Understanding Difference Types of Yoga

Yoga is becoming a more and more popular activity in the Western world today. The number of places holding Yoga classes is on the increase and there is a plethora of different types of Yoga. With a choice of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and many more it can be easy to get confused

The article will help you to understand the difference between the most popular types of Yoga so you can choose which type is right for you.

Hatha Yoga
In Sanskrit (an ancient classical language of India) “Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means “moon”. This type of Yoga is relatively slow paced, gentle type of Yoga and is a good place to start if you are completely new to Yoga and don't know any of the asanas (poses). Like all types of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body and spirit.

Ashtanga Yoga
Means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit. It's a fast moving, intense style of Yoga practice and is based on a progressive set sequence of asanas, synchronized with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you constantly move from one asana in the sequence to the next, so you'll find that it will improve your stamina as well as your flexibility and strength..

Power Yoga
This is a western interpretation of Yoga and is based on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class may not necessarily stick to the exact sequence of poses like Ashtanga Yoga does, but it does involve practicing a series of poses without stopping and starting.

Iyengar Yoga
This type of Yoga is based on teachings by B.K.S Igengar and concentrates on the correct alignment and form of the body. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, there is an emphasis on holding each pose for a long period of time rather than moving constantly from one pose to the next. Iyengar Yoga uses props such as blocks and straps to help align the body into the different poses.

Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa means breath synchronized movement and is another fast paced type of Yoga, with an emphasis on breathing. A practice typically starts with sun salutations and moves on to more intense stretching. Throughout the practice each pose is balanced with a counter pose.

Bikram Yoga
Otherwise known as “Hot Yoga”, is practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees, with a humidity of around 40%. Generally a sequence of 26 different poses is practiced during a Bikram Yoga class and the hot temperature helps to loosen muscles. Due to the high temperature most people sweat a lot during the class and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins.

Seribadan offers Hatha Yoga on Tuesday 6.30pm and Power Yoga on Friday 10.00am.
To find out more about the different types of Yoga visit http://www.yogamentor.com – your free online Yoga Guide.

After 3 hours of bellydancing....

That was a super cool Belly Dance workshop session yesterday right? My apologies to those who receive the news too late and couldn't join us.

For those Seribadan members, I knew 3 hours of belly dancing will not do any bodily aches. Afterall, these are the ladies that dance half a day away during Seribadan annual hi-tea. But for the rest, I hope all of you are okay. Any muscle aches will only last for about 48 hours. Come to regular classes at Seribadan if you want to be fit for our next workshop :)

Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.

Watch out for the next workshop.........

Belly Dance Workshop @ 16 Dec 2006

Tween Fit Girls in action

I dont usually get to watch these girls in session. But this week, the class was brought forward to Friday morning because Alize will be sitting for her NFC final exam tomorrow and Sunday. So I get to watch them. And they were superb, energetically dancing to a hip hop number, with the right attitude to boot. I beamed with pride, as if they were my own kids. I'd better reward the girls with something cute next week.

There are two newcomers by the way. One joined last week and catching up with amazing speed. The other one is her cousin, who just joined today and went through all the customary clumsy arms and legs movement. But she was doing fine by the last number. Such a wonder of young age. They caught up with anything with lightning speed.

I'm just glad that these girls get to channel their energy at the right place, under the supervision of capable adults. They are lucky!

Saturday @ Seribadan

Tween Fit session this Saturday is being brought forward to Friday 15 December 2006. So girls, remember to wake up early tomorrow morning and dance with Auntie Alize.

Hatha Yoga replacement class is at 9.15am and it is open to all. Walk in is at RM10.00 per class (special December promo). Please take your breakfast earlier, okay. Preferably 2 hours earlier, around 7.00am and not too heavy. You could make up for it half an hour after yoga class.

And of course, Belly Dance Workshop from 2.00pm t0 5.00pm.

Basic Rules in Strength Training (or Bodyworks)

Here are eight basic rules to follow in strength training:

• Start with body weight exercises for a few weeks (such as sit-ups, pushups, and pull-ups) before using free weights. Even then, go for lightest weight first.
• Work out with weights about three times a week. Avoid weight training on back-to-back days.
• Warm up for 5–10 minutes before each session.
• Stretch the muscles you plan to strengthen before each weight training session.
• Spend no more than 40 minutes lifting the weight to avoid fatigue or boredom.
• Work more reps; avoid maximum lifts.
• Ensure you're using proper technique through supervision. Improper technique may result in injuries, particularly in the shoulder and back. Do not hesitate to yell for help from your instructor if you are not sure what she is talking about.
• Cool down for 5–10 minutes after each session, stretching the muscles you worked out.
• Don't forget to breath

Don't rely on Bodyworks as your only form of exercise. You still need to get your heart and lungs working harder by doing some kind of additional aerobic exercise for a minimum of 20–30 minutes per session. Doctors recommend an hour a day of moderate to vigorous activity — so on days when you're not lifting weights, you may want to get more aerobic activity. Seribadan's Step Aerobics & Rhythm Aerobics classes are perfect for this.

Strength training is a great way to improve strength, endurance, and muscle tone. But remember to start slowly, use proper form, avoid heavy weights, and increase workouts gradually to prevent injury. Just a few short sessions a week will really pay off — besides better muscle tone and definition, you may find that you have more energy and focus in both personal life and your career.

What is in Bodywork session?

Also known as Strength Training and Weight Training.

Basically, Bodyworks is a group exercise class incorporating weight training. Each session will comprise of warming up, cardio workout, weight training, stretching and cooling down.

These are some of the exercises that you could expect at any of Bodyworks class, though not all of them at a time:

• Decline bench press
• Incline bench press
• Standing side laterals
• Standing bent laterals
• Standing front raises
• Incline seated curls
• Seated one arm triceps extension
• One arm rows
• Squats
• Lunges
• Standing one leg calf raises
• Wrist extensions
• Wrist curls
• Back Arches
• Chinese press up

These are mostly done with free weights, i.e dumbbells and bodybar. If you are a beginner, worry not, you could start with the lightest of dumbells.

Squat and lunges are exercises that use our own bodyweight, but for a more advance group, you could add add free weight into the exercises. For example, doing a squat by holding a bodybar on your shoulder or a pair of dumbbell at your sides

The myth of ABT

Actually, not just ABT. Bodyworks as well. Now and again I've met people bent upon doing crunch, and only crunches all the time to get a flat tummy. Or somebody might be unhappy that the fitness instructor included cardio excercise in her bodyworks class because all she wanted to do is lift weight, that's all.

The thing is, there is no such thing as spot reduction. You can't just lose the fat on your, say, waistline alone. It did not work that way. You need to reduce overall body fat before your ABT (body conditioning) and weight training would show their effect. You could do chest press all day and all you could achieve is increase in muscle endurance.

So that was the reason why ABT and Bodyworks classes were preceded with cardio workout. To start the calorie burning.

Here is an interesting article i found on the net:

Now for the “what won’t work” glute list:

Butt Blaster Machines – These machines, sometimes called “butt blaster” or “butt burner units,” have you positioned on your hands and knees. You place your foot on a platform above your glutes and behind your upper body – and then push up towards the ceiling with your foot.
This is an ineffective exercise. It places some resistance on the butt, but nothing that will stimulate any type of significant change. It doesn’t matter if you perform 10 reps or 30.
You’d be better off performing a lunge which places excellent resistance on the glutes/legs and allows it to be worked more effectively, or even an angled leg press, which works the legs and glutes as well.

Focusing Only On Butt Exercises – Some people will do a 10-minute weight workout, 10-minute cardio workout and then spend 20 minutes working the glutes. This will not give you the results you seek. This method assumes that constant work of the butt will make it smaller.

Fire Hydrant Exercise -- Did you ever walk by a cardio class and see people on all fours as they raise one leg (with bent knee) up to the side. This is called a Fire Hydrant. Again, an overrated exercise that is ineffective.

Why is it ineffective? A muscle responds to overload and resistance. You simply can’t place enough overload on the glute in that position. You’d need the heaviest ankle weights on earth and it still wouldn’t work.

Very High Repetitions –- This applies to any lower body movement, including the glutes. Very high reps for the lower body (over 20) will not place enough overload and stress on a muscle to make any cosmetic change. So, the people who perform 100 kneeling rear leg kicks, 50 reps of leg presses etc. are simply training for muscular endurance -- that’s about it. One might say that at least they’re burning calories, but if that’s the goal, there are better ways to burn calories (i.e. cardiovascular exercise)

The formula for success remains clear -- calorie reduction to lose fat; cardiovascular exercise to burn more calories, weight training to stimulate the metabolism, including strategic lower body exercises such as squats, lunges and leg presses to tighten the legs and glutes.

Now, go get that bodacious butt you’ve always wanted.

Article from eFitness.com (by Raphael Caldazilla)

Seribadan Tween Fit

This fun filled weekly session is now resumed after month long hiatus during fasting & raya month. I'm sure the girls are excited to get back on the dance floor. They sure could dance, these cute young ladies. Hope they have fun today. Unfortunately, aunty nae can't join the fun as she'll be rushing for her FISAF course.

December Schedule