FitlikeYoga

17/08/2025

11/08/2025

Most backbends raise sympathetic activity because there are sympathetic fibres along the spine that are activated through pressure. Also, when we are engaged in deeper backbends and really open the chest, the shape of the thoracic region applies pressure to the lungs, making it harder to breathe. Both increase heart rate and elevate the nervous system. There is nothing wrong with this, but bridge pose is a special exception, and here’s why:

1. Baroreceptor reflex
At the side of the neck is a small widening of the carotid artery called the carotid sinus. Inside are receptors that pick up changes in pressure called baroreceptors. If pressure rises beyond what is optimal, and the mechanism is working properly (something that does not occur in hypertension), they send signals to the brainstem. In bridge, if we have the flexibility to push the chest into the chin, we put pressure on the carotid sinus, increasing blood pressure, which then triggers this reflex. The brain sends signals to the heart to reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

2. Post-exercise hypotension
Holding bridge works the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. This requires a lot of ATP. When ATP is broken down for energy, byproducts of this process build up, and the brain senses this build-up as a need for a high demand of energy. This causes a further rise in blood pressure and heart rate, needed for the rapid delivery of oxygen to cells to make ATP. When the pose is released, the body reflexively widens the blood vessels in those muscles, and this causes blood pressure to drop, a process called post-exercise hypotension. This triggers a parasympathetic state.

3. Breathing shift
In bridge we often clasp our hands behind our back. Usually, backbends cause chesty breathing, and in turn sympathetic arousal. This action, however, stabilises the muscles supporting chesty breathing so they can't lift the ribcage, and we revert to diaphragmatic breathing, which supports a parasympathetic response.

All of these mechanisms can occur in other poses, but only bridge brings them together, allowing a deep lowering of blood pressure when we come down, making it a unique backbend, one that can even support sleep. This is just a glimpse into the science behind bridge pose. Read the full article at: https://themindedinstitute.com/bridge-pose-the-backbend-that-can-lower-blood-pressure/ for more on how posture shifts breathing and the nervous system.

07/08/2025

Are you looking after children aged 6 to 12 years who have been diagnosed with ADHD?

NHS Grampian have partnered with SilverCloud; a free, confidential, online self-help service to help you better understand and navigate the complexities of ADHD.

Within the programme, users can expect to:

* Learn about ADHD and how it can impact families.
* Consider different diagnosis journeys.
* Explore the challenges associated with ADHD, as well as the strengths.
* Understand concentration and various attention difficulties.

You can access the programme via the SilverCloud wellbeing platform https://wellbeing.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/ and enter the code Scotland2020 to get started now.

05/08/2025

Sharing my newsletter re changes in business name

Check out this A4 designed by carolyn lamb.

03/08/2025

My pet buddies help my mental wellbeing by getting me walking every day and they are always on hand for a hug. They brighten up my day even if I am feeling under the weather.

Dogs are not for everyone but they motivate me to get outdoors in all weathers. As a migraine sufferer a walk can help relieve pain and make me feel human again.

01/08/2025

Attitudes are changing: a new global report reveals that yoga is a powerful path to wellbeing and therapeutic care not just exercise. This is something that we at the Minded Institute have witnessed for years: a major global shift in how yoga is understood - and used.

Yoga is no longer seen as just a series of postures. It’s increasingly recognised as a comprehensive wellbeing practice, one that includes breathing techniques, meditation, and lifestyle integration, with tangible benefits for both mental and physical health.

People are turning to yoga not for performance, but for support:
🧠 to manage anxiety and burnout
🫁 to regulate the nervous system
💓 to prevent and ease conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and chronic stress
🧘‍♀ and to cultivate clarity, presence, and emotional resilience.

📈 The EMR report projects sustained global growth through 2034, fuelled by rising demand for preventative, integrative approaches to health.

With growing recognition of yoga’s full therapeutic scope, this is a pivotal moment for yoga therapy—unleashing long-awaited momentum.

This is a landmark moment for yoga therapy, a field The Minded Institute has helped shape by combining traditional yogic knowledge with scientific rigour to support mental health, chronic conditions, and whole-person care.

Yoga is no longer being treated as something supplementary.
It’s being recognised for what it truly is: essential.

31/07/2025

This is my main teacher as I now teach mainly somatic yoga which slowly opens the body releasing tension and trauma. It has changed my approach to teaching and yoga

Ready to Journey Within?

Join Tias Little Prajna Yoga on Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga Attunement, to reconnect body & breath, unwind tension, awaken inner intelligence, and rediscover your natural wisdom.

You will learn
How to cultivate essential sensory-motor awareness by experiencing small movements out of gravity.
The way SATYA movements benefit the lower back.
The effects of SATYA on the iliopsoas and spine.
The anatomy of the five myo-fascial sheaths and how to use the SATYA movements combined with asana practice to develop an awareness of each sheath.
How to be in “The Pause” and experience the importance of not doing.
Reduce body fatigue.
Address low back pain.
The importance of spirals and counter spirals.
“It’s all about the joints”: working with the tendons, ligaments and joint spaces.
Being in the “Pause”: the importance of not-doing.
How gravity can be your friend.
How to “ride the edge” through small movements.

Who is the course for
This online immersion is open to yoga teachers and therapists, as well teachers in training who would like to complete their full certification to teach SATYA as a therapeutic modality.

📅 Dates
3–7 Aug 2025 (Live Zoom 16:30–23:55 UK) +
21 & 28 Aug 2025 (Q&A Sessions 16:30–18:30 UK)
💻 Live online (All sessions recorded, no minimum live attendance requirement)
🔗 https://www.yogacampus.com/courses/specialist-training-courses/sensory-awareness-training-for-yoga-attunement-satya-1-online-immersion

29/07/2025

Love JHL and been lucky enough to attend her workshops in person and online.

“Yoga doesn’t keep us young. It helps us meet each season of life with more kindness, curiosity, and courage.” —JHL

We’re not practicing to defy time. We’re practicing to meet it—softly, bravely, and with open arms.

How’s your practice been lately?

👇Drop a word or a feeling in the comments. It's a pleasure to be in this circle of curious yogis with you!

Jai!

24/07/2025

Self care for me also means being close to nature through plants I love

24/07/2025

Today is International Self-Care Day! Taking time to care for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing helps prevent illness, manage stress, and build a healthier, more resilient you.

Whether it’s a walk in nature, a moment of mindfulness, or simply getting enough sleep - every small act of self-care adds up.

Visit www.nhsinform.scot for reliable information to help you make informed decisions about your own health and the health of the people you care for.

Let’s make self-care a daily habit - for ourselves and for a healthier Scotland.

Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership - AHSCP Health and Social Care Moray NHS Grampian Public Health

24/07/2025