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Simon will be a key presenter in the coming Sun Festival from 9 to 10 October, 2009.
Yoga in Asia finds out what exactly he will be doing in the event. Don’t miss a great opportunity to see his dynamic yoga asana demonstration that will get the “wow” from you. Visit: http://singaporesunfestival.com |
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| About Simon |
| Simon was first introduced to yoga at an early age learning breath retentions from his father, and later the main bandhas from Basil Brown (an Olympic athlete). At age 17, a Tibetan Lama introduced Simon to the philosophy of yoga. Then, in 1980, Simon started the physical practice of hatha yoga with BKS Iyengar, K. Patttabahi Jois and TKV Desikachar. He commenced teaching in 1982. In 1985, Simon met Shandor Remete, who became a real inspiration and mentor to him. A few years later, in 1988, Simon met physiotherapist yoga teacher Bianca Machliss. Together they developed their unique Yoga Synergy system, which is very dynamic and fluid. Simon completed three degrees in biology and is also became a registered physiotherapist. http://www.yogasynergy.com.au/ |
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Victor: Simon, thank you so much for taking time to do this interview. You have been practising yoga for more than 30 years. What inspires you to continue with this practice? |
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Simon: I am inspired to keep practicing because I make my practice nourish me. The practice I do actually substitutes the need for food and sleep. Sometimes I even modify my yoga to substitute for emotional and mental needs as well. It can address all the physical illnesses and injuries that happen occasionally in my life. In addition, the yoga I practice teaches me important lessons about my physical, physiological, mental, emotional and spiritual self that I need to learn. I then use this information to help others where I can. I am regularly drawn to my daily practice because it feels really great. I make it feel like being massaged while relaxing in a warm bath on an adventure holiday. That’s why I keep coming back for more! |
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Victor: What is YogaSynergy? Can you tell us more about it? |
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Simon: YogaSynergy is traditional hatha yoga with an understanding from modern medicine and physiotherapy. On an anatomical and physiological level it takes into account the lifestyle of the modern practitioner, as opposed to that of the traditional yogi. YogaSynergy is a very effective way to get fit, strong and flexible but, in opposition to many other yoga styles, when practicing the emphasis is on relaxation, natural diaphragmatic breathing and natural movement patterns that are prescribed in precise sequences, eliciting muscle activation patterns and nerve control. This automatically switches some muscles on while reciprocally relaxing and lengthening other muscles, thus increasing blood flow without making the heart beat faster. |
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Many other yoga styles work on enhancing their anatomy and physiology separately. YogaSynergy works on both simultaneously. In other words, other styles practice to stretch, strengthen and stimulate their body and subsequently to relax. However, YogaSynergy enhances relaxation of nerves and increased blood flow throughout a rather physical yoga practice, which includes intelligent core stabilisation as well as exercises that increase strength and flexibility. |
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In fact, YogaSynergy balances your anatomy and your sympathetic nervous system with your physiology and your parasympathetic nervous system. Not only do you end up strong, flexible and pain free, but the internal body systems are also supported and nurtured. Digestion of food, absorption of nutrients and the elimination of wastes are enhanced. The immune system can more easily support you to recover from illness and injury. The reproductive system becomes healthier, and circulation of energy and information through the body becomes enhanced, while breathing and heart rate remains slow and efficient. |
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Victor: You are coming to present at Sun Festival on 9 & 10 Oct 2009. Can you highlight to us what you are going to do and why are they important? Are they suitable for beginners? |
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Simon: I will be teaching simple breathing techniques that can be used in everyday life that will keep you relaxed and help you to enhance the functioning of your digestive system, immune system and reproductive system. Also, I will introduce ways to develop relaxed internal power that can be used to stabilise the spine or allow you to eventually lift into handstands or other arm balances. |
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My presentation will include the main principles of natural movement that make you to look like you are stretching and strengthening a lot but allow you to feel like you are simply making relaxed natural movements. You will learn to modify postures so as to be able to get the main benefits of each posture quickly efficiently and safely. |
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I will impart techniques to prevent and recover from injuries and medical conditions using internal locks and breath-control. The techniques I teach progress from beginner to advanced levels, but the initial stages are definitely suitable for the beginner. |
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Victor: If someone is unsure about whether to attend your workshop, what would you like to say to them? |
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Simon: If someone is unsure whether they should come to my classes because he/she is a beginner, then I’d like to say you don’t need to feel inadequate because you don’t need to be strong or flexible to benefit from the YogaSynergy style. It is useful, however, to have the ability to sit onto the floor and get up by yourself, to lean on one leg and to lean onto your upper arms. |
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If they think they already know enough or can do enough then I would like to point out that in its full form the YogaSynergy Style can be at least as physically demanding as any other yoga. In addition, I can offer information that I have used to heal injuries and medical conditions in myself and others based on my experience as a physiotherapist and longtime yoga practitioner. I can also give insights into how you can use yoga to enhance your daily life by giving you more energy, having better internal organ function, and allowing you to be less stressed while being able to do more with your life with less sleep and food. |
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I want to remind everyone not to be greedy in how much they try and take in. Everyone is at different levels in a group class. I will give enough information for the beginner and the advanced practitioner to be adequately nourished. However beginners must not be greedy in how much they try and take in, and more advanced practitioners need to have humility in terms of what they think they can do and understand. It is best for the beginner not to over-stretch, over-tense, over-breathe or over-think, while the advanced student should have the humility to regularly question and revise their current mode of practicing yoga. Experienced persons should also remind themselves that when you are really in yoga it doesn’t feel like you are stretching, tensing, breathing or thinking. |
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Victor: Can you tell us what you are doing to do in your yoga demonstration? Is that your regular practice? |
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Simon: I will be giving several demonstrations to illustrate what is possible with hatha yoga and YogaSynergy. All of this comes from my personal practice. I will only demonstrate what feels good for me at the time. The only difference between my demonstrations and my regular practice is that I often prepare for demonstrations by not eating, sometimes for many days in advance. Often I will only demonstrate one side of a pose for brevity. Other minor differences include the length of time I will hold my breath or a posture, and the length of my static meditative practice. |
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I avoid repeated long breath retentions and long sitting meditations because it is not very exciting for people to watch. Sometimes people ask if I’m going to demonstrate my most difficult practice, and I always say no, because it is often something like sitting still and hardly breathing or thinking for one hour. That practice feels incredible to me but I will demonstrate things that are much more interesting and informative to watch. |
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