Oil me up!

Since being on my journey as a yogi I have discovered it smells sweet, literally!

Used as an additional way to energise or relax you, essential oils are a great way to enhance your practice

Already using Rejuvenoils Rosehip Seed as a nourishing body oil I discovered they do plain massage oils, with just a faint aroma such as Argan which is very revitalising on its own or you can add your own essential oil

They also make ready made massage therapy oils but I quite enjoyed playing with the different smells to come up with my own! Frankincense, Lemon & Peppermint in Sweet Almond worked a treat and perfect for yoga with its energising scents

Rejuvenoils also do anti-aging, bath, fragrance, hair care & new pure essential oil soap bars! They are currently offering discounts on multibuys of these and anything else you may fancy - just mention ‘flex’ for your 15% on larger orders J

Now with this in mind when I visited the OM yoga show in Manchester and was introduced to Yogandha at the end of a Swedish massage workshop – it was meant to be!

I had already visited the Yogandha stall and shown an interest in the product so when they mentioned you get a discount if you’d done the workshop so I was straight over! When purchasing my first (of many) rollerballs I got chatting to Sinead the lovely owner more about the product and it really does have a lot to offer 

The rollerballs are great to have in your bag - be it gym bag or handbag – I got the Grounding one of frankincense (yes again) & sandalwood to relax you and relieve stress. By putting it on your pulse points pre practice or just when you want to feel calm, focused and relaxed (so all the time then please!)

There are 2 more specially created rollerballs of Balance, which is jasmine & cypress for hormonal balance, and Uplifting grapefruit & bergamot for a natural lift and great for jet lag!

The body oils are also amazing – a muscle soothing one, a detoxing one and a relaxing one there is something for everyone! To be used post practice or exercise they’re also great for massage and the relaxing one for sleep :) which we all most definitely need!

Available in Harvey Nichols – if you’re in Manchester be sure to mention flex for a special free gift :) and I’m sure you’ll be happy with whichever oil you go for – in award winning packaging nonetheless!

Yogandha is available online with 5% of all profits going to Women for Women International Charity x

Everyone needs some therapy in their life....Sporting Therapy that is! 

Working in the fitness industry I have obviously come across physiotherapists before but have luckily never needed to use one myself…

After a client having some terrible pains in her back (not from me I must add!)she had visited the nearest physio and told me about Sporting Therapy

From the feedback she gave me about how Johnny (the director of  Sporting Therapy and an advanced clinical sports therapist) did such a good job I was intrigued :) 

Now you’d think you’d have to have a problem to visit a physio – don’t worry I didn’t try and lift a heavy weight on purpose.... I thought I’d book an assessment to see if he could tell me anything I didn’t already know!
I also thought I could use the information from the  assessment as a preventative measure…  I see a lot of shoulder and knee injuries in my line of work and wanted to avoid at all costs, seeing  how debilitating they can be

              
The first consultation is free and I would highly recommend everyone having one as you learn so much about your body! Johnny checked my body composition - including soft tissue hydration, and a postural assessment, including weight distribution - both sides of which I found very interesting (pardon the pun ;)

I was told I need to drink 3 litres of water a day, reducing intake of fluids that dehydrate (luckily I’ve just done Sober October;) and also incorporate 5-6 grams of salt into my dietary intake - which I had always avoided for health reasons

When I first visited Johnny I didn’t really have much wrong with me – he identified some small areas that when addressed would improve my physical ability, reduce potential injury and enhance performance....

I was given some daily exercises/stretches to do to improve these areas and had an amazing (although tear-jerking) sports massage on my 2nd visit!

It was only on my 3rd visit that Johnny managed to really do some work on me as I managed to damage my knee after not running all summer (I was away in Ibiza doing my yoga training so had got out of the swing!) I’d gone for a long run followed by a walk up Pendle Hill with my dad, probably not in the best footwear – and something twinged as I was coming back down the hill

I could barely walk the morning after so booked straight in at Sporting Therapy. After limping there Johnny did some various tests tell me that the tracking of my knee had been knocked out…. He gave me some exercises to do with a resistance band doing these just once a day for the next week I was almost recovered! He also taped up my knee which I think helped although I couldn't keep on as long as I'd wanted - as I was back in Ibiza and it wouldn't have made for very nice tan lines! 

My mum also visited Johnny after having problems with her shoulder and being a keen Crossfit trainer – she found him very professional and liked the way he explained things so she understood. Johnny never seemed like he was pushing you to come back in a salesy way – he simply wanted to help you fix yourself and with his help - only if needed!  

            

I really couldn’t recommend this physio more – it has sparked my passion for the profession again – growing up I always wanted to be a sport physiotherapist – for Blackburn Rovers nonetheless! Johnny has been working with Olympic swim teams and it really is credit to him :) 

Sporting Therapy have kindly offered 15% on all treatments to flex readers – offering  deep tissue sports massage, taping & strapping, and exercise therapy (to name a few)

Call 0161 2364150 to book your free consultation or discounted treatment now, with the late opening until 9pm week days and the handy Northern Quarter location, it's very convenient for all 

Yoga for fitness

Being a PT and a keen yogi I was intrigued by a teacher training course I came across – Freestyle Fitness Yoga (FFY)

Wanting to further my journey as a yoga instructor, but not being able to make time for a 200 hour course in India I thought I’d give it a try :) One day I will make it to the birthplace of yoga, too many friends getting married this year!

FFY claims to give you the skills to teach a yoga based workout, but you must already hold a fitness qualification, having high knowledge of how the body works…. So lets go!

Jayne Nicholls, the creator behind it is what I’d describe as a little warrior. A tiny, but powerful lady, she immediately makes you want to sit up and listen! And so I did, and one of the first things she said is she likes the word ‘flex’ so we were off to a good start!

The context of this was to have your joints soft and flexible, not bent, so you can move in a fluid way. Other teaching points like breathing in on upwards moves and out on downwards moves were like traditional yoga, but opposite to pilates. So it was interesting to see a couple of pilates instructors on the course – maybe they saw this as a step closer to the other side, but without getting too close, or maybe not….

Day one consisted of an introduction & overview, teaching of a warm up -including mobilising joints, managing body weight and sun salutations. We then went through the different standing postures of the class, including warriors, with the teaching points, finishing with some mat work and stretches

As well as some pre-course work, and advising us to read up on and practice as much yoga/body balance a possible, there was homework to go over what we’d learnt and be ready  to go straight into a class and teach one tomorrow! There was also a dedicated YouTube channel which helped with recapping :) 

Well I was aching all over the morning after – just highlights the deprived, unused muscles! The second day as promised started with a demo of the class, followed by the theory behind FFY. We looked at range of motion & compression/tension, touching on some advanced sequences for FFY, like binding & bridging. The afternoon comprised of the practical & theory exams which I’m happy to say I passed (with flying colours, I’m sure Jayne will agree ;) I think a few were asked to come back a later date when they could show more competency which I think can only be a good thing, meaning she wasn’t just
passing everyone who had paid for the course

The general feel of FFY in the yoga world was that the traditional yogis may not agree with this kind of class/teaching – there are no ‘nice’ stretches, or positions where you could stay all day – it is more of a workout where you will experience DOMS a day or 2 after – and I can vouch for that! It doesn’t tap into the spiritual, chanting side of yoga. Some people may not be bothered by this, as they do yoga solely for physical reasons. I believe in this fitness side of it but also think yoga is great for the mind. All in all, this was a great course which I took a lot from and have already applied to my style of teaching.

Group X training do a great range of fitness based courses. I’m now considering the pre & post natal Level 3 course – well all my friends are getting married, so surely pregnancy is next on the agenda?!

Pilates Vs Yoga

On a recent yoga course (more of which I’ll go into next time) it became apparent to me of the big divide between yoga and pilates. They get put under the same umbrella but in fact they are in completely different seasons!

Having only done pilates a few times, mostly at The Yoga Lounge I must admit I have always seen myself more of a yogi but I really do see the benefits of pilates every time I do it....

The reformer class, done a machine really does get you into a deep stretch – deeper than I thought was possible, and it gave me a great boost of energy for the rest of the day! The pilates on the mat class was also a good stretch class and pushed me to my limit! With a little help from Nisha, the fab instructor :) 

There are obviously many different types of both pilates and yoga. Pilates is a much newer invention with yoga having a deeper and more spiritual history, sometimes with meditation included. Pilates classes have always seemed more structured to me, focussing on the spine and core, whereas the yoga I’ve done gives me an all over body workout and stretch. 

One thing they don’t seem to agree on is the breath – breathing in and out through the nose in most yoga classes but through the mouth in pilates.... Although a yoga class I teach asks you to focus on your breath but allow yourself to breath freely, so whatever feels natural and most relaxing!

Having tried Bikram in the past, I wanted to give another type of hot yoga a go so I went back to the Yoga Lounge where they do a great 60 minute class. Although it’s a shorter class than Bikram, Janes class definitely worked me as much and felt more flowing than a structured Bikram session. I do definitely see the benefits of both though....

All I would say in the minefield of yoga and pilates is to try as many different types and style of both as you can and make your own decision on what you like. You don’t need to choose one over the other, I see the benefits of both and will continue to deepen my knowledge and skills of both :) 

This starts next weekend as I’m off to the OM yoga show in Manchester – they are kindly giving away 5 pairs of tickets to flex readers! All you need to do is like our Facebook page then let me know your favourite yoga pose and why!

Also Nisha (who formerly instructed at the Yoga Lounge) would like to let you readers know about a retreat she is running – one course has just finished this week but get in there early for the next one in November!

It’s a rustic yoga/pilates retreat in the Hacienda, Spain for just £299 per person based on 2 sharing. 4 days/3 nights, full board plus yoga and pilates classes :) Maybe see you there....