Relaxation Therapies - Part 1

By: Ashish Bhattacharya

Depression, stress and mental fatigue are quite often our response to our present conflict between material pressures and spiritual aspirations.

Sudden or constant stress can induce mental, physical and emotional disorders. Research has shown that around 12 million adults see doctors for mental health problems each year. Most of these suffer from anxiety and depression, much of it stress-related.

Disorders like dizzy spells, anxiety, tension, sleeplessness, nervousness, muscle cramps; chronic fatigue syndrome, hyperventilation or choking sensation, chest pain or pressure, headaches, ulcers, indigestion, constipation, IBS, migraines, palpitations, panic attacks, heart attack and coronary thrombosis and other chronic health problems can be a result of long term stress.

There are exceptionally effective holistic methods to tackle stress instead of the general prescribed drugs, which again cause the body stress due to their side effects. Some of the holistic methods are age-old techniques and some are new avatars of the modern world.

The Traditional Methods

The traditional methods are the oldest form of structured medicine, that is, a medicine that has an underlying philosophy and set of principles by which it is practiced. The principles and philosophy of Traditional Methods always deal with natural laws, because all life is subject to these natural laws and ill-health is usually due to an abnormal imbalance, either within an organism, or of the organism with its environment. Therefore Traditional Healers do not only work at correcting the internal imbalances through which disease can manifests in an individual, but also work at re-establishing an individual's harmony with their environment and their relationship with the natural cycles to which all life is subject. When there is harmony stress fades away.

Reflexology

Reflexology is a non-invasive treatment performed on the feet and sometimes on the hands. This holistic therapy uses manipulation with pressure of varying degrees. Reflexology focuses on areas of the feet that correspond with all body parts. The pressure applied during reflexology stimulates the movement of energy along the pathways, through the use of a specific finger and thumb massage technique. By re-balancing the body and emotions, reflexology is a countermeasure to stress and induces relaxation.

Yoga

Yoga means "to unite." It's the holistic approach to all aspects of life: physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga views the person as a whole; as a unique combination of body, mind and soul, and its techniques maintain that body-mind-soul harmony. Its quiet, precise movements focus your mind less on your busy day and more on the moment as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration. Yoga also offers many breathing skills for stress. These yogic breathing techniques are termed as 'pranayama'. Yogic meditation has proved helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, lowering blood pressure, improving concentration and creativity besides bringing relief from stress-induced ailments.

The yoga postures (asana), breathing (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) create increased body awareness, release of muscular tension and increased coordination between mind-and body. It helps in better management of stress and ensures an overall feeling of well being.

Massage

Massage is an ancient healing art, which works to calm and relax the body through which mental anxiety is lessened. Under stress muscles are over-worked, and the body shows many weakening symptoms such as soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasms. Heightened stress responses accumulate lactic acid in the muscle and waste air inside the body.

Specific massage techniques, using hands, forearms, elbows, or even feet are applied to a patient's body for loosening the muscles and to locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems.

Acupressure

Acupressure is the needle-less variation of the Chinese healing system which believes that when accupoints or meridians or energy pathways become blocked or congested, a person experiences pains or discomfort on a physical level. On emotional or mental level one may become frustrated or irritable, vulnerable, desperate, and indecisive about life.

In acupressure, practitioners use deep but gentle finger pressure on specific acupoints to release the blocked energy and to facilitate its smooth flow. In effect, this allows your body/mind to relax. As your body/mind relaxes, you experience less discomfort and stress in addition to an elevated sense of well being.

Acupressure is, perhaps, the most convenient as well as a skillful healing art for stress.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is based on the concept of maintaining balance and harmony within the body by facilitating the flow of life energy in it, so when chi/Qi (life energy) inside the body becomes stagnant and congested, all kinds of mental and physical illness follow. In order to restore chi distribution, needles are inserted into acupoints along the meridians of the body.

A large number of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders induced by stress can be successfully treated by acupuncture. The principle here is to clear the blocked energy in the muscles and nerve channels, as well as facilitating the flow of fresh energy in them. This ensures relaxation of muscle and mind, and relief from stress and tensions.

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/relaxation-therapies-part-1-247716.html

Green Spas: Pamper Yourself, and the Earth

Many people consider time spent at spas as the ultimate in luxury and pampering. Quiet, peaceful surroundings, often in a natural setting, set the mood for relaxation and rejuvenation. This is a wonderful thing…as long as Mother Nature doesn't foot the bill.

Happily, the spa industry is experiencing a growing trend toward becoming one with nature, as there are many elements of the spa experience that lend themselves to reduced environmental impact.

Green building

First things first: let's take a look at the building itself. Regardless of the type of spa – day, destination, fitness, or any other type – a lot of resources go into construction and daily operations. Just think of all of those towels that have to be washed!

Fortunately, as we discussed in our Eco-Travel piece on green hotels, a standard has been developed for certifying the "green-ness" of commercial buildings, including spas: the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Designed and managed by the US Green Building Council, LEED ratings provide a consistent measure for judging the sustainability of a building. With a whole-building approach to sustainability, LEED-certified buildings address five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Spas, like any commercial building, can be certified at one of four levels: certificate, silver, gold, or platinum. After meeting minimum requirements in each of the five areas, spas can reach higher levels of LEED certification by meeting additional requirements. So for example, implementing water use reduction strategies for washing towels and irrigating landscaping not only saves water – saving the spa money on their water bill – but it also earns them points toward LEED certification. A win-win!

Though LEED designation is relatively new to the spa segment, some spas have already achieved the designation. For example the gold-certified Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spain American Valley, CA. This is a gorgeous building and they are very dedicated to eco-friendly practices throughout the hotel and spa. Another example is the Nusta Spa in Washington, DC. As the first spa in the world to achieve gold status for commercial interiors (a sub-set of LEED certification), the Nusta Spa shows that day spas can be just as green as destination spas. But that's just the building. What about what goes on inside?

Treatments and products

Of course, the primary area that spa-goers expect to see as natural, healthy, and eco-friendly is in the treatments and products offered. Now this is where it gets really interesting (and even a bit scary!)

Traditional health and beauty products are laden with chemicals…chemicals that are easily absorbed through our skin and nails. If you're curious about what is going on (and in) your body, read a few labels on products you currently use, then go to the National Geographic's Green Guide, which explains the "Dirty Dozen" – a list of the nastiest chemicals used in health and beauty products, along with the truly shocking things that can result from their use. Looking to provide something better for their clients, many spas turn to their natural surroundings for inspiration in creating unique treatments. For example, at Robert Redford's Spa at Sundancein Utah, treatments are made from honey, cornmeal, sage and sweetgrass – all local ingredients that recognize the area's Native American heritage.

Likewise, at the Sundara Inn & Spa in Wisconsin Dells, treatments include a sandstone body polish made from Cambrian sandstone, harvested on site. But if even that is too mundane for you – perhaps you like your treatments on the exotic side? – check out the Daintree Eco Lodge & Spain Queensland, Australia. Situated in a rain forest, treatments are made from lillypilly berries, wattleseeds and desert salts. Whatever those things are they would certainly make for a one of a kind experience, as they were chosen to honor the unique Aboriginal heritage of the area.

Perhaps honoring Los Angeles' ongoing love affair with the car, the Green Bliss Eco Spa is a mobile spa serving Los Angeles and Orange counties. Specializing in home spa parties and using only all-natural, organic ingredients and skincare products, guests can add organic wine or champagne to their treatments. Now that's a party! And, by taking the spa to your group, versus having everyone drive separately to the spa, perhaps some carbon emissions are saved in the process.

Food, glorious food

In addition to unique treatments, spas are also known for their healthy and delicious meals. Local, organic food is the norm at  green spas, like at Golden Door in Escondido, California. There, gourmet meals are not only made from their 4-acre organic garden, but they are also sized to your preference to reduce waste.

On the other side of the country, in Neversink, New York, the New Age Health Spa not only uses the food produced in their chemical-free greenhouses in the meals, but their herbs are also incorporated into the spa's purification treatments. You get organic, inside and out.

Conservation

In addition to the pampering we normally associate with a spa experience, some spas are diving in to new areas, like environmental conservation. As the mantra of many eco-spas revolves around becoming one with nature, it only makes sense that its clients do their part to protect it. For example, at The Rock Spa, on the secluded Frégate Island, Seychelles, guests can participate in island conservation programs called "ecology weeks." Designed to protect and increase the numbers of endangered plants and birds on the island, the spa even helps guests harvest local ingredients for their treatments.

Spas like the El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spain Taos, New Mexico, take their responsibility for the environment very seriously. By considering every detail, the spa was designed to go "beyond organic." For example, cleaning supplies can be very toxic, so by using green alternatives the work of cleaning rooms and treatment areas does not become a hazard. The spa even features a biolarium, or giant greenhouse, that contains a treatment system to filter the water.

Finding an eco-spa

So, how do you identify the green spa that is right for you? There are several resources that will help. One up-and-coming organization will certainly provide the information you need: the Green Spa Network. Though it is still in the development stage, the Network has begun with a dozen "seed" spas located across the country – check out their listing to find these leaders. By working to make their own spas more sustainable, and sharing what they learn along the way, the seed spas are furthering the network's mission of greening the spa industry.

You might also try the International Spa Association or SpaFinder. Though the searchable databases don't allow you to search specifically for eco-friendly spas (yet!), you can narrow down your search by identifying spas in your desired area. Check out individual spa websites, or give them a call. To start with, look for thoughtful energy management, alternative energy sources, a recycling program, green cleaning agents, and low VOC paints. Don't be afraid to ask about a spa's green policies – those that do it right will be more than happy to share their green story with you.

Regardless of the spa that you choose, take a look at its impact on the environment. From the building itself, to the products, treatments, and the food, better choices are available to you. And remember, you vote with your dollars – spend your money at businesses that want to share your values, not just your wallet.

http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2007/10/26/green-spas-pamper-yourself-and-the-earth/

Full Breath: A Little Self-Compassion Goes a Long Way by Shirley Archer, JD, MA

How do you respond when you don't live up to your high standards? Have you learned to pump yourself up with positive affirmations? Next time you're having a difficult time, try a little kindness instead.

Self-compassion—the ability to treat oneself kindly and without judgment when things go badly—may be more important than self-esteem for promoting feelings of well-being, according to a study published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2007; 92 [5], 887-904). Social scientists have previously placed emphasis on how self-esteem—the ability to believe positively in oneself and to feel valued by others—creates feelings of well-being. In contrast, self-compassion involves caring for oneself rather than believing in oneself.

Self-compassion consists of three components: self-kindness; common humanity; and mindful acceptance. While many people with high self-esteem are also self-compassionate, not all of them are. Self-compassion, in contrast to self-esteem, may be a key to maintaining resilience in the face of adversity. "If people learn only to feel better about themselves but continue to beat themselves up when they fail or make mistakes, they will be unable to cope nondefensively with their difficulties," lead author Mark R. Leary, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke, told Duke University News & Communications.

Leary and his colleagues conducted five studies to evaluate the role of self-compassion in creating well-being, while taking self-esteem levels into consideration. The researchers determined that many effects previously associated with self-esteem might be better explained in terms of self-compassion.

The authors recommended that further research be conducted to explore self-compassion from other angles. For example, is it important only in the context of negative experiences? Are there any drawbacks to self-compassion? Does it contribute to complacency or the tendency not to take action to prevent future mistakes? While current research does not support this, why isn't it the case? Leary added, "American society has spent a great deal of time and effort trying to promote people's self-esteem, when a far more important ingredient of well-being may be self-compassion."

http://www.inneridea.com/library/a-little-self-compassion-goes-a-long-way

Yoga Breathing - Breath Control Pranayama

"Pranayama is control of Breath". "Prana" is Breath or vital energy in the body. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and "ayama" means control. So Pranayama is "Control of Breath". One can control the rhythms of pranic energy with pranayama and achieve healthy body and mind.

The importance of Prana is emphasized throughout yoga. Many yoga masters illustrate this by demonstrating the importance of breath for sustaining life. A very effective illustration comes by comparing the time people can survive without food (a few weeks), water (a few days) with the amount of time one could survive without air (only a few minutes). Efficient and effective breathing is essential to take in the required amounts of oxygen in order to sustain daily activities.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRANAYAMA

1. Place for pranayama should be clean, peaceful and airy.
2. Pranayama should not be performed under a fan on full speed.
3. Pranayama should be done in morning hours preferably before the dawn.
4. Body must be cleansed before sitting for Pranayama.
5. Duration of Pranayama should be increased gradually and gradually.
6. One should not sit for Pranayama after meals. At least a gap of 3-4 hours is essential.
7. Pranayama should be practiced after Asans and before Meditation.
8. One should not strain the body.

Pranayama (According to the Gita)

Apane juhvati pranam pranepanam tathapare; Pranapanagatee ruddhva pranayamaparayanah (Gita, Ch. IV-29.). Others offer Prana (outgoing breath) in Apana (incoming breath) and Apana in Prana, restraining the passage of Prana and Apana, absorbed in Pranayama. Pranayama is a precious Yajna (sacrifice). Some practise the kind of Pranayama called Puraka (filling in). Some practise the kind of Pranayama called Rechaka (emptying). Some are engaged in the practice of Pranayama called Kumbhaka, by impeding the outward passage of air, through the nostrils and the mouth, and by impeding the inward passage of the air, in the opposite direction.

What are the benefits

At the anatomical level Pranayama aims to improve the strength of the diaphragm and the capacity of the lungs to improve the efficiency of the respiratory system, helping to increase fitness and increase the amount of oxygen entering the blood stream per breath. This oxygen helps to provide essential energy for muscle and brain function.

On a more detailed level pranayama is though to:

* Open the Nadis and remove blockages to energy flow in the body

* Increase relaxation and calmness by releasing tension.

* improves focus and concentration

* Strengthen and gain control of the diaphragm - improving abdominal tone, singing capacity, and health.

Here are some tips to help along the way:

During the practice of yoga postures, shift your awareness frequently to the flow of breath. When you can hold a posture comfortably, let the breath become your primary focus and explore the effect of the posture on respiratory muscles and on breath flow.

Spend generous amounts of time in the crocodile pose, learning to fully relax tension in the abdomen and lower back.

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-breathing-breath-control-pranayama-245113.html

Yoga Equipment you Need to Get Started

Yoga Equipment, Tools, and Props may not be required when practicing Yoga but they have always been useful aids to practitioners. Take note that it is essential to feel relaxed and comfortable when doing the poses

The most commonly used and most easily recognized piece of yoga exercise equipment is a yoga mat. Of course, there are many other types of equipment that exist, including blocks, bolsters, straps, grips, inversion slings, and more.

Yoga has been called one of the fastest growing sports. However, it is non-competitive and each individual "player" works at his or her personal level—increasing strength as they continue

Basic yoga equipment comprises of equipment like mats, blankets and eye bags. Then the second type of yoga equipment that includes supportive tools like belts, blocks and bolsters and even specialized tools that provide support for the designs they were designed for.

Your yoga mat can either be a large thick towel or rug, or a special yoga mat that is designed by different companies and sold in sports shops. The majority of yoga mats that are used are made from cotton or polyester latex. There are more expensive mats and less expensive ones, so you have to search around for the quality and type you want to invest in.
Foam Block: Foam blocks are used for beginners to extend their reach. Foam blocks should be dense enough to support your full weight.

Yoga Belt: Made of cotton or nylon, these wide belts help support and align your back and also to extend your grasp. They really aid in the stretching of your muscles especially the hamstrings

Blocks: Like blankets, blocks are props to make yourself more comfortable and improve your alignment. Blocks are great for standing poses in which your hand doesn't reach the floor.

Straps: Straps are particularly useful for bound poses if your hands do not reach each other, and for poses where you need to hold onto your feet but cannot reach them.

Another piece of yoga equipment you may want to consider is a book or DVD for beginning yoga students to walk you through the different exercises. Even if you are taking a yoga class, it can be nice to have a reference at home in case you have questions or aren't clear on how to assume a particular posture.

Serious yogis may want to invest in the following yoga equipment:

* An inversion sling is a specialized piece of yoga equipment that helps to relieve back pain by facilitating low back muscle stretching and providing additional spinal traction. Slings can also be used to stretch shoulder, chest, and groin muscles.
* Yoga ropes are wall-mounted devices that help you develop strength and flexibility. They assist in the practice of backbends or forward bends, make it easier to stretch your shoulder muscles, and help to create spinal traction.

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-equipment-you-need-to-get-started-245193.html

Only When They're Ready (from Yoga Journal)

Learn when to bring yoga to family and friends—and when not to.

By Dan Charnas

 About four years ago, my grandfather began to have trouble walking. He'd always been very athletic, but he had given up tennis years before. Now stiffness and back pain were making even a stroll down the street exhausting.

He went to regular physical therapy sessions, but I could see that the exercises he'd been given as homework weren't right: some were inadequate to heal him and others were inappropriately difficult for his abilities. He rarely did them.

As a teacher, I was sure that yoga could be a much more effective intervention—if not reversing the effects of age and a newly sedentary lifestyle, then at least forestalling them so he could enjoy his life a bit more.

I was ready to hire a more experienced (and more neutral) teacher to guide him once every week. But when I asked my grandfather for his blessing, he replied, "Wait."

And so I waited. I waited because my grandmother thought that he wanted to stay under the care of his doctor and physical therapist. I waited because I knew that the yoga would only be effective if he welcomed it. I had too much experience already with relatives and friends whom I'd cajoled intro trying yoga—buying them private lessons and class passes and books—only to see them unmoved and underwhelmed.

And as I waited, my grandfather got worse.

Now my grandfather is in a wheelchair. I can't say for sure that he would be walking today if I had been more forceful. But I know one thing: I will always wonder.

It's one of the most heartbreaking aspects of being a yoga teacher: no matter how many students you've helped in your career, no matter the strength of your own personal testimony about how yoga has transformed your life, you're bound to have relatives and friends who are in desperate need of yoga's benefits but who refuse to try it. One might hope that those closest to you wouldn't need convincing. But students come only when they're ready, whether they're related to you or not. And facing this truth can teach us a great deal about the nature of teaching itself.

The Neophyte's Zeal

Years ago, before Bill Donnelly became the cohost of the TV series Guru2Go on FitTV and the producer of "Yoga Quickies" for his site PracticalYoga.tv, he was a new teacher filled with enthusiasm for yoga as a practical cure-all. Which was fine when students came to his classes of their own free will, but not so great when Donnelly returned to his family with the zeal of a missionary.

"When I first went home, we'd have arguments about whether you create your own cold," Donnelly says. "It always came off as arrogant, like I knew something and they better do it because [otherwise] they're just being stupid."

Scott Blossom is a yoga teacher and practitioner of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines in the San Francisco Bay Area. When Blossom's mother injured her shoulder in a fall, he and a friend created a simple, powerful yoga regimen that he was sure would help rehabilitate her if she practiced for 10 to15 minutes a day.

"She was able to do it as part of a therapeutic session," Blossom says. "We took the time to really show her that it works. But she was unable to carry it [through] on her own."

For both their sakes, Blossom realized he had to step back—even though now her condition has become chronic, as has her sense of powerlessness.

"She still gets sad when she mentions her shoulder," Blossom explains. "I said, 'You had everything laid on your plate. Now I realize I shouldn't do you any favors. We can hang out, but we can't talk about your issues.'"

Respecting Boundaries

Even some famous yoga teachers—revered in the world outside their homes—have found that they must tiptoe around their own families.

"My wonderful husband of 45 years, he's come to some of my classes," says Lilias Folan, who is considered one of the founders of the American yoga movement. "I wish he would come to more. I sometimes have to keep my mouth shut."

Folan has always respected that her husband and two adult sons have chosen a common American path to meditation: golf. When they complain of stiffness and tightness on the course, Folan works in a little stretching using the tools of the trade, but she doesn't call it yoga. She talks about working with the golf club to open the shoulders, or doing a version of Downward-Facing Dog against the golf cart, or doing twists behind the wheel. "There's a lot of openness to that," she says.

After four decades of dealing with both reluctant students and family members who, she says, "really don't care what you do," Folan has learned a great lesson: You don't have to say everything you know, overwhelming people with information. The best you can do is to be an example.

Scott Blossom was on vacation with a relative whom he calls a "functional alcoholic" when they started to talk about yoga and healing. "Later, the discussion turned to his drinking," Blossom recalls. "Here was a chance for him to see the light. And he says, 'I'm fine with the way I'm working on my challenge.'"

In that moment, Blossom had an epiphany: "Maybe I need the yoga more than he does. If I try to help, I could just be projecting my own needs."

Bill Donnelly puts it another way: "I'm not a savior, and nobody needs to be saved."

Tough Love and Its Limits

But often there are people in your life who need urgent care. Can a tough-love approach to yoga work? Imagine the spiritual equivalent of, say, a mother yanking the covers off of a daughter bedridden by depression. There have been some teachers with a brusque style, like Bikram Choudhury or the late Yogi Bhajan, whose words have sometimes shocked students into action. But even for expert teachers, it's a risky proposition.

"I'm not great with confrontation," says Folan, who says she wouldn't force an issue unless she felt moved deeply to do so. "You can lead a horse to water," she says, "but you can't make him drink."

Holding the Space

A common refrain is that self-preparation and conditioning are the most important kinds of work that teachers can do when faced with reluctance or disinterest. That includes the following:

Get some perspective. "Read the Bhagavad Gita," says Blossom, who says the Gita teaches that "you have authority over your actions, but the outcomes are totally out of your hands." Make yourself luminous, he says, and students will come toward the light like moths to a flame.

Cool it. When her zeal gets the best of her, Folan puts a personal premium on compassion toward her students. "I ask myself, 'Was I over the top? Was I impolite?' I review myself all the time as my 'inner professor,' and that mature teacher becomes my watchdog." Your friends and relatives shouldn't be obligated to understand or participate in your chosen spiritual practice by virtue of their proximity to you. Aren't they entitled to at least the compassion you'd extend to a stranger?

Refer. Sometimes you can be too emotionally close to someone to be neutral and effective as a teacher. When approaching a potential student, Blossom asks two important questions: "Am I the right person, and is this the right therapy?" Often the answer is "no," and Blossom says that he frequently refers these students to other practitioners.

Relate. One taping of Donnelly's series Guru2Go involved helping a group of jockeys with the physical problems they encountered before, during, and after races. Donnelly sensed that the jockeys hated the idea of doing yoga. So Donnelly ditched the airy-fairy aspects of his spiel and instead mounted a completely intellectual approach that resonated with these students. "They were intrigued," says Donnelly. "At the end of the taping, they asked for our number."

Never Give Up

Above all, never give up, neither on your students nor on your family and friends. You never know when things can change.

Lilias Folan learned this lesson in the mid-1970s when her teacher, Swami Chidananda, invited himself to her house in suburban Cincinnati. Besides dealing with the shock of hosting a spiritual dignitary, Folan fretted over the reaction of her husband, a local businessman with zero ties to the world of yoga. "I really don't want anything to do with this," he told her. But Folan did extract one concession from her husband: He would be a gracious host and accompany her to the airport to meet Swamiji.

Folan and her husband watched as Swami Chidananda, with his shaved head, orange robe, and sandals, made his way down the steps and onto the tarmac. "He hardly looks at me," Folan remembers. "He goes straight for my husband and puts both hands around his hands."

"Hello, Bob," Swami Chidananda said.

Bob Folan's eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"Since that moment," says Lilias Folan, "our family has never been the same."

Dan Charnas has been teaching Kundalini Yoga for more than a decade and studied under Gurmukh and the late Yogi Bhajan. He lives, writes, and teaches in New York City.

http://www.yogajournal.com/for_teachers/2554

Yama and Niyama in YogaBy Sharon Hopkins part 8

• Swadhyaya (Reading of religious literature): This practice is very useful for overcoming ignorance and facing the adversities of life calmly. It helps to fill your mind with peace.

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Interesting New Film about Food Production (from Sustainable Table)

King Corn Coming to a Theatre Near You

We're excited to announce the opening of a new film – King Corn, which premiered on October 12th at Cinema Village in New York City.  Please see below for other cities the film will play in as well as much more information on the film – or visit www.kingcorn.net to see if any new places have been added.
 
King Corn is an entertaining feature documentary about two friends that farm an acre of corn in Iowa in an attempt to learn where corn goes once grown and how it affects us.  The movie is a serious look at our farm system but is done with humor and in a way that's entertaining and engaging.  If you aren't near a theater that's showing the film, check their website for information on purchasing a DVD.
 
KING CORN
www.kingcorn.net
 
King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation.
 
In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from.  With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil.  But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat—and how we farm.
 
 
Theater Calendar
(Last updated September 24, 2007. More dates to come!)
 
New York - Cinema Village, opening October 12 http://www.cinemavillage.com
 
Washington, DC - E Street Cinema, opening October 19 http://www.landmarktheatres.com/
 
Boston - Coolidge Corner Theater, opening October 26 http://www.coolidge.org/
 
Los Angeles – Laemmle Music Hall, opening October 26 http://www.laemmle.com/
 
San Francisco - Red Vic Movie House, opening November 2 http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com/
 
Berkeley  - Shattuck Theater, opening November 2 http://www.landmarktheatres.com/
 
Austin, Texas – Alamo Drafthouse Theater, November 2-8 www.drafthouse.com
 
Portland – Hollywood Theater, opening November 9 http://www.hollywoodtheatre.org
 
Pleasantville, New York – Jacob Burns Film Center, November 17 & 21 www.burnsfilmcenter.org
 
Columbia, Missouri - Ragtag Cinema, opening November, Date TBA http://www.ragtagfilm.com/
 

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Green tip: home insulation (from Ideal Bite)

What's keeping Jack Frost from breaking into your home?

The Bite
More than just drywall and two-by-fours, we hope. Fiberglass insulation is the norm, but if you want a greener way to avoid Mr. Frost's bite, eco-insulation's the way to go, whether you're adding to old insulation or starting from scratch.

The Benefits

* Eco-friendlier materials. Green options include recycled paper, denim, and plant cellulose; the fiberglass stuff is made from petroleum.
* Lowering your power bills. Proper insulation can save the average home $245 per year.
* Lowering your emissions. Heating systems emit 1 bil tons of CO2 per year in the United States; the right insulation can chip away at this amount.
* Upping your home's value. According to the Appraisal Institute, resale value increases by more than $20 for every $1 decrease in your annual energy bills.
* Getting cash back. The feds will rebate 10% of the price of your insulation, plus your state may offer additional tax credits.
* Decreasing noise pollution. Insulation minimizes the sound of the garage band or motorcycle next door.

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

How to Green Your Water (from TreeHugger)

(What does this have to do with yoga? Think about it.
Arlene)

What's the Big Deal?

There is no resource more precious than water. There is also no resource that is misused, abused, misallocated, and misunderstood the way water is. Safe drinking water, healthy and intact natural ecosystems, and a stable food supply are a few of the things at stake as our water supply is put under greater and greater stress. The picture might look grim, but opportunities to be more efficient abound. Many people have had water-saving etiquette pumped into them at one point or another, so hopefully we can make a good case for conserving the stuff with practical, everyday water-saving strategies as well as some more high-tech approaches.

1. No drips
A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day. A leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of water in a month. Get out the wrench and change the washers on your sinks and showers, or get new washerless faucets. Keeping your existing equipment well maintained is probably the easiest and cheapest way to start saving water.
2. Install new fixtures
New, low-volume or dual flush toilets, low-flow showerheads , water-efficient dishwashers and clothes washing machines can all save a great deal of water and money. Aerators on your faucets can significantly reduce water volume; water-saving showerheads can cut the volume of water used down to 1.2 gallons per minute or less, and some even have a "pause button" to let you stop the water while soaping up or shampooing. Our interns recently pointed out that "spending about $30 on low-flow showerheads and faucets is estimated to save 45 gallons of that 260 gallons of water [used in a typical household per day], almost 18% of your usage. Splurging on a low-flow toilet could save another 50-80 gallons of water a day. Together, those changes nearly cut in half the household's daily use, saving a considerable amount of water – and passing that savings on to your water bill, as well as your water heating bill."
3. Cultivate good water habits
All the water that goes down the drain, clean or dirty, ends up mixing with raw sewage, getting contaminated, and meeting the same fate. Try to stay aware of this precious resource disappearing and turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving and always wash laundry and dishes with full loads. When washing dishes by hand, fill up the sink and turn off the water. Take shorter showers or, as the old joke goes, shower with a friend: Treehugger TV shows you how. To put things in perspective, take a quick look at your next water bill when it arrives. It probably won't be costing you too much, but the average household consumes multiple thousands of gallons each month. See if you can make this number go down. If you're the graphing type, go nuts.
4. Stay off the bottle
By many measures, bottled water is a scam. In most first-world countries, the tap water is provided by a government utility and is tested regularly. (You can look up your water in the National Tap Water Quality Database) Taste tests have shown that in many municipalities, tap water actually tastes better. Bottled water is not as well regulated and studies have shown that it is not even particularly pure. A four-year study of bottled water in the U.S. conducted by NRDC found that one-fifth of the 103 water products tested contained synthetic organic chemicals such as the neurotoxin xylene and the possible carcinogen and neurotoxin styrene. (Grist) Much bottled water doesn't come from a "Artesian springs" and is just tap water anyhow. (Coca-Cola adds salt to its Dasani water to make it taste better, just like fast food.) Not only is it more expensive per gallon than gasoline, bottled water incurs a huge carbon footprint from its transportation, and the discarded bottles are a blight. It's no wonder that some people even think it's a sin. If you want to carry your water with you, get a bottle and fill it. (Look here for some advise on durable, non-toxic container options.) If your water at home tastes funny, try an activated charcoal or ceramic filter. Here is a comparison of home-use water filters from Grist.
5. Go beyond the lawn
Naturalize it using locally appropriate plants that are hardy and don't need a lot of water. If you have to water, do it during the coolest part of the day or at night to minimize evaporation. Here is a useful calculator to figure out landscape water use. Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping that utilizes only native and low water plants. It is an especially appropriate approach for states like California and Arizona where people often plant lawns like they live in Florida despite living in the desert.
6. Harvest your rainwater
Put a rain barrel on your downspouts and use this water for irrigation. Rain cisterns come in all shapes and sizes ranging from larger underground systems to smaller, freestanding ones. Some even glow!

7. Harvest your greywater
Water that has been used at least once but is still clean enough for other jobs is called greywater. Water from sinks, showers, dishwashers, and clothes washers are the most common household examples. (Toilet water is often called "blackwater" and needs a different level of treatment before it can be reused.) Greywater can be recycled with practical plumbing systems like the Aqus, or with simple practices such as emptying the fish tank in the garden instead of the sink. The bottom line? One way or another, avoid putting water down the drain when you can use it for something else.
8. At the car wash
Car washes are often more efficient than home washing and treat their water rather than letting it straight into the sewer system. But check to make sure that they clean and recycle the water. Better yet, try the waterless car wash. If you live in Manchester, the Levenshulme Baptist Church is recycling water from its Baptistery pool for charity car washes http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/baptismal_water.php .
9. Keep your eyes open
Report broken pipes, open hydrants, and excessive waste. Don't be shy about pointing out leaks to your friends and family members, either. They might have tuned out the dripping sound a long time ago.
10. Don't spike the punch
Water sources have to be protected. In many closed loop systems like those in cities around the Great Lakes, waste water is returned to the Lake that fresh water comes out of. Don't pour chemicals down drains, or flush drugs down toilets; it could come back in diluted form in your water.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/how_to_green_your_water.php

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Anatomy and Asana Update by Susi Hately Aldous

Hi Yogi Anatomist,

This weekend I was reading a Time Magazine article about yoga and the rising rates of injury. If you are keen to be a teacher who understands movement and biomechanics in a way that improves body balance and reduces the rate of injury, check out some of the trainings and teleclasses listed below. You will learn many things that you can apply to your practice as a teacher or student.

I have had a number of requests for 4 day trainings. If you are interested, I have listed the contact info for the 2 trainings occurring in April 2008. One has more of a "yoga therapy" theme, and the other has more of a "regular class" theme. Both will give you the necessary class time pre-requisites for the 4 Days of Yoga Therapy trainings. Scroll down for more.

Have a great day,

Susi

Here are the scheduled workshops:
Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips (new)
Preventing Yoga Injuries

Here are the scheduled teleclasses:
Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips
The Knees

Upcoming 4 Day Trainings in 2008:
Colorado
Wisconsin

Please scroll down for more information.
If you think someone would benefit from this email, please pass it along.

What Lorrie Maffey, PT is saying:

"During a yoga session, Susi has a remarkable ability to "see" where movement and energy is flowing through a person. She can also "see" where this is not happening and with encouraging words, imagery and movement suggestions she can help one restore flow through these regions. Her teachings and writings are a valuable tool to assist others in developing this skill. I have enjoyed and gained much from all of our "late night brain storming sessions" and our mutual clients have always benefited from our combined efforts to assist with optimizing their own ease of flow."
Lorrie Maffey (physiotherapist) BMRPT, MPhty, Dip Manip PT, GunnIMS, Medical Acupuncture

Upcoming Workshops,Teleclasses, and Retreats: October - December

WORKSHOPS

Anatomy and Asana: Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips
with Susi Hately Aldous

Ever since I began teaching yoga, the two most common physical limitations I have seen are in the shoulders and hips. Even for people with back, neck, or knee pain - if they are able to improve the functioning of their shoulders and hips, their back or neck pain becomes much more manageable or even resolved.

In this workshop you will learn the biomechanics of the shoulders and hips, and how they impact each other; how they influence energy flow through the spine, and affect transfer of force and load from the upper body to the lower body and lower body to upper body. You'll learn therapeutic yoga asanas that improve the functioning of the shoulders and hips and improve the balance in and between your neck, mid back, lower back. The result is less pain, less strain, and more freedom, stability and ease.

This workshop will be based off of my new book and DVD: Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips due out this fall.

2 Different Dates and Locations

Location 1: Omni Hotel - Austin, TX USA FULL
Wednesday October 31 2007
Shoulders 9:00-noon; Hips 1:30-4:30 pm
Price: $159
Call Cara at 1-866-229-2645 or REGISTER ONLINE with Functional Synergy at <http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/5467/0/0> http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/5467/0/0

Location 2: Bridgeland Riverside Community Centre - CALGARY 4 SPOTS LEFT FOR SHOULDERS; 2 SPOTS LEFT FOR HIPS
Saturday November 17, 2007
Shoulders 9:00am - Noon; Hips 1:00 - 4:00pm
These will be split and registered as 2 separate workshops

Early Bird Price: $79.00 each If registered by October 16th
Regular Price: $95.00 Begins October 17th
Call Cara at 403-229-2617, or REGISTER ONLINE at <http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/5467/0/0> http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/5467/0/0

Anatomy and Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries
with Susi Hately Aldous
Yoga offers an incredible way to improve and maintain your health and wellbeing. Since Hatha yoga is exercise, injuries are possible. This workshop will give you strategies and principles you can use to help your students prevent yoga-related injuries, and if they have already occurred, what you can do to help your students overcome them.

Location: The Humanistic Yoga Centre - Peterborough, ON FULL
Saturday and Sunday October 27th and 28th, 2007
Email Kim at hyc@cogeco.net <mailto:hyc@cogeco.net> or phone 705.745.7727 for information, to reserve or register.

TELECLASSES

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: The Knees
with Susi Hately Aldous

In this 1 hour teleclass, we'll explore the knees. I'll begin by describing biomechanics of the knees, and how the hip and ankle impact the knee and how yoga can enhance knee function. Then, I will take your questions. The whole teleclass will be recorded so that you can download it to your computer or mp3 player so you can listen to it again at your convenience, or if you can't make the call, you can listen to it as it suits your schedule. Recommended reading for this teleclass is the book Anatomy and Asana: The Knees. Figures and illustrations from this book will be reviewed during the teleclass. You can order the e-book or bound version at <http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/2812/145442/0/0> http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/2812/145442/0/0

Here are the Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Price: $24.95 CAD
There are 2 times for these teleclasses:
11:00 am Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
5:00 pm Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
**more time zone options are posted at the registration page**
To Register:
Simply click the following link and it will take you directly to the Yoga Spirit website (our lovely hosts).
<http://www.yogaspirit.ca/product_info.php?from=tele&amp;products_id=271> http://www.yogaspirit.ca/product_info.php?from=tele&products_id=271

Click register and follow the instructions to set up your free account (no downloads are necessary). Once the registration process is complete, all further instructions, including the phone number to call and your access code, will be sent to your email address.

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips
with Susi Hately Aldous

In this 1 hour teleclass, we'll explore therapeutic yoga for the shoulders and hips. I'll begin by describing the shoulder and hip biomechanics, and how they work together, and how yoga can enhance their function. Then, I will take your questions. The whole teleclass will be recorded so that you can download it to your computer or mp3 player so you can listen to it again at your convenience, or if you can't make the call, you can listen to it as it suits your schedule. Recommended reading for this teleclass is the book Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders & Hips. Figures and illustrations from this book will be reviewed during the teleclass. You can order your book by calling Cara at 1-866-229-2645 or order online at <http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/2812/230836/0/0> http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/2812/230836/0/0

Here are the Details:
Date: Tuesday November 20, 2007
Price: $24.95
There are 2 times for these teleclasses:
11:00 am Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
5:00 pm Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
**more time zone options are posted at the registration page**
To Register:
Simply click the following link and it will take you directly to the Yoga Spirit website (our lovely hosts).
<http://www.yogaspirit.ca/product_info.php?from=tele&amp;products_id=272> http://www.yogaspirit.ca/product_info.php?from=tele&products_id=272

Click register and follow the instructions to set up your free account (no downloads are necessary). Once the registration process is complete, all further instructions, including the phone number to call and your access code, will be sent to your email address.

UPCOMING IN 2008

4 Day Trainings in April 2008

For more information and details on these 4 Day trainings, please contact the hosts.

Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
April 8-13, 2008
This 4 day has more of a "yoga therapy theme" and will give you the essential pre-requisites needed for 4 Days of Yoga Therapy.
For more information on the sessions included in this training, contact Monica at 970-255-8029 or by email at info@academyofyoga.com <mailto:info@academyofyoga.com>

Location: Lakewood's Resort, Wisconsin
April 30-May 6, 2008
This 4 day has more of a "regular class" theme. It will also give you the essential pre-requisites needed for 4 Days of Yoga Therapy.
For more information on the sessions included in this training, contact Lori at 970-255-8029 or by email at KRHPA@aol.com <mailto:KRHPA@aol.com>

All the best,
Susi

___________________________________
Re-establishing the equilibrium in your body,
both mentally and physically, enabling you to
experience the feeling of relaxation, of wellbeing
and to connect to what is important to you.

<http://www.functionalsynergy.com/> www.functionalsynergy.com

<http://www.anatomyandasana.com/> www.anatomyandasana.com

<http://www.yogaforthedeskjockey.com/> www.yogaforthedeskjockey.com

 
Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

7 Tips for Teaching Restorative Yoga by Kelly McGonigal, PhD

Students come to a restorative class to let go of the stresses of everyday life. The guiding principle of restorative yoga is that support creates release. Every pose is a variation on that theme, and the aim of each pose is the same: relaxation. The most obvious feature of a restorative practice is the array of props: blankets, bolsters and blocks support the body to release muscular tension. Equally important, though less obvious, is the teacher's skill in creating an atmosphere that encourages students to let go of mental stress. Keep the following seven factors in mind when designing and leading a restorative yoga class. 1. Center Yourself Before Class Teaching restorative yoga requires a different mindset than teaching other styles of yoga. The restorative yoga teacher sheds the role of instructor and authority, instead adopting the role of guide and caregiver. 2. Provide Physical Support When the body is fully supported in a pose, students can relax into the shape of the pose without exerting any physical effort to stay there. Bolsters, blankets and blocks can be arranged in many shapes and heights to support from below. The primary anchoring props are straps and sandbags. 3. Keep It Neutral In other styles of yoga, students are encouraged to find the edge of their flexibility in a stretch. In restorative yoga, the aim is muscular release, which happens before one becomes aware of the sensation of stretch. For this reason, you need to help students support the body in a shape that is comfortable and sensation-neutral—not in a deep stretch. 4. Give Personal Attention For restorative yoga, you need to adapt your usual correcting and adjustment skills to provide a different kind of personalized attention. Instead of instructing students on how to improve their form, focus on helping them figure out how to adapt a pose to their own needs. If you have trained your eye to look for what is "wrong" in a student's pose, retrain your eye to look for signs of effort or discomfort, such as a student fidgeting or adjusting props. 5. Leave Empty Space In a restorative yoga class, poses are typically held for several minutes, and it is quite natural to have long stretches of silence as students relax into a supported pose. If your students seem uncomfortable with long periods of silence, there are many options for "filling the space" that honor the intention of a restorative practice. The most simple option is to guide students through breath awareness, inviting them to notice each inhalation and each exhalation. 6. Create Mindful Transitions Give your class an early cue when the end of a pose is near. Provide students specific verbal instructions on how to mindfully move props and find their way out of poses. Allow practitioners to come out of each pose at their own pace, and offer a simple recovery pose, such as child's pose or a reclining pose, for them to move into next. 7. Sequence Poses for Relaxation Most restorative poses are gentle enough to stand alone or be practiced comfortably in almost any order. Sequencing a restorative class should focus instead on maintaining a relaxing atmosphere. A common complaint from students is that the setup for some poses is so elaborate that it interrupts the flow of the practice. As you build a sequence, include some poses, like supported child's pose, that require minimal setup. For an example of a short restorative yoga sequence, see the full article, "Teaching Restorative Yoga" by Kelly McGonigal, PhD, in the May issue of IDEA Fitness Journal or online in the IDEA Article Archive.

Margaret News and Matthew Sanford

Friends,


I hope this e-mail finds you well. Earlier last week I arrived "home" to San Diego after spending a a few weeks traveling through the U.S. with stops in Estes Park, CO (for the yoga journal conference), New York, and D.C. to co-host the Kicking for Kids Who Can't Kick-a-thon.

What a great time! We raised nearly $30,000 for kids who need new prosthetic limbs. Check out the web @ www.kickingforkidswhocant.org! Donations are still being accepted!

I will be saying hello again to NYC on Nov 8th. The following Friday and Saturday, November 9th and 10th, I will be joining my yoga teacher, Matthew Sanford at Jivamukti Yoga School. For those of you who do not know about him, Matthew is truly beyond inspirational. At the age of 13 he was in a near fatal car crash which killed his father and sister and left Matthew paralyzed from the nipples down. In his early twenties he discovered yoga, and since that time has become one of the foremost teachers in adapting yoga to all bodies.

Like Matt, yoga has become so instrumental in my physical, emotional and mental healing. Through yoga, I have begun to nurture my traumatized body. Through yoga I am beginning to accept this body as it is, no matter the capabilities. I want this for the world, because it so desperatly needs this "idea."


November 9th from 8:30 - 9:30 pm, Matthew will be giving a FREE talk @ Jivamukti (www.jivamuktiyoga.com), and will lead a workshop the following day, November 10th, from 9:30-11:30. He will also be raising money for his non-profit organization, the Mind Body Solution.

Matthew is beyond words, really. As his student I have all the faith in his message and am doing whatever I can to assist him in spreading it. For those of you who have a yoga practice, I suggest you hear Matthew speak and come take his class. Studio owners please spread the word and promote this event! Thanks :) Get your students involved.

To learn more about Matthew, his new memoir, Waking, the non-profit organization he runs in his home state of Minnesota and the work he does throughout the country, please visit his site @ www.matthewsanford.com.

In a time saturated with disconnection, it is so vital for each of us to take a stand for the integration of the mind and body. I truly do believe this is the most authentic way for the spirit to be unleashed. Imagine how the world would EXIST if that were the case!

Please consider attending!

In peace,

Margaret

Yama and Niyama in YogaBy Sharon Hopkins part 7

• Tapas (Religious austerities) : This niyama describes the rituals like fasting: needed to fortify the mind. Yoga believes that this increases the resistance power of the body and makes your body and mind stronger and thus you can face adverse conditions effectively.

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yama-and-niyama-in-yoga-228643.html

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yama and Niyama in Yoga By Sharon Hopkins part 6

• Santosha (Contentment): a yogi is taught to be happy and satisfied with his lot. He does not need to achieve any ambition.

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yama-and-niyama-in-yoga-228643.html

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yama and Niyama in Yoga by Sharon Hopkins part 4

• Aparigraha (Non-gathering): this yama means not going on collecting wealth and objects just for enjoyment. Yoga teaches one to collect wealth and objects just to meet his primary needs. This is important because greed causes distraction and thus leads to increased strain on his mind and body.
The above mentioned points deal with vairagya or the negative aspects of one's behaviour. Now we take a look at some of the niyamas or the positive aspects of the behaviour as described by yoga:

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yama and Niyama in Yoga by Sharon Hopkins Part 5

• Shoucha (Cleanliness): This includes the cleanliness of the mind and the body. Yoga has described a clean mind as the one free of any prejudices, false beliefs, ignorance and ego. Generally speaking, all the yamas come under this niyama since they deal with eliminating some or the other impurities.

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yama and Niyama in Yoga by Sharon Hopkins part 3

• Brahmacharya (Celibacy): sex has been defined as on of the vital necessities of human existence. It ranks next only to food. Since ancient times, very few people have been able to master their sexual urges. If not satisfied, these urges lead a person to depravation and develop psychotic tendencies. Yoga lays a great stress on the celibacy. It considers not only the act of sex itself as sexual but even thinking, talking and looking at opposite sex as a part of sex and hence has to be avoided. Patanjali has declared that brahmacharya increases the mental strength also called veerya in an individual.

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yama and Niyama in Yoga by Sharon Hopkins part 2

• Asteya (Non-theft): in Sanskrit, "steya" denotes the enjoyment or keeping with oneself the things that do not rightfully belong to them. This is basically the act of stealing or theft. A person is inclined to steal only when he has no love and has some selfish motive. A yogi or a student of yoga has very few basic needs. He has learnt the art of loving himself as well as the others. Hence he does not feel the need to exploit or steal from others.

Full article located at:

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yama-and-niyama-in-yoga-228643.html

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yama and Niyama in Yoga by Sharon Hopkins

• Satya (Truthfulness): this quality implies the honesty and sincerity in thoughts, words and deeds. This is possible only when one has conquered greed and ambition since these are the two major culprits which take you away from the truth.

Full article located at:

http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yama-and-niyama-in-yoga-228643.html

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Opening a Closed Connection

This thought for today was lovingly submitted by F. Hicks for all of us to share. It was found on the website http://dailyom.com

Consciously Reconnecting

There may be times when we feel like our connection to the universe is closed. Maybe things don't seem to be going well in our day, or our lives, or we may feel out of our element. The truth is, the universe is always there for us. We know that we create our experience with our thoughts, and this is another way we need to make a conscious decision about how we want to experience life. It is up to us to do the work of making the connection, because nobody can do it for us, though sometimes the universe may send us wake-up calls.

You can think of it as getting some fresh air. We are always breathing and the air is always around us, surrounding us, moving through us. But we may need to step outside of where we are in the moment—physically, mentally, or emotionally—and make the conscious choice to take a deep breath in order to feel the air coming in and going out. Whether this means stepping outside physically or merely shifting our thoughts, it is only our perception that changes; the air remains the same.

It is just as easy to reconnect with the universe. Using the same technique as a breath of fresh air, a deep breath can bring us back to our center. As we inhale, we fill our bodies with the oxygen needed to replenish our most basic physical needs, allowing the air to circulate within us. Exhaling, we release the stale, the used, the potentially toxic air, removing any blocks that may keep us from going deeper into the stillness that lies at our center where we connect to the universe. Feeling closed off does not need to be a negative experience. When we become conscious of it, we can think of the wholeness of a closed circuit, which allows electricity to connect and flow properly. Our bodies work the same way, and when we make that connection in our minds, it can help bring us back to the connection we seek.
 

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Cultivating a Home Practice

A home or personal practice is important to a yogi's or yogini's development in asana. In the June 2004 issue of Yoga Journal, renowned teacher Cyndi Lee wrote, "Developing a personal yoga practice allows us to devise a specific program to give ourselves what we really need at any given time. We can get on the mat whenever we can, for whatever length of time, in whatever amount of space is available to us. This practical approach is a first step toward integrating yoga into everyday life."

Many of us have taken classes, but when the time comes to practice at home alone, we can feel lost. We can even feel as though we wouldn't work as hard without a teacher present.

Therefore, we need to take advantage of technology available to us so we can cultivate a strong home practice:

1. Download free audio classes from the Grace yoga website. There are classes available for every fitness level. Today's technology offers no more excuses.

2. Bring a tape recorder to Arlene's classes. Use the recordings at home or during travel.

3. Purchase, rent or borrow yoga DVD's. There are tons of titles available.

Along with these tips, set a practice time as an appointment in your calendar so that it has to happen. You will be glad you did!


Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Oct 8 Teaching Schedule

Here is Arlene's teaching schedule for Monday, October 8:

0730pm YogaFlex, 75 min
Midlothian, VA
American Family Fitness
Swift Creek

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Yoga Anatomy Books of Value for Learning

I received an email today from a teacher asking for advice on good yoga anatomy books.

"Thank you so much for taking time to talk with us after class today and referring your website. You mentioned a few books on anatomy which might be of interest."

I wanted to share my recommendations with the Grace Yoga community:

Anatomy and Asana by Susi Hately Aldous
This one comprehensive manual describes anatomical concepts as they relate to yoga asanas. If there is just one book you should read on yoga and anatomy, this would be the one.

Scientific Keys Volume I: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga is a 244 page book with over 650 full color illustrations covering over thirty key muscles as applied to Hatha Yoga including biomechanics and information on the chakras.

Hope this helps. I invite readers of this blog to chime in with your thoughts.

Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

What a yoga practice can do

My daughter and I took a quick day trip to Northern VA today, just to get a little taste of a faster-paced life (the NY'er in me needs that once in awhile). While dining at the fantastic Whole Foods Market in Reston, I perused a free publication aimed toward women. One ad for a psychotherapy group mentioned the following:
This group would help-

Let go of self-defeating thoughts, feelings and behaviors

Take responsibility for your health and well-being

Find your own voice in becoming more self-confident

Assert yourself at the risk of disapproval

Confront social anxiety and build self-esteem


We do ALL of these through a yoga practice as well. To each point, respectively:

We learn that we can practice without judging ourselves and others by bringing harmony to our words, thoughts, and deeds

We can mend the disconnect between body, mind, and spirit

Our practice helps us to see we are more than conquerors in all we do

We listen to our bodies and rest if we need to, regardless of the ego's cues

We learn to love who we are, where we are today

It begins on a mat, a little mat.
Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

The Art of Adjustments: A Continuing Education Workshop With Alanna

I am also forwarding this message to you bloggers. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep this information to myself. Alanna is the Jiva Diva. Listen to her podcast on iTunes. She provides much insight and is a wonderful person to talk to. Of course this workshop is in NYC, but you may want to know about it.

Know of any workshops to blog about? Email me at abjork@mygraceyoga.com or post your accurate and concise info to the blog.

Arlene
*******************
The Art of Adjustments: A Continuing Education Workshop
Led by Alanna Kaivalya, Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Instructor

Sunday, Oct. 14th, 1:30 - 4:00 - The Art of Adjustments: Focus on Backbends & Twists
Saturday, Nov. 3rd, 1:30 - 4:00 - The Art of Adjustments: Focus on Forward Bends & Inversions


Tuition: $35 for one
Location:Jivamukti Uptown


During this series of workshops, you will learn the basic principles of adjustment that will help you to more skillfully guide your students through their asana practice.  Each session will focus on a different aspect of the practice and will give you a practical, hands-on experience with specific adjustments.  Please come ready to do the asanas, as well as assist, and get ready to learn the powerful techniques that will allow you to connect with you students on the most profound level!


For instructors & serious practitioners.

Sent via Blackberry by T-Mobile
Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@cobbestone.com

YOGESWARI & AZAHAR FOUNDATION

This message is forwarded to interested practitioners in NYC and around the world. Yogeswari is a gifted senior teacher at the Jivamukti Yoga School in Manhattan. Take a class from her if you ever have the chance to! Arlene

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Dear Yoginis and Yogis,

This is to let you know that I am teaching at Jivamukti Yoga School in New York (Downtown only) for the month of October on my regular schedule:

Mon  6pm      Basics
Tue   2:30pm  Basics
Tue   6:15pm  Open
Wed 10:am    Open
Thurs 6:15pm Open
Sat   12:pm    Open

I also will be teaching workshops in New Hampshire and Philadelphia:

Sun, Oct 21   Bethel Farm, New Hampshire; kanghisauce@hotmail.com
Sun, Oct 28   Dhyana Yoga, Philadelphia; <http://dhyana-yoga.com/> dhyana-yoga.com

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From mid-November to mid-December, I have the great honor to co-teach the Jivamukti Teacher Training in German in Berlin, with Patrick Broome, co-director of Jivamukti Munich and Berlin, so I will be in Germany for the month of November into mid-December.

I am teaching a few additional workshops in Germany:

November 3&4   Power Yoga Germany, Hamburg; info@inspyayoga.de

November 5-8    Vishnu's Couch, Cologne & Vishnu's Vibes, Düsseldorf;
                        info@vishnuscouch.de, info@vishnusvibes.de

November 9-10  Yoga Lounge, Freiburg im Breisgau; info@yogalounge-freiburg.de

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On Saturday October 13th, Jivamukti Yoga School in New York will once again host AZAHAR FOUNDATION'S annual Fundraise event, from 9am to 12pm.

It will be a Backbend and Kirtan event, co-taught by Ruth Lauer-Manenti, Rima Rabbath and myself, with live music by Nikki Slade and Mark Fisher from London.

We still need a place to stay for one of the musicians, so if you have a guest room/bed in your NYC appartment and wish to benefit from the high vibrations of an accomplished Nada Yogi, please let me know.

We will inform you about a project with orphans in Cambodia, outreach that has been done in Turkey, Pakistan and Morocco, and plans to continue projects in the Middle East.

If you cannot participate, but wish to know more about our activities, or wish to make a contribution, please contact me at: yogeswari1@yahoo.com.

Your participation and contribution are greatly appreciated.

With Love, Blessings and Wishes for Peace to all of You,

OM Shantih,

Yogeswari

Sent via Blackberry by T-Mobile
Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@cobbestone.com

I chose the green background on purpose

Many of you know that black is my favorite color. I have consistently worn black since my teen years, and being from NYC, it's just kind of normal to wear a lot of it.

Anyway, I could have chosen a black template for the blog, but green stood out and helps me to make a personal statement.

How green can I become? Not in skin color but through my conscious actions. Our American society is very prosperous, and the more we have, the more we are getting rid of.

We throw a lot away. Where is away?

I have spent some time thinking about how I can be less wasteful. I turn off the water while I brush my teeth. I have been hanging my clothes to dry. I bought an eco friendly yoga mat. I was so happy the other day when I didn't need a plastic bag for a small purchase. It felt great.

Those little actions add up to a lot of good for the world.

And, kudos to BG for inspiring me to blog.

Arlene
Sent via Blackberry by T-Mobile
Arlene Bjork
mygraceyoga.com
abjork@cobbestone.com

Welcome to the Grace Yoga Community Blog

I am excited to present this forum for us yoga enthusiasts. This blog is not and should not be all about me. I invite you to login, speak your mind about what you love about yoga. Share with others your experiences on and off the mat. I cannot wait until I can read your posts!

A little news . . . the Grace Yoga Podcast is up and running on http://mygraceyoga.com/ You can subscribe to the program thru iTunes. iTunes is free and you do not need an iPod in order to hear the classes. You can even download the classes to your computer and burn them to a CD. Are you on the go? Listen to the latest podcast by phone, by calling 1-408-538-2168.

I have worked very hard to provide you with the very best. Let me know if there is more content I can provide for you!

With much love,

Arlene