Take a big breath, reach for the sky and clear your mind of economic worry.
Practicing yoga at work has been known to reduce job related injuries and absenteeism, increase flexibility and strength and minimize healthcare costs. Its latest claim to fame, however, is relieving anxiety caused by recessionary fears.
Precisely because of their economic problems, folks are starting to feel that a calming yoga session is a luxury they cannot afford to be without. The classes I teach at New York City health clinic Callen Lorde, where gentle movement and inner focus is emphasized, have also been packed to capacity over the last several months.
But you needn't search for a group class in order to feel the benefits of yoga. The next time you need a break, skip the coffee and try one of these simple desk yoga sequences. Each one should take only three minutes or so. Practice two or three at a time, taking your time and being as easeful as possible without rushing. Remember, this is your time. The exercises below were developed with the help of Reflections Yoga director Paula Tursi, who provides weekly on site yoga classes to businesses including the Jewish Heritage Museum, the Church Pension Group and Young & Rubicam.
By Janet Aschkenasy
THE LATEST ASANA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Sunday, 29 March 2009
YOGA FOR AILMENTS
Jennifer Bockhorst leaves work a bit early most Wednesdays to drive from Abingdon, Va., to attend a yoga class in Kingsport. After suffering from migraine and tension headaches for years, Bockhorst decided to try yoga for the treatment and prevention of these headaches.
'I bought my first yoga video in 1997 and for about 10 years did yoga off and on with different videos. And though this did help my headaches, you never push yourself as hard with a video as you do in a class,' Bockhorst said.
She has since been regularly attending yoga classes at The Red Clover Wellness Spa and Yoga Studio in Kingsport and says the improvement in her headaches has 'been really dramatic.'
'I still get migraines, but not nearly as often and they don't last as long,' Bockhorst said.
At least two local physicians won't dispute what Bockhorst's yoga experience has brought her.
Dr. Reid Blackwelder is not only a physician at East Tennessee State University Family Physicians of Kingsport, he also practices yoga and teaches Bockhorst's yoga class at The Red Clover and says he recommends it to his patients 'all the time.'
By Marcie Gore
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
'I bought my first yoga video in 1997 and for about 10 years did yoga off and on with different videos. And though this did help my headaches, you never push yourself as hard with a video as you do in a class,' Bockhorst said.
She has since been regularly attending yoga classes at The Red Clover Wellness Spa and Yoga Studio in Kingsport and says the improvement in her headaches has 'been really dramatic.'
'I still get migraines, but not nearly as often and they don't last as long,' Bockhorst said.
At least two local physicians won't dispute what Bockhorst's yoga experience has brought her.
Dr. Reid Blackwelder is not only a physician at East Tennessee State University Family Physicians of Kingsport, he also practices yoga and teaches Bockhorst's yoga class at The Red Clover and says he recommends it to his patients 'all the time.'
By Marcie Gore
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Saturday, 21 March 2009
FREE YOGA SESSIONS
The stories kept coming.
One by one, Eileen Owoc and Dana Bardfeld would listen as clients spoke about lost jobs for themselves, family, neighbors and friends. The list kept growing. The pair, who own MindBody Connection in Cooper City, did more than lend a sympathetic ear, however.
'We thought, 'This is serious. What can we do to help?'' Bardfeld said.
Their solution: offer some downward dog mixed with hope at free classes they've titled Yoga for the Unemployed.
The series kicked off earlier this week. Sessions are open to the public from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Life coaching workshops at no charge are offered from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays.
The series is slated to run through April 30 but might be continued, depending on turn out, Owoc said.
'This is our way of giving back to the community,' she said.
Owoc said she has been blessed with a steady, loyal clientele since opening MindBody Connection four years ago in the Timberlake Plaza at 8620 Griffin Rd. Bardfeld came aboard as a business partner 18 months ago.
BY BETH FEINSTEIN BARTL
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
One by one, Eileen Owoc and Dana Bardfeld would listen as clients spoke about lost jobs for themselves, family, neighbors and friends. The list kept growing. The pair, who own MindBody Connection in Cooper City, did more than lend a sympathetic ear, however.
'We thought, 'This is serious. What can we do to help?'' Bardfeld said.
Their solution: offer some downward dog mixed with hope at free classes they've titled Yoga for the Unemployed.
The series kicked off earlier this week. Sessions are open to the public from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Life coaching workshops at no charge are offered from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays.
The series is slated to run through April 30 but might be continued, depending on turn out, Owoc said.
'This is our way of giving back to the community,' she said.
Owoc said she has been blessed with a steady, loyal clientele since opening MindBody Connection four years ago in the Timberlake Plaza at 8620 Griffin Rd. Bardfeld came aboard as a business partner 18 months ago.
BY BETH FEINSTEIN BARTL
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
YOGA AND MORE YOGA
Hot yoga. Cold yoga. Stone yoga. Yoga for moms and babies and yoga for guys too stiff to stretch.
Even as the economy twists us all in knots, this mind body discipline created millennia ago in India appears to be thriving, with more kinds of classes offering new adherents a soothing respite from today's troubles.
Yoga, an ancient Eastern discipline weaving together a series of static poses held over a period of time with controlled breathing and meditative focus, took off in earnest in the United States about two decades ago.
Until recent years, though, yoga devotees seemed to be mostly women who looked like classically trained ballet dancers on vegan diets.
But as celebrities and baby boomers began turning to it to help combat aging, the popularity of yoga exploded.
These days, classes are taught everywhere, from dozens of yoga studios in metro areas to senior centers to public schools.
And in many cases, the number of rubber mats are on the rise, with many studios saying their numbers are steady or even up.
By www.goerie.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Even as the economy twists us all in knots, this mind body discipline created millennia ago in India appears to be thriving, with more kinds of classes offering new adherents a soothing respite from today's troubles.
Yoga, an ancient Eastern discipline weaving together a series of static poses held over a period of time with controlled breathing and meditative focus, took off in earnest in the United States about two decades ago.
Until recent years, though, yoga devotees seemed to be mostly women who looked like classically trained ballet dancers on vegan diets.
But as celebrities and baby boomers began turning to it to help combat aging, the popularity of yoga exploded.
These days, classes are taught everywhere, from dozens of yoga studios in metro areas to senior centers to public schools.
And in many cases, the number of rubber mats are on the rise, with many studios saying their numbers are steady or even up.
By www.goerie.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Sunday, 15 March 2009
YOGA? JUST START!
I can’t tell you how many times I've heard it: 'Oh, you teach yoga! I'm not bendy enough for that!' Or, 'I'm too fat to do yoga!' Or, 'Yoga is for young, flexible people. I'd hurt myself.'
It's too bad that there are such misconceptions about this life sustaining practice. The truth is that yoga is for every person, every body type and every day. Anyone can do yoga? It's not just for the pretzel people! Just ask Matthew Sanford, an inspiring yoga teacher who is also a paraplegic.
It's about so much more than the physical practices. After all, asana is just one of the eight limbs of yoga outlined by the sage Patanjali. The goal of yoga isn't to get your foot behind your head, although that can be a small, novel benefit of long term practice. The goal of yoga is to find out who you are.
So, start where you are, whatever your particular needs, strengths and limitations. And be realistic: Just because yoga is for everyone doesn't mean we all belong in a Bikram or Ashtanga class, especially at first.
With a little searching, it's actually pretty amazing what a wealth of specialized Dallas yoga classes are out there. Prenatal yoga is available practically everywhere yoga is taught. But, for example, there are also yoga classes specially tailored for people recovering from cancer, people struggling with depression and addiction issues, people with back injuries. Specialized classes like these often focus more on breathing and meditiation, making for a more well rounded yoga practice.
Here are just a few Dallas yoga offerings that might surprise you and prompt you to do a little more searching of your own!
Yoga for Back Care? Yoga for Life, a studio and shop located at the southwest corner of Preston and 635, offers Yoga for Back Care classes twice a week, Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Among their offerings are also two weekly Yoga for Stress Relief classes, held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
11th Step Yoga? This monthly yoga series at Move Studio is specifically for individuals from any 12 step recovery program who would like to explore the practice of yoga as part of the spiritual journey of recovery. Liz Tucker leads this class from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month.
Candlelight Yoga?Surya Yoga of Coppell offers a short, relaxing Candlelight Yoga class every Wednesday evening at 7:15 p.m. This restorative class is gentle and slowly-paced, and props are used to support the body for relaxation and comfort. Candlelight Yoga is perfect for beginners, people recovering from illness or injury, those with physical limitations, or just anyone in need of some stress relief.
See individual studio Web sites to confirm days and times, as yoga studio schedules are subject to change. And stay tuned: I'll keep you posted on any special Dallas yoga offerings I come across.
By Liz Davis
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
It's too bad that there are such misconceptions about this life sustaining practice. The truth is that yoga is for every person, every body type and every day. Anyone can do yoga? It's not just for the pretzel people! Just ask Matthew Sanford, an inspiring yoga teacher who is also a paraplegic.
It's about so much more than the physical practices. After all, asana is just one of the eight limbs of yoga outlined by the sage Patanjali. The goal of yoga isn't to get your foot behind your head, although that can be a small, novel benefit of long term practice. The goal of yoga is to find out who you are.
So, start where you are, whatever your particular needs, strengths and limitations. And be realistic: Just because yoga is for everyone doesn't mean we all belong in a Bikram or Ashtanga class, especially at first.
With a little searching, it's actually pretty amazing what a wealth of specialized Dallas yoga classes are out there. Prenatal yoga is available practically everywhere yoga is taught. But, for example, there are also yoga classes specially tailored for people recovering from cancer, people struggling with depression and addiction issues, people with back injuries. Specialized classes like these often focus more on breathing and meditiation, making for a more well rounded yoga practice.
Here are just a few Dallas yoga offerings that might surprise you and prompt you to do a little more searching of your own!
Yoga for Back Care? Yoga for Life, a studio and shop located at the southwest corner of Preston and 635, offers Yoga for Back Care classes twice a week, Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Among their offerings are also two weekly Yoga for Stress Relief classes, held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
11th Step Yoga? This monthly yoga series at Move Studio is specifically for individuals from any 12 step recovery program who would like to explore the practice of yoga as part of the spiritual journey of recovery. Liz Tucker leads this class from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month.
Candlelight Yoga?Surya Yoga of Coppell offers a short, relaxing Candlelight Yoga class every Wednesday evening at 7:15 p.m. This restorative class is gentle and slowly-paced, and props are used to support the body for relaxation and comfort. Candlelight Yoga is perfect for beginners, people recovering from illness or injury, those with physical limitations, or just anyone in need of some stress relief.
See individual studio Web sites to confirm days and times, as yoga studio schedules are subject to change. And stay tuned: I'll keep you posted on any special Dallas yoga offerings I come across.
By Liz Davis
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
SOCCER AND YOGA
Last weekend Genoa lost their first home match of the season 2 0 against Serie A leaders Inter, but there was once again a whiff of controversy about the Nerazzurri's victory as on their second goal the ball probably didn't cross the line entirely.
Genoa president Enrico Preziosi admitted he is getting tired of the referees' poor performances.
'I don't know how long we will be able to keep our fair play policy going,' he told Sky.it. 'Both [coach Gian Piero] Gasperini and I were invited to a television show but we refused, perhaps I would have said too much. They always talk about the same four or five teams and I don't like this approach'.
'I think referees should refrain from having sympathies, and be conditioned by various factors, which happens a lot. I'd like them to ignore the name of the team they are refereeing, and apply the same standards against every team.'
The chief then came up with an unusual piece of advice for the referees.
'I would advise the referees to take a course in yoga before coming on the pitch, a course to avoid being conditioned,' he continued. 'I would also like to have foreign referees, especially English ones. Certainly they also make mistakes but they have a different mentality, they don't care about the media or slow motion cameras picking apart their mistakes.'
Genoa remain in contention for a Champions League spot as they are currently in fifth place with 45 points.
By Danilo Pochini
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Genoa president Enrico Preziosi admitted he is getting tired of the referees' poor performances.
'I don't know how long we will be able to keep our fair play policy going,' he told Sky.it. 'Both [coach Gian Piero] Gasperini and I were invited to a television show but we refused, perhaps I would have said too much. They always talk about the same four or five teams and I don't like this approach'.
'I think referees should refrain from having sympathies, and be conditioned by various factors, which happens a lot. I'd like them to ignore the name of the team they are refereeing, and apply the same standards against every team.'
The chief then came up with an unusual piece of advice for the referees.
'I would advise the referees to take a course in yoga before coming on the pitch, a course to avoid being conditioned,' he continued. 'I would also like to have foreign referees, especially English ones. Certainly they also make mistakes but they have a different mentality, they don't care about the media or slow motion cameras picking apart their mistakes.'
Genoa remain in contention for a Champions League spot as they are currently in fifth place with 45 points.
By Danilo Pochini
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 9 March 2009
YOGA AND OLD AGE
Yoga for rockers. And yoga for people who use rockers.
Hot yoga. Cold yoga. Stone yoga. Yoga for moms and babies and yoga for guys too stiff to stretch.
Even as the economy twists us all in knots, this mind body discipline created millennia ago in India appears to be thriving, with more kinds of classes offering new adherents a soothing respite from today's troubles.
Yoga, an ancient Eastern discipline weaving together a series of static poses held over a period of time with controlled breathing and meditative focus, took off in earnest in the United States about two decades ago. Until recent years, though, yoga devotees seemed to be mostly women who looked liked classically trained ballet dancers on vegan diets.
But as celebrities and baby boomers began turning to it to help combat aging, the popularity of yoga exploded. These days, classes are taught everywhere, from dozens of yoga studios across metro Atlanta to senior centers to public schools to the Georgia Aquarium. And in many cases, the number of rubber mats are on the rise, with many studios saying their numbers are steady or even up.
'People always say at the beginning of the year: I am going to get healthy,' said Ann Ritter, a longtime yoga instructor who teaches at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and at a new studio in Dunwoody. She has seen her enrollment double during the past several months. 'But this year, there's an extra incentive. People thinks it's absolutely essential to stay calm and reduce stress.'
Larry Rosenberg, training specialist for Arizona based Dahn Yoga (which has six studios in metro Atlanta) says emerging research demonstrating a connection between stress and many health woes including heart problems and high blood pressure also has helped buoy yoga into mainstream.
Crunch Fitness which has two locations in metro Atlanta offers 39 varieties of yoga, including stone yoga (incorporating crystals), buff yoga (focused on strength training), even a naptime yoga. The club will soon unveil an 'antigravity yoga class' that uses a soft, hammock like trapeze to mimic a floating like feeling.
Mats are mobbed
'It's my time to unwind,' said 25 year old Chris Iglinski, who works in real estate and started going to yoga about three months ago. 'I run and go on a bike and push myself physically, but with yoga, it's more internal, and after a class, I definitely feel more relaxed.'
About 16 million Americans now practice yoga, and it's estimated almost $6 billion was spent on yoga classes and products in 2008, almost double the amount spent in 2003.
Even those without cash to spare are turning to the discipline long championed for uncluttering the mind and providing a feeling of serenity. According to Yahoo.com, the number of online searches for 'Free Yoga Exercises Online' was up 59 percent during a recent 30 day period.
Improving overall health was the No. 1 reason cited by people practicing yoga in early 2008, according to a Yoga Journal study released recently. In 2003, the most common incentive was to increase flexibility.
Seeking peace of mind
At the Yoga Hive on Cleveland Avenue in southwest Atlanta, owner Mechelle Davis has watched a steady stream of newbies walk through the thick, cream colored curtains and take a seat in a room decorated with a waterfall scene.
Some of the yoga newbies include 46 year old Renard Mills, a former college football player who checked out a yoga presentation on a whim last year.
'At first, I thought, 'This is just stretching and a whole bunch of ladies.' I just didn't see how I could get any benefit out of it,' he said.
When he started, Mills, who stands more than 6 feet and weighs 270 pounds, couldn't do a basic Lotus pose, which involves sitting on the floor with legs crossed.
But the personal chef, who says he is facing a major slowdown in business these days, said he remembered feeling more at ease after the class at Yoga Hive. He now goes twice a week, clad in gray basketball pants and toting a purple yoga mat.
'I used to be a worrier, but I don't do that anymore,' he said. 'I just breathe. I walk this earth differently now.'
In his family budget, he said, 'yoga' is the second line item, after food.
Fun and flexibility
At a children's bookstore in Decatur, the class 'Reading Comes Alive With Yoga' does just that. On a recent Monday morning, a group of preschoolers barked like dogs and did the downward dog pose every time 'George,' star of Jules Feiffer's book 'Bark George,' barked in the book.
And at The Goddard School in Marietta on Providence Road, groups of preschoolers erupt like volcanoes and yell out, 'go away sadness.' They also take deep, sweet breaths from empty cinnamon jars.
Yvonne Beazer, who is 70, is glad to see so many youngsters get into yoga. She has been practicing for more than 30 years and credits it with allowing her to dance salsa. It also soothes the aches and pains of aging and helps in coping with stressful situations. Her Stockbridge home was recently burglarized and she could barely wait to do swan dives at her Monday morning class.
'I just knew it would make feel better and calm me down,' she said. 'And it did.'
And while surveys show that achieving greater flexibility is no longer a top reason for yoga, she says it definitely should not be dismissed.
'My husband likes it because I am more flexible,' she said. 'And let's just say it makes our house a happy home.'
A YOGA PRIMER
Namaste: At the end of a yoga class, most teachers bring their hands together, bow their head, and say, 'namaste.' Students do the same. Namaste literally means 'I bow to you' and is a sign of respect.
Karma class: A free yoga class. Many studios offer one from time to time. Decatur Yoga & Pilates offers one every Saturday afternoon. (Donations accepted).
Dahn yoga: A blend of yoga, tai chi and martial arts exercises
Bikram yoga: A series of 26 poses and breathing exercises repeated twice in a room heated to 105 degrees
Kundalini: Lots of chanting and repetitive movements such as waving arms that are designed to promote the release of dormant energy
Power yoga: One of the most physically (and spiritually) challenging forms. Poses can be advanced and held for long durations.
Hatha: Usually an eclectic blend of two or more styles. The studio can tell you if the class is vigorous or more meditative.
Source: Yoga Journal, Yoga Alliance
By Helena Oliviero
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Hot yoga. Cold yoga. Stone yoga. Yoga for moms and babies and yoga for guys too stiff to stretch.
Even as the economy twists us all in knots, this mind body discipline created millennia ago in India appears to be thriving, with more kinds of classes offering new adherents a soothing respite from today's troubles.
Yoga, an ancient Eastern discipline weaving together a series of static poses held over a period of time with controlled breathing and meditative focus, took off in earnest in the United States about two decades ago. Until recent years, though, yoga devotees seemed to be mostly women who looked liked classically trained ballet dancers on vegan diets.
But as celebrities and baby boomers began turning to it to help combat aging, the popularity of yoga exploded. These days, classes are taught everywhere, from dozens of yoga studios across metro Atlanta to senior centers to public schools to the Georgia Aquarium. And in many cases, the number of rubber mats are on the rise, with many studios saying their numbers are steady or even up.
'People always say at the beginning of the year: I am going to get healthy,' said Ann Ritter, a longtime yoga instructor who teaches at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and at a new studio in Dunwoody. She has seen her enrollment double during the past several months. 'But this year, there's an extra incentive. People thinks it's absolutely essential to stay calm and reduce stress.'
Larry Rosenberg, training specialist for Arizona based Dahn Yoga (which has six studios in metro Atlanta) says emerging research demonstrating a connection between stress and many health woes including heart problems and high blood pressure also has helped buoy yoga into mainstream.
Crunch Fitness which has two locations in metro Atlanta offers 39 varieties of yoga, including stone yoga (incorporating crystals), buff yoga (focused on strength training), even a naptime yoga. The club will soon unveil an 'antigravity yoga class' that uses a soft, hammock like trapeze to mimic a floating like feeling.
Mats are mobbed
'It's my time to unwind,' said 25 year old Chris Iglinski, who works in real estate and started going to yoga about three months ago. 'I run and go on a bike and push myself physically, but with yoga, it's more internal, and after a class, I definitely feel more relaxed.'
About 16 million Americans now practice yoga, and it's estimated almost $6 billion was spent on yoga classes and products in 2008, almost double the amount spent in 2003.
Even those without cash to spare are turning to the discipline long championed for uncluttering the mind and providing a feeling of serenity. According to Yahoo.com, the number of online searches for 'Free Yoga Exercises Online' was up 59 percent during a recent 30 day period.
Improving overall health was the No. 1 reason cited by people practicing yoga in early 2008, according to a Yoga Journal study released recently. In 2003, the most common incentive was to increase flexibility.
Seeking peace of mind
At the Yoga Hive on Cleveland Avenue in southwest Atlanta, owner Mechelle Davis has watched a steady stream of newbies walk through the thick, cream colored curtains and take a seat in a room decorated with a waterfall scene.
Some of the yoga newbies include 46 year old Renard Mills, a former college football player who checked out a yoga presentation on a whim last year.
'At first, I thought, 'This is just stretching and a whole bunch of ladies.' I just didn't see how I could get any benefit out of it,' he said.
When he started, Mills, who stands more than 6 feet and weighs 270 pounds, couldn't do a basic Lotus pose, which involves sitting on the floor with legs crossed.
But the personal chef, who says he is facing a major slowdown in business these days, said he remembered feeling more at ease after the class at Yoga Hive. He now goes twice a week, clad in gray basketball pants and toting a purple yoga mat.
'I used to be a worrier, but I don't do that anymore,' he said. 'I just breathe. I walk this earth differently now.'
In his family budget, he said, 'yoga' is the second line item, after food.
Fun and flexibility
At a children's bookstore in Decatur, the class 'Reading Comes Alive With Yoga' does just that. On a recent Monday morning, a group of preschoolers barked like dogs and did the downward dog pose every time 'George,' star of Jules Feiffer's book 'Bark George,' barked in the book.
And at The Goddard School in Marietta on Providence Road, groups of preschoolers erupt like volcanoes and yell out, 'go away sadness.' They also take deep, sweet breaths from empty cinnamon jars.
Yvonne Beazer, who is 70, is glad to see so many youngsters get into yoga. She has been practicing for more than 30 years and credits it with allowing her to dance salsa. It also soothes the aches and pains of aging and helps in coping with stressful situations. Her Stockbridge home was recently burglarized and she could barely wait to do swan dives at her Monday morning class.
'I just knew it would make feel better and calm me down,' she said. 'And it did.'
And while surveys show that achieving greater flexibility is no longer a top reason for yoga, she says it definitely should not be dismissed.
'My husband likes it because I am more flexible,' she said. 'And let's just say it makes our house a happy home.'
A YOGA PRIMER
Namaste: At the end of a yoga class, most teachers bring their hands together, bow their head, and say, 'namaste.' Students do the same. Namaste literally means 'I bow to you' and is a sign of respect.
Karma class: A free yoga class. Many studios offer one from time to time. Decatur Yoga & Pilates offers one every Saturday afternoon. (Donations accepted).
Dahn yoga: A blend of yoga, tai chi and martial arts exercises
Bikram yoga: A series of 26 poses and breathing exercises repeated twice in a room heated to 105 degrees
Kundalini: Lots of chanting and repetitive movements such as waving arms that are designed to promote the release of dormant energy
Power yoga: One of the most physically (and spiritually) challenging forms. Poses can be advanced and held for long durations.
Hatha: Usually an eclectic blend of two or more styles. The studio can tell you if the class is vigorous or more meditative.
Source: Yoga Journal, Yoga Alliance
By Helena Oliviero
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Friday, 6 March 2009
CANCER AND YOGA
According to Yoga Journal, an estimated 16 million people in the United States practice some form of yoga, a set of physical and mental practices that originated in India more than 3,000 years ago.
A third of Americans also seek alternative treatments such as yoga for their ailments. Like the Eastern medicinal practices acupuncture and massage, yoga is often used to heal the mind and body. At one New York Hospital, yoga is being used to help cancer patients deal with the symptoms of the disease and treatment.
Many people picture yoga as vigorous stretching, contorted body positions, sweat and spandex.
But the yoga students at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York are not ordinary practitioners.
Brad Rothschild, a 39 year old father of three, was diagnosed last year with cancer. Yoga teacher Shana Kuhn Siegel leads Rothschild in a pilot program aimed at alleviating the suffering of cancer patients.
It is not a cure, but Shana says she hopes she can reduce pain and promote relaxation. 'I had a woman this morning who was in the most excruciating abdominal pain, I mean, in tears, and it was just a matter of turning her to her side, putting pillows between her knees, putting pillows between her feet, making sure that her arms were elevated, making sure that her head had enough support,' she explains.
Hospital administrators started the 'The Karan Beth Israel Project' with an $850,000 donation from U.S. fashion designer and yoga devotee Donna Karan.
By Paige Kollock
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
A third of Americans also seek alternative treatments such as yoga for their ailments. Like the Eastern medicinal practices acupuncture and massage, yoga is often used to heal the mind and body. At one New York Hospital, yoga is being used to help cancer patients deal with the symptoms of the disease and treatment.
Many people picture yoga as vigorous stretching, contorted body positions, sweat and spandex.
But the yoga students at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York are not ordinary practitioners.
Brad Rothschild, a 39 year old father of three, was diagnosed last year with cancer. Yoga teacher Shana Kuhn Siegel leads Rothschild in a pilot program aimed at alleviating the suffering of cancer patients.
It is not a cure, but Shana says she hopes she can reduce pain and promote relaxation. 'I had a woman this morning who was in the most excruciating abdominal pain, I mean, in tears, and it was just a matter of turning her to her side, putting pillows between her knees, putting pillows between her feet, making sure that her arms were elevated, making sure that her head had enough support,' she explains.
Hospital administrators started the 'The Karan Beth Israel Project' with an $850,000 donation from U.S. fashion designer and yoga devotee Donna Karan.
By Paige Kollock
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 2 March 2009
YOGA AND SILENCE
Terry Miller is a former nurse certified in the science of yoga, craniosacral and trauma release therapy. She is also the founder of Quiet Mind Retreats, a practitioner at Lily Pond Aquatic Therapies, and host of 'Living a Good Life,' a weekly wellness radio show on WRFR.
Miller relishes the benefits of silence, and will be offering a one-day silent retreat on Saturday, March 14, at Lily Pond House in Rockport.
'Silence opens up a sacred space of time, allowing us to pause from the everyday routine of life to quiet the mind, soften the body and ease the breath,' says Miller.
'Silence offers an opportunity to practice awareness and acceptance of our experiences from moment to moment,' she continues, 'and to observe how the relationship between thoughts and behaviors affects the conditions of the mind/body.'
For more information about the practice of silence, and about her retreat, call Terry at 785 5785, or visit online at totalhealthalliance.net.
By Carole Hallundbaek
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Miller relishes the benefits of silence, and will be offering a one-day silent retreat on Saturday, March 14, at Lily Pond House in Rockport.
'Silence opens up a sacred space of time, allowing us to pause from the everyday routine of life to quiet the mind, soften the body and ease the breath,' says Miller.
'Silence offers an opportunity to practice awareness and acceptance of our experiences from moment to moment,' she continues, 'and to observe how the relationship between thoughts and behaviors affects the conditions of the mind/body.'
For more information about the practice of silence, and about her retreat, call Terry at 785 5785, or visit online at totalhealthalliance.net.
By Carole Hallundbaek
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Sunday, 1 March 2009
HASYA YOGA
US Army plans to use 'Hasya Yoga' or Laughter Yoga to help Iraqi war soldiers overcome post traumatic stress disorders.
Turning to Yoga to treat US soldiers returning from Iraq is the project planned to be started by a hospital for Army veterans in the American State of Arizona, which has so far found post traumatic stress difficult to manage.
The Laughter Yoga, which is called 'Hasya Yoga' in Sanskrit, is being modified a little bit to make it more relevant for the Iraq war veterans, a large number of whom are said to be suffering from this difficult syndrome, by Dr Andy Weil, Director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and an Indian American doctor.
Weil believes that this branch of yoga coming from India has the potential to successfully treat the Iraq war veterans suffering from such syndrome.
'A colleague of mine, Dr Gulshan Sethi, a cardiothoracic surgeon in Tucson, a recent graduate of our integrative medicine fellowship, and I are proposing a research project with a group of Iraq war veterans at the VA (Veteran Affairs) VA Hospital out there, who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder,' Dr Weil told a Senate panel on Thursday.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Health, Education and labour on a hearing on integrative care, Weil said that he is fascinated by Laughter Yoga.
By Press Trust of India
THE LATEST HASYA YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Turning to Yoga to treat US soldiers returning from Iraq is the project planned to be started by a hospital for Army veterans in the American State of Arizona, which has so far found post traumatic stress difficult to manage.
The Laughter Yoga, which is called 'Hasya Yoga' in Sanskrit, is being modified a little bit to make it more relevant for the Iraq war veterans, a large number of whom are said to be suffering from this difficult syndrome, by Dr Andy Weil, Director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and an Indian American doctor.
Weil believes that this branch of yoga coming from India has the potential to successfully treat the Iraq war veterans suffering from such syndrome.
'A colleague of mine, Dr Gulshan Sethi, a cardiothoracic surgeon in Tucson, a recent graduate of our integrative medicine fellowship, and I are proposing a research project with a group of Iraq war veterans at the VA (Veteran Affairs) VA Hospital out there, who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder,' Dr Weil told a Senate panel on Thursday.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Health, Education and labour on a hearing on integrative care, Weil said that he is fascinated by Laughter Yoga.
By Press Trust of India
THE LATEST HASYA YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
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