YOGA, SWORD, EXCALIBUR
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
5d ago
In the opening chant of Ashtanga yoga the sanskrit word ‘Asi’ means sword. The sword, is the symbol of clear judgement (discernment). When we are in a state of Yoga, that is a state of calmness and heightened awareness, the mind is sharp like a sword. We are able to cut through the veils of our illusions or conditioned perceptions and see with clarity. In this wonderful scene from John Boorman’s ‘Excalibur’ (1981), King Arthur’s willingness to fight Lancelot is driven by pride and rage rather than discernment. This is when his sword ‘Excalibur’ breaks. However, Arthur immediately r ..read more
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Yoga and Nature
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
1M ago
In my experience practicing Yoga seems to trigger a desire to re-connect with mother nature, Perhaps because it is where we all come from. Where humans lived for hundreds of thousands of years before moving to cities during the industrial revolution, very recently on the scale of human history.. In an authentic Yoga practice we connect with our true selves and deepen awareness of body and mind. We stop feeling that we need to play roles, there is no need to pretend, there are no politics and no games. In the wild mother nature doesn’t play games either. She doesn’t care about our bank accou ..read more
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‘PRANA’ or ‘CHI’
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
1M ago
You may have heard the words ‘Prana’ or ‘Chi’, perhaps during your Yoga or Martial Art classes, and wondered about the meaning of these words? I like to define Prana as ‘Aliveness’ and ‘Field of sensations’ because these are simple definitions that can speak to everyone. However these rather succinct definitions do not really give any substance. Great authors have the extraordinary talent of being able to express in words what for most of us remains ineffable. In ‘The Call of the Wild’, Jack London, was not writing about Yoga or Martial Arts. Yet, in my view, he expressed beautifully th ..read more
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OXYMORONS, ROLFING, YOGA AND PALINTONICITY
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
3M ago
In my endeavour to improve my English vocabulary I recently came across a new word: ‘Oxymoron’. If you don’t know the meaning it may sound offensive, but rest assured, it isn’t. An oxymoron is a rhetorical figure of speech in which contradictory terms are combined. Here are some amusing examples:  ‘A New Classic’; ‘Only Choice’; ‘Act Naturally’; ‘Social Distancing’; ‘Temporary Tax Increase’; ‘Civil War’; ‘Microsoft Works’; ‘Airline Food’; ‘Thank God, I’m an Atheist’ and my favourite one: ‘Unbiased Opinion’. You may wonder where this is going and what is the connection with Yo ..read more
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Christmas Schedule
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
3M ago
Mon 25 Dec: Closed / No Yoga class Tue 26 Dec: Chiswick practice 10am-4pm Sun 31 Dec: Chiswick practice 10am-4pm Mon 1 Jan: Closed / No Yoga class The post Christmas Schedule appeared first on Aligned Bodies ..read more
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Chronic Neck Tensions and Righting Reflex
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
5M ago
Do you experience chronic tensions in your neck? This practice may help you to better understand connections within your body and your postural alignment. Begin by sitting on your favourite chair or in an easy yoga cross-legged position. Sit comfortably, sit tall…. Let your shoulders rest on your thorax. Relax your eyes, face and jaw.  Now bring your attention to your chest, in the space behind your sternum. If you are familiar with the chakras system this is the location of your  ‘heart chakra’. Start to do small side bends by tilting your ‘heart chakra’ to the right then to the ..read more
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Integration by Novak Djokovic
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
5M ago
Integration is the act of bringing two or more parts together so that they work together with a result greater than the sum of the parts.   In this video we can see  a wonderful example of integration by tennis legend Novak Djokovic.   Notice how his feet, legs, pelvis, spine, shoulder girdle, arms and wrist work together. The result is a fluid movement that is extremely efficient and which minimises the risk of strain.   Integration can be practiced in your daily movements such as in walking, in sports, martial arts or yoga. During a session of Rolfing Structural ..read more
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Savasana in Eden…
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
6M ago
It was was a very special moment at Eden Fitness this morning. Together, in deep meditation, we practiced the yoga posture called Savasana or corpse pose. The evocation of death may sound grim, however it is the exact opposite. Indeed, the name is metaphorical and doesn’t refer to physical death but to spiritual death, which in essence is always associated with a rebirth. When the mind is calm, in deep meditation, one may experience a flash of insight, a profound realisation.  This is the moment when habitual thought patterns may die and new perspectives arise. But far from being only ..read more
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A whole new way of thinking of your body
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
7M ago
In this video Tom Myers explains Tensional Integrity or ‘Tensegrity’. We tend to perceive the human body as a compressive structure, that is that our body parts are stacked on top of each others like bricks in a house. Instead of a compressive structure, try to perceive and feel your body as a bio-tensegrity structure, with your bones floating within your connective tissues. This will help to develop your body awareness and to feel and understand connections within yourself better. Yoga postures can be practiced with tensegrity awareness. This means practicing with the whole body by conscio ..read more
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Upside down, boy you turn me! Vestibular system for spatial orientation and postural alignment
Aligned Bodies Blog
by Alain
7M ago
This amusing commercial shows the incredible spatial orientation skills of chickens, thanks to their vestibular system. It is understood that it is the result of their need for fine balance control in flight (the ancestors of domesticated chickens could fly).  Although less developed in humans, our vestibular system is essential for balancing steadily and orienting ourselves in space. Specific Rolfing techniques of postural alignment activate the vestibular system.  When the vestibular system is activated and fully functional the body can decompress and balance gracefully in space ..read more
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