The Invitation
It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.
It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.
- by Oriah - Mountain Dreamer
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
May Schedule
"Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy. Constant practice is the secret of success." Read on at the end of the schedule about yoga etiquette and respect for the instructor as secrets for your success.
Thank you so much for your attendance in our yoga classes! I enjoy teaching and doing my practice of yoga very much. Here is our most current schedule for May 2012!
Yoga morning classes are as follows: 5:30 a.m. on Mondays for Beach Body Yoga - wear tennis shoes as we add walking or running to our early morning energizer!
5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays for Kundalini - Chakra study. Kundalini is the marriage of movement and breath.
5:30 a.m. on Thursdays for Weight Loss Yoga - again wear tennis shoes to add some cardio to your day.
5:30 a.m. on Fridays for Boot Camp Workout + Yoga - we practice outside with cardio, weight lifting, and come inside for final relaxation.
7:00 a.m. on Wednesdays for Yoga Is Better than Coffee - 45 minutes of an easier yoga practice or harder if you add more to your movement.
7:00 a.m. on Saturdays for Yoga for Athletes - this is a great class for everyone - modify or ramp it up!
Once school is out, some of the ladies are asking for another day. Would Monday morning work for a 45 minute 7:00 a.m. class?
9:00 a.m. on Saturdays for Core Yoga for Beginners. This is our Bring a Friend for Free class. It is small, but powerful for working your abdominal region. Anyone can do it!
In the summer, we will add 10:30 Vinyasa Flow classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The NOON class on Mondays, that I had planned, will begin in July. I just received free tuition waivers for NSU summer class. What an unexpected gift from God! No classes from 9:00 until 1:00 on Mondays this summer due to this surprise blessing.
Is anyone interested in Chair Yoga? No one came on our trial run in March. If you know of someone, please contact them and let me know. Thanks!
Kid Yoga will be on Friday mornings only at 10:30 a.m. for 45 minutes of storytime yoga. Summer schedule will begin on Wednesday, May 30th.
Yoga afternoon classes are as follows: 4:15 p.m. on Fridays for Yoga and Arthritis. We are studying Dr. Loren Fishman's book and working our joints, muscles, and skeletal structure.
2:30 p.m. on Sundays for Yoga and Arthritis. Today is Yoga for the Sciatic Nerve!
4:00 p.m. on Sundays for Vinyasa Flow Yoga. This is an energetic, mid-level class! We move, we strengthen, and we develop more flexibility!
This summer we will add 4:15 p.m. on Mondays for Teen Yoga (45 minutes), and I have had a request for another Yoga and Athritis class in the afternoon slot at 4:15. Would that be good for about 5 people?
Yoga evening classes are as follows: at 5:30 p.m. (45 - 55 minutes) for Workday crowd or those who want to practice before dinner include the following:
5:30 p.m. on Mondays for a great 45 minute workout with Yoga for Strength and Toning.
5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays for Balancing Yoga.
5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for Beginner's Intro to Power Yoga. Yes, we do the Plank! 60 -65 minutes
5:30 p.m. on Thursdays for Kundalini Energizer. We breathe; we move at a quicker pace.
5:30 p.m. on Fridays for our sweat producing Power UP yoga class. 60 - 65 minutes
Later evening classes at 6:40 p.m. only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This class may not continue due to small numbers. If you want to see it on the schedule, please come!
6:40 p.m. on Tuesdays for Lower Body Vinyasa Flow and flexibility work.
6:40 p.m. on Thursdays for Upper Body Vinyasa Flow and flexibility training.
All classes are 60-65 minutes long unless otherwise noted.
*****
I received this lovely note from my friend and fellow instructor about respect for the instructor who is teaching as a key to success on the mat. Just like any program or class you attend, there is etiquette and respect that correspond with the event. When you show up at the Y, the gym, the opera, the classroom, or even in someone's home studio, remember the teacher and respect for the teacher are also the key to your success.
Check out this article from the New York Times.
Is there no compact of dos and don’ts inside a yoga studio? Common sense and fellowship usually dictate. Still, teachers and students, no matter how tolerant, harbor pet peeves.
Here are a few, in no particular order, culled from interviews and online rants.
BARGING OUT Hearing a fellow student leave class noisily, as you soak in those final minutes of well-earned relaxation, is akin to being awakened midsleep by an air horn (well, almost). It is too sudden, too soon.
“You are Zenned out,” said the blogger YogaDork, who asked to remain incognito, describing the splendor of Savasana, resting pose. “And people are fumbling for bags and rolling up the mats.”
BARGING IN The same goes for people who march into a class, whip open their mats and plunk down their belongings, sometimes while others are meditating.
“The thwapping of the mat — that is very jarring,” said Anya Porter, a teacher and teacher manager at Yoga Works in Midtown. “The class is quiet. Sometimes there is music playing. People can be really loud.”
OVEREXPOSURE Some men take a minimalist approach to yoga wear, and not everyone is pleased about having a sweaty, stripped-down man within arm’s reach. “There are guys in European bathing suits,” said an outraged Kendra Cunningham, a yoga lover and comedian who lives in Brooklyn. “We’re not in Capri here; it’s Cobble Hill.” Ralph De La Rosa, a manager at Go Yoga in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who describes himself as mostly tolerant, also draws the line at the half-naked male practitioner. “I like it when guys keep their shirts on,” he said. Worse still are the men who wear loose-fitting shorts for comfort, with nothing underneath, prompting discomfort in the ladies around them.
GOING SOLO Yogis and yoginis who conduct their own session within the class, choosing poses that diverge from the instructor’s calls, can be a challenge for teachers. “It is certainly distracting,” Ms. Porter said. “It brings the attention and focus onto that person.”
CELLPHONES It goes without saying: Cellphone chatter, unending ring tones and texting are roundly booed. One teacher whose list of grievances was posted on fitsugar.com remembered a woman who answered her cellphone and shouted, “I’m in (expletive) yoga. Why are you calling me?”
HYGIENE No one smells like a rose in yoga class. And you shouldn’t, because some people are allergic to or just dislike inhaling perfume. But body odor shouldn’t make you gag, either. Foot odor can be even worse. “I can handle B.O.,” the Dork said, “but there is nothing worse than stinky feet when you are mat-to-mat and you are upside down and close to people’s feet.”
In theory, none of this should bother us — or at least some of us. “Not to sound pessimistic,” Ms. Cunningham said, “I feel like the only people who have achieved that degree of serenity are the teachers who have been practicing in India in mud huts.”
So, for those who live in walk-ups, arise to the melody of garbage trucks and slumber to the lullaby of barking dogs: Keep your clothes tight, your cellphone off, your oms in line. And wash your feet.
As I always say in my second grade classroom, "Nobody is perfect. If you can't make a mistake, you cannot make anything." My Brian, Handsome Yoga Man and Receptionist, says, "The only person who was perfect was crucified." George Bernard Shaw said, "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life doing nothing."
Namaste'
Jeanne K.
Moms practice for free on Mother's Day; Dads practice for free on Father's Day!
Thank you so much for your attendance in our yoga classes! I enjoy teaching and doing my practice of yoga very much. Here is our most current schedule for May 2012!
Yoga morning classes are as follows: 5:30 a.m. on Mondays for Beach Body Yoga - wear tennis shoes as we add walking or running to our early morning energizer!
5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays for Kundalini - Chakra study. Kundalini is the marriage of movement and breath.
5:30 a.m. on Thursdays for Weight Loss Yoga - again wear tennis shoes to add some cardio to your day.
5:30 a.m. on Fridays for Boot Camp Workout + Yoga - we practice outside with cardio, weight lifting, and come inside for final relaxation.
7:00 a.m. on Wednesdays for Yoga Is Better than Coffee - 45 minutes of an easier yoga practice or harder if you add more to your movement.
7:00 a.m. on Saturdays for Yoga for Athletes - this is a great class for everyone - modify or ramp it up!
Once school is out, some of the ladies are asking for another day. Would Monday morning work for a 45 minute 7:00 a.m. class?
9:00 a.m. on Saturdays for Core Yoga for Beginners. This is our Bring a Friend for Free class. It is small, but powerful for working your abdominal region. Anyone can do it!
In the summer, we will add 10:30 Vinyasa Flow classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The NOON class on Mondays, that I had planned, will begin in July. I just received free tuition waivers for NSU summer class. What an unexpected gift from God! No classes from 9:00 until 1:00 on Mondays this summer due to this surprise blessing.
Is anyone interested in Chair Yoga? No one came on our trial run in March. If you know of someone, please contact them and let me know. Thanks!
Kid Yoga will be on Friday mornings only at 10:30 a.m. for 45 minutes of storytime yoga. Summer schedule will begin on Wednesday, May 30th.
Yoga afternoon classes are as follows: 4:15 p.m. on Fridays for Yoga and Arthritis. We are studying Dr. Loren Fishman's book and working our joints, muscles, and skeletal structure.
2:30 p.m. on Sundays for Yoga and Arthritis. Today is Yoga for the Sciatic Nerve!
4:00 p.m. on Sundays for Vinyasa Flow Yoga. This is an energetic, mid-level class! We move, we strengthen, and we develop more flexibility!
This summer we will add 4:15 p.m. on Mondays for Teen Yoga (45 minutes), and I have had a request for another Yoga and Athritis class in the afternoon slot at 4:15. Would that be good for about 5 people?
Yoga evening classes are as follows: at 5:30 p.m. (45 - 55 minutes) for Workday crowd or those who want to practice before dinner include the following:
5:30 p.m. on Mondays for a great 45 minute workout with Yoga for Strength and Toning.
5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays for Balancing Yoga.
5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for Beginner's Intro to Power Yoga. Yes, we do the Plank! 60 -65 minutes
5:30 p.m. on Thursdays for Kundalini Energizer. We breathe; we move at a quicker pace.
5:30 p.m. on Fridays for our sweat producing Power UP yoga class. 60 - 65 minutes
Later evening classes at 6:40 p.m. only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This class may not continue due to small numbers. If you want to see it on the schedule, please come!
6:40 p.m. on Tuesdays for Lower Body Vinyasa Flow and flexibility work.
6:40 p.m. on Thursdays for Upper Body Vinyasa Flow and flexibility training.
All classes are 60-65 minutes long unless otherwise noted.
*****
I received this lovely note from my friend and fellow instructor about respect for the instructor who is teaching as a key to success on the mat. Just like any program or class you attend, there is etiquette and respect that correspond with the event. When you show up at the Y, the gym, the opera, the classroom, or even in someone's home studio, remember the teacher and respect for the teacher are also the key to your success.
Most people criticize out of a need to feel more important. So, it is our responsibility as teachers to open them to this realization. The Niyamas and Yamas of the Eight Limbed Path of Yoga have something to say about yoga etiquette.
- The Niyama of Self Study (Svadhyaya) The practice of paying attention to why we do and say what we do is helpful. To observe one's critical nature and to look for the root cause of that condition is one way to go.
- What does it strengthen in critical people when she or he elevates herself or himself above the teacher? This is probably a condition in which she or he has been stuck for some time and may manifest in many other areas of her or his life.
- All un-asked for criticism is an effort to boost one's own ego. To shore up the "Little Me" inside. Ego causes suffering; either for you ultimately or someone else.
- Another way is to help them surrender (Ishvarapranidhana). In the case of a yoga class, surrendering their need to be right. To not seek external validation through criticizing those in charge at the time.
- If, however, the person or persons will not look inside to understand their motivation then another avenue would be to use the Yama of Ahimsa (compassion for all beings). In this they would be compassionate and understand that a teacher may occasionally make a small mistake and would let it slide. In not doing so, they would quickly meet their own need to announce their superiority and have to be present for that feeling. Stephen Saunders
Check out this article from the New York Times.
Invasion of the Serenity Saboteurs
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
YOGA is about casting off petty annoyances and toxic judgments — a seemingly Sisyphean task for those hopped up on New York City living. But what if irritation trails you right onto your mat, in the guise of ring tones, exhibitionists or bliss-busting interruptions? By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
Is there no compact of dos and don’ts inside a yoga studio? Common sense and fellowship usually dictate. Still, teachers and students, no matter how tolerant, harbor pet peeves.
Here are a few, in no particular order, culled from interviews and online rants.
BARGING OUT Hearing a fellow student leave class noisily, as you soak in those final minutes of well-earned relaxation, is akin to being awakened midsleep by an air horn (well, almost). It is too sudden, too soon.
“You are Zenned out,” said the blogger YogaDork, who asked to remain incognito, describing the splendor of Savasana, resting pose. “And people are fumbling for bags and rolling up the mats.”
BARGING IN The same goes for people who march into a class, whip open their mats and plunk down their belongings, sometimes while others are meditating.
“The thwapping of the mat — that is very jarring,” said Anya Porter, a teacher and teacher manager at Yoga Works in Midtown. “The class is quiet. Sometimes there is music playing. People can be really loud.”
OVEREXPOSURE Some men take a minimalist approach to yoga wear, and not everyone is pleased about having a sweaty, stripped-down man within arm’s reach. “There are guys in European bathing suits,” said an outraged Kendra Cunningham, a yoga lover and comedian who lives in Brooklyn. “We’re not in Capri here; it’s Cobble Hill.” Ralph De La Rosa, a manager at Go Yoga in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who describes himself as mostly tolerant, also draws the line at the half-naked male practitioner. “I like it when guys keep their shirts on,” he said. Worse still are the men who wear loose-fitting shorts for comfort, with nothing underneath, prompting discomfort in the ladies around them.
GOING SOLO Yogis and yoginis who conduct their own session within the class, choosing poses that diverge from the instructor’s calls, can be a challenge for teachers. “It is certainly distracting,” Ms. Porter said. “It brings the attention and focus onto that person.”
CELLPHONES It goes without saying: Cellphone chatter, unending ring tones and texting are roundly booed. One teacher whose list of grievances was posted on fitsugar.com remembered a woman who answered her cellphone and shouted, “I’m in (expletive) yoga. Why are you calling me?”
HYGIENE No one smells like a rose in yoga class. And you shouldn’t, because some people are allergic to or just dislike inhaling perfume. But body odor shouldn’t make you gag, either. Foot odor can be even worse. “I can handle B.O.,” the Dork said, “but there is nothing worse than stinky feet when you are mat-to-mat and you are upside down and close to people’s feet.”
In theory, none of this should bother us — or at least some of us. “Not to sound pessimistic,” Ms. Cunningham said, “I feel like the only people who have achieved that degree of serenity are the teachers who have been practicing in India in mud huts.”
So, for those who live in walk-ups, arise to the melody of garbage trucks and slumber to the lullaby of barking dogs: Keep your clothes tight, your cellphone off, your oms in line. And wash your feet.
As I always say in my second grade classroom, "Nobody is perfect. If you can't make a mistake, you cannot make anything." My Brian, Handsome Yoga Man and Receptionist, says, "The only person who was perfect was crucified." George Bernard Shaw said, "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life doing nothing."
Namaste'
Jeanne K.
Moms practice for free on Mother's Day; Dads practice for free on Father's Day!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Negative Emotions
Negative emotions can lead to serious problems.
In our yoga classes the first 90 seconds and the last five minutes are dedicated to a positive mind = a calm, peaceful mind.
Here is a great study with 180 Catholic nuns where those with a positive mindset lived significantly longer than those without it. After the researchers studied their autobiographies written in journal form, the frequency of positive emotions was scored and compared. The results were staggering because the ones with positive feelings lived an average of 10 years longer than the others.
Barbara Fredrickson, a leading researcher on the impact of positive emotions, writes,
How Full Is Your Bucket?
Yoga builds self-acceptance, a quiet, positive mind set. Do your body some good today; come practice yoga with us!
March 12, 2012 (one more week till Spring Break!) Monday classes: 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Toning **
March 13, 2012 Tuesday classes: 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
Notice new time -- 6:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga for Lower Body Flexibility
March 14, 2012 Wednesday classes: 7:00 a.m. Yoga Is Better Than Coffee **
5:30 p.m. Intro to Astanga Yoga
March 15, 2012 Thursday classes: 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
5:30 p.m. Kundalini Yoga **
March 16, 2012 Friday classes: 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
5:30 p.m. Power Up Yoga
March 17, 2012 Saturday classes: 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners
March 18, 2012 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND! JOIN US FOR A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY AFTER THE 2:30 CLASS AND BEFORE THE 4:00 CLASS!
2:30 p.m. Pose Specific YogaSurprise party for Brian Doss! Shh! It's a secret!
4:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Spring Break Schedule expanded with more class offerings!
Monday: Four classes
March 19 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Yoga for Teens
5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Conditioning**
Tuesday: Three classes
March 20 10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
6:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Lower Body (please note this class previously was at 6:40 p.m.)
Wednesday: Three classes
March 21 7:00 a.m. Yoga is better than coffee**
9:00 a.m. Chair Yoga for Seniors**
5:30 p.m. Intro to Yoga for Beginners
Thursday: Three classes
March 22 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
10:30 a.m. Yoga for Back Issues (Can also be adapted for those who are pregnant due to no twists, prone positions, or forward folding )
5:30 p.m. Kundalini Yoga**
Friday: Four classes
March 23 10:30 a.m. Mommy and Me Yoga (or Daddy and Me); Yoga for Kids**
12:00 NOON Yoga for 45 minutes of Get Me Out of the Chair or Out of the Office Energizing**
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
5:30 p.m. Power Up Yoga
Saturday: Two classes
March 24 Regular schedule (no added classes): 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners
**Indicates that the class lasts only 45 minutes
Namaste',
Jeanne K.
In our yoga classes the first 90 seconds and the last five minutes are dedicated to a positive mind = a calm, peaceful mind.
Here is a great study with 180 Catholic nuns where those with a positive mindset lived significantly longer than those without it. After the researchers studied their autobiographies written in journal form, the frequency of positive emotions was scored and compared. The results were staggering because the ones with positive feelings lived an average of 10 years longer than the others.
Barbara Fredrickson, a leading researcher on the impact of positive emotions, writes,
Positive emotions
- protect us from, and can undo the effects of, negative emotions
- fuel resilience and can transform people
- broaden our thinking, encouraging us to discover new lines of thought or action
- break down racial barriers
- produce optimal functioning in organizations and individuals
- build durable physical, intellectual, social, and psychological resources that function as "reserves" during difficult, trying times
- improve the overall performance of a group when the leader expresses positive emotions (can be a family, a classroom, a workplace)
How Full Is Your Bucket?
Yoga builds self-acceptance, a quiet, positive mind set. Do your body some good today; come practice yoga with us!
March 12, 2012 (one more week till Spring Break!) Monday classes: 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Toning **
March 13, 2012 Tuesday classes: 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
Notice new time -- 6:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga for Lower Body Flexibility
March 14, 2012 Wednesday classes: 7:00 a.m. Yoga Is Better Than Coffee **
5:30 p.m. Intro to Astanga Yoga
March 15, 2012 Thursday classes: 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
5:30 p.m. Kundalini Yoga **
March 16, 2012 Friday classes: 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
5:30 p.m. Power Up Yoga
March 17, 2012 Saturday classes: 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners
March 18, 2012 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND! JOIN US FOR A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY AFTER THE 2:30 CLASS AND BEFORE THE 4:00 CLASS!
2:30 p.m. Pose Specific YogaSurprise party for Brian Doss! Shh! It's a secret!
4:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Spring Break Schedule expanded with more class offerings!
Monday: Four classes
March 19 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Yoga for Teens
5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Conditioning**
Tuesday: Three classes
March 20 10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
6:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Lower Body (please note this class previously was at 6:40 p.m.)
Wednesday: Three classes
March 21 7:00 a.m. Yoga is better than coffee**
9:00 a.m. Chair Yoga for Seniors**
5:30 p.m. Intro to Yoga for Beginners
Thursday: Three classes
March 22 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
10:30 a.m. Yoga for Back Issues (Can also be adapted for those who are pregnant due to no twists, prone positions, or forward folding )
5:30 p.m. Kundalini Yoga**
Friday: Four classes
March 23 10:30 a.m. Mommy and Me Yoga (or Daddy and Me); Yoga for Kids**
12:00 NOON Yoga for 45 minutes of Get Me Out of the Chair or Out of the Office Energizing**
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
5:30 p.m. Power Up Yoga
Saturday: Two classes
March 24 Regular schedule (no added classes): 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners
**Indicates that the class lasts only 45 minutes
Namaste',
Jeanne K.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Spring Break Preview for Summer Classes
Here is our summer preview of classes!
Spring break is March 19 - 23, 2012 where we will pretend it is summer time already! Come on, sunshine and beautiful spring weather! The new classes we are incorporating into our schedule are Monday - Friday. Please notice that Saturday and Sunday classes remain the same!
Our schedule offers 8 additional classes mainly in the daytime with the Thursday evening at 6:40 p.m. exception. I have had several requests for Pre-Natal Yoga; however, I tried last summer to add this, but the class did not make. So, I am calling it Yoga for Back Health (no twists included), and it could be considered a class for moms to be or anyone with back issues. Forward folding, prone poses on our abdomens, and twists are deleted from the class on Thursday morning at 10:30.
Sunday:March 18
Regular schedule (no added classes):
2:30 p.m. Pose Specific
4:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow
Monday:March 19
5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Yoga for Teens
5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Conditioning**
Tuesday:
March 20
10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
6:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Lower Body (please note this class previously was at 6:40 p.m.)Wednesday:
March 21
7:00 a.m. Yoga is better than coffee**
9:00 a.m. Chair Yoga for Seniors**
5:30 p.m. Intro to Yoga for Beginners
Thursday:March 22
5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
10:30 a.m. Yoga for Back Issues (Can also be adapted for those who are pregnant due to no twists, prone positions, or forward folding )
5:30 p.m. Kundalini Yoga**
6:40 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Upper Body
Friday:
March 23
10:30 a.m. Mommy and Me Yoga (or Daddy and Me); Yoga for Kids**
12:00 NOON Yoga for 45 minutes of Get Me Out of the Chair or Out of the Office Energizing**
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
5:30 p.m. Power Up Yoga
Saturday:
March 24
Regular schedule (no added classes):
7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners
**Indicates that the class lasts only 45 minutes If there is a practice that you do not see and would like to see added to the schedule, please visit with me about your idea.
All classes last 65 minutes with the exception of the double asterisk indicated or the early morning practices (55 minutes).
Our summer will also include two or three workshops, but we will not have one in March due to my NSU homework. Thanks for understanding. (:
By cultivating the strength and fluidity of yoga throughout our practice, you will increase your capacity to be strong, stable, lighthearted, and graceful, not just here, but in any pose and, indeed, in your whole life. With that in mind, prepare to playfully leave the comfort of the shore and embark on a great summer adventure during spring break week.
I hope you will set your intention, sign up (or not), join our raffle contest, and practice with us soon!
Namaste'
Jeanne K.
P.S. All classes remain the same low price of $5.62 each when you purchase a Tranquility Yoga punch card.
All Groupon cards have a June deadline for expiration; all other cards have six months from the date of purchase. Lower price packages are available. Free classes have a one week or one month expiration. Otherwise, the price of one class is $10.00. Cash or checks are accepted; no credit cards at this time unless you want to use PayPal. See me for more details.
-- Jeanne K. DossTranquility Yoga Studio Owner and Instructor
Registered Yoga Teacher (300 hour level) - Graduate of YSA; member of Yoga AlliancePersonal Certified Trainer - Cooper InstituteCertified Pilates, Aerobics and Step Aerobics Instructor
Zumba Training Level 1 and Zumba Gold
Yoga Fit - Levels 1 and 2
"Be your own person and do not be ruled by the expectations of others. The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." Joseph Campbell
Spring break is March 19 - 23, 2012 where we will pretend it is summer time already! Come on, sunshine and beautiful spring weather! The new classes we are incorporating into our schedule are Monday - Friday. Please notice that Saturday and Sunday classes remain the same!
Our schedule offers 8 additional classes mainly in the daytime with the Thursday evening at 6:40 p.m. exception. I have had several requests for Pre-Natal Yoga; however, I tried last summer to add this, but the class did not make. So, I am calling it Yoga for Back Health (no twists included), and it could be considered a class for moms to be or anyone with back issues. Forward folding, prone poses on our abdomens, and twists are deleted from the class on Thursday morning at 10:30.
Sunday:March 18
Regular schedule (no added classes):
2:30 p.m. Pose Specific
4:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow
Monday:March 19
5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Yoga for Teens
5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Conditioning**
Tuesday:
March 20
10:30 a.m. Vinyasa Flow
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
6:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Lower Body (please note this class previously was at 6:40 p.m.)Wednesday:
March 21
7:00 a.m. Yoga is better than coffee**
9:00 a.m. Chair Yoga for Seniors**
5:30 p.m. Intro to Yoga for Beginners
Thursday:March 22
5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
10:30 a.m. Yoga for Back Issues (Can also be adapted for those who are pregnant due to no twists, prone positions, or forward folding )
5:30 p.m. Kundalini Yoga**
6:40 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Upper Body
Friday:
March 23
10:30 a.m. Mommy and Me Yoga (or Daddy and Me); Yoga for Kids**
12:00 NOON Yoga for 45 minutes of Get Me Out of the Chair or Out of the Office Energizing**
4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
5:30 p.m. Power Up Yoga
Saturday:
March 24
Regular schedule (no added classes):
7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners
**Indicates that the class lasts only 45 minutes If there is a practice that you do not see and would like to see added to the schedule, please visit with me about your idea.
All classes last 65 minutes with the exception of the double asterisk indicated or the early morning practices (55 minutes).
Our summer will also include two or three workshops, but we will not have one in March due to my NSU homework. Thanks for understanding. (:
By cultivating the strength and fluidity of yoga throughout our practice, you will increase your capacity to be strong, stable, lighthearted, and graceful, not just here, but in any pose and, indeed, in your whole life. With that in mind, prepare to playfully leave the comfort of the shore and embark on a great summer adventure during spring break week.
I hope you will set your intention, sign up (or not), join our raffle contest, and practice with us soon!
Namaste'
Jeanne K.
P.S. All classes remain the same low price of $5.62 each when you purchase a Tranquility Yoga punch card.
All Groupon cards have a June deadline for expiration; all other cards have six months from the date of purchase. Lower price packages are available. Free classes have a one week or one month expiration. Otherwise, the price of one class is $10.00. Cash or checks are accepted; no credit cards at this time unless you want to use PayPal. See me for more details.
-- Jeanne K. DossTranquility Yoga Studio Owner and Instructor
Registered Yoga Teacher (300 hour level) - Graduate of YSA; member of Yoga AlliancePersonal Certified Trainer - Cooper InstituteCertified Pilates, Aerobics and Step Aerobics Instructor
Zumba Training Level 1 and Zumba Gold
Yoga Fit - Levels 1 and 2
"Be your own person and do not be ruled by the expectations of others. The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." Joseph Campbell
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Sunday's classes are at 2:30 p.m. for Pose Specific Yoga as we work on Downward Facing Dog, and Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Crane Pose at 4:00 p.m. I hope you will make your Sunday super by joining us in practice!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Yoga and the Stress Response
One of the main purposes of yoga is to retrain the stress response habit
so that your brain stops automatically invoking it every time you feel out of
control, experience time pressure, or are impatient. Some people might
think that the stress response is an innate reflex; and thus, can't be
changed. To clarify, the response is partly innate and partly learned in
early childhood. Yes, the stress response comes already downloaded and
installed on your early operating system. However, this tendency is
enhanced, by years of reinforcement. In particular, you absorb how those
around you, particularly your parents, react to stressful situations.
Their reactions get wired into your nervous system. However, just because a
habit is innate, and then reinforced, does not mean it is immune to
change. Almost any habit can be changed, or at least improved, through
repeated action of a new habit. For some people waking up at 5:30AM to go
to a yoga class would automatically trigger their stress response. The
good news is that you don't actually have to go to a class to practice
yoga. The poses most people associate with yoga are just a particular way
of practicing yoga called the asana practice ("asana" translates to
"posture"). The asana practice challenges you in a specific way, but life
itself offers plenty of challenges on its own. Under any stressful
circumstance you can attempt the same calming techniques: breathing deeply and
slowly, relaxing your facial muscles, clearing your head of anxious thoughts,
focusing on the present. In fact, applying these techniques to real life
is what yoga is all about. Yoga is simply the process of paying attention to the
present moment and calming the mind. Over time you will start to retrain
your automatic stress reaction, and replace it with one more conducive to
happiness and overall well-being.I eventually came to the realization that not
only can you practice yoga in real life, but, conversely, you could go to a yoga
class and not really be doing yoga. Some of those people in class might
just be placing their legs behind their heads, and still not be focusing on
keeping their breath calm and steady, or their minds clear. They might be
focused on something else entirely. Without the sustained intention of
focusing on the present, and calming the mind, going to a yoga class is
literally just going through the motions. Alex Korb, PhD.Class Schedule for today through the end of February at Tranquility Yoga Studio
Thursday, February 16, 2012: Get Your Yoga Energy GoingThis morning at 5:30 a.m. we have our Weight Loss Yoga, this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. a great 45 minute workout with Vinyasa Flow, and 6:40 p.m. - 7:40 p.m. is our Intro to Astanga Yoga class.
Three awesome opportunities for you to get fit, feel better, and experience the benefits of yoga. Please join us!
Friday, February 17, 2012: Three Classes to Choose from for Today!10:00 a.m. Vinyasa Flow: Bring a friend for FREE! 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga - It's An UpDog -- DownDog Kind of Day! 5:30 p.m. Power Up with Us! It's All About the Plank!
Saturday, February 18, 2012: Two Classes to Energize You! 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes - Yoga is Better than Coffee (but you can stay and enjoy that, too!) 9:00 a.m. Beginner's Core Yoga - Strong Core; Strong Back
Sunday, February 19, 2012: Two Classes (One for practicing individual postures and one for combining the postures into a flowing movement) 2:30 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga - Inverting is easy! Remember this just means my head is below my heart - as simple as a forward fold. 4:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga - Movement with Breath
Monday, February 20, 2012: Happy President's Day! Three Classes for Your Enjoyment and Exercise! 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize - Sun Salute your way to a great week!10:00 a.m. Vinyasa Flow: Bring a friend for FREE! 5:30 p.m. Yoga for Strength and Conditioning - 45 minute class (short and sweet) This class will move to 4:15 p.m. in June for Teen Yoga
Tuesday, February 21, 2012: Two Classes for Terrific Tuesday! 4:15 p.m. Twist and Shout! Pose Specific Yoga 6:40 p.m. Vinyasa Flow for Hips, Thighs, and Knee Health
Wednesday, February 22, 2012: One Class for Beginners 5:30 p.m. Intro to Yoga for Astanga Practice
Thursday, February 23, 2012: Two Class Opportunities = Yoga Just for You! 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga - Even if you are at a perfect body size, this class is fun and energizing! 5:30 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga for Shoulders, Arms, and Wrists - This class will move to 6:40 p.m.* the last Thursday in May. *If you want to keep it at 5:30 p.m, please let me know. Thanks!
Friday, February 24, 2012: Two Classes and a Great Way to Get Your Weekend Started! 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga - It's All About the Knees 5:30 p.m. Power Up! This is Push-up Practice!
Saturday, February 25, 2012: Two Classes or Three? See me for more details. 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes - Mix It Up! 9:00 a.m. Core Yoga for Beginners - Posture Perfect
Sunday, February 26, 2012: Two Classes for Sunday Afternoon Delight! 2:30 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga for Wrists and Forearms 4:00 p.m. Vinyasa Flow - Energy Up with Flow and Go!
Monday, February 27, 2012: Two Classes to Energize, Strengthen, and Warrior Up 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize: Archer Series 5:30 p.m. Yoga for Toning and Conditioning - Jump Switch! (45 minute class)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012: Two Classes for Open Hips, Happy Hips 4:15 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga for Back Health and Hips 6:40 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga for Moving What Ails You
Wednesday, February 29, 2012: Congratulations! You made it to the 90 Day Challenge Weigh-In. Let me know how you have made a difference in your life the last 90 days with eating, exercise, and health related ways. We started back on December 1st, and now we have made it through the holidays. 5:30 p.m. Intro to Yoga for Beginners with Astanga
Please note: On Saturday, March 3, 2012, I will be traveling to OKC for a conference; therefore, we will not be having class. We will have a make-up lesson on Sunday, March 4th, at 6:00 - 7:00 a.m. and then have our two regular classes that Sunday afternoon at 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. I hope that the last 90 days have been beneficial for you as you concentrated on taking care of the Goose. Remember without you, the Goose, we have no golden eggs! You are important!
Thank you for being an important part of our yoga community.
Namaste'
Jeanne Kay-- Jeanne K. DossTranquility Yoga Studio Owner and InstructorRegistered Yoga Teacher (300 hour level) - Graduate of YSA; member of Yoga AlliancePersonal Certified Trainer - Cooper InstituteCertified Pilates, Aerobics and Step Aerobics InstructorZumba Training Level 1 and Zumba GoldYoga Fit - Levels 1 and 2
"Be your own person and do not be ruled by the expectations of others. The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." Joseph Campbell
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Super Bowl 2012 Weekend
Dear Friends,
Happy Super Bowl weekend! Isn't it amazing how this has become a holiday in February? So, the answer is YES, we are having class tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. I hope you will consider joining us as we unwind tension with the focus on neck and shoulders.
Just a reminder that we have today and tomorrow for our final two days of "Bring a friend for free week at Tranquility Yoga in Owasso!" If your friend then purchases a punch card, you will receive a FREE week for yourself in February. Congratulations to Maggie, Larry, and Brenda who have received a free week in February!
Read on at the end of the newsletter for how the NY Giants prepare for the big game...
*****Schedule for this week at Tranquility Yoga, February 4 - 11 is as follows: (Please note the difference this week only on Tuesday afternoon and night classes)
Today, Saturday, at 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
Today, Saturday, at 9:00 a.m. Beginner's Yoga for Core Strength
Sunday, February 5, at 2:30 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
Monday, February 6, at 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
Monday, February 6, at 5:30 p.m. Toning and Conditioning Yoga
Tuesday, February 7, at 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. Yin Yoga (only class that day)
Wednesday, February 8, at 5:30 p.m. Beginner's Intro to Astanga Yoga
Thursday, February 9, at 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
*Thursday, February 9, at 5:30 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Friday, February 10, at 4:15 p.m. Power Up Yoga
Saturday, February 11, at 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
Saturday, February 11, at 9:00 a.m. Beginner's Yoga for Core Strength
* The Thursday evening class will move back to 6:40 p.m. in June.
Upcoming events include another Yin Yoga class on Monday, February 13th at 7:15 p.m. and Partner Yoga practice on February 14th at 6:40 p.m.
*****
How does a professional football team prepare for the Super Bowl? Aside from typical running, throwing and strength training drills, the championship-bound New York Giants also reap the athletic benefits of season-long yoga sessions. Gwen Lawrence, celebrity yoga coach and spokesperson for Gaiam TV, has been teaching yoga for 22 years and working with the New York Giants for 11 years.“The Giants were my first professional team,” Lawrence said, who specializes in different forms of yoga, including Iyengar, Hatha, and Ashtanga Vinyasa, to engage the entire body and mind.Lawrence, who also works with the New York Knicks, Rangers and members of the Yankees, said she works with the Giants twice a week during pre-season to get the players in shape and prepare their bodies for the upcoming year.“These are pretty active, high intensity classes,” Lawrence said. “We do a lot of long, deep holds, some vinyasa.”Vinyasa yoga, or “power yoga,” focuses on the alignment of movement and breath. Each of the yoga poses are connected in flowing movements from one to the next. During the season, however, Lawrence said, her approach with the team changes. “In-season, I come in on Mondays and do post-game restorative work with the players,” she said. “I can’t just go in there and kick their butts and expect full-body participation.”The routine can change week-to-week, according to Lawrence, depending on how the players are feeling and which areas – such as their legs or their backs – are giving them problems.“You also have to take into account the different positions,” Lawrence said. “An offensive lineman is obviously different than a receiver – the demands on their bodies are different – but there are basic moves that benefit any position.”Among these moves, Lawrence’s post-game favorites include pigeon poses, frog poses and hero poses.The pigeon pose is a hip stretch that is done by bringing one knee forward and bending the leg in front of the body on the floor, while stretching the other leg out behind you. Your arms can be placed on the ground beside your or held above your head.“It’s a really deep hip opener that keeps your hips open and flexible,” Lawrence said. “It also reduces strain and stress on vulnerable knees.The frog pose, meanwhile, is done by lying face down, spreading your knees out on both sides and balancing on your heels, like a frog. Extend your arms, one at a time, out on the floor in front of you. The position opens the groin area and provides a slight back bend.Finally, the hero pose is done by kneeling on the floor, with your thighs touching, perpendicular to the floor. Set your feet apart slightly wider than your hips, with the tops of the feet flat on the floor and your big toes angled slightly inward. “It’s kneeling, keeping the quads open, and the ankles flexible and strong,” Lawrence said. All three of the moves, she said, are meant to improve flexibility, strength and prevent injuries. “My philosophy is, strength plus flexibility equals power on the field. Doing these moves not only keeps players less injury prone – because a tight, rigid body is more likely to crack and break – but they also translate into power.“Think of it this way,” Lawrence explained. “You have a bow and arrow, and the bow string is strong and unbreakable, but if it’s too tight, you can only pull it back an inch and the arrow flops down on the ground. But when the string is flexible, you can pull it far back, and the arrow has more power.”"When joints are open, strong and flexible like this, they can create more power with less effort on the field. That way, they can stay on the field longer and win the game in the end.”But physical toughness isn’t the only important benefit the players derive from yoga training, according to Lawrence. “We’re working on mental toughness, too,” she said. “Sometimes you have players with pre-game anxiety, and the breathing techniques they learn in yoga can help them cope.”Lawrence described how she helped a former Super Bowl champ deal with a medical condition while playing the game.“One of the players I worked with – Amani Toomer [who played for the New York Giants the last time they won the Super Bowl in 2008] – he had asthma, and I taught him specific breathing techniques to help with that.”The best aspect of practicing yoga with the players, Lawrence said, is that the moves aren’t solely meant for Super Bowl contenders. “I work with regular people and hear their problems; and I’ve worked with athletes for so long, I understand theirs as well – and honestly, it’s very similar,” Lawrence said. “I have my athletes, but I also have my soccer moms and other people, and they love it. It works well into their lives – and this goes across the board. It’s not just an athlete thing.”Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/03/yoga-how-new-york-giants-prepare-for-super-bowl/#ixzz1lP0rvi00
Hope to see you soon in practice!
Namaste'Jeanne Kay
P.S. Our receptionist watches the Super Bowl just to see the commercials! I just work on trying to stay awake!
-- Jeanne K. DossTranquility Yoga Studio Owner and InstructorRegistered Yoga Teacher - Yoga Alliance
Personal Certified Trainer - Cooper Institute
Certified Pilates, Aerobics Instructor
Zumba Training, Zumba I and Zumba Gold
“Yoga is really trying to liberate us from … shame about our bodies. To love your body is a very important thing — I think the health of your mind depends on your being able to love your body.”–Rodney YeeFor more information, please call 918-371-3841 or text me at 918-855-6459.
You can also "like" our Facebook page in order to receive updates on class themes and changes by going to Tranquility Yoga in Owasso. Once we make 150 friends, we will draw from that list for a free punch card of 8 classes ($45.00 value).
Happy Super Bowl weekend! Isn't it amazing how this has become a holiday in February? So, the answer is YES, we are having class tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m. I hope you will consider joining us as we unwind tension with the focus on neck and shoulders.
Just a reminder that we have today and tomorrow for our final two days of "Bring a friend for free week at Tranquility Yoga in Owasso!" If your friend then purchases a punch card, you will receive a FREE week for yourself in February. Congratulations to Maggie, Larry, and Brenda who have received a free week in February!
Read on at the end of the newsletter for how the NY Giants prepare for the big game...
*****Schedule for this week at Tranquility Yoga, February 4 - 11 is as follows: (Please note the difference this week only on Tuesday afternoon and night classes)
Today, Saturday, at 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
Today, Saturday, at 9:00 a.m. Beginner's Yoga for Core Strength
Sunday, February 5, at 2:30 p.m. Pose Specific Yoga
Monday, February 6, at 5:30 a.m. Sunrise/Energize Yoga
Monday, February 6, at 5:30 p.m. Toning and Conditioning Yoga
Tuesday, February 7, at 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. Yin Yoga (only class that day)
Wednesday, February 8, at 5:30 p.m. Beginner's Intro to Astanga Yoga
Thursday, February 9, at 5:30 a.m. Weight Loss Yoga
*Thursday, February 9, at 5:30 p.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Friday, February 10, at 4:15 p.m. Power Up Yoga
Saturday, February 11, at 7:00 a.m. Yoga for Athletes
Saturday, February 11, at 9:00 a.m. Beginner's Yoga for Core Strength
* The Thursday evening class will move back to 6:40 p.m. in June.
Upcoming events include another Yin Yoga class on Monday, February 13th at 7:15 p.m. and Partner Yoga practice on February 14th at 6:40 p.m.
*****
How does a professional football team prepare for the Super Bowl? Aside from typical running, throwing and strength training drills, the championship-bound New York Giants also reap the athletic benefits of season-long yoga sessions. Gwen Lawrence, celebrity yoga coach and spokesperson for Gaiam TV, has been teaching yoga for 22 years and working with the New York Giants for 11 years.“The Giants were my first professional team,” Lawrence said, who specializes in different forms of yoga, including Iyengar, Hatha, and Ashtanga Vinyasa, to engage the entire body and mind.Lawrence, who also works with the New York Knicks, Rangers and members of the Yankees, said she works with the Giants twice a week during pre-season to get the players in shape and prepare their bodies for the upcoming year.“These are pretty active, high intensity classes,” Lawrence said. “We do a lot of long, deep holds, some vinyasa.”Vinyasa yoga, or “power yoga,” focuses on the alignment of movement and breath. Each of the yoga poses are connected in flowing movements from one to the next. During the season, however, Lawrence said, her approach with the team changes. “In-season, I come in on Mondays and do post-game restorative work with the players,” she said. “I can’t just go in there and kick their butts and expect full-body participation.”The routine can change week-to-week, according to Lawrence, depending on how the players are feeling and which areas – such as their legs or their backs – are giving them problems.“You also have to take into account the different positions,” Lawrence said. “An offensive lineman is obviously different than a receiver – the demands on their bodies are different – but there are basic moves that benefit any position.”Among these moves, Lawrence’s post-game favorites include pigeon poses, frog poses and hero poses.The pigeon pose is a hip stretch that is done by bringing one knee forward and bending the leg in front of the body on the floor, while stretching the other leg out behind you. Your arms can be placed on the ground beside your or held above your head.“It’s a really deep hip opener that keeps your hips open and flexible,” Lawrence said. “It also reduces strain and stress on vulnerable knees.The frog pose, meanwhile, is done by lying face down, spreading your knees out on both sides and balancing on your heels, like a frog. Extend your arms, one at a time, out on the floor in front of you. The position opens the groin area and provides a slight back bend.Finally, the hero pose is done by kneeling on the floor, with your thighs touching, perpendicular to the floor. Set your feet apart slightly wider than your hips, with the tops of the feet flat on the floor and your big toes angled slightly inward. “It’s kneeling, keeping the quads open, and the ankles flexible and strong,” Lawrence said. All three of the moves, she said, are meant to improve flexibility, strength and prevent injuries. “My philosophy is, strength plus flexibility equals power on the field. Doing these moves not only keeps players less injury prone – because a tight, rigid body is more likely to crack and break – but they also translate into power.“Think of it this way,” Lawrence explained. “You have a bow and arrow, and the bow string is strong and unbreakable, but if it’s too tight, you can only pull it back an inch and the arrow flops down on the ground. But when the string is flexible, you can pull it far back, and the arrow has more power.”"When joints are open, strong and flexible like this, they can create more power with less effort on the field. That way, they can stay on the field longer and win the game in the end.”But physical toughness isn’t the only important benefit the players derive from yoga training, according to Lawrence. “We’re working on mental toughness, too,” she said. “Sometimes you have players with pre-game anxiety, and the breathing techniques they learn in yoga can help them cope.”Lawrence described how she helped a former Super Bowl champ deal with a medical condition while playing the game.“One of the players I worked with – Amani Toomer [who played for the New York Giants the last time they won the Super Bowl in 2008] – he had asthma, and I taught him specific breathing techniques to help with that.”The best aspect of practicing yoga with the players, Lawrence said, is that the moves aren’t solely meant for Super Bowl contenders. “I work with regular people and hear their problems; and I’ve worked with athletes for so long, I understand theirs as well – and honestly, it’s very similar,” Lawrence said. “I have my athletes, but I also have my soccer moms and other people, and they love it. It works well into their lives – and this goes across the board. It’s not just an athlete thing.”Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/03/yoga-how-new-york-giants-prepare-for-super-bowl/#ixzz1lP0rvi00
Hope to see you soon in practice!
Namaste'Jeanne Kay
P.S. Our receptionist watches the Super Bowl just to see the commercials! I just work on trying to stay awake!
-- Jeanne K. DossTranquility Yoga Studio Owner and InstructorRegistered Yoga Teacher - Yoga Alliance
Personal Certified Trainer - Cooper Institute
Certified Pilates, Aerobics Instructor
Zumba Training, Zumba I and Zumba Gold
“Yoga is really trying to liberate us from … shame about our bodies. To love your body is a very important thing — I think the health of your mind depends on your being able to love your body.”–Rodney YeeFor more information, please call 918-371-3841 or text me at 918-855-6459.
You can also "like" our Facebook page in order to receive updates on class themes and changes by going to Tranquility Yoga in Owasso. Once we make 150 friends, we will draw from that list for a free punch card of 8 classes ($45.00 value).
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