Introducing Carmela - teaching Weds 9.30am starting 19/10/11

Our Pulse Vinyasa Classes are new, different and unique to Perth so we had to go out and handpick one of the best yoga teachers we could find. We're stoked to have Carmela teaching every Wednesday at 9.30am starting 19th October. Awesome!

“Yoga has changed my life. It has awakened something inside of me that was dormant for many years. It felt like I was looking in from the outside, now I look outside from within. Yoga has inspired me to teach so others may experience the beauty and benefits of this ancient practice” she explains.

Check her photos out on our Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashtanga-Yoga-with-Marc-Potter/181796648533285

How important is the breath?

As you probably know, yoga is widely recognised health wise in reducing stress, anxiety and depression and in lowering blood pressure. How so? It's the breath. While there are many different styles of yoga today, they all have one thing in common. The breath or Pranayama. Pranayama means "to control the breath" or "mastering the life force".

Pranayama leads to 10-15% higher oxidation of the blood, much more than breathing through your mouth. It also triggers a physiological response in the sinuses forming Nitric Oxide, which is involved in the function of the nervous system. It also helps maintain, repair and defend every cell in the body. Other benefits include: Blood Circulation, Pain reduction, Weight Loss, Increase in Energy, Reduction of inflammation, Improved digestion, Improved immune system, Aids in cancer prevention and Helps the brain.

These benefits of nasal breathing (nitric oxide) cannot happen when breathing through the mouth, It cannot happen even when hooked up to a respirator because nasal breathing is not part of the breathing process, and it cannot happen even when Nitric Oxide is added to a gas bottle to breath through the mouth. It only happens when inhaled through the nasal passages.

Yoga without Pranayama is just like any other form of exercise, but when you incorporate this nasal breathing into each movement, you achieve many amazing health benefits.

So remember, the mouth is for eating and the nose is for breathing.

by Karina 
Teacher Trainee 2011

A Note From Potts - new premises at 12 Stirling Rd, Claremont

After 6 years in Cottesloe we have outgrown the cosy studio in one way or another.  One of the reasons we have moved locations is so we can offer more yoga classes in a space that is dedicated to yoga.  A space with calmness and a space that will better serve our students.

I have been developing some unique approaches for very interesting workshops and classes that will be offered soon.  Some more varied styles and approaches to yoga will be offered to the wider non-Ashtanga yoga community as well.  Although some new young faces will be seen doing some of the extra classes, you will still see my old face every morning and most evenings.

As it is with some yoga schools, as they grow, the teachers owning the school are seen less and less.  This is not our way and we are very aware of the importance of a hands on approach.  My wife D does all the work behind the scene to ensure I can be in the studio as much as possible.  I did offer to swap rolls but I think we both know our children will starve if I am left at home alone.   

The studio is not yet complete and over time we will be doing some changes to make things more comfortable for you. The sitting or waiting area will soon be enclosed by a dividing wall from the yoga practice area.  The yoga floor is going to be covered by a nurturing floating floor.  Our timetable is going to expand as well.

Lookout For Some New Classes Soon

• Mid Week 9.30am Yoga Class.
• Wed 7.15pm Asana Technique Class
• Mid Week 3.45pm Kids yoga
• Sat am Pregnancy Class
• Week End Back Care Workshop
• Week End Second Series Workshop
• Restorative (Yin) Yoga Class
• Refresh Yoga Class

A yoga school is only as good as the students in it.  This is why we have an excellent school. I would like to thank all of our students, my fantastic teacher trainees, our dedicated contract teaches and D, for all your support and loyalty.

Sincerely

Potts                                                                                                         

Marichayasana D..My Nemesis

There are several poses in the Ashtanga Primary series that we measure our progress on, some of them being: Supta Kurmasana, Garbha Pindasana and my strongest opponent to date ….. Marichyasana D.  The former I can see slow and continued progress in my practice the latter, well frankly I’m stuck.  I remember it took me long enough to get to grips with Marichyasana B, learning to be patient as my tight hips began to open and battling with half lotus to finally get to the stage where my foot no longer hurt in the pose.  Managing to get bound in Mariychasana C was also a big learning curve, so when I finally got to grips with those two poses I thought Marichyasana D would be a natural progression, well was I wrong! 

Put the foot into half lotus - check, bending the opposite knee - check, starting to twist - check, and this is when it all starts to go wrong.  The length I had in my spine in Marichyasana C seems to have disappeared, and the minute I start to contemplate binding my body shrivels to half its size no matter how hard I try to keep my spine straight.  And I’m sure my arms shrink as the gap between my hands when trying to bind is enormous – and on my left side I can’t even get my elbow over the knee.  Maybe all this is the physical manifestation of how the pose makes me feel mentally, small and intimidated.  There have been times where I have experienced the full pose with the assistance of Potts who has taken pity on my struggles.  Potts manages to get me into the pose and I am literally gripping my fingers for dear life and using all my might to stay upright, as at any moment I feel if I let go I will all fall into a million pieces.  I do have to laugh when he says “breathe” … Yes Potts I would love to but it’s just not happening.

The theory is we combine Marichyasana B and C into a beautiful pose representing Marichi who is the great-grandfather of Manu ("man, thinking, intelligent"), the Vedic Adam, and the "father" of humanity.  Literally Marichi means ray of light. On my adjustment days in Mysore I have observed others go into this pose with absolute lightness and ease, looking peaceful and relaxed representing the pose in its fully glory.

Me … well I’m still looking for the ability to bind and breathe in the pose.  To quote the great Sri K Pattabhi Jois “Practice yoga and all is coming” and I have faith in yoga that it will come in time …

by Lou
Teacher Trainee 2011