How to Nourish and Strengthen your Hips with Intelligent Postures and Movements

Hip problems, arthritis and osteoporosis are very prevalent in later life. It is very important to strengthen your hips by carefully applying specifically chosen muscle activations in an intelligent combination of postures and movements. As exercise-based physiotherapists and long standing yoga teachers and practitioners Bianca Machliss and I (Simon Borg-Olivier) have seen over and over again the need to not …

How to Practice Any Yoga Style and What Makes a Good Teacher

by Simon Borg-Olivier MScBAppSc(Physiotherapy) I am constantly being asked during workshops and after classes what my opinion is about different yoga styles. I do not want to speak against any style of yoga because, with the right principles, all yoga can be performed in a safe and effective way that will help you both physiologically and anatomically. A yoga practiced …

Yoga Synergy Blog

Is it Correct to ‘Pull the Navel towards the Spine’? Answer: Yes and No!

Many people in the world of yoga, Pilates and fitness tell their clients and students to do something like ‘pull the navel to the spine’. If you google this expression you find articles that give a flurry of controversy on whether on not it is a good idea to ‘pull the navel to the spine’.   In this video, exercise-based physiotherapist …

Spinal Movements Sequence (Part 16): Vinyasa – balancing forward bending with backward bending

This video is Part 16 of a YogaSynergy Spinal Movements Sequence taught by physiotherapist and Director of Yoga Synergy, Simon Borg-Olivier, which he teaches in person in courses throughout the world as well as Online in courses at RMIT University  and Online in courses at YogaSynergy called Yoga Fundamentals and Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga. Video Transcript: Each extension movement is followed by a flexion movement of the spine. …

Spinal Movements Sequence (Part 6): Lengthening the Spine and Bending Backwards (Spinal Extension)

This video is Part 6 of a YogaSynergy Spinal Movements Sequence taught by physiotherapist and Director of Yoga Synergy, Simon Borg-Olivier, which he teaches in person in courses throughout the world as well as Online in courses at RMIT University  and Online in courses at YogaSynergy called Yoga Fundamentals and Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga. Video Transcript: “Now I deepen the movements using hips and armpit muscles. Pushing the …

Spinal Movements Sequence (Part 4): Spinal Tractioning

This video is Part 4 of a YogaSynergy Spinal Movements Sequence taught by physiotherapist and Director of Yoga Synergy, Simon Borg-Olivier, which he teaches in person in courses throughout the world as well as Online in courses at RMIT University  and Online in courses at YogaSynergy called Yoga Fundamentals and Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga.

Spinal Movements Sequence (Part 2): Positioning in Posture to become ‘Firm but Calm’ (Sthira Sukham Asanam)

This video is Part 2 of a YogaSynergy Spinal Movements Sequence taught by physiotherapist and Director of Yoga Synergy, Simon Borg-Olivier, which he teaches in person in courses throughout the world as well as Online in courses at RMIT University  and Online in courses at YogaSynergy called Yoga Fundamentals and Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga.

Practical Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga Courses by Simon Borg-Olivier

Article By Simon Borg-Olivier: ‘Using your diaphragm to simultaneously enhance power, core stabilisation, relaxation, digestion, immunity and sexual function’: The diaphragm is a major muscle that is the key to internal power, as well as an often forgotten but very important contributor to core stabilisation. In addition, the diaphragm has important neurological control over the autonomic nervous system. Diaphragmatic breathing is …

Surfing Kids Yoga: Do you let your kids walk all over you?

I have two passions in my life, family and yoga. What is better than joining them together. Playing with the kids while doing your yoga practice and they get a bit of exercise yoga at the same time. The video (best is to play it large so you get music) is of our son Eric (aged 3) playing on my …