Author: Andrea Stern
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Yoga Basics #9: Inversion – Joyfully turn the world upside down
In yoga, an inversion is any pose where your heart is higher than your head. This includes challenging poses like Handstand and Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana), as well as relaxing poses like Child’s Pose (Balasana) and Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani). Turning the world upside down, children love to do it in…
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Yoga Basics #8: Backbends: Uplift with Spine Strengthening for Energy and Love.
One of the primary benefits of backbends is their ability to strengthen the muscles of the back and help you become more flexible at the same time. In backbend postures such as cobra or locust, you train the muscles along your spine, enhancing their endurance and resilience. Backbends have a remarkable energizing effect on your…
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Yoga Basics #7: The Calming Power of Forward Bends
These gentle movements carry a profound calming effect on the nervous system, inviting you to surrender and cultivate humility with each breath. The essence of forward bends lies in their ability to gently stretch the entire back of the body, while also providing a subtle massage to your internal organs. As you fold forward gracefully,…
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Yoga Basics #6: Twist – “Rejuvenate Yourself with the Balancing Twists of Asanas”
Twists offer you a rejuvenating effects and a range of physical and mental benefits. Particularly effective after sequences involving forward or backward bends, twists serve as balancing asanas. During your practice, it is necessary to maintain spine length, and initiating rotation from the core is the key to their effectiveness. Incorporating twists into your practice…
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Yoga Basic 5. Core – The Center of your body
The center is the abdominal muscles, which promote connection to your core. This isn’t about getting a six-pack like in fitness training, but rather about deep anchoring within yourself. Networking this profound musculature is essential on a physical level for stabilizing the lumbar spine. Building these deep abdominal muscles prevents lower back pain. Additionally, here…
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Yoga Basics 4 – Standing Poses
Standing asanas, or poses, form an integral part of the yogic journey, spanning from foundational Mountain Pose to the dynamic Warriors, Pyramids, and Triangle. Within these postures lies a delicate balance between strength and ease, inviting practitioners to harmonize their entire body from head to toe. The Alignment and Stability commences with rooted feet. It’s…
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Yoga Basic 3 – Sun Salutation: Energize Your Day with Sun Salutation
The Sun Salutation is one of the most well-known and beloved sequences of asanas. It combines dynamism, strength, flexibility, endurance, and concentration. It is ideally suited for one’s regular practice at home, as the sequence is clear and its structure easy to follow. Especially in the morning, it is an ideal springboard into the day,…
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Yoga Basic 2 – The Power of Breathing: Fueling Our Everyday Lives
Did you know that an adult at rest typically breathes around 12 to 20 times per minute? That’s approximately 22,000 breaths a day! Breathing isn’t just a simple bodily function—it’s what keeps you- us alive. Your lungs play an important role in this process, providing your body with the oxygen it needs to function. With…
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Yoga Basic 1 – Exploring the Ancient Roots and Modern Evolution of Yoga
Download Handout Yoga Basic 1. Did you know that before the written word, knowledge was passed down orally? Yoga, has been transmitted from Master to student for over 5,000 years. The word “yoga” finds its roots in the sacred Sanskrit texts known as the Rig Veda, revered for their spiritual wisdom. The first practitioners of…
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Tuesday YOGA BASIC in Caldas da Rainha
Hello, Starting 19th March, I’m happy to invite you to join my new Yoga Class in Caldas, “YOGA BASIC”! 🌟 Whether you’re a beginner looking to kickstart your yoga journey or someone wanting to strengthen their foundation, this class is perfect for you. 🗓️ Every Tuesday, starting at 10am 📍 Sociedade Columbófila Caldense, Caldas da…
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Finding Life’s Source in Water and Yoga
Water is a source of life. It’s a simple truth that we often overlook in our daily routines. We turn on the tap, fill our glasses, and quench our thirst without much thought. Yet, water is not just a necessity for survival; it’s a fundamental element that nourishes and sustains us. But what about the…
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The Power of Smiling
Sometimes, the simplest acts can have a profound impact. Do you know? That the power of a smile or laughter goes beyond the superficial expression of happiness. It holds the potential to transform our mindset. Furthermore, smiling also brings health benefits, such as reducing anxiety, as well as lowering your blood pressure and heart rate.…
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LOVE YOU(RSELF) – Happy Valentins Day
The love you show yourself enables you to love others. “Opening the heart” represents love for life, nature, and all people. Embracing everything with appreciation, mindfulness, understanding, acceptance, and warmth is significant in today’s world. Backbends are the yoga postures known as “heart openers” because they stretch and open the chest area. How to open…
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New Yoga Location every Thursday.
Yoga is not just about training flexibility of your body; it’s also significant for our mind. We are switching our yoga to a new location and day. 🕖 Every Thursday: 10:15 – 11:30 am 📍Sociedade Columbófila Caldense, Caldas da Rainha I like the Columbófila a lot as a centrally located and and traditional Portuguese sport…
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Starting Yoga Classes 2024
Hello 🧘♀️, I’m sending you a warm invitation to join my regular Yoga sessions starting this week! 🌈 We’re a wonderful international community of both beginner and intermediate yogis, and I’d love for you to be a part of it. I have two options for you: As a passionate Yoga instructor and Physiotherapist, I’m dedicated…