Issue 43, January 2007

Keeping up with Heather
Hello Friends,

I hope this newsletter reaches you all happy and healthy and enjoying the start to a peaceful and joyful 2007. Chris and I have settled into our new place in Canberra and are happily setting up "home" for the next year, creating a greater space in our lives for our own practices, as well as preparing for a very exciting year to come. For upcoming Yoga & Pilates classes, Professional Certification Programs, workshops and offerings you can use the links to the left which will take you to our site, but we will also keep you posted via the Messenger on classes and workshops.

In this month's newsletter I will answer some of your questions that have come in during the past few weeks. I hope that this will not only assist the people who requested answers, but will serve to illuminate and motivate other readers who might have a similar concern. Of course we are always happy to receive correspondence from you (yes you), and answer any of your questions or concerns, or hear your ideas or successes in the areas of Yoga, fitness, wellness and spiritual growth.

For those of you in the area, our home is always open to visitors, there is always a pot of tea on, and this is also where I have located my Thai Yoga Massage practice, and Chris will be offering private consultations. Our new address is:

56/44 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah, ACT 2604

(For those of you in Canada, can you believe how many "r"s are in my address?) Our other contact info remains the same, and we are always keen to hear from you!

Heather: 0406 784 878 or heather@yogatrinity.com

Christopher: 0437 710 582 or chris@yogatrinity.com

Well, with that, I offer you this month's Messenger with many blessings for a year of great fitness, great fun, and great possibilities.

Namaste, Heather.

You Asked...We Answer

Dear Heather:

I am wondering which is better, to walk on the treadmill at the gym at my work, or to walk outside. Is one better than the other?

Well, my answer to this question has many levels. Firstly, for the best physical benefits, studies have not shown outdoor activity to offer any fitness benefits over treadmill walking. As long as you vary your intensity (add hills or vary the pace) a treadmill can offer you a good cardiovascular workout and improve overall health and fitness tremendously. Having said that, the terrain of a treadmill is static, that means that there is no change to your movement pattern, and this over time can lead to overuse injury, boredom, and could cause a lack of stimulation for the smaller muscles of the foot, knee and hip that help us with stability and lateral movements that we would find naturally when walking outdoors. I have had a few clients who have suffered repetitive strain injuries from overuse of treadmills. However, I have many more clients who have attained and maintained their fitness with the use of a treadmill.

Secondly, there are amazing non-physical benefits to be experienced when walking outdoors, the fresh air, the communion with nature, and the opportunity to be more "present-moment focused" are all (in my estimation) essential to holistic health, and often absent in a gym workout. For instance, when you walk on your treadmill, do you watch television or listen to music? This takes your mind away from the present moment, and tends to "disconnect" the mind from the body. Watching TV or listening to music can be great motivation when we are wanting to build a routine of fitness, keeping us on the treadmill longer. But, as we develop our fitness and wellness skills, we would prefer to move in the direction of being present with the body during exercise. Some studies have shown the mental focus can dramatically enhance your fitness results, including increased cardiovascular benefit, reduced risk of injury, improved mental concentration, and enhanced endurance. Ask any elite athlete their experience and they will tell you that being "one" with the body during fitness or sport is really the "zen" of movement.

Finally, I suggest that you consider your schedule, the climate, and the ease of access to good walking trails in your area. Perhaps during the winter the treadmill at work is a better choice considering the weather and lack of sunlight hours. And, during the milder months of late spring to late autumn you might find some nice walking trails in your area that you can frequent. My best advice to you is to try to find a way to vary your workouts, ensure that your plan allows for 3-4 walks a week, and do your best to maintain a "present-moment-focused" attention when you are working out to enjoy all the many benefits of exercise.

I hope that this lengthy answer to your question is helpful to you, and to all our readers. As always, I am wishing you all the best in all your fitness endeavors.

Dear Heather:

Are Pilates and Yoga basically the same? Which is better?

No, Pilates and Yoga are not the same thing. Yoga is a 5,000 year old spiritual science that encompasses not only physical movement, but also breath-work, ethical observances, meditation and devotional practices. Pilates is a decades-old physical practice that is highly effective in developing functional fitness, core strength, and integration of mind and body. On a purely physical level they are both effective means of building strength, improving muscle tone, balance and agility, and in fact you can find Yoga/Pilates fusion classes and DVD's available that are excellent fitness systems. However, Yoga offers many more opportunities for personal growth and development than simple better fitness and physical wellbeing. And, if your interest is in improving the whole "Self", I would recommend that Yoga has much more to offer in stress management, self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Having said that, I and many of my clients have benefited greatly from the Pilates work in overcoming injuries and developing muscle balance that enhances the practice of Yoga. For this reason I do recommend including both practices in your regular routine.

Dear Heather:

What is the best kind of Yoga for post-natal. I had my baby 4 months ago, had no abdominal muscle separation and my doctor has cleared me for exercise.

All of the physical styles of Yoga are safely practiced in your case (as you have presented it) when you work consciously and intelligently. Having said that, a Hatha Yoga class with special emphasis on rebuilding core strength would be a great choice. I would at this point not recommend high intensity practices that may interfere with your body's own process. If you are practicing at home there are great DVD's on the market designed specifically for post-natal students. Titles by Gaiam, Living Arts, Shiva Rea, and Gurmuhk are all great. There are also many studios who cater specifically to the post-natal student. A quick search online using a reputable yoga directory like www.yogafinder.com or www.findyoga.com.au would be recommended. I hope you enjoy the process...

Choices

(a special thanks to Yvonne for passing this one on - author unknown)

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood." Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the po sitive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'." Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Upcoming Events

Yoga & Pilates Classes Canberra

Yoga and Pilates Classes begin January 30 in Canberra (12 week block)

• Venue: ACT Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Yarramundi Reach, ACT
• Location: On Lady Denman Drive between Clunies Ross/Parkes Way and Tuggeranong Pkwy - totem poles out front
• Cost: from $10 per class (pre-booking), casual drop in classes available

Schedule:

• Tues: 6pm Core Yoga, 7:15pm Hatha Yoga
• Wed: 6pm Hatha Yoga (Beginners), 7:15pm Ashtanga Yoga
• Thurs: 6pm Core Yoga, 7:15pm Hatha Yoga

For details, class descriptions and registration information please visit http://www.yogatrinity.com/schedule.html

Yoga Teacher Training - Canberra

Our 12-weekend 200+ hour program begins on February 2, 2007 and runs until April 29. The course will be held at the ACT Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and YES there are still spaces available in the program. If you are interested in deepening your Yoga practice, discovering the philosophies and techniques behind this ancient spiritual science, and becoming a Registered Yoga Instructor, please visit our website for more details: http://www.yogatrinity.com/YTT.html

Private Sessions Available

If fitness, health and well-being are your goals for 2007 consider the many benefits of private consulting with Master PFT and senior Yoga Instructor Heather Agnew. Beginning January 4 private Yoga, Pilates, Personal Fitness/Lifestyle Training and Thai Yoga Massage sessions are available with Heather. To book a free fitness consultation, or a private session please call 0406 784 878 or write to heather@yogatrinity.com

International Presenters Coming to Australia!

Deva Premal and Miten will be traveling around Australia offering Kirtan and workshops in devotional singing from Jan-Feb this year. If you have been interested in Mantra Yoga, chanting, or devotional singing this event is not to be missed, as Deva Premal is one of the world's most popular Kirtan leaders and has many great CD's to her credit.

As well, the amazing Gregg Bradden (author of Awakening to Zero Point) will be in town in April with a public lecture tour on the subject of "The Divine Matrix and the Biology of Belief - Shattering the Paradigm of False Limits". Get all the details on these inspiring people at www.chrishooper.com.au