Gentle Yoga For Cancer Patients:  Reconnecting Body, Mind and Spirit

Felder's model is older woman; this invites anyone, no matter what their age or physical ability, to take part in this practice.  She provides assistance in establishing a gentle yoga practice at home by demonstrating the uses of numerous props including chair, blanket, mat, yoga strap, bolster, cushions and eye pillows.  Her instructions are very clear and easy to follow.  She speaks slowly and her tone of voice induces a relaxed mood.

Felder advises the yogi not to judge herself:  "Can you turn off the judgment to develop a witness mind without fretting, being overly concerned?" 

She discusses working with your emotions as well as responding to the emotions of those around you:  "Can you look at the feelings and see what they mean, notice them, take the information and let them go?" 

She offers helpful reminders:  "Sometimes we try so hard to relax we become more tense". 

She also demonstrates alternative positions and reminds us that you really need to listen to your body and hold positions only as long as it feel goods to do so.

PARIVRTTA TRIKONASANA

(Revolved Triangle Pose)

This pose gives a good healthy twist to the spine and stretch to the hamstrings.

Bring your yoga mat up to and perpendicular to a wall. Then stand about two feet from the wall with your back facing it. Step back with your left foot and place the heel on the floor against the wall with the foot turned in about 45 to 60 degrees. Now, keeping your left heel in place, step straight forward with your right foot until your legs are about four feet apart. Align yourself in such a way so that your right heel is in line with your left heel and then stand erect facing in the direction of your right leg with your hands on your hips.

Press into the floor with your feet and stretch your legs. Then, keeping the right hip moving back, extend the trunk forward until it is parallel to the floor.  Extend your left arm down so the fingers touch the floor near the outside of the right foot and roll your right shoulder up. (Use a block if you can't reach the floor with your left hand.) Take a few breaths. To go deeper now, exhale and press the back of the left arm toward the front of the left arm and the left shoulder blade against the back ribs to bring the left shoulder over the right ankle. Stretch the right arm up until it is perpendicular to the ceiling. This is the completed pose. Hold for 30 seconds with even breathing turning a little more with each exhalation. Then inhale and come up and repeat on the other side. Once you feel stable in the pose you can move to the center of the room away from the support of the wall.

Ingredients

Spoon into greased 24 count mini muffin pan 

Bake for about 10-13 minutes

Allow more time if using a regular muffin pan

Another option: You can also cube the cheese

Fill the muffin pan 1/3 way with batter

Add a small cube of cheese and cover with more batter

Bake 16-20 min

Then you have a cheesy surprise in the middle!

Philosophy:

Mindfully Aware of the Mind

(This month Gail Scamoni is taking a hiatus and Frank Jude Boccio has given his permission for us to quote from his book Mindfulness Yoga.)

 

 

Breathing in, I am aware of my mind.

Breathing out, I am aware of my mind.

I want to express my gratitude to the members of LIYA who responded with such enthusiasm to the food drive on behalf of the people of Haiti. As you are aware, Haiti has been devastated by a recent earthquake and the need of those who survived goes beyond imagination. However, with the generosity of people like you, the Haitian community will pull through and will continue to survive.

The food donated will be delivered by Vicky Seff to St. Brigid's Convent in Westbury before February 19, 2010. All items collected will be shipped to Haiti by the group "MANY HEARTS FOR HAITI" and will be distributed directly to the Haitians in need.

I thank all of you, not only for your donations, but also for your prayers and your overt empathy.

I must thank especially Celeste Crockett for her e-mail and her generous donation on behalf of the nuns who educated me in Haiti, The Daughters of Marie, who lost schools, convents, churches and are barely surviving. I also thank Nancy Owens for her donation earlier when part of Haiti was hit by a flood. Last but not least, I must  thank Rosemary Barnitz, who provided me with school supplies for the poor children of Haiti way before the flood and earthquake took place.

On behalf of the Haitian community, I say thank you to all of you for your compassion and your generosity. Despite Haiti's location, despite its size, despite its financial situation, it was able to unify people around the globe and remind every one of us that we are all in this together, that WE ARE THE WORLD.

Marie-Laetitia Woolley