Tag Archives: hatha yoga

Have a look! Video Preview of Les Mill Body Balance release 64

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Not long now.

At the beginning of March we’ll see Les Mills Body Balance release 64 for the first time. As usual Les Mills are teasing us with a minute long preview video.

Here it is.

It’s not giving much away apart from the “One Legged Full Back Bends” which I have to say is a VERY advanced move. One to look forward to or one to avoid?

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of the video preview of Les Mills Body Balance release 64? Is there anything you’d really like to see in the next release? Please share your thoughts. Leave a comment below. If you have a friend who would like to see the preview please share this post.

And check back in a few weeks for my first thoughts on Body Balance 64 after I’ve tried it out at the Quarterly Workshop.

New Year, new Les Mills releases, DOMS and finally curing my Coke Addiction

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Happy New Year to everyone reading Grandnat’s Blog. Thanks for all your comments and support last year – especially for the first episodes of my Group Fitness Over Coffee podcast. 2014 arrived with a cardio-busting flood of sweat and high heart rates as I launched Body Combat release 58 and Body Balance release 63 to my classes. People fill fitness clubs to capacity at this time of year as they seek to shed the pounds they put on during their Christmas excesses. These new Les Mills releases are tough, challenging but achievable and uplifting. And they work. Do you know how I know? new Les Mills releases Because two days after launching my arms and legs are screaming with DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). I can feel the results already. If you haven’t checked out the new Les Mills releases yet go along to a class. It’s a great way to start the new year as you mean to go on. And finally a confession. I’ve been a Coke addict for nearly all my life. When I worked in a big busy corporate I was always swilling back four or five cans of Diet Coke and Coke Zero a day with all their artificial sweeteners and additives. When I left corporate life I found  I had moved to 2 litre bottles. I felt bloated and full of chemicals. Well I stopped drinking Coke last August and I haven’t had a drop since. I hated the first few weeks. I craved the fizz and the caffeine. But now I’m free of it and feel better for it. Whilst that was more like a mid-summer resolution than a New Year’s resolution I intend to stay Coke free for good. Have a great 2014. Now it’s your turn: Have you tried the new Les Mills releases yet? What do you think? Did they work for you. Have you experienced DOMS already? What are your fitness goals for 2014. Please leave a comment share your plans and goals.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

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It’s difficult to find decent yoga pants for men. If you are a lady who loves yoga then you can find some lovely apparel to wear to class. But us guys have to make do with basic black cotton shorts or leggings.

As I was searching the net for something to replace my moth eaten pants, I came across all sorts of other yoga goodies. I thought I would share what I found. Here are some Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants. If you like any of them click on the picture for a link to Amazon.

First of all I liked these ladies yoga pants so much I almost bought myself a pair.

Tribal Earth Cotton Yoga Trousers With Beautiful Cross Over.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

I guess these are about the best I could find for men.

Yogamasti Men’s Yoga Pants.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

We could all do with a new yoga mat from time time to time. You can’t beat the Warrior Yoga Mat for durability.

Warrior Plus Mat.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

But I quite like this mat. You’ll find the more popular yoga poses printed on it.

Black 28 Poses Yoga Mat.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

If you want to take things easy over Christmas and just read about yoga, and plan for your New Year’s resolution to practice every day, then you’ll enjoy this book by Kino MacGregor. Also check out her YouTube videos – she’s an inspirational teacher.

The Power of Ashtanga Yoga: Developing a Practice That Will Bring You Strength, Flexibility, and Inner Peace–Includes the Complete Primary Series.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

Or if all you want is a quick introduction to yoga try this ebook written by one of my fellow yoga teachers. It’s great value at only 77p.

The Complete Book of yoga for Beginners by Ntathu Allen.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

If you want to get moving straight away check out this Power Yoga DVD from Rodney Yees. His sequences are always achievable and yet challenging at the same time.

Rodney Yee’s Ultimate Power Yoga DVD.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

And once you’ve finished the physical side of yoga you can relax and let a calming voice take you through a guided mediation.

Experience Yoga Nidra: Guided Deep Meditation.

Christmas gift ideas for yoga teachers and participants

Now it’s your turn: these are my favourite yoga gifts, what are yours? Please post a link to your own favourites.

First impressions of Les Mills Body Balance release 63 after Dunfermline Quarterly Workshop.

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Have you ever heard anyone say Body Balance is easy. I have. Quite a few Clubs position it to members calling it “the easy class”.

If you’re a Body Balance instructor, if you’re a participant in Body Balance class you’ll know that this is nonsense. Body Balance delivers a tough workout. Although not aerobically challenging, from a strength and flexibility point of view you feel the intensity.

But even I wasn’t ready for how tough Body Balance release 63 is.

Les Mills Body Balance release 63
Body Balance Release 63 Poster

They held the Quarterly Workshop at Club 64 in Dunfermline. The first thing I noticed was how hot the room felt. In fact it seemed hotter than a Bikram yoga studio. I had to place my yoga towel on my mat to stop myself from sliding off. The wooden floor became a sweaty sea slippery moisture.

However our master trainer was Ann-See Yeoh who delivered, as always, a fabulous experience both during the educational and taking us through the new tracks.

None of the poses appeared impossible to do for any of our participants. It’s just the combined intensity of everything together really took me by surprise. That combined with the hot room made it a very intense experience.

Here are a few things that I remember about the class.

  • The Thai Chi warmup flowed beautifully with figure eight arms sweeps, arm circles and birds tails.
  • Sun salutations challenges your arms and shoulders because on each round we go from downward facing dog, to plank, to crocodile, to upward facing dog and back to down facing dog twice in each salutation.
  • Standing strength set to “Only You” a song by Ellie Goulding lasts for 8 minutes and shatters your legs. In fact I was shaking by the end of those eight minutes.
  • In the abs track we see the return of “Pilates hundreds” and all sorts of combinations of crunches and hovers.
  • For forward bends and hamstring stretches we have an interesting new concept called the “downward facing dog flip”. I’m not going to say anything more about that. You’ll just have to wait until the new releases come out to see what that is.

This will be a very challenging but very exciting release and I can’t wait for my music and DVD to arrive so that I can start learning it and deliver it to my members in the New Year.

Now it’s your turn: Have you been to your Quarterly Workshop? What were your first thoughts about Les Mills Body Balance release 63? Please leave a comment or post a link to your own review.