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Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
It's that time of year. Shopping, addressing holiday cards, making travel plans, keeping track of the Evites, and managing the 10,000 extra calories that you'll consume. There's the loud annoying Xmas music, which is actually meant to disturb you. Yes, recent research has shown that the loud music while shopping stresses your nervous system and you actually buy more. So, stay out of Forever 21.
It's that time of year for Crazy food products. Eggnog, Panetttone, plum pudding, chestnuts, Buche de Noel(?), candy canes, stollen, and fruitcake. Speaking of Nogs, What actually is in Eggnog? When I was younger is was creepy and thick with too much clove or something. But, nowadays, it's pretty damn good. You can even get vegan, soy, organic and light eggnog. I've been putting Clover's Eggnog in my tea instead of creamer. And, Sunday's NYT actually had a recipe that was more like making pudding. Then there's the Hanekkah food. Latkes. What's not to love about grated potatoes and onions fried in oil. And kugel--noodles, sugar, butter, and cheese. Travel + Leisure magazine this month lists holiday foods from around the world. There's yummy looking Devil Curry in Singapore and unappealing Sarmale in Romania.
It's that time of year when expectations don't always meet reality. There is a lot of pressure during the holidays. For many it's an extra busy time at work and it's doubly hard to meet all the demands of family. Those with split families, due to divorce or marriage are always trying to juggle whom to see and when. It's always a balancing act that never is quite balanced. The big, joyous family you see in the movies may not be your family. And, the gifts. There's so much drama around what gifts to give, how much to spend and when to stop getting gifts for all of the nieces and nephews who are now teenagers.
It's that time of year to hibernate. Like the bears, it's the season for slowing down(1) Just before animals hibernate, they experience a spike in the activity of their parasympathetic nervous system, which slows their heart rate and decreases their body temperature and metabolic rate. Studies have found a similar response in people with Season Affective Disorder (SAD). "Animals prepare for winter by fattening up and then sleeping though it," says researcher Margaret Austen. "In humans that is not practical. So, instead, we eat more and gain weight through the winter, and we lack energy and sleep more."
Try staying in and spending close time around family and friends over a game of dominos. Perhaps a new book on your all new lighter, faster, smarter $69 Kindle? How about some kugel and spiked eggnog?
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
(1) Sadly, global warming is affecting the hibernation of bears. Read about it here: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/global-warming-effects-may-kill-off-hibernating-animals/765
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.
Devorah Blum, owner of Yoga Studio Ganesha, is offering a new year's special for her Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening classes. $55 buys you an unlimited monthly pass for her evening classes. If you attend all her classes for the month, it brings your per class cost to just over four bucks. It's a great opportunity to practice with a yogi-pro at such a great price. For more info, email Devorah at devorah@yogastudioganesha.com.
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 Projectat 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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Yoga Poses can be Deceiving
So, you thought Sebastopol's own, Ashtangi-extraordinaire, Ann Austin, was just a pretty poser. Ah, her artwork starred at the opening of Sebastopol's Center for the Art's opening last week. Her Ganesha artwork made from bottlecaps from around the world stood out among the other 300 artists. AND, yogi faithful and henna sister, Simma Chester, also displayed her jewelry art. One inch of her braided necklace took 4 feet of wire. A labor of beauty and love. Congratulations, friends!
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 Accepting the Pain of Relationships From Tricycle's Daily Dharma, December 6
Mindfulness can transform all our personal relationships-but only if we are willing to feel the inevitable pain that relationships entail. When we turn away from our distress, we inevitably abandon our loved ones as well as ourselves. But when we mindfully and compassionately incline toward whatever is arising within us, we can be truly present and alive for ourselves and others.
- Christopher K. Germer, "Getting Along" |
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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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!
NOTE- (About) Once a month, this class will meet from 5:30 - 7:00 due to scheduled teacher training at the studio. Please see either my schedule or Westside's site.
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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 December 16, 2012
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