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Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
It's that time of the year. Yes, for Clover Organic Light Eggnog or Aunt Jean's fruitcake or the pecan pie fueled 5 pound weight gain. And, the common cold. It is estimated that during a one-year period, people in the US will suffer one billion colds.(1) The average child will have between 6 to 10 colds a year, while the average adult will get 2 to 4 colds a year. Criminy. That's a lot of tissue. Forget investing in Facebook, buy stock in Kleenex, where you can now get a Car Wedge Kleenex box that fits oh-so-nicely in your car's door pocket.
I have been unwisely flaunting about how I've been years without a cold. So, you're right, I picked up a cold. And, with the cold comes everyone's advice. It seems most people have a personal program for handling a cold. I have my own. Google has theirs. Big Pharma has theirs and they make a bazillion with each sneeze.
Many (if not most) cold sufferers hit their local CVS so they can manage their symptoms and continue on with their lives. After passing aisles of candy, booze, canned goods or toilet paper, you'll find shelves of symptom relievers-decongestants and antihistimines (is there a difference?), cough suppressants and expectorants (whatever that is), and every pain reliever with the added "For Cold and Flu". Grab some Kleenex Cool Touch tissues with their proprietary blend of ingredients on your way out.
There is one sure way to avoid a cold. Stay home and don't come in contact with anyone. If you've got to live in the real world, the very contagious rhinovirus is looking for you. Got kids, well, good luck. They not only pick it up from close contact with other children, but they have no problem sneezing directly into your face. You can help yourself. Stay hydrated, wash your hands often and keep them away from your face. The stronger your immune system, the better. Consider acupuncture.
I have been very fortunate that my recent colds have been very short lived and quite mild. Here's my 2-cents. At the very, very first inkling of any small symptom or "just starting" to feel funky, I jump on the Yin Chiao, Vitamin C and Echinacea. If that doesn't do it, I take the Yin Chiao for another couple of days and continue with the Vit -C (a lot, up to 2000 a day if you can handle it(2)) and Echinacea. I add nasal irrigation (neti) daily or more often and lots of rest, especially in the beginning. I use Sinusalia for symptom relief and sometimes Oscillococcinum.
Best of all, I love to hear everyone's own personal "program" for handling their colds. Here's what I've heard:
Lemon, ginger and hot water, Lots of rest. Simma.
Emergen-C and nasal drainage. Maureen
Drink hot water (very) at the first sign of symptoms. Elizabeth
Wellness Formula (by Source Naturals) Ann A.
Some people swear by zinc or Zicam. So, tell me what your "secret weapon" is or your "go to" formula. I'll post them all next week! Email me at Cheryl@cherylthomas.com, or click right here. In the meantime, please be well.
(1) http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/ healthcare_services/lung_diseases/cold/pages/index.aspx
(2) Too much Vit C can cause loose stools. So, be a bit careful, ya.
Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.
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Did You Know?
I'm honored and excited to be subbing Anne O'Brien's class for the next two weeks on Tuesday at 5:30 at POST Wellness by Design in Petaluma.
Sebastopol is really the hub of yoga in the North Bay. More and more and more is coming. I'll keep you posted, of course. See below Cha, Cha, Cha, Changes for some preliminary info.
200-Hr Yoga Teacher Training right here in Petaluma. I'm honored to be on the faculty. See below for more info.
Support your local esthetician and YogaWoman supporter, Jenna Myers-Smith, at A Swanky Affair, at The Face Place off the square in Sebastopol on 11/30 from 5-9. Get some gifts.
The SF-based, multi-located, Yoga Tree yoga studio, has inched north to Corte Madera. They'll have a grand opening on Friday, November 16, with free classes and DJ Drez and best of all, FREE classes 11/16-11/19.
Shoppers Alert. prAna is opening a SF store and is offering 50% off "everything" on Nov 17 from 2-7. It's on my calendar. Thanks Anne O'B for the heads-up!
The Yoga in Graton program is growing faster than the price of Lululemon yoga pants. We now have seven weekly classes, 2 Graton locations, 4-glorious teachers and lotta amazing students. Find us at www.YogaInGraton.com.
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JUST ANNOUNCED - Advanced Studies - Teacher Training Program
If you've ever considered taking a Yoga Teacher Training program, the stars have just aligned for you. Post Wellness by Design in Petaluma with the expert guidance of local legend, Tony Briggs, is holding a teacher training beginning in January 2013.
Do you wonder about the differences between teacher training programs? Good, you should. They are not all created equal. This program has teachers who I would (and do) seek out to train with "individually". So, a training that includes all of them is stellar. These are senior, seasoned, respected, local and international teachers. Who? Tony Briggs, Anne O'Brien, Richard Rosen, Ann Dyer, Ulrika Engman and more! And, I have the great opportunity to be included with this impressive group. I have been asked to present the Restorative Yoga module.
Maybe you don't want to teach, but want to extend your knowledge of the practice and learn more about the philosophy, anatomy and grounding in the principles of yoga. This is the perfect opportunity.
I know, life if busy and funds are short. They've made it easy and affordable. Classes will be on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons for 4 months. Want more info? Of course you do. Go to Tony Briggs's site at www.tonybriggsyoga.com. You can ask me any questions at cheryl@cherylthomas.com.
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Cha, Cha, Cha, Changes
I can see the headlines now: "Sebastopolians Surpass Okinawans with the Longest Life and Health Expectancy in the World." That's where we're headed, for sure. Coming real soon to Sebastopol are two new projects where you can get your downward dog on.
The Dhyana Center is adding a movement studio to their new first floor Main Street space (where the Silk Moon outlet was). Look for some retail also (yay!).
Arriving in time for your New Years Resolutions is 5,000 sq. ft. (!) at the Center for the Arts space, right next to the upcoming Barlow project. There'll be 2,000 sq. ft. (another !!) of movement space to include Pilates, yoga and dance. Add some retail, a Pilates studio and more. There, now you know. I'll keep you posted, for sure.
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How It's Made - Hot Dogs
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3.5 Million Hot Dogs Per Shift
Burp.......Got to love kottke.org. If you're a link lover, or not, find out how your local frankies are made. Automation is incredible, isn't it. If you've got a minute, spend some time on Kottke. You won't regret it. Now where is Patrick's yummy Tenzo brand Sweet & Spicy mustard for my just made dog?
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 Why Women Can't Do Pull-Ups Thank you, Tara Parker-Pope, for confirming what women have always known, we can't do a damn pull-up or it's first cousin, the chin-up. Being strength challenged, I thought it was maybe just me. Now I know it's a girl-thing. Read all about it and the leverage system of pull-ups in the article from the 10/28 NYT. |
 None of Us Has Any Idea What We Are Doing I'm a big fan of Ethan Nichtern, founder of The Interdependence Project, "a loose organization is for people interested in exploring their minds on the meditation cushion and applying the insights, clarity, and wisdom developed by meditation techniques to a variety of applications in the world of arts, ecology, activism and community service." I attended some of Ethan's meetings during a short stint in New York City. I keep an eye on his website, his podcasts and books. I thought you'd enjoy his Thought for the Day: It's quite possible none of us has any idea what we are doing, and amazing wisdom and compassion can come from recognizing that. I was thinking about this this morning. The kind of certainty that comes from pretending we know what is going to happen, which is the kind of certainty which often makes us feel competent and somehow professional in life, is total bullshit (pardon my french). On the other hand, the kind of certainty we can develop in basic goodness and compassion and skillfulness simply does not come from the pretense of knowing what is going to happen and exactly how we will handle it. But the more uncertainty we develop in knowing what will happen, and the more certainty we gain in basic goodness, the more we will be able to handle life skillfully. It's really true. Please, try to have no idea what you are doing today. But please, do try to remember why you do anything. |
Be Happy on Friday's
Instead of shots of tequila and fried artichoke hearts, spend your Friday happy hour moving and grooving at an all-levels vinyasa flow class.
I am honored and excited to be offered another class at Westside Yoga Studio. On Friday's from 4:30 - 6:00, we'll end each week with an energetic vinyasa flow class. Through building heat from the inside, we'll strip out the stress hormones from the day. A long rest at the end of class will reset our nervous system and prepare us for our weekend.
You'll be done at 6:00!! That'll leave plenty of time for dinner with friends, a movie or a relaxing evening with your pooch. Or, maybe a Chia filled Kombucha or that 100% agave margarita!
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Restorative Yoga 
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.
Every Monday
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Westside Yoga, Sebastopol
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Get Your Girlfriends Together
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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Schedule of Upcoming Classes
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Week of November 11, 2012
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