Profile
Sackies Skalkos is the founder of Yoga Republic, a busy and friendly yoga
studio in the heart of Cork city. He started practicing yoga over 15 years ago on his first visit to India. A lifetime health enthusiast he began his career at the age of 12 as a semi-professional swimmer. Sackies worked in the U.K for the British Council as a health adviser and yoga teacher for many years. His students in the U.K varied from dedicated yogis, rugby players, cyclists, tennis and squash players, office workers, the visually impaired,students with mental illnesses and teenagers.
His previous study of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics contribute to his deep understanding of posture and alignment and his years of experience
have given him immense knowledge on how different physiques react to asanas (postures). He teaches a dynamic and fast flowing style of yoga: Power Vinyasa Flow.
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Vinyasa yoga is an evolving form of traditional yoga that focuses on integrating breath and movement, awareness and alignment, strength and flexibility and your practice with your daily life-style.
Originating within the yogic teachings of Sri T. Krisnamarcharya and linked to a dynamic and fast flowing dance, asanas (postures) are connected through breath for a physically and mentally transformative effect.
Sackies’ teaching style reflects his studies in all the branches of Vinyasa (Ashtanga and Iyengar) – his studies of Ashtanga Vinyasa, contribute the dynamic and fast pace to his teaching, while his studies in Iyengar yoga contribute an emphasis on posture and alignment. He believes that yoga should evolve with modern life styles and the approach should vary day by day, month by month, season by season and student to student…everyone is
different, each moment will never be repeated again.. Sackies links the postures to compliment each other with emphasis on physical balance and mental well-being. He believes in and teaches with the words of his native
Greek philosophers in mind:
"Healthy mind, in a healthy body"
-Hippocrates
The Basic Movements and benefits of Sackies' teaching:
Standing postures -strengthen & tone the whole body
and over a period of time prepare you for more difficult movements. The
standing poses provide a full range of movements and stretches and can give
a full workout. The pose strengthens the nerves to the legs, and teaches
the ability to keep attention over the entire body.
Back bends-stimulate the nervous system, counteract the
effects of gravity, increases the flow of energy and brings clarity to the
mind. Back bends are anti-aging, countering round shoulders, slouched posture
and hunching effect of gravity.
Forward bends-relax and stretch the muscles and soothe
the nervous system. They improve posture and body alignment.
Twists- release pressure in the spinal nerves and align
the vertebrae and lengthening the spine.
Inverted poses- are a tonic for the circulation. They tone
the whole body, counter the affects of gravity and balance the endocrine
system.
Balancing postures-create poise and grace, tone the inner
ear and help to increase the power of concentration.
Moving sequences- build grace and flow in the practice.
They help to synchronize breathing and promote coordination. Movement
creates heat allowing the muscles to release faster.. Great for toxin elimination.
Mudras and bandhas- are internal locks which tone the internal
organs.