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it-was-a-fantastic-night-at-our-2015-christmas-get-together

It was a fantastic night at our 2015 Christmas Get-Together.

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Laughing with others

Makes Our Time Together

More Enjoyable.

13/11/2015, Friday.

Thank you so much to everyone for joining us at the Christmas Get-Together and making the night so special. Everyone looked fantastic!

A big thanks to the supportive husbands who participated in our little yoga game. You guys rock! 😉

The Oodies team have done an amazing job. Beautiful atmosphere, super friendly staffs and delicious food. We couldn’t have asked for more.

Congratulations to all the winners of our lucky draw prices!

It was a lovely night and we hope everyone left with a big smile.

 

Namaste,

Love Life. Live Yoga. Team

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SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: A wonderful self employed lawyer sharing her experience

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If you had only one word to describe what yoga is to you, what would it be?

“One word to describe yoga is Compassion. I am 51 and a self employed lawyer. Since I have started this more regular yoga practice I feel much more confident about growing older. ”

“I can feel my body able to do things better now than when I was in my 30s and 40s.“

When did you start doing yoga and what makes you want to continue?

” I started practicing yoga with Carmen in April this year. Whilst I have been dabbling in yoga for many years I feel that I have only just started really learn yoga since finding Carmen’s classes. I have so much more to learn and every class takes me a tiny bit further on the journey.”

How often do you attend yoga classes?

“I like to attend classes at least three or four times a week when I am not out of town for work. I know that there are women in their 70s and even 80s who still practice yoga. I admire that tremendously and I want to be able to still practice yoga into my 80s if I am fortunate enough to still be here. I have been a very busy professional with all the usual stresses and pressures that come with that and with having a busy family. That kind of life ages us and makes us short tempered and too tired to enjoy all that we work for. Yoga has given me back my own sense of self and a feeling of wellness and peace.  I have learned that just one hour of yoga can cut through all the craziness of life and that 10 minutes of savasana is the best thing any woman can do for her self and her wellbeing.”

What is you next goal or challenge?

“I am not yet ready to claim that I can actually do a tripod headstand, but I know that I will be able to do it in the future. I have been in the pose near the wall and this was a milestone. It felt great. Carmen’s classes take us further than we think we can go. Her passion for inversion poses and her enthusiasm has changed my expectations of myself. My current goal is to master Bakasana. (I want to stand up on my surfboard – so bakasana will help with that too.)”

“Carmen is the strongest person I know. She has an amazing ability and it is inspiring to have her as a teacher.”

“Carmen is very encouraging. I feel I will never stop learning in her classes and I never want to stop learning.”

Would you like to share something with those who might be thinking about doing yoga in the near future?

“Classes from Love Life. Live Yoga offer something for each one of us, no one is under pressure yet there is always the invitation to go further.”
Susan O’Sullivan
Moore Park, QLD

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5 Things Every Yoga Teacher Wants To Share With You.

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We are not there to judge you, we are there to guide you through practice. It is not about how you look, it is about how you feel. However, there are some things that may not be communicated during class.

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1) You are a beginner. And that is OK.

We were beginners just like every one of you before. Enjoy this journey, because you won’t be a beginner forever, but while you’re there… enjoy it! Soak up everything you can from each practice.

2) We don’t judge your flexibility.

Yoga isn’t about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down. Focus on making small progress and enjoy it at each given moment.

3) There is no such thing as a typical yoga body.

You can be curvy, slight, young, or old—yoga is for everyone! There are so many different types of Yoga, go with the one you enjoy the most.

4) We don’t think you are weak if you start shaking in a certain pose.

Shaking is a sign of hard work and persistence. You are putting in effort and your body is going through change in a good way if you practice mindfully.

5) Ask us for assistance when you plan to try a new pose.

Don’t be shy to ask, nothing is more exciting than when a student comes to us and wants to find out more! We are here to help you.

In the end all that matters is: Does the practice help you to improve your mood, calm your mind and improve your energy?

If so, you’re on the right path. Keep going!

Happy practicing!

 

Namaste,

Carmen Lee-Schneider

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Are you an absolute beginner, thinking about trying yoga?

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Are you thinking about trying yoga? … so what’s next? Just show up, head into your first class with an open mind and have fun. 😉

First timers are absolutely welcome to any of our classes, especially the “Yin & Yang” and “Rise & Shine” classes. All classes are for all levels, they are different types of practice. No matter how much you do, try your best and listen to your body you will always receive the benefits from the class!

Here are 7 tips so you can have a positive first time:

1) Arrive at least 10 minutes earlier to the start time of your first session. Introduce yourself to the coach and ask if you have any questions.

2) Avoid eating a big meal about 2 hours before class and drink plenty of water before.

3) Try to wear something light, fitted and comfortable to the class.

4) Bring your own yoga mat(we have some spare mats if not), a large bottle of water and a towel.

5) Remember, you can always find a comfortable pose to rest during the class. However commit yourself to stay for the entire class, focus on what you can do and take it at your own pace. Remember, you are always welcome to rest in any comfortable position and skip the advance poses if you need to.

6) New to yoga or not, there will always be things you can’t do yet, but there is always something you can do now.

7) It is normal to dislike and uncomfortable in your first class. It can take a couple of sessions to get used to the coach and the yoga practice.

We look forward to seeing you on the mat soon!

 

Namaste,

Love Life. Live Yoga.

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Why should we stretch our toes?

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I often ask the practitioners to focus on their toes and spread them evenly during our yoga classes. We stretch our toes in different poses from standing to sitting, I encourage them to talk to their toes and I really mean it. 😉

It might be painful and discomfort when you come to certain poses to stretch your toes. Maybe try to hold the poses for a short time and slowly increasing the duration, come out from the pose whenever you need to. I really highly recommend to stretch our toes as often as possible. It will only get better if you stretch them regularly. There are a lot benefits of stretching our toes.

Toes need to move through a full range up and down, and independently from each other, for balance, preventing several causes of foot pain, and for quicker, healthier movement ability. Feet are not just blocks to clomp around on.

From stretching your toes regularly, you can avoid toes that curl, hook, hammer, face different directions, or push sideways into bunions. Your toes will feel great and thank you after that!

Tight shoes are not healthy for your toes. Unhealthy shoes are not beautiful maybe. 😉 So why not being barefoot as much as possible? 😉

 

Happy toes! Happy life! 😉

 

Namaste,

Carmen

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Hip & Hamstring Opening Yoga Sequence.

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By another request- Hip & Hamstring Opening Yoga Sequence. 😉

I often come to this sequence especially before bed time, practice this sequence to get the deep opening for the muscles around the hips, lower back and legs while I am resting down on my back.

Follow the step from 1-9 on one leg, try to rest each pose for 3-5 breaths. Repeat the sequence on your second leg. To make it even, some days I start on my left leg and other days I start with my right leg.

Remember, this is the progress from step 1 to 9, slightly bend you knees to start and you can skip the deep poses whenever you want to. I like to close my eyes and use Ujjayi breathing that helps calm my mind and body especially in the deep poses.

 

Happy Practicing!

 

Namaste,

Carmen

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SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: An inspirational new yoga practitioner sharing her experience

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If you had only one word to describe what yoga is to you, what would it be?

“Peacefulness. I am 38 year old woman who lives on a property in the bush, outside of Bundaberg. I am a Mother, first of my two teenage children, and second I work as a Teacher Aide in a Prep-Year 12 Campus, where I manage the Resource Room & School Library. When not tending to my children or at my work, I spend time maintaining my property, tending to my vegetable garden & caring for all our animals – cattle, horses, dogs & chooks.”

“I always leave a session feeling like I am walking on water and I have new energy.”

When did you start doing yoga and what makes you want to continue?

“I started practicing with Carmen in April 2014, during the Easter School Holidays. I continue to practice yoga because it makes me feel good. I always leave a session feeling like I am walking on water and I have new energy. When doing yoga I use that time to concentrate on me and to let go of everything else outside of me. The time is used getting to know me & where I am at, going inside myself, feeling me, loving me, being me.”

How often do you attend Carmen’s yoga classes?

“I attend classes twice a week. If l lived closer I would definitely attend more often. Since I started practicing yoga regularly I feel more balanced in all areas of my life. I have better clarity (my mind is clearer) and my body feels more alive. I listen more to my body & work with it. I am more in touch with myself. I have lost some weight, my body is becoming more toned in areas, I feel stronger within my mind and body, and I am more aware of my posture. I feel healthier.”

What is you next goal or challenge?

“I am presently working on the tripod headstand and the crow. I like to challenge myself because it is fun and it feels great within myself each time I achieve a small step towards a pose. When I find balance it is a good feeling, to be able to get there and hold the pose in a controlled manner. It takes a lot of ones own discipline. I attempt these poses because they teach me control, to listen to my body & it is a good feeling. My daughter also encourages me because she is a great believer in that everything is possible. The first time I managed to do my first tripod headstand, even though it is only at one of the first stages, it made me feel ecstatic. I was over the moon about it because at one of my very first yoga lessons, Carmen showed us how to do a tripod headstand and I couldn’t even put my head on the ground. I had fear that I was going to topple over, I never thought I would be able to lift my feet up off the ground if I could never get my head down. At the moment I can only hold the tripod headstand at a beginner stage for a short period of time, but I find great achievement in this. I feel good inside myself and have gained confidence that one day it is possible that I will do a tripod headstand all the way with my legs straight in the air with total control.”

“Carmen is magnificent. She is like a breath of fresh air. Carmen is inspiring, energetic, patient, understanding.”

“Carmen has inspired me greatly in my yoga journey. Through her inspiration, encouragement, experience and knowledge, I have gained faith that with patience and practice I will be able to succeed at learning new poses and building on them to different stages. Just to watch Carmen completing different poses and flows is inspirational. Carmen is magnificent. She is like a breath of fresh air. Carmen is inspiring, energetic, patient, understanding……she is truly wonderful. She takes the time to assist you in different poses at whatever stage or level you are at on your yoga journey. Carmen is an inspirational, amazing yogi.”

Would you like to share something with those who might be thinking about doing yoga in the near future?

“If you haven’t done yoga or attended one of Carmen’s classes then now is the time to do it. Don’t just attend one class before you decide whether it is for you or not, attend a couple of classes and give your body time to adapt to this wonderful new journey. I remember attending one of my first classes thinking “Oh no this is too hard.” But I have overcome that fear, to breath through different poses and learned to work with my body and where I am at in my journey. Everyone is different and we should learn to appreciate that.”
Brenda Grills
Bundaberg, QLD

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BLOG: Is Yoga for Everyone?

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I am often asked if beginners can join my yoga classes.

My yoga classes are for everyone. During a class, classic yoga poses are practiced with an emphasis on alignment and options for modifications. It is appropriate for people brand new to yoga as well as folks who have been practicing for some time. You who have been practicing with me know that I always provide variations for beginners and advanced ones.

Even if you’re brand new to yoga, come join my “Rise&Shine” & “Yin&Yang” classes to learn the basics of the practice, and at the same time explore some new moves which you might thought you were never able to do. There might be some confusion at the beginning but that only makes it more fun practicing as you are learning and exploring something new.

Yoga is not about competition or comparison. When practicing yoga one goes within, becoming aware of what is happening inside the body. Whatever the body can do in a yoga session is exactly what it should be doing. One accepts without judging. Most importantly, listen to your body and take this time to deepen the connection to your inner self.

See on the mat soon!

Namaste,
Carmen

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Video: Yoga with Rhee Tae Kwon Do Bundaberg.

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A huge thank you to Rhee Tae Kwon Do Bundaberg for having me over for a wonderful yoga session with a group of lovely people.

Namaste,

Carmen

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