All posts by roger

6 modern yoga styles by entrepreneurial teachers you must check out

Fitness and Yoga, , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve written about the difference between traditional yoga styles, such as Hatha and Ashtanga, and modern interpretations on this blog before. Modern yoga styles often appeal to people simply looking for the exercise benefits yoga can bring. The traditional types appeal to those looking for the wider, perhaps more spiritual and meditative experience.

There are modern takes on yoga that have been developed by entrepreneurial yoga teachers. What I mean is they have created yoga brands and business models around their own unique interpretation of yoga. Perhaps the most famous of these is Bikram Choudray who created Bikram Yoga which is now well known throughout the world as a sequence of 26 poses taught in a very hot room.

There are others that are well worth checking out. Here are 6 modern interpretations of yoga developed by such entrepreneurial teachers, all of which have touched me to different degrees on my own journey to be a yoga teacher.

modern yoga styles entrepreneurial teachers

Baron Baptiste hails from the US and promotes a style called Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. It’s quite a challenging class taught in a very motivational style focussing on physical achievement. Traditional yoga trappings are kept to a minimum though there are nods to the Sanskrit names and the power of meditation.

Baptiste describes himself as follows:

“… not a spiritual, moral or religious teacher of any kind, nor is he a guru or spiritual master of any sort; he makes no claim to having any special brand of wisdom or enlightened knowledge. Baron is inspired by sharing his experience and contributing to others by teaching from the body of principles and distinctions that make up Baptiste Yoga and from his own upbringing and training in yoga and transformational practices.”

His book “Journey into Power” is well worth tracking down on Amazon.

modern yoga styles

David Farmar a graduate of the Baptiste school and teaches in Denver Colorado. I’ve included him here for two reasons. First his teaching style is amongst the best I’ve ever seen, perhaps a little loud for some, but motivational with very clear instruction. He also injects humour into his teaching which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I think it makes for a unique experience.

Secondly he publishes regular audio podcasts of his classes on iTunes? They show case his style of teaching and are a great source of good teaching points for teachers. The instruction is so precise you could do a whole class without needing to see him. I find this quite remarkable.

modern yoga styles

Sadie Nardini positions herself as a wellness expert and her own style of yoga is called Core Vinyasa. Check out her videos and the great articles she writes on wellness topics. Her innovation is the ability to have a consultation with her via Skype.

She describes her approach:

“My intention is to make yoga and centering simple, fun, engaging and clear, so everyone  can take charge of their own future, by getting back to living honestly, and fully, right here in the present moment.”

modern yoga styles

Shiva Rea is probably the most graceful yoga presenter I have ever seen and she has a great name. Again a prolific producer of videos, her yoga brand is called Prana Flow. And flow it does. Her sequences of poses melt together to create beautiful intricate and sometimes challenging patterns.

Shiva sums it up as follows:

“Vinyasa is a natural sequence unfolding with creative intelligence – a conscious evolution connecting each moment with unifying breath.”

modern yoga styles

A well known entrepreneur in the UK fitness market for over a decade, Jayne Nicholls introduced her brand Freestyle Fitness Yoga (FFY) specifically for people looking only for yoga’s exercise benefits. It is unique that it uses no yoga terminology at all. You won’t hear words like Warrior Two in an FFY class, nor will you have to learn Sanskrit pose names.

Jayne’s focus is on the physical benefit of the exercise. You’ll know why you are doing each pose, which muscles it works, and what effect it will have on you.

She explains her approach:

“FFY concentrates on movement, breathing, transitions from one posture to another and progression. There is no dogma, chanting or use of Sanskrit terms as postures are prescribed from a modern fitness perspective.”

modern yoga styles

Finally Yoga Today is a lovely website run by a team of American Yoga teachers. They regularly release whole classes on video in various traditional and modern styles, sometimes mixing the two. You can buy an hour long class for a couple of quid, amazing value for such quality instruction. Some of the films were shot outdoors in simply stunning locations. Yoga against a backdrop of such breathtaking scenery adds an extra special element to these lovely videos.

My favourite teacher is Adi Amar. Her precise instruction shows her deep love for what she does. Watch her teach the traditional Ashtanga Primary Series, or a modern Power Yoga sequence. She is addictive.

I have learned so much from these inspirational people, who thanks to the Internet, have been able to take their brands and teaching expertise to a worldwide audience.

Over to you: What do you think of these websites and modern yoga styles? Have you come across any other yoga styles and brands developed by entrepreneurial teachers? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Why do some HR and IT departments hate social media marketing?

Marketing, , , , , , , ,

It’s a great time to be a marketer. The Internet and social media have changed the game completely in less than a decade. TV advertising, although still restricted to those with big budgets, is no longer as effective as it was when there were only two commercial channels. Now there are hundreds, and in addition the web offers other types of entertainment. So grabbing people’s attention is much harder.

Back before video and TiVo/Sky+ the only way to escape an advert was to mute, or turn off, or go and make a cup of tea. Now you can flash through it. Consumers are no longer interrupted by marketing communications. They can ignore us. They are in control.

IT departments hate social media marketing

But whilst they can shut the adverts out, consumers still have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. If they want to buy a new pair of shoes they’ll most likely Google the brand. Looking for a hotel in Spain, they’ll go online and look for reviews on TripAdviser. And they’ll ask specific questions like, “What’s the best Indian Restaurant in Preston?” Or, “Where can I find a Personal Trainer in Luton?”

Businesses who provide content that answers these specific questions will find their customers coming to them. Actually seeking them out. Social media and the web means that marketers can create a fine mesh of links from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIin, Pinterest to their own content of web pages, blogs, Q&As, videos, podcasts, white papers, and info-graphics. Interruption marketing (TV adverts, Billboards, posters) is giving way to content marketing. And whilst the former will never disappear, the advertisers have to work harder to successfully interrupt their customers and get them to react.

IT departments hate social media marketing

The great thing about this is that really powerful marketing is now much more accessible to smaller businesses with tighter budgets. And another advantage a small company is that they won’t be constrained by their own departments. In some places there is so much resistance to social media and online content that they create their own barriers to taking advantage of technology.

Social media is often blocked from employees. The HR department don’t want their staff on Facebook when they should be working now do they? But here’s the thing. This is no different to when individual phones started to appear on people’s desks. In those days, HR’s argument was that staff would spend all their time on the phone talking to friends. It didn’t happen.

It’s never been about the technology? It wasn’t back then and it isn’t now. It’s always been about managing the staff. Don’t block social media, because in reality your staff might be able to help promote the company or create good content for you.

Then there is the IT departments. Why do some IT departments hate social media marketing?

Why to they never phone you up and say, “Listen we’ve just seen this new App, and the marketing opportunities for you are amazing”? No, it’s me that phones them and says, “I’ve just seen this new App and the marketing opportunities are amazing?”

IT departments hate social media marketing

And they say, “We can’t let you use that we haven’t the bandwidth.”

Or, “We’ll leave ourselves open to infection with nasty viruses.”

Or, “We can’t take the risk of data leakage.”

You can’t fight against innovation you need to embrace it. No doubt some people resisted in introduction of mobile phones and of the Internet itself. But now it’s impossible to imagine life without these. But HR and IT resistance can hinder big businesses and give smaller players the advantage.

Social media and content are changing the way we engage with consumers, and unlike traditional marketing communications channels they are not restricted to those with huge advertising budgets.

The smallest business can take advantage of these wonderful innovations and make themselves visible. And when you are visible and you give people answers they want, they will want to do business with you.

Over to you: Have you experienced resistance to using social media from your own HR and IT departments? How have you addressed their concerns. Have you got them on board? Please leave a comment by clicking on “leave a reply” below here.

From Vienna with love – Ultravox Brilliant Album Review

Entertainment, ,

Ultravox were a chart topping electronic rock band in the 1980s. Best known for their atmospheric smash hit single, “Vienna” (with its equally standout video), it was famously kept off the top spot in the charts by joke single, “Shaddap You Face” by Joe Dolce.

The band,  fronted by Scots singer guitarist Midge Ure, have largely been forgotten since their appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Ure of course was the co-writer of the Band Aid single, “Do They Know it’s Christmas”, and co-organiser of Live Aid despite both accolades being mostly associated with Sir Bob Geldof.

Ultravox reformed for a one off tour in 2010 and it was way more successful than they could ever have imagined. So much so that they went back into the studio and have just released their first new recordings in 26 years.

Ultravox Brilliant Album Review

Bravely calling the album “Brilliant”, a title surely as close to a red rag to the critics as it is possible to get, they retread old sounds with new modern Celtic and Far Eastern themes. The heavy bass synth signature style is still there, and Ure’s vocal range seems to have improved over the last quarter century. Tuneful choruses, melancholy vocals, swirling guitars, and plenty of echo will certainly please the fans.

Ultravox Brilliant Album Review

“Live” starts things off to stadium anthem proportions with instantly recognisable piano notes and guitar tones. “Flow” has nods to U2 and title track “Brilliant” has a chorus that burns itself into your brain and a very hummable keyboard melody. “Change” reminds me of “Model” by Kraftwork but reinvented for 2012, and “Hello” gestures towards Pet Shop Boys. “Lie” and “Satellite” are a couple of bombastic up tempo guitar and synth layered epics.

Whether this will usher in a whole generation of new fans I am not sure but it has made me happy. Certainly some critics have predictably risen to the bait and labeled Brilliant as anything but. I bet Ure and the boys did that deliberately, knowing that the lazy critic would fall for their trap and take the easy route to pan rather than to praise. After all is a critic going to feel like a critic saying an album called “Brilliant” is brilliant?

But I’m not a professional critic and so I have nothing to worry about in declaring “Brilliant” to be brilliant.

Over to you: Have you heard this album? Is it a brilliant return? What are your favourite old groups that have reformed for the modern age? Should they stay in retirement or have their revivals been inspiring?

Warrior Film Review for BodyCombat instructors and participants

Entertainment, , , , , ,

BodyCombat instructors and participants all know that this Les Mills fitness class is based upon mixed martial arts (MMA). It’s a an authentic blend of boxing, karate, tae kwondo, muay tai, capoeira, kick boxing, Brazilian jujitsu choreographed to music. It’s a great way to work out and it burns calories and tones muscles.

Although the moves in a Body Combat class are authentic, it is non-contact. You don’t punch and kick people for real.

Warrior Film Review for BodyCombat instructors and participants

And that’s fine because most participants are not martial artists and are probably not that bothered about the difference between the styles. They are more interested in the exercise results.

If you are interested in learning more you could go to a full contact martial arts class. Or you can watch MMA tournaments on Sky TV. Look for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Or once in a while a Hollywood block buster comes along with an MMA theme.

There was one a few years ago called Never Back Down – which was more of a teenage rom-com with the usual impossibly beautiful American teenagers hanging out in expensive cars, partying, copping off with each other and, on this occasion, fighting in MMA matches. It was good eye candy and the fight sequences were well done. But there was little depth.

Warrior film review

Now along comes Warrior, a film with a great emotional story, superb acting and kick ass choreographed MMA fights.

Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) and Brenden Conlon (Joel Edgerton) are estranged brothers haunted by a betrayal by their alcoholic father (a superb Nick Nolte). Tommy is trying come to terms with losing friends in combat in Iraq and Brenden is trying to keep his family finances afloat as the bank tries to repossess his house.

They both fall back on their MMA background and enter a UFC competition. Whilst you can spot the inevitable outcome within moments, that they’ll meet in the final, their journey to that clash is emotional as each of the brothers and their father try to reconcile their past differences. The amazing fight sequences punctuate the drama. Unlike the teen film mentioned earlier, these guys are much older, battle hardened and world weary. The final fight tugs at the heart strings, and despite the savagery of the bout, I defy anyone not to wipe away a tear.

Warrior Film Review for BodyCombat instructors and participants

Pretty much every martial arts we have seen in Body Combat makes an appearance, and that allied to the strong story line makes it compulsive viewing even for those who are only interested in the exercise benefits of the class.

I often joke when I teach Body Combat that, “This class is only make believe.” Well this film is only make believe too, but it is so well made that you will get swept away with the gritty reality and the raw emotion of a family struggling for reconciliation.

Over to you: Have you seen Warrior? What did you think? What other MMA films have you seen and would recommend? Are you a Body Combat participant or instructor? How do you react to seeing “the real thing”? Please leave a comment by clicking on “leave a reply” below.