ctyoga has moved to….ITALY!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by ctyoga
Hi Guys…i know i know it sure has been a while since the last post!
I did not forget about you guys…it’s just been a mad mad mad phase…packing, moving, shipping, saying bye, leaving, flying and arriving to Milan, Italy after 11 long and rich and wonderful years in London, UK.
 
But the time had come for change….so i quit my full time job in media (film advertising) and moved to Milan to pursue my dream and teach yoga full time….i know what some of you might be thinking, crazyness, perhaps, but sometimes, you just gotta follow that gut feeling!
 
So besides packing and the various leaving drinks – i managed to get down to Flying Fantastic in Battersea and finally seeing what they were all about. I had so much fun! Hanging upside down, sideways, climbing up a ribbon….it was great, but definitely need more than just 1 lesson! I will be back for more, that’s for sure! I thoroughly suggest this to anyone that’s up for doing something different and having a laugh and meeting some great people in the process!
 
Here’s a pic to show you what we were up to:
So i’m now living in Milano, the fashion capital of Italy…and so far so good…the city has been pretty dead – Milanese have a tendency to escape the city during the month of August as it gets so unbearably hot, and run away to the beach or anywhere else for that matter…it has been pretty warm to be honest, i already have a tan! Fancy that!
 
After a few days here, i spent the wkend at the beach, Variggotti in the neighboring state of Liguria…my cousin Karim, and his two friends, Gianmatteo & Edoardo took a little impromptu roadtrip to the beach and camped out….AMAZING time and i even got a tan! it was 37*C! actually it was so hot, i couldn’t even walk on the sand!
 
oh and i’m already peeling! 😦
 
One thing i’d really like to mention is the seafood resto we ate at – it was incredible! TRATTORIA SAPORE DI MARE….if ur ever in the civinity, please do – so fresh and delicious….just thinking about it now is making me hungry!
 
Besides that, i’ve been doing a lot of research on yoga studios and gym here in Milan, as well as meeting lots of new people and friends, going to parties in the park – Trees Can Dance Too – where Gianmatteo DJs, and last but definitely by no means least – i went WAKEBOARDING with KEIBOLONLI for the first time ever @ the Idroscalo (a man-made lake). I did it for an hr, and in that hr i fell constantly – they make it look so easy, but really, it isn’t…it takes perseverance and a hard head and energy, lots of it….cuz boy oh boy are you tired by the end of it!!!
 
What else can i say?
 
The weather is amazing, puts a smile on my face seeing the cloudless sunny sky every morning when i wake up….the food is so tasty, and the wine is…well, need i say?
 
I’m gonna check out the 2 English studios i’ve found and i’ll tell u guys all about ’em! I’m back now, and i promise not to leave u guys with no news for more than a day!
 
Ciao a tutti!
 
OOoooPpps i almost forgot!!!! Here’s my “Italian” flier in English – once the translation is ready, i’ll be getting brand spanking new fliers – 1 side in English and on the other in Italian 🙂
 
 
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Meditation Flash Mob South Kensington | 6:23-6:43pm!!!

Posted on July 12, 2011 by ctyoga
Yes you have guessed it! THE time has come…and how quickly too, since i last mentioned it on here!
Please note VENUE HAS CHANGED! We are no longer meeting by the South Bank, instead we are now meeting outside South Kensington tube station…
Directions: leave the station by turning left at the top of the steps – we will be meditating in the large square just next to the flower stand.
Details: Arrive before 6:20pm and hang around the area minding your own business. At 6:23pm (on the dot) a leader will sit down and begin to meditate on her own. Please continue to look inconspicuous during this time. Allow her to do sit for at least 30 seconds and then join in at staggered times within the first 2-3 minutes. The Flash Mob will last a 20 minutes exactly. At 6:43pm, the leader will get up and walk away. Please disperse and walk your own separate ways. We want to confuse and bemuse the public and leave them in bewilderment as to what just happened.
 
Hope you can make it, i’ll definitely be there! x

 
 
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Tonight’s Class!

Posted on June 30, 2011 by ctyoga
ok so i’ve decided that tonight’s class is going to focus in particular, on the stomach region of the body…paying particular attention to uddiyana bandha & the manipura chakra 🙂

Manipura Chakra

Manipura Chakra

The Manipura Chakra is the third chakra and is located at the spine, directly behind the navel, or solar plexus.
Manipura is considered the center of dynamism, energy, willpower and achievement, which radiates prana throughout the entire body. It’s associated with fire, digestion, the sense of sight, movement & the color yellow. Manipura is the center of intuition, a vague sense of knowing – hence the phrase ‘gut feeling’. As its associated with sight & movement, it is also associated with eyes and feet. In terms of the endocrine system, Manipura is associated with the pancreas & outer adrenal glands. These glands create important hormones involved in digestion, converting food into energy for the body, in the same way that Manipura radiates prana throughout the body. different practices for arousing and balancing the energies of Manipura include various asanas which work on that part of the body, pranayama, Uddiyana bandha.
 

Uddiyana Bandha

oo-dee-YAH-nah BAHN-dah
uddiyana = upward (cf. ud = “up, upwards”) bandha = lock
 
Anatomical Focus: Abdomen & Thorax
Therapeutic Applications: Constipation & Ingestion
Benefits:
a) Strengthens the abdominal muscles and diaphragm
b) Massages abdominal viscera, solar plexus and the heart & lungs
c) Increases gastric fire, improves digestion, assimilation, elimination and purifies the digestive tract of toxins
d) Stimulates blood circulation in the abdomen and blood flow to the brain
e) Removes fatigue
f) Gives lightness to movement
g) Preliminary to cleansing -> Nauli Kriya (massaging all internal organs)
h) Stimulates and lifts energy of the lower belly (apana vayu), to unite it with the energies localized in the navel (samana vayu) and heart (prana vayu).
 
Contraindications and Cautions:
1. Stomach or intestinal ulcers
2. Hernia
3. High blood pressure
4. Heart disease
5. Glaucoma
6. Menstruation
7. Pregnancy
 
If you’re interested, give me a call! See you later! ~*~
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What will they think of next???

Posted on June 28, 2011 by ctyoga
i am really sorry for the lack of posts lately…i’ve been incredibly busy, with day job, workshops, teaching, volunteering, friends visiting from Thailand and cousin visiting from Brighton…yes it was all happenin’!
 
I saw this little article in NOW Magazine (no i did not buy it, i was given it!) about a new type of yoga: YogaHop! and apparently Reese Witherspoon is doing it! Dancing to yoga postures? i can’t quite picture it, can you?

Reese now doing YogaHop!

What will they think of next?
 
Another thing i’ve tried out – literally just a few mins ago – i was given a quick & short intro to Tai Chi by Oliver Sutton…& i must say i am intrigued! I definitely like! My thighs are feeling it…such small movements, being present & in the moment, moving with purpose & ease & grace, slowly and mindfully! Reminded me of Yoga…then again, Chi is Prana 🙂
 
I have yet another GIVEAWAY…more details to follow guys…!!! For now, i gotta get some zzz’s so i can get up and do some yoga and then cycle to work! Bring on the sunshine!!! Have a happy & sunny week guys! xxx
 
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COMPETITION TIME AGAIN!!!

Posted on June 21, 2011 by ctyoga
I’ve got ONE FREE ticket to go see…
 

FREE TICKET!

 
Eliza Doolittle, Jesse J, Primal Scream…AND…P Diddy @ Wembley Arena on July 12th, 2011!!!
 
First person to subscribe to my blog – gets the FREE ticket!!! (if in the meantime i get another, you get to take home BOTH!)
 
Everyone’s a winner!
Hope you’re having a Happy & Sunny Week!
 
Ciao x
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