2009 August

Archive for August, 2009

No Yoga Liscence Required in New York

August 31st, 2009 |

AUGUST 21, 2009 — The Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision (BPSS) writes to teacher trainers: “At this time, we will not require licensure nor will we pursue any organization offering this training as an unlicensed school.”

Yoga for New York members and friends are redoubling their efforts to get the legislation passed to make that suspension permanent. Everyone can help with fundraising and grassroots advocacy — and with envisioning the possibilities for promoting yoga across New York State.

The next membership meeting is September 16th, 1 pm, at Jivamukti.

JOIN US
As a member of Yoga for New York, you are part of a very special group created to support and market yoga in New York State. Members receive exclusive information and support to avoid mandatory licensing for yoga teacher training programs, yoga studios and yoga teachers operating in New York State.

Join forces with fellow yogis to:

Ensure the continued ability to make yoga available to the public without government intervention.
Uphold and promote the principles and practices of yoga, in all its forms, in New York State and beyond.
Lobby state officials on current and future legislation and regulation as it relates to yoga in New York State.
Share the message of yoga (union) to promote health, vitality, peace, and freedom.

DIY Yoga Capri’s Video Tutorial

August 28th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

For all of those who love DIY projects I have posted one for homemade yoga capri’s made from a t-shirt. This idea is a great way to reuse and recycle clothing instead of discarding it and also a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon. The capris can be great for yoga or any workout and they are easily adjustable due to a drawstring hidden in the inner waistband and don’t use constricting or tight fabric. So raid your closets, hit up the thrift stores and try a pair. Go wild with it, open up your imagination and make yourself your own pair of comfy, fat day, bloat day, live on the couch and eat ice cream, meditate and do sun salutation day pants. The video is pretty detailed in its instruction so you should have no problem following along. Click here for the pdf download

Learn how to turn shirt sleeves into yoga capri’s with Shannon from www.luvinthemommyhood.com

Beginnings of Yoga & Meditation

August 27th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

Originated in ancient India, Yoga typically means ‘union’ between the mind, body and spirit. It involves the practice of physical postures and poses, which are sometimes referred to as ‘asana’ in Sanskrit. As the name suggests, the ultimate aim of practicing Yoga is to create a balance between the body and the mind and to attain self-enlightenment. In order to accomplish it, Yoga makes use of different movements, breathing exercises, relaxation technique and meditation. Yoga is associated with a healthy and lively lifestyle with a balanced approach to life.

The oldest physical discipline in existence known to humankind, Yoga brings stability to the body and the wavering mind. It increases the lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons of the body. Studies in the field of medicine suggest that Yoga is the only form of physical activity that provides complete exercise to the body, because it massages all the internal organs and glands. This in turn reduces the risk of many diseases. Yoga can create a positive permanent difference to the lifestyle of anybody practicing it on a regular basis.

Yoga is the perfect way to ensure overall health and physical fitness. Through meditation, breathing exercises (called pranayams); you can banish all your stress and lead a healthy life. In fact, it is one of the best remedies know to humankind, for curing chronic ailments that are otherwise difficult to be cured by other medications. People suffering from backaches and arthritis are often suggested to do asanas that concentrate on providing exercise to the muscles at the strategic locations. Pranayams are the best exercises to increase the capacity of lungs capacity.

Saturday Beach Yoga in Montauk

August 26th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

After seven years in finance, at Morgan Stanley’s fixed income group Lauren Imparato quit her job to start a yoga lifestyle brand called I.AM.YOU. Lauren has gone from power suits to power vinyasa in just a few short months and couldn’t be more successful. Her business has been growing steadily since April and her classes are often sold out, according to participants. In June, Morgan Stanley hired her to host a morale- boosting session for a group of its employees and she is in talks with other corporate clients, she said. This month she has added Saturday classes at Sole East resort in Montauk, New York -then after class take a dip in the Atlantic and refresh yourself Mind, Body & Spirit.

“From a design perspective, Montauk is blazing the trail as the East End belatedly embraces the boutique aesthetic… The 60-room Solé East hotel, which replaced the old Shepherd’s Neck Inn in 2006, now welcomes guests with white walls and floors accented by colorful Marimekko pillows… the overall vibe is mellow.” New York Times — February 20, 2009

Click Here For Full Article

Yoga and Mindful Eating

August 25th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

According to a study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center featured in Science Daily, “Regular yoga practice may help prevent middle-age spread in normal-weight people and may promote weight loss in those who are overweight.” The study also found that people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese.

The term mindful eating implies an acute awareness of the body with a heightened sensitivity to hunger. Basically to eat in a mindful manner is to eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you feel satiated and most of all do not feed your emotions. “These findings fit with our hypothesis that yoga increases mindfulness in eating and leads to less weight gain over time, independent of the physical activity aspect of yoga practice,” said Alan Kristal, who is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

In my experience yoga promotes a mindful way of being in each pose the concentration it takes to conform and control the body puts me in touch with my Mind, Body and Spirit simultaneously. The deep breathing and meditation involved in my yoga routine also promote a mindful existence and help to communicate my physical needs to my brain. It all works so perfectly and harmoniously.

News from Kadampa Meditation Center

August 24th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

service world peace liberation

September 11 – 13, 2009
Our world seems full of problems, conflict, and suffering, and often we are too wrapped up in our own experiences of these things to be able to make much of a difference. Through learning to lead a life of service, however, we discover we can move beyond suffering to find true freedom and joy.

This is because service to others, outer peace, and liberation do not exist in isolation, but depend upon each other. By improving in one area, we naturally draw closer to the others. In this weekend workshop, we will learn how to cultivate this special virtuous relationship in order to positively transform the world we live in.

Click here for more information…

Peace of Mind Retreats
August 28-30
October 16-18
December 4-6

Whether we are seeking relaxation, improvement in our health, or a calmer and more stable mind, Kadampa Meditation Center introductory retreats provide us with an opportunity to take a break from the hectic pace of life.
Click here for more information…

Meditation Classes at KMC New York

Ocean of Nectar with Gen Samten Kelsang
Select Wednesdays, 7 pm – 8:30 pm
A Twelve Class Series in the World Peace Temple
Click here for more information…

Prayers for World Peace with Gen Samten
Sundays, 10:30am – 12:30pm
We all have within us the potential for peace and happiness. Cultivating this potential creates the harmony we seek. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to benefit from Buddha’s teachings! Join us this Sunday at 10:30am – and, bring a friend too!

Kids Program
While parents are meditating, kids learn through gentle and fun teachings how to respect others, practice kindness and keep a happy heart (suggested ages 4-10). Kids Program is on Sundays at 10:30am in Main House. For more information about Prayers for World Peace and Kids Program…

Yoga & Art A Winning Combination

August 22nd, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

I was looking for detailed information on an exhibit that had been at The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)in New York City in February of 2009 and came across this great video footage on YouTube. Even though this museum piece was shown months ago I still hear many fellow yogis clamoring on about how intense the experience was and how they will never forget it. According to You Tube, “Just prior to class taught at the MoMA amidst the Pipilotti Rist exhibit, 1st February 2009, Michael Rothman (mudbutter.com) shot this to make sure the camera was working… ” and something truly inspirational was captured.

The Pour Your Body Out (7354 Meters), Pipilotti Rist’s ravishing wraparound video atrium installation at MoMA drew a huge crowd and had an enormous impact on most that attended. I was not in town during that time, however I have a close friend who went and said, “I wish they would leave it permanently, it would change the face of the museum forever.” From the video clip I can sense how powerful the installation was for many participants and what a nice change of pace from the usual day to day of the MOMA.

Top Rated Yoga Studios in New York City, LA & Miami

August 21st, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

According to Travel & Leisure Magazine’s article entitled ” 25 Top Yoga Studios Around The World” there are four studios worthy of mention in New York City (Manhattan as well as outer boroughs). The classes range in price from $17-$20 and include many different styles and practices of yoga. I have also included the listings for Los Angeles and Miami for our readers in other areas of the country. If you have any input or experiences with any of these yoga studios please comment and share your thoughts.

New York There’s a surfeit of good yoga studios in Manhattan (and in outlying boroughs). It all depends on what style you practice. For Vinyasa, go to Cyndi Lee’s Om (www.omyoga.com; $18); for Iyengar, head to the Iyengar Yoga Institute (www.iyengarnyc.org; $20) in Chelsea. Jivamukti (www.jivamuktiyoga.com; $17), recently opened an uptown studio on 65th St. and Lexington Ave., but its flagship downtown location is still going strong. At Rolf Gates’s Prana Power Yoga (www.pranapoweryoga.com; $17), classes are a mix of Power and Vinyasa Flow-the studio is heated to 90 degrees, allowing you to stretch deeply into pigeon pose.

Los Angeles It’s not hard to find a challenging yoga class in L.A. Two popular examples are YogaWorks (www.yogaworks.com), with five locations, and Power Yoga guru Brian Kest’s Santa Monica studio (www.poweryoga.com). The Hatha teachers at Liberation Yoga (www.liberationyoga.com; $10), on south La Brea, emphasize the spiritual sides of yoga as much as the physical. Your first class is free.

Miami Word has quickly spread about the Miami Life Center (www.miamilifecenter.com; $18), which opened in November on South Beach. Founded by Kino MacGregor, one of the youngest women to complete the third series of Ashtanga (she recently started on the fourth with Guruji and Sharath), the studio has both “led” Ashtanga classes, traditional Mysore classes (where each student goes at his or her own pace), and a few Vinyasa classes. The Center has two practice rooms with bamboo floors, showers, changing rooms, and a large marble-floored lobby where students linger after class on oversize couches.

Yoga Classes Now Offer Power Naps

August 20th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

In the middle of their busy day, a group of Manhattan yoga class participants is bringing back nap time. NY1’s Health reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

Don’t you ever just wish they’d bring back nap time? In the middle of their busy day, one group of New Yorkers seem to be living that dream.

A new group fitness class, Power-Nap-Plus at Equinox in the Upper East Side, where about 20 minutes of free-flowing yoga and meditation is followed up by a 15- to 20-minute nap.

“The point of the class, we’re all sleep deprived, we’re overstimulated, we’re over-stressed,” says instructor LaShaun Dale. “Many of us are overexercised in this population and it is really meant to create an environment and an appointment for you to take a first step, an initial step toward wellness.”

So often, intense exercise can actually prevent people from relaxing. But here, movement is considered meditation and Dale says she has this class structured in such a way to help practitioners slide into a more restful state.

“It’s like climbing a very steep mountain,” says Dale. “We’re going to walk up the hill. Then as soon as we get to the top, it’s like 10 minutes, meant to just tax you, it’s not complex in the brain. And then we’ll bring you back down to the valley where you can rest.”

So long as the workout beforehand doesn’t overtax you, health experts say the combination of yoga and a nap could be an excellent approach to recharging.

“This is not really a new concept. It’s called a siesta, and people in more civilized countries still do this. We don’t really do that much in the United States,” says Dr. Carl Bazil of the New York Presbyterian-Columbia Medical Center. “This new practice of combining it with meditation and yoga, I actually think that’s a very good thing for a couple of reasons. I teach it to my patients – if you have trouble getting to sleep at night, that’s what I teach them to do, is try to wind down.”

Participant Gretchen Allabach says the class give her a chance to take a timeout from high-energy days.

“I think it is definitely something wonderful, especially for New Yorkers. We live in such a high energy place with a lot of things going on,” says Allabach. “We’re all attached to our Blackberries, even [President Barack] Obama can’t drop his. I think it is something where we can all put the Blackberry aside, take a moment for ourselves and kind of detox from the world and New York.”

So without their BlackBerries, New Yorkers can enjoy the fruits of their relaxation.

Integral Yoga Institute New York City

August 19th, 2009 |

Author: freddibear

YOGA AT WORK

the natural solution to workplace stress

Integral Yoga Institute’s Yoga At Work programs make a big difference at media companies, financial institutions, apparel manufacturers, hospitals, universities, non-profits and other businesses in the New York area.

Employers see:

Increased productivity

Decreased absenteeism

Higher morale

Lower turnover

Fewer insurance claims for common illnesses
The opportunity to go from their work stations to a Yoga class right on your premises is very appealing to staff members at all levels—a convenience that inspires loyalty and respect. Even those who don’t attend classes are impressed that their companies offer them!

Employees gain:

Improved concentration

Increased motivation and creativity

Fewer aches and pains at their desks

An overall sense of well being about their lives, work and companies
Yoga classes can be held practically anywhere in the office, on the floor or in chairs. Yoga can be practiced by men and women of all fitness levels, ages and body types. Yoga’s simple yet profound system of stretches, breathing and quiet relaxation brings immediate benefits:

Improved function of all internal systems of the body

Stronger bones, leaner muscles and more flexible joints

Greater mental clarity and ability to handle stress
Integral Yoga will manage your Yoga At Work program by visiting your company, helping schedule classes, and providing trained, certified and insured teachers.

Taught on the floor or in chairs, classes will include:

Eye movements to relieve eyestrain

Stretches and postures to promote better alignment

Breathing for greater health and well-being

Deep relaxation and meditation for mental clarity
These practices will be instructed to encourage your employees to incorporate them on a comfortable level at work, at home or on the road.

Yoga Meditation

Archive for August, 2009

No Yoga Liscence Required in New York

Related Reading:

DIY Yoga Capri’s Video Tutorial

Related Reading:

Beginnings of Yoga & Meditation

Related Reading:

Saturday Beach Yoga in Montauk

Related Reading:

Yoga and Mindful Eating

Related Reading:

News from Kadampa Meditation Center

Meditation Classes at KMC New York

Related Reading:

Yoga & Art A Winning Combination

Related Reading:

Top Rated Yoga Studios in New York City, LA & Miami

Related Reading:

Yoga Classes Now Offer Power Naps

Related Reading:

Integral Yoga Institute New York City

YOGA AT WORK

the natural solution to workplace stress

Related Reading:

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