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Mindbody icon

You can now have our schedule at your fingertips! If you have a smartphone, andriod or iphone, you can download Mindbody 3.0, a free app, and have our schedule to both studios plus teacher profiles, right where you need it, on your phone. It’s free, it’s current and it’s what we are using to get away from old, printed schedules that might be obsolete after a season.

Download it today. Search for Studio Sangha, Queenstown after you install it.

]]> http://bikramyogaqueenstown.com/2011/10/mindbody-3-0-free-app-our-schedule-at-your-fingertips/feed/ 0 http://bikramyogaqueenstown.com/2011/10/morne-pienaar/ http://bikramyogaqueenstown.com/2011/10/morne-pienaar/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:51:29 +0000 Peggy http://bikramyogaqueenstown.com/?p=1818

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After Spinal fusion age 12, twice under the knife for shoulder repair, and recently 2 x crushed vertebra, I was still not keen to give up Iron distance triathlons and multisport events.
Chronic back pain, a touch of sciatica and persistent unstable shoulder, replaced the enjoyment of exercise with disappointment and frustration. Even the occasional anti-inflammatory was not doing the job anymore.
I will never forget my first Bikram class – confirmation that my body aged a bit quicker than I ever anticipated. Years of demanding best from my body without investing in “healing time” has finally caught up with me.
Although I could not execute all the postures there always seemed to be another challenge in the following class. With each session, improvement was obvious.
During week 2-3 the morning back stiffness was quickly disappearing. I was surprised to notice increase shoulder strength and stability. I could run without back pain and swim without having the all familiar night time shoulder ache and riding my bike for longer was more comfortable. My training became FUN again!
I expected increase flexibility but got so much more… – Increased cardiovascular fitness, strength, and no more joint or back pain. I expected Bikram Yoga to compliment my triathlon training – but for me it’s now a core element of training and healthy living.
As a medical doctor with special interest in sports medicine it is obvious that flexibility prevents injury. But I was truly surprised at the potential to reverse chronic pain from old injuries and degenerative joint disease. And all of this whilst getting fit as well! Seems too good to be true? You up for the Challenge? You Will not be disappointed.
Dr Morne’ Pienaar
Senior Doctor Lakes District Hospital Queenstown
Doctor and Medical Director for Queenstown Regenerative Medicine
www.regenerativemedicine.co.nz

Continue reading »]]> Bikram Yoga’s twenty-six posture exercises systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to one hundred percent of your body, to each organ and fiber, restoring all systems to healthy working order, just as Nature intended. Proper weight, muscle tone, vibrant good health, and a sense of well being will automatically follow.

Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class is a twenty-six asana series designed to scientifically warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons, in the order in which they should be stretched.

The class is 90 minutes. Beginner’s are welcome. Please dress lightly and come hydrated.

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Hello from Las Vegas!  I went to my first class at 4am your time Saturday morning, stiff and barely awake. I got to have a class with Raj, Bikram’s beautiful and inspiring wife. Like she said, it was a “light” class. I felt I could just move my spine again, it took me until rabbit to feel mobile after the plane flight.  I spent the rest of the day at the pool. The US is funny, it seems people are really in shape or obese, not so much in between. I think all the really in shape one’s were all the Bikram Yogis there for their teacher training! Bikram has a lot of saving to do if he is going to save this country from fast food and huge portions!

I went back at 5pm for the last class of the teachers trainers. They just finished 98 classes in 9 weeks. There was a lot of anticipation in that room. Yes, it was hot. Picture a huge white tent with over 400 students and studio owners. I didn’t have to be there for that class, but I’ll never miss a chance to practice with my teacher, Bikram. I had a great class. My body finally opened and went to it’s depth of strength and flexibility. I killed myself. It wasn’t the hardest class I have ever had with Bikram, maybe he is softening a bit, but it was the real Bikram, compassionate and funny. I laughed and almost cried, I felt everything, so alive, so hot, so tired, so clean, so good and happy. But it was the end that really got me.

After the class, after all the hooting and clapping, the lights went down. Bikram was up front on his podium, with his thumbs going up, more up, more sound. On the speakers was one of his best songs, an Indian techno song that he sings. The music goes louder, louder…everyone jumps up and starts to dance! My legs could hardly hold me up! 400 sweaty bodies moving and jyrating and Bikram himself up on stage with some fantastic moves. He loves to dance, and sing, and laugh. All the great yoga teachers I have met love to laugh!

This is my teacher, our founder of Bikram Yoga, laughing, dancing, working the crowd like a superstar, talking about love, and the Laker’s game, about opening your heart and helping people, about never giving up, ever, on someone. Here is a man a lot of people talk about, not all good, he doesn’t care, good or bad. He just keeps teaching. He doesn’t turn down the heat, make it easy, give in to out weaknesses. He makes us get stronger.  He has a huge heart and never gives up on us. He makes our practice so hard to prove that we can build confidence, we can change the world, we can be successful and compassionate, we can help other people. We can change ourselves and be the person we aspire to be. Never give up.

“Never too sick, never to poor, never too old, to start yoga and begin again.”

I start the advanced training tomorrow. I am a bit scarred and really excited. I have trained for this, given up coffee, sugar and alcohol for a few months now to get my body more supple. I never knew, 12 years ago when I went to my first class that my journey would take me to Queenstown, to a studio, to where I am today.

I give thanks first to myself for staying on this path, I give thanks to my teachers giving me their knowledge, and I give thanks to having a home studio to return to and share what I have learned. I am deeply grateful for being able to help other people find their strength and health. More daily updates coming on facebook. Become a friend and stay tuned…..and practice!

Namaste, Peggy

PS. Huge clothing sale on now! Get in there for the best selection! 1 piece is 10% off, 2 is 20% off, 3 is 30% off, 4 is 40% off and 5 or more is 50% off! Everything on sale, soft hoodies, long and short capris, all hot yoga gear, all clothes!

Continue reading »]]> On the journey of life, we all come across our own obstacles.

It is when a hand comes out for support, that we can creatively and actively work around the obstacle, and continue on a stronger path.

Bikram Yoga has held out the hand for me.

I am 51 years now and have led a 100% physical life. I work as a heli-ski guide and landscape designer.

I have run races.

I have skied, and skied, and skied.

I have danced all night.

I have climbed mountains.

I have planted thousands of trees.

I have taken risks with my body.

My challenge now is to continue my active life. I have noticed a switch in both health and body in the last couple of years.

I have recurring herpes simplex which comes in the form of hip, back, thigh pain and headaches. Recently, I fractured my fibula (8 weeks in plaster).

I was able to continue Bikram, and 3 weeks after the plaster was off, I was skiing. While in that situation, Bikram helped me to recover.

Last year, I had a fall on to my neck and I believe “rabbit posture” prevented me from a fracture.

Peggy and her team are fantastic instructors. Thery give 150% and expect the same from us.

To better ourselves requires work.

The studio in Queenstown is a retreat for us in our busy lives.

It is spiritual, comfortable, compassionate, social and clean.

We feel spoilt that Peggy and Bikram have come into our lives.

I love the heat as I stretch better, and my metabolism and skin love the sweat. The routine flows and awakens every part of the body.

I have lots to work on, but my expectation and judgement are always reminded to mellow. The belief of just being there makes each practice a good practice.

wriiten by Katie Deans, skier and landscape designer extordinaire