Community Spotlight

Atlas Massage - Rich Schumann

Serendipity- the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.

The definition of serendipity would probably best describe how I found Yoga. When I graduated from Massage Therapy School in 2008, I was faced with the decision of where I would start my new career. I was introduced to Marit through one of my former teachers, who was and is a regular Yogini at Inner Fire Yoga. Little did I know how fortunate I would be, not only to start my massage therapy practice here, but also to start a new practice of Yoga.

I have always enjoyed biking, cross country skiing, and trail running, so I thought I was in pretty good shape. That is until I started doing yoga anyway. My first and actually every hot yoga class have been very humbling. I had no previous experience with any form of yoga. So to step into the hot yoga room with all the "experts" was intimidating. But with the guidance of all the excellent teachers, I soon learned that staying focused on the moment, and staying within my own breath were the key. Not to mention staying in the room the whole class at first! I soon, well months later, learned how to turn my practice from surviving in class, into thriving in class. At least my body and mind were starting to feel the benefits of a regular practice.

As a massage therapist, I can say that the Hot Yoga series is truly restorative. My shoulders and elbows are sometimes the barometer that tells me that I need to return to class. After one or two classes, my body feels realigned, and the "cranky" parts of my body are happy again.

The challenges started yielding to the benefits of class. Biking and running started feeling easier, as I could take a deeper fuller feeling breath. I set a new personal best time skiing in the Birkebeiner last year. One of the things I remember reading about the hot yoga series, was that it was not to put you into a meditative state, but to clear out the cobwebs in your mind. Those cobwebs keep coming back somehow, so I keep coming back to yoga.

So it may be serendipity that led me to yoga, but I like to consider it the "Gift of Yoga"

Not only has Inner Fire Yoga given me the start of a new career, but the start of a better lifestyle. I will always be grateful to Marit, and all the teachers and staff.

Thank you, Rich Schumann

Rich now operates Atlas Massage at the Quarry Arts Building at 715 Hill Street, suite 242 - just behind Whole Foods. It is very nearby, just one mile away. (no excuse for you to not take the one mile drive from Inner Fire Yoga after class to receive your massage therapy from Rich at his new location!). You also have the added benefit of total peace and quiet... No more lobby full of chatty yoga students and teachers.

Student Spotlight

Emma Hynes

When I first started practicing yoga almost two years ago, I didn't go regularly. I went once or maybe twice a week and skipped a few weeks here and there. And then a friend took me to Inner Fire Yoga for the first time. Honestly, I wasn't immediately sold on the heat and the intensity right away, but I kept with it and I soon understood why so many people keep coming back: it's addicting. At first I started going three times a week but then I began to crave it everyday and the more hectic things became in my life - graduate school stress, an illness in the family, etc - the more I felt like I needed the calm that the studio offered, the momentary stillness of mind that occurred periodically throughout class, the small successes that came with the hard work, the energy of the dedicated people around me, and my favorite part - the wonderful feeling of remembering what it feels like to breath and to breath deeply.

The benefits of my dedicated practice at Inner Fire have surprised me from the beginning and continue to shock me everyday as I notice positive changes in my body, mind and even my relationships due to my increased calm and generosity. There's no question that unlimited yoga at Inner Fire is the best $100 I spend all month.

New Teacher Spotlight

Carrie Johnson

Originally from a small town west of Boston, I have been living and teaching in Wisconsin since 2003. I was first Drawn to Yoga and Pilates in 1999 as a way to build strength and maintain flexibility, developed from my love of dance and to prepare for my first pregnancy. From there I explored several styles of Yoga including Kripalu, Power Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga and Forrest in Boston, New Hampshire, Chicago, and Wisconsin. After that, I completed my 200 hours of Power Vinyasa Yoga teacher training and also became a certified Apparatus and Mat Pilates Instructor at the PhysicalMind Institute of New York.

My classes are playful, yet challenging and inspirational. I let my passion and positive energy shine through when I teach. I use my knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and yoga flow sequencing to create an invigorating practice that benefits the entire body, mind, and soul.

When off the Mat, I enjoy hosting workshops to de-stress and strengthen the body. I also enjoy offering privates and duets, and traveling to study with World Wide Instructors such as Shiva Rea, Rodney Lee, Ana Forrest, Michael Miller, Mary Bowen, and many more inspiring master trainers. Carries biggest followers in her teaching are her two beautiful daughters.

New Teacher Spotlight

Erinn Morris

I had loved the idea of yoga for years. The thought of being able to tie my shoes without bending my knees seemed unrealistic as I hadn't been able to do this since I failed the "seat and reach" test back in elementary school, but I always thought maybe someday... but my lack of flexibility seemed embarrassing and kept me from anything other than daydreaming. Flash forward several years and my biggest problem was no longer being able to reach my feet. I was in graduate school and suddenly found myself dealing with a compilation of physical, emotional, and spiritual turmoil that left me feeling spent. My body was literally begging me to do something to improve my situation and as its final warning that I had better do something "or else", my stomach started revolting against anything I put in it except onions. This was serious, I had to do something. Thankfully, a friend suggested I attend a yoga class with her. She promised that, if nothing else, my mind would shut up for the 90 minutes I was in class because it was so hot that it just wasn't possible to do anything other than breathe and even that was iffy. This sounded too good to be try true and was the push I needed to finally, and noisily, unroll my new mat at a Bikram studio in Baltimore, MD. My friend was right, that class gave me the first 90 minutes of silence I'd had since I could remember, blissful and perfect silence, a well needed rest from my perpetually loud, nosy, and interjecting mind. I hadn't realized until then that my mind and I had been feuding, who knew that could even happen?

That first class was over 4 years ago and since then I've managed not only to reach my toes but to coax my stomach into eating things from something other than the Alliaceae (onion) family and to keep a quieter (though not completely silent) mind. When I come to my mat each day I am grateful that I have been able to reconnect my mind and body and I look forward to the lessons that I continue to learn as I try to keep my ears and heart open. I wanted to start teaching yoga as a kind of karmic service; how could I not share my love and passion for yoga with others after all I had gained? I am here to guide and reassure you that in time you will be able to touch your toes, calm your mind, and more importantly discover who you are and what you are capable of doing in this crazy world.

 
EARLY REGISTRATION PRICES ARE
EXTENDED UNTIL SAT., JAN. 15, 2011

All fees are still due in full on Jan. 15, 2011

Amansala Eco Resort · Tulum, Mexico

• 2 yoga classes per day; power flow and yin yoga
• regular meditation sessions
• beautiful, beach-front accommodations
• three gourmet healthy meals per day

For more information (including a new Q&A sectioun), rates, general information, terms and conditions, click here.

with Darlene Vander Hoop and Joan Bliefernicht

The practice of Yin Yoga facilitates understanding the value of acceptance at a deep cellular level. By holding postures without trying to change things one travels to the present moment, allowing joy and authenticity to arise. Combining yoga postures with the absorption of pure therapeutic grade essential oils enhances the process and renders it magical. Be prepared to bliss out with senior teachers Dar and Joan, listening to ambient world music, stretching deeply, yin poses, experiencing the profound scents of life. Beginners welcome.

Friday, January 14 ● 6:30-9:30pm
$35 by Jan. 11 · $40 Jan. 12-14

Register now for the early bird discount.

Vinyasa Yoga Weekend and Kirtan Performance
with Wade Morissette

Friday, Feb. 18 - Sunday, Feb. 20

Rates:
$130 for whole weekend including Kirtan/Dance
3 workshops: $115 early registration, $130 after Feb. 15
2 workshops: $85 early registration, $110 after Feb. 15
1 workshop: $50 early registration, $60 after Feb. 15
$15 for Kirtan in advance, $25 at the door

 
Register now for early bird discount.

Power Yoga Mini-Bootcamp
with Jackie Meacham and Karen Erstad

Sunday, March 20, 2011
12:30-3pm

Start your new year with a new vision and learn the tools to transform your way of being and find a greater degree of happiness, health, and peace in the process.

In this mini-bootcamp, we'll cover Baron Baptiste's Laws of Transformation from his book 40 Days to Personal Revolution, and we'll talk about how these principles can help you manifest the vision you have for you life. Please, bring a pen and paper.

$30 early bird rate
$35 after March 17

Register now for early bird discount.

"Humankind has been on a quest for truth since time immemorial. Countless individuals have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of this ideal. Many have lived that ideal. But today the quest for truth has become more important than ever before. Humankind stands at a critical juncture in its evolution, a moment which will determine our very survival as a species. The precious Earth on which we live is daily being stripped of resources; technologies that define our modern way of life threaten also to drive us to extinction; religions that promise a better way of life instead lead people to kill one another; and the system dynamics behind it all are so complex that escape seems all but impossible. Yet what if humankind applied collective intelligence and synergistic application of great minds working together on the problems of our time? What is the common denominator, the logical place to begin the conversation? Truth. For if we could arrive at a better understanding of truth, many other things would fall into place." www.satya.com

Whoa! That's both scary - yet encouraging. So how do we as individuals practicing yoga find truth? It's actually more straight-forward than one would first think. With our yoga practice we breath and feel and start to discover what works for our bodies and mind. If you feel pain in a pose, back off to the edge of the pain and work there. If it feels good to sweat and move through lots of Sun Salutations, then do that. By paying attention and following our truth in yoga, we learn what it means to find and follow the truth off of the mat. You begin to recognize what doesn't feel right in your gut and what drains your energy. Once you recognize it, then you can change it or stop doing it. Relationships, work, spending your life in front of TV, eating foods that don't nourish your body are some examples of what might be draining your energy. When you start eliminating your energy drains, your true self begins to emerge and then you truly shine and participate in the healing of our planet and humankind.

Yoga Medical News 


Yoga Could Help Improve Prison Environment- New Study

Source: University Of Leicester

"Prisons are highly stressful environments and yoga may offer prisoners a much needed physical and mental release of the tension of prison life, paradoxically turning prison cells into places of retreat, where prisoners can develop self-discipline and concentration skills.

Read the full article here at Medical News Today.