Michael's Blog

23/2/2021 0 Comments

'Core is Core'

As I am preparing for a new online Beginner’s Yoga course I ponder the question yet again:
How do I best explain the concept of Core muscles?

Most people who are physically active seem to have heard about them. Many have an idea that they are somewhere ‘down there’. Most people think they ‘don’t have enough of them’..
How about it? Have you got them and use them?

For more than year I have been watching my granddaughter finding her feet. You know all those cute baby moves, feet up in the air with head lifts, rolling, crawling, reaching, bum up - nose down, fall down. It’s never ending and culminates in a tireless walk-run-sit-run-fall-roll-lie...

We generally don’t remember but we all did it, some time ago. And we didn’t need to be reminded of those all important Core muscles, did we?

No, because in order to get from lying to standing on both feet we need to use them if we are to use the body safely and efficiently. As a child’s head is quite heavy compared to the lower body the balancing act of a human is quite a feat to begin with and the necessary muscles and bones develop as needed.

In these early years the body is also used as designed: lots of movement, lots of variation, plenty of rest as needed.
As soon as sitting begins to be the most dominant position we change the healthy use of the skeleton.
I encourage you to look around (when you next go out or watch a film) to make your own judgement on the posture of young and grown adults.

What has happened? After sitting for extensive periods of time our bodies begin to use muscles in ways that are not the same as originally designed and practiced by the small child. Sitting for hours at a time or on unsuitable chairs tires the postural muscles. Other structures or muscles take over from the well aligned and balanced spine and the muscles surrounding it. The pelvis is an integral part of the upright human posture and the spine is held and moved from this foundation.

There are many muscles at the base, front and back of the lower torso which come into play. They are like a natural corset, giving stability and allowing mobility by encouraging other muscles to function in line with their position in the anatomical arrangement of bones.

Weakness or failure to use these muscles does not paralyse us; it shifts the way we use our body into other muscles and joints. In fact we can be physically strong and use our body incorrectly. Usually it manifests as problems with posture, balance and back problems. But other areas can be involved.

The good news is we can re-train these muscles. As they affect posture and balance we prime new students to regularly ‘engage the core’ muscles. It takes a while for this to become first nature again. Safer and a more satisfying practice are a result of using these muscles regularly.

Improved posture reduces aches; increases confidence; eases breathing; reduces stress.
Will using them give you a six-pack or slimmer waist? It definitely is a beginning step. To achieve those goals you want to exercise the muscles around the trunk a lot plus reducing the amount of fatty tissue hiding your abdominal muscles.

So, yes it is great to retrain core muscles. They are an essential part of safe Yoga practice and body use in general. They also form part of a healthy posture. We’ve all got them, let’s switch them on regularly.

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8/2/2021 2 Comments

"Not Again"

‘Not Again’ - To many people anxiety is just another word describing a state of feeling a little uneasy. Maybe being nervous about a meeting or driving into a city where we have not been before.

Fortunately this degree of ‘cautious unease’ lasts for a limited time only and may be quite beneficial, making us drive carefully or observe our manners during the meeting.

When anxiety becomes a lasting feature of our day it changes our behaviour and the way we think and feel.
Very often we are not even aware that something has changed in us until people close to us show their concerns repeatedly.
Statistically women are diagnosed more often suffering from the disorder. But men are not as ready to admit that something is wrong and may carry on without seeking help.

Of course the seriousness of an attack can vary considerably. It came as a surprise to myself to experience a full blown panic attack one day. Struggling with the sensations for a few minutes I finally admitted to myself that this was a heart attack. With as much dignity as I could muster I apologised to the bystanders for lying down. Help was offered and after fifteen minutes I felt well enough to drive home.

The doctor’s verdict of ‘panic attack’ didn’t reassure me. Neither did the attacks during the following weeks. Once I spend several hours at A&E being observed.

It is essential to get the facts: medical check up to exclude disease.
Check on your life: what has got under your skin. One big event? Many little niggles?

What do you believe about yourself and discover the fears you hold about this terrifying state?

There are many people who specialise in helping us to overcome this debilitating condition.
As always not every technique and method work for everyone.

I found reassurance in learning that these attacks are like ‘false alarms’. Knowing that my heart was tested and well and that the attack would pass added to my confidence.
Nevertheless: once sensations of breathlessness, shaking and hot and cold sensations were taking my body over I could easily let myself indulge in the state and have it take over. It took practice to stop and force myself to look it in the eye. I needed to stop what I was doing and observe these uncomfortable sensations.

Breathing can easily get out of hand but we know that over-breathing worsens the situation. I learned to relax the chest, neck, shoulders while being mindful of what was going on.

Soon there were connections apparent between attacks and people in my life. This didn’t reduce attacks, yet helped to understand the volatile mix of emotions like anger, fear, disappointment and indignity that was cursing around my mind. No wonder the body was exploding into involuntary alarms.

In fact the feelings of anxiety could become quite strong during Yoga practice. In the safety of my yoga mat I followed the principles of ‘being in the moment/now’ and used the relaxed breath to connect with body parts and emotions and thoughts.
I learned to ‘smile’ mentally at all the crazy going-ons inside of me.
Becoming the master of myself again meant I could use the same techniques in other scenarios during the day.

Since I had become aware of the ‘problems’ behind the attacks it proved impossible to not address these.
Doing this and repeating the effort of being in the moment, observing calmly and smiling in the knowledge that I am the master of myself meant the condition petered out.

I cannot claim to know THE way to be anxiety free. But I do know that a regular yoga practice can be a major help in getting there.

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Hello I'm Michael Cordel. My love for nature supports my interest in helping others rediscover their connection to Yoga and the Earth. Practising Yoga outdoors is especially useful to centre us, to anchor our mind and bring space into ourselves.

For over twenty years I've practised oriental acupuncture and massage and have gained a deep appreciation of the individuality of our lives. I aim to facilitate healing through the practice of yoga, breathing and relaxation, in a caring, supportive manner, honouring the individual to achieve their goals.

Together with my partner, Kari van Eden, we aim to bring mindfulness, fitness and joy to anyone, looking to improve their well-being and expand their lives through the practice of Dru Yoga & Meditation.

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