As we close out another year and begin letting go of what no longer serves us, we open our hearts to the new year. So how can our yoga practice prepare us for this? By focusing on the balance between opening and closing. This means filling your yoga practice with forward bends, back bends, twists, and counter twists, as well as opening of the hips and heart. Perhaps you might want to set some yoga goals for the new year. See our yoga resolutions for some inspiration. Here are

Prenatal yoga is the key ingredient to a healthy, happy pregnancy and you can start prenatal yoga right from your first trimester if your gynecologist approves. Here are some amazing benefits of prenatal yoga: Prenatal yoga can: Improve sleep Reduce stress and anxiety Increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth Decrease lower back pain, nausea, headaches and shortness of breath Prepares for labor and delivery Promotes connection with your

It’s time to roll out your yoga mat and discover why yoga is so good for you. The beauty of yoga is that you don’t have to be a yogi to reap the benefits. Whether you are young or old, overweight or fit, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body. In a snapshot, maintaining a regular yoga practice can provide physical and mental health benefits. The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body. While there are more tha

Postpartum yoga offers the most benefits during the first three months after childbirth, which include: Decrease the risk of postpartum depression Help balance your energy Lower blood pressure Reduce stress and anxiety After you have a baby, you may be eager to resume your yoga practice and reconnect with your body. The most important thing to remember is that your postpartum body may be very different than the body you had before getting pregnant. You have to work with the b

Here at Balanced Mind and Body Yoga we embrace meditation. All our yoga classes teach mindfulness and meditation in order to bring awareness to the mind and body. For more information on our yoga classes visit balancedmindandbodyyoga.com Meditation lets you become more awake and more purposeful about your actions. It teaches you how to respond, rather than react, to situations in your life. Meditation sounds simple. But it takes discipline to remain still in body and mind. Du

One-to one yoga: Undivided attention to help you reach your goals Perfect for your needs Joining a group class may seem like a big step in the beginning. You may be uncertain about your level of practice or you may be suffering from a health condition. Or perhaps you don’t have time for a group class and prefer to practice at home or at work in your own time. A private yoga class will help you develop self-confidence and relaxation in your yoga practice. Yoga in your home You

New Year's resolutions can be a bit of a cliché but when it comes to our yoga practice, there are definitely some goals that we’d like to keep working towards plus some new ones. The new year is the perfect time to get our thoughts in order and to think about how our practice can evolve over the next 12 months. Here are our seven yoga resolutions that might resonate with you: Improved Flexibility Are we aging? The answer is “always". In this world of quick fixes, we seem to h

This is a super simple and adaptable recipe for overnight chia a seed pudding (vegan and gluten-free) It’s a two ingredient recipe for that you can make in under 10 seconds. Simply mix it before bed, pop it in the fridge, and enjoy your tasty breakfast the next morning! Plus, you can make this chia seed pudding with any type of milk – regular, almond, soy, coconut etc. INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup chia seeds 1 cup almond milk Fresh fruit (for topping, eg strawberries and blackberries)

If you are new to yoga, there are certain postures that are essential for you to learn so you can feel comfortable in a class or practicing on your own at home. With over 300 positions in the physical yoga practice (asana), it can be overwhelming to know where to start. So here are our top 10 poses to start you off on the right path. Also, you can do each one of these for 5-10 breaths, which is a great beginner’s daily yoga program. Before we jump in, if your new to yoga, are

The first time you take any new fitness class can be a little daunting. Although Pilates can have an extra air of “avoid this if you don’t know what you’re doing. Maybe it’s the reformer, with its straps and springs or the exercise names that you’ve never heard before? If you’ve wanted to try Pilates classes but something has been holding you back, now’s the time to sign up for your first one. Here are some things to keep in mind before attending your first class: 1. Two

Introducing your children to yoga at an early age can help them learn healthy lifestyle habits and set the foundation for a fit future. Here are just some of these benefits: Yoga is Non-Competitive In today’s world, we hear so much about being the best and achieving the most. Yoga teaches children that their bodies are different; different bodies do different things and all of them are okay. There is no one better or worse at yoga than anyone else; we are all just exploring o

Professional guidance is the key to a successful yoga practice. With all the videos, live-streaming and YouTubers out there it's easy to undermine the value of professional guidance. Here are some important reasons why you need professional guidance in your yoga practice: Yoga Asks Your Body to Take Some Unusual Positions Going into a big yoga class with students at different levels can lead you to perform yoga poses without proper alignment. If it’s difficult to see the ins

Pilates, yoga, Yogilates, PiYo. They all seem to offer similar workouts, so how do you choose? Pilates and yoga have significantly evolved in recent years. With different variations available at gyms and studios around the world, there’s something for almost everyone. Both Yoga and Pilates are low-impact workouts that focus on using body weight resistance. The benefits are vast. Both workouts can increase overall health, leading to a better quality of life. YOGA Many forms of

Pilates is a series of about 500 exercises inspired by calisthenics, yoga and ballet. Pilates lengthens and stretches all the major muscle groups in the body in a balanced fashion. It improves flexibility, strength, balance and body awareness. Pilates can be an aerobic and non-aerobic form of exercise. It requires concentration and focus, because you move your body through precise ranges of motion. Pilates lengthens and stretches all the major muscle groups in your body in a

We have just come back from teaching a one week yoga retreat in beautiful Portugal and it has motivated us to share with you the incredible benefits derived from a week away dedicate to your yoga practice and wellbeing. Here is a sneak peek of the retreat! Benefits of a Yoga Retreat CONNECT WITH NATURE Many yoga retreats take place in beautiful natural locations around the world and the A Sua Yoga Retreat was no exception. You were able to connect with nature on a deeper lev

Yoga is a popular way to relieve stress and stay fit, but what happens when you are away on vacation? Balanced Mind & Body Yoga has collaborated with the exclusive Marbella real estate, Edward & Partners, to provide private yoga classes to their holiday clientele. Specializing in buying and selling luxury homes as well as providing high-end rentals, Edward & Partners goes the extra mile for their clients including their physical wellbeing. There has been an increasing deman

Life is busy but we also need to prioritize and our health is right at the top of that list. A regular yoga practice has more benefits than you may have thought of. Here are our top 10: 1. Yoga improves flexibility and range of motion 2. Yoga helps in weight loss and boosts your metabolism 3. Yoga builds muscle strength 4. Yoga reduces stress 5. Yoga increases blood flow 6. Yoga encourages positive thoughts and acceptance 7. Yoga increases energy 8. Yoga improves breathing ca

Kunal, 28, lives in Marbella has been practicing yoga on and off for the last couple of years. Working full time in an office, he has complained of occasional lower back pain. Kunal had previously attended a few yoga studio classes, and whilst he enjoyed it, he found the crammed classes lacking in personal guidance. Kunal was recommended a local private yoga teacher who specializes in personalizing and tailoring each yoga class for her students. What was your first private cl

There are many different types of yoga, so how do you know which one is right for you? Here are some popular yoga styles along with their essential characteristics, to make it easier for you decide which is best for you. Yin Yoga Yin yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga with mainly seated postures that are held for longer, Yin is a great class for beginners and postures can be held from 45 seconds to two minutes. By holding poses for a longer time, you stretch your connective t

In golf, every detail matters. Having a slight advantage can make the difference between an enjoyable day on the course or a disappointing one. Golfers want to eliminate strokes as well as pain so they can continue playing the game they love for many years. Yoga can offer this advantage by increasing flexibility, range of motion in the joints and honing mental concentration. Many golfers complain of lower back pain from repeated spinal rotation from swinging the golf club. In