Day 28 of the Yoga Challenge! Creating a healthy digestive system...

Focusing on detoxing the body is so healthy.  I wanted to share with you the idea of nurturing the good bacteria in your gut in order to support effective digestion.  We all have bacteria in our gut.  The trick is to nurture the good stuff and get rid of the bad.  Eating live yogurt with good bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus can help the body digest food, produces vitamins and resist infection.  So when you do your shop pick up a pot of live yogurt add a bit of fresh fruit and a dash of honey and pamper your tummy and your taste buds!

Namaste     Luma

POWER YOGA DETOX WORKSHOP TOMORROW SATURDAY 28 MARCH CAFE MILA GODALMING

POWER YOGA DETOX WORKSHOP

This heat-building, detoxing flow practice presents strong standing poses, twists, and arm balances to make you feel cleansed and glowing! & Kirtan Live music to Relax

Date:   Sat 28 March

Time:   1-3 pm

Venue: Cafe Mila, Godalming 

            www.cafemila.co.uk

Price:   £20

To book: lumazaki@aol.com  

           www.yogainsurrey.co.uk

Day 27 of the Yoga Challenge! lululemon athletica is coming to the Medicine Garden Today!

Good Morning Yogi's!

I am so excited about today's class at the medicine garden! Please come to the Hot Power Yoga class at 9.30 as we are having special guests lululemon athletica! lululemon will be offering a 15% discount to my students on their wonderful yoga gear.  Their clothing is truly beautiful to look at and fabulous to wear.  The fabrics are such high quality and feel even better than they look.  I hope you will be joining me for a energy packed class and treat yourself to some lululemon sportswear after your hard work in the dome.  



Namaste    Luma

Day 26 of the Yoga Challenge! Supplements to support your immune system...

How can I improve my immune system and fight off coughs, colds and flu?

One of the best ways to fight off illness is to eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein.  Increasing your intake of Vitamin C is another reliable way to fight off infections.  Although oranges are thought to be high in Vitamin C in fact peppers have a much higher concentration than oranges or orange juice.  Oranges are also high in sugar which is not ideal. 

Yellow peppers have the highest concentration of vitamin C of any fruit or vegetable.  The next highest is red peppers and then green. Guavas, leafy green vegetables, kiwis, strawberries and broccoli are also very high in vitamin C.  

On a rainy and cold day like today a big dose of Vitamin C could be your secret weapon for fighting off any nasty Spring colds.  

If you would like to supplement your diet in pill form try Vitamin C with Echinacea which offers two immune boosters in one.  Juicing is always a great way to get a high dose of vitamins and minerals from a wide variety fruit and veg.  Make up your own special recipe designed to meet your needs and preferences.  

Namaste Luma

Day 25 of the Yoga Challenge! Drink More Water!

What happens if I don't drink enough water?

1. Dehydration accounts for over 90% of illness.  When your body loses more fluid than it takes in, dehydration slows down the activities that are so crucial to your survival. Dehydration causes tiredness; digestive, mental and emotional problems; blood disorders and in extremity, death.
2. Fatigue resulting from dehydration can affect your memory, mental focus and work performance.  While tea, coffee and energy drinks temporarily reduces fatigue it does not replace the need for pure water.  Water refreshes you and keeps you energized.
3. Joints and Muscle Pains are reduced when your body is hydrated. Water lubricates and insulates your joints and muscles.  Lack of water triggers lactic acid to form in the muscle causing your joints and muscles to become sore and stiff.  This can impede movement and agility.
4. Kidney Stones form when your kidneys are unable to remove toxic wastes from your organs efficiently and the wastes are not flushed out of your system quickly enough.  Toxins build up in the blood and kidney stones form causing extreme pain and discomfort.
5. Water Retention occurs when you are dehydrated because the body reacts to the deficit by retaining whatever water is in the body.  This in turn affects the body's ability to flush out toxic wastes as the body will not release fluid to do so.  When you are dehydrated your body goes into survival mode which causes constipation, fatigue and weight gain.

Why is water so good for me?

1. Your blood is over 80 percent water and needs water to make healthy new blood cells.

2. Your bones are over 50 percent water and, you guessed it, need water to make healthy new bone cells.

3. Drinking more water actually helps lessen pain in your body by getting your lymphatic system moving. The lymphatic system is a network of nodes, tubes, vessels, and fluid that move waste out of your tissues. It requires water to function properly.

4. Water helps to eliminate wastes and toxins from your body through the lymphatic system, kidneys, and intestines.

5. Water lubricates your joints and helps reduce joint pain and protect against wear and tear.

6. Water regulates your metabolism so if you’re overweight chances are you may need more water.

7. Water balances body temperature.

8. Water helps to ensure adequate electrical functioning so your brain and nervous system function properly. Your brain and nervous system send out electrical signals to function properly. Researchers estimate that your brain gives off about the same amount of electricity as a 60 watt light bulb. So, there’s some truth to the image of a light bulb going on when someone has a good idea.

9. Water alleviates dehydration and most people are chronically dehydrated.

10. Every cell and organ in your body requires adequate water to function properly.

11. One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your health is to start drinking more pure water every day. 

12. Be sure to drink water an empty stomach or you’ll simply be diluting your digestive enzymes and making your digestion less effective.

Yoga takes good care of you Adrenal Function...

Adrenal Function

Adrenal Glands sit above our kidneys.  They are powerful glands that control 

• the utilization of carbohydrates and fats
• the conversion of fats and proteins into energy
• the distribution of stored fat  – especially around your waist (the spare tire) and at the sides of your face
• normal blood sugar regulation
• proper cardiovascular function
• gastrointestinal function.

Adrenal fatigue can occur through unhealthy lifestyle and stress.  Replenish, relax and recharge your Adrenal glands.  Eat within half an hour of waking up add protein and plant based protein to your breakfast.  Replace caffeinated coffee or tea with decaffeinated versions.  Try to have a healthy combination of protein, fats and complex carbohydrates at every meal.  Most importantly do not skip breakfast and be sure to eat before 10am at the latest to avoid a metabolic dip in energy.

Reducing stress on the Adrenal Glands will increase your energy levels and decrease belly fat.  Adrenal Glands secrete cortisol a hormone that is released in response to stress.

Nutritional stress occurs you don’t eat enough protein throughout the day and your blood sugar levels swing from high to low.  The adrenal glands respond to low blood sugar as a stress response and Cortisol is produced causing the body to store any energy that is ingested as fat.

So help your Adrenal Glands stay healthy by decreasing environmental and metabolic stress by eating regular healthy meals, doing Yoga every day and five to ten minutes of meditation / breathing exercises.

Namaste     Luma

Lululemon Athletica...wonderful yoga gear... coming this Friday 27 March to the Medicine Garden Cobham

lululemon athletica



Great news lululemon athletica is coming on Friday 27 of March 9am-1pm to the

Medicine Garden Cobham. 

Don't miss out on great workout gear. 

So exciting! So happy to work with lululemon athletica! 

POWER YOGA DETOX WORKSHOP 28 MARCH 2015 A HEALTHY START TO THE EASTER HOLIDAYS

POWER YOGA DETOX WORKSHOP

This heat-building, detoxing flow practice presents strong standing poses, twists, and arm balances to make you feel cleansed and glowing! & Kirtan Live music to Relax

Date:   Sat 28 March

Time:   1-3 pm

Venue: Cafe Mila, Godalming 

            www.cafemila.co.uk

Price:   £20

To book: lumazaki@aol.com  

           www.yogainsurrey.co.uk

Day 23 of the Yoga Challenge!

Good Morning Yogini's!  Happy Monday to you! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to fit in some yoga at home or try a new class.  

I have been focusing on healthy eating and looking for effective supplements to boost my immune system and detox my liver.  




Do you want to boost your liver function?

I was at Holland&Barrett and the branch manager of the Godalming store was so kind to help out with great information about supporting our liver function. 

Use Milk Thistle supplements to help your liver perform at its optimum level detoxing and cleansing your body. 

I am here to offer you information about yoga and healthy living. Keep sending me your comments as I want us to grow our Holistic community helping each other lead healthier and happier lives.

Looking forward to seeing you in the dome this week!

Namaste     Luma

Day 22 of the Yoga Challenge!

Welcome to Day 22 of the Yoga Challenge.  I have had a busy week attending some wonderful Yoga workshops which have given me great energy.  The first workshop I attended was a hip opening session at the Fleet Bikram Studio.  Sue was a fantastic teacher and I so enjoyed the whole experience. There is no doubt that the heat helps to allow greater flexibility and range of movement.  I felt more confident to push my boundaries confident I would not injure myself in the process.   

I also went to a Mudras and Chakras workshop at Pure Hot Yoga UK taught by Swami Saradananda.  I learned so much and it reminds me how much we can learn from one another and the many benefits of trying something new.

The classes at the dome this week have been fantastic with great Spring energy.

I look forward to seeing you all in the dome at the Medicine Garden in Cobham this week.  And don't forget our Spring Break Bonanza at the Medicine Garden this week when we will be offering classes throughout the April Easter holidays at discounted rates. £5.00 for adults and teenagers are free.  

One final reminder... My Yoga Detox Workshop is this coming Saturday at Cafe Mila in Godalming from 1 to 3pm.  We will have live Kirtan music and it will be a great way to start off the holidays focusing on detoxing and meditation.  I hope to see you all there.  Please refer to my website to book your place.

www.yogainsurrey.co.uk 

Namaste     Luma

Day 21 of the Yoga Challenge! Goal Setting...

Good morning yogi's I hope you have had a great start to your weekend!  

I am incorporating goal setting into my daily yoga practice.  Would you like to master hand stand, head stand, scorpion, flying warrior, crow?  What is it that you want to achieve? I know that you can do it... the secret is to set the goal and work towards it every day.  

I would love to see what you have been able to accomplish through daily practice.  I know that it is through trial and error and making mistakes and trying again that we break through those barriers in our minds and achieve our goals.  

Every advanced practitioner that you see folding themselves into extraordinary postures started somewhere and worked up to that level.  So can you!  I can't wait to see the successful results of your efforts in the dome! 




Namaste     Luma

Day 20 of the Yoga Challenge!

Good Morning and welcome to the solar eclipse! Today is supposed to be a full solar eclipse so hopefully we will get a glimpse at some point when the clouds clear to see it.  I hope you will be joining me in the medicine Garden this morning for Hot Power Yoga at 9.30.  Yesterday HIT Yoga was fantastic and we had a great class with wonderful energy.  I loved this picture and thought this might inspire you to introduce your partner or your children to yoga!  

Namaste    Luma

Great way to start the day!

I love this picture because it communicates the power of yoga to uplift my perspective and give me a new vision of my life and the moment I am in one moment at a time.  Yoga literally and figuratively transports us to wherever we want to go.  

Namaste     Luma

Day 19 of the Yoga Challenge!

Good Morning and Happy Thursday! I hope you had a restful evening and were able to practice at some point in the day yesterday...  I am looking forward to HIT yoga this morning at 9.15 in the Medicine Garden in Cobham.  Please come and join me for a great cardio / yoga combination.  

Another reminder about signing up for my Yoga Detox workshop on March 28 in Godalming at Cafe Mila.  We will be having live Kirtan music and it will be a wonderful chance to start off the Easter Holidays in a healthy way.  The workshop is from 1 - 3 pm and please sign up as soon as possible.  You can find more information on my website.  www.yogainsurrey.co.uk.

Namaste   Luma

Day 18 of the Yoga Challenge! Bee Breath

I wanted to pass on this article about Bee Breath as a useful method to dispel negative emotions.  I think it is suited to home yoga practice because the solitude is helpful for optimal results.  

Bhramari Pranayama or Bee Breath

Bhramari pranayama is very effective in instantly calming the mind. It is one of the best breathing exercises to release agitation, frustration, anxiety or diffuse anger. 

This breathing technique derives its name from the black Indian bee called  Bhramar

(Bhramari = type of Indian bee; pranayama = breathing technique)

The exhalation in this pranayama resembles the humming sound of a bee.

How To Practice Bee Breath

• 1. Sit up straight in a quiet, well ventilated room with your eyes closed. Keep a gentle smile on your face.
• 2. Place your index fingers on your ears. There is cartilage between your cheek and ear. Place your index fingers on the cartilage.
• 3. Take a deep breath in and as you breathe out, gently press the cartilage. You can keep the cartilage pressed or press it in and out with your fingers, while making a loud humming sound like a bee.
• 4. You can also make a low-pitched sound but it is a good idea to make a high-pitched sound for better results.

Breathe in again and continue the same pattern 6-7 times.

Keep your eyes closed. Observe the sensations in the skull and body and the quietness that results from focusing on the sound and sensation of your breath. You can also practice Bhramari pranayama lying on your back or lying on your right side. While practicing bee breath lying down, just make the humming sound and don't about keeping your index finger on the ear. You can practice the Bee pranayama 3-4 times every day for best results.

Benefits Of Bee Breath

• An instant way to relieve tension, anger and anxiety. It is a very effective breathing technique for people suffering from hypertension as it calms down the agitated mind.
• Gives relief if you're feeling hot or have a slight headache
• Helps mitigate migraines
• Improves concentration and memory
• Builds confidence
• Helps in reducing blood pressure

Let me know if you try Bee Breath.  I'd love to hear if it was useful for you. 

Namaste     Luma

Day 17 of the Yoga Challenge!

Another great image I found which inspires me to try yoga in shallow water sometime soon... hopefully on a beach over the Easter holidays.  

If you are staying in town for the Easter Holidays remember that I am offering the Spring Break Bonanza where all classes are discounted to 5 pounds per class during the Easter Holidays and teens are free! So bring friends and family to the medicine garden and convert your nearest and dearest to the yoga way of life.   

Namaste   Luma

Bedtime Blog

I thought this was an amazing almost dreamlike image.  A fantastic place to practice accompanied by the sound of crashing waves.  Where is the wildest place you have practiced yoga? 

Focus on the Breath... Day 16 of the Yoga Challenge!

Dear Yogi's hope you had a wonderful weekend.  For those of you who are mums I hope you were spoiled rotten and treated like a queen for a full 24 hours!   The weather has turned back towards winter so the heat in the dome this morning should be a welcome oasis. I wanted to show you this wonderful picture of Yoga being practiced in a salt room with Himalayan salt crystals covering the walls.  Apparently the salt helps treat respiratory illnesses.  A bit like practicing yoga on the beach and inhaling fresh salty air.  

This week I will be focusing on the breath in class and in my own home practice.  Focusing on the breath is so healthy mentally, physically and emotionally.  Increasing our intake of oxygen lowers the heart rate as the heart does not have to work as hard to circulate oxygen if we are taking in more oxygen per breath.  We give our brain oxygen by breathing more deeply improving brain function and memory.  We calm the nervous system and reduce the physical effects of stress when we lower our heart rate.  Our mental monkey mind is stilled and calmed when we focus our attention on the breath instead of the running dialogue in our heads.  All in all breath is the essence of our life force and focusing on the quality of our breathing can only improve our overall health and well being.  Looking forward to seeing you in the dome...

Namaste     Luma