Sunday, June 26, 2016
Just a reminder.....
No yoga classes this week at either site! Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July week! Take a few moments to connect with your breath and be thankful for the freedoms you enjoy. Be well.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
One Month Away.....
Wow....Summer is now moving full speed ahead!
Make sure you take some time for yoga this summer. One of my favorite things is to practice yoga outdoors, so I am holding a "second annual" outdoor yoga class to raise money and donations for the local Eagan food shelf called Open Door. The class is now one month away, so be sure to mark your calendars so that you can participate.
Here are the details:
Tuesday evening July 19 6:30-7:30pm
On the lawn at All Saints Lutheran Church, 3810 Lexington Ave S, Eagan MN
Suggested donation:$10 per person and items for the food shelf
Men, women, and youth 14+ are encouraged to attend
Rain or shine (we'll move indoors if the weather doesn't cooperate)
Bring a yoga mat or beach towel, water, and a smile!
Make sure you take some time for yoga this summer. One of my favorite things is to practice yoga outdoors, so I am holding a "second annual" outdoor yoga class to raise money and donations for the local Eagan food shelf called Open Door. The class is now one month away, so be sure to mark your calendars so that you can participate.
Here are the details:
Tuesday evening July 19 6:30-7:30pm
On the lawn at All Saints Lutheran Church, 3810 Lexington Ave S, Eagan MN
Suggested donation:$10 per person and items for the food shelf
Men, women, and youth 14+ are encouraged to attend
Rain or shine (we'll move indoors if the weather doesn't cooperate)
Bring a yoga mat or beach towel, water, and a smile!
Monday, June 13, 2016
Peace, Love, Yoga!
As is true for all of us, my heart is heavy after yet another deadly shooting of innocent people. I hope and pray that this time will be the "tipping point," when good people collectively shout ENOUGH!
May we all speak calmly and reasonably to one another. May we seek to understand various ideas and perspectives and to try to make a difference to end the senseless violence.
For now, I pray for guidance. I will return to my yoga mat to practice being still and quiet, trying to discern and be open to how I can individually be part of a larger solution. Yoga is about unity: a bringing together of body, mind, and spirit. It is about shared community and an understanding that we are deeply connected to one another as a human family. So I will begin with my own yoga practice as a way to seek peace and deeper understanding.
May we all work for peace. May we find ways to love and support one another over feeling frightened and separate. Small things done with great love are important and make a difference.
May all people be happy. May all people be healthy. May all people live in peace.
May we all speak calmly and reasonably to one another. May we seek to understand various ideas and perspectives and to try to make a difference to end the senseless violence.
For now, I pray for guidance. I will return to my yoga mat to practice being still and quiet, trying to discern and be open to how I can individually be part of a larger solution. Yoga is about unity: a bringing together of body, mind, and spirit. It is about shared community and an understanding that we are deeply connected to one another as a human family. So I will begin with my own yoga practice as a way to seek peace and deeper understanding.
May we all work for peace. May we find ways to love and support one another over feeling frightened and separate. Small things done with great love are important and make a difference.
May all people be happy. May all people be healthy. May all people live in peace.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Form and Asana
Some of you may wonder why I talk and provide so much verbal cueing related to the tiny details of yoga poses in class. I wonder sometimes if this gets misinterpreted to mean that if somehow you managed to get each detail "just so" then it means that you are a good and accomplished yogi. I have said, and maybe don't say it enough, that there is no such thing as a perfect yoga pose. Sadly, magazines and Instagram pics of skilled yogis may reinforce this idea that rocking an asana or yoga pose means you are somehow a more proficient or closer to perfect yogi than someone else.
I cue little details of poses for a couple of reasons: one, for safety. Good alignment and basic body mechanics will help to avoid injury. My number one goal as a yoga teacher is to provide a positive yoga experience in which everyone leaves class feeling better than when they arrived. So this goal is not realized if students feel overly sore or injured after completing a class.
The second reason for all this cuing and detail, and one that is much less important to me, is that if you practice postures in optimal alignment, then you get more bang for your buck. In other words, you use and build muscles more effectively or get a better stretch. Again, I would rather see my students enjoying a class and feeling good about their body and practice over attempting to make sure everyone gets a "good workout." That's only one aspect of a yoga practice; yes, it can help us build strength, stamina and flexibility, but I am going for contentment, stress relief, and peace of mind as well!
The third idea behind all of these verbal cues about good form is about trying to get students to pay attention to sensation and how their bodies feel in a particular pose. In the world of trauma-informed yoga, instructors are taught to invite students to try out a form rather than naming and describing a yoga posture at all. The idea is to allow students to make their own decisions about how and if they will move their bodies and giving control back to the individual who has experienced victimization by someone who exerted power and control over them. So cues are about choices, and staying present with body sensation. I like these concepts as I think all of us can benefit from feeling good about our bodies, making choices and decisions that make sense for us, and providing room for variations in our practices on the mat. I love nothing more than seeing a variety of movements and postures in my classes as it tells me that people are honoring their bodies and paying attention to their own practice.
I hope to always make it clear that everything is optional in class. Feeling pushed, coerced, or urged to compete with other students in the room moves us away from yoga's power to change us in subtle ways, from the inside out.
Please feel free to share with me if there are ways that I can make you feel more comfortable in class. My goal is to provide a safe experience, in body, mind and spirit and I am open to feedback about how to effectively provide this for you. Thanks for your participation and the warmth and energy that you bring with you to class!
I cue little details of poses for a couple of reasons: one, for safety. Good alignment and basic body mechanics will help to avoid injury. My number one goal as a yoga teacher is to provide a positive yoga experience in which everyone leaves class feeling better than when they arrived. So this goal is not realized if students feel overly sore or injured after completing a class.
The second reason for all this cuing and detail, and one that is much less important to me, is that if you practice postures in optimal alignment, then you get more bang for your buck. In other words, you use and build muscles more effectively or get a better stretch. Again, I would rather see my students enjoying a class and feeling good about their body and practice over attempting to make sure everyone gets a "good workout." That's only one aspect of a yoga practice; yes, it can help us build strength, stamina and flexibility, but I am going for contentment, stress relief, and peace of mind as well!
The third idea behind all of these verbal cues about good form is about trying to get students to pay attention to sensation and how their bodies feel in a particular pose. In the world of trauma-informed yoga, instructors are taught to invite students to try out a form rather than naming and describing a yoga posture at all. The idea is to allow students to make their own decisions about how and if they will move their bodies and giving control back to the individual who has experienced victimization by someone who exerted power and control over them. So cues are about choices, and staying present with body sensation. I like these concepts as I think all of us can benefit from feeling good about our bodies, making choices and decisions that make sense for us, and providing room for variations in our practices on the mat. I love nothing more than seeing a variety of movements and postures in my classes as it tells me that people are honoring their bodies and paying attention to their own practice.
I hope to always make it clear that everything is optional in class. Feeling pushed, coerced, or urged to compete with other students in the room moves us away from yoga's power to change us in subtle ways, from the inside out.
Please feel free to share with me if there are ways that I can make you feel more comfortable in class. My goal is to provide a safe experience, in body, mind and spirit and I am open to feedback about how to effectively provide this for you. Thanks for your participation and the warmth and energy that you bring with you to class!
Monday, May 23, 2016
The Land of Good Intentions!
Yikes! It has been a month since I updated this blog! Holy procrastination! I will try, once again, to turn over a new leaf and be more predictable and consistent with my updates.
Several cool things to announce:
Yoga Moodra will have 2 summer-time classes running in June and July of 2016. Monday's class at Advent UMC will start their 5 class summer session in 2 weeks: June 6-July 25 (no class on 6/27, 7/4, and 7/11). Thursday's class at All Saints Lutheran will meet for 6 weeks running June 9-July 21 (no class on June 30).
Yoga Moodra will hold a donation based community outdoor yoga class on Tuesday evening July 19th at 6:30pm on the lawn of All Saints Lutheran in Eagan. Suggested donation: $10 and/or food items to be donated to the local food shelf, Open Door. Come and do some yoga outside, celebrate summer, and support a good cause!
Yoga Moodra has expanded its online presence in a number of ways! As some of you know, Yoga Moodra now has a website! Go to www.yoga-moodra.com or use the website button on this blog page to take you there. I also have a yoga teacher listing with my class information on a website called YogaTrail. Have a look and become a follower! When I get new followers and reviews on that site, I get credits to post information about events and workshops, so I'd love your support there. Thanks to those of you who "follow" already! Yoga Moodra also has a Facebook page, so check that out too! From time to time, I also list classes and special events on the Eagan Patch and Savage Pacer news sites. Let me know what formats and locations you find the most useful and user friendly. The goal is to communicate with students and those who are curious about getting started with a yoga practice, so let me know if you think there are ways I could communicate more effectively.
Summer is fast approaching....thanks for your interest and participation in yoga. Make sure that you save some time in your busy summer schedule to bend and breathe!
Several cool things to announce:
Yoga Moodra will have 2 summer-time classes running in June and July of 2016. Monday's class at Advent UMC will start their 5 class summer session in 2 weeks: June 6-July 25 (no class on 6/27, 7/4, and 7/11). Thursday's class at All Saints Lutheran will meet for 6 weeks running June 9-July 21 (no class on June 30).
Yoga Moodra will hold a donation based community outdoor yoga class on Tuesday evening July 19th at 6:30pm on the lawn of All Saints Lutheran in Eagan. Suggested donation: $10 and/or food items to be donated to the local food shelf, Open Door. Come and do some yoga outside, celebrate summer, and support a good cause!
Yoga Moodra has expanded its online presence in a number of ways! As some of you know, Yoga Moodra now has a website! Go to www.yoga-moodra.com or use the website button on this blog page to take you there. I also have a yoga teacher listing with my class information on a website called YogaTrail. Have a look and become a follower! When I get new followers and reviews on that site, I get credits to post information about events and workshops, so I'd love your support there. Thanks to those of you who "follow" already! Yoga Moodra also has a Facebook page, so check that out too! From time to time, I also list classes and special events on the Eagan Patch and Savage Pacer news sites. Let me know what formats and locations you find the most useful and user friendly. The goal is to communicate with students and those who are curious about getting started with a yoga practice, so let me know if you think there are ways I could communicate more effectively.
Summer is fast approaching....thanks for your interest and participation in yoga. Make sure that you save some time in your busy summer schedule to bend and breathe!
Monday, April 25, 2016
New sessions!
Just a quick reminder that the Thursday evening Yoga Moodra class at All Saints Lutheran in Eagan has a new session starting this week: April 28. The Tuesday class at Glendale United Methodist in Savage has a new session starting next week: May 3. See the left side-bar for class dates/details. My website has class dates posted as well at www.yoga-moodra.com. Or click on the 'website' button at the top left of the page to go to the website directly! Cool, huh?
See you on the mat!
See you on the mat!
Monday, April 18, 2016
5 reasons why Yoga is done in bare feet!
New students in my yoga classes often keep their socks on! Eventually, they usually follow the rest of the group and join in with bare feet (and of course, it is always a choice!). But some of you might be wondering....why is yoga done with bare feet? Here are 5 reasons why!
1. Being barefoot allows us to strengthen the feet
Most shoes, and especially athletic shoes, are designed to support and cushion the foot, which is great, but that cushioning effect sometimes prevents stretches and movement that strengthen our feet.
2. Stability
Socks can be slippery! Standing yoga postures need a firm connection to the floor so that you can feel stable and steady in your practice. Yoga mats are made "sticky" for this same reason. We risk injury if we suddenly slip and slide! If your feet are cold or you have some other need to keep your feet covered, then some grippy toe socks are your best bet so that you keep your feet firmly where you put em!
3. Pada Bandha.
Pada what??? A bandha in yoga is a "lock" or "seal" and Pada Bandha is a foot lock. When we feel the feet firmly grounding us to the earth by spreading the toes and lifting the arch a bit in our feet, we root or find stability for the rest of our system. This foot lock or seal cannot be done in a shoe; we need to feel connected to the floor and the earth below us to feel stable, grounded, and supported as we go on to build any standing asana or posture.
4. Respectful transition
Many of us take off our shoes when we enter our homes in order to keep dirt and grime from being tracked into our living space. Taking off our shoes in yoga is a sign of respect as we transition to our mats and shift from being out in the gritty world to being fully present and ready for yoga practice. One other note, it is good manners to avoid walking on anyone else's mat. By doing so, you respect the cleanliness of another student's mat and you recognize a boundary that says 'that's your space.'
5. No special equipment required
Yoga is a practice that has been around for centuries....long before many people owned or wore shoes or socks! Ultimately, yoga is a simple practice for living that we should be able to do anywhere. Sticky mats, blocks, straps, cushions, cute yoga pants and all the rest are mainly creature comforts that we have added along the way to make our yoga practice more comfortable. There's nothing wrong with comfort, but remember that you don't need special footwear or anything else to practice yoga.
1. Being barefoot allows us to strengthen the feet
Most shoes, and especially athletic shoes, are designed to support and cushion the foot, which is great, but that cushioning effect sometimes prevents stretches and movement that strengthen our feet.
2. Stability
Socks can be slippery! Standing yoga postures need a firm connection to the floor so that you can feel stable and steady in your practice. Yoga mats are made "sticky" for this same reason. We risk injury if we suddenly slip and slide! If your feet are cold or you have some other need to keep your feet covered, then some grippy toe socks are your best bet so that you keep your feet firmly where you put em!
3. Pada Bandha.
Pada what??? A bandha in yoga is a "lock" or "seal" and Pada Bandha is a foot lock. When we feel the feet firmly grounding us to the earth by spreading the toes and lifting the arch a bit in our feet, we root or find stability for the rest of our system. This foot lock or seal cannot be done in a shoe; we need to feel connected to the floor and the earth below us to feel stable, grounded, and supported as we go on to build any standing asana or posture.
4. Respectful transition
Many of us take off our shoes when we enter our homes in order to keep dirt and grime from being tracked into our living space. Taking off our shoes in yoga is a sign of respect as we transition to our mats and shift from being out in the gritty world to being fully present and ready for yoga practice. One other note, it is good manners to avoid walking on anyone else's mat. By doing so, you respect the cleanliness of another student's mat and you recognize a boundary that says 'that's your space.'
5. No special equipment required
Yoga is a practice that has been around for centuries....long before many people owned or wore shoes or socks! Ultimately, yoga is a simple practice for living that we should be able to do anywhere. Sticky mats, blocks, straps, cushions, cute yoga pants and all the rest are mainly creature comforts that we have added along the way to make our yoga practice more comfortable. There's nothing wrong with comfort, but remember that you don't need special footwear or anything else to practice yoga.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
