Diary of a Yoga and Pilates Teacher

I’ve been out in the snow a few times - and I must admit (being a big kid) it really is good fun.

Less traffic on the road in particular is very comforting, as the constant background whir of engines and rubber on tarmac has been considerably reduced.  There is a natural background quietness, that reminds me of my youth.

In Yoga, one of the smaller goals we are aiming for is that of “santosha” or contentment and I cannot help but wonder if the constant movement and noise of the 21st century makes that difficult.

So for all those aspiring Yogis (or for anyone who justs likes a bit of peace and calm), learn to love the snow for in a few days time things will be back to “normal”!

As we approach 2010 a lot of people have mixed feelings about the New Year.

Some will be filled with sadness, others with hope and aspiration and unfortunately a few with dread.

Why do anniversaries have to be so bitter sweet? Many philosophers and thinkers suggest that our inability to truly be in the moment is the root cause of this worry and helplessness. For by focussing on the past we are filled with sadness (and possibly guilt) of what may have been. By looking to the future we are worried and nervous about a million and one possibilities that might unfold.

However whether we look to the past or future, we denude ourselves of power - for all power lies in the present as this is the heart of our existence!

If the New Year is tinged with some sadness or loss may I gently encourage you to do some activity in the New Year that draws you back to the core of your being and the present moment - you really will start to enjoy life more?

Happy 2010.

I have just picked up my car after having it serviced at a local garage (Kwik Fit in Edge Lane, Liverpool - if you must know) and have just found a number of things wrong with the car.  Also when speaking to the people at the garage they were quite obviously lying about what they had done!

Now as a long time student of Yoga, one of our basic tenets underpinning our practice is that of santosha (or contentment).  This is a very difficult world and even minor annoyances like that described above can be challenges to us remaining grounded and centred.

However the essence of our practice and beliefs are often seemingly challenged by life outside, whatever our path or discipline.  Does this mean we should retreat from life (even if it were possible).  I would say categorically no!  The challenges of the World are opportunities for us to measure our true growth and maturity.

So what did I do about the garage - well first registered with them I thought they were lying (in a very civil way), then told them I wouldn’t be bringing my car back and advising those around me of their shortcoming as a garage.  Job done - remained (partially detached), challenged a lie and helped (hopefully) others!!

In Yoga we can often enter a mental space where our practice seems to offer more questions than answers.  For example how many times have we questioned if we are trying too hard to achieve a particular posture OR guilty of not trying enough - think about the “ego” poses like lotus, headstand or splits!!

Our inner questions then may generate a whole internal dialogue, which usually ends going nowhere and we end our practice just as confused as when we started or at least unsure what our next actions should be.

Well consider this, when we ask a question with our mind (or where a question spontaneously arises from an activity) don’t look for the answer in the reply, but just look into the stillness that immediately follows the question - before an answer generated by the mind can be formed.  From personal experience the stillness often more than clearly clarifies the situation without need for intellectualising. 

Maybe this is the source of wisdom - who knows?

Haven’t written for a time, as I have been really busy working and trying to get the business to grow.

However over the past two weeks I have experienced two things that have shown me where happiness lies.

Just about two weeks ago I had the ‘flu and got to a point where I found all movement painful as my muscles and joints ached so.  So what could I do?  Very little - my normal hectic schedule was turned on it’s head.  At first my mind screamed at this forced rest, then something odd happened - on the second or third day I was lying on the sofa and I really, really began to enjoy just BEING quiet and still.  A strange (but familiar) joy of stillness and contentment slowly began to fill every waking moment.

A few days later again I was due to attend a weekend Yoga intensive.  Arriving at the venue, I felt slightly apprehensive as my normally strong, flexible body felt weak and lop sided.  Well again something odd happened here - as after the first 1/2 hour of practice, rather than keep on trying I just allowed my body to tell me what to do and how intensely to do it.  Again the result was an exquisite contentment inside. 

Strange how a microbe can (in a round about sort of way) become a guru for you and show your where you have gone wrong in your life and Yoga practice.

I was teaching on a Pilates holiday a few weeks ago in Somerset and an amazing thing happened!  A lady on the course with chronic back ache, told me that after 2 days working out with Pilates her backache had gone completely (bear in mind she had lived with the pain for the last 20 years or so).  She had previously practiced Pilates on an irregular basis.

I tried to think what had made the difference to her during the day or two I had been teaching her or was it coincidental the improvement?

I remembered that on one day we had worked a lot on controlling our pelvic angle, standing upright, to try and find “neutral” (a balanced pelvis). 

As we know if the pelvis rotates too far forward the following can occur - lower back pain, shortened quadriceps, a dropped chest/shallow breathing and a forward head carriage can manifest.  If the pelvis is rotated backwards (more common in women) - the lower back can again suffer (this time from a propensity for disc prolapse), knee pain can occur and a weakened abdominal wall and pelvic floor may result.

I asked her if it was this work standing perpendicular that had helped.  She immediately responded that yes indeed it was this work!  She explained that she had practiced pelvic alignment before in class, but it was the use of visual imagery we used (seeing the pelvis as a “bowl filled with water” and trying not to “spill” it by maintaining what we Pilates teachers call neutral) that had made the difference.

The most amazing thing from this little tale, is that some people believe the mind has little role in healing!  Well what can I say.

A regular question I get asked is “what is the best way to lose weight quickly?”

Well to be perfectly honest there is no “short cut” or “cheat”.  Even the concept of losing weight quickly is bogus, although the worldwide diet industry oftens try to push this myth.

To start at the beginning, the formula for weight loss or weight gain is simple - if the total calories consumed is greater than calories expended (by exercise and bodily maintenance) WEIGHT will be gained.  The opposite is true for weight loss.

So from this little equation it may be reasonable to presume that by soley cutting our calorific intake we will lose weight - unfortunately this if often not so!

When we reduce our calories (with most diets) the weight loss that initially occurs is in the form of glucose/glycogen (carbohydrate) and water.  If our diet is quite drastic we even start to lose protein (muscle).  Only very slowly will our fat deposits get shifted and generally needs to be present.  Most weight loss will tend to occur in the first 2 weeks of a diet and then tail off (or possibly even be put back on!).

Also the body’s built in balance mechanisms will soon sense that on a diet food is in short supply and will slow down metabolism (the rate at which we break down and utilise nutrients).  The situation is made worse if muscle loss occurs on our diet, as muscle is the biggest consumer of calories in our bodies.

When we then come off our diet (as inevitably we must) the body has a reduced muscle mass and thus a reduced ability to burn calories.  Some studies have shown that “serial dieters” can reduce their metabolic rate (the rate at which calories are burnt) by up to 40% over their lifetimes - thus more food consumed is stored as fat by the end of long list of diets.  Indeed many in the fitness industry argue diets are the best training possible for becoming fat!!

So what can be sensibly do to lose weight?  Well firstly a good balanced diet is important with the right amount of all nutritional groups, including carbohydrates.  Exercise and lifestyle changes are also important.  Resistance/weights exercise that builds muscle will increase the metabolic rate - cardiovascular exercise is also important (but by itself is unlikely for most exercisers to significantly help with weight loss).  Try for at least 1 hour of exercise per day for up to 6 days per week (this can also include lifestyle exercise such as walking, gardening etc).

Try not to eat late at night and have no large gaps between eating (but avoid unhealthy snacks) can also help.  Be aware of the “comfort” foods that are highly calorific, eg cappuncinos, wine, crisps etc..

Many people over consume as well due to unhappiness, boredom or an inner negative state.  If this is the case it is often adviseable to seek suitable professional help for the distress leading indirectly to the weight gain.

Finally remember that you should aim to lose no more than 1 or 2 lbs per week - big losses in weight cannot be sustained and can be very damaging.

Over the years as a therapist and teacher I have come across many people who are either ill, disabled or with a limiting condition.  Indeed I embarked on the path of teaching and therapist, largely because I had a serious injury (broken left femur requiring 3 operations and nearly a year of physiotherapy).

One thing which always strikes me, is the reaction of the unfortunate person.  Some are desperate to heal and willing to labour for this, some would like to heal but not make great efforts and yet others just accept. 

Which is the best emotional state to be in and what helps healing?

Certainly acceptance can bring more mental peace.  A fighting spirit (even against ridiculous odds) can lead to cycles of despair, fear and (very occasionally) miracles happening.  Believing that you are part of a bigger drama and your journey back to health  is necessary for you to fulfil your destiny begins to change things at a very subtle level. 

When you believe you have a destiny the World begins to alter in all sorts of ways!  Maybe this is what the ancient’s described as the path to enlightenment.

One of the most common group of physical problems I come across as both a therapist and Yoga/Pilates teacher are back problems (no surprise there!).

However a recent case interested me greatly.  The lady with the problem, had little or no pain if she did little exercise, however after Yoga, walking or any prolonged exercise, she would get acute sciatica. 

After examination and observation I determined the problem was probably a disc problem (her doctor and even chiropractor seemed to be somewhat reluctant to diagnose).

I noticed that when the patient became tired during exercise, her shoulders slumped and her pelvis tipped backward - increasing the pressure on the damaged disc area.  So the problem was not the exercise per se, but the fact that when tiredness set in, the posture went to pieces.

So after a series of private sessions to prove to the client what happened AND the  importance of spinal posture even when tired (exhaused!!) together with remedial exercises, the pain has largely disappeared.

The most important point I learnt from this client was that the actions we need to take for either growth or healing often only occurs when we are tired and depleted (at our lowest moment) - “the making of super efforts”, in other words WHEN THE GOING GET TOUGH, REDOUBLE THE EFFORT.  If we can make changes at these points then we truly on our way to personal growth and change.

Like a lot of Yoga and Pilates Teachers, I am just about to begin my Summer break.

Strange, but it feels both good and slightly bad.  Good - because I need to recharge my batteries.  Bad - because I really enjoy working in a very aspirational field and meeting (in general) very hardworking and inspiring people.

Having said that, I still have my private clients, my corporate clients and my acupuncture and massage patients!

Mmmm … perhaps not such a long break after all!