About Me:

I was living a very active social, fitness and work life, doing everything that was the society norm. And yet with all this continued strive for happiness and success I felt incomplete.  I read an article on Bikram Yoga, and felt something in me saying “I need this”.

My first class in 2007 I was blessed to be in was Denise Butler’s class, being surrounded by her angelic energy was the best distraction from constantly thinking “oh my god, its so bloody hot”.

The momentus part of it all was  looking at the reflection of my self that made me realise that the incomplete factor had disappeared. It was the first time I realised that the person that I was missing was ME. I needed to fall back in love with myself.

I had flirted with other Yoga styles but it was Bikram Yoga’s intense Hatha yoga series that has brought me back to my core. The yoga room has been the only place where my mind completely remains STILL.

Come and learn more about the postures on the floor with Jodie and Dave.

Each floor posture will be discussed in depth with an explanation of benefits and common mistakes.  Ask questions of your own and have your posture corrected.

$25 per person. Free to Direct Debit customers. No heat.

Saturday 25th May 2013 12 – 2pm (warm up in 9:45am class!)

Book at the front desk before spots are filled..!

Bikram Certified: 2011

Favourite Posture: 

Iconic Figure Whom I Most Admire: Everyone I meet inspires me in some way or another

Favourite Food: 

Favourite Drink: 

Number 1 Song:

Favourite Quote:

Most Likely to Say: 

Least Likely to Say:

More About Jordan:

I started my Bikram yoga journey on April 4 2010 in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Within 5 months of practising, I knew that my life would be changed forever.

My next step was putting my house up for sale, selling my cars and quitting my career of 10 years so I could move to the yoga capital of North America, Vancouver BC and continue this new path in life. I graduated from teacher training in the Spring of 2011, Los Angeles.

I went back to Vancouver to teach under my mentor and best friend, Christian Betancour Leon at Bikram Yoga Commercial Drive.

I have since travelled to Auckland, back to Canada, California, London, Czech Republic teaching along the way. Now landing in Sydney and teaching at one of the greatest studios in the world – Brookvale. I am a very driven person that has a daily practice and always teach a minimum of 12 classes per week. This yoga has saved my life and given me a fresh start.

I truly am a firm believer that no matter what – “you’re never too old, never too bad, it’s never too late, you never too sick to start from scratch once again” – Bikram Choudhury

These classes are designed specifically for High School students in a warm room with a 90 minute class. Bikram Yoga can be hugely beneficial to those in their teenage years as they undergo many personal changes both physically and in their social groups.  Beginning a yoga practice helps to keep adolescents centred and provide them with tools to manage the ups and downs of teenage life.

Just Some Benefits

• Improves self esteem
• Revitalises low energy and instils calm
• Builds mental strength & focus
• Reduces anxiety
• Increases stamina and endurance
• Builds strength in muscle & bone
• Increases flexibility
• Improves complexion
• Helps create good eating habits

Term 2 starts 29th April – 28th June 2013 in our purpose-built Youth room.

Where:
Bikram Yoga Brookvale
18 Wattle Road
Brookvale
Ph: 9907 4960

When:
NOTE NEW CLASS TIME! Tuesdays and Thursdays  4.30pm – 6pm

Term Pricing:
One class per week – $110/term
Two classes per week – $200/term

High School Students may do drop-in class, price is $13.

Classes for Primary school students also available here

Bikram Brookvale is very excited to offer school term-based Youth Yoga classes especially tailored for Primary school students in the Brookvale, Freshwater, Manly and greater Northern Beaches region.

Our yoga classes are designed especially  for Primary school age students and are held in our sunny Youth Yoga room at room temperature.

Bikram Yoga can be hugely beneficial for primary students.  Starting a weekly yoga practice early can help prepare for adolescence, building resilience and confidence.

Some of the Benefits

• Develops the ability to focus
• Instills calm
• Improves self esteem
• Strengthens the body and mind to enhance sporting activities
• Builds strength of muscles & bones
• Revitalises low energy

Term 2 starts 29th April -  28th June 2013 in our purpose-built Youth room.

Our Primary school classes are divided into two age groups:

Rabbits – Aged 5-8 years (45 minute class)
Mondays and Wednesdays  4.00-4.45pm

Eagles – Aged 8 & Over (1 hour class)
Mondays and Wednesdays 5.00-6.00pm

Where:
Bikram Yoga Brookvale
Level 1 18 Wattle Road
Brookvale
P: 9907 4960

Term Pricing:

One class per week – $110/term
Two classes per week – $200/term

Classes for High school students available here

Juan’s 6 hour workshop will include the following:

• Demo of the entire 84 Bikram postures
• Demo of the 26 beginners’ Bikram postures
• Bikram Beginner’s class
• In-depth Posture Clinic with discussion and opportunity for individual corrections

When: Sunday 17th March 10am – 4pm
Where: Bikram Yoga Brookvale level 1 18 Wattle Road Brookvale

How much: ONLY $80 – This is an incredibly good price for a 6 hour workshop and mat space is at a premium. Don’t leave it till the last minute!!

Book at: The front desk or call and book over the phone on 9907 4960

AKA:

Bikram Certified: 2012

Favourite Posture: Standing Bow Pulling

Iconic Figure Whom I Most Admire: Margaret Atwood

Favourite Food: Alaska King Crab with lemon butter!

Favourite Drink: a nice red wine from McLaren Vale or Barossa Valley

Number 1 Song: Norah Jones – Turn Me On

Favourite Quote: “panic kills” (my Dad)

Most Likely to Say: “Do you want to come to yoga?”

Least Likely to Say: “No”

Favourite Bikranism: “Pain kills the Pain”

More about me

Alison limped into her first Bikram Yoga class in 2001, walked out limp free and hasn’t looked back.  While she came to yoga to (successfully) avoid a hip replacement she discovered the benefits to her overall health and wellbeing surpassed anything she had tried before.

She quit the gym and became a dedicated Bikram Yoga practitioner.  She completed her teacher training in 2012 .  Alison has range of experience  from her time as a gymnast, gymnastics’ coach, karate student and fitness/aerobics instructor that enriches her understanding of human physiology.

She has experienced the healing power of Bikram Yoga and now she wants to help others to discover the benefits of “locking the knee.”

AKA: Rob

Bikram Certified: 2011

Favourite Posture: Standing Head to Knee

Iconic Figure Whom I Most Admire: My wife Christel

Number 1 Song:

Favourite Food: 

Favourite Drink: 

Favourite Quote: 

Most Likely to Say: “Lock the Knee”

Least Likely to Say: You can leave whenever you like.

More about Me

Rob, a keen surfer, runner and swimmer, came to Bikram Yoga by default in 2009, dragged by his partner Christel who‘d heard of it’s amazing benefits on health wellbeing and mental calmness.

Within weeks his surfing had improved, within months his mind was calm and he’d stopped the running and within a year, he knew he wanted to teach Bikram Yoga.

He found Bikram Yoga to be an incredibly challenging form of exercise which strengthened his body, especially core muscles, increased his flexibility and energy beyond his own expectations and grounded his mind and spirit.

“Thanks to Bikram Yoga, I have never felt fitter or happier in my life.”

His passion for Bikram Yoga are felt in his classes, with a mix of high energy, humour and supportive motivation for his students.

Rob became a teacher in 2011 and is looking forward to sharing his drive and energy with you!

Go on, you know you want it! Purchases can be made at the studio front desk, up until 14th December, so be in quick!

Happy Christmas to all!

Click here for PDF version of this poster

This 2 hour class is open to everybody regardless of experience. 

We are running childcare downstairs in Play Planet for children aged 1 years and over, for the duration of the class.  Please book your child/ren’s spot by calling Play Planet on 9938 6464 ($9 per child or use your unlimited creche pass.

Benefits

• Maximum extension of the spine increasing its mobility and elasticity, and does the same for the back muscles
• Relieves tension in the neck, shoulders and back
• Helps alleviate colds, sinus problems and chronic tonsillitis 
• Through compression of thyroid and parathyroid, rejuvenates and improves function of those glands
• Can also be therapeutic for insomnia, diabetes and depression
• Spine stretching  feeds the nervous system with fresh blood and oxygen
• Helps to ensure proper spinal alignment
• Improves digestive function

Rabbit is a complex posture and for beginners, sometimes difficult to conceptualize. As with all postures, a correct set up is essential.  

If your hands are slipping, you might find it hard to pull on the heels.  Don’t compensate for this by grabbing just your towel, ankles or worse – nothing at all!

If you’re a slippy gripper, or want a better posture, read on…

• Tuck your chin into your chest first, then bend forward while gripping the heels. 
• Lift the hips up all the way. 
• Once the body is curling forward and the hips are lifting, then redjust if necessary to get a tight grip on your heels.
• Now it’s easier to pull on the heels and work towards straightening the arms. 
• Now you get your forehead to your knees. You MUST walk your knees forward to your forehead, not the other way around.
• By doing all this, you will work towards eventually stretching your entire spine and achieve maximum stretching in the posture.
• And finally, as you exit the posture maintain your grip and chin into your chest until you are all the way back up.

If you’re struggling with Rabbit, keep on trying and feel free to ask any of our teachers if you’re not sure you’re doing it correctly. Aside from the incredible benefits the posture offers, doing Rabbit in your deepest expression feels unbelievable.

Challenge Pass Just $139! And for every pass purchased we give $39 to the Movember Foundation.

Starts November 1 2012 – last day is November 30, see details below:

Bikram Yoga, sometimes also called “hot yoga,” is a system of a set 26 yoga posture sequence practiced in a room heated to 100+ degrees and lasting 90 minutes.

Bikram Choudhury, under his guru’s guidance and using modern medical measurement techniques, researched and arrived at this specific sequence of postures. The individual asanas are classical hatha yoga. Each classical yoga posture has a specific anatomical, neurological, physiological and psychological effect on the human body. The intelligence of any posture sequence determines the overall benefit of the practice.

Bikram introduced his unique style of yoga in the United States in 1971. During the first 20 years this style was taught only in his Beverly Hills studio, mainly to movie stars and athletes. Bikram was finally persuaded to start a teacher-training program, which opened up the system to national and international exposure. As of 2004 there are hundreds of Bikram Yoga studios throughout the world. In recognition of the unique nature of this posture sequence, the U.S. Trademark Office has issued a Trade Mark registration for Bikram Yoga.

In my 31 years of observation, I have seen that most people taking their first BikramYoga class are suffering from bad body mechanics and postural dysfunction. Each human body has a specific design template. Muscles work in pairs in order for the body to execute any movement or even to maintain an upright posture against the forces of gravity. Any imbalance in the dynamic tension between the posterior or erector muscles and the anterior or flexor muscles will compromise the vertical loading on the weight bearing joints. This creates unnatural wear and tear and ultimately disease and pain.

The first 45 minutes of the Bikram Yoga System consists of standing poses devoted to re-establishing musculo-skeletal balance. If done with sufficient intensity, they create an aerobic benefit as well.

The second half of the class consists of floor postures that address “the great information super highway” – your spine and it’s correct alignment. Most people recognize their spinal problems during their first Bikram Yoga class.

My first Bikram Yoga class was in 1973. For 20 years prior to it, I had taken various yoga classes that had not done much to improve the flexibility of my rather stiff body. I had also suffered a brain aneurysm. A life-threatening event of this nature shatters ones faith and trust in ones body. During my very first Bikram class I immediately recognized the power of the corrective training effect in the systematic and repetitious nature of the practice.

Since 1973 I have continuously practiced and taught Bikram Yoga. It has restored my mental and physical strength and the confidence in my ability to lead a productive life. It has given me the suppleness I had previously considered unattainable. My 31 years of practice have given me glowing health and age has had no effect on my body’s weight, suppleness or energy levels. There are very few things that can disturb the serenity of my spirit and calmness of my mind.

People ask me if I ever get tired of doing the same posture flow. My answer is that the practice is never the same because I am continuously being changed by the practice. The daily practice challenges you on many levels. Concentration and attention are quickly sharpened. Character issues of patience and perseverance come up each time. The practice offers a chance to explore deeper levels of Self and develop awareness of the emotions and thoughts that the postures evoke.

For example, backward bending often initially evokes fear, but you find the courage and strength to do it. As you become an observer of the deeper and sometimes buried manifestations of Self, you come to understand yourself more clearly. You start seeing which reactions to challenges are automatic and habitual and that you can change them. The asana is a path to Self-awareness. The physical becomes spiritual.

One of the most common questions of beginners is “why the heat?” On the simplest level it is because warm muscles are more pliable. The heat also expedites the flow of blood to all the organs of the body, facilitating the reactions that the postures are designed to create. Heat will help the body destroy viruses and bacteria. It strengthens the immune system. There are many cultures in which sweating is part of the healing process. Think of a Bikram class as a sweat lodge experience.

Bikram yoga is physically accessible to people of all ages and conditions. The postures require only normal range of motion available to all, from children to the very aged, provided you are being taught by a certified, qualified Bikram teacher. Beware, however, of the teacher who claims to teach Bikram Yoga but who has altered the strict Bikram regime. By changing the routine the beneficial effects are destroyed; such alterations are much like the difference between a genuine Rolex watch and a $ 20.00 knock-off.

Bishnu Ghosh, Bikram’s guru, said that the root of all chronic illnesses can be traced to stress. He also said that the human body is self-energizing and self-healing and that yoga is the key to this kingdom of health.

Lena 

Bikram Certified: 2003

Favourite Posture: Standing Back Bend

Iconic Figure Whom I Most Admire: Everyone I meet inspires me in some way or another

Favourite Food: South Indian spinach and potato dosa & walnut brownie from the Sunday Markets

Favourite Drink: Soy Chai from the Kitchen Nook

Number 1 Song: One by U2

Favourite Quote: “Faith is an oasis in the heart that can never be reached by the caravan of thinking” Kahlil Gibran

Most Likely to Say: “we’ll see” or “ouch”

Least Likely to Say: “Lock me in”

Located upstairs inside Bikram’s Yoga Centre, we offer the finest range of services and products to fulfill your beauty needs.

Call for an appointment - 0403 327 969

About Kylie

Kylie began working in the Beauty industry some 20 years ago.

Her intuitive nature, eye for detail and experience to enhance the client’s natural beauty makes for a complete treatment.

Kylie is also a Reiki Practitioner, helping  to treat the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit. When Reiki is incorporated into a personalised treatment makes for a very special experience.

Qualification: Cidesco Accredited ,  Reiki II

Complete Beauty with Kylie – Bikram Yoga College of India – Level 1, 18 Wattle Road – Brookvale

Visit our website here

For centuries yogis have been talking about the importance of energy flow up and down the spine. Over the years that I have been working at Bikram’s, I have heard many conversations about this subject among teachers and students.
I am far from being a yoga expert, however, I would like to share with you some of what I know about the flow of energy along the spine. My understanding comes from a combination of my practice in Chinese Medicine and the practical study of Alexander Technique (which involves the opening and lengthening of the spine). I hope that it may be of interest to you and add to what you already know from your own personal experience. I will focus on the energetic, emotional and mental aspects of the energy flow in the spine.

Physical
We know that the nerves which branch from the spine control countless functions in the body.

Energetic
According to Chinese Medicine, there are three main energy channels that flow through the spine. These three channels form the energetic foundation of our body.

The Ren mai – one of its branches flows along the front of the spine.
The Du mai – flows along the back of the spine.
The Chong mai – one of its branches flows in the centre of the spine.
The Ren, Du and Chong mai are involved in many bodily functions such as: the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses (being able to be active or at rest); the reproductive system for both male and female; the menstrual cycle; the balance of emotions; hereditary influences as well as aspects of our hormonal and nervous systems. Many auto-immune diseases and spinal imbalances often involves one or more of these three channels.
Although this is not a detailed list, you can see that the flow of energy through the Ren, Du and Chong mai (and therefore the flow along the spine) has an effect on almost every aspect of our lives.
The Ren, Du and Chong all originate from the energy of the kidneys, which holds the essences of our body. The kidneys are like the engine room working behind the scenes. They receive their energy from the ‘Gate of Vitality’ (Ming Men area) in the lower part of the spine.
The Du and Ren join into a vertical circle of energy along the midline of the body. Imagine a continuous circle, which connects the Crown Chakra at the top of the head and Base Chakra at the perineum.

The energy of the Chong and Du mai can also be seen as the ‘Kundalini energy’ that flows down from the Gate of Vitality to the tailbone and then up the spine into the brain and Third Eye.

Gate of vitality Kidneys Ren, Du, Chong flow up and down the spine

Kundalini flows up the spine into the brain and Third Eye.

Emotional / Mental
Since birth, or perhaps before birth, we have developed layers of conditioning, with deeply rooted emotional and mental patterns that are held in every cell of our body. These patterns have a profound affect on the way our mind and body function.
Everything that we think and do is coloured by our conditioning. This prevents us from living life as free human beings.
Over the years I have observed that a significant part of our conditioning is held in the tissues and surrounding muscles along the spine, and even more specifically in the thoracic area (the area of the Heart Chakra and above). Some areas of the spine require opening, whereas other areas require strengthening.
Creating movement along the spine such as arching and twisting, as long as you breathe properly and drop your ambition, will open the emotional-mental and physical blockages that are on the surface at that moment. (Moving the head and eyes in a particular direction will bring further focus to a more specific part of the spine).

So, if you ask what is it about backbends?
I would say that backbends may not only influence your health by promoting free flow of energy through these critical energy pathways along the spine, but can also assist you to transcend your physical, mental and emotional conditioning!
Wishing you all happy bending!

Gal Mor
Ancient Acupuncture
0434 991 925

• Best results practise minimum 3 times per week
• Remember it takes 21 days to break a habit
• Work hard and try best to do postures 100% right way
• No shortcuts or path of least resistance
• Right way is the hard way
• Create discomfort – test edge – but no red light pain
• Don’t give up. Have faith. Trust the process.

Every Posture:

• Stretch up/lengthen/elongate Spine
• Suck stomach in and hold it in!
• As we get older, it’s so important to stretch our spine to minimise the compression in our discs

Half Moon:

• Stretch spine up separating every vertebrae, joint and cartilage warming up the spine
• Continually stretching up also keeps the spine straight
• Lock knees
• Weight in the heels enables continual lifting up of the spine

Backward Bend:

• Best posture to gain and maintain spine health – this will fix your spine
• Give the backbends 100%
• Take a deep breath to lift spine, preventing crunching into lower spine
• Lift whole body out of hips lengthen spine
• Lift UP to minimise curve in spine
• Weight in heels again, improves spine lift and chest expansion
• Relax head back and arms go back with ears
• Hips forward

Awkward 1st part:

This is “total spine backward bending”

• Sit down more and stick your bum out towards the back wall
• Lift chest up more
• Suck stomach in more to work core strength
• Lock arms and elbows
• Weight more back in heels

Awkward 2nd part:

• Higher on the toes
• Spine always long
• Continually stretching up
• The speed you come down at – should be such that it keeps spine straight and stays higher on toes
• Use your stomach to straighten spine, if spine is forward, stomach is not sucked in enough
• Don’t lean back/forward – stretch up for a straight spine

Awkward 3rd:

• Most of the benefits in this posture are when you are coming in and going out
• Core strength to straighten spine
• Squeeze knees strong quads helps keep spine straight

Eagle:

• Sit down lower in chair
• Lift spine up more feel it in the low lumbar region of spine
• Chest up but don’t compromise hips down
• Keep hips down there whilst lifting leg to aid compression and open hips freeing lower spine
• Use hands to pull foot around, if necessary
• Remember the right way is the hard way
• With heat, practice and perseverance it will come