Ashtanga York Holistic Health
Our approach to movement and fitness combines knowledge of functional anatomy, with an understanding of the relationships bet -ween the musculoskeletal system and the glands, organs, posture and breathing to create a full picture of the human body.
Our dietary choices, the amount of rest we get and the time we take to play and enjoy life all have a tremendous impact on our health – they are almost certainly primary to exercise. We take a comprehensive but simple approach to incorporate these into our day to day lives which have lasting long term effects.
How is our training different?
Strength training
The majority of our strength training methods utilise body weight training combined with free weights such as dumbbells, kettlebells, club bells, plus Bulgarian bags and weighted vests etc. We use natural primal movement patterns in all of our training methodology
Flexibility and mobility
Grounded in Ashtanga yoga alongside other methods of maintaining and improving flexibility. This is a vital part of anatomical functionality i.e. the ability to move freely without pain or discomfort, with correct postural alignment and symmetry.
Cardiovascular activity
Walk, run, climb, swim, row are the only forms of cardiovascular training we use. These are the most natural forms of movement and require little or no equipment
Breath work
We draw on tried and tested methods of yoga breath control (Pranayama) and Qi Gong to make the cardiopulmonary system more effective.
Meditation
This is a key area often over looked but so important to our mental health and general wellbeing. We encourage people to do sitting meditation, but also, and maybe more importantly, to focus on one thing at a time giving it their full concentration.
There is a huge cross over between all of disciplines mentioned above. For example, our strength training methods use predominantly primal movement patterns which move the joints in a full range of movement with a lengthening and shortening of the associated muscles, done with correct breath control and with complete focus on the task in hand.
When and where possible we try to exercise in the natural environment; breathing in fresh air and simply being surrounded by nature will do wonders for the mind, heart and lungs.