Salts, perfumed oils, bubbles…. there’s no shortage of products aimed at enhancing the effects of a relaxing bath. But another kind of bathing may benefit your stress levels even more: forest bathing. No, it’s not an exotic spa treatment, and in fact, there’s no bath involved. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves immersing yourself in the woods.…
Chair Yoga For Disability Support Groups, Charities And Care Homes
Look who turned up for a recent chair yoga session, that I held at, Blackburn Library Theatre, for a disability support group. Yes, it's the Mayor of Blackburn! As part of my comprehensive chair yoga services, I offer adapted group sessions for support groups and care homes. These are delivered in a safe and fun way. With professional qualifications in…
Best Chair Yoga Poses For Migraines
If you live with migraine headaches, you may be keen to find forms of exercise that don’t trigger or worsen your pain. Ideally, they might even make you feel better. One good, research-backed option is yoga. This mind-body practice involves poses, deep breathing, and meditation. All have been shown to relieve stress, a common cause of migraine. While yoga isn’t a substitute…
Comforting Creamy Cauliflower Soup For The Cold Dark Days of Winter
As chilly winds blow and the nights draw in throw together this comforting and creamy cauliflower soup for lunch, or a light supper. It's perfect topped with parsley and served with crusty bread. Cauliflower gives this soup a light, creamy consistency and is incredibly nutritious. It’s also a good source of fibre, helps to lower cholesterol and is an excellent…
Can chair yoga help relieve osteoarthritis pain?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, long-term disease that affects millions of older adults. There is currently no known cure for it and treatment options are limited. However, new research, suggests that chair yoga is effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain. The condition is more prevalent among the elderly, affecting over 33 percent of seniors who are 65 years and older. Also known…
Stretch your hip flexors and glutes with this simple chair yoga pose
By stretching and strengthening your hip flexors and piriformis muscles, it will help with lower back and hip pain. Before you start any chair yoga poses, take a few moments to centre yourself in seated Mountain Pose: Here's how: Sitting up tall in your chair, ground through the hips and lengthen through the crown of your head. Arms by your…
Relieve arthritic joint pain fast with this simple yoga mudra
Sandhi means 'joint ' in Sanskrit (an ancient and classic language of India) and this mudra is a sacred hand gesture or ‘seal,’ which is used to balance energy in the joints. Energetic blockages in the joints can lead to pain or disorders, such as arthritis. This mudra help clear pathways so that energy can once again flow freely. It…
Student Chair Yoga Practice by Linda
Always practice these chair yoga poses slowly and mindfully. Remember to notice how your body feels as you work through the poses. Yoga is very much about 'awareness' of your body. In the unlikely event you experience any sharp pain, immediately stop and withdraw and do not try that particular pose again. A little stiffness or soreness is acceptable, especially…
Yoga may help improve anxiety and depression. Plus, it makes your brain sharper too!
With its emphasis on breathing practices and meditation—both of which help calm and centre the mind— it’s hardly surprising that yoga also brings mental benefits, such as reduced anxiety and depression. But what may be more surprising is that it actually makes your brain work better. A sharper brain When you lift weights, your muscles get stronger and bigger. When…
Studies show Yoga Can Improve Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects your joints and can also affect other parts of your body too. It’s a type of arthritis caused by your immune system attacking tissue lining your joints. There’s no exact known cause. But there are ways to improve symptoms and help you reduce pain - and this includes yoga. Recent medical studies show that yoga with its…