Heartfelt

I arrived at my yoga class this morning and noticed a beautiful azalea plant on a table.  Beside the plant was a card and a box of chocolates.  The only way I know how to describe the feeling upon seeing this gift from my students is:  heartfelt.  I volunteer to teach this class twice a week; but, I have to say that I get as much - if not more - as I give.  Thank you, wonderful yoga students.  You made my day!!!!

There's a moon out tonight....

Yes, there will be a full moon tonight!  In recognition of this occasion - and I love recognizing "the moon" in all its glory - our yoga class today had several moon references. 

We open our class with gentle breathing exercises.  Today we began by imagining a pristine lake reflecting the rise of the moon as we inhale.  Then, with Michael Buble singing "Moondance" in the background, we completed a seated version of "moon series" movements.  This wonderful moon series can be found in the book Yoga for Movement Disorders by Renee LeVerrier.  We begin and close the series with a seated crescent moon pose. 

Our closing visualization brought us to a beautiful cabin on a lake.  It's dusk and the moonlight is reflecting off the lake.  As we sit on our porch rocker gazing out at the lake, we acknowledge that the rocking movements and the night sky fill us with peace and contentment.  So relaxing!  Ahh, it's a marvelous night for a moondance...

All about balance...

My yoga class in Florida is in an "over 55" community.  Some members of the class are in the lower age range and some are not.  All of them, though, have expressed some interest in maintaining their "balance".  I always have a balance pose or two towards the end of the class.  They're fully warmed up at this point - and by the time the balance sequence is finished, they are more than ready for relaxation.

Yesterday, though, I decided to have a "balance workshop" where we focused on how there is balance in all our poses.  Using a strap for arm stretches, we brought our awareness to both sides of the body - noticing the difference between the arms/shoulders, etc., after spending time on the right - and prior to moving to the left.  We then moved to practicing several standing balance poses.  Although there is the tendency to worry about being able to stand on one foot, I like to suggest that instead they focus on what part of the pose they "can" do.  Can you reach your arms up in a sun salute?  Can you bring your right foot back just a little keeping your toes on the ground?  Do you feel steady?  Are you able to gently move forward?  Can you lean on the back of the chair?  Breaking down poses step by step seems to be less intimidating and promotes encouragement. 

The class as a whole looked beautiful in their balance poses.  But, I did suggest a little homework for "practice" and, of course, this brought gales of laughter.  "When you're brushing your teeth tonight, try placing your other hand on the vanity and see if you can stand on one foot." 

N.Y. Times article - How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body

First off, let me say that I think the title of this article was purely intended for "shock" value - and probably for a little self-promotion.  The writer has a book coming out next month on the science of yoga - risks and rewards. 

To be sure, there are some yoga classes that are truly not suitable for every body.  And, yes, there are some teachers who may be encouraging/urging students to go beyond their current capabilities.  With that in mind, the student must be diligent about her own safety.  Many poses pose danger for someone not in the best condition - or someone with an injury or other limitation.   In my yoga classes, safety is paramount to any posture we do.  I talk "safety" throughout the class.  "No pain...no pain".  "Only go as far as comfortable for you today."  "Listen to your body."  Unfortunately, we, as a society, put so much emphasis on comparing ourselves to the next guy, winning at all costs, pushing the envelope, etc., that we potentially set ourselves up for failure...or in the case of yoga, a physical injury. 

Ultimately, in my view, it is the student's responsibility to tune in to her body - recognize where you are, become aware of what you can do, pay attention and notice what's happening.  And, then begin the search for the teacher who recognizes that in you and works with you in that honoring process.

Here's a link to the article in question: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html?pagewanted=all

December Yoga

I had set a December goal for myself that I would make sure I practiced yoga every day this month. It's day 6 and I've only completed 2 yoga "sessions". That being said, I decided not to beat myself up about not following through...but rather, to view my yoga practice as just that. It is a practice after all - and sometimes it's not just about the asanas (poses). Judith Lasater had written a book called Living Your Yoga and in this small beautiful volume, she guides the reader with practical suggestions and mantras to enhance your spiritual life. There's a section in the book on discipline and her advice is spot-on: do what you can, go for quality vs quantity, be merciful with yourself. Wow! How many times have we beat ourselves up for something or some perceived shortcoming? And, yet we'd never pass that judgment on to someone else.

So, with that in mind, I am revising my December goal (and taking a passage from the book mentioned above) as follows:

"Inhale quietly and exhale gently, extending the very same kindness to yourself that you would extend to another in the same situation. Begin again."

Season 3 at The Pars

Wow - hard to believe but I'm starting my third season teaching yoga here at The Pars. It's such a lovely group of women - all of whom are interested in improving their health by taking yoga classes. Classes began last week and as the snow birds drift in, the numbers will surely increase. But, even with a small group, it is so gratifying to be able to share this wonderful yoga program with them. And, it was great to be welcomed back with enthusiasm. Namaste~

Yoga - it's good for your back!

Two good friends of mine are experiencing serious back issues. Currently, they are seeing doctors and trying to determine exactly what the problem is with the back. They are going through examinations and MRI's. They've been prescribed medications and there's talk of potential surgeries. Now, I'm not a doctor. And, I'm not a Physical Therapist. But, I do know that yoga has been found to be beneficial for some people with low back pain. A recent article in the New York Times discusses the latest study that shows practicing yoga on a regular basis can help to relieve the symptoms of low back pain. You can read the full article here.

Now I want to give a "plug" to Peggy Cappy's Yoga for the Rest of Us - Back Care Basics DVD. I ordered two copies of this wonderful DVD for gifts and previewed it today. As with all of Peggy's DVD's, her explanations are clear and easy to follow. The program has six segments which include leg and back stretches for strengthening back muscles. As a bonus, she added restorative poses to help relax and bring comfort to the body. The total time for the DVD is 123 minutes but you can easily choose to do a short session by selecting a specific "scene" from the menu. This is a terrific DVD and if you have back issues - and your doctor has suggested exercises - this may be just what you need!