LAST free Saturday Sunrise Yoga Class on Jumeirah Beach

Sunrise Yoga Class on Jumeirah Beach

This Saturday, 31 March 2012, will be the last free Sunrise Yoga Class on Jumeirah Beach. Join us before the temperatures soar! Phone 050-284-4374 for exact location and to book your spot.

All Fields of Yoga classes will be postponed 6-18 April for the Easter holidays and will resume again on Saturday 21 April 2012...stay tuned for more details!

The Benefits of Doing Sun Salutations

I always feel better inside and out after doing sun salutations (Surya Namaskar).  Here is an article I found on msn.com explaining why sun salutations are so good for you. 

http://arabia.msn.com/lifestyle/healthandfitness/wf/2012/march/suryanamaskar/top-10-reasons-to-begin-your-day-with-surya-namaskar.aspx?region=uae.&featureduae1

Top 10 Reasons to Begin your Day with Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar is a Sanskrit word which means obeisance or prostrations (Namaskar) to the sun (Surya). It implies that one rise before sun rise in order to do this exercise or pay obeisance to the rising sun. This is around 5 to 5:30 AM. Of course, this exercise is good no matter what time you may use it, but it is best done while the stomach is empty, before eating. 

If performed correctly, this exercise composed of twelve bodily poses does not strain or cause injury. If performed in the morning, it relieves stiffness, revitalizes your body and refreshes the mind. Do it during the day and it will instantly boost you up, practice it after sundown and it helps you unwind.

Check out top ten why to Begin your Day with Surya Namaskar:
1. The obvious advantage of Surya Namaskar is the workout it provides for the muscles, but it also benefits joints, ligaments and the skeletal system by improving posture and balance. The limbs become symmetrical while the internal vital organs become more functional.

2. Practicing Surya Namaskar is beneficial for the health of digestive system. Yoga poses increase blood flow to your digestive tract and stimulate the intestinal action known as peristalsis so digestion is more efficient. Yoga also calms you, which in turn relaxes your digestive system and leads to more effective elimination. Forward bends increase the space in the abdomen and facilitate the release of entrapped gases. These poses heat the front of the body and cool the back body. For vatas, it is important to stay warm.

3. Surya Namaskar is the ideal exercise to cope with insomnia and related disorders. Surya Namaskar practice calms the mind, thus helps to get sound sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, whether often or occasionally, Yoga can help. Through relaxing physical exercise, breathing techniques and complete relaxation, you can promote more regular and restful sleeping patterns without resorting to sleep-inducing drugs. Such drugs interfere with your body’s natural sleep cycle and can create psychological dependence and undesirable side effects.

4. Surya Namaskar practice regulates irregular menstrual cycles. Practicing Surya Namaskar ensures the easy childbirth. It helps to decrease the fear of pregnancy and childbirth. Metrorrhagia can be caused by a hormonal imbalance. The start of menstruation during puberty and the length and regularity of the menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones produced in an area of the brain called the hypothalamus, as well as by the pituitary and adrenal glands.

5. Surya Namaskar practice boosts blood circulation and helps to prevent hair graying, hair fall, and dandruff. It also improves the growth of hair making it long.

6. Regular practice of Surya Namaskar helps to lose extra calories. It helps to stay thin. Practicing Surya Namaskar is the easiest way to be in shape. It stretches the abdominal muscles. Regular practice of Surya Namaskar helps to lose excessive belly fat and gives flat stomach. Some of the asanas stimulate sluggish glands to increase their hormonal secretions. The thyroid gland, especially, has a big effect on our weight because it affects body metabolism.

7. Sun salutation exercise helps to add glow on your face making facial skin radiant and ageless. It is the natural solution to prevent onset of wrinkles. Overall, yoga is excellent for the skin and it can also provide good benefits for people with blemishes and even acne.

8. Regular practice of sun salutation boosts endurance power. It gives vitality and strength. It also reduces the feeling of restlessness and anxiety.

9. Daily practice of Surya Namaskar makes body flexible. It improves flexibility in spine and in limbs.

10. Influences the pineal gland and hypothalamus to prevent pineal degeneration and calcification 

It is beneficial to practice Surya Namaskar early in the morning. The early morning sunrays are rich source of vitamin D that is necessary to get strong bones and clear vision. 

Note: Persons suffering from slip-disk, arthritis, heart attack etc including pregnant women are suggested to take medical opinion before they start the practice of Surya Namaskar.

Provided by

End the Day with Hatha Flow

I'm really excited about the home studio and having an indoor & outdoor space to share yoga practice with others.  Every Sunday and Tuesday evening from 6:30pm-8pm join me for a Hatha Flow class in Umm Sequiem 1. For address & directions contact me at 050-284-4374 or fieldsofyoga@gmail.com.

Please note: no classes 6-18 April due to the Easter holiday

Schedule of Classes

Saturday: 

7:30am-9:00am Sunrise Hatha Flow Yoga (all levels)

location:  Jumeirah Beach, end of 23A Street in Jumeirah 2

10am-11:30am Yoga Plus (beginner & intermediate)

location: Al Warqa'a

Sunday:

6:30pm-8:00pm Drop-in Hatha Flow Class (all levels)

location: Home studio in Umm Sequiem 1

Tuesday:

6:30pm-8:00pm Drop-in Hatha Flow Class (all levels)

location: Home studio in Umm Sequiem 1

Please note: No classes 6-18 April due to the Easter holiday

Private classes can be booked to suit your schedule. Contact Julie at 050-284-4374 or fieldsofyoga@gmail.com for more information or to book your spot in private or drop-in classes.

What NOT to wear to Yoga Class

Read this article for some sound advice about what not to wear to yoga class. http://www.fitsugar.com/What-You-Shouldnt-Wear-Yoga-Class-22044720
In India I learned not to wear long leggings to class; it was just too hot. In a yoga studio in Belgium in the winter, short leggings were too cold. Got any other suggestions? Feel free to add them in the comments section below.

Ommmmmmmm...

When I first began to do yoga 11 years ago, I did not really like the chanting bit. I did the 'Om' at the beginning and at the end of class with everyone else, not out of desire, but out of fear that someone might notice that I wasn't doing it. I tried meditation but in a room full of people, I felt uncomfortable and distracted.  Nonetheless, I closed my eyes, sat in a comfortable position and mimicked meditation even though it felt more like waiting until everyone else was finished with their genuine meditation.


Somewhere along the way, something in my mind, body and spirit changed. Perhaps it was during my years of single-parenthood or after the death of my father. Or maybe it was during another difficult period in my life that I realised I was using meditation to cope with high levels of stress. Without rolling out my yoga mat or driving over to my local gym for the weekly Hatha class, I began to take a few quiet moments to close my eyes, settle my mind and breathe. Soon, my anxiety levels would lower, the physical weight I felt on my shoulders and neck would lighten and my cluttered mind became orderly and manageable once again.


My love of chanting came later. While in Goa, India completing the 200 Hr YTTC at Ashiyana (www.ashiyana-yoga-goa.com/) we chanted nightly during our Bhakti sessions. At the end of those sessions, I felt happy and uplifted, even if I didn't understand what I was chanting about. It wasn't the words per se, it was the habit of lifting my voice, of blending it with others and looking across the room and seeing my friends smiling and happy.  Now when I chant, it fills me with those happy feelings and lovely memories.


This morning I came across a nice article in Yoga Journal (http://www.yogajournal.com) about meditation and chanting.  If you've never tried either, this is a nice, easy way to begin. Check out the article. You might find that in this busy, crazy, non-stop world, a bit of meditation & chanting is just what your body, mind and spirit need. http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/504?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=DailyInsight

FREE yoga lessons in Dubai?

Did you know that there are three ways to get a FREE yoga session with Fields of Yoga Dubai?

1) Attend the Saturday Sunrise Yoga on Jumeirah Beach - it's always FREE
2) Book a private yoga session. First time clients receive the first session FREE of charge!
3) Book and pay in advance for 9 private (individual, small-group or large-group) yoga sessions and receive the 10th session FREE.

Email (fieldsofyoga@gmail.com) or phone (050-284-4374) for more information and to book your free yoga session today!

Feeling GREEN, inside and out!

Yesterday I ventured through the Al Quoz Industrial area to find V1 Furniture, the local retailer for Bokashi household composting bins. (http://www.bokashidubai.com/) I'm a little embarrassed to admit how excited I am to start composting food waste and contributing to my little garden. After years of living in an apartment on SZR, the prospect of being able to open my windows, let alone grow plants and veggies, is very exciting!

As a pseudo vegetarian (my husband calls me a 'pescatarian' since I eat fish) I prepare loads of meals with fresh produce. There are always stems and rinds and peels left over which I normally and with much guilt, dump into the rubbish bin. Now I can put the refuse into this handy little container that lives innocuously with its air-tight lid underneath my kitchen sink.

 So what does all of this composting news have to do with yoga?  What most folks in the western world consider yoga -doing postures - is only one of the many layers of the four paths of yoga- Bhakti, Jnana, Karma and Raja Yoga.  There are eight limbs of Raja Yoga, one of which is Yama (5 Ethical Values). One of the 5 ethical values of Yama is 'Ahimsa,' which means 'Non-harming in thought, word and deed.' It seems that filling our landfills unnecessarily is indeed harmful not only to the Earth and to us but to our children and to generations to come.  Perhaps tossing my used coffee grounds, tea bags and orange rinds into the Bokashi bin isn't going to save the world, but hopefully it will make it just a teeny tiny bit more beautiful.

On the subject of being green, here is a salad recipe I created a few days ago. I hope you'll like it as much as I do!

Wild Mixed Green Crunchy Salad

2 generous handfuls mixed wild greens (should include rocket, arugula, dandelion leaves, etc.)

1 handful fresh spinach leaves chopped

¼ c. finely chopped fresh mint leaves

1/8 c. finely chopped raw (unsalted) almonds

2 small (or 1 large) cucumber chopped

1 or 2 Tblsp. Sesame oil

1 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar

Sea Salt (to taste)

Freshly ground pepper (to taste)

(optional ingredients can include, chopped avocado, sliced tomato, thinly sliced purple onion)

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl, being careful not to bruise the leaves of the greens. Serves 1-4 people, depending on the size of the portions.

The combination of the tastes and textures of this salad is so satisfying! The nuts add a nice bit of protein and the mint is wonderful for the digestive system.

Enjoy!

What's my style?

People often ask me what type of yoga I teach. I find that question to be a bit difficult to answer because each time I attend a yoga class -no matter the style- I learn something beneficial that I try to incorporate into my own teaching. Over time this means that my style is not strictly 'Hatha' or 'Vinyasa' or 'Ashtanga' or anything else.  I do what my teachers have told me to do. I do what feels good and what I think will help my students to feel good. I describe my yoga style as 'Hatha Flow' and have come up with this description:


Hatha Flow incorporates meditation, pranyama and asanas. Hatha Flow takes you through traditional postures in movements that are synchronized with the breath. The postures are held for a short time and flow from one to the next which gets the heart pumping, body sweating out the toxins and provides resistance training using your own body weight rather than hand-held weights. Hatha Flow leaves your body feeling energized and your mind clear.


Teaching and doing what I call 'Hatha Flow' feels very natural to me and I've heard my students make the same comment.

Have you tried Hatha Flow classes?  How was your experience with the class? (click ' Post a Comment' below and add your thoughts on this)


If you haven't tried Hatha Flow classes yet, why not book a class with me today?

Yoga PLUS!
I'm very excited about a new class under development called Yoga Plus. This class has been specifically designed for the plus-sized yogi. The class incorporates meditation, pranyama (breathing techniques) and asanas (postures). The asanas are yoga postures that move in synchronization with the breath. Yoga Plus will move you rhythmically through the practice giving you an invigorating and energizing work out whilst stimulating the thyroid gland thus helping to regulate metabolism and weight. Regular Yoga Plus practice can help you to feel better, be more fit and balance your body.
Saturday 10 March 2012 will be our first Yoga Plus class!


SUNRISE Saturday Yoga:
The FREE Saturday Sunrise Beach Yoga class will take place again tomorrow, Saturday 10 March 2012 from 7:30-9:00am on Jumeirah Beach. For more information and directions, send me an email fieldsofyoga@gmail.com. I hope to see you there!

 

Here are some photos of the FREE Saturday Sunrise Yoga Class. Come along and enjoy a beautiful start to your Saturday! 

It's been so busy the last few weeks. We've moved into a villa in Umm Sequiem, the one where my little yoga studio will be. Work is happening in the garden (outdoor yoga studio!) and in the yoga room and all around the house. My head is ringing with the sound of hammering, drilling and shovelling. Workers say that the garden will be finished in 2 days...insha'allah!  Here is a 'before' photo of the garden.

What I really need now is a bit of meditation, pranyama and yoga to calm my head. Think I will head to Dubai Ladies Club this evening to enjoy Marcelline's hatha yoga class.