New Year Visioning Playful WORKSHOP!

The Sunshine Team had Mondayitis today–and it was Tuesday! And yet there was a marvellous opportunity for true Yoga today. Perhaps the rush of Christmastime had jarred the recruits and kept them in their more external focus. The most important aspect to take out of today’s training was to take on the mind as an observer. New postures can bring up emotions. In yoga that is seen as valuable as it gives the yogi an opportunity to deal with those emotions in a controlled environment. Common responses are to become frustrated, upset, defensive, or angry. The beauty of Yoga Bootcamp is that you can roll through those reactions, guided by the Yamas and Niyamas.

When your Bootcamp Sergeant suggests you could go further, do differently, lift higher, move the belly button etc, it is to send you inside yourself. Your response to take you mind back in to your nervous system (which in turn controls your muscles) and wonder and ponder “how could this be?, how could this happen? how could this be achieved”. It is a wonder, a ponder, a silent and still questioning…creating a space from which the answer will come. And the answer will come back through the body–not through the intellect. You wonder, “How could I possibly lift higher?”. You wait. Response AHA! Suddenly the muscles find a little more stretch, a little more strength. That, my dear recruits and readers is the true mind-body connection.

Both teams worked with staffs today for balance work, traditional standing poses, and to build core strength and increase heartrate. We are pulling the ‘plank’ theme into our ‘puddle and plank’ jungle moves for stronger back and ab muscles. The Ninja kicks today got the heart rate up using the same shape back and front muscles for stability. Because the recruits were moving so fast, most of the photos are blurred, or you had already put your feet back on the ground. We’ll keep trying so that you can see yourself as a recruit! You’d be impressed–we are!
We finished the sessions with some good stretching, and will build on that tomorrow. Well done, both teams!

Most recruits have tried to attend all sessions. At 6 am Yoga Bootcamp. we were finishing the session talking about VITALITY. Looking around, the recruits were sitting in their natural energy. Natural energy is similar to who you are at home. It is important to drop into that side of yourself (the less bright side) ocassionally, as it brings up the less social exterior. If you resist the temptation to go into your nervous energy, you will build your health rather than burning out.

Today’s sessions were a hard-earned ‘regeneration’ sequence. As important as it is to use tapas to push yourself out of routine, it is important to acknowledge ahimsa-non-violence to the body, to allow it time to let-down, heal, and build muscle. Sergeant Springer and Gong’s reward was to see the relaxed and refreshed faces as the recruits filed out one hour later. Psychologically, pushing yourself constantly, even in Yoga, can build up an aversion to the activity. We want your body and your yoga to be a joy to come back to rather than a duty.

Both teams collaborated in secret on Thursday to bestow a codename on their Yoga Trainer. The codename becomes not only the Trainer’s name, but summarises each Team’s collective goals. Thursday was traditional Day 4 ‘Liver Day’ detox crossroads. Many of us vowed to have an early night to help the body handle the increased activity. To everyone’s credit, most recruits turned up Monday 6 am. So we blessed the 11 am ‘Gongs’, and 6 am ‘Sargeant Springers’ with a series of Yoga Lunges done with partners to increase the effect.

Thank you to everyone who has made this Spring Bootcamp such a success already. We have filled all the places, and are taking expressions of interest for the next Yoga Bootcamp.
yoga@worklifebalance1.com, (07) 3369 7404.

Saturday 13 October 2-4 pm. We are offering you the Annual Mens Workout at Milton Yoga Studio.

Thanks for the positive feedback from our radio interview. These are the important details for the Womens’ Residential in Northern New South Wales:
Saturday 20, Sunday 21 October 2007. Nestled in to the Murwillumbah Area–think luscious, green, restful. Accomodation and all meals included. We will be building your energy and vitality over the weekend, using yoga, relaxations, breathing , meditations, just stopping to eat and sleep in between.

If you would like to learn how the 9 Keys to Healthy Living, Yoga postures for stress, or how to evaluate and deal with your own stress symptoms, then this seminar is especially for you.

Firstly the yoga postures are within most people’s range of movement, secondly you will be given your own stress and health checklist so that you can self-evaluate and deal with symptoms in the easy-to-prevent early stages. Thirdly the yoga is targeted to help with energy levels, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, difficulty digesting, sad thoughts, increasing your happy thoughts, relieving headaches.

Bookings are now open. To book in, or for more info:
(07) 33669 7404, info@worklifebalance1.com. Bring some friends!

meditation Find your Inner Peace with the Meditation Workshop on Saturday 14 July. For two hours, immersed in the sanctuary-like atmosphere of the Studio, experience guided meditations and relaxations to calm your body and mind. 2-4 pm and a handout of meditation tips to take away with you. All-inclusive $55–bring a friend and save $10! Contact us for more info or bookings as places are filling fast. 3369 7404 or yoga@worklifebalance1.com .

Wednesday evenings 7.15 pm–8.30pm. A Meditation and Relaxation focus for you. Starts Wednesday 18 april 2007.

We need all orders placed and prepaid by 12th April 2007 at the latest. We are offering the entire ‘QuickCleanse’ detox kit complete with the recommended eating plan plus a one-hour consultation at the Studio both for $99 (save $73!)

The ‘Quickcleanse’ 15 day detox is one of the best on the market, and usually costs $94 at a health food shop or pharmacy. You can buy it now on special, and use it later in the year if you choose to. It contains herbs to assist the stomach, intestines, liver and bowel to cleanse. The eating plan booklet is simple to follow and recomended for most people wanting to trim down and/ or cleanse the body simply, safely and effectively.

Your one-hour consultation is given to you as a Gift Voucher to use at any time, or offer it to someone as a valuable gift. The consultation is worth $78. Your consultation could be for Yoga Personal Training, Meditation, Yoga Massage, to discuss your weight and detox, Kinesiology, Relationships dynamics consultation, Stress Management or a look at balancing your work and life.

Detox $94 + Consultation $78 = $172 …Our special Just $99! Order yours by phone (07) 3369 7404 or e-mail–HURRY offer closes on Thursday so we can distribute the kits.
You will need to pick the kit up from the Studio (Milton, Brisbane) after this weekend.

Yoga Weekend Away–Beach Retreat 27 (evening)-29 April We have a couple of discount packages for the weekend. Surfside at Bribie Island. Amazing weather this time of year here. Accomodation, all yoga sessions and meditations, breakfasts all included. Incredible value! High quality yoga with professional instructor and a great weekend away. A great way to start yoga, or improve your style. Space permitting bring a friend. Hurry!
Quote code #HQT23 retreats@worklifebalance1.com
Phone the message bank (07) 3369 7404.

Calling all interested to attend the significant workshop this Saturday 31 March as we will be introducing new themes at the workshop that will be reflected in classes from next week, and picked up again at the yoga weekend away (27-29 April 2007). If you have stiffness in your joints, pain in lower back or neck, generally lack energy in your body, then you need to understand how to integrate your spine into all yoga postures. Regular yoga attendees will enjoy the challenge that the hard and soft versions (ha + tha) bring. Newcomers to yoga will learn to work the body in a supple and pain-free way.

This two-hour workshop will help get the spring back into your step. 1-3 pm at the Yoga Studio. Cost $55 registration essential as nearly booked out as of today.

Autumn Yoga Retreat <strong>held surfside at Bribie Island. All-Inclusive 2 1/2 days with 4 sessions of good quality yoga, lavish health breakfasts, beach meditations, and free time to walk, contemplate, swim, rest and refresh. 41/2 star resort with pool. Accomodation included within self-contained apartments. Prices from $395–$485. Earlybird discount applies. Contact us with questions and expressions of interest. (07) 3369 7404 or retreats@worklifebalance1.com. All levels welcome as we will be looking into new ways of using hatha yoga for maximum benefit.