It means ‘yoke’ – or ‘to bind’.  The original reference was to the two bullocks working the field together and the yoke binding them to work as one.

The practice of Yoga aims to have the body and mind working as one, to have awareness of both.  In our modern lifestyle most of us are so busy ‘thinking’ that we’ve lost touch with our awareness of our body.
What sort of yoga?
You’ve probably noticed that like a shopping centre food court, there are many styles of Yoga to choose from!  The classes I'm running in Dayboro are ‘Yoga Chi Gung’, a system that incorporates traditional Indian Yoga and the Chinese practice of Chi Gung (which is not unlike Thai Chi).  Combined with modern systems like Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais, Yoga Chi Gung is a body friendly system which is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.  Flexibility is not a pre-requisite!
What can I expect?
A typical class will start with a short meditation to calm the mind and release the busi-ness of the day.  We’ll then do a 10 minute warm up, preparing the body for the practice followed by standing balance postures to centre and calm us and create balance.  Next we'll stretch and strengthen the body through floor postures.  Listening to your body, and ensuring you stay within your capacity is encouraged during the floor practice.  We then share a short swap body-work/massage with a partner which will teach you some skills which can be used at home or on your friends and family.  We then we practice some Chi Gung movements and postures to restore your energy levels or, as they call it in the East, your ‘Chi’ – your life force.   We finish off with a deep relaxation.
We won’t have you standing on your head (or doing an impression of a human pretzel!) but we will help you develop an awareness of your body and breath, and show you how to restore balance.
Benefits
Flexibility, greater mobility, co-ordination, mental and emotional resilience (stress management) and a greater sense of peace and tranquillity are all rewards which you can expect to reap with regular practice.  One of my students last week shared that she is now using some of her new skills to release tension in her husband’s shoulders and back after a long hard day.  Needless to say he ‘thinks this yoga stuff is paying off!’.
Yoga is for blokes too
Got a vision of being the only bloke in a class full of women in leotards?  Well for starters, we don’t wear leotards!  Just a comfy pair of tights or track pants for the blokes, and your best t-shirt.  I often see men taking up a regular practice of yoga after overcoming their initial reservations.  It was only a couple of centuries ago that yoga was for men only!  Come and have a go, and let the results speak for themselves.
About Kate
I live in Bardon and was invited to come and take a class by Valerie King, one of the local massage therapists.  I’ve grown to enjoy my weekly drive out to Dayboro, and the practice with our group.  I’ve been teaching for 15 years and I’m also a Zen Thai Shiatsu practitioner – which is a combination of Thai ‘Yoga’ Massage and Zen Shiatsu.  For more, check out the web page: www.yogachigung.com.au/kate.html

Come to the open night for a complimentary class and bring a friend.  Wednesday 14th of April, 6pm at Jack's Place.