and your environment.

It is easy and advisable to let yoga become part of your daily life. Breathing is life; remembering the breathing exercises you learn in yoga can help immensely. The focus on breathing is absolutely calming. You can use your breathing exercises in stressful situations at work, at home or anywhere else. I use them every day on the job when I feel overwhelmed or just want to calm down and it works far better than counting to ten!

I love yoga because there truly is no age limit or fitness requirement for it. You can start and work at your own pace and develop through patience and discipline. We’re going to take full advantage of the benefits of yoga during our Yoga June event at The BodyHoliday. The offerings from our Masters will be tremendous!

Rise & Shine Yoga! With the added stress of my day [and yours], yoga might just be the right way to start it up. I’ve always thought of yoga as a method of achieving balance physically and mentally – and balance is good!

I was particularly impressed with the instructor and the way he was able to make us flow from one position to the next with such grace. He seemed more focused on the journey than the destination. I’ll clarify – he ensured that we enjoyed the benefits of getting into the poses. He made it fun and not a competition among who was more limber.  This inspired me because I had always thought that the major goal in yoga was being able to [literally] fold your body into tough poses. I decided to get a bit more information from Dr. Abhishek Jain (yoga instructor) over breakfast at Cariblue.

It turns out that he has an extensive background in yoga. As these stories often begin, he started yoga as a child, drawing inspiration from his father. He smiled as he recounted stories to me of how he copied his father’s yoga movements and poses as an eight year old. Another fond memory for him is of his time at the National Institute of Naturopathy in India. While studying at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, he had to practice yoga daily at 5:30am – almost like a ‘no yoga no breakfast situation’ he joked. It’s this early start that grew into the passion he has for yoga today. We went on to speak about his extensive yoga related work history and his current job as the Senior Leader at the award winning wellness centre at The BodyHoliday. At that point, I decided to stop enquiring about his history, as he seemed to be getting very nostalgic! The main point he wanted to drive at me is that yoga has always been and still continues to be part of his work and he enjoys that.

To bring him back to St. Lucia and The BodyHoliday, I enquired about his approach to yoga. He tries not to compartmentalize yoga. He explained that he doesn’t conform to a particular style of yoga, but he simply teaches traditional Hatha, modern Hatha and Indian Meditative yoga. His traditional and modern Hatha yoga are done on two levels – beginner and intermediate. Indian Meditative is a lot deeper and more profound so he recommends it for advanced yogis. He then said to me ‘yoga has to be done at your own pace and should not be forced…there should be no compulsion’.

Moving forward, he is highly enthused about the release of The BodyHoliday’s yoga DVD series featuring him. The best part, he comments is that it is designed to facilitate self practice at home, in keeping with The BodyHoliday’s promise of being a lasting holiday.

‘Yogah Na Hathat Na Balat.’ – ‘Yoga neither by force nor compulsion.’

When I met up with Agustin today, grains of sand were in his hair and about his body – I asked why. Well – he had just finished a yoga session on the beach. And as it often seems to happen; it was the beginning of another great chat. Of course, I had to find out how an ex-professional athlete becomes a Master Yoga instructor (they don’t seem to be linked). His story, and he is sticking to it, is that his roots in yoga can be traced to therapy he received in Hong Kong for an injury. More to my surprise, he tells me he always desired to move with more agility and skill because he “thought” he was clumsy before – now really… I thought for a while about that one – a clumsy professional athlete?

I needed, at this point, to find out just how deep he was into the whole idea of yoga – he is, after all, a Master Instructor.  And so my lessons begin. He wanted me to know that yoga is more than stretching and physical exercise, (of course that would have been good enough for me) but it is mental too! He explained to me that it is a preparation of the body and purification of the mind to get to a higher level of consciousness (question answered – he really is deep). He actually teaches a number of yoga styles with levels varying from beginner to more advanced: Vinyasa yoga, Samba Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Pure Core Yoga, Hatha Raja Yoga, Slow Flow Yoga, Acro-Yoga, Psychic Development Yoga, Power Vinyasa Yoga, Dharma Mitra I Yoga, Pure Core Yoga, Circle Ceremony Yoga and Partner Flow Yoga. Okay, okay so I do not know what any of these are about, but at least I began to understand more now why he is Yoga Master. Maybe I should seriously consider this yoga thing; hmmm. I have visions of me in a Power Vinyasa Yoga class, or not!

Agustin pointed out to me that he passes on his knowledge and guides people to do things that they would normally be too busy limiting themselves to do.  I can’t let this one go…I must find out just how much of the hidden potential one can truly unlock in people and how this can be done. Luckily, Agustin is here until June so I plan on bumping into him again, but quite by accident … of course. I think we’ll speak again next week… Now he doesn’t know it yet, but I might even drop by one of his sessions too! Am I becoming an aficionado already?