Diary of a Yoga and Pilates Teacher

I have given myself a few days to relax over Easter and catch up with some reading - also been reading more newspapers (both funny and depressing)!

Because of the field I am in, I always read the health articles.  Over the past few days there have been a few reports on new drugs or treatments for cancer.  If there is one word guaranteed to frighten people it is “cancer”, so anything positive is a good news story. 

When you cut through the padding and verbiage in the articles the truth is less than exciting.  The new treatments MAY extend life for a few extra months and possibly give seriously ill people a better quality of life.

However none of the articles mentioned cancer prevention or things patients can do when diagnosed to compliment their medical treatments.  Sir Richard Doll (famous cancer researcher) estimated that 90% of all cancers are environmental (even the most conservative suggest 75% are environmental) - yet there is no serious funding of cancer prevention strategies/programmes or serious money given to looking at improving the quality of patient’s lives with cancer.

Lifetime risk for most cancers is increasing constantly.  The cancer lobby argues that more people diagnosed with cancer are living longer now so all the money in cancer research must be working - well yes and no!  Diagnositic methods and screening procedures are certainly picking up a lot more of the early stage cancers and because of this people are living longer after diagnosis - but with a few exceptions, mortality rates from cancers HAVEN’T DECREASED, indeed the opposite has happened.

Again the cancer lobby will argue that increases in the mortality rates from cancer is due to the population becoming older (cancer=disease of the elderly) - yet even this does not stand up to examination.  The cancers increasing at the greatest rate, such as breast cancer, prostrate cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer and skin cancers are all affecting younger people.

What Can We Do?

So what are the major actions we can take to reduce our lifetime risk of  cancer?  Essentially this is about reducing our exposure to cancer causing agents - oxidants (which produce free radicals) and hormone distrupters.  So here is what to avoid or reduce -

Oxidants

• Tobacco smoke
• Exhaust fumes
• Industrial pollution
• Excess body fat & obesity (fat produces inflammatory molecules)
• Burnt, fried or barbecued food
• Radiation and excessive sun exposure
• Viruses and bacteria (the more infections we get the more our DNA is damaged)

Hormone Distrupters

• Pesticides (a good reason to go organic?)
• Excess body fat and obesity - these conditions can lead to an increase in oestrogen production
• Plastics (especially soft plastics - often used in the food industry)
• Unopposed oestrogen formulations in synthetic hormone treatments (HRT and the Pill)

If we are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer, all the more reason to cut the above out of our lives or reduce them if possible.

“The greatest victory, is the battle not fought” (old Chinese proverb)

As we age we all invariably begin to forget things , yet there are many postive we can do to help us slow down, stop and even reverse this decline of mental acuity.

We lose our ability to remember (short and long term) due to a number of problems - trauma, poor circulation, the build up of proteinous plaques on nerve fibres (this specifically relates to Alzheimer’s Disease) and importantly underuse.  Moreover memory loss has one of the biggest genetic components of any major illness!  However the more functional our brain is to start (by having regular “exercise”), the more synaptic connections are in place to allow for the natural decrease of memory with age.

Essentially to learn and remember there needs to be two important factors present 1. emotional interest in the subject being studied and 2. the ability to pay attention when studying.

So what are the best ways to deal with memory loss or prevent memory loss.

1. Maintain good cardiovascular health. There is a massive association between people with poor cardiovascular health and the development of dementia, cognitive impairment and even mild memory problems. The link is even stronger for diabetes - indeed some doctors call dementia, “type III diabetes”.

2. Study, meditate and challenge the mind for as long as possible. Study creates strong neural connections and develops new synaptic (nerve junction) connections. Meditation or meditative activities in general reduce the tone (excitability) of the Vagus nerve (a large nerve in the front of the trunk) which when overstimulated can increase inflammation in the body.

As mind body workouts, Yoga, Tai Chi and Chi Gong are hard to beat.

3. Have a good healthy diet and drink moderately. Any food or drink that reduces inflammation in the body is thought to help prevent memory loss.

Vegetables and fruit are especially powerful to control memory loss, especially those containing carotenoids, flavanoids, lycopene, quercetin and resveratrol. Dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, red wine (in moderation), apples, onions and berries.

Omega 3 fats (oily fish and some vegetable oils like safflower and flax seed) are also very powerful in maintaining a memorable memory.

Cut out all artificial sweeteners and MSG (mono sodium glutamate) from your diet. In animal tests these were shown to damage cognition.

4. Try to avoid dietary sources of aluminium. Although there is no hard evidence aluminium causes dementia and impairment, aluminium is found in the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s. So avoid it in cooking utensils, table salt (which typically has been exposed to it to prevent caking - use sea salt) and aluminium containing antipersperants.

5. The following supplements/medicines may help (always consult your doctor before taking any of the following) -

a. aspirin (low dose - max 150mg/day)

b. vitamin e (up to 400iu/day)

c. b6, b12 and folate (max 40 mgs/800 micrograms/400 micrograms per day respectively)

d. coenzyme Q10 (up to 200mg/day)

6. Review your medication with your doctor. Although statins can be lifesavers there is a serious link with these drugs and memory loss - speak to your doctor if you are concerned. However HRT in menopausal women MAY (this is not fully validated) slow the development of Alzheimer’s in later life.

7. Detox your house - remove all toxic cleaning products, cosmetic products and lifestyle products. If you need to call the ambulance if you were to swallow it - do you really want it in the house?

There was a time, that every Autumn I would feel slightly depressed - weather getting worse, longer nights and post holiday blues.  Probably never depressed enough for people to see, but there was definitely a “weight inside”.

Well after years of Yoga (in particular) and Pilates I  love to see the change in nature.  As part of nature we fail to see ourselves in this greater picture and we want “eternal summer” to be frozen.  In reality change is both helpful and enjoyable.

So the next time you feel a bit down, just look at the trees and the beautiful leaves.

Namaste

Oh the joy of a few weeks without regular classes!  Don’t get me wrong I love teaching and I really love the challenge and interaction with my students, but a little break is a good thing.  Besides I use the holidays to top up my own training with seminars, visiting the “big names” and taking part in events for teachers. 

As an exercise teacher I have become acutely aware that we all need “nourishment and care”.  As a teacher we are giving constantly (and of course receiving lots back from our students), but too many of my colleagues have burnt out or overtrained.  In the fitness industry in general the figure of 70% dropout within 1 year is given for ALL newly qualified teachers, whether that by Yoga, Pilates, exercise to music, gym instructors etc..  What other industry has so many practitioners that fall by the wayside!!

I think one of the main reasons for the burnout or overtraining is for many teachers, not having a teacher(s) themselves to receive guidance and wisdom from.  Most of us are self employed and are often “ploughing a very lonely furrow”.

As well as getting our skills updated and our techniques refined, the teacher who becomes a student again keep us in touch with the community of Yoga, Pilates and exercise teachers - we become part of a greater whole rather than just one man bands.  Our spirits are nourished and we gain hope and inspiration again.

As they say in the east “the best teachers are at the same time the best students”!  So let’s roll out the mats and get working.

Have a great summer.

Most decent people find the concept of stealing repugnant and rightfully so.   Very few people would argue that it is right to steal money, possessions or material objects - yet there are more subtle ways of stealing.

In everyday life we listen to others, read books, see films, listen to ideas and take them in.  We then often re-express these ideas and concepts and are unaware that we have stolen them!!  Is there anything wrong with this if we are looking to develop our inner beings to become better people?

I would argue not at all … yet I would offer one piece of advice.  Only steal ideas and concepts that resonate with your inner soul - things which fire your imagination and inspire your heart.  Only steal ideas, feelings, concepts and ways of being that speak directly to your inner being - that way your life and work will be authentic.

Devour the works of great thinkers, spiritual writings, art, beautiful landscapes, classical architecture, noble ventures and anything which is great or good.

Authenticity is invaluble for a fulfilling life, originality is optional.

“It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.”

(Jean-Luc Godard)

As a Yoga and Pilates teacher people come to my classes or my one to one sessions for a myriad number of reasons, but there is always one reason common to all - dissatisfaction!  At it’s most superficial (but understandable) level the dissatisfaction may be about weight, a health problem or the need to be better at a particular sport or even perhaps a desire to be a little less stressed.

However I always feel people are drawn to Yoga in particular (and Pilates to a degree) because of an unspoken but deeply felt need to connect to something bigger.  Most people I talk to have a general, but very subtle feeling of being unfulfilled or discontent.  For the majority of people, there is then a drive to “do” more and more, maybe to temporarily disguise this feeling or maybe because they are unsure of how to find fulfillment.

With Yoga we learn with our practice that the source of all contentment is through connection - connection of the body and breath, the breath and emotions, the emotions and thought - and finally connection to that divine intelligence that organises and enlivens the universe.  In other words we gain hope.

Contentment and fulfillment I believe are found through eliminating the unnecessary NOT by acquiring more.  In Yoga we are taught that our true nature is joy, it is only the mind that blocks out this joy.

So with mindful Yoga practice we slowly but assuredly enter the heart of true heart of contentedness via our innate ability to connect.

Peace and have a good bank holiday!

Like a lot of exercise teachers I would imagine, I am my own worse teacher.  Never giving myself time or patience when I really needed it in my own practice.  Perhaps because of this since the beginning of 2010 until fairly recently I have felt that my Yoga and Pilates personal practice has been at a plateau.   It’s not that I haven’t been trying or putting in the time to practice, it’s just … well there have been no really noticeable changes.  On one level this was highly frustrating.

However since the end of November of last year, something inside has changed I think - I have become less judgemental of myself.  This it must be said may have come about due to tiredness and a real need to switch off!!Now I am not so hungry to do a Yoga posture or Pilates exercise better, quicker or with more intensity!  Just the experience is enough. 

Since becoming less critical, things feel as though they are moving again.  In someway my eagerness to “make progress” (ie ego driven practice) became a real barrier to allowing the practice to unfold.  Now I do feel the creativity again in my practice.

Perhaps sometime we do need pain to make progress!

I have just come back from an acupuncture professional development course which I really enjoyed, but didn’t at the time realise how useful it was both for my patients AND me until a few weeks ago.  Let me explain …

I have been treating a patient with chronic and severe spinal pain and sciatica, on and off for about 18 months.  When he gets treated it helps with the pain, but it never entirely goes away and always comes back.  Also it is just worth mentioning the gentleman has had injections, physiotherapy, surgery - virtually everything the medical establishment can offer, yet has still seen no improvement!

Well two days after returning from the course, I applied a treatment protocol learnt on the course and low and behold the following week when he returned, the pain had vanished.  Yes not even a hint of pain.  After over 10 years of suffering everyday, the pain and had gone.

My first thoughts were how great this was for the patient (obviously), but then I realised the treatment had also been healing for me.  How many of we therapists have self doubts as to our calling and question ourselves? Yet here was a prize bigger than money could possibly buy handed to me by the man I was supposedly helping.

My faith in my profession was really renewed. 

So the next time you are at a clinic receiving treatment, it is nice to think that acupuncture or any therapy for that matter heals the therapist as much as the patient.

Back to those needles.

I often wonder why we all want to wish away our lives waiting for something better (job, relationship, weather, house, friends, finances etc).  Only yesterday I was in a pub in the Peak District of Derbyshire and there were signs indicating Christmas bookings for the restaurant were being taken  (I am writing in early September)!!

How many times do you hear people, or yourself, wishing the week was over so the weekend can begin?  Or what about those who are desperate for payday at the end of the month.  Perhaps even sadder are those unfortunate people with a debilitating disease or those in pain who are desperate for a time in the future when their suffering is ended.

People often argue that this desire for “better” is the chief driving force behind Mankind’s desire to improve and it is perfectly normal and indeed a positive force for good.  Well maybe …

The only problem with acquiring a desired for goal is that the satisfaction gained from it is very temporary.  For example once we get the car of dreams, do our worries and living in the future stop?  No, they just change.  With the car example when we have the Ferrari on the drive, our wishes for the future may turn to hoping the car is not vandalised, destroyed, stolen or can we keep the payments up on it!  Alternatively we may lust after something bigger or more modern.

Our desire to project into the future is maybe only the mental ruminations of the ego, which is desperately unhappy with our status quo.  Yet we are always in the present moment and we never arrive in the future.  The result of this is permanent uneasiness and a feeling of never being satisfied.

How about this for a radical idea - why not accept that things are perfect (temporarily) as they are, if they weren’t meant to be like this, they wouldn’t be!  Of course we can and should strive to free ourselves from pain or poverty or move to a more comfortable house - but these things will never make us truly happy, maybe only less sad. 

By accepting our present state is perfect (even if undesireable from an ego perspective) we free ourselves, because as know freedom is the true happiness.  Indeed in the present everything allowing the ego no place to live.