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How Yoga Transforms Us (Without Us Even Knowing)

25/7/2020

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Although the tradition of yoga has been around for centuries, its popularity in the west is relatively new. However in a very quick amount of time, yoga has infiltrated the modern world in many ways. Yoga is no longer seen as a practice for a certain demographic or stereotype. If you look around any yoga room, chances are you will see a diverse mix of ages, genders and body types.
For many people new to yoga, one class is all it takes to say yes to an ongoing practice. For others, it may take a little more time. Yet there is no denying that yoga has a magical and mystical hold over us that keeps us returning to our mat time and time again.
If you ask an average classroom of yoga students what bought them to yoga, you will likely get varied responses: recovering from an injury, a desire to reconnect to themselves on a deeper level, to find greater inner peace, to take better care of their physical body, to be part of a community, to balance stress, or perhaps a combination of these reasons.
To put it simply, yoga makes us feel good. Right?! We keep showing up, despite everything else going on in our lives- or perhaps because of everything else going on in our lives- because we know that at the end of that class, chances are we will feel better than we did when we walked in the door only an hour earlier. Is yoga a drug?! Is it addictive?! Maybe! It certainly triggers a whole heap of wonderful reactions in the body that are beneficial to our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. If it is an addition, it certainly is a good one!
Yet what people are slowly begin to realise in their yoga journey, is that the magical feelings that occur during class, actually have a lifespan that exists beyond the yoga room. The positivity, peace, tranquility, empowerment and bliss that percolate within us during class stay with us as we roll up our mat and walk out the door. You may notice post-yoga that you’re not as triggered by the car that cuts you off on the way home. Perhaps you have greater patience that evening with your children. Maybe you have more focus at work all day long. Possibly you make better food choices and are more mindful in the ways you practice self care. 
These little things, they add up.
Over time, a consistent yoga practice changes us. The lessons we learn on the mat infiltrate every aspect of our lives. Not in a wild and loud way; but in a soft and consistent way. When we hold a warrior pose even when our mind tells us to get out, we learn that we can stand strong in uncomfortable situations. When we find that arm balance we have been working on for months (or years!) we understand that commitment does have results. When we wobble around in a balancing pose, we are reminded that focus isn’t always easy, but we do always have that still point within us. When a sigh of joy escapes our lips during a child’s pose, we remember how important it is to allow ourselves to rest and surrender.

These are merely a few examples.


So while yoga makes us feel good, it also makes us be better people. We show up in our daily lives as we do on our yoga mats- completely unaware of what’s ahead but ready to give it all we’ve got.


It doesn’t matter if all you have is ten minutes while your baby sleeps or if you manage a full hour class. Any amount of yoga can be beneficial and transformational.


One of the reasons we developed the Zenko Yoga Online Studio is to offer you even more ways to bring yoga into your daily life. We know that coming to studio classes can be challenging in terms of time, finances or even motivation! Our online platform offers a way for you to press play and find your inner zen at a time that works for you. Online classes still offer all the benefits of a studio class, in some ways, they offer even more.

So, what’s stopping you from rolling out your mat today?!
Join us in one of our physical studios or our virtual studio and discover for yourself how a consistent yoga practice may just change your life in more ways that you had imagined... 


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7 Reasons to Try Yin Yoga

13/7/2020

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There is no denying that Yin Yoga has become increasingly popular in the yoga world over recent years. It makes sense too- as day to day life is already active, often stressful and always on-the-go, Yin Yoga offers the opportunity to enjoy a more relaxed, rejuvenating, grounding practice that has tremendous benefits for body, mind and soul.

​Yin yoga is a simple, quiet practice, but make no mistake, it is not always an easy or comfortable one! Yin Yoga has the power to take you beyond your regular comfort zone, however, this is where much of the benefit and magic lies.


So what is Yin Yoga?! Yin Yoga is a slow-paced, therapeutic style of yoga. Yin postures are more passive postures, mainly done on the floor either seated or lying down. There is no dynamic movement and usually no standing poses at all. Yin Yoga is unique in that you are asked to relax into the posture, allowing the body to soften and release naturally without pushing or straining. 


It is not uncommon for postures to be held for three to five minutes, even 10 minutes at a time. The time spent in these postures is much like time spent in meditation, as the mind shifts from yang to yin, or from active to passive. The key to practicing Yin Yoga is finding stillness in each position as you access the deeper tissues of the body.


So, what are the benefits of a Yin Yoga practice? Plenty actually- both physical, mental and emotional. Take a look at 7 reasons why you can benefit from Yin Yoga here:

Improved SleepYin energy is yang energy’s counterpart. Disrupted sleep often occurs when the body and mind are experiencing an imbalance of these two forces. Yin invites the body to let go of held stress and tension in both the physical body and the mind. If you spend most of your day in a more yang, or active, state, a Yin practice can help to ground your energy and promote more rejuvenating rest.
Reduces Stress and AnxietyYin Yoga is a particularly calming practice and helps soothe the nervous energy that so many of us battle with daily. A Yin class is the perfect way to find space, to slow your mind down, and to be guided deeper into your practice. Surrender is a common theme in Yin Yoga, and combined with the slow movements and focus on the breath, Yin is a terrific way to help lessen stress and anxiety both physically and emotionally.
Increases Flexibility and Range of MotionYin yoga stretches and targets both the deep connective tissues between the muscles, and the fascia throughout the body. The aim is to increase circulation in the joints and improve flexibility. Injury, habitual posture in daily life, and aging, among other factors can bind our connective tissues together, restricting that movement. This blocks the flow of nutrients and energy through the body, causing pain and limiting mobility. Holding poses that gently lengthen the muscles and fascia helps shift these blockages, and applying mild stress to joints and connective tissues can increase their range of motion.
Promotes Self-LoveYin yoga is amazing for opening our heart, calming our nervous system, and providing a space for the body to deeply relax. It also offers a deeply nourishing and nurturing environment where we can cultivate compassion and love for ourselves on a deeper level. The practice is a beautiful way to reconnect to the body in a gentle, compassionate way. Yin asks you to get  intimate with your feelings, sensations, and emotions—something that can perhaps be ignored during a faster paced class, and life in general! While this can be confronting at first, it is also deeply healing, and is a beautiful way to foster self-care, intuition and loving kindness.
Builds Strength and PerseveranceYin Yoga may not build the strength associated with a Power Yoga class, instead, it builds a deeper inner strength, resilience and perseverance. Yin teaches you that staying still and dealing with whatever comes up one breath at a time will truly help you grow. Rather than running away, distracting ourselves, or trying to get out of the discomfort, Yin shows us that there is strength in surrender and how to overcome the negative chatter of the mind to find a place of stillness and acceptance. Yin teaches us how to be gentle, patient, and nonreactive. It is a practice that offers great assistance both on and off the mat.
Releasing Stored EmotionsThe poses and the way they are held can release incredibly strong sensations. We store our emotions in various parts of our bodies. Memories, anxiety and tension linger in cells stored deep in our tissues. When we go into a yoga pose that opens a part of the body left untouched for a while, these deeply stored memories and emotions resurface. Doing so can be challenging in the moment, and can lead to a wide array of reactions, yet essentially, it helps us to let go of things that don’t serve us that we have been holding onto for too long. 
A Meditative MindA Yin practice helps us to tap into a state of mind very similar to that of meditation. When we create opportunities for physical stillness in a yin practice, we also create the perfect conditions for the brain to become clear and still also. A Yin practice can quite literally help us to wipe the slate of our mind clean and take some much needed time out from the mental to-do list that occupies most of our waking state. The poses and the focus on the breath allows the mind something gentle to focus on, which makes the meditative state easier to tap into.

We have a great range of Yin Yoga classes for you to try in our Zenko Yoga Online Studio. The classes are 45 minutes long and suitable for all levels, especially for those new to Yin Yoga.

Join Zenko Online for a day for only $5, or opt for a monthly or annual membership that allows you access to daily live yoga classes and a vast library of classes to select from.

Find out all the details and join us here: 
https://liveclasses.zenkoyoga.com.au
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5 Lesser Known Benefits Of Practicing Yoga Online

8/7/2020

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While online yoga classes have been around for quite some time, the recent global environment was a real turning point for the online yoga arena. With studios closed, yoga practitioners had to make use of these online platforms in order to keep up with their practice and also feel connected to their yoga community. 
For those new to online yoga, many people discovered the plethora of benefits that come with the virtual yoga classroom- you have the opportunity to practice from the comfort of your own living room. You can switch on your computer and bust out your downward facing dog at any hour of the day that suits you. You can practice with your favourite yoga teachers as much as you pleased. You have access to literally hundreds of yoga classes to pick and choose from. There is studio commute, no fancy yoga clothes needed, no babysitter required for your kids and no awkward moments navigating your poses to avoid side-swiping your neighbouring yogi.
At Zenko Yoga, we were amazed and overjoyed at how many tribe members switched over to join us in online daily classes while the studios were closed. This enthusiasm is one of the reasons why we decided to launch Zenko Yoga Online and keep the virtual classes going. Many members revealed that they experienced many of the above perks of practicing from home and were keen to keep this practice alive. 
Aside from the common benefits mentioned already, there are a few additional benefits of online yoga that you may not be so familiar with. These lesser-known perks may inspire you to switch a few of your weekly studio classes for your own at-home studio space! Let’s dive in and explore them.
The absence of ego
It goes without saying that yoga should be an ego-free playground. Yoga students and practitioners should always feel free to come and move and flow according to their own unique needs and body types- we are all different and each yoga asana is unique to each individual. However, this isn’t always the case. It can be challenging to be in a full yoga room and not peek at how your Trikonasana compares to your neighbours pose. Practicing yoga online, as the sole individual in the class, competition and comparison do not factor into the equation. You are there for you, focused 100% on your own practice, and you are able to really tune into your own needs and preferences, without being swayed by those that may surround you in a studio. Ultimately, practicing solo is incredibly liberating. While the united energy of a class can be one of the joys of practicing in a group environment, for those who are more introverted, those who may be new to yoga, or those who naturally feel a little self-conscious, practicing online still offers a high quality class that is solely about your yoga journey and no one else's. 
You will still feel deeply connected to the teacher
Having a favourite teacher is one of the things that keeps us coming back again and again to the mat. However, practicing online doesn’t mean that this connection to the teacher evaporates. We have become used to developing relationships through technology and communicating via screens. In an online class, you will still feel as though this teacher is right there for you, especially with a live online class where the teacher is literally practicing and teaching with you in that very moment. In many ways, their sole attention is on you. There aren’t 50 other students that they are trying to accommodate to. In this way, online yoga offers a very personalised practice where the teacher is offering you something very special- their undivided time and attention. This class has been made with you in mind- the person who has taken the time out of their day to roll out their mat and practice. 
You have the opportunity to advance quickly 
While yoga isn’t all about reaching those instagram-worthy peak poses, practicing online does have benefits when it comes to advancing your practice, in a few ways. Firstly, you have the ability to practice as often as you like. While getting to the studio can mean you are limited to one or two classes a week, practicing online means you can add yoga into your day whenever a period of time arises. Maybe you can sneak in a 30 minute class before work. Or maybe you find yourself with a sleeping child mid-afternoon and you can whip out your computer and enjoy a gentle flow in your own space. Another benefit is the good old pause button! When you are at home, you have the ability to pause the class any time if you would like a few extra minutes practicing a particular pose. You can even rewind to listen to the cues again or switch to slow motion and watch the demonstration one more time! Many yoga poses take long periods of exploration and practice. Online yoga offers you more luxury in the time you have to play. 
Your practice, your needs, your choice- every time
You may not always get what you are looking for in a studio class. While classes are generally well rounded, sometimes our body needs or asks for something in particular. After a long day perhaps you are looking for a more restorative class with lots of forward bends. Maybe you have plenty of energy and are looking for a fast-paced class with plenty of movement. Maybe you have a more specific itch you would like to scratch- twists, long holds, arm balances, external hip openers, balancing poses. Online yoga offers greater choice and freedom to really select a class that will benefit you in the present moment, every time you practice. Browse through the library of classes and see what jumps out at you. Online yoga allows you to customise your practice each time you jump on your mat which can make your practice that much more beneficial and rewarding. 
You develop other unique and life long skills
Like any form of yoga, online yoga develops and refines skills that are highly beneficial to everyday life. Practicing at home requires discipline, discipline both to roll out your mat, and to stick to the class and do your best. There is no teacher policing you- you are in control of finding your own limits in each pose. Along with discipline comes self-motivation, patience, commitment. You govern your practice, not an outsider. Making time for classes, resisting the ability to slack off, switching off from the possible distractions around you- these are all up to you. The discipline, motivation, patience and commitment that you can gain from practicing online yoga has a powerful trickle effect- these attributes become a stronger part of who you are and infiltrate all aspects of your life. 
In conclusion
Online yoga certainly has its own unique space in the world of modern yoga. It offers its own unique benefits that essentially allow yoga to be even more accessible and part of your daily life. If you haven’t given it a try, you have nothing to lose, and possibly a great deal to gain. 
Zenko Yoga Online offers daily live yoga classes and an extensive library of past classes with all the Zenko teachers that you know and love.
Daily passes, monthly memberships and annual memberships are available. 
Already a Zenko studio member? You can enjoy FREE access to our online studio- email us for your unique access code. 

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JOIN THE ZENKO YOGA ONLINE STUDIO HERE
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