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Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
Conjugal faithfulness is the definition from the ad-laden online dictionary. It's opposite, infidelity, is in the news, always. At some point in the past is was nobody's beezwax, but since Clinton, we've had to wince at some of the intimate details that come of such relationships. We also get to see the desperation one will go to get the deed done, like hiking the Appalachian trail. Please.
Monogamy is personal. I think some people are and some people aren't. If infidelity is in your genes, it may take religion, fear or effort to remain faithful to your other. I have the good fortune of being monogamous. That's just me. I don't have to work at it. That's not to say I have not caused pain to others known and unknown to me, because I have. We humans are inordinately complicated beings and when you put two together sometimes crazy and amazing things transpire. We're not an exact science.
But, speaking of science, there's been some recent research, about the presence of oxytocin in maintaining fidelity. Oxytocin is a feel good hormone released by the pituitary gland that promotes bonding. As reported in the Journal of Neuroscience, and picked up by all the majors, a research team had an attractive female approach 57 either single or committed male subjects. The men were given either oxytocin or a placebo. Standing 2 feet away from the men, the woman would move closer or away from them. I guess importantly, all the men confirmed that the attractive researcher was, in fact, attractive. Good to know.
Interestingly, the men who received oxytocin and were in a monogamous relationship kept a greater distance from the female researcher. They stayed 4-6 inches further from the woman than the placebo group or single men with oxytocin. Since oxytocin is known to create trust, the researchers had expected the opposite outcome. The Atlantic summed it up by reporting that: "Oxytocin promotes monogamy by preventing men from 'signaling romantic interest' to other women" Because oxytocin has a bonding effect (mother and child), it also bonds those committed relationships. And, straight from the Journal of Neuroscience(1):
"Together, our results suggest that where OXT release is stimulated during a monogamous relationship, it may additionally promote its maintenance . . . In this way, OXT may help to promote fidelity within monogamous human relationships."
I imagine Big Pharm is right now brainstorming (If they don't already have it) manufacturing a fidelity pill. Take 2 before the guys night out. Hum, I wonder, will it be marketed to women or men?
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/46/16074
Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.
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Did You Know?
Coming.......Liz Levy and I are leading a post-Holiday gathering to chill-out/bliss out. Liz is leading self-massage and I'll be offering restorative poses. See more below. It's a great GIFT opportunity!
My friend, and yogi extraordinaire, Iris Lambert, will be offering yoga classes at the new Dhyana Center movement space on Sundays and Mondays at 10. Iris's Irie Yoga is core centered, energy driven, alignment based Vinyasa practice.
Yoga Community in Sonoma is having a Holiday Open House and Bazaar
on Saturday, December 15th, 11:00am-4:00 pm. They'll have Refreshments, Music, Arts and Crafts Holiday gifts for sale.
Amy Charnay has only a few spots left for her fun and challenging Aerial Yoga Workshop at the Devi Yoga Center on December 15. You'll feel like one of the Cirque du Soleil flyers in Amy's silks.
Yoga in Graton is having it's 3rd Annual Holiday Party on Thursday Dec. 13 from 7-9 p.m. See below for details!
Might as well get it on your calendar now. Anne O'Brien will generously offer a class on New Year Day benefiting the Art of Yoga Project at Yoga by Design in Petaluma. Thankfully, it's at 2, whew.
Along with her 200 hour wellness program, Mirka Kraftsow, is offering a Gayatri workshop on Dec. 22 at 1:00. Get more info at Westside Yoga's website.
Get boat loads of yoga information and lots of free downloads from YogaU online. Really, tons. It's a great resource for teachers and students. 200-Hr Yoga Teacher Training right here in Petaluma. I'm honored to be on the faculty. See below for more info.
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 Chill Out - Bliss Out Restorative Yoga and Self-Massage Session Does your New Years Resolutions include taking better care of yourself and finding time for self-care and rest? REST. You know you need it. From Thanksgiving to New Years, many of us spend our much of our time fretting and planning about what to give for gifts, shopping and fighting traffic, travelling or hosting family and downing 10,000 extra calories. It's a stressful time of year for most of us. It can leave us feeling drained, depleted, exhausted and in need of some TLC. SOLUTION. Spend 2 ½ hours being pampered. Reset your system with self-massage and restorative yoga. Liz Levy will lead us through a yummy massage session including pressure point therapy and CranioSacral therapy. With the support of bolsters and blocks, Cheryl Thomas will slide you into restorative yoga positions allowing the body to relax and rejuvenate. You'll feel your nervous system will shift from "yikes!" to "ahhhhhh" and you'll leave with relaxed shoulders and a brightened attitude. Your body will say "thank you". This is a GREAT Holiday gift idea for you or your friends. Show your loved ones you care and give them the gift of rest and relaxation. Saturday, January 5, 2012 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. Space is limited so please sign up early. Westside Yoga Studio, Sebastopol
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Advanced Studies - Teacher Training Program
If you've ever considered taking a Yoga Teacher Training program, the stars have just aligned for you. Yoga by 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. Contact Yoga by Design at 707-762-7678, email is postwellnessbydesign@gmail.com, website is www.postwellnessbydesign.com (click on the Advanced Teacher's Training link on the left hand side, or just click here. Of course you can go to Tony Briggs's site at www.tonybriggsyoga.com or you can ask me any questions at cheryl@cherylthomas.com.
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 Yoga in Graton Holiday Party It's that time of the year again and Yoga in Graton students and families are invited to the 3rd Annual Yoga in Graton holiday party! It will be at Stone Creek Zen Center on Thursday, Dec 13th from 7-9pm right after the weekly yoga class. It will be a vegetarian potluck so you are welcome to bring food or drinks (non-alcoholic).
We're also going to do a white elephant gift exchange. The idea is to wrap up a fitness related item that no longer interests you. Be it an old workout video or a cat laser toy like we got last year, it's all for fun and might prove valuable. Feel free to be creative in what you consider "fitness". I'll have an extra gift in case someone needs one. Or you can watch and enjoy the amusement :)
We've got some mindfulness games planned and some live music from my local guitar group. We don't usually play for an audience, so we're might be very excited (aka nervous :)
Thanks to Corina for putting this party together. Hope to see you Yoga in Gaton yogis there.
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Vitamins. Do you? Should you?
The Well section of the New York Times, entitled Curbing Your Enthusiasm on Daily Multivitamins reports on on some good results of taking daily vitamins. Like much of health related research, the results vary. There is a lot of "coulds", "mays" and "mixed results."
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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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