The Still Body Studio
Cliftonville
The Still Body classes follow the traditional principles of Tao Yoga (also known as Yin yoga) and it is a very different style of practice to the more dynamic styles that are commonly taught though it is just as challenging in a different way.
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I have found some people resistant to do any form of ‘Yoga’ as there can be preconceptions about what a class would involve and they ‘don’t want to chant, pray and listen to lots of Indian music’ but this is just one of way of presenting a class.
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My style of teaching is not stereotypically ‘yogic’ and I teach in a more contemporary style explaining what the body is doing and trying to achieve, I play music in minor keys (which can wash over the mind) and we don’t do any chanting!
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Classes are very suited to runners, gym goers and those who do other high impact sports to maintain the stiffer tissues of the body which can help minimise the risk of injuries. They are also great for those with limited flexibility or mobility, those whose day to day life involves a lot of repetitive physical movement (like working at a laptop, chopping food, building work and similar) or within a high stress environment.
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The physical aspect of the session can calm the mind and sympathetic nervous system and release endorphins.
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What is Yin?
Yin is the opposite of Yang (obviously!) and ideally we should alternate styles to help maintain the body’s mobility and to minimise injuries through more strenuous exercise.
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It’s aim is to release and strengthen the connective tissues in the body (the fascia, ligaments and tendons), stimulate the natural production of fluids such as Synovial fluid and Hyaluronic acid and create space along our Meridian lines (also known as the acupuncture pathways) for energy (piezoelectricity) and blood to flow more freely.
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Postures are held for a period of time in stillness and for a minimum of 3 minutes. The first 2 minutes gives the muscles a good stretch and thereafter, we move into releasing the fascia, strengthening the ligaments and tendons plus creating bone renewal with compression.
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All of this combined can create a feeling of intense relaxation even though the body has been working hard (just in an opposite way to how we view exercise in the Western world) and it’s also very good at releasing endorphins and calming our sympathetic nervous system.
About Me
I am a 280 hour Yin Yoga Therapy with Acupressure instructor and trained with Alex Denkinger M.D.(Acu).
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Being a very Yang person I found the effects of a Yin class on my body and mind very different to the other more dynamic yoga classes I loved doing. The post Yin class feelings I had confused me which led me to want to know more about what was physically going on with this particular type of yoga. How could I have exercised so deeply into my body whilst, seemingly, not moving much at all?
The more I have studied, the more fascinating I have found it and seeing the positive effects on students who have had injuries, body niggles and who struggle to relax is very rewarding.
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