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Strengthens cervical vertebrae. Firms buttocks, thighs and hips.
Improves circulation through the shoulders, elbows and wrists. Improves backache, gout, sciatica nerve, lumbago, rheumatism and arthritis. |
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Instructor Anniversaries this month:
It's Stephanie's 4th year teaching at Huntington Beach Hot Yoga!
Hometown:
Westminster, California
Why do you love hot yoga?
"I appreciate the balance that it brings to my life," Stephanie commented. She also enjoys the cameraderie with "like spirits" that she meets at the studio.
What's something you're working on in your practice?
Stephanie is working on increasing her upper body, abdominal and back strength. She's also trying to stay conscious of improving her everyday posture, including relaxing her shoulders more, in order to improve her posture in hot yoga.
What is something unique about you, that is unrelated to your hot yoga practice?
Stephanie says, "Sometimes I feel that I was born in the wrong century. Right now, I have my wash hanging on a line in the backyard and I enjoy seeing it move in the wind. I love to sew, cook, spend all day in the kitchen... I find those things nurturing and healing," she described.
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As you seek ways to grow and improve your hot yoga practice, consider dedicating the month of February to really hone in on your concentration and mindfulness during class.
When you concentrate, you intentionally focus the attention on only one object -- such as breath, your own forehead or eyes in the front mirror, or a spot on the ceiling during floor savasana. Concentrating on one object, whether you're in a posture or resting between sets, helps you to still the mind, calm the breath and heartrate. It makes balancing easier as well. It prevents you from multi-tasking or letting the mind wander to other responsibilities and plans, when you're trying to give the 90-minute classtime entirely to your own mental and physical well-being.
When we are mindful, rather than focusing on one object, we observe the whole range of passing thoughts, emotions, sensations, or images. So you shouldn't get down when your mind starts to wander in class... Instead, notice the thoughts or emotions that arise, be aware of them, and consciously let them go. Be patient if you have to do this over and over again. The meditation will get easier as long as you consciously focus on being mindful.
Focusing efforts on the mental aspects of your practice will dramatically change your practice, making the physical effort exerted much less intense, calming your breath and heartrate, and much more.
Namaste,
Jason, Stephanie, Lourdes, Lindsey, Nadia, Laura S., Tracey, Jordan M., Jordan S., Erica, Harmony, Sarah, Laura B., Melissa, Lisa and Christelle |
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Announcements
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The 30-Day Challenge is in full swing, and approximately 40 of our fellow yogis and yoginis are dedicated to completing it!
Let's continue to support and encourage everyone who's taken on this big feat. The last day of the Challenge is on Tuesday, February 3rd.
Also, start planning ahead to do a 30-Day Challenge later this year: April 20 - May 19, or September 28 - October 27! |
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Student of the Month |
Our February Student of the Month is Bob McHugh!
- When did you start practicing hot yoga?
In October 2006, Bob came to Huntington Beach Hot Yoga with his son. Bob liked hot yoga right away, and as he tends to do with anything he likes, he started doing it all the time! Bob incorporated hot yoga into his exercise routine of running and surfing, and has since taken 380 classes! He said that he's so habitual with healthy stuff like this, that he fully expects he'll practice regularly for the rest of his life.
- How often do you practice?
Bob practices hot yoga 4-5 days per week. He's a regular at the weekday 6am classes.
- Why do you practice? What are the primary benefits you experience?
Bob said very matter-of-fact, "I do hot yoga because it's part of my routine." It's that simple. He doesn't like stretching when he runs or does other sports, so hot 'yoga provides the deep stretch his body needs. Bob continued, "It's also another outlet to meet great people in the community. I believe all the teachers when they say that hot yoga is great for detoxification and all the other benefits. But I'm a very healthy person with no real ailments. So stretching is the primary benefit that I notice and like."
- How has your hot yoga practice impacted or changed your life?
"I am way more limber! I used to be really inflexible: I couldn't touch my toes. My shoulders were tight," said Bob. Besides improving his flexibility, Bob doesn't feel that hot yoga has drastically changed his life. He said simply, "I just think hot yoga is really healthy, which I like."
- What's your favorite posture?
Bob said he likes all the postures. But he pointed out that he enjoys standing Bow a lot "because it's tough, a lot of guys can't do it that well, but I've really seen so much progress in it." |
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