Polina Kharchenko Yoga

A dream come true - meeting and practicing with Kino MacGregor and Tim Feldmann 🙏

What is yoga? 🙏

The practical hands-on adjustments workshop I've attended in Glasgow yesterday started with this question and... made me think. The answer seemed obvious but then, when this question was asked by Judi, everyone including me was silent for a few moments thinking it over.

I think for me yoga is first and foremost a method that works with the body and breath to ultimately still the mind and the inner chatter. It brings us back into the moment. I also liked Judi's take on it where yoga as a technique, through stilling the mind, helps us make better decisions in life and respond more intelligently to what happens around us.

What is yoga to you? 🙏

A great workshop today. Physical adjustments is such a useful tool to help students enhance and evolve their practice 🙏

Loved teaching the class tonight - such a beautiful space at the Perth Yoga Studio and wonderful students 🙏

"Life is like that, if you have a dream, work hard for it, day after day, give all of yourself with no holds back, one day you will succeed. It may not always happen as quickly as you’d like, but with a good mix of effort and grace there is nothing you cannot accomplish."

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So many people assume I was naturally flexible and that it all came easily to me. But the first time I tried to touch my toes they were miles away. My back was rounded and the backs of my legs were so tight so I had no idea it would ever be physically possible to fold. And yet here I am today more than twenty years later folding forward. Life is like that, if you have a dream, work hard for it, day after day, give all of yourself with no holds back, one day you will succeed. It may not always happen as quickly as you’d like, but with a good mix of effort and Grace there is nothing you cannot accomplish.
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Forward bends in yoga unlock a whole series of poses. Start with flexibility and all your strength poses will be so much easier. If you’re trying to press into handstand but your forward bend is tight you’ll need so much effort. If you’re trying to put your legs behind your head but your forward bend is tight you’ll be blocked. Simple poses lay the foundation for more advanced ones. Don’t jump ahead. Put in the humble work wherever you are with full faith that your biggest dreams will come true in the end.
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Day 2 is Padangusthasana. Watch Video 1 from new course on and see how the rag doll roll can get you deeper in your forward bends! Check Irene’s post for more videos. Use code FLEXDRILLS for a free month of access to OmStars.com.
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Photo by
Outfit

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More yoga in the air please!

A Hong Kong-based airline has partnered with a yoga provider to launch a new inflight well-being programme. Passengers now can watch a series of short videos that have been developed to help them ease into their journeys with yoga and meditation exercises and tips 😊

If you follow the link, you can watch a short video and use some of the tips on your next flight!

https://news.cathaypacific.com/cathay-pacific-partners-with-pure-yoga-to-bring-yoga-to-the-sky

Cathay Pacific partners with Pure Yoga to bring yoga to the sky New inflight well-being programme launches across all Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon routes

Absolutely love this post by David Keil, a renown yoga anatomy teacher.

David answers a question about forward bending. He discusses why we sometimes like to pull the flesh from the sitting bones in forward bend and whether or not doing that is likely to be related to sit bone pain.

In short, pulling the flesh from the sitting bones clearly puts us on the sit bones and allows us to tilt forward more easily in our pelvis, which is a benefit of doing that. It is unlikely that there is a connection between pulling the flesh from sitting bones in forward bend and sit bone pain.

If you experience any uneasy sensations when doing that, try it both ways. It'll be surprising from an anatomical perspective if it makes any difference to how your sit bones feel.

https://www.yoganatomy.com/pull-the-flesh-from-sitting-bones-in-forward-bend/

www.yoganatomy.com

Happy to be assisting at the Yoga Teacher Training tonight 🙏

Looking forward to teaching yoga classes to the local community starting this week 🙏

A great article about body acceptance and body confidence 🙏

Every Body Can Feel at Home in Every Pose People with bigger bodies are discovering comfort and empowerment in yoga studios around the globe. Use these tips to help support yourself, or you...

A lovely meditative Saturday morning with 108 sun salutations and £3,516 raised for Yogability by an amazing group of people!

These amazing people raised a whopping £3516 for Yogability today - and they even made 108 sun salutations seem easy!!!!!!!

Dear All

I'm taking part in the Fifth Annual Sun Salutations in aid of Yogability, a Glasgow charity who offer free yoga sessions to children and adults with special needs. The money raised helps Yogability continue to provide this amazing support to those in need.

I have committed to perform 108 Sun Salutations at the Merchant City Yoga studio on the 23rd December and would also greatly appreciate your donations to support Yogability 🙏

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/yogabilityglasgow

Super challenging but thoroughly enjoyable second series. Practice practice and all is coming 😅🙏

An interesting article on health and wellbeing options that some airports provide 🙏

https://www.wellandgood.com/good-travel/healthiest-airports-in-the-world/slide/10/

The 9 healthiest airports around the world From yoga studios and gyms to rooftop pools and ice rinks (really!), they're changing the travel game.

A satisfying day in work and then teaching two yoga classes at night - feeling great 😃🙏

Smile and be happy 😊

"In an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow.

And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention.

And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still." (Pico Iyer)

***Hatha Yoga Flow class is on tomorrow at 730pm at Perth Yoga Studio. Come an join me to slow down after a busy day and enjoy the benefits of a yoga practice 🙏

Enjoying the moment on the way to Inverness ☺️🙏

The path to a clear mind and a healthy body starts at Perth Yoga Studio...

Come and join me at 7:30pm on Thursday for Hatha Yoga Flow - looking forward to seeing you there 🙏

Namaste,
Polina

Hands on adjustments in the physical practice of yoga is probably one of the most transformational tools that a yoga teacher can apply.

Hands on adjustments can help a student with their alignment in a pose, with their point of balance and also provide the necessary support for a student to get a different experience of a pose. When done correctly, adjustments can help a student create focus and concentration and evolve in their physical practice of yoga.

I'm absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity last weekend to learn from David Keil, one of the best yoga anatomy teachers out there 🙏

Hard work in action 😄🙏
There wasn’t an asana today which didn’t feel more challenging than ever before!

Such a beautiful feeling in my Hatha Yoga Flow class tonight. So happy to see the students who came to my first class last week coming to this week's class again. Can't be more happy ☺️🙏

Such amazing energy in the Ashtanga yoga class tonight! Feeling happy and grateful for having the opportunity to teach the class 😊🙏

Looking forward to seeing you at my Hatha Yoga Flow class 7:30pm on Thursday at the beautiful Perth Yoga Studio!

You can also join me on Wednesday at 6pm as I am covering the Ashtanga yoga class for Fiona.

Hopefully see you there! 😊🙏

Did you know that imbalanced or tight hamstrings could lead to a limited range of motion and even serious injuries? Tight hamstrings and hip flexors pulling down on the sitting bones could also lead to nagging lower back pain.

Sitting a lot during the day, with your sitting bones forward on the chair, puts your hamstrings in a short position so the length of the hamstring muscles adapt to the position you spend most of the time in. This ultimately leads to shortened or tight hamstrings.

Normally people do not do enough stretching to counter the amount of sitting they have done during the day and so hamstring muscles get shorter and shorter over the years. In addition, doing hamstrings contracting sports, such as running, also leads to shortened hamstrings.

Stretching hamstrings is not easy as this group of muscles has a heavy connective tissue so it will take time and regular flexibility-focused exercises to stretch them appropriately.

Regular yoga practice can help you lengthen tight hamstrings. Try such poses as Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) or Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) at home and feel the difference it makes to your hamstrings.

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/relief-for-tight-hamstrings

Relief for Tight Hamstrings Flex and extend sore hamstrings properly and protect the lower back.

That beautiful feeling of balance after the yoga practice 🙏☀️

Hi Everyone,

I will be teaching a Hatha Yoga Flow class at the Perth Yoga Studio on Thursdays starting 13th July. I'm very excited about it and looking forward to seeing you there!

What to expect from the class?

This is an intermediate level class suitable for fit beginners. The class will improve the foundation of your current yoga practice and will build up your strength and flexibility to move into more advanced yoga poses.

This class will gradually warm up, open and stretch your body and will provide a release and relaxation at the end. There is a strong focus on alignment and precision and the movement of the body and breath. The pace of this class is dynamic, however there is also the opportunity to hold some poses for longer and develop your practice with more advanced poses. Props and straps are provided to allow the body to move into more advanced poses safely.

Cost: introductory offer £5 on 13th July, £8 per class after that or a block of 5 classes for £35.

Get in touch if you have any questions 😊

When you go for a walk in the park and see a big tree.... 😊