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Brac Fest 2022

CAYMAN BRAC

January 20th to 24th
Thursday to Monday – National Heroes’ Day!

BRACFEST is a celebration of outdoor lifestyle, rock climbing, and yoga in the Cayman Islands, on and off the rock/mat! Come join a guided climbing session, or link up with local climbers on their favourite routes. There is something for everyone: rock climbing, beach clean-up, yoga classes, diving and a sunrise bike race to the lighthouse point!

Whether you are a seasoned climber or a novice, looking for instructions or simply a friendly group to climb with, there is something for everyone at BRACFEST 2022.

BRACFEST ENVIRONMENTAL MANIFESTO – As a participant of Bracfest 2022 we invite you to join us in deepening our connection with the natural world. Together let’s further explore our own understanding of the stewardship responsibilities we have toward this beautiful island and the gifts it bestows on each one of us. We invite you to hike with us amongst the ancient trees in the Brac Parrot Reserve, enjoy delicious plant-based food at our welcome dinner and opt for a “Zero plastic – Zero waste” Bracfest.

As climbers, yogis and outdoor adventurers we want to ask how we can integrate with nature so that we give more than we take. There is a very real and imminent threat of habitat loss due to rapid development in Cayman Brac. We are a few local businesses partnering together with the mission of raising awareness and funds to help conservation organizations buy and protect land is of the highest priority right now. We invite you to open your hearts and minds and together as a community we will work toward affecting positive change and help inspire others to also love and protect this precious gem.

How much is it? 

Entry fee: USD $25. Includes a t-shirt for the first 100 entrants and access to FREE and discounted events.

So how does it work?

You can book all the activities on this page (we recommend booking in advance as space is limited).

I’ve never climbed! Got no climbing gear!

No problem Mon! All gear climbing gear is included in all guided activities. Bike hire is also available from Active Pursuit.

How do I book?

Book for all Bracfest events right on this page! Follow these steps:

  1. Book your Bracfest Entry Ticket using the green button below. One ticket per participant is required no matter how many events you attend.
  2. Book individual events by clicking on the green “Book” buttons on the schedule below.
  3. Checkout by clicking the shopping cart in the bottom right of the screen.
  4. Review your events, enter your contact/payment details.
  5. Enjoy the festival!

 <– Book This First

 

Contact:

Rock Iguana Cayman Climbing Company

☎️ (345)-936-BRAC          ✉️info@climb.ky

 

BRACFEST ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Refresh your Rock Climbing Skills

For experienced climbers only – solid experience in top-rope climbing, belaying, knots and climbing communication.

Location: South Side Beach (park at Great Cave)

Price: Donations to Brac Land Conservation

A community event to improve your technique, refresh your leading, belaying and cleaning anchors skills. Climb together with the Cayman climbing community and Rock Iguana Guides. Bring your own gear or rent from Rock Iguana Ltd. Registration is required!

7:00PM – 8:15PM

Return to Light Yoga with Angel Robledo

Location: Yogi Wall

Price: USD $25

Moving with stillness through restorative and yin asanas (poses) under the stars and candlelight at the Yogi Wall. Invoke your inner light with sound meditation, breathing, relaxation, stillness and silence.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21
6:30AM – 8:00AM

National Trust Eco-Hike: bird watching, education and photography

Location: National Trust Parrot Reserve

Price: Donations to Brac Land Conservation

A community hike through the ancient dry-forest of the Brac Parrot Reserve, a piece of protected land named for the Cayman Brac Parrot (Amazona leucocephala hesterna) which you may be lucky enough to spot, along with the various other local and neotropical migrant birds. Learn about the importance of this unique ecosystem from some local naturalists and just enjoy a deep connection with the trees.

8:15AM – 9:15AM

Yoga Flow for Climbers with Heidi Stafford

Location: Yogi Wall

Price: USD $25

In this practice, we will focus on rehydrating the connective tissue in our hands to build better grip strength and dexterity, followed by activating and mobilizing our shoulders, hips and spine through flowing movement and deep breathing. It’s the perfect prep for climbing throughout the weekend and helps us to ease out any pent-up tension/postural imbalances from our daily lives. Expect energizing full-body love; All levels welcome.

9:30AM – 10:45AM

Traditional Hatha Yoga with Angel Robledo

Location: Yogi Wall

Price: USD $25

This practice includes asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation. We’ll practice slowly and gently, holding the asanas for 3-5 minutes allowing for a more profound connection to the meditative aspects of yoga. Encouraging relaxation and happiness rather than effort or strain. The physical practice isn’t just stretching the body, you are engaging with it—at every level. While in an asana, your focus is on gaining intimate knowledge of the body and its bio-energies. You observe the thoughts, emotions, sensations, and actions that arise in and around you while remaining non-reactive. Hatha Yoga is a way to use the body to discover the self.

3:00PM – 5:00PM

Scuba Dive with Scuba Shack

Location: Scuba Shack

Price: Contact Scuba Shack

Explore the deep walls with a guided or unguided shore dive. Tanks and equipment rental are available from Brac Scuba Shack. Bookings must be made in advance directly with Scuba Shack.

(Possibility of a boat dive to be determined closer to the time if boats are operating for tourism at that time)

www.bracscubashack.com

 

3:00PM – 5:00PM

OR 

Community Rock Climbing – find a climbing buddy and CLIMB ON!

Location: South Side East – Crag location to be confirmed

Unguided climbing for self-sufficient climbers. Bring your own gear or rent from Rock Iguana Ltd. No pre-registration is required but gear rental should be done in advance.

7:00PM – 9:00PM

Welcome Dinner – The Farm Restaurant

Location: The Farm Restaurant (Le Soleil d’Or)

Price: CI $45 (includes service charge, excludes drinks)

Come and enjoy a Vegan and Vegetarian buffet made by the incredible chefs at The Farm Restaurant all using fresh produce sourced from their blufftop farm. Includes fresh pizza from the wood fire oven. This event is being very generously subsidized by The Farm restaurant for the participants of Bracfest so it’s an opportunity for a unique Brac experience that is not to be missed! We will share the vision of Bracfest 2022 and introduce some of the conservation causes we are donating to this year. Maximum 40 diners so book early.

For the reservations contact Le Soleil d’Or:

Reservations@lesoleildor.com

+1 345 948 0555

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22
8:15AM – 9:15AM

Yoga for Flexibility and Mobility with Renée Ravazzani

LocationYogi Wall

Price: USD $25

This class is not just stretching. The practise begins with a nice warm-up, including simple mobility drills, flowing from one posture to another, working with active and passive flexibility, giving time to our body to adjust to the pose and explore the range of motion of our joints.

9:30AM – 11:00AM

Arm Balancing Workshop with Renée Ravazzani

LocationYogi Wall

Price: USD $35

Arm balance is available for all different levels! In this class, you will learn techniques and the variation of the pose that works for your body type. How to use your core muscles to keep your weight off your arms while you find balance practicing poses like Crow, Flying Pigeon, Dragon Fly, Baby Grasshopper Pose, etc… We’ll keep going until our bodies are ready for Shavasana (relaxation).

2:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Beginners Top Rope Rock Climbing – All levels

Location: South East Side Beach (park at the great cave)

Price: USD $125

Explore your verticality and see the world from a different angle! This tour focuses on top-rope climbing in a safe, fun, and casual environment. Absolutely no prior climbing experience is necessary: this tour is designed for all ages (8+), fitness, and skill levels. The instructor will ensure that you are 100% safe at all times and will guide you through all of the tricky sections. This is true no-hassle rock climbing; we will set everything up for you – all you do is climb!

2:30 PM – 5:30 PM Beach Clean Up

Location:  South East Side Beach – (Garbage bag and gloves are provided)

Give back to nature and the climbing community by donating your time to help clean up the beach which leads to some of our favourite climbing crags!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23
5:30AM – 7:30AM
(sunrise at 6:56)

Sunrise Bike Ride to Lighthouse Point

Location: Meeting at Active Pursuit Shop (Next to Brac Scuba Shack) – South West Side

Price: USD $30 with a rental bike OR

Bring your own bike: Donations to Brac Land Conservation

Bring your own bike or rent one from Active Pursuit Ltd and join us as we cycle from the South West End of the Island to the Lighthouse to watch the sunrise over the ocean from the top of the Bluff.

https://www.activepursuit.ky

8:15AM – 9:15AM

Vinyasa Drumming Jam with Angel Robledo

LocationYogi Wall

Price: USD $25

A moving meditation yoga class through 21 sun salutations (a set of yoga poses) with live drumming. The first 5 sun salutations will be guided and thereafter our bodies and hearts will move in time with the beat of the drums.

9:30AM – 10:30AM

Yin Yoga with Chantelle Relly

Location: Yogi Wall

Price: USD $25

This class is about finding stillness and cooling the body. There are no dynamic sun salutations or standing poses, sitting or lying on the floor – the pace is slow. The class focuses and works the deeper levels of the body, mind and soul. Yin poses are held for 3-6 minutes allowing for a deeper journey into the fascia, yin-tissues, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and joints of the body.

MONDAY, JANUARY 24
8:15AM – 9:15AM

Chakra Yoga Flow with Chantelle Relly

LocationYogi Wall

Price: USD $25

A gentle flow using asanas (yoga poses) and pranayama (breathing technique) to cleanse, balance, and open the chakras – the subtle energy centers of the human body. The class starts off with slow sun salutations followed by asanas dedicated to the seven chakras, helping sharpen the mind while balancing and opening the chakras.

9:15AM – 10:15AM

Restorative Yoga with Heidi Stafford

Location: Yogi Wall

Price: USD $25

In this class, we will cultivate deep relaxation through supported restful positions and slow breathing which directly rebalances the nervous system and allows the body to heal and regulate itself. The practice will offer us a space for efficient recovery from our active weekend so that we can feel rejuvenated, refreshed and ready for more fun.

The rest of the day… Relax, Eat, Drink, Sleep, Snorkel, Hang Out or Keep Climbing!!!

Location: Your bed? Hammock? Pool? Ocean? Bluff?

Thank you for joining BRACFEST 2022!

 

 

Meet the Yoga Instructors :

 

Angel Robledo – Brazil

Founder of the Yogi Wall and Co-founder of Rock Iguana Ltd.

 

Yoga first encountered Angel’s path in 2001 while studying Tibetan Buddhism Philosophy.

In 2012 she did a  Yoga  Ashram in Rishikesh (India) and started to create her own routines to release her lower back pain and happily shares these moves with fellow Yogis and students. She went back to India many times after that where she finished her teacher training in Dharamsala, yet she continues taking courses and self-studying on a daily basis, always seeking to broaden and share her knowledge.

Angels desire to create in Cayman Brac, a true Yogi Community and a sacred place to practice yoga and meditate…

 The Yogi Wall is her expression of Love to all Beings and Mother Nature. Having an outdoor yoga venue embraced by nature is the mother’s gift to all who enter the sacred space. 

Angel believes this is the best place to connect our energy with the elements and our true selves..

 

 

 

Renée Ravazzani – Argentina

Founder of Sannyasa Yoga & Acrobatics

 

Renée is an entrepreneur yoga instructor certified by the International Yoga Alliance, an aerial circus acrobatics performer, a rock climber, diver, and fire dancer!

At the age of20 years old she saw the Cirque Du Soleil show for the first time and she knew that is what she wanted to dedicate herself to.

A couple of years after Renée said ‘see you later to Argentina, her home country in order to achieve her dreams and discover the world.

During her travelling, she had the opportunity to continue her education, perform and teach in places like France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, India and now the Cayman Islands where she lives full time. With a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and 12 years of experience, she follows her passion for helping others to overcome fears and motivates them to discover a new world of physical activities like aerial silks, aerial hoop, flexibility, yoga and acroyoga classes.

sannyasa.yoga

 

 

Heidi Stafford – Cayman Islands

RYT 200, and a Neurofascial and Triggerpoint Therapist

 

Yoga first captured my attention in 2010 with an intensely sweaty 90-minute Bikram Yoga class. The sequence offered me a unique opportunity to practice concentration and self-observation within a very physically demanding environment, which was humbling, uncomfortable and so necessary.

By 2013, my practice was consistent and I wanted to learn more, so I participated in Bliss Yoga’s first 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, and have since explored many avenues within and beyond yoga to continue learning and growing. Ayurveda, the so-called “sister-science” of yoga, has played a major role in the way I apply yogic lessons to my own daily life. The emphasis on the power and importance of optimal digestion has been absolutely life-changing for me. After a few years of self-study, I trained at the California College of Ayurveda and now practice several cleansing and rejuvenating Ayurvedic Therapies including Abhyanga Oil Massage and Shirodhara. I also really enjoy exploring physical anatomy through yoga and mindful movement, focusing on myofascial networks and trains of the body for biomechanical balance.

With further training in Triggerpoint therapy (Coaching the Body) and Neurofascial body-care techniques (Melt Method), I am now mostly focused on helping people resolve postural imbalances and pain patterns through yoga  (strength + stretch + balance), as well as self-compression and hydration techniques.

What I really enjoy most about teaching yoga and mindfulness practices is how much I am always learning, and what a pleasure it is to share this expanding understanding with others along the way.

 

 

Chantelle Relly – United States

500 Hour Professional Level Yoga Teacher Training

Chantelle has been practicing yoga for sixteen years and has noticed a remarkable change in her quality of life & increased energy, vitality and physical health along with contentment, patience, and peace of mind. Yoga is about finding equilibrium, a balance of strength and flexibility in our bodies, our breath, and our minds. As we practice yoga regularly, cultivating awareness of body and breath, we can begin to explore the link between them as a gateway to experiencing our own life force, the energetic system of prana, the energy that animates all living things. Awakening this natural healing energy reminds the body to heal, the mind to calm, and the spirit to honor its own inner wisdom.

Chantelle completed her 500 Hour Professional Level Yoga Teacher Training at the world-renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Massachusetts. There she was lucky enough to train with several experienced faculty members, studying all aspects of yoga from anatomy and physiology to philosophy and meditation. Teaching in the Kripalu style, students are encouraged to find their own unique expression of yoga that best helps to fulfill their individual goals of physical fitness and mental clarity. Chantelle guides students through creative posture flow where the breath is linked with movement & mediation in motion.

 

Do you set your Flexibility goals?

Why is this so important?

 

Most of the time we set new goals or resolutions like losing weight, stop drinking stop smoking or eating more healthy

All this is fantastic but why do we expect to get more flexible only by stretching more.

We have the wrong idea that by stretching more and harder we’ll see improvements.

First of all, let’s review what does it mean flexibility?

Flexibility

“Flexibility is the range of motion in a joint or group of joints, or the ability to move joints effectively through a complete range of motion.”

Flexibility training includes:

  • Stretching exercises to lengthen the muscles
  • Strengthening exercises to have strong and stable joins that will support that range of motion.

Our flexibility normally varies from one joint to another, ex.; from shoulder to hip.

And for the most part, flexibility is influence by the health and structure of our muscles, tendons and ligaments.

  • Muscles: consist of bundles of long cells, called muscle fibres.
  • Tendons: connective tissue attaching muscle to the bone
  • Ligaments: tissue that connects bones to each other.

 

Improving your flexibility can help you move more comfortably throughout the day.

Read that 👆🏼 again
If you want to have the quality of movement in the daily activities you need to do something about it.
We are not getting any younger and staying strong flexible and mobile will guarantee a good quality of life as we are in that process of getting”wiser”
This could be anything, from picking up something from the fool without feeling that uncomfortable pain in the back of your knees to being able to do amazing splits in the aerial silks or pole dance.
Whatever it is to make it happen you need to take a few steps and make responsible actions.
Advice:
  • Focus on one thing at a time and start with something small.
  • Look for an expert in the field you want to work on
  • Look for an accountability partner you will work with
  • Plan it and make it happen 😉

If you would like to get serious about this I have a Free PDF Guided Form to help you set Your Flexibility goals

and this free video class can help as well.

Enjoy it!

 

 

 

 

3 Easier Yoga Postures to start your “inversion” journey

If you love being upside down- but you are scare because you believed that to be upside-down you need to know how to do headstand or handstand?

Are you getting influenced in a negative way by those Instagram photos where everyone is getting upside-down in super crazy ways with a big smile?

Please stop,

You can start practicing even if you don’t have any experience, yet..

If you would like to try to be upside-down but you are afraid you will “break” your neck.

Let me tell you my friend, we have all been there.

There is always a first step to take in order to begin and I will suggest starting with 3 inverted yoga poses.

 

Now…

I am not saying these poses are easy; that will depend on each person’s practice.

But yes I these 3 options are easier than a headstand or a handstand balance.

And there is a good way to start your inversion journey if:

  • You have never tried any upside-down balance posture before
  • You are afraid of “breaking” your neck
  • You have little experience in any arm balancing postures
  • you would like to prepare your body for more challenging postures to practice in the -no too far away- future
  • You know how to get upside-down but today you want to chill

 

These are the 3 easier yoga poses that will help you start your inversion journey

 

Downward Dog | Adho Mukha Svanasana

Sanskrit name

Adho = downward

Mukha = face

Svana = dog

Asana= pose

This is one of the most practiced postures in almost any yoga sequence.

A lot of us don’t know this is already an invention posture.

Every time the head is lower than the heart it is an inversion posture.

How should we practise this pose?

Ideally, we should have the and separate shoulder-distance apart, with our finger separated and pointing forward, elbow straight with the “eyes of the elbows facing each other and our shoulders pushing the ground.

Nice and elongated spine, relaxing the lower back, engaging your core 

As well as your legs muscles with the heels pressing down towards the mat.

But what happens if you can not do all this?

  • Is ok to bend your knees if needed it.
  • Is ok to lift your heels if you can’t reach the ground.
  • Is ok to take your breaks in the child pose

 

Now, let’s explore the benefits of practicing this pose.

  • Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
  • Energizes the body
  • Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
  • Strengthens the arms and legs
  • Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with head supported
  • Helps prevent osteoporosis
  • Improves digestion
  • Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue

 

You shouldn’t practice if have any of the following:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Diarrhea
  • Pregnancy: Do not do this pose late-term.
  • High blood pressure or headache: Support your head on a bolster or block, ears level between the arms.

 

 

Plow Pose | Halasana

 

Sanskrit name:

Hala = plow

Asana= pose

I love this pose, and I teach it in almost all y aerial acrobatics classes.

This is such an important pose to help us keep our spine flexible.

But I understand not everyone is comfortable in this pose.

However, give yourself time to get used to and practice the variations when your neck is sore.

What is important to focus on here?

Shoulders far from your ears, think you are creating a triangular shape with your neck and shoulders and there is where the weight of your body should be distributed.

Elongate the neck, chin close to your chest.

The Breath is so important that here please breathe from your belly and try to relax the jaw.

If your feet can not touch the ground behind your head, the option will be:

  • To place a chair or a yoga block to rest your feet on, behind your head.
  • You can bend your knees
  • You can always support your spine with your hands holding at the level of your ribs.

Some of the benefits of the practice:

  • Calms the brain
  • Stimulates the abdominal organs and the thyroid gland
  • Stretches the shoulders and spine
  • Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
  • Reduces stress and fatigue
  • Therapeutic for backache, headache, infertility, insomnia, sinusitis

Don’t practice if you have any of the following :

  • Diarrhea
  • Menstruation
  • Neck injury
  • Asthma & high blood pressure: Practice Halasana with the legs supported on props.
  • Pregnancy: If you are experienced with this pose, you can continue to practice it late into pregnancy. However, don’t take up the practice of Halasana after you become pregnant.

Shoulderstand | Shalamba Sarvangasana

Sanskrit name

salamba = with support (sa = with

alamba = support)

sarva = all

anga = limb.

asana= posture

 

This can be a more advanced posture for some of us.

However, there is always a variation you can adapt to your body.

How should we practice?

After practicing halasana pose, bend your knees close to your face and start lifting your legs towards to sky or the roof on to of you.

 

Keep your hand supporting your spine, spread your fingers at your ribs level.

Don’t forget to engage your legs, glutes and core 

Press with you elbow down and create that triangle space between your shoulders and neck.

a more advanced variation of the pose will be to interlace your fingers and keep your arms straight pressing down towards the mat, behind you.

These are the benefits of practicing shoulderstad:

  • Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
  • Stimulates the thyroid and prostate glands and abdominal organs
  • Stretches the shoulders and neck
  • Tones the legs and buttocks
  • Improves digestion
  • Reduces fatigue and alleviates insomnia
  • Therapeutic for asthma and sinusitis

Don’t practice if you have any of the following:

  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • High blood pressure
  • Menstruation
  • Neck injury
  • Pregnancy: If you are experienced with this pose, you can continue to practice it late into pregnancy. However, don’t take up the practice of Sarvangasana after you become pregnant.

 

If you have injuries, please check with your physiotherapist or your qualified teacher before practicing.

Full Yoga Flow including these 3 poses

link in the image below