The Yoga Studio South
The Yoga Studio South Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
REGISTERED CLASSES RECOMMENDED
CLASS CHANGES
POSE OF THE MONTH
MARGOT'S MINI WORKSHOPS
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
TEACHER OF THE MONTH
AM I TOO STIFF FOR YOGA AND OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS!
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REGISTERED CLASSES

We are encouraging new students and those wanting help with commitment to go for registered classes. These provide a structured progression through an eight week session of classes with the same teacher and the same class of students.
Click here to see registered classes at Wellington Square in the inner southwest.
Click here to see registered classes at the Calgary JCC near Glenmore Landing in the southwest.

CLASS CHANGES FOR THE WINTER SESSION  - SANDY MARTINO IS BACK!
Sandy Martino          isabel
Sandy Martino              Isabel Oliveira
Wellington Square:
9.15 AM Monday All Level Drop In will be taught by Sandy Martino. Welcome back!
9.15 AM Tuesday Discover. Isabel Oliviera takes over from Jane Poole. Thank you Jane for building the class over the last 2 years and good luck with your other endeavors! And welcome to Isabel, who is already very popular at our Calgary JCC studio.
Calgary JCC
7.50 PM Wednesday Level 1 will  be taught by Isabel Oliviera
1 PM Thursday
is canceled.
POSE OF THE MONTH:
SHOULDER BLADE STRETCH

Miriam - pose of month
This Shoulder Blade Stretch is great for opening the shoulders and preparing you for the Cow's Face Pose (Gomukhasana) and for Headstand (Sirsasana). Kneel between two chairs with the elbows close together and resting on some padding. Place a block between the hands and wrists and drop the shoulders down towards the floor. A sandbag on the back will help increase the stretch but isn't essential. If you are very flexible in the back be careful not to over-arch the lumbar spine.Hold as long as you like.
 
MARGOT KITCHEN'S MINI WORKSHOPS and more. . .
margot parivrta janu sirsasana
Senior yoga teacher Margot Kitchen will lead four intermediate mini-workshops on Saturday afternoons on inversions, back bends, twists and forward bends in the Winter and Spring. Because of her popularity, space is going quickly. Sign up here for individual workshops or phone 228 5808 to register for all four at a discount.

Also, note Emily Valdes Discover Power Yoga workshop is now on January 17.

Learn the fundamentals of the graceful and flowing power yoga style. The roots of the practice, the techniques that are needed to get started, and modifications for those with injury concerns will be covered. Come out and discover a practice that is at the same time intense, purifying, and transformational.

PROUD SUPPORTERS
Isabel 2nd pic
Issue: #7 January 2009
Greetings!


I hope you've had a relaxing holiday and I wish every one of you a wonderful, rich and fulfilling New Year.

Now's the time many of us make our New Year's Resolutions!!  What New Year 2009better resolution than to aspire to wellness and peace of mind for this coming year. Iyengar Yoga is a perfect path for reaching this goal with its holistic approach to body, mind and spirit.
Dr. Timothy McCall, says in his book Yoga As Medicine:
"As someone who has been an MD for over 20 years, I can tell you that yoga is quite simply the most powerful system of overall health and well-being I have ever seen. . .As preventive medicine, yoga is as close to one-stop shopping as you can find."
BKS Iyengar - just celebrating his 90th birthday - says in his recent best seller, Light on Life:
"What most people want is the same. . .physical and mental health, understanding and wisdom, and peace and freedom. . . Yoga . . .is designed to satisfy all these human needs in a comprehensive, seamless whole."

All of us at Yoga Studio South want to support your aspirations for wholeness and wellness in the coming year with the gift of yoga.
Namaste,
signature
Isabel 2nd pic
Student of the Month
Mary Fernandez

Mary Fernandez doesn't have to make a New Year's resolution to do yoga. MARY -STUDENT OF THE MONTH
She has been coming to Yoga Studio South four or five times a week since we opened more than 12 years ago.
"I started practicing yoga in the early 80's. I went to an evening class once a week mainly for the physical benefits," Mary says.  "Yoga was very different back then but I really enjoyed it and so I kept it up.  Gradually over the years yoga has become a very important part of my life.  As well as improvements in my asanas (postures) I noticed improvements in my life in general.
"I was more in tune with my body's needs, my mental attitude became more positive, stress didn't overwhelm me, I just felt more stable and grounded.  Yoga has taught me greater awareness.  Working on postures trains me to stay focused and keep in the present moment and I try to bring that back into my daily life."
But the journey has not always been plain sailing.
"Yoga is always changing for me.  I used to be able to do headstand and lotus and then I started having neck issues and developed osteoarthritis in my knees so those asanas were no longer available to me.  At first that frustrated me immensely but I learned to modify those postures to work for my body as it is now (a lesson in humility and acceptance) and I find all the benefits are still there.  It is all good.  I love coming to classes because I am always learning something new and the group energy is very motivating.  It's hard to beat that feeling of peace and contentment after a good yoga class.  I can't imagine my life without yoga.  It's just become a part of who I am."
Congratulation Mary on being selected student of the month.

 
Teacher of the Month
Natalie
Natalie Monson

Some teachers have the ability to fire up their students with their enthusiasm and energy: Natalie Monson is just such a person when she teaches her Wednesday evening Fusion class at the Wellington Square studio. It is one of the most consistently popular classes, offering a challenging blend of yoga and Pilates."Fusion is about finding balance between working hard and hardly working," says Natalie. "Fusion is about having fun, playing, and not being attached to the outcome, but just feeling each posture or exercise and doing your best. I always remind students that it's not a competition and just to breathe, relax, have fun and be willing to laugh."
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too stiff to do yoga?
Absolutely not! This is the most common misconception that keeps people from starting yoga. People of all ages and levels of flexibility can do Iyengar yoga.
Why do you use props?
That is a common question from people,especially those who have done other forms of yoga. The props allow people with any level of inflexibility to do the pose with the correct alignment to get the most benefit with the least risk of injury. Look at the two pictures of seated forward bends below and guess which one is better for your back:
why use props 1                   why use props 2

If you guessed the second one you would be right. Your aim is to keep your spine straight in forward bends.

Can I do yoga with an injury and will yoga help to heal it?
In many cases Iyengar Yoga is a powerful complement to physiotherapy, chiropractic and other physical treatments when the injury is past the acute phase, and under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher. Check with one of our well-trained yoga teachers or start with a Better Back or Restorative Yoga Class. Check out Yoga, The Path to Holistic Health by BKS Iyengar or Yoga as Medicine by Timothy McCall MD. "Virtually anyone can do yoga, including those who start with little strength, energy, or flexibility, and those who are ill and injured," says McCall, medical editor of the Yoga Journal and an MD for 20 years.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU - EMPOWER YOUR BEST
At Yoga Studio South we are working hard to Empower Your Best in Yoga. Our warm, friendly studios are staffed by encouraging, supportive teachers who will safely guide you through small classes designed for every level and expectation -- gently empowering you to become the best possible version of yourself.This is the true gift of yoga -- and when you experience it, you'll feel better and shine more brightly than you ever have.
Isabel 2nd pic
Get a free class for a friend!
Bring this coupon in before January 7 and, when you buy or renew an unlimited or punch card pass, get a complimentary pass worth $17 for a friend for free. No exceptions and not valid with any other promotion.
 
Offer Expires: 7, January 2009