This is a short video of underwater yoga freediving of two types of fish pose (lotus) swimming by me (Simon Borg-Olivier in the black Stingray suit) and Christopher Morey (in the blue Orca Suit). The video was shot at William Truebridge’s Freediving Master Class (brilliant) at the Blue Hole Long Island Bahamas, September 2009. Thanks to Freediver Photographer Alfredo Romo …
How to slow the heart from 88 beats to 32 beat per minute in 45 seconds
This video was shot in the Bahamas in October 2009 at William Truebridge’s Freediving Masterclass where I had the honour of being invited to teach these amazing elite athletes yogic techniques of how to be relaxed in stressful situations. The video shows me using breath-control techniques (pranayama) to slow my heart beat from 88 to 32 beats per minute in …
Ancient secrets of the breath
In this short video I am talking about pranayama and what I learnt from traditional yoga teachings and also from western medical science.
Regulate your breath to control body and mind
The ultimate state of pranayama (yogic breath-control) and meditation is a state where breathing is reduced as much as possible without force. However this is a process that can for most people take a life time. In order to work towards the mastery of yoga it is sometimes useful to breathe more than normal (hyperventilation) but eventually the aim …
Zen Hua Yang: Taoist Yoga Master
by Simon Borg-Olivier Master Zhen Hua Yang has been my main yoga teacher since 2006. After practicing yoga for more than 40 years and teaching for 30 years Master Yang has helped me make a fresh beginning to my practice that has resolved many of the physical and physiological challenges that my previous practice was unable to resolve. He has …
Creating happiness with yoga
Creating happiness with yoga By Simon Borg-Olivier MScBAppSc(Physiotherapy) Course Coordinator / Lecturer Master of Wellness Degree, RMIT University, Melbourne; Director Yoga Synergy, Sydney & Bianca Machliss BScBAppSc(Physiotherapy) Director Yoga Synergy, Sydney Yoga can be thought of as the art of creating happiness for yourself and those around you. Yoga has physical and non-physical aspects. All physical exercise, including posture, movement …
Tips for Developing Arm and Core Strength for Arm-Balancing Postures and Push-up Positions
Arm balancing postures and positions such as the Cataranga Dandasana (the push-up) can be very exhilarating. They can energise you by increasing your circulation and they are also good at developing chest, arm and core strength. When done correctly they can really help relieve and prevent back and neck pain and can give direct stimulation to the heart and lungs. Click …
Traditional Australian Yoga of the 1980’s: a light-hearted look
Our last few posts have been a little on the serious side so this one is a little more light-hearted… This is classic australian yoga of the 1980’s – well sort of – there is a series of handstands and a spinning headstand and Humphrey B Bear doing hanumanasana (the splits). But best of all is the classic Humphrey B …
Pranayama at its highest level in the practical sense: William Truebridge’s world record free dive to 124 metres with only one breath
by Simon Borg-Olivier A few days ago my inspirational friend, amazing freediver and inspirational yogi William Trubridge has just broken his own world record twice in two days by diving down 124 metres and coming back up with just one breath. This article describes the event and lets you hear from William himself. You can see two short videos of this below. In the …