Bobbi Burkey can get away without even leaving home.
Burkey has devoted parts of her New Franklin split level to her inner self, turning her living room into a yoga space, outfitting a small room on the lower level for meditation and creating a meditation garden in her yard. Even her foyer hints at her spirituality: It's decorated with a statue of Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom, and a symbol for om, the sacred sound often chanted during meditation.
Burkey is among the introspective people who are creating sacred spaces in their homes, places where they can seek spiritual renewal.
A sacred space can take many forms, a portion of a garden, perhaps; an altar in a hallway; a quiet corner for devotional reading or relaxation. Such places often have religious significance, but not necessarily, said Cynthia J. Hoffman, an Akron interior designer who makes a priority of helping clients create a sense of sanctuary in their homes.
'It's kind of a place to spend time out of mind,' Hoffman said. It's designed to help you release tension in a healthy way and connect with something greater than yourself, 'whether it's your higher self, or it could just be nature.'
Burkey's sacred spaces grew from a desire to practice meditation and yoga as well as a need for a place to teach yoga to others.
By Mary Beth Breckenridge
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
A YOGA CLUB
Gautham Jeppu and Asaad Mohomed take part in last Friday's yoga class. The Art of Living meets Friday nights at the AU Chapel.Gautham Jeppu and Asaad Mohomed take part in last Friday's yoga class. The Art of Living meets Friday nights at the AU Chapel.Breathe in, breathe out.
Many college students are constantly stressed. Some are so stressed they can't eat, sleep or study.
Yoga exercises are known to relax the body, but what about relaxing the mind?
The Art of Living is a six day course designed to teach people breathing patterns which allow them to relax their mind, body and spirit.
'The Art of Living helps to bring the mind into its present state,' said Gautham Jeppu, president of the yoga club. 'People become stressed when their mind wanders to the past or future instead of living in the present.'
Youth empowerment seminars, YES!+, illustrate and teach participants how to control the connection between their body, breath and mind.
There are three stages to controlled breathing, and each of the stages opens every part of the lungs to release stress toxins.
In addition to relieving stress, controlled breathing trains the mind to focus on the moment.
'The aim is to bring the mind to a child like state,' Jeppu said. 'We want to be happy, natural and carefree.'
Breathing patterns are associated with different emotions. For example, people take short, fast breaths when they are tense or angry, and long, slow breaths when they are happy.
BY BRIDGETTE BONNER
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Many college students are constantly stressed. Some are so stressed they can't eat, sleep or study.
Yoga exercises are known to relax the body, but what about relaxing the mind?
The Art of Living is a six day course designed to teach people breathing patterns which allow them to relax their mind, body and spirit.
'The Art of Living helps to bring the mind into its present state,' said Gautham Jeppu, president of the yoga club. 'People become stressed when their mind wanders to the past or future instead of living in the present.'
Youth empowerment seminars, YES!+, illustrate and teach participants how to control the connection between their body, breath and mind.
There are three stages to controlled breathing, and each of the stages opens every part of the lungs to release stress toxins.
In addition to relieving stress, controlled breathing trains the mind to focus on the moment.
'The aim is to bring the mind to a child like state,' Jeppu said. 'We want to be happy, natural and carefree.'
Breathing patterns are associated with different emotions. For example, people take short, fast breaths when they are tense or angry, and long, slow breaths when they are happy.
BY BRIDGETTE BONNER
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Monday, 26 January 2009
WHO CAN PRACTICE YOGA?
When clerics in Malaysia banned Muslims from practising yoga, they started a heated debate in the Islamic world. But Islamic scholars in India, including those at the Darul Uloom Deoband, say they do not find anything objectionable in Muslims practising yoga. Chanting mantras like Om that have religious connotation, they add, is not necessary for yoga and Muslims can replace them with verses from the Quran or references to Allah.
'Yoga is a good form of exercise. If some words, which are supposed to be chanted while performing it, have religious connotations, then Muslims need not utter those. They can instead recite verses from the Quran or praise Allah or remain silent,' Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, deputy vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom, told The Indian Express.
He said he discussed the issue with yoga experts and they told him that reciting 'Om' or any other mantra was not compulsory for practising yoga.
By Manoj C G
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
'Yoga is a good form of exercise. If some words, which are supposed to be chanted while performing it, have religious connotations, then Muslims need not utter those. They can instead recite verses from the Quran or praise Allah or remain silent,' Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, deputy vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom, told The Indian Express.
He said he discussed the issue with yoga experts and they told him that reciting 'Om' or any other mantra was not compulsory for practising yoga.
By Manoj C G
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Sunday, 25 January 2009
GENTLE APPLICATION OF YOGAS
Experts in the field of yoga and medicine here are unanimous in their opinion that introduction of yoga as compulsory learning, as part of physical education for the students in the state, will do more harm than good.
Sukumar Shastri, a yoga expert, asserts that there are some basic fundamentals which are to be followed while doing yoga. 'It should not be forcibly introduced as it may lead to mental stress,' Shastri says adding that girls should not perform yoga during menstruation.
The idea to introduce yoga in schools by the state government from the next academic year may have percolated from strong the endorsement by Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss that yoga should be made compulsory for school students. Ramadoss oft repeated this view from October last year at various foras.
This has not gone down well with citizens and yoga experts, who question the rationale behind the decision especially in the light that the state has made no attempt to conduct a large, multi centric, randomized, controlled, blinded, long term prospective study about the benefits and adverse effects of yoga in growing children.
Ramadoss first made this statement in October last year, after attending a camp organized by yoga Guru Ramdev. Ramadoss said the health ministry was talking to the human resource department (HRD) to encourage school students to adopt a healthy life style.
Shastri says yoga should not be performed by children below the age of eight as they cannot do it systematically. 'Yoga is not physical training. While practising yoga, satvika (easily digestible) food is a must, which means non veg is restricted. Yoga should be performed two hours after having light food and four hours after having a heavy meal. Can this be followed by children,' asks Shastri.
Dr B S Kakkilaya, physician, says with the average age at menarche being 12 to 13 years in India, this may pose other problems for girl students and anxiety for their parents if yoga is made compulsory in schools. Quoting studies in the field, he adds there may be other serious physical complications to growing children if it is forced upon them.
Kakkilaya along with Narendra Nayak, president, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, and Dr K S Madhava Rao, psychiatrist, have written to Ramadoss to drop the proposal of compulsory yoga education for school children. They pointed out that it should not be taken up in view of the absence of unambiguous evidence about the benefits as well as safety of yoga in children, the difficulties for girl students in performing yoga and the absolute necessity to have well trained teachers rather than physical education trainers to impart safe and meaningful yoga training.
Yoga expert Gopalakrishna Delampady, who has been practising yoga for 30 years, says it should be optional and should not be made mandatory. 'It should be introduced only for those who are interested, that too from fifth standard onwards,' he says.
He maintains that yoga should be taught only by experts and not physical education instructors, who are imparted `quick fix training'. He fears that the large scale funds flowing into this may bring in untrained people causing harm to children.
By Stanley G Pinto
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Sukumar Shastri, a yoga expert, asserts that there are some basic fundamentals which are to be followed while doing yoga. 'It should not be forcibly introduced as it may lead to mental stress,' Shastri says adding that girls should not perform yoga during menstruation.
The idea to introduce yoga in schools by the state government from the next academic year may have percolated from strong the endorsement by Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss that yoga should be made compulsory for school students. Ramadoss oft repeated this view from October last year at various foras.
This has not gone down well with citizens and yoga experts, who question the rationale behind the decision especially in the light that the state has made no attempt to conduct a large, multi centric, randomized, controlled, blinded, long term prospective study about the benefits and adverse effects of yoga in growing children.
Ramadoss first made this statement in October last year, after attending a camp organized by yoga Guru Ramdev. Ramadoss said the health ministry was talking to the human resource department (HRD) to encourage school students to adopt a healthy life style.
Shastri says yoga should not be performed by children below the age of eight as they cannot do it systematically. 'Yoga is not physical training. While practising yoga, satvika (easily digestible) food is a must, which means non veg is restricted. Yoga should be performed two hours after having light food and four hours after having a heavy meal. Can this be followed by children,' asks Shastri.
Dr B S Kakkilaya, physician, says with the average age at menarche being 12 to 13 years in India, this may pose other problems for girl students and anxiety for their parents if yoga is made compulsory in schools. Quoting studies in the field, he adds there may be other serious physical complications to growing children if it is forced upon them.
Kakkilaya along with Narendra Nayak, president, Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, and Dr K S Madhava Rao, psychiatrist, have written to Ramadoss to drop the proposal of compulsory yoga education for school children. They pointed out that it should not be taken up in view of the absence of unambiguous evidence about the benefits as well as safety of yoga in children, the difficulties for girl students in performing yoga and the absolute necessity to have well trained teachers rather than physical education trainers to impart safe and meaningful yoga training.
Yoga expert Gopalakrishna Delampady, who has been practising yoga for 30 years, says it should be optional and should not be made mandatory. 'It should be introduced only for those who are interested, that too from fifth standard onwards,' he says.
He maintains that yoga should be taught only by experts and not physical education instructors, who are imparted `quick fix training'. He fears that the large scale funds flowing into this may bring in untrained people causing harm to children.
By Stanley G Pinto
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Thursday, 22 January 2009
THE YOGA COMMUNITY GROWS
Yoga teacher Beth Lambert has joined the faculty of Yoga Community as of January 6. She will be teaching a new multi level class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. on an ongoing basis.
Lambert is a certified Yoga instructor through the Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200 hour certification through Yandara in Baha, Mexico where she learned Hatha yoga with Iyengar precision allignment and an emphasis on heartfelt awareness. She is also certified in Prana Flow through Shiva Rea where she incorporates the five elements into her practice in order to balance the body, mind, and spirit. While Iyengar is fundamental to her practice she also brings awareness to the chakras helping to bring vitality to the physical and subtle body. Her classes are a colorful weave of asana, pranayama, mudras, and meditation with a focus on awakening your true inner self by being a neutral witness of your practice and by learning to listen and trust your own inner guru. The Yoga Community is located at 577 Fifth Street West, Sonoma. For more information phone 95 8600 go to www.yogacommunity.net.
By www.sonomanews.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Lambert is a certified Yoga instructor through the Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200 hour certification through Yandara in Baha, Mexico where she learned Hatha yoga with Iyengar precision allignment and an emphasis on heartfelt awareness. She is also certified in Prana Flow through Shiva Rea where she incorporates the five elements into her practice in order to balance the body, mind, and spirit. While Iyengar is fundamental to her practice she also brings awareness to the chakras helping to bring vitality to the physical and subtle body. Her classes are a colorful weave of asana, pranayama, mudras, and meditation with a focus on awakening your true inner self by being a neutral witness of your practice and by learning to listen and trust your own inner guru. The Yoga Community is located at 577 Fifth Street West, Sonoma. For more information phone 95 8600 go to www.yogacommunity.net.
By www.sonomanews.com
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
YOGA ON THE PLANE
Uma Thurman stunned passengers by doing a yoga routine on a recent flight.
The Hollywood star was travelling from New York's JFK Airport to Utah's Salt Lake City when she left her seat and began bending and stretching in front of shocked onlookers.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: 'Uma started doing yoga in the aisles. She used the flight attendant station as a ballet barre, where she stretched for 20 minutes.'
Most travellers politely looked in another direction and put Uma's antics down to a stringent fitness regime.
However, they were surprised to see the health conscious 38 year old star race off the plane when it landed and immediately light up a cigarette.
The source explained: 'After we left the plane, she ran for an exit and then chain smoked like crazy.'
Uma has previously revealed that if she isn't exercising she finds shopping helps her forget about the pressures of acting.
She said: 'I shop all the time and I buy more or less anything! Clothes express the way I feel and I go through very different stages over the year, the month, the week or even the day.'
By www.stuff.co.nz
THE LATEST AIRBOURNE YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
The Hollywood star was travelling from New York's JFK Airport to Utah's Salt Lake City when she left her seat and began bending and stretching in front of shocked onlookers.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: 'Uma started doing yoga in the aisles. She used the flight attendant station as a ballet barre, where she stretched for 20 minutes.'
Most travellers politely looked in another direction and put Uma's antics down to a stringent fitness regime.
However, they were surprised to see the health conscious 38 year old star race off the plane when it landed and immediately light up a cigarette.
The source explained: 'After we left the plane, she ran for an exit and then chain smoked like crazy.'
Uma has previously revealed that if she isn't exercising she finds shopping helps her forget about the pressures of acting.
She said: 'I shop all the time and I buy more or less anything! Clothes express the way I feel and I go through very different stages over the year, the month, the week or even the day.'
By www.stuff.co.nz
THE LATEST AIRBOURNE YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
A YOGA DAY FOR CHARITY
Leave your canned food donation at the door before you do your downward facing dog.
The Stress Management Center of Nevada, 601 Whiney Ranch Drive, is hosting free yoga classes Saturday for national Yoga Day. Donations will be collected for S.A.F.E. House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence.
'Funding has gone down so badly because of budget cuts from the state, feds and the bad economy,' said Julie Proctor, S.A.F.E. House executive director. 'We're not getting a log of monetary donations.'
The benefit kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with a drum circle and raffles for yoga apparel. All raffle proceeds will go to the organization, which also provides counseling and legal advocacy to women and children.
The group is in dire need of bus passes, size 3 to 6 diapers, paper products such as towels and toilet paper and ladies underwear, she said.
The classes are aimed toward new or therapeutic yoga students, said Kathleen Grace Santor, Stress Management Center of Nevada director.
'Easy Does It yoga is for people with a limitation, for those who have find they need different props and modifications,' she said.
Students will use yoga blocks, straps and chairs to help with balance.
The center will also host a class for full figured women and intermediate students, she said.
The center is a registered yoga school with the national Yoga Alliance. For more information visit www.yogainlasvegas.com. To register for a free class, contact Justine Zilliken at 810 5616.
By Becky Bosshart
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
The Stress Management Center of Nevada, 601 Whiney Ranch Drive, is hosting free yoga classes Saturday for national Yoga Day. Donations will be collected for S.A.F.E. House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence.
'Funding has gone down so badly because of budget cuts from the state, feds and the bad economy,' said Julie Proctor, S.A.F.E. House executive director. 'We're not getting a log of monetary donations.'
The benefit kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with a drum circle and raffles for yoga apparel. All raffle proceeds will go to the organization, which also provides counseling and legal advocacy to women and children.
The group is in dire need of bus passes, size 3 to 6 diapers, paper products such as towels and toilet paper and ladies underwear, she said.
The classes are aimed toward new or therapeutic yoga students, said Kathleen Grace Santor, Stress Management Center of Nevada director.
'Easy Does It yoga is for people with a limitation, for those who have find they need different props and modifications,' she said.
Students will use yoga blocks, straps and chairs to help with balance.
The center will also host a class for full figured women and intermediate students, she said.
The center is a registered yoga school with the national Yoga Alliance. For more information visit www.yogainlasvegas.com. To register for a free class, contact Justine Zilliken at 810 5616.
By Becky Bosshart
THE LATEST YOGA NEWS, FROM IT IS YOGA
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