Queenstown's Hatha Yoga and Pilates » Updates

Morne Pienaar, Senior Doctor Lakes District Hospital

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:16:52 +0000

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

Happy New Years! Opening January 7, 2008

admin — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:07:58 +0000

Happy New Years!

Resolutions? Get fit, feel great, calm the mind, laugh and have a great year! Let’s do it!
Studio Sangha opens on January 7th, 2008 with the same schedule as before the silly season (The only change is the Senior’s Yoga class on Wednesday 12-1pm will resume Febuary 7th.) We are kicking in strong with a one month special from January 7-Febuary 7th unlimited yoga for $99. Tell your friends and bring your friends. We offer a $5 credit on your account for every local friend you bring in. Get rid of those kilos and detox the body and mind with Bikram Yoga and Dynamic Hatha. Look on the website for the schedule if you don’t have it.

This year will be an exciting year for the studio as we grow and continue to have fantastic workshops. I want to start telling everyone about Lance Schuler who is coming for a weekend workshop Febuary 15-17. He is an amazing teacher, one of my teachers, who loves to teach backbends, inversions, arm balances and all sorts of challenging yet simple postures. Lance can just as easily teach a beginner as a more advanced student and the workshop is open to all levels. For those of you with a practice and ready to do more, don’t miss this weekend. I will have more information coming on the website soon but please let me know as soon as possible if you want to sign up for part or all of the weekend, there will be 5 sessions, one Friday night, 2 Saturday and 2 Sunday. This weekend will book out. Please email me at peggy@queenstownyoga.com or talk to Anna or Donna in the office.

As many of you know, I am in Christchurch for one month taking a teachers training with a very well known teacher, Donna Farhi (her books are for sale at the studio). I was honored to be accepted into the program and will have the pleasure of meeting 70 yoga teachers from all over the world to study and practice. Wow!! The studio will be run by Donna and Anna while I am gone. Also, I have a wonderful Bikram teacher coming down from Auckland to cover the Bikram classes and give you her best. Her name is Emma and please take advantage of having a different Bikram teacher. There are so many ways to say the same thing in a class and often having a different teacher can really help to make things connect. Enjoy!

I am super excited for this year as I have big plans for our happening little studio, more classes, more teachers, more workshops and more inversions. Yep, we are ready.

Thanks for all your support, practice, and love and allowing me to stumble along with the business. If you ever have any comments, just email them through to me or leave a note at the desk. We love your input and appreciate it. Every day I learn more. Most importantly, I want to keep the quality of the teaching the best, with continual training for myself and the teachers, so we can be the best teachers, with the best education for the best students.

Have a great January, practice strong softly, and see you in Febuary

Namaste, Peggy

Update December 1st, 2007

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:36:18 +0000

Sorry if you get this email twice!! I am trying to figure out how to separate the photo gallery from the update!!

Namaste from Studio Sangha. The updated webpage has been very exciting with the new photos! Thank you, Ben, and the yogi models. You guys were brilliant! All new updates on classes, workshops, teachers bios, the photo gallery, the on-line store and everything else is there. Please check it out.

Studio Sangha will be closed December 23- January 6^th. Our last class will be Saturday, the 22^nd of December. Continuing with our new tradition, we will practice 108 sun salutations for the summer solstice (this will replace the regular vinyasa class). Anna will be leading the class. The class will be optional donation (to be sent to our charity) and open to all. Please come and celebrate the solstice with sun salutations.

The schedule will stay the same after the New Years. Classes begin January 7^th.Many of you have really turned it on and are practicing 3-5 times a week right now! Keep it up before Christmas!! Not only do I love to see you and your practice, but it is great to jump in and really feel the benefits. This is when you notice the big changes and as teachers we can work more with you on corrections. Practice lots before Christmas, have a break, then come back in in January, ready to rock.

Christmas gifts! Give the gift of health. Classes make great gifts. The 3 for 25$ (in one week) and the 10 class concession cards are both available in a gift certificate form. Both make fantastic gifts for those you love. Any of the membership options can be given as gifts. As well, we have books, clothes and yoga props in the store that you can’t find anywhere else on the South Island.

Studio bits and pieces