Whether your goal is to win a major golf tournament with a torn ACL and double stress fracture in your leg or just break 100 one day soon, there's no denying the importance of a strong and healthy body.
Beyond the usual work on the swing and positive mental approach, Tina Gokstorp has one more suggestion, yoga.
Gokstorp owns and operates OSO Yoga in London and Ailsa Craig and specializes in relating yoga techniques to other sports. An avid athlete, she sustained a running injury seven years ago. After trying a lot of traditional treatments without much success, she turned to yoga, almost out of desperation.
'I didn't think it was very athletic and it took me a while to come around to it,' she says candidly. 'But then it just clicked, and I realized what a perfect complement it is for people doing other sports.'
Today, Gokstorp, 35, specializes in yoga classes geared to runners, kids and golfers.
She has teamed up with one of London's best known golf pros, Bob Martin, and his partner, Ron Lampman, to offer a unique set of golf performance clinics for men, women and juniors this summer.
Martin and Lampman operate Golf Unleashed Entertainment. They travel to a variety of events and entertain crowds of golf fans with an almost unbelievable assortment of trick shots.
'We're both golf pros, but what we do with Golf Unleashed is entertainment,' says Martin, 68. 'It's a lot of fun.'
Lampman, 39, handles most of the trick shots at the clinic. He finished third at the 2006 world golf trick shot championships and also competes in long drive championships, where his record is 412 yards.
The Golf Unleashed website gives a sample of some of the eye popping shots he can make. Though there's rarely a need when playing a Saturday round of golf with friends to juggle a ball with an iron before hitting it with a driver, or to hit a ball while balanced on a medicine ball, it's fun to watch.
In addition, Martin and Lampman work with a Kitchener-based company, Golf Without Limits, to offer hands on instruction and high-tech feedback to golfers who want to improve.
'When you add the entertainment we offer, the Golf Without Limits clinics and Tina's expertise on yoga, it's a complete package,' says Martin.' There's nothing like it anywhere.'
Gokstorp uses the highly regarded Katherine Roberts Yoga for Golfers program, which she says helps golfers to develop better stability, flexibility and a stronger back, a worthwhile combination for golfers and non golfers alike.
The clinics concentrate on more traditional golf teaching, from the swing to the short game. But all three partners believe the emphasis on yoga acts as a catalyst, so all the instruction has more impact on players' games because they can do more with their bodies.
The next Golf Unleashed show is July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Bob Martin's practice facility on Wonderland Road South.
The trio also is organizing several golf trips to locations such as Myrtle Beach, S.C., this fall and winter. They will include lessons, lectures, golf fitness and golf at top courses.
By CHRISTOPHER CLARK
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 30 June 2008
YOGA AND FACIAL BEAUTY
Cleansing, toning, moisturizing is out of fashion and now there's a new way to facial care. Yoga! That's right! Now you can do yoga to tone up your facial muscles. And it's not just for the 50 plus, but even the y gen. Yoga will make you look vibrant, glowing and youthful. So junk all that boring skin and face routine. And the best part is, you can do this even in the car before you reach your workplace! So here are some ways to tone up your face:
1. Lion's roar
Open your eyes wide and stretch the tongue out and down as much as you can. Now roar like a lion. Bring as much tension as you can to your face and neck. Hold it for about 20 counts with normal breathing. Then relax. Now, you can see your face going red with increased blood circulation. This will help you fight the wrinkles and instead you'll get glowing skin.
2. Laugh it off
This is something that comes most naturally to all of us. Still to get you in the habit, you can join a laughter club in your neighbourhood park, or better still, try watching a cartoon a day. All this will surely make you laugh.
Apart from the numerous benefits of laughter, here’s what it does to your face: it brings a happy glow to your face and makes your eyes shine with a thin film of tears. This helps to increase the lung capacity, thus enhancing oxygen supply to the body and face and toning those uncorked muscles.
3. Exaggerated vowels
Try and stretch and exaggerate each vowel loudly, putting as many facial muscles to use as possible. Aaaa—eeee---iiiii----ooooo----uuuuu. This is regarded as one of the oldest facial exercises with all good benefits for the face one can think of. And moreover, its fun getting back to kindergarten!
About the author: Juhi is a yoga and naturopath buff since the age of eight. She believes that yoga is the best way of life and wishes to promote it thus, especially amongst the younger generation. Mail your queries to her at… juhi217@hotmail.com.
By Juhi
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
1. Lion's roar
Open your eyes wide and stretch the tongue out and down as much as you can. Now roar like a lion. Bring as much tension as you can to your face and neck. Hold it for about 20 counts with normal breathing. Then relax. Now, you can see your face going red with increased blood circulation. This will help you fight the wrinkles and instead you'll get glowing skin.
2. Laugh it off
This is something that comes most naturally to all of us. Still to get you in the habit, you can join a laughter club in your neighbourhood park, or better still, try watching a cartoon a day. All this will surely make you laugh.
Apart from the numerous benefits of laughter, here’s what it does to your face: it brings a happy glow to your face and makes your eyes shine with a thin film of tears. This helps to increase the lung capacity, thus enhancing oxygen supply to the body and face and toning those uncorked muscles.
3. Exaggerated vowels
Try and stretch and exaggerate each vowel loudly, putting as many facial muscles to use as possible. Aaaa—eeee---iiiii----ooooo----uuuuu. This is regarded as one of the oldest facial exercises with all good benefits for the face one can think of. And moreover, its fun getting back to kindergarten!
About the author: Juhi is a yoga and naturopath buff since the age of eight. She believes that yoga is the best way of life and wishes to promote it thus, especially amongst the younger generation. Mail your queries to her at… juhi217@hotmail.com.
By Juhi
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Friday, 27 June 2008
YOGA ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE
Shemaroo Entertainment has released Shilpa Shetty's yoga DVDs and VCDs on mobile. The company has tied up with various mobile operators to offer content for download to mobile phone customers.
The videos have been cut and edited such that each video captures one complete Asana. The Asanas are categorized according to the benefits they provide like Back Asanas, Stomach Asanas, Neck & Shoulder Asanas and Pranayam [Breathing] among others. Also on offer are detailed write ups explaining the benefits and description of each Asana. Apart from these videos, consumers can also have Shetty in her Yoga poses as their mobile wall papers and screen savers.
Vodafone is offering a pack of Rs 99 where the user can download unlimited Shilpa's Yoga videos in one hour. The pack also contains a step by step process of each Asana. Likewise Airtel, Tata, Reliance, BPL and Idea are also offering Shilpa's Yoga content for download.
Shilpa's Yoga is picturized on the scenic beach in Kerala with ceremonial elephants and Kalaripayattu fighters in the background. And the Asanas are demonstrated in a simplified manner.
Directed by Manish Jha, under the instruction of Yoga instructor Shiv Kumar Mishra and produced by Shetty, the Yoga DVDs & VCDs were released in Delhi on 6 June where Shetty launched them along with other eminent personalities.
During the launch of Shilpa's Yoga DVDs & VCDs, Shetty said, "Unlike other fitness regimes, we do not have to rely on equipments for practicing yoga; we just have to rely on our self. The objective of Shilpa's Yoga is to make 'practicing yoga' simple for people. I am completely overwhelmed by the beauty and power of yoga. It is a lifestyle choice."
Adds Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada, 'We wanted to give consumers anytime, anywhere access to Shilpa's Yoga content. The DVD and Digital sales, both compliment each other. Many consumers decide to buy the complete DVD after sampling the videos on their mobile phone....'
By www.businessofcinema.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
The videos have been cut and edited such that each video captures one complete Asana. The Asanas are categorized according to the benefits they provide like Back Asanas, Stomach Asanas, Neck & Shoulder Asanas and Pranayam [Breathing] among others. Also on offer are detailed write ups explaining the benefits and description of each Asana. Apart from these videos, consumers can also have Shetty in her Yoga poses as their mobile wall papers and screen savers.
Vodafone is offering a pack of Rs 99 where the user can download unlimited Shilpa's Yoga videos in one hour. The pack also contains a step by step process of each Asana. Likewise Airtel, Tata, Reliance, BPL and Idea are also offering Shilpa's Yoga content for download.
Shilpa's Yoga is picturized on the scenic beach in Kerala with ceremonial elephants and Kalaripayattu fighters in the background. And the Asanas are demonstrated in a simplified manner.
Directed by Manish Jha, under the instruction of Yoga instructor Shiv Kumar Mishra and produced by Shetty, the Yoga DVDs & VCDs were released in Delhi on 6 June where Shetty launched them along with other eminent personalities.
During the launch of Shilpa's Yoga DVDs & VCDs, Shetty said, "Unlike other fitness regimes, we do not have to rely on equipments for practicing yoga; we just have to rely on our self. The objective of Shilpa's Yoga is to make 'practicing yoga' simple for people. I am completely overwhelmed by the beauty and power of yoga. It is a lifestyle choice."
Adds Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada, 'We wanted to give consumers anytime, anywhere access to Shilpa's Yoga content. The DVD and Digital sales, both compliment each other. Many consumers decide to buy the complete DVD after sampling the videos on their mobile phone....'
By www.businessofcinema.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Thursday, 26 June 2008
YOGA AND KARATE
Pratt Recreation Commission is offering a 2 month morning or evening yoga class for adults. Joni Siemens is the instructor. Classes are held at the Municipal Building.
The evening class, Yoga for Relaxation starts July 7 and will be held Monday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. The fee is $20.
The morning class, Yoga for Energy and Strength, meets from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings, starting on July 1. Class fee is $40.
Beginner and advanced karate classes for ages 7 and older will be offered July 2 through Aug. 27. The classes will meet from 7 to 9 ;.m. Wednesday evenings in the PHS wrestling room.
Instructors are Deny Bowe, Carlos Garcia, Jerry Tucker, Darrell Stroda. Melissa Rempe, Sharon Lukens and Gary Barker.
You may pre register at the Pratt Recreation Office or you can register at the first class session. Call the Pratt Recreation Office at 672 3261 for additional information.
By www.pratttribune.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
The evening class, Yoga for Relaxation starts July 7 and will be held Monday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. The fee is $20.
The morning class, Yoga for Energy and Strength, meets from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings, starting on July 1. Class fee is $40.
Beginner and advanced karate classes for ages 7 and older will be offered July 2 through Aug. 27. The classes will meet from 7 to 9 ;.m. Wednesday evenings in the PHS wrestling room.
Instructors are Deny Bowe, Carlos Garcia, Jerry Tucker, Darrell Stroda. Melissa Rempe, Sharon Lukens and Gary Barker.
You may pre register at the Pratt Recreation Office or you can register at the first class session. Call the Pratt Recreation Office at 672 3261 for additional information.
By www.pratttribune.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
YOGA EVENT CROSSES BORDERS
The rusty fence may divide the beaches of U.S. and Mexico, but it can't break up a yoga class.
A few dozen yoga aficionados rolled out their mats Sunday on both sides of the wall between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego. The international group stretched and meditated together before exchanging hugs through the fence bars.
The session was organized by the Border Meetup Group, which promotes cross-border understanding by staging social events on the divided beach.
Coordinator Dan Watman said the group aims 'to make friends across cultural, political, societal, even emotional barriers.'
The Tijuana beach is a popular destination for families who come to chat through the fence with loved ones on the other side.
By www.azcentral.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
A few dozen yoga aficionados rolled out their mats Sunday on both sides of the wall between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego. The international group stretched and meditated together before exchanging hugs through the fence bars.
The session was organized by the Border Meetup Group, which promotes cross-border understanding by staging social events on the divided beach.
Coordinator Dan Watman said the group aims 'to make friends across cultural, political, societal, even emotional barriers.'
The Tijuana beach is a popular destination for families who come to chat through the fence with loved ones on the other side.
By www.azcentral.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
YOGA FOR TODDLERS
On Friday, June 27, 2008 Yoga Journey of White Plains the largest sunlit yoga studio in Westchester will be hold it's next Toddler and Me yoga class for children ages 2 to 4 years old.
'Being a mother of two toddlers myself, I can't think of a better way to bond and connect with such a curious and energetic age group,' smiled Sinda Anzovino, Owner & Instructor at Yoga Journey. 'We feel that we are offering a unique class for caregivers and their children in Westchester County. Toddlers are often overlooked as a receptive age group to begin harnessing the benefits of yoga.'
The importance of bonding with your active toddler in a creative and inspirational environment cannot be understated. Yogic interaction is a magical way to help create focus and concentration skills. This class will focuses on developing a connection with your growing toddler as you give them a strong foundation in yoga. From animals, colors, shapes and sounds to partner yoga movement, this class allows the caregiver to teach them to breath, laugh and love in a setting that welcomes and encourages this method of learning.
Yoga Journey also offers a variety of other yoga classes for every member of your family from prenatal yoga, mommy and me, beginner classes, yoga for adults and more in addition, classes for seniors . Please visit our website at:www.yogajourney-ny.com for schedules, fees and other special events.
Yoga Journey, a Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance is a welcoming yogic community dedicated to assisting students in moving deeper through their own physical and mindful journeys. Yoga Journey was founded in 2005, by Sinda Anzovino, E RYT, CATYMT , Owner and Director of Teacher Training. The studio is Vinyasa style with something for everyone including 200M hour Teacher Training Certification, Pre Natal, Mommy and Me, Family Classes in addition to daily Adult Classes. The studio offers Reiki, Reflexology, many types of massage, as well as a full line of yoga products. Yoga Journey brings a feeling of connection to all who enter its doors. www.yogajourney-ny.com
by Westchester.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
'Being a mother of two toddlers myself, I can't think of a better way to bond and connect with such a curious and energetic age group,' smiled Sinda Anzovino, Owner & Instructor at Yoga Journey. 'We feel that we are offering a unique class for caregivers and their children in Westchester County. Toddlers are often overlooked as a receptive age group to begin harnessing the benefits of yoga.'
The importance of bonding with your active toddler in a creative and inspirational environment cannot be understated. Yogic interaction is a magical way to help create focus and concentration skills. This class will focuses on developing a connection with your growing toddler as you give them a strong foundation in yoga. From animals, colors, shapes and sounds to partner yoga movement, this class allows the caregiver to teach them to breath, laugh and love in a setting that welcomes and encourages this method of learning.
Yoga Journey also offers a variety of other yoga classes for every member of your family from prenatal yoga, mommy and me, beginner classes, yoga for adults and more in addition, classes for seniors . Please visit our website at:www.yogajourney-ny.com for schedules, fees and other special events.
Yoga Journey, a Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance is a welcoming yogic community dedicated to assisting students in moving deeper through their own physical and mindful journeys. Yoga Journey was founded in 2005, by Sinda Anzovino, E RYT, CATYMT , Owner and Director of Teacher Training. The studio is Vinyasa style with something for everyone including 200M hour Teacher Training Certification, Pre Natal, Mommy and Me, Family Classes in addition to daily Adult Classes. The studio offers Reiki, Reflexology, many types of massage, as well as a full line of yoga products. Yoga Journey brings a feeling of connection to all who enter its doors. www.yogajourney-ny.com
by Westchester.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 23 June 2008
A YOGA MESSAGE
Work can mold me into the shape of a frightened turtle. My shoulders rotate forward. My neck lowers and perches in front of my chest. My back rounds. You know, the computer staring position. Add a little stress to cement the pose, and there you have it.
When I get like this, I realize I've forgotten to stretch, let alone in a thoughtful way. I've even forgotten how to relax. Sometimes, I follow a yoga DVD. Sometimes I seek a massage to work out the kinks. But mostly, I convince myself I have no time to be so passive and charge ahead.
A few months ago, I heard about Thai yoga massage. What's this, I thought? Yoga and massage at the same time? Why not?
So I went to see Hiu-Hung 'Grace' Phong, who owns Graceful Massage (www.gracefulmassage.com) in Bellevue. She is a veteran practitioner who trained in Thailand and administered the therapy in her homeland of China before coming to Seattle in 2001.
Mind-body connection
'It's holistic bodywork,' said Phong. 'It's not just stretching. It's about the connection between the mind and body. The structure of the body can affect the emotional side. It's about breathing, touch, sensation and stretching. Many people don't stretch and many who do don't do it correctly. In America, many people approach stretching like achievement.'
Thai yoga massage, while relatively unknown in the U.S., is about 2,500 years old.
While Phong says the shortcut description of 'yoga for lazy people' is apt enough, she notes that the bodywork therapy that was developed in Buddhist temples and by Indian ayurvedic doctors has a strong spiritual component to it. But I was interested in the physical side, and prefer the notion of 'active massage' to 'lazy yoga.'
And, in fact, Phong helped me achieve yogalike stretching and calmness through hands on direction and manipulation. You sometimes must accept your limbs being put into challenging stretches. (Because the therapist works with what the customer needs, and should ask about limitations before starting, nearly everyone can do it.)
The actual practice
Through much of it, I lay fully clothed and prone on a floor mat, closed my eyes and focused on my breathing as she used her palms, fingers, thumbs, forearms, knees and feet to knead, push and apply acupressure to my 'Sen' line, a channel of energy the Thai believe flows through the body and which roughly corresponds with the Chinese concept of chi.
Phong is a slight woman, but used leverage and clever angles to gently twist, pull and stretch my body into angles. At various points along my body, she cut off blood flow for 30 to 40 seconds so fresh blood would flow into areas she had worked on.
The giver and receiver must have faith in each other, and Phong was good about letting me know what she was about to do so I wasn't spooked by the newness to me of her techniques.
She seemed careful in gauging my range of motion, which was good. Some of the twisting movements sound scary and take a little faith, like the one in which she put one of her feet in the small of my back as she pulled my bottom arm and my top leg behind me as I lay on my side. She calls it 'the bag' because my body was forming a "U." She was gentle and efficient. I had certainly never stretched that way before.
With 'elephant palms,' she leaned over and placed the weight of her palms as she moved up and down my back. Eventually, I was sitting cross legged while she pulled my arms behind my body to help me open my chest. Throughout the entire exercise, she always seemed to have a hand touching me, to, in her words, keep the connection. It was, in a way, her way of saying, relax.
'In America everyone is all about achievement,' she said. 'So some people think, 'If I can put my leg above my head I will be happy.' But Thai yoga massage is a more soft way, it's more about joy than achievement.'
She ended the session with a short prayer, which reminded me that the practice is not all about the body. She charged $100 for the 90 minute session, reminding me that that kind of work is not free. And I stood straighter and felt looser for several days after the session, which reminded me that the fee was worth it, and I need to pay more attention to my body more often.
By Richard Seven
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
When I get like this, I realize I've forgotten to stretch, let alone in a thoughtful way. I've even forgotten how to relax. Sometimes, I follow a yoga DVD. Sometimes I seek a massage to work out the kinks. But mostly, I convince myself I have no time to be so passive and charge ahead.
A few months ago, I heard about Thai yoga massage. What's this, I thought? Yoga and massage at the same time? Why not?
So I went to see Hiu-Hung 'Grace' Phong, who owns Graceful Massage (www.gracefulmassage.com) in Bellevue. She is a veteran practitioner who trained in Thailand and administered the therapy in her homeland of China before coming to Seattle in 2001.
Mind-body connection
'It's holistic bodywork,' said Phong. 'It's not just stretching. It's about the connection between the mind and body. The structure of the body can affect the emotional side. It's about breathing, touch, sensation and stretching. Many people don't stretch and many who do don't do it correctly. In America, many people approach stretching like achievement.'
Thai yoga massage, while relatively unknown in the U.S., is about 2,500 years old.
While Phong says the shortcut description of 'yoga for lazy people' is apt enough, she notes that the bodywork therapy that was developed in Buddhist temples and by Indian ayurvedic doctors has a strong spiritual component to it. But I was interested in the physical side, and prefer the notion of 'active massage' to 'lazy yoga.'
And, in fact, Phong helped me achieve yogalike stretching and calmness through hands on direction and manipulation. You sometimes must accept your limbs being put into challenging stretches. (Because the therapist works with what the customer needs, and should ask about limitations before starting, nearly everyone can do it.)
The actual practice
Through much of it, I lay fully clothed and prone on a floor mat, closed my eyes and focused on my breathing as she used her palms, fingers, thumbs, forearms, knees and feet to knead, push and apply acupressure to my 'Sen' line, a channel of energy the Thai believe flows through the body and which roughly corresponds with the Chinese concept of chi.
Phong is a slight woman, but used leverage and clever angles to gently twist, pull and stretch my body into angles. At various points along my body, she cut off blood flow for 30 to 40 seconds so fresh blood would flow into areas she had worked on.
The giver and receiver must have faith in each other, and Phong was good about letting me know what she was about to do so I wasn't spooked by the newness to me of her techniques.
She seemed careful in gauging my range of motion, which was good. Some of the twisting movements sound scary and take a little faith, like the one in which she put one of her feet in the small of my back as she pulled my bottom arm and my top leg behind me as I lay on my side. She calls it 'the bag' because my body was forming a "U." She was gentle and efficient. I had certainly never stretched that way before.
With 'elephant palms,' she leaned over and placed the weight of her palms as she moved up and down my back. Eventually, I was sitting cross legged while she pulled my arms behind my body to help me open my chest. Throughout the entire exercise, she always seemed to have a hand touching me, to, in her words, keep the connection. It was, in a way, her way of saying, relax.
'In America everyone is all about achievement,' she said. 'So some people think, 'If I can put my leg above my head I will be happy.' But Thai yoga massage is a more soft way, it's more about joy than achievement.'
She ended the session with a short prayer, which reminded me that the practice is not all about the body. She charged $100 for the 90 minute session, reminding me that that kind of work is not free. And I stood straighter and felt looser for several days after the session, which reminded me that the fee was worth it, and I need to pay more attention to my body more often.
By Richard Seven
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
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