Here at EC, an English language School in Brighton, we feel it is important for students and staff to keep fit (see previous post on keeping fit). One activity we provide is yoga and every two weeks we have a professional yoga instructor, Tsetsy, who runs her own yoga classes in Brighton. In her one and a half hour class, Tsetsy takes you through postures, breathing, stretches, relaxation and meditation. This session is aimed at all levels and is designed so that you can experience the gradual benefits of yoga practise. We asked Tsetsy to explain a little about the benefits of yoga:
“When I first started practising yoga I was 25 years old. Yoga attract me with the non-competitive element that is has, but also with the idea of healing and harmonising the body and mind in a perfect way.
“Yoga poses (asanas) balance the respiratory, circulatory, hormonal, digestive, excretory and reproductive systems.
“Respiration is one of the most important functions of the body. Some of the respiratory disorders that can affect us are asthma, bronchitis, cold, allergies of the respiratory tract and other breathing problems.
“Yoga offers respiratory exercises which help relax and eliminates these disorders.
“One of the simplest breathing techniques in yoga is Anuloma Viloma. You practice inhaling from one nostril by physically restricting air from passing through the other one by closing it with your fingers. Take in a deep breath, allowing the air to fill your lungs and abdomen. Now release the other nostril and let exhale from it. Repeat this several times.
“Another technique called the Kapalbhati helps in clearing accumulated phlegm in the respiratory tract. This breathing exercise should be done quickly, where both the inhalation and exhalation are done rapidly.
“People who devolope a good breathing look better, they are more active and have fun, lives longer then other do.”
