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SWEAT
NOVEMBER 2010
Greetings Huntington Beach Hot Yoga Family!

My intention through SWEAT is to open up the communication lines and build a stronger community. I am excited for this opportunity. For those of you who I have not yet met, I am the owner of Huntington Beach Hot Yoga, which I opened in May 2003. This little yoga studio that struggled to survive in its infancy is now a busy community with students and teachers from all walks of life sharing the common bond of yoga. I am very humbled and grateful for each and every person that practices in our studio and is willing to share some part of your life with us.


I would first like to thank all 30-Day Challenge practitioners for your incredible commitment. For those of you who have not yet practiced 30 days of hot yoga in a row, it is an experience of a lifetime! Sticking with the process and showing up everyday, especially the days you don't feel like it, becomes very transforming. What you may have doubted within yourself begins to vanish and feelings of confidence and perseverance begin to unfold. I am very proud of you all! Please send in your stories so that we can celebrate your accomplishment, and as importantly, you will inspire others to join in next time.


I am getting excellent feedback on the Hot Power Flow classes added last month. It is great to see students branching out and exploring this awesome new 60 minute class. I would like to welcome all of the new Hot Power Flow instructors to HBHY- Allison Horack, Julie Leigh, Jenai Ecscudero, Neilan Barnes and Robin Hall.


Lastly, I want to share something personal that Hot Yoga has helped me through in the last six months. I have been doing yoga for 15 years and in January 2010, I was diagnosed with spondylothesis which is a degenerative spine disease where my L4 vertebra shifted and pinched into my spinal canal causing great pain in my hip and sciatic nerve. My first thoughts were of anger of course! How could someone doing yoga for as many years as I have end up with this? Yoga does help the vast majority of the population with back pain but it was not going to change the position of my vertebra. In March, I underwent spinal surgery performed by Dr. Jeffrey Deckey and within 6 weeks I was doing Hot Yoga again. Everything went excellently and I am very grateful for Dr. Deckey.


My surgery offered me the opportunity to go into the class with a different mental attitude. I was no longer pushing myself through each posture. Instead, I mindfully approached each one as a therapeutic tool to aid in my recovery. Once again, relearning that hatha yoga postures are not designed to test the fortitude of the body, but are instead designed as a means to healing. I had to be easy on myself, accepting of my body. My doctor is amazed at my progression and I feel great. Lesson learned - how we approach our bodies mentally is far more important than the condition of our body physically. Our minds and attitudes are what determines our experience in the room. I value and appreciate Hot Yoga more than ever as a result of my surgery. I would like to thank all of you who always asked how my back was feeling and for the continuous encouragement I have received.


I hope everyone has a meaningful Thanksgiving Day and Holiday Season shared with the people that matter most to you.


See you in class!


Jason Wilkerson
Owner, Huntington Beach Hot Yoga
JASON WILKERSON

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FEATURED STUDENT - JADE HAN
JADE HANHOW OFTEN DO YOU PRACTICE? I practice yoga 3 to 4 times a week.

WHY DO YOU PRACTICE? I practice yoga because it helps me to sleep better, to stay fit, and with flexibility and toning.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY BENEFITS YOU EXPERIENCE?
Definitely toning.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POSTURE? I don't really have a favorite posture. I like all of them and I feel each of the postures has its own benefit.

HOW HAS YOUR HOT YOGA PRACTICE IMPACTED OR CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Hot yoga helps me to relax, stay sharp and stay strong inside and outside so that made a impacted in my life.I like the location of the studio, it is really clean all the time and the people are friendly.

Now featuring our Student of the Month on the website homepage - www.huntingtonbeachhotyoga.com
CONGRATULATIONS 30 DAY CHALLENGERS!
Congratulations to the following yogis for completing our September-October 2010 - 30 day challenge:

Elaine Bradley, Stacy Brown, Toni Cunningham, Aimee Duong, Martin Iwanowicz, Danae Kahle, Yana Kennedy, Axana Krasouskaya-Ginez, Yolanda Lopez, Brittany Nobles, Danielle Prendiz, Marcie Prendiz, Christelle Reigner, Felicia Serrano, Andrea Sigg, Lindsay Swancutt, Andie Thayer, Kelly Trettin, Laura Vogelsang, Georgia Weichel and Diana Winthers.


Looking across recent challengers the following yogis are now making a wonderful habit through this commitment:

Five people have completed 3 challenges: Axana Krasouskaya-Ginez, Marcie Prendiz, Christelle Reigner, Kelly Trettin and Laura Vogelsang.

Andie Thayer has completed 4 challenges.

And Diana Winthers has completed all six 30 day challenges held at the studio - congratulations indeed!

To all of our yogis, your dedication to your practice and the studio is an inspiration to us all.
  
Click here for full details - 30 Day Challenge
HOT POWER FLOW SURVEY RESULTS
Initial responses are in, but we still hope to hear from more of you. The results of the responses so far show that over 90% of feel the classes met your expectations, with nearly as many feeling that the heat, intensity and duration are just right. Some of your comments so far -

"I have found that the Power Flow class has really strengthened my Hot Yoga practice. I also noticed a huge increase in core strength. Love it!!"

"Absolutely love Hot Power Flow!! I love the differences each instructor is allowed to bring to class. Everyone I have spoken to really enjoys the new class. PR offers a different muscle work out each time."

"Hot Power Flow is an excellent addition for people who crave variety but still love the heat. I wish you offered more power flow - I would be there every day."

"It is a great alternative to the regular hot class. I think it is a great way to deepen my practice."

"The class is excellent. I really enjoyed it and it was very challenging and I still sweat my ass off even though the temp was cooler than usual. I used to do this type of class a few years ago and forgot how much I missed it and wish I could mix it up more with Bikram. Excellent - Vivian is fantastic!"

The suggestions for alternate class times vary from early in the morning until late in the evening. More input from our members might help us to draw a more compelling conclusion!

Have you tried our Hot Power Flow classes yet? We would love to hear your feedback. Click the following link to take our very quick survey! It is short and easy and we would really appreciate your input as we shape the format of these new classes.

HOT POWER FLOW FEEDBACK

FEATURED TEACHER - Vivian Nguyen


HOMETOWN: Aliso Viejo, CA


FIRST YOGA CLASS:  Bikram studio in Madrid, Spain

 

THE DEFINING MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED YOU WANTED TO TEACH YOGA WAS:  I never thought I would be a yoga teacher even during training. I really believed in the healing benefits (mental and physical) of yoga so much after about a year of practice I signed on for teacher training to gain a deeper understanding of the postures and philosophy. I realized I wanted to teach when I found myself talking about it to random people trying to get them to come to class. 

 

FAVORITE POSE AND WHY:  In the hot series, lately I've been really into eagle. The feeling of pulling everything in, creating blockages but at the same time opening the joints feels super good and then in the release you can really feel your blood rushing back - like you've opened up a dam.

 

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR YOGA PRACTICE: Consistency!


BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING: The Journey Home, Autobiography of an American Swami by Radhanath Swami. I recently had the opportunity to hear the author speak at a gathering; he's a little man but has a huge presence. Before having read his book I knew he had led this amazing life and accomplished many things. But when he spoke it was like being around my uncles listening to their stories. I highly recommend reading this book!


SECRET COMFORT FOODS: Vegan biscuits with blackberry jam from Mothers, Jordan Severs introduced them to me over a year ago and now I crave them all the time.

 

AN UNFINISHED DREAM: To speak Spanish fluently

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EXPRESSION? "Do what you love and it will take care of you"

 

WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY? Personalize your practice, every body is unique and we all face different challenges, physical and mental. The teacher is a guide who can be utilized but taking some personal responsibility into your own practice to give your body what it needs is so important, whether that be pushing yourself a bit more or backing off when your body needs a rest.

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TEACHING HOT YOGA? A little over a year

WHY IS YOGA IMPORTANT TO YOU? I really believe that I'm a different person from who I was 2 years ago and I owe much of that change to yoga. I try to apply some of the philosophical views to my everyday life.


FAVORITE HOBBIES: I really love to cook, anything and everything. Lately I've been on a raw food kick, I volunteer once a week at a raw food kitchen so I can learn more about the preparation and process. It's still new to me but the idea is about keeping the food "alive" so it can retain all of its nutrients, there are no burners or ovens so you have to be really creative. I really recommend trying out a raw food or "living food" restaurant... the food is crazy delicious.

 

WHICH YOGA BOOK WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO STUDENTS? Yoga as Medicine by Dr. Timothy McCall


You can read more about Vivien on our website - Vivian Nguyen
NOVEMBER SCHEDULE
thanksgiving10

See full details of our class schedule including teachers online at Huntington Beach Class Schedule

If you have an iphone or ipad there is now "an App for that" so you can always check the latest updates to our class schedule. The free Mind Body Application can be downloaded at mindbodyonline.com/yogaapp/
I'M MELTING!
RabbitOne of the most frequently asked questions around the studio is "how many calories am I burning per class?" This a controversial and hotly contested subject (as a quick Google search will reveal). Most hot yoga forums set the burn value similar to running - so maybe about 600 calories per hour. Of course the amount of calories you expend undertaking any activity (or even just sitting still) depends on numerous factors including your age, weight, body type, metabolism and BMI (the ratio of lean muscle mass to fat in your body).

What we know for certain is that you will burn more calories (as well as increase strength and your overall results) by ensuring you are fully engaged in class. This is both mental and physical. By staying present in the moment, by putting your mind into your muscles and thinking about the posture action - which muscles are being drawn in and applying YOUR BEST EFFORT to contracting those muscles, holding firm through the posture, you will increase the energy expended, ie calorie burn. The HBHY Dayton method is designed to utilize your largest muscles - the quadriceps (thighs), gluteus maximus (butt), rectus abdominis & transverse abdominis (abs) and latissimus dorsi (upper back) through isometric contraction (holding still, squeezing tight).

You can coast through most of the postures simply mimicking the external posture, or you can ramp up your invested energy, calorie burn and heart rate by ensuring all muscles are engaged (and not just hanging out) in every posture*. If you are in any way uncertain of the best way to do this, our instructors are standing by to assist before, during and after class. They are there for you - so make the most of their knowledge and experience (and besides, by asking them a question about how to improve your practice you will make their day)!

*excluding instances where instructor specifically directs you to "relax" a particular part of your body.

TEACHER TRAINING 2011 - Earlybird Registration!
One of the key elements that differentiates our studio and community from other yoga studios is the sense of "family" and quality of the teachers. The Dayton Method of Hot Yoga Teacher Training was developed and trademarked by our very own Jason Wilkerson.

You can access these newly released details by clicking the link below. More importantly, ask ANY of our instructors how the teacher training has changed their lives and if it is a worthwhile experience!

Make 2011 the year to significantly change your life and yoga practice for the better. Click here for more details -  DAYTON METHOD TEACHER TRAINING

FEATURED POSTURE - STANDING HEAD TO KNEE

StandHead2Knee1StandIng Head to Knee
Dandayamana Janushirasana


The Standing Series offers the greatest opportunity of the whole class for building physical and mental strength. Often approached with trepidation, the standing series offers just three postures that are the anchor for our patience, acceptance and perseverance. The set up is critical in each of the standing postures. Instead of racing into the external presentation of the posture, try taking the time to mentally set up the posture first - look at the stationary leg, ensure the foot is straight, the ankle lifted, the quadricep contracted and knee lifted, the hips tucked, gluteus maximus and abdominal muscles contracted, spine straight and chin up. THEN you can begin to move into the expression of the posture.

With the left leg anchored, lift the right leg to hip height with your knee bent at a right angle. Bend forward and with straight arms and a strong interlocked grip of your hands, place the foot of your lifted leg in the hand-cradle you have created in the forward bend. Now, take a moment to review - is your body square to the mirror or are your hips leaning to one side? Are you leaning forward far enough for your thigh to be at a right angle to the floor at hip height, and your calve at a right angle at the knee to your body and the toes of your lifted foot flexed back? Is your gaze forward and on your knee (never down at the ground). Are your abs still contracted, are you breathing slowly through your nose, keeping your mind open, pressing through the four points of your anchored foot, continually contracting the left/anchor thigh and lifting your knee? If so, you are ready to move into full expression of the posture!

Keeping your left/anchor leg perfectly straight, still and contracted, extend the foot of your bent leg toward the mirror, straightening the leg out parallel to the floor. Find one single point of focus on the floor this time (this will help with your balance). With your foot flexed (heel reaching forward, toes reaching back) bend your elbows toward the floor (keeping them close to your knee), and ultimately put your forehead on your knee.

Breathe, relax, count to ten, release (when instructed to do so), and start on the other side.

Benefits

Develops patience, concentration and determination. Improves the mind and body connection. Uses all major muscle groups. Strengthens and firms the abdomen, thighs, legs, upper body and arms. Stretches the sciatic nerve, hamstrings and calves. Works the muscular, skeletal, reproductive, endocrine and digestive systems.


 
STUDIO MANNERS - stillness matters










One of the primary objectives in our yoga practice is to bring union between our mind and body through breath. The easiest place to find this union is in the stillness in our practice - the vital moments between postures when we gather our energy and re-set our intention. This is also often when we see our reflection in the mirror and fidget - fix our hair, adjust our clothing, straighten our towel, swipe sweat, shift from side-to-side. This wriggling is a lost opportunity to regain energy (in fact you are expending unnecessary energy) and can be distracting to the stillness and focus of those around you. Everything you adjust will return to the same position in the next posture (including the sweat) so best to save your energy and leave it there! Please remember that yoga is non-judging, so ignore the external and focus on the internal, breathe stillness into your savasana, and focus on the energy you are regenerating.

It will bring greater reward to all in the studio.

Namaste.
FINAL THOUGHT

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein

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Month-to-month membership continues! Unlimited Yoga
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* month-to-month membership - $49 set up fee - two month minimum, cost per person per month, click here for more details Huntington Beach Hot Yoga Rates