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June/July Newsletter 2012 |
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Greetings!
As we approach the longest day of the year we enjoy the extended daylight and the seeming expansion of time. Our relationship to time and our experience of space and light greatly affect the quality of our lives. How can we transcend linear time and experience timelessness? How does our yoga practice bring light? Yoga diffuses tension, enables postural ease, enhances awareness, and even can access deep joy. Come to yoga classes at the St. Paul Yoga Center to explore grounding, asana in the eternal now and "lightness of being".
For the summer only, we have a new class: "laughter yoga" for a potent restoration of joyfulness. Be sure to check the schedule - a few classes are suspended during the summer months and will resume in September.
There are a variety of teaching styles at the St. Paul Yoga Center - it can often be helpful to study with different teachers to understand yoga from a new perspective. You can read the teacher bios to get a sense of their approach. We all welcome you you to the St. Paul Yoga Center and look forward to the synergy we create together.
We invite student participation in our newsletter - share your experience of yoga, breath, mindfulness and more in our column "reflections".
Namaste,
Anna
St. Paul Yoga Center
Please invite your friends and family to try out the St. Paul
Yoga Center - they can take a class for free if they have never been here before. (This applies to persons residing in the Twin City metro area.) Just click on the free class coupon at the end of this newsletter and come to your first class. Experience authentic yoga at its best!
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Schedule and Class Fees for Summer 2012
Class Session June 18th-July 29th
The following classes will be on break for the summer:
- Carlton's Monday morning class (starting 6/18)
- Anna's Wed. night donation class (starting 6/13)
- Paul's Intermediate class on Friday (as of 6/1)
- Maren's Kid's yoga on Friday (starting 6/22)
Please check the website and Facebook for updates.
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2012 Ongoing Student Discounts
Reminder students - you may be eligible now for your discount.
Please keep track of your class session or punch card purchases.
If you register for 3 consecutive sessions, the 4th session is $66, only $11/class (you can study with a different teacher each session)
If you buy two 10 class punch cards, the 3rd card is only $130,
$13/class
If you buy four 5 class punch cards, the fifth card is only $70, $14/class
These discount options apply only to sessions and punch cards purchased in 2012.
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Laughter Yoga this summer at St. Paul Yoga Center
Wednesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. 6/6, 6/27, 7/11, 8/8, and 8/22
By donation, no registration required, Selby Studio
With Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Katy Taylor
Come explore the art of laughter to discover and open to more joy, connection, gratefulness, ease, energy, health (and more) into your life! At Laughter Club,we come together to laugh intentionally without jokes or comedy, just by playing together. An hour session includes laughter and breathing exercises, laughter meditation, and guided relaxation. Because of the deep pranayamic breathing and the intention to come into deeper union with, in particular, the joyful, harmonious parts of ourselves, this form of practice is called Laughter Yoga. It does not include any physical asanas and can be practiced by people of all ages who are willing to be a little bit silly.
Katy is a student of yoga at SPYC, an Interfaith Minister, Enneagram teacher and consultant, and longtime spiritual seeker. More info: www.thewingedheart.net, katy@thewingedheart.net or (651) 291-8551
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"Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts." Thich Nhat Hanh
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So- what?
By Nancy Giguere
The psoas (soŽ-az) are probably the most important muscles that most of us have never heard of. Located on either side of the spine, these muscles are two of the longest and deepest in the body. Each psoas attaches to the vertebrae of the lower back, crosses over one hip, and inserts at the inside of the femur, or thigh bone, just below the hip crease. The two psoas muscles connect the torso to the legs and allow us to flex our hips and thighs. When we sit, the psoas shortens and contracts. And because many us do sit for long periods, we tend to have tight, weak psoas muscles, which makes it hard to maintain a healthy upright posture.
Tight psoas muscles can pull the low back muscles forward, causing an overarching of the back. The pressure exerted by tight psoas muscles can also compress the joints and discs of the lumbar vertebrae. This, in turn, can cause degeneration, which makes disks susceptible to injury. And if the psoas is tight on one side, it can pull the spine or pelvis out of alignment and create a variety of painful problems.
There are various methods for releasing the psoas. Students who have taken classes with Anna or Nancy are familiar with the "psoas wake-up, " an exercise done with an elastic band. Many students say that they feel "longer" or "more grounded" after doing the psoas wake-up.
Another way to begin releasing the psoas is to lie in constructive rest position (on the back, with knees bent, feet flat on the floor, arms at the sides, palms up) for about 20 minutes.
Because the psoas plays an important role in every asana, an "awakened" psoas will enhance all aspects of your practice.
Learn more
Psoas wake-up: http://alignmentyoga.blogspot.com/2008/08/pre-yoga-core-wakeup.html
FitzGordan method: http://blog.corewalking.com/videos/psoas
As above, psoas below . . .
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Reflections
SPYC Student Column
by Mary Lanz
I have been a student of the SPYC for about a year. I've been practicing yoga for 10 years and teaching for 6. My training has mainly been in Hatha yoga, in the Vinyasa style. While I love Flow Yoga, as Vinyasa is often referred to, and I have a number of yoga teaching certifications, I'm always looking for new classes to broaden my own yoga practice.
I've heard from many yoga instructors that, as one progresses from practicing yoga - to teaching yoga - their personal practice begins to suffer. As instructors we can become so focused on helping others experience personal growth that we neglect our own.
So I was excited when last June a friend invited me to attend a class being taught here at the Center that focused on body awareness and anatomy. One of the things I love most about practicing yoga is the body awareness that comes from it. There are no words to fully explain the sense of control, strength and assuredness you achieve from practicing yoga.
The classes I have been attending are taught by Anna V. and while her "visual aides" are a little tattered - a joke her students will understand - it has been wonderful to spend time on my own practice. I have gained tremendous insight into anatomy through this class, along with increased strength and awareness. And of course as I learn more and gain strength from it, I can pass that on to my students.
Special treat! Mary will be subbing for Anna's Sat. 10:30 class on June 16, and all of July - check it out! |
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Paul's Postulations
(An on-going series of topics
explored using principles of yoga and Ayurveda)
Paul is plodding along with his postulations and will return soon with another installment of Granting Immunity. (If you have any questions about the immune system or another topic, email me and I will try to integrate the answers into a future article.) pobusch@msn.com
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New students
please arrive
10 minutes early to class to register.
If new students have questions about what level class to attend, please contact the teacher you are interested in studying with.
Please be on time for classes, respecting the peaceful environment we create together.
The parking lot behind the yoga center is for
residents only.
Thank you
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Services
One on One Yoga
Private yoga sessions tailored to your special needs (developing a home practice, joint replacement, dealing with chronic pain, personal assessment before joining a group class)
Customized Class
Bring in your group for a class with your favorite teacher (bikers, teens, people in recovery, family reunion, birthday party, get the idea?)
SPYC Goes Offsite
Bring in one of our teachers to your workplace, church, community center, etc
We will tailor the class to the needs of the group.
For more information: 651-644-7141
or call individual teachers.
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We would love to stay in touch
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