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Yoga, Holidays & Gratitude
Can you believe it? I think that the calendar has played tricks on us this year. Some how the snows have now been falling and it is already December and the holidays. Every year time seems to be moving faster.
As we do move into the holidays it is a great time to stay connected with your yoga practice. Perhaps we are busy with family, friends and partys. Maybe we are trying to find or make the "perfect" present for a loved one. Or perhaps it is a time of deeper solitude and reflection. Whatever the season brings for you - keep your yoga practice going. Often it is the one place where we find time to nourish are own body and soul. No matter what is happening in our outer world - yoga will help you still the fluctuations of the mind.
On Saturday December 8th beginning at 5:30pm we will be having our own Holiday Party and Annual Twister Championship. We have done this every year and it is always a blast. It's a great to time to connect with those that you already know and meet those people from class that you have never had a chance to talk with. Bring your whole family from the kids to the grandparents and your favorite potluck dish.
In addition, if you have extra clothing, shoes and blankets please bring that too. We will drop it all off at the Bethlehem Inn - our local shelter for the homeless. This is such a great time of year to be grateful for everything we have - including a nice warm room to do our yoga practice in. So bring something extra to keep others warm. In case you don't make it to the party, we are accepting donations anytime during December.
Update on the
Yoga Championship
Congratulations to Kathy Durham on placing First this year at the Oregon Yoga Asana Championship. This is the second year in a row that Kathy has won First Place. Kathy will now compete in the National Yoga Asana Championship in Los Angeles in February of 2008. Everybody wish Kathy well on her way to the Nationals and perhaps the International Bishnu Ghosh Hatha Yoga Championship.
Congratulations also to Maria Limberg in her participation at the Oregon Championship. Even though Maria did not place this year - she did absolutely wonderful.
Michael Harris, Studio Owner and Director |
| Posture of the Month |
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Eagle Pose
Garuasana
After completing Awkward Pose, Eagle Pose comes next. It is the last of the initial "warming up exercises". And it is the first posture where you balance on one leg. Since it is so easy to mix up the right arm from the left we always remind you to check the difference. As a beginner, once you have the arms wrapped it is important to interlace all the fingers to make sure you have a good grip. Once the arms are wrapped you may feel a wonderful sensation in the fingers, hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders. This posture will open up your upper back. Now that the arms are wrapped nice and tight, we move to the legs. When you begin to wrap the legs, be sure to lift the top leg high over the bottom leg and get the foot all the way around the calf, so you can see your toes in the mirror. If you are still working on seeing your toes you can use your hands to get your foot a little further behind the calf. Before you know it, you will be able to see your toes peaking out from behind the leg. This posture is excellent on opening the ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists and shoulder blades. Of course with all the squeezing action going on it it superb for many of the internal organs - including the sexual organs. Once we have completed this posture it is party time!!!
One of the best ways to learn more about the postures is to read Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class book. And, when you come to class everyday you will "Make Your Body Smile!"
Michael Harris, Studio Owner and Director |
| Student of the Month |
December's Student of the Month is Carol Simpson
At over 60 years young, Carol never lets anything stop her. She refuses to give up. Through the practice of Bikram Yoga, not even the face of a rock can stop her from continuing to reach for the sky. She opens and stretches her body in class, in preparation for the most difficult climbing routes. If you are thinking about giving up on anything - just talk to Carol.
"I truly believe I would not be climbing today without the Bikram Yoga practice. I have had shoulder surgery, bi-lateral knee surgery, tendonitis of just about everything and climbing was taking a huge toll on my body. When I started practicing Bikram Yoga, all the aches and pains of the old injuries started slowly fading away. I mean slowly -over a period of years. It did not happen overnight for me. I had to keep practicing on regular basic. I have been practicing Bikram Yoga regularly for over 3 years. I need it like eating, sleeping and breathing. In case you don't know what the heck Bikram yoga is, it's a series of 26 postures that are repeated in the same sequence each time and held for up to 60 seconds. Kind of isometric and kind of like physical therapy. It's done in a room that is heated to approximately 105 degrees, so you sweat like a pig. It's an amazing workout and it has caused my climbing strength, flexibility and focus to improve. Not to mention that it's the fountain of youth - it has caused all the systems of my body to return to the same working order as they were in my 20's and 30's. Sleep, eating habits, circulatory system, energy, attitude, agility, digestive tract, everything - you name it. "
Carol is the owner and director of both Redpoint Climbing shop in Terrebone as well as First Ascent Climbing Services. During the past two years she has provided her services to take groups from the yoga studio climbing at Smith Rock. It has been an amazing opportunity to go and be a part of this with her instructions so rigid and pure, keeping as true to the sport as possible, all the while she draws comparisons to yoga and her practice detailing how it helps through the struggles. She has leads kid's climbing camps. One the highlights of the camp is when Carol brings them to practice Bikram Yoga. She's a true believer in the 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises and uses it consistently to get the results she wants in maintain and strengthen her climbing ability.
In the Bikram Yoga practice we are essentially training the body to be put to the test at all times. When we step off of our mat and into our normal daily routine, we are given an opportunity to display our strength and flexibility not only of the body, but especially of the mind and attitude. Placing yourself in challenging events and situations forces you to call upon the power within that we create in the 90 minute yoga class. Combining the simplicity of our breath with slow mindful movements into postures in our practice stimulates the ease in which we respond to life's many demands. This focus builds in the body and mind in order to be called upon when doing even the most favorite hobby in your life. Watching Carol climb a route is more like watching a dance between her and the rock...she moves with ease, with finess, with intention, in the same way she moves when she enters the yoga studio. She is always pushing the limits, finding the boundaries and crossing the edges to better herself. She transfers the lessons from her Bikram Yoga practice to the rock and then to her life over and over again.
Congratulations to Carol on being the Student of the Month!!
Kathy Durham, Bikram Yoga Certified Teacher
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Hope to see you in class soon!!
Michael Harris, Director
Bikram Yoga Bend, Oregon | |
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