Yoga is a pure Sanskrit / Nepali word meaning ‘to add’ or ‘to connect’ with the supreme divine soul. Even today the word 'yoga' is used in mathematical terms in Nepal, and all the terminology of yoga belongs to Nepali language. Yoga is the journey of the self through the self and to the self. Flowing with the law of nature and accepting whatever the situation, pain or pleasure; this is yoga. Indeed, living in the now, connecting the divine energy and performing Dharma (duties) with utmost sincerity is yoga as per the teachings of the Vedas.
Yoga is the royal road to the divine source: supreme consciousness. It is meant for a well-disciplined, happy, healthy and peaceful life. It enhances spiritual growth, balancing material and spiritual life. Yoga is the key for happiness and peace.
There are 8 limbs of yoga: Yama (self-restraint), Niyama (scriptural rules), Asana (sitting posture), Pranayama (breathing exercise), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharna (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (salvation) as taught in Goraksha-Samhita. It cannot be called yoga if all the eight limbs are not followed. Stretching body parts only does not make one a Yogi. There are many different traditions, philosophies and styles of yoga, but they all nourish the body, mind, and soul. By practicing yoga in all areas of our lives, we learn how to not only find, but cultivate the happiness we crave.
Yoga unites the mind, body and soul in a way that eases tension, reduces inflammation, and promotes health and well-being. Regular practice which includes meditation will help you reach, improve and perfect poses, correct posture and positioning, and improve your breathing and outlook on life.
Vinyasa yoga is a great way to improve your endurance in other physical activities. After a run or heavy workout, yoga will help your body relax while stretching, strengthening and lengthening the muscles you were just working on.
Yin yoga is perfect to increase circulation, improve flexibility, release fascia and improve joint mobility, reduce stress and calm and balance the mind and body. It’s also a surprisingly meditative practice that teaches you to overcome discomfort through breath and positive thinking, reducing stress and anxiety.
Yoga not only helps improve your body but also helps with mindfulness and meditation. It is important to take a break from daily life in order to focus on yourself and get clarity. Focusing on your breath during practice is key to staying in tune with your mind and body.
You may be aware there are many different types of yoga styles these days and each style brings similar and different benefits. You can find out more about Vinyasa yoga and Yin yoga on my site.
Vinyasa is a style of yoga characterised by stringing postures together so that you move from one to another, seamlessly, using breath. Commonly referred to as 'flow' yoga, it is sometimes confused with ‘power yoga’.
Vinyasa classes offer a variety of postures and no two classes are ever alike. The opposite would be 'fixed forms' such as Bikram yoga, which features the same 26 postures in every class, or Ashtanga, which has the same sequence every time. The variable nature of Vinyasa yoga helps to develop a more balanced body as well as prevent repetitive motion injuries that can happen if you are always doing the same thing every day. As a philosophy, Vinyasa recognises the temporary nature of things. We enter into a posture, are there for a while and then leave.
While Vinyasa, or Vinyasa-Krama, dates back to the Vedic age - the earliest period of yoga thousands of years ago - it referred to a series, or sequence, of steps to make something sacred. The movement practice of Vinyasa is said to begin with T Krishnamacharya who has had the largest influence on how yoga, in general, is practised today.
Put all this together, and Vinyasa is a breath-initiated practice that connects every action of our life with the intention of moving towards what is sacred or most important to us.
While Vinyasa yoga is one of the most popular forms of the practice in the world today, it is not well understood.
As with many things in yoga, the definition is dependent on the context and on whom you ask. Below are the more common definitions.
'The Sanskrit word Vinyasa comes from a prefix vi, which means variation, and a suffix nyasa, which means ‘within prescribed parameters”'. Srivatsa Ramaswami, student of Krishnamacharya for more than thirty years.
He goes on to refer to classical yoga, from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, for the specific parameters:
The term Vinyasa is derived from nyasa, meaning 'to place', and vi, meaning 'in a special way'. This indicates that we are not 'throwing our bodies around' but are bringing consciousness to each movement in each moment.
Shiva Rea adds, 'Vinyasa in its original meaning from the early Tantras is understood as the "sequence of consciousness", or how life unfolds from … the creative pulse of life'.
Vinyasa can be defined as our external movements that are an expression of how we think and feel.
Synonyms: Continuous. Seamless. Integrated. Change. Rhythm. Evolve. Cycle. Connected. Movement.
'[Vinyasa] Flow yoga can be practiced in a vigorous, dynamic and stimulating manner and also as a soft, gentle, restorative practice'. Ganga White
A hallmark of Vinyasa Flow classes is the variation in sequence from class to class. (A sequence is any time two or more postures are strung together.) No two classes are alike.
In a fixed form system, such as Bikram, or Ashtanga yoga, the sequence remains the same to reveal what changes day-to-day - mainly us.
A variable form system, like Vinyasa, exists to help us see what is changeless and permanent throughout all of the change. This might be an intention or purpose, a way of thinking or connection to something greater than ourselves.
One other key aspect of the variation is it keeps your interest. Many practitioners move from the fixed forms to Vinyasa because they become bored.
'A powerful Vinyasa practice can shake things up to the point of calming things down'. Rusty Wells
prayatna saithilya ananta samapattibhyam II:47 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
'Perfection in an Asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached'. B.K.S. Iyengar
Krishnamacharya is attributed with being the architect of Vinyasa. He expands on the importance of it in his book 'Yoga Makaranda - The Nectar of Yoga'. A guest of his benefactor, a maharaja, or prince, Krishnamacharya taught adolescent boys at Mysore Palace. What better way to calm down active teenagers than with a lot of movement.
Who knew that insight is also perfect for calming the high-spirited mind of the modern world? Rishi Vamana is also credited with creating Vinyasa Yoga. The idea was to simultaneously embody the different facets of yoga: mudra, pranayama, meditation, asana and japa.
The first reference to Vinyasa dates back to the earliest yoga age called the Vedic Period. Here, Vinyasa was defined as a step-by-step process to make something sacred.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali also cite [vinyasa] krama:
ksana-pratiyogi parinamaparanta-nirgrahyah kramah IV:33
'The progression [of any object through Time] corresponds to a [series of] moments. It is perceivable at the final [moment] of change.
Nothing is static but changes every moment'. Edwin Bryant
The Yin yoga movement has gained momentum and widespread popularity in recent years. With reports of burnout, exhaustion and stress on the rise, a yoga practice that could help ground you, calm your nervous system and stretch out tight muscle tissue might just be the ticket to a happier life.
Yin is a slow-paced style of yoga, where postures are held for between three and five minutes. A modern interpretation of ancient yoga practices, Yin was pioneered in 1980s California and typically features poses held for anywhere between three and twenty minutes each. The poses are held for a long period of time to target the connective tissues (such as the ligaments) rather than focusing on the muscles. As a result, the Asanas are more passive holds, with little muscular engagement.
To help you sink into the poses, your body is supported with props to allow you to relax, breathe into the stretch and allow gravity to do most of the work. The aim is to bring mental, physical and spiritual together as it stimulates our 'nadis'. Similar to meridians in Chinese medicine, nadis are considered to be pathways in the body that carry energy, water, air, blood and bodily fluids around. You might also hear them referred to as 'energy lines'.
Yin has something for everyone, but if you're hypermobile in certain areas of your body and already have plenty of space around your joints, Yin must be practised with caution. There is no need to go to your full range in order to experience the energetic benefits. Prop yourself with whatever you need to keep your body safe.
Yin is an incredible amalgamation of yoga postures and Chinese medical theory of energy channels (meridians). The benefits stem from the stimulation of certain energetic pathways that run through our bodies. Due to the intensity of our modern lives, we tend to disrupt the fluidity of our energy, which, in Chinese medicine, is explained as 'stagnant' energy or 'depleted' energy.
It can manifest in many ways from insomnia, lethargy, exhaustion, racing thoughts, body pain and so on. When we rebalance our energy by targeting these channels, we start to bring much more equilibrium into our daily lives.
It’s also a surprisingly meditative practice that teaches you to overcome discomfort through breath and positive thinking, reducing stress and anxiety.
As well as the necessary breathwork that is involved in keeping intense postures for a considerable length of time, Yin greatly improves flexibility and joint mobility that will see you progress in all areas of your yoga practices.
This makes it hugely beneficial alongside cycling, running and other exercises that shorten the muscles.
Due to the pace, it teaches you a lot about the body; not just how small movements can change postures, but about how everything's put together.
Famed for its ability to take us from reactive to relaxed, Yin is lauded for how calm it makes people feel afterwards. But what's actually happening in our bodies?
Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the 'rest and digest' response to life) through breathwork and postures like child’s pose and Savasana.
When you are stressed out, your body pumps out the hormone cortisol. This hormone is what helps you keep going in a crisis (it’s the key to the 'fight or flight' response). Unfortunately, when it comes to stress levels, your body can’t distinguish between a lion giving chase and your boss sending a snarky email, which means many of us are flooded with cortisol on a daily basis. This leads to an overworked nervous system, fatigue and ill health.
Making time for Yin yoga amongst our busy schedules can be the tonic we need to switch from stressed out to chilled out.
Yin is mainly centred on the bottom half of the body, with variations of supine (flat on your back) and seated poses. As a fairly static style of yoga, it's intended to be practised alongside more dynamic practices such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga and Hatha.
Yin yoga is a still and meditative practice that moves us deeply into body and breath awareness. By bringing the physical body into specific poses, in stillness and for a prolonged time, we are able to create a significant autonomic shift not otherwise possible in our busy modern lives. We move out of that frustrating place of being both tired and wired and start to enter the space of restoration and rejuvenation.
Not quite. Unlike restorative, it’s not focused on helping injured bodies back to health or restoring energy levels, but stretching into the fascia; the sheet of connective tissue below the skin that encases the muscles.
While both focus on relaxation and breathing, Yin can be uncomfortable - requiring exhaling into intense stretches (though it should never be painful; if that happens, you should pull back or come out of the posture immediately).
While you can trace other schools back thousands of years, Yin started in 1980s California. Though the inventor is generally thought to be Paulie Zink, some say his style was more like Taoist yoga or even martial arts. Yin, as it is today, was in fact created by Paul Grilley.
Yin yoga has its roots in China, unlike the more popular and active yoga disciplines, which originated in India. It was founded on the Taoist theory of yin and yang – opposite concepts that, together, represent balance. While Yin is slow, stable, passive and feminine, Yang is hot, changing, active and masculine - like Vinyasa, Ashtanga and more dynamic styles.
The Yin poses, therefore, are passive and performed while seated or in a reclining position. The poses are held with the muscles fully relaxed, allowing time and gravity to deepen the stretch and target the fascia. The time spent holding these Asanas is similar to meditation.
In the body, the tendons, ligaments and fascia are Yin, while the muscles and blood are Yang; hence Yin practices focus on stretching into the fascia.
Yin yoga poses tend to resemble poses used in other disciplines but use different names. Despite the similarity of the poses, the Yin versions are performed differently from their active, or Yang, relatives. For example, the Yin caterpillar pose resembles Paschimottanasana, or seated forward bend. In caterpillar, however, the spine rounds so that the head comes to the knees, whereas in Paschimottanasana, the spine remains straight and lengthens as the head reaches toward the feet.
If you practice only dynamic forms of exercise or yoga, you will gain muscle strength, but not necessarily a wider range of motion. To have a healthy range of motion around our joints, many of us need to also stretch the deep connective tissue and the joints. Yin is practised cold with no warm-up and with more of a focus on flexibility and lubrication. Suitable for almost all levels of students, Yin yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (Yang) styles of yoga.
While initially this style of yoga can seem quite boring, passive, or soft, Yin practice can be quite challenging due to the long duration of the poses. We can remain in the postures anywhere from one to twenty minutes!
Both Yin and Yang styles should be practiced to invite balance into your yoga regime.
The fascinating thing about a Yin class is that it is incredibly challenging!
I believe it is one of the hardest physical yoga practices out there. Although you should never feel pain, it’s likely you will experience some discomfort as the poses are designed to target areas of tension and holding, so can feel super intense. It’s not about the strength of muscles, it’s about sitting with sensation and learning to let go. Surrender.
As well as fewer postures, it’s not a particularly flowy form of yoga as it requires getting yourself set up with a lot of props - including blocks, blankets and bolsters (which are like a long, tubular cushion).
No Sun Salutations here; and there's also no Sanskrit. Remember, this type of yoga came from California. Instead, the postures are called by illustrative English names like Butterfly, Cat Tail and Dragon.
Typically, people wear more clothes than in faster classes - opting to layer long sleeve and short sleeve layers. This is due to the still nature of the practice, as staying in poses for extended periods of time will cause your body temperature to drop. Socks, long leggings and a jumper are advisable.
One thing we have to let you know is that you may feel a little spacy post-practice. Sometimes dubbed 'Yin brain', you'll most likely be at peak relaxation, so try not to plan anything too strenuous post-practice.
Yin will leave you feeling totally zen – and as you get more accustomed to it, you’ll start to really feel the shift in your nervous system. You can find more resources on this website: www.yinyoga.com
Being a keen golfer myself, I have found over the years that yoga is incredibly helpful with my golf swing but also with the mental side of the game.
I am now teaching yoga to lady golfers in my area. The classes focus on the best Asanas for golf players.
Many of them have recognised the real benefits of doing yoga in their preparation and have fully integrated a yoga practice into their daily routine. So why shouldn't we do the same?
Yoga is proven to help golfers through:
- increased strength
- increased endurance
- better flexibility and mobility
- better balance and stability
- improved focus
If you want to improve your golf swing, then contact me for guaranteed results.
Please ask me any questions you may have about golf and yoga. I will be very happy to respond and explain in more detail how yoga and golf complement each other so well.
We all want health and happiness in our lives. But instead we are more stressed, depressed, getting less sleep, thinking negative thoughts and feeling isolated. Does this sound like you? Are you someone who wants to move on and bring more laughter and joy into your life? You’re in the right place. Laughing Yoga is the answer.
For centuries we’ve known that “laughter is the best medicine” and science has now proven it. And yet, there’s been no reliable method of bringing more laughter into people’s lives. Most of the time, humour and jokes do not work and there aren’t many reasons to make us laugh. LY is a tool which delivers the benefits of laughter on command and demand without relying on outside reasons and conditions of life.
Laughing yoga is a popular movement and a breathing exercise that aims to cultivate joy, bring out your inner child, and help you let go of daily life stressors.
Considering that laughter is contagious, it’s no surprise that laughing yoga has grown from one small group in Mumbai, India to over 5,000 clubs worldwide.
Laughing yoga, also known as laughter yoga, involves a series of movement and breathing exercises to promote deliberate laughter.
It’s used as a remedy for physical, psychological, and spiritual ailments, as intentional (simulated) laughter can provide benefits equal to those of spontaneous laughter (e.g., laughing at a joke).
Though laughing therapy has been used for decades, laughing yoga was discovered by Dr. Madan Kataria, a family physician in Mumbai, India, in 1995.
Dr. Kataria explains that laughing yoga helps lift your mood, reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, increase energy levels, improve your quality of life, and help you better manage hardship.
He believes that learning to laugh on cue can help you deal with stressful situations by promoting optimism and positivity. Since you cannot always rely on external influences to make you laugh, learning to laugh on your own can be a valuable tool.
Along with this, laughter yoga helps you better manage stress through controlled breathing. This allows for greater uptake of oxygen, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, your body’s natural relaxation system.
As adults become busy with life, activities that promote laughter can go to the wayside. As a result, laughing yoga was designed to teach people how to laugh on cue rather than relying on people or things to bring them joy.
Laughing yoga is accessible in over 110 countries and becoming increasingly popular online. Furthermore, laughing coaches like me are bringing laughing yoga workshops directly to people in places like college campuses, workplaces, and senior living facilities.
The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on scientific studies which has proved that the body cannot differentiate between intentional/voluntary and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.
Laughing yoga is usually practiced in a group setting, such as a club or workshop, and led by a trained laughing yoga instructor like me that coaches attendees through various exercises to promote enjoyment and laughter.
Most sessions begin with simple breathing techniques, clapping, and chanting to help people relax. For example, we begin the class by clapping rhythmically 1-2, 1-2-3 while chanting “ho-ho, ha-ha-ha.”
Though it may seem silly at first, the intention of this exercise is to remove any internal judgment you may have and leave your ego at the door.
The session may also include improv exercises, citing positive affirmations, gentle stretching, yoga breath work, and meditation. Collectively, these practices are intended to help you laugh, let loose, and take yourself less seriously.
You’ve probably noticed that laughing can provide immediate benefits, such as improved mood. However, more attention is being placed on the long-term benefits of regular, daily laughing.
First, laughing releases endorphins and “happy” hormones like dopamine and serotonin.
Plus, it suppresses stress-hormones like cortisol. These effects are linked to a better mood, reduced pain, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and lower stress levels and rates of depression.
What’s more, laughing with other people can increase social connectedness and bonding, as well as strengthen relationships. It’s also linked to feelings of security and safety, allowing a person to feel more relaxed.
Many researchers proved that the body cannot distinguish between fake (simulated) or real (spontaneous) laughter, meaning you can benefit by simply forcing yourself to laugh.
A 2019 review found simulated laughter lowered depression rates and improved mood. The authors stated that laughter exercises require little cognition and don’t rely on subjective humour, meaning most people can easily participate.
Other studies have shown that laughing yoga may help temporarily reduce cortisol levels and stress, improve mood and energy levels, and induce a more positive mindset. In fact, it may be as effective as aerobic exercise at reducing self-reported stress.
Engaging in laughing yoga presents virtually no downsides and can be practiced by people of all walks of life and that's why laughing yoga is growing in popularity as a fun way to laugh and take yourself less seriously.
A typical class involves various movements, improv, and breathing techniques to take your mind away from the daily stressors of life and be more present. Collectively, these practices may help lower your stress levels through deliberate and real laughter.
While laughing yoga may help support better mental and physical health, it should not replace current treatments given to you by your healthcare provider. Rather, it can be used in conjunction.
All in all, laughing yoga is a great way to let loose, have fun, and learn the joy of laughing again.
Every week I cover classes in and around Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne, for all my instructor friends. Therefore I actually teach many more classes, but as it is different every week, I prefer to publish my up-to-date weekly schedule on Instagram and on my Facebook page, so please check these regularly too or contact me directly.
For all live online classes in English, you can book directly via the platform Live Yoga Teachers as well: follow this link to book with me. I teach every Tuesday morning at 7am UK time a 45min Vinyasa class and every Thursday morning at 7 am UK time a 1 hour Yin yoga class. I also teach yoga classes for golfers: check my profile to find out.
A Yin Yoga class for students of all levels
To achieve your specific goals, private tuition is the answers. From my own comfortable lounge or the place of your choice. Price from 50 Euros per class depending on location for a minimum series of 4.
Yin Yoga class for all levels at Ahimsa Yoga Studio in Estancarbon.
A dynamic flow for students of all levels
A gentle flow yoga from the comfort of your own home with like-minded people. A great opportunity to meet other yoga students online as well
To achieve your specific goals, private tuition is the answers. From my own comfortable lounge or the place of your choice. Price from 50 Euros per class depending on location for a minimum series of 4.
A gentle flow yoga at the Foyer Rural de Soueich, Haute-Garonne. A great opportunity to meet other yoga students as well
To achieve your specific goals, private tuition is the answers. From my own comfortable lounge or the place of your choice. Price from 50 Euros per class depending on location for a minimum series of 4.
Yin Yoga class for all levels at Diapason in Saint-Gaudens
To achieve your specific goals, private tuition is the answers. From my own comfortable lounge or the place of your choice. Price from 50 Euros per class depending on location for a minimum series of 4.
Yin Yoga class to start your day in the best way possible
To achieve your specific goals, private tuition is the answers. From my own comfortable lounge or the place of your choice. Price from 50 Euros per class depending on location for a minimum series of 4.
A Yin Yoga class for students of all levels
I really enjoy attending Christel’s yoga classes. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow and she is very good at making sure everyone is doing the poses correctly. I like the way Christel structures her lessons with one main focus - e.g. side twists or forward bends - running through. After the lessons I’ve always felt re-energised, calm and relaxed. Christel has definitely helped spark my interests in, and love for, yoga and I have even started doing a little yoga morning routine at home. 😁🧘♀️
I just want to thank you so much for your inspiring and fantastic yoga classes. I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to participate over the last few months.
Your classes never fail to surprise with the focus of each class and the diversity of movements that you teach. I always feel confident in attempting the positions because you never fail to fully lead us through each pose.
I can honestly say that I am feeling fitter, happier and more toned from doing your classes. Even the arthritic pain that I constantly have in my left shoulder has eased, even though I have had trouble with it for a number of years.
So, I have to say that I am so grateful: the best yoga classes ever!
Christel is a lovely yogi spirit! Her classes are dynamic and powerful - you feel a real work out. She is an excellent teacher and quickly understands her students' challenges to adapt the class for any ability. You will feel motivated to give it your best and will feel uplifted!
She is so positive and makes it easy for you to feel relaxed - looking forward to my next session 😀.
Great yoga classes with attention to detail that challenges all abilities. Christel has a calming teaching style and her classes are very enjoyable.
Christel has gently guided a small group of ‘yoga returnees’-through a yoga and meditation course with poise and patience.
The atmosphere in her class is calm and thoughtful- a wonderful experience in difficult times. Thank you, Christel🙏🏾
Christel is such a welcoming, enthusiastic teacher and nothing is too much trouble. I really enjoy both her yoga and meditation lessons as Christel provides excellent instructions, and I have seen improvements in a very short space of time. Thank you, Christel.
I would highly recommend Christel’s yoga classes, whether you are a beginner or more experienced. Her ability to share her extensive knowledge in a friendly and easy manner will immediately make you feel at ease – and her positive energy is certainly contagious. She is always very well prepared, taking a real interest in personal objectives. My classes with Christel are on a one-on-one basis, to focus on flexibility / posture – the work is intense but with real benefits.
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