Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The 3 R's

Well, sure, you know your 3 R's...reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic.  But, this...obviously has to do with yoga.  I attended a yoga seminar featuring Lilias Folan last week.  Lilias is pretty well know in the public broadcasting system and has been referred to as the "Julia Child of Yoga".  Quite impressive!!!

Lilias has devised a system using the 3 R's - known as Resist, Relax, and Restretch.  It's unique and has been proven effective.  Here's a little rundown on how it works:  In any type of stretch, you first need to become aware of how far you can actually stretch.  You try the stretch and see where you are.  Next, you try to same stretch but this time put some resistance in the move.  It's the opposing forces of resistance that will bring strength to the stretch.  After the resistance, relax.  Yes, it's that easy.  Take a few breaths...relax.  Then, do the same move - restretch - and notice the difference .  It's a remarkable observation where the resistance has increased the range of motion. 

Check out Lilias:  http://www.amazon.com/Lilias-Yoga-Gets-Better-Age/dp/159486070X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345680362&sr=1-4&keywords=lilias+yoga+and+you for a copy of her latest book. 

Salute the Sun - and put on sunscreen

I love being able to walk the boardwalk along the beach.  There's a spot near Red Rock Park where I can take a little break and do a few sun salutes before continuing on.  It's here that I can observe the ocean, watch the waves gently roll in and out.  I love the warmth of the sun - the energy that it represents.

Things have changed for me, though.  I have recently had surgery for skin cancer.  This means taking more precautions when spending time outdoors.  It's ironic that I just moved to the beach where I could simply skip outside and go for a walk and do some yoga.  Not so anymore!  I must now lather myself in sunscreen - and wear a wide-brimmed hat.  I'm not complaining, though.  It could have been so much worse.  And, thankfully, I can still get the benefits of spending time in the sunshine.  But, I need to be more mindful about my surroundings.  I really don't like to be "preachy" but please, take heed.  The sun is powerful - as we know.  Respect it - honor it - but do the same and respect and honor yourself.