|
|
Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
My neighbors are movie producers/directors and I don't even live in Hollywood. No, they weren't there last Sunday with the "Too Loose with the Jew Jokes" McFarland, but they made a movie. Speaking of the Oscars, why does everyone hate Ann Hathaway and what's up with the beards? I was with some women friends recently and I was surprised at how much talk there was about movie stars, as if what was reported in US and People mag is actually has a bit of truth. So and so is nice or bitchy or has a bad marriage or lost weight. I catch up on these rags while I'm getting my pedicure, but as a sign of my age, I no longer recognize anyone on the glossy pages. But, I did heard an interview with Bradley Cooper and he seemed amazingly gracious and unfull of himself. I thought he might just be a pretty-boy, but not so, I think. There, I said it.
Anyway, back to my neighbors, Carolyn Mayes and Jaimie Spooner, the directors and movie stars (OK, interviewers). Their movie, Whiskey and Apple Pie
, (check out the trailer above) was originally named Wisdom from Seniors Across America. Jaimie says, "It's really about delicious wit and wisdom across America. How you live a longer, a more healthy and passionate life". There are some familiar locals, like my other neighbor, Don, and Mom from Mom's Apple Pies. Tippi Hendron is there too, looking mighty good for whatever age she is and Andy Rooney looked really short, but happily alive.
Besides making this film, the ladies created the website iCareVillage, an online resource for healthy aging offering tips and videos for self and elder care. For their first film, they spent 3 years travelling the country while interviewing 100 men and women over 80. They asked these folks for their message to younger generations, how their lived their lives and the secret of happiness. It's surprising, but not really, what these seniors offered. There were so many sweet nuggets. Here are just a few:
- Find your purpose.
- Follow your dream and if the dream doesn't work, find another dream.
- As we advance ourselves our whole society advances.
- Never lose hope when times are tough.
- If it's your dream, just do it.
A 92-year old grandmother offered, "Success is not dollars and cents, it's treating people how you want to be treated. . . you can make a difference in someone's life. It doesn't take a college degree or education to be kind to people. You only pass this way once, and when you pass make sure you leave a mark and the mark is kindness". You know the Red Hat Society ladies(1). When asked "what is the hardest thing about getting older, they looked incredulous and said, "I haven't given it a thought. I don't think about it." Wow, what an attitude. Given our society's obsession with buff bodies and wrinkle-free foreheads, our generation has a bit to learn from these ladies.
As the creators thoughtfully suggest, not all is rosy for seniors in America these days, "If you don't have a lot of money and don't have a close family or outlive your family, you're in a tough situation". However, I think seniors have been through a lot and are extremely strong, proud and self-reliant. Our population is only getting older as the baby-boomers slide into retirement and beyond. By 2050, it's projected that twice as many seniors (88 million) will be around than today (40 million). I can only hope they carry the strong messages of kindness, hope, caring and dreaming that Carolyn and Jaime found.
(1) They are a "global society of women that supports and encourages women in their pursuit of fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment, and fitness"
Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.
|
Did You Know?
I'll be at Westside Yoga Studio a lot this week (see my schedule below). Hope to see you in class.
I'm profusely apologizing for those of you that arrived to the last week Friday Happy Hour class only to find there was no teacher. I hate when that happens.
More Yoga........Exciting hook-up in Petaluma. BodyWork (recently closed due to fire damage) is joining with Yoga by Design. Come to the open house on 3/23. Even more yoga.......A new grande studio is coming, Move 2 Change, to open soon in the Barlow in Sebastopol. www.move2changestudio.com. Yes, even more.......The Dhyana Center' Body Temple is open. Check out the schedule at http://dhyanacenter.com/body-temple/body-temple-calendar/.
Dr. Pamela Gould is a naturopatic doctor and is offering a 6-week interactive workshop on Women Healing into Midlife. This is an important topic for women of a "particular" age who are coping with memory changes, insomnia, stress, depression and body/food issues. Email Dr. Gould for more info at drgouldnd@att.net.
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.
|
Is Crossing Your Legs Killing Your Back?
I don't need to tell you the answer. My response is "probably". According to an article in Yoganonamous.com, the author, Amanda Tripp, says definitely "yes". The quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle draws your side hip to your lower ribs, like hiking up your hip. When you cross your legs, this movement happens. And, if you sit for long periods of time . . . we'll you can guess.
I like the video from YogaTuneUp. I'll be offering this in class the next couple of weeks, so look for it. In the meantime, you can try it on your own. Here it is.
|
 60 Years of Oscar Speeches When you've got nothing better to do, check out this article about a Georgia Tech master's student who analyzed 60 years of Academy Awards acceptance speeches as part of a research project that focused on gratitude. She has also determined the anatomy of an Academy Awards speech, or at least the one that winners tend to give.
The accompanying interactive website is amazing. You can find out who cried alligator tears and who got misty eyed. Did you know that YouTube has 207 of the 300 speeches since 1953?
|
Daily Dharma - Tricycle Magazine
February 16, 2013
Practice is Planting Seeds
When you plant seeds in the garden, you don't dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet. You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time. Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart. Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they're ready.
- Thubten Chodron, "Meditator's Toolbox"
|
Be Happy on Friday's
Instead of shots of tequila and fried artichoke hearts, spend your Friday happy hour moving and grooving at an
most-levels vinyasa flow class.
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- Due to scheduled teacher training, the time will change to 5:30 once a month. Please see either my schedule or Westside's site.
|
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
|
|
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.
|
Schedule of Upcoming Classes
|
| | | |
