I know there are very few yoga studios in operation in Trinidad, however it was always difficult to get information about venue, time and cost as I saw it more as being a "spiritual" sort of group as opposed as one to add to a routine of diet and exercise to help whip the body into shape. So it was with great pleasure to discover that Moksha Yoga Trinidad is online and you can broswe all the information about yoga from the comfort or your home!
There are several classes available which are open to all ages and abilities so even beginners need not fear getting started with Yoga. You can get the full schedule on the website for those interested.
Here is some information on Hot Yoga:
Moksha hot yoga is a series of postures practiced in a heated room. The series works to stretch, strengthen and tone the muscles while detoxifying the body and calming the mind.
While each of our instructors brings their own unique experience and style to their teaching, all classes follow a basic structure that is fundamental to the Moksha practice...
Moksha Yoga is a cardiovascular workout that stretches, strengthens and tones while detoxifying the body and calming the mind. But while the Moksha Yoga Series is ideal when practised in a heated room, the series has been currently modified for non-heated situations. This gives people the opportunity to experience the series before the opening of the studio. Classes are generally 90 mins, but a 1-hour series is available for those on the go.
And the benefits of Hot Yoga (I am liking the part about loosing weight!) taken from the Moksha Yoga website:
The benefits of hot yoga border on limitless.
* De-stress
* Lose weight
* Improve their immune systems
* Increase their cardiovascular abilities
* Feel more energized
But the benefits of Moksha go beyond the studio. Our students have told us that Moksha has:
* Healed them emotionally and physically from the challenge of chemotherapy
* Improved their relationships with family members
* Increased their ability to focus
* Helped them heal from brain injury
* Improved their golf game... just to name a few!
New students are constantly showing us the positive changes yoga has on their lives. We don't even know the full potential of this sweaty stuff!
Health Benefits:
Stress
Do you ever notice how much you can de-stress just by taking one big breath in.and letting a sigh come out. Just imagine 90 minutes of deep, conscious breathing.
Back/knee pain
The heat in a Moksha class relaxes the joints - much like a full body heating pad or hot water bottle. Also Moksha focuses on opening the hips where knee and back pain often originate.
Headaches
Many postures in the Moksha sequence relieve tension and tightness in the neck and shoulder area. As this area relaxes, blood flow increases and headaches often decrease or go away entirely. Jessica, one of the Moksha directors, hasn't had a migraine in over four years and migraines used to be a monthly event!
Insomnia
Several postures focus on increasing blood flow through the pineal gland where melatonin, the hormone released to induce deep sleep, is released.
Depression
In addition to melatonin, the pineal gland also controls the release of serotonin, the "mood" hormone. As certain postures flush the pineal gland with oxygenated blood its function improves and emotional highs and low begin to even out.
Scoliosis
The work on stretching and strengthening the spine has a dramatic effect on those working with a spinal curvature. Pain is eased and the strength in the internal muscle structure of the back starts to allow for great ease in movement and better posture.
Poor digestion
With regular practice many students find that they don't crave junk food as much. This inclination towards a healthier diet, coupled with calming the nervous system, helps with long-term digestive issues.
Arthritis
The 'hot' element of the hot yoga class is what has the most dramatic affect on arthritis sufferers. The effects are so dramatic that the Arthritis Society is holding a Moksha hot yoga class for their largest fundraiser.
Poor posture
With regular Moksha classes the spine gets stronger and students notice that it is actually more comfortable to sit and stand straight.
Constipation
Relaxing the central nervous system by focusing on breath increases a process called peristalsis. Peristalsis moves processed food through the digestive system and out of the body. Certain postures increase blood flow to the colon, further aiding the digestive process.
I do not have to tell you that I will be trying Moksha Yoga very soon and if your curiosity gets the better of you and you also decide to try out a class just don't laugh if you see me there trying to contort my body into all the positions! Hey, at least by the time Carnival 2008 comes around I should not only be toned but super flexible to but down a modified cheesecutter wine!
20 comments:
Hi Saucy I have tried yoga and the benefits they listed do work, but you have to be an active participant at least 1 - 2 times a week ongoing. I persoanlly do not like yoga because its to relaxing for me (sounds crazy)I just prefer to get my heart racing & sweating it out to some pumping music, or running outside. But if you do try it you will be very flexable come carnival 08 and reaping all the benefits you listed.
I just started a 100% Fat-Free for Carnival 08. Take a look at it, if you like add me to your links. Thx.
d trini cool blog! I was wondering how often you have to do yoga to get the full benefits. 2 days a week sounds very do-able to me and I like the fact that it is relaxing :D
good morning sunshines!
i find in the low-key mind-body-connection exercise world, there are two schools: the pilates and the yoga schools. Me personally are a die-hard member of the pilates school and find the yoga postures too "contortionistic" (if I may use a word I totally made up) for me. one day I got stuck, but that's a whole other story for another day. LOL!
i don't think it necessarily has to be an "either/or" scenario. while i wouldn't rely solely on these types (pilates/yoga) of exercise for weight loss as I think you NEED (MUST) incorporate hard core cardio if you expect to lose inches and pounds, they should, if possible, be incorporated in an exercise regime for increasing flexibility, posture and strengthening the core abdominal and back area.
saucy, good luck pretzel bending. you and mammynicechile are working it out! would love to be a fly in the wall in your class to peep you guys' "fantastical" contortions
JJ I liked pilates but doing it via DVD and having a professional instructor must be two diff. things. Also I tend to prefer low impact excercies since my breasts get in the way of all that jumping around doing aerobics, funny but true!
I am hoping, if I like it, to add yoga to my fitness regime (yet to start but I have high hopes and the determination).
Morning Saucy, laughing at the 'Cheesecutter wine' line.
For 2ck7 I did both yoga and pilates (along w/ weights, treadmill, ball, floor work, gymnastics etc). It is very low impact and I don't feel like I worked out (like I did w/ the gymnastics). But as a part of the rest of your regiment it's great.
Let us know how your class goes.
Hot Yoga is great! I tried it for the first time about two years ago. It is definately challenging, you will sweat A LOT but will feel soooo good after. I promise. The only downside to it, is that it quite costly at all the studios in Toronto. If you are new to the studio you can get a week pass for $20 but after that it is $20 per class! I can't afford that on top of my regular gym fees. However, this summer, I plan to buy a couple of passes and use them throughout the year to add to my regular routine. I like to mix it up anyway. I hope you try it out Saucy! Let us know how it goes.
I'm DEFINITELY interested! Last time I did yoga I was in college and did it as an elective for all of 2 weeks before I dropped it for a course that actually fell within my major. I'm super inflexible and I'd love to do an activity that relaxes me AND helps me lose weight. Lemme go study their schedule oui...
I've taken HOT Yoga in New York. It's a WONDERFUL class, I feel so refreshed after taking this class (from the constant sweating). The only thing is, this constant sweating really messes up your weave...lol...so if you are used to the weave or straight perm, BEWARE!
I do ypga regularly and the benefits are tremendous. I ahve not tried hot yoga yet, I would like to, but I am nervous about all that sweat and my hair! LOL.
I love yoga though...it's very relaxing.
this is anon 10.45 once again......
anon 10.20: it is expensive in new york too....it's about $20 per class here plus, it's mandatory that you bring water and your own yoga mat.
Other than that, give it a try saucy! Just make sure you have your hair appointment booked! lol...
another comment from anon 10.51/10.45:..lol
do NOT try to impress the instructor by doing all the poses.. First timers should really pace themselves...I almost fainted the first couple of times!! IT IS REALLY HOT AND HUMID in the class..You start sweating as soon as the class starts (and that's just stretching!)..There were many poses (the camel being the worst for me) that some may not be able to perform right away and trying to over-exert your body may cause you to black out..
and DO NOT EAT too much before the class...That also was a problem for me...You start feeling nauseous....
just some advice for those interested in joining!....enjoy!
well my hair is SUPER short at the moment so nothing to worry about there :D
According to the US prices our TT prices are not bad at all!!
a drop in class is $40.00TT = $6.35 US
the 10 class card is $380.00TT = $60.00US!!!
I would like to try it this weekend but cannot as I have an engagement of sorts both Sat AND Sunday,so I am hoping to try it during the week next week.
'rah girl yuh want to go with me ? LOL.
WOW, That's cheap!!
well, if your hair is permed, beware!! you may have to do the gel/slick-back look the next day...
enjoy your class, whenever you make it!
Anon this was some good advice, because it is the poses I am worried about. I tried a regular Yoga class once, and I felt just like a baby elephant. So me trying to get some of those poses in a hot place... is like well, errrrrrrr...... Scary to me.
I like the hot and steamy part. I could do that, but twisting up my body in that environment is a whole nothing story!
Hot yoga was a different pace for me, and I felt it the next day, but I missed the adrenaline rush I get when I work out reg. doing kick-boxing cardio and weights.
Also all that sweat... got kinda funkilicious in the studio, strangely I didn't notice until we stopped the yoga though.
Well to put in my two cents. The 'studio' in Trinidad is not se tup yet so I don't think what I experienced was real Hot Yoga. It was an open place, breeze was blowing through the trees but we were sweating!!!! There were no fans or anything like that so I can well imagine when they set up the real studio what it will be like. Other than that, i am not the most fit person, I can't even touch my toes and yet I throughly enjoyed it. The instructor didn't force us into any pretzel positions, it was pretty basic but I felt my muscles aching the next day.
I am not sure if the Sunday breeze/ vibe really added anything to it but I really felt like a rubber band afterward and just fell into the best afternoon nap that day. *sigh*
I used to do Bikram(hot)yoga as well and it's great but like so many others have said, it was too expensive for me to keep up with. I also live on Long Island so not amny studios near me and the times the classes were offered were not always convenient to me. Before my first class, they told me what to do (and not to do!!). Wear comfortable but form fitting clothing, you don't want baggy, hanging clothing. I recommend as little clothing as possible because it is HOT!!! Do not eat at least 2 hours before. and go at your own pace. But the initial weightloss is water - after that, it really does help with flexibilty and weight loss.
i've been doing bikram yoga for a couple weeks now, $20 a class in Carle Place NY. Its expensive but the results are fabulous - ditto on what anon said, eat early and drink lots of water. the heat makes you more flexible and you work on getting the pose right versus doing crazy stuff. thank god my class does basic positions.
Saucy, I doh mind dat at all! If we doin' a weekday evening it'll be Monday or Wednesday since those are the only evening classes. So far I'm open both days. What say you?
Okay, I will send you a message on facebook, Wednesday will be better for me.You do check your messages right?
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