Rangitaki Pūāio - Yoga Blog

When finding rest is hard, when your nervous system is used to always being on guard, and your body is used to movement, rushing or constant stress- switching off, slowing down and resting can sometimes feel uncomfortable.  

We've all been there- good intentions to begin something new, to get healthy or support our wellbeing with yoga. But what do you do when staying on the path seems like such a rocky...

The breath is the bridge between our body and our mind in yoga. It contains the life force, and links us to our divine nature.

The stiffness, swelling, and pain may make you want to avoid movement — but, the right kind of movement is one of the best ways to support your joints and ease discomfort. This is where yoga comes in.

Yoga for Wāhine during the Menopause Transition: A Path to Balance and Renewal. Menopause - Ruahinetanga is not an ending, but a powerful transition — a time of deep wisdom, reflection, and renewal. For many women this season of life can bring both challenges and opportunities.

It is the slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing that promotes the parasympathetic nervous system response. It is telling your body that All is Well. 

Menopause- Ruahinetanga, and peri - menopause- are a time of transition. Some traverse this transition smoothly, while many wāhine find it challenging. If you are the later it is important to remember that you are not alone, and although your practice may change, it may not be necessary to give up completely. If you're feeling tempted to give up yoga during peri-menopause or post menopause, please remember there is a practice for you. Through my own experience I have found many ways that yoga helped, and it can help you too.

Whakaritenga - Ritual  elevate your practice, and open the door to transformation...  "Routines are concrete repetitive actions that help us develop skills while creating continuity and order Rituals are routines elevated, driven by intention, and imbued with meaning." - Esther Perel

Sleep is not merely a period of inactivity; it's a fundamental pillar of our overall health and well-being, impacting virtually every aspect of our lives. Here's why sleep is so crucial: 1. Physical Restoration/ Wahakaora Tinana: While we sleep, our bodies undergo essential repair processes. Muscles are repaired, tissues are regenerated, and the immune system is strengthened. Without adequate sleep, these processes are disrupted, leaving us more susceptible to illness and physical fatigue.

The feminine life force energy (Shakti) is considered the creative force in yoga philosophy, the energy that brings all things into physical form This energy is radiant and powerful, it is active and creative, receptive and nurturing.  I don't recall being told this over two decades ago, when I first started my yoga journey...

Have you ever heard yourself say that you are too big, stiff or old to do yoga? Or maybe heard others say this, as I have heard 100's of times in my 20+ years of teaching. It's a fear that many people carry, and I too am not immune to the fears of being judged - in fact  many teachers carry shame - for not 'measuring up' to the 'standard' image of a yoga teacher. 

- You are ready to start your home practice journey...but you don't know where to begin. You're not alone, this is something I hear often at workshops and classes, so this post aims to give you a simple way to look at what to do, with 5 essential things to include.