zen girl in maui
Natasha teaches Hatha Yoga in Edmonton, Canada, and runs Yoga & Spa Retreats in Maui, Hawaii.
mauispirityogaretreats.com
Ask me any yoga related questions by clicking "ask me anything" on the bar at the bottom of your browser. I try to answer everyone's questions in as much detail as possible.
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37 posts tagged wellness
On average, each human takes 60 million breaths in their lifetime.
Breathe slowly and make the best of your 60 million.
I have been practicing Bikram yoga for 7 years, 3 or 4 times a week, and in the past 6 months have become interested in exploring other types of yoga. I am fit, male, in my 50s, and curious about exploring this path further. Thanks.
balancepath
Hi balancepath,
Thank you for your question, and for patiently waiting for my response. I hope my advice can help you on your yoga journey.
First, You are a very dedicated student. I imagine you notice all kinds of changes in your body and mind over the last 7 years of consistent practice.
It is natural to want to evolve and try new forms of yoga. You are like a growing tree whose branches are shifting their direction to get closer to the sun.
I am a Hatha Yoga teacher, and will tell you more about the Hatha style since I am most familiar with it.
Hatha Yoga poses are the basis for all yoga styles. It is the oldest form, and is often referred to as “Classical Hatha Yoga”. Most styles borrow from these poses and change them slightly to suit their style.
For example, Vinyasa’s “upward facing dog” is their version of Hatha’s “cobra” pose. Since cobra is quite intense and takes more time to get into, they changed it in a way that is suitable for a faster-paced flow sequence.
So taking a Hatha class with an instructor who teaches classic style is like getting to the roots of yoga (in a historical sense). There is emphasis on meditation, and using the breath as a tool to get further into the mind and body. It is slower-paced, but is quite intense mentally and physically.
However, if the mind is caught up in trying to look fit, quick, and sweaty, this class will be the most challenging for you. Hatha students must let go of the ego to truly advance in their practice. For some, it’s hard to slow down and focus.
I must say that a man in your 50’s will benefit greatly from this style. I’ve taught men in their 70’s (very fit men) who are very grateful for the amount of introspection and quiet time they enjoy each class. You have time to get into the pose properly and focus your attention. You have more time to release and create space in both mind and body, and you become more flexible in many ways.
It is such a pleasure to teach men at your age and beyond, and I wish you nothing but the best as you continue on your path.
If you are ever interested in a class with me, I offer week long Hatha Yoga retreats in Maui. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the style and gives you a good sense of what to look for in your teacher at home.
Thank you, and Namaste,
Natasha
Owner/ Instructor of Maui Spirit Yoga Retreats Natasha Sklar in Paia, Maui.
Join her this August for a Blissful Week of Yoga & Spa. Click here for more info.
7 Ways Slow Yoga Promotes Healthy Weight Management
Students frequently ask if and how slow, meditative Hatha yoga helps manage weight.
The short answer is YES, and here’s how:
1. Extended holding of specific yoga poses that gently massage the internal organs promotes improved metabolism, such as ‘spinal lift’.
2. Through relaxation and stress management, it prevents emotional overeating.
3. Learning how to be ‘present’ will show itself in the way you eat - you will chew more slowly, digest your food more easily, and you will be less likely to binge eat if you are fully aware of the way you are eating.
4. It is a longterm approach to weight loss, a way of finding balance and acceptance in your body through mastering the mind and breath.
5. It is a gentle and less dramatic way to lose weight. The effects will take longer to set in, but your ability to maintain your new healthy weight will be stable because of deeply transformed habits and ways of thinking about your body.
6. Constant, slow, deep breathing makes you less hungry. Try an experiment: Next time you have an unhealthy craving, try taking 3 deep, full belly breaths and see if you still desire it.
7. Increasing awareness of our bodies as a result of holding poses longer will encourage you to take better care of it. You truly have to take a look within before you will learn to not take your body for granted.
Slow yoga is an amazing addition to any healthy weight loss program. Consider adding a class to your routine today!
Love & Light,
Natasha
Ayurveda - The Science and Medicine of Yoga
Dearest Followers,
I am so happy to share this with you!
Lately I have been gorging myself in books about Ayurveda. I’m now coming to the conclusion that it is a fabulous addition to anyone’s wellness and daily routine, and is complimentary to other forms of medicine as well, including modern medicine.
In case you are unfamiliar with Ayurveda, it is a 5,000 year old practice of holistic healing originating in India during the time of the Vedics. Instead of waging war with the body, it works with the bodies natural ability to heal. And the best part is - it works! Tried, tested, and true for over 5,000 years. Thinking of Kuhnian theory, It has withstood numerous scientific revolutions and is thankfully becoming a more sought after practice in the West.
Everyone has a dosha - a constitution based on your body type, personality, and common physiological complaints. You are either a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha - or any combination of the 3. You can also be tridosha - all three!
Treatment is individualized, and there is an emphasis on proper eating habits. And yummy eating habits!
Take a look at the chart below, and also go to Deepak Chopra’s Website to do a Dosha Quiz to find out your constitution!
For further reading, I recommend the following books:
“Prakriti - Your Ayurvedic Constitution” - Dr. Robert Svoboda
“Eat-Taste-Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living”
“The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies” - Vasant Lad
Enjoy, and namaste.
~ Natasha
Reblog if you’re a teen who loves YOGA.
Starting A Home Yoga Practice?
I highly recommend this website, MyYogaOnline, that I am a member of. It features some of the Westcoast’s most sought after yoga, nutrition, and meditation teachers and provides high quality classes for only 9.99 per month. Sweet deal!
Check out myyogaonline .
