H2Yoga


	Yoga means union: the coming together of the mind, breath, and body. It is a discipline that can be applied to every activity we do and allows our minds to be engaged in the present moment. Yoga has been practiced since ancient times and, in addition to strengthening and elongating our musculature, it is also considered to be an alternative measure to relieve stress and pain. Yoga can even encourage weight loss and help to release addictions. Yoga also has cognitive benefits: it can quiet the mind, focus the attention, and increase one's ability to concentrate. How can the practice of yoga accomplish so much? Yoga combines physical posture, mindful breathing, and the conscious relaxation; the mind attends to the body and to the function of the muscles in relation to the body's movement. Water and air have the “same” properties. The rising-falling, floating-sinking, ebb-flow, coolness-warmth, receptivity-offering concepts apply to both of these elements. Because they are so similar, they actually “repel” each other when mixing them. When we breathe and mindfully extend the liberation of the inner breath, and fill our body with air, the body rises and is supported by water to lift up out of the water. When we release the breath and the air leaves the body, the body becomes heavy and descends. The water receives the weight of the body. With mindfulness one can use the breath to support the pose and deepen it at the same time. With this understanding of resistance and non-resistance, we can feel our breath become compatible in our asanas (poses). A sense of balance is nurtured in the water and perhaps, this may nurture our lives. H2Yoga adapts the poses, breathing practices, rhythms, and meditative principles of Hatha Yoga to the water. Because body weight is reduced to approximately 10% of actual land weight when submerged to neck-depth, the mind must also be trained to stay focused and to remain aware of "where" the sustained movement is, so as to create the "weight' in that particular area of the body and stretch the area of the body into the intended posture. The buoyancy provided by the water allows practitioners of all ages and body types to enjoy the benefits of a focused and rigorous practice. Water is the medium to stretch the muscles in this 88 degree temperature water. The warmth of the water is ideal for maximizing the stretch, once in the pose. The mind becomes focused on where the connection (shtiram) is with the body and where the lightness(sukham)is. The wall of the pool becomes the floor for many standing and seated poses, such as Sun Salutation and seated twists. Depending on the depth of the water, there are a multitude of standing poses which can be done. Vkrsasana, Garudasana, Warrior 1,11, 111. and Variations of Trikonasana are examples of the standing poses. Mindfulness is a by-product of each and every pose, since one needs to be aware of the body’s steadfastness and its’ lightness moment by moment. Once in a pose, feeling the sustained movement and the sense of freedom, reminds us of the connection the mind-body inherently has. The sounds of the breath and its’ effects, remind us that the element of water has movements and simulated sounds which are similar in properties to the breath. There is always an ebb and flow with the breath, the water and the body-mind. It is ideal for those who love the water, who are curious to the wonders of water and those who are limited on land. H2Yoga Classes are 9 am and 10 am on Monday at the Hot Springs Pool. All are welcome. Yoga on the mat at the Hot Springs Club at 12:15 - 1:45 pm Tuesdays Chair Yoga, Thursdays 9:15 am to 10:15 am Private sessions with available Yoga Wall, by appointment. Therapeutics applied for individual students. To the top An excerpt from AKWA, June/July 2003*Immersed in Yoga* by Annig Raley "The immersion of Yoga into the water, whether the movements be for the warm up, the main segment, or for the cool down in a H2Yoga class, provides a consistent welcomed utilization of the mind to follow the breath as the breath saturates the body and the body moves into postures. A soothing messaging action from the water provides the senses with an invitation to respond in a relaxed manner in, around and through this wonderful, refreshing elements of our lives."The choice of mediums has afforded a compliment to the practice of Yoga. With focus on the breath, with mindfulness on the body's responses in the water, and with the awareness of the heart opening from the spaciousness created by the breath, the postures and the aerobic activity provide a sense of well being. The mind is now the servant of the strong functions of theheart. Perhaps, H2Yoga may remind us that the heart can function without the brain, but the brain cannot function without the heart. The mind will be at ease and a sense of confidence and trust will nurture the mind into a state of acceptance. One does not need a mat or water to do yoga, yet using either medium can well enhance our lives.To the top Web Design by Dorothy J. Howard

Yoga means union: the coming together of the mind, breath, and body. It is a discipline that can be applied to every activity we do and allows our minds to be engaged in the present moment. Yoga has been practiced since ancient times and, in addition to strengthening and elongating our musculature, it is also considered to be an alternative measure to relieve stress and pain. Yoga can even encourage weight loss and help to release addictions. Yoga also has cognitive benefits: it can quiet the mind, focus the attention, and increase one's ability to concentrate. How can the practice of yoga accomplish so much? Yoga combines physical posture, mindful breathing, and the conscious relaxation; the mind attends to the body and to the function of the muscles in relation to the body's movement.

Water and air have the “same” properties. The rising-falling, floating-sinking, ebb-flow, coolness-warmth, receptivity-offering concepts apply to both of these elements. Because they are so similar, they actually “repel” each other when mixing them.

When we breathe and mindfully extend the liberation of the inner breath, and fill our body with air, the body rises and is supported by water to lift up out of the water. When we release the breath and the air leaves the body, the body becomes heavy and descends. The water receives the weight of the body. With mindfulness one can use the breath to support the pose and deepen it at the same time. With this understanding of resistance and non-resistance, we can feel our breath become compatible in our asanas (poses). A sense of balance is nurtured in the water and perhaps, this may nurture our lives.

H2Yoga adapts the poses, breathing practices, rhythms, and meditative principles of Hatha Yoga to the water. Because body weight is reduced to approximately 10% of actual land weight when submerged to neck-depth, the mind must also be trained to stay focused and to remain aware of "where" the sustained movement is, so as to create the "weight' in that particular area of the body and stretch the area of the body into the intended posture. The buoyancy provided by the water allows practitioners of all ages and body types to enjoy the benefits of a focused and rigorous practice.

Water is the medium to stretch the muscles in this 88 degree temperature water. The warmth of the water is ideal for maximizing the stretch, once in the pose. The mind becomes focused on where the connection (shtiram) is with the body and where the lightness(sukham)is. The wall of the pool becomes the floor for many standing and seated poses, such as Sun Salutation and seated twists. Depending on the depth of the water, there are a multitude of standing poses which can be done. Vkrsasana, Garudasana, Warrior 1,11, 111. and Variations of Trikonasana are examples of the standing poses. Mindfulness is a by-product of each and every pose, since one needs to be aware of the body’s steadfastness and its’ lightness moment by moment. Once in a pose, feeling the sustained movement and the sense of freedom, reminds us of the connection the mind-body inherently has. The sounds of the breath and its’ effects, remind us that the element of water has movements and simulated sounds which are similar in properties to the breath. There is always an ebb and flow with the breath, the water and the body-mind. It is ideal for those who love the water, who are curious to the wonders of water and those who are limited on land.

H2Yoga Classes are 9 am and 10 am on Monday at the Hot Springs Pool. All are welcome.

Yoga on the mat at the Hot Springs Club at 12:15 - 1:45 pm Tuesdays

Chair Yoga, Thursdays 9:15 am to 10:15 am

Private sessions with available Yoga Wall, by appointment.

Therapeutics applied for individual students.

To the top

An excerpt from AKWA, June/July 2003Immersed in Yoga
by Annig Raley

"The immersion of Yoga into the water, whether the movements be for the warm up, the main segment, or for the cool down in a H2Yoga class, provides a consistent welcomed utilization of the mind to follow the breath as the breath saturates the body and the body moves into postures. A soothing messaging action from the water provides the senses with an invitation to respond in a relaxed manner in, around and through this wonderful, refreshing elements of our lives."The choice of mediums has afforded a compliment to the practice of Yoga. With focus on the breath, with mindfulness on the body's responses in the water, and with the awareness of the heart opening from the spaciousness created by the breath, the postures and the aerobic activity provide a sense of well being. The mind is now the servant of the strong functions of theheart. Perhaps, H2Yoga may remind us that the heart can function without the brain, but the brain cannot function without the heart. The mind will be at ease and a sense of confidence and trust will nurture the mind into a state of acceptance. One does not need a mat or water to do yoga, yet using either medium can well enhance our lives.To the top

Web Design by Dorothy J. Howard