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Great article on the benefits of Prenatal Massage!

Sat, Apr 16 2011.

The Benefits of Prenatal Massage

Pregnancy is an important time in a woman’s life where she experiences many physical and emotional changes and challenges. While this is a period of heightened expectation and joy, mothers-to-be may also endure heightened physical discomfort that ranges from muscular tension and headaches to increased pressure on joints.

Prenatal massage is a natural healing treatment aimed at alleviating these and other pregnancy related symptoms.

Prenatal massage offers a wide range of benefits, which may include the following:

Eases backaches, headaches, shoulder and neck aches that may be caused by muscle tension and shifts in posture to accommodate increasing weight.
Decreases pain in the pelvic/hip area and lessens sciatic pain.
Helps increase circulation which in turn delivers more oxygen and nutrients to mother and baby.
Increases blood and lymph flow which can increase the elimination of toxins and help with fatigue.
Strengthens the immune system.
Improves skin elasticity that can help reduce stretch marks
Helps reduce swelling in such places as hands, lower legs and feet.
Stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers into the brain and nervous system.
Promotes relaxation and deep breathing – which can be used during labour.

During pregnancy it is important for the mum to be to take time out regularly giving her a chance to unwind, feel serene and healthy.

Some women also choose to incorporate elements of massage during childbirth to cope with delivery. Massage therapy can also be a therapeutic treatment after pregnancy as the woman’s body returns to its normal state, and she begins her life with baby.

Pregnancy Massage treatments now available at Trinity College Sports Centre, Pearse St, Dublin 2. Open to members and non members.

Contact Deirdre Graham 087 / 908 4003 or graham_deirdre@yahoo.ie

New Metta Meditation Blog

Sat, Apr 09 2011.

Just discovered this great new blog on Metta Meditation! Have a read:

http://dometta.blogspot.com/

Benefits of Laughter Yoga; compiled by Angie Kinsella

Fri, Apr 01 2011.

After just one laughter yoga session many people feel the difference.

After some Laughter Yoga meditation sessions people describe surging feelings of joy and happiness.
With regular sessions people’s entire mental and physical state changes for the better. Laughter accelerates healing and many small health problems disappear. The frequency of colds & flu’s reduces. You feel happy, healthy and well. No other fitness training regime or style of yoga has these benefits.

Here are the major benefits of Laughter Yoga:

Feel-good hormones. Laughing leads to the release of endorphins, a self-manufactured natural opiate that has been scientifically shown to carry messages of attachment and bonding (the scientific terms for love), and to stimulate feelings of caring and forgiveness in addition to acting as a natural painkiller. Endorphins create a positive state of mind and boost optimism, self-confidence and feelings of self-worth.
Blood & all major organs are fully oxygenated leaving us bursting with energy. Lloyd (Journal of General Psychology, 1983) showed that laughter is a combination of deep inhalation and full exhalation, inspiring excellent ventilation, wonderful rest and profound release. Increased circulation helps flush the organs of waste products, helping us to operate at peak performance.
Our lymphatic system is massaged and our immune systems boosted. Laughter causes an “internal jogging” that massages the internal organs and promotes circulation to the digestive and lymphatic systems.
Strengthens the immune system. Laughter deepens the breath, which is shown to increase lymphatic flow, which in turn is already thoroughly documented and proven to boost the immune system with fast increases in levels of anti-viral and anti-infection cells (including the so-called “natural-killer” cells which help fight cancer). Laughter also increases the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), the first line of defense protecting us against viral infections such as coughs and colds. Immune, digestive & sexual systems that are switched off by stress are switched on.
Promotes cardio-vascular health. Blood pressure drops and pulse rate drops after you have laughed.
Depression is lifted, even chronic depression is often cured.
Anti-aging formula. Many older Laughter Yoga practitioners claim that the facial exercise of laughter reduces wrinkles and sagging by firming and toning facial muscles, making them look (and if anything else “feel”) younger. Overall exercise is known to slow down the aging process and Laughter Yoga is a fun and easy exercise for all age groups.
Catharsis. By enhancing the free flow of emotions, laughter can help dislodge blocked emotions stored in the body. Suppressed or blocked emotions can cause ongoing physical, mental and emotional problems. Their release can be life-changing. Laughter provides an excellent non-violent method for emotional release and catharsis (word of cautions: laughter therapy to release emotional trauma truly really works.
After just one laughter yoga session many people feel the difference. After some Laughter Yoga meditation sessions people describe surging feelings of joy and happiness.
With regular sessions people’s entire mental and physical state changes for the better. Laughter accelerates healing and many small health problems disappear. The frequency of colds & flu’s reduces. You feel happy, healthy and well. No other fitness training regime or style of yoga has these benefits.

Yoga Interview from this month’s GCN magazine

Thu, Mar 10 2011.

Interview with Ciaran Rua, student at Open Mind Yoga, in GCN magazine

I’ve always like holistic alternative stuff. When I was a teenager I was interested in healing herbs and Wicca and all that kind of thing. I became interested in Eastern philosophy and Eastern medicine and I tried to do meditation, but I wasn’t very good at that. Then, when I was 16, I discovered yoga. I think everyone can benefit from yoga because beyond the physical advantages, yoga can be very good for you mentally. I always feel a lot more relaxed after a class – in fact that was one of the reasons why I started yoga in the first place. It can be really good for focusing your mind because you’re not just going into poses, you also have to be focused on your breathing. When you go into a yoga class the whole objective is to forget about the outside world and focus on the breath and what you’re doing with your body. It is really good for settling your mind. Yoga can make you more flexible, but it’s particularly good for building body awareness. We all go around day-to-day not really taking account of how we sit or how we stand. Through praticing yoga you can learn to align your body more appropriately. Yoga is also great for strengthening your ‘core’, which is the central area around your abdomen. To anyone thinking of giving yoga a chance I’d say, if you go, you’re definitely not going to regret it. Some studios, like Open Minds Yoga, offer a free first class, so there’s no reason not to pop in and give it a shot. There’s nothing to be frightened of. It’s not like some kind of hippy-dippy nonsense – you just go in and get what you want out of it and usually it’s very easygoing and very relaxing.

For original interview:

http://issuu.com/gcnews/docs/gcn255/13

Top tips on why yoga is good for you!

Sun, Mar 06 2011.

relaxation of body and mind
which in turn revitalizes your nervous system
a feeling of peace and stability
a feeling of being ‘taller’
holding good posture more easily and without effort
becoming acquainted with muscles you didn’t know you had – which is the first step in toning them up
a feeling of being more energized – if not immediately, certainly the next day