Workshops by Master Simon Borg-Olivier

Workshop (1) - How to Use Your Arms and Legs Effectively in Yoga Practice

Traditional Hatha Yoga refers to the arms and legs as the 'organs of action'. In this workshop, Master Simon Borg-Olivier will show you how to take advantage of the three main spinal reflexes and their connections to your arms and legs in order to develop strength, flexibility and stability in the shoulders, elbows and wrists, hips, knees and ankles.

This leads to the natural development of six bandhas (internal locks) in the arms and legs that are separate to the three main bandhas described in most texts on yoga. You will be shown to use these bandhas to enhance and control the flow of energy (prana) and information (citta) through the spine, trunk and internal organs. Master Simon will also teach you how to contract and stretch the nerves and acupuncture meridians of the arms and legs in order to increase strength as well as stimulate your body systems to work more effectively. Nerve tensioning and stretching can also be used as an effective therapy for pain relief in many parts of the body.

Workshop (2) - How to Use Your Spine Effectively in Yoga Practice

In Hatha Yoga, control of your body depends on how well you connect with and control your spine and trunk.

In this workshop, Master Simon Borg-Olivier will show you how to control your spine at more than 24 places. This includes how to breathe correctly and relax at the same time as you move.

By moving your spine in a controlled but natural sequence from the navel center, you can develop tremendous internal power and energy. This can be used in many ways – from lifting up to effortless handstands, to being able to control your internal organs for maximum health, happiness and longevity.

Master Simon will also show you how to maximize the effectiveness of your spinal movements by creating mudras in your spine that can 'push' or 'pull' energy and information through the body. Spinal mudras can improve circulation and allow you to do more work without needing to make your heart beat faster. Recently published scientific studies have shown that people exercising using these principles taught in this workshop develop greater fitness. These principles are integral to traditional yoga but have been lost in most modern yoga. Master Simon's unique experience of more than 40 years of yoga as well as his knowledge as a physiotherapist will help you improve the physical aspects of your yoga and exercise practice such as strength and flexibility, while enhancing physiological aspects such as fitness, meditative control and internal health.