Re-assessing my idea of strength in my life, my yoga practise, and my teaching.
For those who know me well, you know that I have relatively recently moved from London - and my London burb life - to the ‘countryside’. Some might argue that living right by the A3 isn’t quite ‘countryside’ but, with no walkable pub or shop, I would say that I am fully in the sticks!
With this move has come many things, but one thing that I have found fascinating is how my relationship to movement and exercise has changed. I had thought moving out to these green open places would mean more walking, nature, and physical activity. The reality has been more driving, sitting and NOT moving as I did before. Any task where we lived in London was done on foot, on bike, and very occasionally I would even break into a little jog on the school run. Daily life was carried out being active without meaning to be active; cycling the boys to school, popping to the doctors round the corner, walking the dog, cycling to a yoga class. And even to go further afield I would walk, cycle, tube, bus, a constant step-count increase, but not even counting. You stayed relatively fit without being aware of it…
Now here, with the necessity to drive the boys to school, drive to the supermarket, drive to the doctors (I did attempt to cycle when I first moved here and realised 70 mph country lanes aren’t the safest places for such past times) my daily life is more sedentary.
I have had to adapt to this change (with resistance!) and I have had to take up new ways of moving and actually start doing exercise instead of it naturally happening.
So I did three things.
I took up pilates, having always said “No, I do yoga, not pilates, they don’t mix. You’re either a pilates person or a yoga person”. How ridiculous of me - they do mix! And in the most wonderful way - I need the core strength that pilates is giving me, combined with the flow and spiritual side of yoga.
I have finally got over my fear of going for a walk solo without the purpose of walking to get somewhere or do something, and seeing another human being!
I have a friend who is an awesome PT and we meet once a week with a fabulous group of women. We focus on building strength through weights, cardio, and a good dose of chat.
Yoga has always given me so much mentally, physically, and spiritually, and the rest was taken care of with the whole general moving with meaning to thing I mentioned earlier. But when you take that away, you need to find strength in other places. And metaphorically I felt a lot of my mental strength also disappeared when I left London - everything I knew to be familiar and comforting. Now, testing out pilates and personal training have made me re-assess my idea of strength. I am learning to really value cultivating a stronger body through these 2 new practises alongside my yoga.
I have been thinking lots about the demographic I teach, which is mainly women (at the moment, but watch this space) and how essential it is as a female to build strength, especially after a certain age…and I am of that age! So I have loved planning classes to build strength into my sequencing, as well as focusing on the movement and freedom that a good yoga flow can bring.
I feel that building strength is incredibly important for women in yoga, as it provides a foundation for stability, balance, and the ability to progress in their practice. Here are a few key points which will hopefully have you all chomping at the bit to get back onto the mat!:
1. Enhanced Stability and Balance: Building strength in the muscles surrounding the joints, particularly the core, hips, and shoulders, improves stability and balance during yoga poses. This stability is crucial for maintaining proper alignment and preventing injuries, especially in more advanced poses that require greater strength and balance.
2. Injury Prevention: Strengthening muscles helps to support the joints and ligaments, reducing the risk of injuries both on and off the yoga mat. Strong muscles can help protect against strains, sprains, and other common injuries that may occur during physical activity.
3. Increased Flexibility: While flexibility is often emphasized in yoga, strength and flexibility go hand in hand. Building strength in the muscles allows for greater control and stability in stretching poses, helping women to safely deepen their stretches and improve overall flexibility over time.
4. Bone Health: Strength training in yoga can also contribute to better bone health, which is particularly important for women, especially as they age and become more susceptible to conditions like osteoporosis. Weight-bearing yoga poses and strength-building exercises help to maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.
5. Empowerment and Confidence: Developing physical strength in yoga can also lead to increased feelings of empowerment and confidence, both on and off the mat. As women build strength and see progress in their practice, they may feel more capable and empowered to take on new challenges in other areas of their lives.
6. Functional Fitness: Strength gained through yoga translates to improved functional fitness, making everyday activities like lifting, carrying, and bending easier and safer. This functional strength enhances overall quality of life and helps women maintain independence and vitality as they age.
7. Mind-Body Connection: Strength-building yoga poses require focus, concentration, and mindful engagement of the muscles. Through the practice of strength-focused yoga, women can deepen their mind-body connection, developing greater awareness of their physical abilities and limitations.
Overall, I feel integrating strength training into a yoga practice is essential for women to maximize the benefits of yoga, improve their physical performance, and support their overall health and well-being. Whether through holding challenging poses, practicing dynamic flows, or incorporating specific strength-building exercises, prioritizing strength can help women achieve their goals and thrive in their yoga practice.
While I may not have arms like Popeye, I am working on integrating more strength into my daily life. I feel that my yoga practise allows me to explore this concept, and my sequencing for others allows me to be creative with it, but it’s the additon of pilates and weight training to my practise that is cultivating a more well-rounded approach. And I gather together ideas from both of these new activities that I can then weave into my planning for my students.
I may not be very good on my bike anymore, and I walk at a slower pace down here.
But a core-engaged-squat-to-chair-pose sequence?
Bring it on….
Until next time, lovely people……
Nicola xx
Hoping you’ve enjoyed this blog. If you do like it, please send it on, and spread the word with others. If you have any questions about what I have written or want to know more about my classes (or anything else!) please do get in touch on nicola@yoganicola.com
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