I love playing sport – whether it’s football tennis or cycling – I’ve always enjoyed keeping fit and working up a sweat. I consider myself to be in good shape and quite flexible, but during a football training session I felt an excruciating pain shoot through my leg, and a visit to hospital confirmed my worst fears
– I had torn my hamstring. I was devastated and I knew I would be out of action for a while. I could hardly walk never mind kick a ball, and I left the hospital on crutches.
Most Beautiful Yoga Poses Photo Gallery
I attended weekly physiotherapy sessions and it wasn’t long before I ditched those crutches. A few weeks later I started some light training but I could still feel a painful tightness in my leg. A friend suggested I take up yoga but I refused to accompany her to a class, making stereotypical jokes that it was for women or hippies.’ But as my leg was stopping me from getting back to my previous levels of fitness I decided to give it a try
– what did I have to lose?
For 90-minutes I stretched my body in ways I never thought possible and I left the class physically exhausted. The next day my leg felt as if it had been massaged, and as if by magic the tightness that hampered had suddenly vanished.
That first class was 6-months ago. Now I’m a regular at my local yoga centre and I’ve just signed up for a two-week yoga retreat. I’m glad that I got injured because I feel even healthier. I’m more flexible and agile with greater awareness of my body and that’s definitely helped my sports. I’m still as active as I ever was, but now you’re more likely to see me sweating on a yoga mat than a football field!
The Earth Mat
The new agoy earth mat with improved natural grip is lightweight, sturdy and made from an unique hygienic closed cell foam known as TPE, which effectively locks out moisture, odours and germs. The Earth Mat is free of latex and contains no toxic materials. As TPE can be broken down in landfills, it makes this mat one of the most environmental friendly yoga mats on the market today.
We begin this month’s edition with the first part of Sally Parkes’ fantastic energy flow workout, specifically designed to increase vitality and strength, while aiding weight loss in time for the summer months ahead. And for those of you already planning your holidays, our beauty writer Katie, tests out the latest organic products to keep you safe and looking gorgeous in the sun.
Plus there’s a profile of the Ocean of Devotion retreat and Kirtan hosted by triyoga and featuring the legendary Krishna Das. This weekend event will combine yoga, chanting and live performances and talks from the true Kirtan King. We have three sets of tickets to be won to the event – and if that wasn’t enough, five lucky readers can each win £200 worth of vouchers for the Wellicious online boutique, and get kitted out with some truly luxurious clothing guaranteed to keep you looking stylish on and off the mat.
There’s also nutritional advice on how to improve the body’s and brain’s functions through a combination of yoga and eating the right foods, to ensure you’re getting the most from your yoga practice; while guest teacher Nathalie Mukusheva. expertly guides us through three poses and a wonderful supine hip opening sequence that also works on the deep inner core.
We also take a look at Kum Nye yoga (Tibetan yoga), and highlight the amazing Bowen Technique; alongside your regular favourites and reviews of the latest eco clothing and yoga products and much more!
I hope you enjoy reading the yoga, and I look forward to meeting up with you in July.
