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Women’s nude yoga is not just about practicing yoga in the nude, it is a practice in vulnerability, courage and manifestation of radical self-love and acceptance. Simply turning up to the workshop is a major feat for many and enough to change their entire attitude to life. For some women, nude yoga helps them reconnect with their sexuality; for others, the process helps them to move past trauma that was holding them back.
Women of all ages, shapes, sizes and shades come along for a powerful three to four hour immersion in surrender, softening and letting go of acquired armour, masks, masculinity, shame & body insecurities. Rosie Rees, who is one of the biggest champions of this movement in Australia, says we gather all this baggage over time from not feeling or believing we are good enough, especially in relation to the media’s standard of beauty.
But Rosie herself wasn’t always such an awakened naked yoga guru – and it’s from her past that she’s gained her wisdom.
Six years ago, she worked a corporate job as a Finance Recruiter in Sydney and lived a toxic lifestyle of binge-drinking, cigarette-smoking and self-sabotaging. At the time she was in a bad relationship with a man who totally suppressed her, she was gaining weight, suffering from migraines, stressed out, anxious and clueless to what her life purpose was.
She finally quitting her unfulfilling job and travelled to India for a total detox, learned all about yoga and qualified as a yoga teacher. This is when her whole life began to turn around and she found her true life purpose – to help other women reconnect with themselves. Since then she has been championing the nude yoga movement all over Australia, and it’s gaining serious momentum.
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I was curious to see what a nude yoga workshop could do for me, so I signed up to attend her session together with 18 other women – no waxes required. We all showed up in sarongs, nervous to undress. Luckily, we were all in the same boat, and what seemed like hours of pep talk in flattering candlelight helped relieve anxiety. One by one we removed our covers as the evening went on, with only the last hour spent doing yoga in the nude.
We practiced meditation at the beginning, then a run-down of the rules and schedule for the evening, before moving on to sharing with the group. We were encouraged to look at each other’s bodies – to observe how different women look, and how we’re all beautiful and we should all feel comfortable naked.
Each of us held a ‘talking stick’ during our turn, telling everyone our name, how we feel and our reason for coming to nude yoga. I heard many stories of body insecurities, waning sexuality, desire for personal growth, self-love and acceptance. I felt inspired by each woman and honoured their bravery.
Then – more challenging – we were to disclose our barriers to worthiness, the things that hold us back from feeling like we are enough. Rosie supported us through each step with inspiring talks, echoing the work of social researcher Brene Brown. It was a process of shedding layers until we were all fully bare – emotionally, and then physically too. It truly felt like a form of therapy and it helped us to bond and trust each other in the sacred space.
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My fellow yogis and I connected with one another, especially with our direct neighbour in the circle. Despite the few who came in pairs including best friends and mothers and daughters, we’d never even met before. For me, it was a woman called Dani, who possessed many qualities I admire deeply. We hugged, practiced extended periods of eye-contact, and shared our innermost feelings, worries and desires. It felt uplifting and refreshing to be so raw and authentic. After the session, we even became Facebook friends.
The final step of the evening was the nude yoga, which we were finally ready to engage in fully – even the most apprehensive if us. During the practice, we performed plenty of hip-opener poses which are said to release emotions, such as Pigeon and Warrior. At one point we were on our elbows and knees in Puppy Dog pose, looking into our upward facing palms as if they were our ‘wishing well’ and visualising all we want in the world. Tears were encouraged from the get-go, and many of us cried during the manifestation exercise and as each woman dreamed up her future life.
At the end of the class we ate a selection of delectable handmade vegan snacks including bliss balls, chocolate-covered strawberries and fresh figs, and we had the opportunity to purchase a yoni egg – a crystal egg for your vagina, which is said to heal and help with many issues, including improving orgasms and strengthening the pelvic floor.
Nude yoga is becoming more popular in Australia, three years after Rosie made the concept more mainstream by launching it in her local yoga studio. Now she runs sell-out events all over the country. There are now classes popping up in the UK and US…so the big question remains, is Singapore ready for it?
Check out also 10 yoga poses for glowing skin.
https://www.herworld.com/life/wellness/naked-yoga-fitness-craze-australia-singapore/
10 yoga poses for glowing skin
Bye bye breakouts
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If you’re ever practiced any form of yoga, whether at an upscale boutique studio or at home with a Youtube video, you’ll probably have had an instructor ask you to “set an intention for your practice”. Where ‘de-stressing’ and ‘weight loss’ are common goals, have you ever considered ‘achieving glowing skin’?
It sounds crazy to think we could simply turn to yoga instead of harsh Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic acid to tame breakouts and achieve that #nofilter glow, but according to the ancient Indian healing tradition of Ayurveda, there are certain yoga poses that are believed to help improve your skin’s appearance. The link between yoga and clear skin lies in the breathing techniques, which help to alleviate stress – a major contributing factor to hormonal breakouts, oily skin and dullness. Sun and moon salutations (you’ll find these flows in most yoga routines) also contribute to clearer skin, as the movements help to expedite the body’s detox process, ridding your body of toxins that potentially cause acne.
While we don’t recommend ditching your expensive masks or acne-fighting products just yet, we say, there is absolutely no harm in getting in more yoga (other benefits include weight loss, a more toned physique, flexibility and improved overall well-being). Try incorporating these 10 poses into your daily life, and along with a healthy diet, to get your best skin ever this year.
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Sarvangasana
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AKA: the shoulder stand
Good for: promoting blood circulation towards the face, and encouraging the healing of pitta type acne (red, angry pimples) that are caused by emotional imbalances such as stress and anger.
How to: lie flat on your back and peel your legs and hips off the ground, slowly transferring all the weight to your shoulders and upper back using your arms for support. Breathe slowly, filling your lungs fully with each inhaled. Hold the pose for 3-5 minutes every day.
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Chakrasana
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AKA: the wheel pose
Good for: this asana helps to alleviate constipation and boost blood circulation to the face, enabling your body to expedite the rate of toxin removal while delivering the vital nutrients needed for clear skin to your face.
How to: lie flat on your back and place your hands, by your ears with your palms pointing back. Slowly lift yourself off the ground, evenly distributing the weight between your hands and legs. Hold the pose for as long as possible, and gently lower yourself to the ground to release the asana. Repeat 3-5 times.
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Trikonasana
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AKA: the triangle pose
Good for: this is an amazing stretch that opens your lungs, heart and chest, supplying your body with more oxygen. This helps to rejuvenate and refresh your skin while restoring equilibrium of the body and mind.
How to: stand with your legs wide apart and turn your right foot out. Raise your arms up to the sides and lean towards your right, bending from your hips. Allow your right arm to touch the floor (or your shin, depending on your flexibility) and your left arm up in the air. Turn your gaze toward your left arm, with your head in a neutral position. Remain in this pose with taking long, deep breaths and slowly return to standing. Repeat on the left side.
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ALSO READ: TRAVEL HOST DENISE KELLER REVEALS HOW YOGA IMPROVED HER LIFE
Pavanamuktasana
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AKA: the wind-relieving pose
Good for: as it’s name suggests, this pose helps to relieve bloating and improve digestion and constipation. Similar to the wheel pose, it improves gut health, which could in turn help clear breakouts.
How to: lie on your back with your feet together and arms resting on the sides. Breathe in, then exhale as you bring your right knee in towards your chest. Clasp your hands around your knee and pull your thigh towards your stomach. If you can, lift your head and chest off the ground and try to touch your knee with your chin. Loosen your hands and let your leg return to the straight position, and repeat on the other side.
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Ustrasana
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AKA: the camel pose
Good for: this intense back bend opens up the rib cage and can increase lung capacity over time, allowing you to inhale more oxygen, which as we know is good for your skin! This pose also helps to reduce stress and is said to balance hormones that are responsibility for breakouts.
How to: kneel on the floor, and place your hands on your heels. Bend backwards as far as possible, and allow your head to gently hang back. Hold this pose for 1 minute, and return to starting position by releasing your hands and using your abdominal muscles to upright yourself.
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Bharadvajas Twist
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AKA: the seated twist
Good for: encouraging a healthy digestive system. You’ll find various twists in yoga, as they help to remove toxins and other harmful substances from the organs. When you’ve cleared your system of waste, the results will show – glowing skin.
How to: sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Cross your left leg over your right leg in an upright position. As you exhale, twist your torso to the left and touch the floor behind you with your left hand. Push your right elbow against your left knee. Breathe deeply and maintain this pose for a minute. Release, and repeat on the otherside.
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Bhujangasana
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AKA: the cobra pose
Good for: a relaxing asana that reduces tension, stress and fatigue by opening up the chest. This pose is said to help supply extra oxygen to your skin, and aids the body in flushing out any accumulated toxins and encourage cell turnover.
How to: lie on your stomach with your toes flat against the floor. Place your hands by your ribs and as your exhale, gently push upwards such that your torso and stomach is lifted off the floor. Hold this pose for 1 minute, breathing deeply. Return to starting and repeat as many times as you like.
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ALSO READ: 4 WAYS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN 2018 WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE