Unfolding Heart Yoga

There seems to be much confusion, especially among beginning students, over what style of yoga is the best for them to practice. My experience tells me that yoga is such an individualized practice! You can have 10 people in a class, and the 'same' pose will manifest itself 10 different ways - each one being best for the person doing the pose! That said, some styles are more appropriate for where you are in your life at any given time. I always suggest that if you are new to yoga, it is best to find an "introductory or basics" class where the teacher is attentive to your body type and range of motion - and instructs the class accordingly. Hopefully he/she will help you learn to navigate your own body awareness. Please keep in mind:

Yoga should not cause pain
there should be a place where you can find 'ease' (relax) in each pose
YOU have the ability to choose if a pose is 'right' for you - not the teacher; never force

As you ease your way into yoga, allow time for your practice to develop and for the body to strengthen. Some practice styles are intensely vigorous, designed for those who desire a 'workout' and a physical challenge. Other practices are slower, and are more specific to opening the mind/body/spirit connection - yet, will still deveolp strength and flexibility. Still other practices are designed to be more 'healing' practices. So you need to ask the instructor or at the studio, which classes are which - let them know your relative fitness level and what you hope to accomplish. There is no 'one size fits all' and unfortunately, no 'cook book' recipe to follow. Maybe you are just looking for a way to decrease and manage your stress levels. There is a yoga practice style which will meet your desires - you need to discern well and find that. Follow your heart!

If you are interested in general information on the numerous styles of yoga, a recent article in Yoga Journal is linked here, and may answer a few of your questions.
http://www,yogajournal.com/basics/165

Nemaste!

“Even while I’m working, I’m always resting.” | Accomplishing More by Doing Less

2009-11-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

“Even while I’m working, I’m always resting.” Accomplishing More by Doing Less

Spiritual Directors International Announcements

2009-09-17T13:45:00.001-04:00

Spiritual Directors International Announcements

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Anatomy lesson for yogi's!

2009-09-14T13:02:00.002-04:00

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lulubandhas.com%2Fportal%2Fluluvu%2Fojai-yoga-crib-2007-online-yoga-video-clips-patricia-sullivan-pelvic-anatomy-lesson&h=1b01983c6812da811d753b547c4f1b06

This is from Kira Ryder - one of my favorite people to follow. In this clip, Patricia Sullivan explains the anatomy of the pelvis and sacrum - important to know for yogi's! If your curious, then by all means, take a look!

Chair Yoga

2009-09-07T21:53:00.003-04:00

Some of you know that I have been teaching chair yoga for over a year now. Today, my dear friend and colleague in CA, Kira Ryder, posted this link to her Chair Yoga series on Face Book. It is worth a look - even if you have no need for it today, a loved one may benefit, or you yourself, may one day be recovering from injury or illness, and need this style of practice. So, I share it with you - this little video series is very similar to what I do with my seniors at the care facility, and at the Delaware Senior Center. Enjoy!

Nemaste,

Martie

http://www.lulubandhas.com/portal/luluvu/nest-ce-pas-chair-yoga-series-introduction-1-9-online-yoga-video-kira-ryder

Kira Ryder on Sciatica

2009-09-03T16:13:00.000-04:00

http://www.facebook.com/ajax/share_dialog.php?s=99&appid=2309869772&p[]=1084368586&p[]=248070915082

Diversify Your Yoga Practice

2009-09-01T09:04:00.000-04:00

Diversify Your Yoga Practice

Yoga Keeps Us Young...

2009-08-29T09:26:00.004-04:00

A few of you know I'm not a huge fan of Yoga Journal as a general rule. That said, I just received the October issue in the mail yesterday and they have a wonderful article called "The Art of Staying Young," and all the featured yogis are at least 58 or older! FINALLY - some attention is being paid to those of us who are past 50, and are still active and in relatively good shape - or are at least moving in that direction. Angela Farmer, one of the women interviewed for the article, is 71! All of speak of listening to your body and paying attention to what is happening inside - developing tolerance and mental flexibility. Yoga is a beneficial tool for keeping the body & the mind strong and flexible. So, if you get a chance, pick up the October issue - and disregard Sianna Sherman doing One-legged King Pigeon Pose on the front...(this is why I get a little upset with YJ...nearly every month, it seems, this pose is on the cover...you don't have to be able to do this pose in order to do yoga with me....so no worries, OK?) Or you can go to www.yogajournal.com Oh, and why am I getting YJ you ask? Because my liability group insurance rate is best through them, and that is a huge benefit I cannot afford to miss. And they do have other great articles a lot of the time...it is just that everyone sees the front cover, thinks "that's yoga - I can't do that" and then, they never try yoga because of that image in their mind. I just love the cat doing yoga - some days, this is all the further I get, too...and it is totally OK!!!!!! Some days, it is all about the breath. Nemaste.

Thoughts in passing....

2009-08-28T13:03:00.002-04:00

While snails might not be your favorite creatures, look at that spiral shell! Wow! Totally awesome container to travel around in! So, as I was driving today, I passed some signs which had been posted in a yard by the road. Here is what they said:

RELENTLESS COMPASSION

RADICAL INCLUSION

Ever since I saw those words, I've been wondering about how I can follow the instruction these words offer us - how do we practice this?

How do we offer relentless compassion and radical inclusion even to those people or creatures which initially set off resistance in us?

So, those are the words for my meditation today - out of nowhere they came - along the roadside - just in passing...
-Martie

2009-08-27T20:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome, everyone, to my first attempt at blogging! It has taken me all afternoon to somewhat get this together! One might say I'm a little technicologically challenged when it comes to these things! So from those of you more experienced, please post suggestions and instructions as to how I can make this better as we move forward. Thank you for visiting!