Yoga classes.

In support of your physiotherapy, some form of exercise must be introduced otherwise the old problem will reoccur. Yoga hands down to modern culture the art of healing the physical body through the use of a highly sophisticated array of postures (asanas), movement and breathing techniques. The exercises take each joint in the body through its full range of motion - strengthening, stretching and balancing each part.

In Hatha Yoga as taught by internationally renowned teacher, B.K.S. Iyengar, students of all walks of life develop strength and endurance. Like the steady drip of water that eventually transforms the shape of a stone, Yoga works slowly but steadily to heal and restructure the tissues of your back and the supporting musculoskeletal system of your entire body. Simultaneously, it helps you recover from the psychological effects of pain and disability. As a great deal of emphasis is placed on bio-mechanically sound principles of alignment and correct movement, a qualified teacher is essential.

For the Exexutive:

The human body is the most marvellous piece of machinery. Every cell has its own method and order of functioning, all of which need proper understanding and discipline. Constant stress exhausts the cardiac nerves, among many other systems. Many executives work out on the treadmill and the stationary bicycle in the mistaken belief that, by boosting the heart rate and pulse beat, the cardiovascular system remains healthy; this in isolation, may only exhaust the system. Yoga soothes the mind, and the nerves while energising the heart. Therefore done in conjunction with cardiovascular exercise, it is invaluable. The greatest advantage of asanas is that any defective part of the heart and the circulatory system can be tackled, as they have a precisely directed action on the body.

 

For the Sports person:

High impact activities send shocks through the body on each landing. This may lead to a diminished, shock-absorbing ability. This effect is seen especially if there are postural flaws involving the feet, the knees or the spine, if there is soft tissue scarring, or a degenerative joint disease such as arthritis or bone spurs. In addition, the anterior hip muscles and hamstrings are repeatedly shortened. General flexibility programmes are often done without emphasis on the proper alignment. The principal components of Yoga improve the shock-absorbing capacity of the system, soften the unhealthy areas and harden the areas where such stimuli are needed. The legs are the basis for healthy locomotion. The muscles become more resilient after yoga training reducing the effects of and the number of repeated sprains and tears. Yoga strengthens the arches of the foot reducing the chances of sustaining stress fractures or injuries. The Achilles tendon is made more elastic and tears seldom occur if yoga is practised. The hip joint and the groin are closely associated in movement. Groin injuries are common in athletes, and they cause ineffective usage of the hip Yoga teaches that bending forward from the inner pubic muscles helps to keep these muscles resilient and flexible, thereby protecting athletes against these injuries.

Cardiovascular fitness is built up by running but this may be at the cost of adaptive changes in the heart, the muscles and the diaphragm. In women, the reproductive system may be affected, in some instances, resulting in amenorrhoea. Yoga offers protection in all these areas by quietening the nervous system, giving rest, allowing for better performance. Rest need not mean stopping activity. Passive exercise is also a form of rest. Running reflects the human potential to achieve. Any athlete, but especially endurance athletes should use Yoga in conjunction with other sport to enhance their potential and prevent injury.

To the devotee of an asymmetric sport, such as tennis, squash, golf, or soft ball , use of a yoga routine would be invaluable in maintaining flexibility and strength in the shoulders, upper back, hips and legs, and preventing asymmetries and imbalances, which are bound to develop from repeated unilateral activity.

For the older generation:

Ageing causes a situation in which the body cannot function as well as in youth, but to diminish its effects, movement is essentual… if you don't use it - you lose it!. Most systems exhaust the cellular reserves, while Yoga energises the body without disturbance. Yoga causes cellular quietening, and the massage of internal organs that occurs in Yoga is invaluable to the aging. Joints, ligaments and muscles are encouraged to remain soft and supple. The greatest advantage of Yoga in our modern world - is that it is an effective exercise programme that is valuable when one is injured, stressed, ill, or getting on in years, or merely wishing to prevent one of these situations