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Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com
yoga@cherylthomas.com
415-308-3377 |
Ah, The Sounds of Yoga
I love Judd Apetow movies--40 Year Old Virgin, SuperBad. Toilet humor and fart jokes is a large draw for the male 14-25 crowd and I guess me as well. This article could certainly be a scene in one of his movies and maybe it will. Or, The Inappropriate Yoga Guy via Yoga Journal's website. We're talking about those unexpected sounds during your yoga class.
Any time you put air in a container with a valve at the end and you restrict the valve and squeeze, you are going to get some noise. Think of squeezing a balloon and pinching the end to make it squeal. In our yoga postures we put our body into a bunch of crazy-ass shapes and we literally are squeezing ourselves like the balloon, especially the stomach and colon, which are classic air pockets. If you have excess air in the gut or intestinal track you're going to get, shall we say, "release" in the form of burps and farts. You can only hold your anal sphincter for so long and some poses will make it almost impossible. Common to women is air entering the vagina during inversions (called varts or queefs) and then audibly exiting when they come down. Watch out during headstand splits!
Today's irregular, fast lifestyle where skipping regular meals, excessive intake of food or drinks, high stress levels at the workplace, etc., has led to conditions where ailments pertaining to your abdomen are on the rise.(1) Intestinal gas gives you a bloated belly and is often caused by either swallowed air (eating too quickly or drinking soda) or intestinal bacteria. Most people produce 1 to 3 pints of intestinal gas in their large intestines (colons) every 24 hours and pass gas an average of 14 times a day. It's no wonder that some of that time is going to be during your yoga class.
If unwanted yoga noises are an issue for you, avoid eating gas producing foods before your yoga class. Try avoiding beans (duh), milk and milk products, vegetables like cabbage, onions, cauliflower, potatoes, turnips and fruits like apricots, apples, bananas, cereals and breads, fatty foods and carbonated beverages. Most helpful, I think, is to avoid eating before class. That gives your body a good headstart in digesting the food. If you're super hungry, go ahead and have a bite just to ward off the hunger and avoid low-blood sugar.
Air escapage happens, whether you're out on a date, at a cocktail party or in yoga class. It's normal. However, you can do a few things to minimize the discomfort. The important thing is don't let it keep you from your yoga class.
Did you want to read some of my past columns? You can right here.
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Are You A Sipper or Gulper
Who knew that it is better to gulp than sip. This goes against everything I've heard. I love the NYT Tuesday paper and especially the contributions of Tara Parker-Pope on wellness. I came across this article. You can find it at http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/eating-to-fuel-exercise/.
Here's what she had to say:
"How we drink can make a difference in how optimally we hydrate our body. A lot of people sip liquids, but gulping is better. Gulps of fluid leave the stomach more rapidly. It's important to do this. It seems counterintuitive, it seems like gulping would cause a cramp. People are more likely to have stomach cramps sipping because fluid stays in their gut too long.
When you take more fluid in, gulps as opposed to sips, you have a greater volume of fluid in the stomach. That stimulates the activity of the stretch receptors in the stomach, which then increase intra-gastric pressure and promote faster emptying. This is why gulping is preferred."
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 Surrender is a Choice Enjoy Leslie Kaminoff sharing his thoughts on the age old discussion of whether we are kittens or monkeys. It has to do with surrendering. Check out the video here. |
You've heard of it, Ashtanga Yoga. Many have been faithfully practicing this series of series for years. Many have seen it mixed in to their Vinyasa and Power Yoga classes.
With the general catapult of interest in yoga, Ashtanga yoga is being noticed. The first conference dedicated to Ashtangis, Ashtanga Confluence, was held in San Diego this past weekend with close to 400 attendees from around the country. Featured in Vanity Fair Magazine's April issue, we hear about money and marketing and family coming together for Jois Yoga.
Oh, there's more. Sonoma County's own talented lawyer/yoga instructor, Richard Koman, has spawned an impressive trio of online sites with commentaries, information and Kino McGregor, always look strong and talented in her shorty shorts. Check it all out--accessyoga.net, Ujayii.com and northbayyogablogspot.com. Say hi to Richard while you're. |
There is No Going Back
Tricycle Daily Dharma March 10, 2012
One of the main things that happens when you meditate is that regret starts to surface and you start to think about your life. Meditation neutralizes denial after a while and opens up the circuits and things start to flow in, and then you begin to realize that regret is a distortion of what's real. What's real is that this is your life, and it happened, and there's no going back. There's only altering your attitude and perception about it so that you can go forward.
- Lewis Richmond, "Aging as a Spiritual Practice"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection, www.tricycle.com
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Restorative Yoga TODAY!
I love the response of students to their first or second or hundredth restorative yoga experience. It's the moment when their nervous system shifts from "yikes!" to "ahhhhhh." They leave with relaxed shoulders and brightened attitude.
It's easy to forget that the body knows exactly what to do. The relaxation response is a built in function of our amazing central nervous system. We just have to let relaxation happen. I know, it seems impossible sometimes. Thus, the popularity of restorative yoga where we learn to put the body in positions and let it do it's thing.
In these workshops you will be allowed to relax and let go while your body is supported with bolsters and blankets and lots more. We will do a bit of movement, chat about stress and the relaxation response and then spend 90 minutes in positions that we will hold for 15 to 20 minutes. This practice is for everyone. Go ahead and put the dates on your calendar now so you won't forget. And, while you're at it, invite a friend.
Sunday, March 18, 2012**
3:30 - 5:45 p.m.
BodyWorks in Petaluma
**The third Sunday of each month
April 22 (4th Sunday)
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Private Yoga Classes
There are lots of reasons why going to a public yoga class is not always right for you. Maybe the class times are wrong or the location is inconvenient. Maybe you're new to yoga and feel intimidated by a public class or you have an injury or condition that requires some individual attention. Private or small group classes at your location at your chosen time can be the perfect answer.
It's fun to get friends together. Treat your friends to Yoga and Tea rather than Food and Booze. Inviting friends to come together for a Gentle or Restorative Yoga class is a perfect way to enjoy each other's company and do something good for yourselves. Many yoga parties end with tea or champagne and some munchies. Your friends will thank you!
Please call on me if I can help you book a private yoga class or answer any questions. I can be reached at cheryl@cherylthomas.com.
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