Gratitude and thanksgiving

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, try adding an "attitude of gratitude" to your day by mentally listing (or journaling) the things you are happy for and grateful for. When we spend each day noticing all that we have, our outlook improves and we begin to see more and more abundance around us.
This is not to say that we should avoid or deny our troubles.....but instead of worrying and brooding about the negative....make a conscious decision to focus on what is good, right, true and lovely about your life right now.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Input???

Hey everyone,
I am working now on my schedule for yoga classes to begin in January 2010. If you have feedback about a time/place/day of the week that you'd like to see a class offered....I'd love to hear from you! Post on this blog....or send me an email at: karenyogam@gmail.com
Peace,
Karen

More health benefits of yoga!

Number 2 on the list of health benefits:

Pain Relief: Yoga can reduce pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain, and other chronic conditions.

As our country debates the options/benefits of overhauling our health care system...one thing that frustrates me is the lack of attention and focus put on wellness and prevention (not as much money in these endeavors I guess as there is on the treatment end) as well as non-medical treatments like diet and exercise. If you are suffering from a chronic condition....try yoga. If you are not dealing with a chronic condition....keep it that way by practicing self care and investing in your own health. Start small...add a walk around the block.....drink more water.....cut back on fast food...take a yoga class :)

Have a peaceful and healthy day!
Karen

The health benefits of Yoga

Found a resource that was provided by the National Yoga month organization that lists 7 health benefits of yoga. I thought I'd share one from the list every once in awhile, so we all can be reminded of the many wonderful effects that yoga can produce!

1. Stress Relief: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of stress hormones. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

Quite a list of benefits.....remind yourself of one of them the next time you are considering whether or not to attend a yoga class. Yoga is fun...and good for you!!

Peace,

Flexibility in mind and body

One of the things I keep discovering about yoga is its power as a practice to help me build a strong and flexible body....and a clear and more flexible mind!! I can go into a yoga practice with any number of things that are weighing on my mind and making me grumpy....and after some yoga breath work and postures, those same issues just do not seem as irritating as they were before. Just as we work on release and letting go in class....these same ideas go to work on my mind and thinking. I can release old hurts and anger...and let go of expectations and fears.

Keep coming back to the mat....May you find and notice new peace and flexibility...and true connection of body, mind and spirit.