SELF LOVE + RECOVERY DURING THE CRISIS

Stay safe. Stay home....Stay sane.
 
During this time of lockdown we all hear the same words from people, which of course are true and important, but what about our sanity? The physical, yes, we need to be strong, stay fit, stay active. We need to support each other, our families, children, our parents, loved ones, even those abroad. Our whole world has become much smaller in a matter of days, weeks and now months. 
 
With the hum of news reports and daily briefings, I am personally loosing my sanity with the amount of numbers, graphs, death tolls and ‘science’ that we are required to be kept informed about! But really and truly the most simple and honest thing we can do right now at home, is stay sane. 
 
How can one do this, prevent catching COVID-19 or worst case, recover from the disease? I have been inspired to write about this having spoken to, and been in virtual contact with a number of friends, family and students who have caught the virus, and recovered, or in recovery. 
 
Passing on vital tips to stay healthy throughout this period is naturally something a yoga teacher wants to offer, but to have more knowledge about how to manage the virus ourselves at home, is invaluable to give you peace of mind of what you could be dealing with, and ultimately be prepared. 
 
Of course, this is not passing off as a cure or medical advice, but natural remedies that those who have recovered from COVID-19 have found effective. In addition, yogic breathing techniques I have prescribed and restorative yoga techniques to aid, and support recovery from the virus. In addition to this, Yoga Nidra for fatigue during the symptomatic stages: 
 
Yoga Nidra: This ancient yogic technique also know as “yogi sleep” is a practice that can restore energy in the body, mind and spirit and effectively manage symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and anxiety. Practiced lying down (on the mat, or bed) flat on your back in Savasana or relaxation pose with the eyes closed, or open if you suffer from severe anxiety. Visualisations, chakra work and white light work can be practiced to restore the body, renew and cleanse Samskaras (past life karma). Ambika Yoga will be posting Free online videos of the practice of Yoga Nidra, coming soon.
 
Pranayama + Breathing Technique’s: There are a number of breathing techniques that have been described as super supportive to manage the coronovirus respiratory disease, and these include simple deep yogic breathing techniques (with longer exhalations) which can also be practiced outside in fresh air away from others, to more specific ancient yogic pranayama that involves more controlled breathing:

- Nadi Sodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
- Kapalaphati (Breath of fire) 
 
Please note if you are new to these pranayama techniques, seek the advice of your yoga teacher, or contact us here at Ambika Yoga to set up a consultation to learn these techniques online, via Zoom. 
 
Restorative Yoga: Restorative yoga is a wonderful technique in the modern world to aid relaxation, restore energy and renew you from within. Practiced alongside active postures or simply alone passively, you can really help to aid your recovery from COVID-19.
 
Four simple restorative poses:

- Viparita Karani (Legs up the wall or chair/sofa/bed) 
- Supported Balasana (Childs pose)
- Savasana (Relaxation/corpse pose)
- Supported Downward-Facing Dog (use a bolster/pillows to support the forehead)
 
Meditation/Mindfulness: This can be practised lying down and not just seated if you are unwell, and are bedridden. A technique that can help in the early stages of the virus with the onset of symptoms to calm the mind, and stay positive. Also a great technique to encourage deep breathing and awareness of how your body is feeling, and responding. As well as an aid to follow symptoms, and during recovery. 
 
Raw onion, garlic and green chillies: Loosens mucus in the body during the onset of symptoms, as well as a part of your regular diet to strengthen the immune systems response. These can also be cooked, and hidden in salad dressings. 
 
Onions to bed(!): Sliced onions placed in some old socks before bed, and wearing them throughout the night. For children, you can place half an onion in the bedroom, at night. Alternatively, create an Onion poultice, slice onion and place it in a Muslin on the chest, the vapour can assist breathing and act to loosen the mucus in the chest. 
 
Cayenne pepper: A great spice to add to food and also honey and lemon drinks that are prepared throughout an episode, to fight off a stuffy nose/cold, coughs and lemon to increase natural vitamin c. You can also add cloves, and star anis. 
 
Sleep & Rest: Most importantly like any other virus, as much sleep and rest will aid your recovery, and restore your mind. Even taking naps if you need to in the day, and if you suffer from other conditions you may find that you need more of these, and practice restorative yoga for longer periods, to really get back to your old self again. We all have different recovery times, so just go with your own body, and don’t push yourself too soon. 

Baths: This has been a regular practice of self care that students have been describing as doing when having mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, or throughout recovery. Taking the time to relax in a warm or hot bath with natural salts and oils of your choice, can make a huge difference in aiding a good recovery.

Routine: If you are recovering and especially if living alone, keeping a routine so that you can keep a sense of stability in your day can be really helpful, as well as regular laughter via video link or from neighbours, at a safe distance from your window/doors.
 
Self Love 💖: We all need a bit more Self Love in our lives, crisis or no crisis, and as we are all required to do more during this time of self isolation, all of the above is definitely needed whether we have symptoms, or not. This can certainly manage our mental health and wellbeing and bring a restored sense of sanity, during a time when we have all had to make huge sacrifices to our lives, in a very short space of time. 
 
Be kind to yourself, and take the time everyday to check in with your thoughts and feelings, and don’t loose sight of those long term dreams, desires and hopes for the future…
 
With Love & Light to you all. 🌈🌟
 
Namaste. 🙏
 
Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Founder, Ambika Yoga 
Senior Yoga Teacher & Therapeutics Specialist
London, UK.

Please note that if you have severe symptoms of COVID-19 to seek Professional Medical Advice immediately by contacting NHS 111 online, or by phone for more urgent advice.

THE YOGA OF SHARING

The Yoga of Sharing

As we approach the Easter holidays and take dutiful time out to reflect on our year so far, it’s a good time to really rest and digest how much we have already achieved in 2019.

Being with family and loved one’s gives us that sense of comfort and true joy by creating memories, and feeling more connected to them. Have you ever thought about how sharing your experience of yoga with them could make the practice even more fun? 

Although we may attend classes or workshops alone, yoga is very much about building community or “Sangha”, which means a community of spiritual practitioners in the Western world. This means that we can share how yoga makes us feel, how it changes our perception in a positive way, and how it is an inclusive practice whether it be with parent, child, brother or even grandmother or baby! 

The ‘Father of Modern Yoga’ Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharaya  one of the most influential Yoga masters in the twentieth century stated that yoga is for everybody, and that we can all benefit from the practice due to its therapeutic nature to heal and promote more balance in our body, mind and soul.

He believed that not only can it heal, but it can prevent and treat disease through breathing, postures and meditation. As such, we can not only help ourselves, but also those we care about who may be in need of an alternative way to overcome modern issues like stress, anxiety, fatigue or sleep problems.

So how can you help? Perhaps taking time out from your busy schedule to practice yoga, meditation and pranayama daily on a yoga retreat with your loved ones, and share the joy of the practice together away from distractions and the bustle of the city. 

As yoga becomes more and more accessible to everyone and even more necessary in the West, whether a child at school or a working Mum or Dad, it is a practice that can be shared with love, fun and excitement. 

By practicing yoga everyday you can see changes in both body, mind and heart, and the next Ambika Yoga retreat takes place on the beautiful island of Ibiza perfectly located centrally North, away from any nightlife. So why not take some time over Easter to contemplate how a week-long yoga retreat could not only be beneficial for you, but also for your family or close friends, and make positive changes to your health and well-being this summer. 

Please contact Alexa at Ambika Yoga for a brochure and booking information, and wishing you a very Happy and Joyful Easter! 

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Founder, Ambika Yoga, 
Senior Yoga Teacher (SYT)

YOGA THERAPY IN THE MODERN WORLD

Yoga Therapy in the Modern World
Yoga Therapy has now become a popular and very effective practice in the modern world. By working with specific individual health issues of a student, a Yoga Therapist can address their needs with care, and sensitivity. The individual can therefore feel the direct benefits of how working therapeutically can be life-changing, and transforming.

By using alignment techniques, addressing the autonomic nervous system, breath work and visualisation meditation principles, carefully sequenced asana programmes and furthermore the practice of Ayurveda, the individual can understand their own bodies and mind with far more awareness, to reach a place of healing. 

Here are a list of eight benefits of Yoga Therapy that you can experience with dedication to the practice, to name just a few:

1. Address specific health issues such as stress, anxiety, insomnia, auto immune disease, PCOS & hormonal issues, back pain, past or present injuries and more.

2. Increase relaxation and energy in body & mind.

3. Increase serotonin, thus improving mood.

4. Strengthen the body and tone muscles. 

5. Can manage weight issues with regular practice.

6. Learn relaxation techniques with breathwork that you can practice at home to aid sleep.

7. Create more balance in your day-to-day life.

8. Learn meditation & mindfulness techniques to improve the nervous system.  

If you'd like to learn more and book a 1-1 Yoga Therapy session we would love to teach you, so please contact Ambika Yoga on 07800 896 425, or use the form submission page and we can schedule an initial consultation in line with your needs, and a special 25% discount off your first class this Spring.

We look forward to seeing you on the mat!

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Ambika Yoga
Senior Yoga Teacher (SYT) 

RE-BALANCE BODY, MIND & SOUL ON THE WHITE ISLE

Re-Balance Body, Mind & Soul on the White Isle  

Are you feeling tired? Stressed? Or perhaps over-worked? Even during the Summer months we can over stretch ourselves with busy social schedules, keeping up with friends and family and all the while staying on track with work colleagues, and business meetings. Our to-do and to-see lists seem to get longer and longer, in line with the daylight! 

What better way to put all this aside and take time out for you? To offer yourself a good dose of self-care, love and nourishment? As yogi’s we know the best way to re-balance ourselves is through our yoga practice, taking time on the mat to restore a tired mind and body, which in turn allows us to reconnect deeply to our soul. 

So how about just a holiday, where you can go abroad, enjoy good food, wine, sight-seeing and the beach? Sure! We all love a holiday and this can often give us a sense of freedom, fun and change from our normal routine. The difference of joining a Yoga Retreat is that you can also allow time for YOU, and as a result make some serious changes to your daily life at home where you feel you need to refresh your approach. 

With the option of joining deeply relaxing and rejuvenating yoga classes everyday, eating fresh organic ethically sourced vegetarian and vegan cuisine daily, and learning more about how to manage your worries better, you gain not only a holiday in a beautiful, warm location but also a way for you to make changes to your daily routine to restore more balance, and joy every single day.

As a busy working Mum managing home, family, a growing toddler, business and friends is a tough task. But Yoga always gives me that sense of peace and stability when I find it gets too much. And this is ultimately why I wanted to offer this retreat to my students, and those who are in need of time out from the stresses of daily life. It was also my intention to work with another working Mum who knows and understands how difficult it can be, and who uses her own work to improve her sense of well-being. 

With great delight Dominique Antiglio friend and colleague said “yes” to joining my retreat in Ibiza this September, and as an expert in Sophrology and Author of her book ‘The Life-Changing Power of Sophrology’, we are blessed to have her joining this retreat. And I know you are all wondering what is ‘Sophrology?!”

Dominique personally showed me how the practice of Sophrology works, so that I could see if it will fit with the practice of Yoga. And as a Yoga Therapist I am very open to learning new techniques that can grow my teaching, and also give me insight into how other practices work. To my surprise the main tool that Sophorolgy works with is the breath. Which in yoga is more powerful than any movement, or yoga pose. Without the breath, we are not doing yoga! So for me this already had me intrigued. Then she worked with some interesting concepts around visualisations and intention setting, which again is something I am a fan of, and work with all my clients and students in this way, whether they realise this or not(!)

As a result of her 1-1 practice with me, it really did work! And the way in which she set the intention and used visualisation work to assist the process gave me confidence that that was how we would integrate the Sophrology into the retreat.  So I have all the evidence that I need for the Yoga and Sophrology to come together and she is joining us for the first two days to set intentions and work through the practice of Sophrology to make changes that you want to see, by the time you leave to go home.

It really is powerful stuff, and I could not be more excited to be teaching at such a beautiful place on one of my most favourite islands in the world, alongside a wonderful teacher and friend. Its not too late to join us and Ambika Yoga is currently offering a 10% discount for each person. I hope you can make it, as it is sure to be the highlight of your Summer in 2018.    

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Founder, Ambika Yoga
Senior Yoga Teacher (SYT)

SPRING INTO ACTION!

Spring Into Action!

Finally Spring has sprung and we can now appreciate over 12 hours of light in a day since the equinox, warmer temperatures from the winter time and a gracing of new attire to match the sunshine. 

So what does Springtime mean from a yogic perspective? Personally, it is my most favourite time of the year, seeing the blossom growing from the old wintery branches, longer fuller days and the start of brand new beginnings. 

We can often feel sluggish during the slow winter months, but Spring literally puts that spring back in our step and helps us move forward with action, and intention. When we remember the seeds that we planted at the beginning of the new year we can appreciate how those seeds have started to grow, like those of the beautiful flowers and plants in the earth. 

Similar to the symbolism of Spring as rebirth and renewal after the Easter period, yogi’s see Spring as a time to re-start, re-fresh and even re-visit intentions and resolutions that may have slipped by during winter. 

During these times of renewal we can often experience shifts and changes to our routine. Waking up earlier with the sunlight, thus feeling more tired earlier at night, even wondering how we got so tired by the end of the day?! On a deeper level we may decide that we need, or are naturally making changes to our working routine or switching up our health and fitness routine, maybe even taking it to the next level by this time of year…

Where ever you are feeling a switch in your life right now, and even the challenges that come up from this, remember that as yogi’s we learn to step into this flow. Each and every time we step on the mat, we open up to change and embrace the unknown. Through embracing this, we can literally change our lives and ourselves for the better, never loosing who we are, just growing as individuals and choosing to feel good by dedicating time on our yoga mats. 

So enjoy and embrace your practice, and I wish you all a wonderful abundant Springtime! 

Namaste x

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Founder, Ambika Yoga
Manuka Ambassador

SELF LOVE + RECOVERY DURING THE CRISIS

Are we in the Era of a Yoga Movement? 

Yoga. An ancient Indian art form thousands of years old has now become a global phenomenon affecting our popular culture, our lifestyles, our eating habits and most of all our bodies, minds and spirits. 

But how can this ancient form of art evolve through such a modern western world? If you have ever tried yoga you may be able to answer this question quite easily. If you have not yet tried it, then let me offer you some guidance on how yoga can make you feel.  For all its weird and wonderful shapes and stretching techniques it can give you a deep sense of peace, and joy. But why would one need this when we can go shopping, or go out clubbing, or go on holiday?

Because sometimes without realizing it these activities can be an act of avoidance, or of not facing the truth of how we really feel inside. Yes, in the short term they can provide us with happiness, and ‘escape’ from hardships or disappointments, but when we do finally come back to the reality of these things, nothing has really changed.

Yoga is about change. It is about evolving and adapting to the truth of ourselves by reducing stress, improving our mood and feeling at ease within our environment. Perhaps this is why Yoga has brought about so much change in individual lifestyles today. We can now see many celebrities practicing yoga like Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Demi Moore, Heather Graham, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and the list goes on…!  

Comedian Russell Brand is also an avid yoga fan practicing regularly, but in his recent interview with Paxman that went viral on You Tube he discusses his radical views of the political system. He calls for a revolution to over throw the current structure, however what is this revolution he is referring to? 

We can see a revolution as “a turn around”, a fundamental change in power and organizational structures, within a short time frame. By motivating our ideologies we can witness a change in our culture, even our economy, and further to our political views of the world. Is Russell Brand an extreme voice of this change? Or a true voice of this change?

With this extremity comes the economy of Yoga. Brands such as Lululemon Athletica Inc. has a market cap of over US$8.9 billion on the stock market. And other brands looking to reach this growth, more locally like Sweaty Betty, which interestingly has now moved their stores across the pond to the US. Sports brands have been working with yoga apparel for years with athletes taking on the practice as part of their training such as Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. 

From yoga room’s at airports to studio’s on every corner in the US, corporate yoga across London offices and health and well - being programme’s designed to improve corporate living, are we witnessing a yoga movement era? 

Not to mention hybrids of yoga and fusion classes popular in the UK like Voga (Yoga and ‘Vogueing’!), Laughing Yoga and Budokon Yoga (Yoga & Martial Arts)…. I think it’s pretty clear to see that Yoga is here to stay. In an era where we are advancing so fast technologically, the need to stay true to ourselves, and advance in tune with this change is by stepping on the mat, and doing yoga.

Namaste x

Alexa Kho-Hinkson 
Yoga Teacher & Therapeutics Specialist
Manuka Ambassador
Ambika Yoga 

PRIVATE YOGA. WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?

PRIVATE YOGA 

WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS? 

What is ‘Private Yoga’ in comparison to a ‘Group Yoga’ class, or a set of Yoga classes purchased on Groupon? 

Private Yoga was actually the traditional way of learning Yoga back in the early 20th Century and during the era of pioneer  T. Krishnamacharaya (1888 - 1989), where during this time Yoga was taught at home to students individually by tailoring the practice to their specific needs, and abilities. 

By learning the practice 1-1 as Private Yoga, students can understand and experience the discipline in a way that is difficult to experience in a group environment, or particularly within a mass Yoga class. Having an initial assessment of your requirements and reasons for coming to Yoga before undertaking classes, gives you the ability to explore an endless amount of possibilities. For example, creating expert alignment, managing a past or present injury, Yoga Therapy including for; auto immune conditions, hormone balancing, sleep disorders and insomnia, stress management, back care, scoliosis, high blood pressure, and chakra energy balancing, exploring advanced asanas, weight loss, developing a home practice, and so on.

But why 'Do' Private Yoga when purchasing classes on Groupon, or attending large group classes is cheaper? 

A poignant answer to this is the value of Private Yoga classes. Not only can they be scheduled at home at a time most convenient for you, but the depth and quality of the practice that you will learn are much higher, as you will have the attention at every moment of the class with your teacher. In addition, as the world changes, we ourselves change, and thus through Private Yoga these needs can be consistently met with ease by teacher and student, at a 1-1 level.

Therefore, it is in this way of learning that you will gain the real value and benefits that are almost lost when in a group class. That’s not to say that in a group yoga class one does not learn anything. There are still aspects of the practice that you will take away with you and embody, but to be able to take Yoga further and enhance your life in more ways then you can hope, Private Yoga gives you this gift. 

As for Groupon Yoga classes sold at costs that are lower than the average class taught at a studio, we can see where the de-valuation of Yoga is going as the discipline gains more commercial popularity. Surely the importance of the ancient discipline needs to be valued more for how it changes people’s lives on a daily basis, and each day we step on our Yoga mat we honour the practice for its traditional way of learning… 

Namaste x

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Yoga Teacher & Therapeutics Specialist
Manuka Ambassador
Ambika Yoga 

NEW YEAR, NEW YOGA?!

New Year, New Yoga?! 

So we have all started 2015 with a bang including new years resolutions and setting brand new goals for this year. From changing or increasing our fitness routine, improving our diets and looking after ourselves (and each other) better, I hear you asking, ‘what does this mean for my Yoga?’ 

Do I need to change up my Yoga routine, or add more classes to my already busy schedule? Should I try out some new Yoga classes, like Acro Yoga, or Anti-Gravity Yoga? Or better still; Doga?! 

When students ask me if changing up their Yoga is something they ‘should’ do, I usually say ‘if it ‘aint broke, don’t fix it!’ . But, if you are looking to re-start or deepen your practice, or work towards specific asana’s that you feel an infinity with, then I would definitely advise adding to your weekly practice. Being able to develop your Yoga is something that I personally see as a real Gift. If you can dedicate time and energy to this, then you will surely be entering into a whole new journey of deep joy and inner strength. 

It takes a lot of courage to decide to take on more of anything that is good for you; usually because we will have less time for something that we may have been used to for a long while, or we have to ‘let go’ of something, or someone that is not good for us anymore. A New Year is such a perfect time to re-assess where we are now and where we would like to be, and I’m all for new intentions and learning new things! 

In fact, I decided at the end of last year that I would like to take up a regular Qi Gong practice in 2015, and similar to Yoga it brings more balance to the body, mind and spirit however it is an ancient martial art, and has been practiced for over 4,000 years. I will still be practicing Yoga regularly, but just learning something new which is always rewarding and helps us grow as individuals. 

And so, sometimes our innate curiosity just makes us try something new, perhaps because we want to see if what we are doing now is definitely right for us, or we just want a different perspective. And this is all okay! So if you do want to increase your practice there are many ways that you can do this; like starting a self practice, attending more classes, or adding a private class into your routine. You can also start attending Yoga Workshops where you will meet students like yourself, and take your practice even deeper. 

If you really want to immerse yourself you can also take yourself away on a retreat so that you can step away from life in the city for a while, and be served that nutritious vegetarian food that you have vowed to eat more of this year. Or even taking that big leap of faith to become a Yoga Teacher and start a whole new journey of teaching students, and giving all that you have learned through your own practice on the mat, to others who are inspired to learn the practice of Yoga.   

Whether you are a new practitioner who has just started their Yoga journey recently, or a long term yogi looking to work towards your favourite poses in 2015, or even become a Yoga Teacher yourself, then by investing time into this journey on the mat - I can guarantee you will not only meet like-minded people, but also have lots of fun on the way! Happy 2015 to you all and enjoy your year!!

Namaste x

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Founder, Ambika Yoga
Manuka Ambasssador

HAPPY SUMMER!

Happy Summer!

Summer has certainly arrived in London now, and we have almost been too hot to do anything during the heatwave days! This time of year is definitely about taking time out to do exactly that. After the busy Winter and Spring months we reach that point of the year where we can enjoy holidays and breaks abroad, or closer to home in the UK.

Have you ever thought about embarking on a Yoga Retreat where you can do yoga every single day? Where you can have that blissful feeling of being relaxed and in a state of deep calm and peace, throughout your holiday?

Yoga Retreats are the ideal way to unwind, stay in shape and take time out to not only 'reset' , but make changes to your lifestyle when you return home. Real transformations occur when we open ourselves to these possibilities. I posted a quote recently on social media that I think is so relevant to yoga, especially when we are surrounded by images that can make us feel less than adequate, or make us strive to ‘accomplish’ a yoga pose:

It is not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, thats when transformation happens. That’s how change occurs. - ANON.

Being a witness myself of this when in the past I have pushed too hard in my yoga practice, I have found that you end up with resistance. Whether your body decides it is not ready for it, or simply needing to ‘let go’ of the image you have in your mind and just to ‘feel the pose’. This is when your body opens up and allows you to delve deeper towards transformation. When you decide that I will make an effort every single day to take five minutes to be mindful, or breathe, or get on the mat to practice and meditate; this is when you can see real positive changes in the longer term.

And this is exactly what we work on when we take time out on Yoga Retreats, to practice daily, to honour that place of resistance, to breathe, to appreciate the good in our lives and enjoy being in the company of like-minded yogi’s, eating delicious healthy food from the earth. The next retreat with Ambika Yoga is in Ibiza from 1st -8th September and is fully catered with delicious organic, ethically sourced produce. Your taste buds will certainly be tickled with amazing vegan and vegetarian cuisine from all over the world, and served up by our very own Private Chef, Mayla.

Yoga classes range from therapeutic, dynamic, yin, restorative, yoga nidra, meditation, mindfulness and pranayama, which will all dive you deeper into yoga and move you closer towards that transformation, led by yours truly.

We will learn more about where yoga comes from and how we can apply this great philosophy to our everyday lives. And to assist with this on the first two days, we have a special guest, and dear friend Ryan Kai Calderon, who I have known and practiced with for over ten years on this journey. An amazing and generous teacher, he will be complimenting the yoga practice with Qi Gong workshops. Check this video link to find out more; Ambika Yoga Retreat Video

With delightful tours of the island to dreamy beach coves, the enchanting character of Old Town, and more, we can't wait to offer this wonderful event. You can now even get 10% Off your space on the retreat for a short time, and with limited availability be sure not to miss out! Ambika Yoga Retreat Ibiza

Wishing you all a beautiful Summer season, and I look forward to seeing you on the mat very soon…

Namaste x

Alexa Kho-Hinkson
Founder, Ambika Yoga
Senior Yoga Teacher (SYT)