Spring Yoga: 20 Poses for the Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians

by Martine Ford

This book, Spring Yoga: 20 Poses for the Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians is informative & made into an easy to follow yoga class with concise instructions.Each yoga pose also has an image so you can practice with confidence, knowing that you are in correct alignment in each pose. These yoga poses activate the energy channels of the liver and gall bladder. When these organs become balanced it provides us with the ability to change and be flexible, just like the seasons.

According to the Chinese Five Element theory, the body is made up of the same five primary elements that exist in nature – Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth and Water. Each of these elements links to different organs, and affects us physically and psychologically. In spring the wood element is strongest, so activating the meridians (energy channels) of the liver and gallbladder brings balance to these organs.

Liver imbalance can cause anger, frustration, an inability to adapt to change, and inability to think or plan. Gall Bladder imbalance can cause symptoms like dry skin, peeling on the soles of the feet, brittle nails (due to trouble utilising calcium), constipation, excessive burping and bloating.It doesn’t sound very pleasant does it?

Spirit Yoga classes mostly use traditional yoga poses and some yoga therapy exercises that are based on bringing energy (chi or prana) to the meridian channels located through-out the body. Spring Yoga will bring balance to your body and life during the Spring Season, so you can function with greater ease. Imagine springing out of bed each morning because you have more vitality, joy, a clearer mind and a reason to smile from cheek to cheek.

The Author Martine Ford, is a qualified yoga instructor and owner of Spirit Yoga Australia. A former professional dancer, she has an extensive background in ballet, contemporary, character, jazz as well as numerous yoga studies.

Martine trained to Advanced Level in Power Yoga with Duncan Peak of Power Living Australia Yoga (P.L.A.Y). in the Baron Baptiste style of Power Yoga. She also has Certification in Advanced Kids Yoga from Zenergy Kids, Pre and Post Natal Yoga from The Yoga Institute and a Diploma in Dance from the Queensland Dance School of Excellence.

Martine is enjoying being able to share the many physical & spiritual benefits yoga offers with her varied students, and encourages them all to live from a place of peace, strength and clarity.

60 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Martine's love for movement began at four, when she enrolled in her first ballet class in the coastal town of Port Macquarie. She continued with that passion, studying and performing various styles of dance, before fulfilling her next love, producing two beautiful and busy boys (now young men).

After searching for something to fulfill her desire again for movement and passion a friend suggested Power Yoga classes. Martine began practicing Power Vinyasa Yoga in 2006 and loved the transformative effect the classes had on her physically, and more surprisingly, mentally and emotionally. "I loved the way Power Yoga could transform my whole mood by the end of the class, and I could walk away feeling joyful, retrospective, courageous or just relaxed depending on what happened on the mat that day! With continued practice I realised that this style of yoga was a moving meditation and with time I was enjoying staying present during class, not having to fidget or be constantly distracted by a busy mind."

It was this love for yoga and it's many physical and spiritual benefits that inspired Martine to start her own business, Spirit Yoga in 2010. With a thirst for more yoga knowledge she has also become qualified in teaching Yin Yoga, yoga to children of all ages as well as pre/post-natal yoga students. Martine teaches varied students, in various location. She teaches kids, teens, and adults of all ages. She teaches in gyms, yoga studios, the Crossfit Box, school halls (for sport elective), people's loungerooms, in the Great Outdoors and huge Entertainment Centres. Her Power Yoga (yang) classes are a playful fusion of Power Vinyasa Yoga (flowing), Core Vinyasa Yoga (CSV) and Yoga Therapy (Chinese Meridian Activation). The Still Yoga (yin) classes are mostly seated poses (asana) with the addition of pranayama, mindfulness and a guided relaxation.

Many courses and workshops have been facilitated by Martine including Active Nation Day 2014 for Lorna Jane Port Macquarie, presenting at Ekam Yoga Festival (Port Macquarie), Kids Yoga Workshops in the 'Glasshouse' (the local Arts, Conference and Entertainment Centre), Kids Yoga Classes for Primary and High School Sport Elective and also Adult courses for the Community College.

Eager to spread the benefits of yoga afar, she is now playing author and is onto her second series of yoga e-Books self published by Spirit Yoga on Amazon. The first series was, Yoga for the Seasons which consists of five e-Books for Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The next is The Spirit Yoga Health Series which is a collection of five yoga e-Books designed to benefit a particular health concern and made into and easy to follow class.

Martine is enjoying being able to share her love of yoga in Port Macquarie and afar, and encourages her students of all ages to live from a place of peace, strength and clarity.

Credentials
Yin Yoga - Jo Phee @ P.L.A.Y (Power Living Australia Yoga) 2015.
Advanced Assisting Course - P.L.A.Y (Power Living Australia Yoga) 2015.
Sadie Nardini Online Rockstar Teacher Training - 2013
Advanced/Level 3 Teacher Training - P.L.A.Y. - Byron Bay 2011
Advanced Kids Yoga Teacher Training - Zenergy 4 Kids - Sydney 2011.
Kids Yoga Teacher Training - Zenergy 4 Kids - Sydney 2010.
Pre & Post Natal Yoga Training - Yoga Institute - Syd 2010
Advanced Vinyasa Training - Power Living Australia Yoga - Sydney 2009
Assisting Program - Power Living Australia Yoga - Sydney 2009
Teacher Training Level 2 - Power Living Australia Yoga - Sydney 2008
Teacher Training Level 1 - Power Living Australia Yoga - Sydney 2008
Diploma in Dance - Queenland Dance School of Excellence (QDSE) - Brisbane 1986