Take a Seat - try Chair Yoga!

This week I started to experiment in one class with chair yoga, then even more in another class, and so next week I declare to be Chair Yoga week. You can get a surprisingly good workout EVEN IN A CHAIR doing yoga. It affords you the opportunity to take balance issues out of the equation (for the most part) and focus on alignment, creating space, engaging the abdomen, and breathing above and beyond all. For those that have injuries, physical limitations, arthritis, are pregnant or just want to try something different, having the chair nearby brings the floor closer to you (or you closer to the floor, however you perceive it) and may offer a little more security, as well as a multitude of modification options.

We worked Warrior 1, 2 and 3 using the chair (virabhadrasana series). We did spinal flexion and extension (uttanasana, anuvatasana), forward, back and side. We used the chair to make reaching the floor not even a concern in Triangle Pose (trikonasa) and Half Moon (ardha chandrasana), and we used the chair to support us getting into and out of wide legged forward bend (prasarita padottansana). We were able to focus on hip alignment, spinal alignment, and hold poses for MUCH longer using our little friends, our foldable chairs. We even did a variation of boat pose (navasana) in our chair, just for grins.

I think the best part was our savasana with our legs supported on the seat of the chair, with eye pillows in our hip creases to help release our femurs into the hip sockets. For those with shorter legs we lined up soft bricks (but multiple blankets or bolsters would do the trick as well).

I encourage you to experiment with chair assisted poses at work, at home, or even in (esp.) in class for a different type of challenge. Here are some links to explore:

http://www.livingwordsofwisdom.com/chair-yoga.html

http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/qt/Chair-Yoga.htm
http://getfitwhereyousit.com/about_chair_yoga_fitness_exercise.html
http://www.sunlightchairyoga.com/

We'll be dabbling in this genre more this week, so please join me Tuesday Evening at 7:30, or Thursday morning at 9:30 at 6660 cowles mountain road, san diego.

Remember, it's your day....so make it YOUR yoga (BYOC!!!)

IBS oh my

I'm slowly but surely coming to the conclusion that what I have is in fact a form of IBS. Which means far more careful attention to exactly what I put into my body, from the kind of fiber to the amount of sugar, dairy, wheat, and carbonation (I'm a sucker for sparkling water). While I try to sort out what is best for me, I wanted to share with you some information on IBS, the symptoms, and how yoga can help alleviate the complications.

Help For IBS.

Enjoy whilst I go and fetch myself some enteric coated peppermint capsules, soluble prebiotic fiber and some fennel tea. We'll chat later :)

Some wonderful workshops this weekend

Hands-On Adjusments
Looking to go more indepth with your hands-on adjustments in your classes? Check out the workshop with Shelby Lefrinere (E-RYT 200, RYT 500), Refining Our Communication in Asana Adjustments, Saturday 2/23/13 1:30-4:30 pm. Only $30 pre-register, $40 at the door (Please contact Shelby Lafrinere at 619.964.0313 or email shelbylafrinere@yahoo.com) Workshop is hosted by Yoga Well at 2333 El Camino del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108.

Upper back issues: Kyphosis
On the subject of back pain, an over-rounding in the upper back is called kyphosis. Body Awareness Yoga will be conducting a clinic that address this condition and strategies to manage, and in some cases, reverse the unhealthy affects of kyphosis. No previous Yoga experience is necessary but this clinic is for active women looking for a way to be proactive with their spinal health. 1 to 3 pm for $35 at 1075 Broadway in El Cajon Body Awareness Studio.

Namaste - I bow to your form

A nice etymologicial discussion of the word: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste

With my children and family yoga classes, I like this song interpretation: "There's a light in me, there's a light in you, and together we are one." Or for secular classes, I like to say "Namasate is the yoga way of saying 'Thank You.'"

Yoga Surveys - just for fun

Scroll to the bottom of the page to fill out two little yoga surveys...let me know what influences YOU!

Kids Yoga Feedback - Leave Your Comments Here!

I am overjoyed when I get written or verbal feedback from parents/kids/educators about the classes that I have shared with them. But since I only have this free blog (for now) there hasn't been a really useful place to put these comments...until now! Please, if you have something to say about a class that you attended with your child, a class YOU attended, a class your CHILD attended or some feedback in general, I would very much appreciate your leaving your comments here.





AND if you have pictures of your child/family/self in one of my yoga classes, please submit it to me and you'll see it here soon. I'm going to set up a photostream so I can share the visual joy!

Best Regards
jackie

Yoga IS for every body

The Spring 2013 issue of Yoga International Magazine has a great article entitled "When Life Gives You Curves," and it's all about learning how to modify your practice to suit your body. The author does a great job of talking about some of the common issues in practice (for any body), like knee (alignment, pain), leg position (under hips vs. feet together), shoulder (flexibility), wrist (sensitivity), booty (position and size accomodations), belly (accomodating and LOVING it), breasts (accomodating and LOVING them), and in general, FEELING your yoga poses rather than concentrating on some perfect picture or even a mirror (or worse, trying to look like an instructor or neighbor in class).

Yoga knowledge, yoga experience, yoga skills, comes from the inside - from listening to your body, from really tapping in to your inner wisdom (and allowing it to make mistakes, to learn and most importantly to be nutured).

Whether you are 3 or 93, 30 pounds or 230, there is a way to modify a (physical) yoga practice to encourage you to be at peace with your body, to understand it, and to love it.

The article isn't up online yet, but I will provide a link when it is availabe. In the meantime, check out the rest of their website www.yogainternational.com for the winter/spring issue. The magazine is published by the Himalayan Institute, one of the foremost schools of yogic study (and the traidition of which is followed by my school, YogaWell). It's a little bit less commercial than some other yoga mags out there, and has a lot more content about holistic healing, yogic lifestyle, home practice, and media reviews.

Enjoy, and remember, whatever you body, Yoga is For You!