Actress Chloe Sevigny must really love yoga because she is talking it up all over the place! We aren't sure what style she practices or where she places her mat. But this winner of a Golden Globe award for best supporting actress in a TV series graces the April cover of Elle UK and talks about her new three-times-a-week yoga practice, which makes her feel "strong" and "limber." (She also credits yoga with boosting her libido.) In a recent interview with NPR, Sevigny talks about how yoga helps her with her scoliosis so she feels straightened out. Check it out: Our friends at YogaDork found some morsels of the interview here. Which celebrities have you noticed taking up the practice of yoga?
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell signed a bill last night that would protect yoga schools in Virginia from being regulated by the State Council for Higher Education, which oversees other vocational trainings. Some people view this as a legal victory; others think state regulation would benefit students in teacher training programs. What do you think?
California Pacific Medical Center is honoring one of our beloved yoga
teachers. CPMC’s Institute for Health & Healing has selected Matthew Sanford as the recipient of its Pioneer in Integrative Medicine award.
When Matthew was 13, a car accident took the lives of his sister and
father and paralyzed much of his body. Luckily, he found yoga in his
20s and was amazed at how it changed his life and his attitude. He now
teaches adaptive yoga and has dedicated his life to helping others
benefit from the mind-body healing of yoga. Author of the book Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence, Matthew has been an inspiration to anyone who has ever experienced a major physical trauma or disability. You can meet Matthew Sanford at our upcoming Yoga Journal conference in Boston this April. Congrats, Matthew!
A few weeks ago, the YJ staff got a special treat when MC Yogi and Amanda Giacomini stopped by our offices to teach our daily staff yoga class. We don't usually practice with music here in the offices--mostly because our yoga room is also our conference room and isn't really set up with a sound system--so I'm always grateful when we have a teacher come in with her own iPod docking station. Of course, we would expect no less from the infamous, self procraimed yoga "unrapper" . . . who came with a big, shiny boom box in tow. Sure, I was skeptical of the whole yoga hip-hop thing at first, but now, I'll admit it. I'm a fan. So I was thrilled to see his newest video posted to Huffington Post today.
"It's about being generous with ourselves with our hearts, with our time and with our energy," he writes. "It affirms the universal principle of attraction. What we give is what we get."
If you missed last year's Wanderlust Festival, this year you'll have a second opportunity to enjoy a weekend of yoga and music in Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, CA from July 29 - August 1, 2010.
This year's yoga line-up includes Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Baron Baptiste, Doug Swenson, Duncan Wong, Elena Brower, and Schuyler Grant, according to a press release. Musicians will be Moby, Bassnectar, Brazilian Girls, and Pretty Lights.
Some people thought it was a stretch that yogis have started including their dogs in some classes. But now animal lovers have even found a way to share the practice with their barn-dwelling four legged friends. That's right! Yoga for horses!
Tucson yogi Gloria Hester uses her expertise in yoga, horses, and Hanna Somatics to help heal injured horses, reports the Tucson Citizen. While the yoga Hester teaches to horses is not the same kind of asana-focused yoga you'd see in a yoga studio, it has helped at least a few horses deal with pain. "If yoga is a practice of
consciousness, (and I believe it is), then in that sense, the horse is
definitely practicing 'yoga' in the truest sense of the word," Hester told The Citizen.
The article doesn't really explain the method and how it works, but it does sound like a neat idea.
Do you think horses are really capable of practicing consciousness? Have you ever tried yoga or alternative healing methods with any of your pets?
If you've ever flipped through an issue of Yoga Journal, and thought, "I wish someone would read this to me so I could get on my mat and practice along," you're going to be really excited about our newest feature.
LiveMag will be your destination for multimedia versions of your favorite magazine columns and features. In the first edition (which corresponds to the March 2010 issue of the magazine), you can practice along with the video versions of the popular Home Practice and Master Class columns and watch a demo of a few of the Sun Salutation variations highlighted in the feature story "Shine on Me."
Give it a try, and make sure to comment below and let us know what you think!
By the way, the new issue of Yoga Journal will be out on newsstands February 16.
I loved this post from Chicagonow.com's BrokeAss Blog about how to get your yoga in without emptying your wallet. Of course, the suggestions are specifically for the Chicago area, but I think we can take their ideas and make them work no matter where you live. Yoga is expensive if you're willing to pay the fancy studio prices, but if you're a little creative you can get all (or at least most) of the studio benefits for a fraction of the cost.
1. Take advantage of new student specials. If you live in an urban area with a lot of health clubs and gyms, you can get your yoga on for free for a LONG time by simply trying out something new and taking advantage of the introductory offers. Many studios and teachers offer their first class for free or reduced rates, and gyms sometimes offer free weeklong passes for anyone who wants to give them a try. Does this compromiseyour comittment to asteya, non-stealing? I think not! Teachers, studios, and health clubs offer free trials to get you through the door and they know you might not come back.
2. Look for yoga in non-traditional venues. If you do a little research, you might discover there are affordable yoga classes at your local parks, libraries, or community centers. Ask a yoga teacher you know who is involved in the local yoga community, or just pick up the phone and call the city to ask.
3. Seek out work study programs. Many studios will agree to let you take classes for free if you agree to man the front desk, sweep the floors, or neatly organize their props at the end of the class.
4. Trade Your Services for Classes. Even if your local studio doesn't have a work trade program, you might be able to barter with individual teachers in exchange for classes. Are you a trained yoga teacher? Maybe you could offer to assist one class a week. Do you have marketing skills? Maybe your teacher needs help promoting himself. The possibilities are endless!
5. Practice at home. A home practice (whether you use your own sequence, a DVD, or a an online video) is not the same as getting guidance from an in-person teacher, but in a lot of ways it's just as important. Test your own boundaries. Really pay attention to your body's signals. Empower yourself to listen to your intuition and the practice you need.
What ways do you save money without compromising your yoga practice? Are there any creative programs in your area that offer yoga at reduced prices?
Long time yoga blogger, YogaDawg, announced yesterday that he is calling it quits to pursue his passion for painting.
For years his blog, My Itchy Third Eye, and website, YogaDawg.com, have provided us with hilarious yoga satire that reminded us not to take our yoga too seriously.
We'll miss you, YogaDawg! You are a true ARTIST in every way.
Today, The New York Times City Room blog posted that Bryn Chrisman, a vinyasa flow yoga teacher in New
York City, will be responding to readers' questions "about her path to
yoga, her current job, her practice, kirtan and other matters of
interest."
I think anything like this that gives yoga teachers exposure and lets
them explain their story is great. But when I scrolled down to look at the
questions that were asked I was a little surprised to see questions
seeking answers to serious medical questions (how to lower high blood pressure?), spiritual guidance, and how much
meditation practice is required to be "be a good yoga practitioner." (Check the City Room blog again on Wednesday to see her answers to some of these questions.)
I'm sure Ms. Chrisman is very knowledgeable--but surely she doesn't have the answers to all of those questions! Who does!?
It just makes me wonder, why is there such a big misconception out there out there that all yoga teachers are experts in all things medical and spiritual? Do you trust your teacher enough to ask him for medical advice? Where do you draw the line?
If you've ever had a sleepless night, you know how frustrating it can be to lay in bed wide awake, mind spinning or body aching, when all you want to do is sleep. Insomnia affects 54 percent of adults in the United States at one time or another. Luckily, studies have shown that yoga can help—and you don't even have to get up out of bed to do it, says a recent article on TheGlobeandMail.com. Try reclining poses like Balasana (Child's Pose), Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose), or Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose) if your bed is beside a wall.
"It's not a magic button," Graydon Moffat, a yoga teacher who suffers from insomnia, told The Globe and Mail. "But I know that I'm not just
lying down there and tossing and turning - I'm restoring my body."
Have you ever tried doing yoga when you couldn't sleep? What poses helped you most?
Possibly the biggest debate in the yoga community is around food, ahimsa (non-harming), and health. Today's New York Times includes an in-depth article on the wide range of ideas and philosophies surrounding yoga and food. Can you be a yogi who also appreciates a burger every now and then? What about wine? Chocolate? Some say yes, some say no... The debate continues.
No matter where you stand on the issue, it's hard to argue with this quote by Dave Romanelli: "What yoga teachers do and what chefs do is not so different. We take everyday actions like moving and eating, and slow you down so
you can appreciate them." Achieving stillness and peace amid the
distractions of life, he said, has always been the higher goal of yoga.
Last week, I posted a great video of local news anchors doing yoga. This week, I thought I'd follow up with an adorable video of a CBS news anchor practicing desk yoga with Kristin McGee. If you're sitting at your desk while you watch, give these stretches a try!
This weekend, there is no reason not to get your asana to a yoga class!
Saturday, January 23rd is Yoga Day USA, which means there will be lots of opportunities to practice yoga for free or at reduced prices.Yoga Day gives people new to the practice an incentive to give it a try, but we can all take advantage of a free class.
Find a participating studio or teacher near you. Try a new studio or a new teacher. Bring a friend who wouldn't join you for a class otherwise. Then, please remember to come back here and share your experience with the rest of us.
Today, the BBC reported that inmates in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh will be released from 15 days early for every three months they spend practicing yoga. "The authorities say the lessons help to improve the prisoners' self-control and reduce aggression," according to the article.4,000 inmates are taking advantage of the program, and many of the prisoners go on to become yoga instructors after they are released.
That sounds like a good deal to me. In the Yoga Journal offices, we get a lot of letters from prisoners across the U.S. who seem to be really dedicated to practicing yoga while they do their time. It's hard to measure how big the impact really is on aggression and self-control, but a little self reflection (yoga style) can only be a positive thing, right?
What do you think? Obviously there's a lot of controversy about the perks inmates should receive while they're in jail. Would you support this kind of program if it were to be proposed here in the U.S.?
The following clip, featuring yoga teacher Rainbeau Mars, recently aired on a San Francisco news station. Not only does it share yoga's immunity boosting benefits with a wide audience, but it also shows that you can do yoga any time (even when you're at work and wearing a tie!).
Do you think your yoga practice has helped you avoid a cold this season? What poses do you practice when you're feeling under the weather?
In the aftermath of Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, many yoga studios, teachers, and practitioners have forces to send aid and help soften the blow of the tragedy. We encourage you to lend your support--monetary contributions, participation in relief events, raise awareness, or simply dedicate a yoga practice--to the people of Haiti.
Below is a list of just a few yoga events that aim to help with the relief effort in Haiti. I know there are many more all over the country. I need your help to publicize other opportunities to get involved!
Please add the list by commenting below with local events or efforts in
your community-- please include dates, times, and URLs.
Yoga Tree Benefit Class in San Francisco, California -- January 17, 4:30pm; Studio will match donations.
Piedmont Yoga Studio Clothing Drive in Oakland, California -- through January 17
Haitian Relief Class with Spiritual Gansters 305 in Aventura, Florida -- January 17, 10:30am
River's Edge Yoga Classes for Haitian Relief in Alexandria, Virginia -- January 18, 11am, 12:30pm, and 6:30pm
Blue Lotus Yoga Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina set up a fundraiser page with Mercy Corps
By Donation Yoga for Haiti Core Strengh Vinyasa Master Class in New York, New York -- January 24 12-2pm and Benefit for Haiti with FELA! and other celebrities on January 22nd
Your Yoga Community Center in Hamden, Connecticut will donate the proceeds from classes on January 16 and 17th to Doctors without Borders or Americares.
What prevents people from jumping on the yoga bandwagon? According to a new survey conducted by Yoga Alliance, several misconceptions could be what's keeping non-yogis from trying their first class.
The research sought feedback from people who have never stepped foot in
a studio as well as those who have made yoga an essential part of their
lives. It found that, despite growing "buzz," there are many Americans
who know little about yoga or, worse, have incorrect assumptions which
inhibit them from participation. The three most common misperceptions
are that yoga:
Is religion-based. 57% of those who do not currently practice yoga believe that it requires mantras or chanting related to a form of worship.
Requires flexibility in order to practice.
Nearly 3 in 5 Americans - 59% of respondents - who do not practice
yoga think that it requires a person to be in at least "decent" shape.
In truth, however, anyone - of any size, shape or physical state - can
benefit.
Is not reallyexercise. Half of men who have never practiced yoga believe it "isn't a workout." In contrast, 73% of people who do practice believe it is just as effective as running, swimming or weight lifting."
That confirms my suspicions about why some people are simply not interested in yoga. I think it's a shame that misinformation about the practice has led so many to shun something that so many have found beneficial. It makes me wonder, what are we, as a community, doing wrong? What can we do to help people understand more clearly what yoga is really all about?
Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a yoga teacher, health psychologist at Stanford University, editor in chief of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, once suffered from debilitating headaches
that made her wonder what it would be like to live one day without pain. Now, as the author of the new book, Yoga for Pain
Relief, McGonigal is sharing her tips for dealing with chronic pain through yoga and meditation. The following interview with McGonigal tells about her struggles and how yoga helped her.
Tell us a little bit about how you became
interested in using yoga for chronic pain. How has yoga helped you cope with pain?
I do live with
pain, but it is a pale shadow of what it used to be. For many years I had daily
headaches, often debilitating. My doorway
into relief came first through mindfulness meditation. I took a class for
people with chronic pain and learned a whole to new way to relate to sensation.
It was something no one had ever said in any of the yoga asana classes I had
taken. I learned how to focus on my breath and feel sensations without
resisting them. I remember the first time I tried breath mindfulness during a
bad pain episode, and it helped. I went back to the next class so excited to
explain to everyone how the pain had been so intense, and yet I had the experience
at the same time that it was OK, that I was OK, and I could handle it. What a
revelation!
I started
applying mindfulness acceptance of sensations to my yoga practice. Practicing
mindful yoga extremely useful, because the poses created so many intense
sensations! It was a perfect way to learn a new way of relating to discomfort.
Now, my pain is extremely mild and not daily. I only get a few debilitating headaches a
year. The pain isn't gone, it's just a completely different experience. It has
no hold on me, my emotions, and what I am able to do. And I almost never have
to take pain medication, whereas I used to take it daily. But it's actually
kind of a miracle.
Paying
attention to my body in yoga also helped by making me more aware of how other
things, like food and sleep, influence my pain. It's given me more mindful
awareness of cause and effect in my body and mind. This lets me make better
choices about how I take care of myself. People
with pain often feel betrayed by their body, and this was certainly true for me.
Yoga can help you restore trust in your body, and learn how to listen to your
body.
Why is yoga a good idea for people who have chronic
pain as opposed to other treatment options?
Yoga is so
helpful because chronic pain doesn't play by the same rules as acute pain from
a recent injury or illness. It is more strongly influenced by stress, thoughts,
and emotions. And the pain doesn't necessarily reflect a single identifiable
"problem" in the body, like a compressed disc or an infection. It usually
reflects a systemic change in how you experience pain that may involve your
muscles, nerves, hormones, and brain. So chronic pain is rarely "fixed" with a
single medical intervention like surgery. It is usually a more gradual process
that requires a holistic approach, including medicine, social support, and
mind-body or psychological approaches.
How is the approach in yoga for chronic pain
different from approaching any other kind of pain?
The biggest
difference is you're not looking to fix some part of the body. It's not a
"stretch your back to get rid of your back pain" approach. It involves every
possible tool of yoga, including breathing, relaxation, movement, meditation,
philosophy, and self-reflection. It's recognizing that yoga's healing power
comes from it's ability to change the way your breathe and move, yes, but also how
you feel, think, and relate to yourself and to pain. It's being open to the
possibility that meditation or breathing has a good a chance of reducing your
back pain as a stretch!
How can you use meditation as a tool to help? Can
you share an example of a meditation you might advise a chronic pain patient to
use?
One of my personal favorites is mantra meditation--repeating a healing phrase in your
mind. It gives you something to focus on, which shuts down the usual cascade of
thoughts that make pain worse. It provides a rhythm for the breath. This makes
it easier to slow down and deepen your breath, which can calm the stress
response and make the body and brain less reactive to pain. It gives you a
sense of quiet control, the exact opposite experience that typically goes with
pain or stress. I also like the idea that the mantra itself has a healing
power. I use a Buddhist mantra that resonates with me, and it is believed that
the sounds of the mantra spontaneously awaken the heart and mind. When I work
with students who have pain, I help them choose an English phrase or a yogic
mantra that feels meaningful to them.
Earlier this week, domestic diva Martha Stewart taped an episode of The Martha Stewart Show, dedicated entirely to the practice of yoga. During the show, which airs tomorrow, her guest Trudie Styler, a famed yogi and wife of musician Sting, leads the audience of 51yogis though an empowering Warrior workout. There's also an overview of the different kinds of yoga.
Actress Chloe Sevigny must really love yoga because she is talking it up all over the place! We aren't sure what style she practices or where she places her mat. But this winner of a Golden Globe award for best supporting actress in a TV series graces the April cover of Elle UK and talks about her new three-times-a-week yoga practice, which makes her feel "strong" and "limber." (She also credits yoga with boosting her libido.) In a recent interview with NPR, Sevigny talks about how yoga helps her with her scoliosis so she feels straightened out. Check it out: Our friends at YogaDork found some morsels of the interview here. 
yogajournal.com
vegetariantimes.com
backpacker.com
optimumwellness.com
wholefoodsmarket.com
betternutrition.com
