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Our Ambassador
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Coreen "My vision for these yoga posters and cards is to help educate and inspire
newer students in yoga studios across the world to find their 'true self'
with the tools provided by this
3,000 year old practice
of uniting the mind, body and soul."
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$20 Gift Card for $15
$50 Gift Card for $40
FREE
Aromatherapy Candle
with each gift card!
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Coreen's story
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I made the cover of USA Today by the time I was 8 years old with the title, "Gymnast, 8, sets sights on Olympics." I quickly advanced at any level that I moved to.
Although I did become an International gold medalist at the age of 14, the next time I graced the cover of USA today, it said... "Surviving the Dream- The Murphy Family shares a cautionary tale of chasing the Olympic dream through a cross-country move, parental split, a mother's plane crash, a coach's death and a young gymnast's eventual disillusionment."
Read about Coreen's yoga journey by
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New Newsletter Archive |
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Did you miss our previous newsletters - yoga stories of our ambassadors and helpful yoga Therapy tips?
Now you can return and read it all ....
To see our previous newsletters
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FREE Aromatherapy Candle
with Gift Card |
Greetings!
Welcome to the December issue of the European Spa & Yoga(ES&Y) News Letter! Even with the Holidays rapidly approaching there's plenty of time left to get ready, complete your gift shopping, and still find time to relax. We hope you will enjoy the features we have prepared for you this month.
Happy Holidays!
ES&Y Team
After an exciting response to last month's Yoga Therapy article we have decided to launch a series of articles with general advice and tips for specific health issues. This month's feature: back pain. Read about tips for good back healt in the article bellow by Zuzana Kolinkova.
Get inspired for holiday shopping with this month's featured product:
Art, Science, Inspiration, Expression!
Enjoy both the artistry and technical perfection of these beautifully produced black & white yoga photographs of our new ambassador Coreen Murphy.
Offered as:
* posters
* greeting cards with "Namaste" message or "Thank you" message
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Yoga Therapy for Your Back
by Zuzana Kolinkova
The key word to remember with regard to back pain is prevention, and in this regard, Yoga can be a very effective regimen.
It is important to note that if you are currently experiencing back pain, you need to avoid vigorous postures or deep stretches. You can try a few very gentle stretches in the Table Top position Svanasana (details on the picture bellow), and wait to see how you back responds. It is important to give your back a break, allowing it to heal first before beginning to work on a regular preventative routine.
A suggested routine is comprised of three main elements:
1. FLEXIBILITY: It is important to develop flexibility in all six spinal movements. The first two are the back bend (Cow pose Bitilasana) and the rounded spine (Cat pose Marjaryasana), both preferably in kneeling position - as suggested in the picture bellow. Move with your inhale to a backbend and with your exhale to round the spine like cat. Continue to move between the postures in the natural pace of your breath. The next two movements are side stretches (left and right): Wag The Tail of the Dog pose - start in Table Top position: curve your spine to right, like you want to take a look at your right hip and move your right shoulder towards your right hip. Continue to the other side moving slowly with your breath, and the repeat. The last two motions are twists (left and right). Threading The Needle Pose Sucirandhrasana: from table top position reach with your right arm to the sky (as in the picture bellow) and then, as if threading a needle, slide your right arm underneath the left - resting your right shoulder and arm comfortably on the floor. Focus on not holding your breath, but rather making it deep and smooth. Stay for 5-10 breaths and continue on the other side.
2. STRENGTH: Standing postures, like Triangle pose Trikonasa and Warriors Virabhardasana will help you to build back strength. They also have a loosening effect on your joints. As you have learned in our last Yoga Therapy article (click here to see the article), you can enhance the therapeutic benefits of triangles by using yoga blocks. Hold the postures for 5 to 10 breaths on each side - focusing on your body awareness and deep breath.
3. RANGE OF MOTION: Other postures to focus on are hip openers such as Bound Angle pose Supta Baddha Konasana or Pigeon pose Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. These postures will loosen your joints and stretch the external rotators. To be able to stay in the postures longer and achieve greater therapeutic benefit, you can use the support of yoga props. In bound angle pose you can elevate the spine by using bolster and adding blocks bellow your knees to make the posture less intense or by adding sand bags on the inner things if you want the posture to be more intense.
To read the full article and other tips for pain free back click here.
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I made the cover of USA Today by the time I was 8 years old with the title, "Gymnast, 8, sets sights on Olympics." I quickly advanced at any level that I moved to. Within the year, it was apparent that I needed to go to a gym outside of Indiana if I wanted to continue my Olympic dream. When I was nine years old, I moved from Carmel, Indianapolis to train with Stormy Eaton in Scottsdale, Arizona to pursue this dream. I thought this move would enable all of my dreams to come true, but in actuality, most of my worst nightmares did. Although I did become an International gold medalist at the age of 14, the next time I graced the cover of the USA today, it said... "Surviving the Dream- The Murphy Family shares a cautionary tale of chasing the Olympic dream through a cross-country move, parental split, a mother's plane crash, a coach's death and a young gymnast's eventual disillusionment."
I never made it to the Olympics. I had been through so much that my relationship with gymnastics had turned into the kind of relationship you have when you get food poisoning from your favorite food... You just can't do it anymore. After many trials, tribulations and a very tough transition, I was introduced to yoga by a friend of my father's. I was only 19 at the time, but I had been out of gymnastics for about 5 years. For someone that's used to working out 35 hours a week, 5 years without much of anything made my body feel like it was 75 years old.
After my first yoga class I emerged a different person. Time literally felt like it stopped for a moment. I had a fabulous teacher by the name of Maureen Ameche who told me that I was so lucky to discover yoga at such a young age, and that I would become very wise because of it. She started practicing yoga when she went through her divorce, and she told me that it was the first time she ever "learned how to struggle." Yoga was very different than my previous experience, but whatever it was, it worked. I was in college at the time, so Maureen told me that if I came everyday and set a good example for other students that she wouldn't charge me for the yoga. She gave me one of the best gifts I could have received at the time.
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European Spa & Yoga Team |
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