Fibromyalgia Sufferers May Benefit From Yoga Practice –Doctors Lounge

Fibromyalgia Sufferers May Benefit From Yoga Practice –Doctors Lounge.

Successful Weight Loss: Top 10 Tips On What Works and Why | The Diet Channel

Successful Weight Loss: Top 10 Tips On What Works and Why | The Diet Channel

via Successful Weight Loss: Top 10 Tips On What Works and Why | The Diet Channel.

Warm Smiles & Hard Work = Great Training

“Can you see this?  Can everyone see this?” asked a smiling Manju Jois as he held up a bottle of water.  He was standing in front of the larger window of the Chicago Yoga Center’s main space moments after walking in on the first day of the Teacher Training Intensive, waiting for an answer still with that big, warm smile lighting up his face.  After several nods and answers of “yes” he chuckled and said, “Good!  You’ve passed the eye test then!”  Instantly, I felt more at ease and his infectious smile spread to my own face.  This is going to be good, I thought to myself.

Today was day three, and the work has been intense and challenging (physically and mentally), and while it is serious and all 25 of us who are in this training hold an obvious level of respect for our teacher, there have been many moments of warmth, smiling, laughing.  Manju is very humble and kind…down to earth, you might say.  He has been open to questions of all kinds during the discussion portion of each class, and we have all enjoyed listening to him when he occasionally trails off on various tangents.

In this training we are learning what he refers to as “authentic, traditional Ashtanga yoga” that was taught to him by his father K. Pattabhi Jois.  Our focus this week is the Primary Series (although we did do some of the Intermediate Series today as well), and he is teaching how to lead a Primary class.  We begin with the opening chant, and he leads the class entirely in Sanskrit having us repeat every word…over and over again.  After hours of work on this each day we then move on to learning hands-on adjustments for nearly every posture in the Primary.  Today we worked through all four marichyasana postures (which felt sooo good!)  After all the physical work is done we sit and discuss, and then we chant.  I love this part of the day, and while I struggle with many of the mantras (even with my cheat-sheet in front of me) I still enjoy this very much.  He encourages us to keep practicing…just as with the postures it will come with much practice.

One very helpful aspect of this training is Manju’s assistant…Greg Tebb (who is an accomplished yogi himself.)  He is amazing to watch, and just as impressive in his chanting skills.  He is just as humble as Manju, but quiet…waiting for his teacher (our teacher) to instruct him on what to do next.  When I ask Greg a question during partner practice, he will refer to Manju nearly always.  Clearly he is a devoted student…even with 25 years of his own experience.  (I did a little homework on him and looked up his website ~ http://www.gregtebb.com.)  Having him here is definitely an added bonus.  Check out pics of him and Manju below.

More to come soon (my clicking is keeping MY favorite yogi awake…)  G’night!

Here is Gregg Tebb, Manju Jois, and Shannon Moran

Gregg on his mat while the rest of us were on a break.

Manju demonstrating the adjustment for Supta Kormasana (I love this one!)

Me with Manju…moments after finishing the full primary series (note the sweaty mess I am!)

Simply Sit and Stretch…Zink-Style (Feel Your Hips SMILE!)

Master Paulie Zink is super cool…I happen to be a BIG fan of this guy.  Not only is he the founder of Yin Yoga, but he is also a Master of Kung Fu.  I was tempted to post one of his many videos that showcase his amazing abilities, but one of the reasons I HEART him is for making and sharing video links like the one posted below.  If you’re an advanced practitioner, just move along now, because this will likely bore you.  BUT, if you’re like the majority of the folks sitting at home who have limitations and/or restrictions with mobility or extreme tightness due to a sedentary lifestyle, PLEASE watch (and then DO) this simple yet effective chair yoga demonstration.

HELLO (Healthy) Quad Cities!

Healthy living is a choice…and making that choice leads to healthy aging!  We can all do more to better this process for ourselves, and being conscious is not only a gift to yourself but to those who love you the most!  Sometimes we overlook the wealth of wonderful local resources that help making these positive choices easier…supporting these places keeps our community thriving while improving your life!  It’s a win-win-win!  This weekend is going to be gorgeous here in the Quad Cities…get out there, continue to support your healthy lifestyle while embracing our community!

These are a few of our favorite (local) things:

• The Davenport Farmer’s Market
• Heritage Natural Foods
• Greatest Grains
• Quad City Botanical Center
• AND, OF COURSE…Great Yoga studios and instructors!!  We love:  Indigo, Tapas Yoga Shala , and Davenport School of Yoga

Of course there are hundreds of great activities, attractions, and options…I could go on for days!  These are just a few to get those wheels in your mind turning…now put those wheels in motion and get out there!  Have a wonderful, healthy weekend!

Psst…Are you clenching your butt muscles?

Are you clenching your butt cheeks right now?  I’ll bet many who are reading this are doing so…and didn’t even realize it!  Those same people might also be clenching their jaw a bit, tightening up their stomach muscles…and maybe even holding the breath randomly!

So many folks are walking around with the weight of the world on their shoulders, a cacophony of busy thoughts in their minds, and a total lack of awareness of how that stress is manifesting itself in their bodies.  It might start as a simple lack of awareness, but by holding onto all of that tightness in the body over time will lead to chronic stiffness, which will lead to a lack of mobility, which will inevitably lead to chronic pain (and a whole host of other issues!)

START MOVING…TODAY!  Breathe…move…stretch a bit…STRETCH A LOT!  Begin to practice (and it will take a LOT of practice) the simple act of tuning in to what your body is doing at various times of the day…and then do more than just taking note (“huh, yep!  My butt IS clenched!”) ~ do what you can to change it!  Get up…move for a few minutes.  Try to work on NOT gritting your teeth when you are tense, pissed, unable to speak your mind, whatever.  And then GO FOR A WALK…or, DO SOME SIMPLE STRETCHES…or, PRACTICE CONSCIOUS BREATHING!

Take one day at a time, but begin to build your awareness so that it becomes effortless, and so that you can greatly lower the stress levels in your life, which will ultimately lead to a better, healthier body!  You can do it!  Let that butt-clenching go!

Class Update…Bye-bye Baby-Love, and HELLO Yoga Burn!

Well, it’s been a great run…the Baby-Love class was adorable fun, and Daina has totally enjoyed sharing yoga with her mommies and their sweet babes.  However, schedules have changed for a lot of the participants and the time has come to take this class off the schedule for the time being.  It’s always possible that we’ll offer a workshop or a sign-up version of this class in the future…especially if we hear from YOU!

Daina is working on a very exciting NEW class format for the same day (Thursdays) but at a slightly different time (8:30am – 9:45am.)  For those who are looking for a yoga class that incorporates strength conditioning, let us introduce you to YOGA-BURN!   Expect a wonderful class with Daina that will include plenty of Sun-Salutations and poses that build whole-body strength and conditioning!  The start-time of this class is perfect as we head into the summer months…get a great start to your day and get your body in shape along the way!  You’ll look AND feel healthier & happier!  THIS WILL BE A DROP-IN THROUGH THE SUMMER!  Join Daina for Yoga Burn beginning Thursday, May 6th.

Open-up and Say…Ah-HA!

Once upon a time I was a daily practitioner of a physical yoga practice.  While I didn’t do the same sequence every day for the same length of time (as some practitioners are akin to do),  I still made sure I was fitting in at least an hour a day, 6-days a week.  Well, it was somehow easier when I only had one child…now that I have 3 children (one of whom is an infant that I am still breast-feeding),  plus a business with my husband (who now officially works ALL of the time), it is difficult to get that precious time carved out each day.

These days I consider myself extremely lucky to get 3 days a week of a real physical practice…when it’s four days I pinch myself just to make sure I’m not dreaming.  On the ‘off’ days that I don’t make it onto a mat I am still using awareness, breathing, and even mantra work to get me through the days, but there is nothing quite as satisfying as a great practice on my black Transformer mat…locked in a private room down at my wellness studio…no phones…no children…no husband…just me, my breath, my body and the opportunity to plug-in to the Divine Source and let that light flow through me as I move from one posture to the next.

Today was one of those lucky days…I had a whole hour to myself.  While I’ve struggled a bit since my return (baby Phia is now 3 months old and I’ve been back to a practice for a couple of months), today was one of those days that keeps me coming back for more.  Yes, I do know that regular practice and a lot of patience are key in making progress…but I also believe that one’s emotional state and how we handle that are also directly related to how the body responds.  It turns out that I’ve been carrying around this emotional ‘baggage’ if you will.  I have some real concerns that I’ve been quietly dealing with all by my lonesome for nearly 3 years.  In the last couple of weeks I’ve decided to just reach-out…in the last few days in-particular I’ve asked for some specific guidance and assistance from a couple of outside sources.  Well, let me just say as eloquently as I can…WHOA, BABY!  An enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and while the issue is still present, the fact that I chose to be open about it, seek support within it, and ultimately let-go of the stress/tension/anxiety that I have been holding over it has been wildly cathartic!  Within the center of my being I knew that I was feeling more at peace with this particular situation than I had, well, ever!  But the proof was in the pudding, as they say…for when I approached my yoga practice today I found myself much more open, balanced, and with more strength than I have had since before this last pregnancy.  YES!!!  Whoohoo!

While I have logically known that this is how it works, to have that experience today reminded me just how connected even the smallest parts of the body are to the subtle workings of the mind and spirit.  It was an “ah-ha!” moment, and I’m really looking forward to re-visiting my mat tomorrow and exploring even more ways of working through restrictions (both physical and mental), and finding myself more open on many different levels.

You Asked For It!

A LOT of you Indigo-ers have been asking for a VERY long time (including myself), and we’ve FINALLY convinced Shannon that it was time.  Coming soon to the Indigo Studio ~ a variety of Indigo Logo apparel!  We’re starting with shirts…3 styles and several colors & sizes to choose from (all perfect for spring & summer!)  Now you can sport our colors and support yoga, wellness, and our little studio with pride!!  We placed the order today and will have some proofing to do, but expect to have these little goodies very soon (we’ll give a shout out when the merch arrives!)

March Gladness

(this is the latest blog update for Indigo Living in the QCA)

Spring is in the air…it’s wet, sloppy, a little bit mucky…but I’m loving every moist moment!  Over the course of the last month  the sun has been getting brighter, the snow and ice have slowly been melting, and I have been slowly working on a more physical yoga practice after a long hiatus.  During pregnancy, labor, and in the first weeks following the birth of my 3rd child my practice consisted of simple stretching, breathing, and chanting…but let’s just say I haven’t experienced a ‘jump-back’ in a long, long time.  Like the return of warmer weather, my body is unfolding rather slowly…my joints and ligaments felt somewhat frozen during my first hour-long attempts on my mat.  Hello, hamstrings!  Yes, I remember when I could put my belly flat against my thighs without much effort, but I must remember that it took much effort and practice to work to that point.  I’m back to the drawing board you might say…but I am rejoicing at ability to return to the process.

On an upnote, the benefits of my practice have remained, even though the more physical aspects were put aside for awhile.  I may not be able to get my feet behind my head today, or lift myself gracefully into “firefly” (also know traditionally as “tittibhasana”), but I’ve gained the presence of mind to remain rather patient in the most stressful of moments:  crazy drivers nearly crashing into me…the cacophony of my three children (all under the age of 5) in the minivan when they’re tired or cranky…a trip to the dentist…and the list goes on.  Because of the foundation I’ve built with my practice, I’ve found a sense of joy and calm.  I might feel moments of frustration (with my resumed practice, with life-in-general), but I’m able to return to center and replace the madness with GLADness.