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| Featured Pose
Standing separate leg head-to-knee
Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana |
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This pose improves the flexibility of the spine, shoulders, hips and sciatic nerve. Stretches the tendons and ligaments of the legs. Works rectus abdominus, obliques, iliosoas, quads, deltoids, trapezius and biceps. Slims the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks and thighs.
Balances the thyroid and pituitary glands. Helps maintain healthy blood sugar balance, which aids diabetes. Stimulates the endocrine, reproductive and digestive systems. Compresses the pancreas, liver and kidneys.
Improves circulation to the legs and brain. Improves memory. Relieves migraine headaches. Helps offset manic depression. |
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NOVEMBER 2007
In light of a difficult month for many southern California families, and perhaps you know someone affected by the tragic wildfires, we at Huntington Beach Hot Yoga would like to take a moment to say thanks to the firefighters who worked so faithfully to gain control of what appeared to be an uncontrollable situation. As we viewed what we here in Huntington Beach could only imagine as a horrific fate for many families, losing not only their homes, but all they possess, we gave many thanks that we were spared. What did hit close to home are the firefighters that we have in our hot yoga family. Gary Schall and Joe Bartucca are two members who did feel heat, but this time of the wildfires that devoured so much. They witnessed first-hand tragedy of events that unfolded over the last several days of the month. To you, we give thanks for unselfishly putting your life at risk to protect us.
Namaste,
HB Hot Yoga Staff |
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Thanksgiving Schedule |
Thursday, November 22
8am class only
Friday-Sunday, November 23-25
10am and 4:30pm class only
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Student of the Month |
Our November Student of the Month is Debra Hoskins!
- When did you start practicing hot yoga?
In June 2003, barely a month after HB Hot Yoga opened its doors, Debra was driving by and noticed the studio's sign. She was nearly 50 years old and had never exercised very much before. She had always wanted to try some sort of yoga, and so she decided to give hot yoga a try.
- How often do you practice?
Usually, at least 3 times per week. And to date, Debra has taken over 450 classes at HB Hot Yoga!
- Why do you practice? What are the primary benefits you experience?
Hot yoga provides all around great benefits for Debra's life -- body, mind and even spiritually. It has made her more flexible, and it has strengthened her lower back so that she no longer experiences back pain. She also believes it helped her in lowering her thyroid medication. Her mind is on overload all the time, so Debra treats hot yoga class as *her* 90 minutes to stop thinking, and just concentrate, in order to get into the poses correctly.
- How has your hot yoga practice impacted or changed your life?
Hot yoga has helped Debra re-center herself in a way that's made her much more healthy in all aspects of life. Hot yoga is not only her primary form of exercise, but it's also motivated her to re-vamp and improve her diet. A smoker of 36 years, Debra just recently quit smoking, because she knew that in addition to harming her overall health, smoking also detracted from her hot yoga practice. What a great accomplishment, and testament to the power of her hot yoga practice! |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
What's good etiquette in the yoga studio?
Yoga is much more than the poses we do. It is also a process of understanding and respecting yourself as well as those around you. Here are some points of etiquette for our yoga studio, to both improve our individual practices as well as foster a healthy yoga community:
- Arrive to class early. Doors open 30 minutes before each class, which is a great time to just relax and stretch before class. Five to ten minutes of stretching can significantly improve how your body responds in class
- Remove your shoes and shut off/silence your cell phone immediately upon entering
- Come to class clean, and free of perfumes or heavily scented products
- Yoga mat placement: Especially in larger classes, place your mat down so the line on the carpet splits your mat in half. This will create four rows, give everyone ample space, and help the teacher to start class on-time
- Wait for the teacher to call out water breaks, before drinking water. Unless there is an emergency, please refrain from drinking water whenever you want during or between postures.
- Class is always ninety minutes long. Don't leave class (early) unless it is an emergency. Remember that struggling through, or learning to relax in challenging moments of your practice often leads to a breakthrough. However, if an emergency requires you to leave the room, please leave and re-enter between postures.
- Keeping with the pace and flow that the teacher is creating in each class benefits you and everyone around you. The practice is both a personal and communal meditation, and the energy you project in class, whether you are aware of it or not, is affecting the whole room. Allow the teacher to direct the timing of the postures. Do not anticipate the next posture. Starting all postures together respects all levels in the class
- Stay in the postures being taught. This is respectful to the teacher and the class, and avoids confusion for some beginners in the room who may be watching you. If you are unable to do a particular posture even in the beginning stage, or you start to feel dizzy, just lay down in savasana until the next posture, and then re-join the class. Don't just sit up and watch others in the posture, or do another posture you prefer, which can be distracting to others
- No grunting or moaning, even in postures that are more challenging or uncomfortable for you. We are all trying hard in class. Grunting or moaning is inappropriate, distracting to others, and doesn't make postures any easier. Breathe as directed, and find more awareness through the silence of your practice
- In savasana, lay still with eyes open, breathe slowly and quietly. Don't drink water, fix your hair or clothes, scratch or fidget. Try hard to cultivate stillness of the body and eventually, the mind. This will benefit you, as well as help others in not getting distracted, as they try to cultivate their own stillness
- Final savasana, at the very end of class: Leave quietly and avoid touching, or dripping sweat on students choosing to remain in savasana. Close the door quietly.
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