Welcome to Yogaheartcentre.com - a tranquil space in the heart of Hampstead Village
promoting Peace and Relaxation through the Mindful practices of Yoga, Breathing, Meditation
and Massage. Sharon Ioannou
Mindful Yoga
Mindful yoga is a joyful union of mind and body, it’s about learning to live a life of balance.
Through the practices of ASANA (poses), PRANAYAMA (breathing), as well as RELAXATION
and MEDITATION techniques, we can begin to explore our true nature and take what we
learn on the yoga mat into our everyday lives.
Yoga - the experience
When we are MINDFUL we pay attention to what is happening in the MOMENT. Practising
YOGA helps anchor us to the moment - by focussing on asana or breath, you pay attention
to the feeling in your leg or arm, to the tension in your shoulder, to pain or resistance. We
bring ourselves into the experience of the moment. Yoga practice teaches the body to
release stress and tension which brings about a feeling of peace and calm. Mindfulness
brings a deep awareness to the practice.
Never sacrifice the body for the glory of the pose
Yoga is not competitive, it allows the individual to work at their own pace within their own
limitations. With MINDFUL awareness we become intuitive and respectful to our bodies’
needs and to enter our practice gently and with sensitivity.
When we give our full attention
to the action of the moment i.e.
the yoga asanas and breath and
we begin to feel the sensations
and subtleties of the action, our
minds become quieter. When we
are not caught up in the
thought process and where that
takes us, our bodies begin to let
go of tension and we begin to
RELAX into the pose. It is when
the body has achieved this
feeling of relaxation that it can
learn to be in a meditative state
of mind. MINDFUL YOGA IS
MEDITATION IN ACTION.
When we give our full attention
to the action of the moment i.e.
the yoga asanas and breath and
we begin to feel the sensations
and subtleties of the action, our
minds become quieter. When we
are not caught up in the
thought process and where that
takes us, our bodies begin to let
go of tension and we begin to
RELAX into the pose. It is when
the body has achieved this
feeling of relaxation that it can
learn to be in a meditative state
of mind. MINDFUL YOGA IS
MEDITATION IN ACTION.
Experience The Healing Power of Nature
In recent years, extensive research has been undertaken into the benefits of nature immersion. Apart from a general sense of wellbeing, taking ourselves into natural spaces has been proven to have a significant effect on our nervous system, reducing stress and cortisol levels and lowering blood pressure. It boosts our immune system, which helps in building our defences against harmful bacteria and viruses and improves patterns.
Trees release phytoncides, a natural oil within the tree which also protects them from bacteria. When research was conducted as to whether these natural oils could have an effect on our health, it shows that exposure to phytoncides in the forest environment, significantly decreases anxiety, anger and fatigue. Microbes released from the soil when we walk upon it, has been shown to boost happiness and in turn our immune system.
For more information on the power of Forest Bathing and research into nature based healing, I recommend The Book of Shinrin Yoku by Dr. Qi Ling and Forest Bathing by Amos Clifford.
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