This is a video segment on breath-control exercises (pranayama) and in particular breath retention (kumbhaka) with internal locks (bandhas) from a workshop I was invited to teach in June 2012 in Moscow by the really amazing teachers and students of the Yoga 108 School in Moscow and Wild Yogi Magazine. Along with fellow physiotherapist and co-director of Yoga Synergy, Bianca Machliss, I …
Underwater Yoga: Fish pose (lotus) swimming
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 …
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 …
Lecture and Demonstration Yogic Internal Relaxation Power, by Simon Borg-Olivier at the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, January 2010
This is a video lecture on the essence of yoga and its related anatomy and physiology of yoga, a demonstration of some advanced yoga and a short beginner level class i gave to about 800 people at Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney at the start of 2010. Thanks to Sheona White for organising this and Ross Glendenning and Verity Gill for …
Use of props – useful? a tool for bettering the foundation of a pose? a way to avoid injury?
Posted on our facebook site by Danielle Anagnostaras on March 17, 2009 at 9:33pm What are thoughts, theories and beliefs about straps, blocks, bolsters, blankets? Posted on our facebook site by Simon Borg-Olivier March 18, 2009 at 9:34pm Hi Danielle, Thank you for your question. It is a good one. Props can be very useful tools indeed. However, I very rarely …
Anatomy of Yoga
Read the article below for a simple to understand article by Simon Borg-Olivier and Bianca Machliss written for Well Being Magazine on The Anatomy of Yoga. It explains the four main things you can do in a yoga pose around the nine main joint complexes in the body. This concept is elaborated in the YogaSynergy Text Book ‘Applied Anatomy and Physiology of …
Making Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) the best posture ever
Utthita trikonasana is often taught as simple posture but it can be confusing to beginners and even teachers. If done incorrectly it can be at best ineffective and at worse dangerous for your knees and lower back. In this article we present instructions that make your body ‘Firm but calm’ (sthira sukham asanam) and while creating strength without tension and flexibility …