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Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
It was joined at the hip with "please" when we were young. It was a must after receiving a chocolate dipped ice cream cone from Shaw's and unwrapping some kid-inappropriate present from Grandma. At some point when we got older (and maybe wiser), "thank you" changed from a sense of obligation to feeling and gratefulness.
Saying thank you is a way of conveying gratitude and there's been lots of research on the its power. Studies have suggested that maintaining an attitude of gratitude can improve psychological, emotional and physical well-being. Moreover, those that feel grateful have more energy, are more optimistic, have more social connections and are happier. Want more? Want to earn more money, sleep better, exercise more regularly and fight off colds? Find a sense of gratitude. Recent research has been done (and a subsequent book written) about expressing appreciation, literally saying "thank you." Although we intuitively know that saying thank you can make others feel a bit better, they actually proved it. I heard about this study on my favorite podcast, Slate's Political Podcast. The researchers studied the effect of thank you on the people being thanked.
In the first study 69 participants were asked to provide feedback to a fictitious student called 'Eric' on his cover letter for a job application. After sending their feedback through by email, they got a reply from Eric asking for more help with another cover letter. Eric responded to half of them and saying "thank you" and the other half got a neutral reply. Those who got the "thank you" reply were more willing to help Eric out--66% as compared with 32% of those who got the neutral response. The experimenters found that "people weren't providing more help because they felt better or it boosted their self-esteem, but because they appreciated being needed and felt more socially valued when they'd been thanked. . . . The act of saying thank you reassures the helper that their help is valued and motivates them to provide more."(1) They even repeated the study the next day with the same folks, but another fictitious person "Stephen" asked for help. Again, those that had been thanked the day before were more than twice as likely to help Stephen. Did we learn anything from this?
You can also express your thanks to yourself (important) or God or Ganesha or the Universe, as a way of being conscious that something good happened. I always say a "thank you" when I find my lost keys or my missing iPod or when something bad could have happened, but didn't. I reminds me to appreciate the small things.
Want to practice being thankful? Here's what to do. Go out of your way to say "thank you" or some other affirming comment like "I really appreciate. . .", "that was so kind of you" or even "you're awesome". There are many good stand-ins for "thank you". Try this with a loved one. Try it with your kids. Try it at work and with the person that bags your sushi and kombucha at Fircrest Market. Say it ALL THE TIME. Go ahead, go overboard. Want to change the world? Try adding "please". Thank you! http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/09/15/why-thank-you-is-more-than-just-good-manners/
Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.
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Did You Know?
The Self-Massage/Restorative Yoga Gathering at Yoga on Center has a date! You'll find rest and pampering on April 27 from 3-5:30. See below for the goods.
What good fortune for yogis! TWO Sebastopol studios are doing Groupons-- Yoga Studio Ganesha and Devi Yoga Center. Enjoy classes for as low as $2.90 per class!
Start purging your Yoga clothes. Coming soon is a Yoga Clothing Swap in at Alive Yoga in Sebastopol. Starting setting aside your extra yoga mats, mat bags, tops and bottoms.
To all you Ashtanga wanna-bes and Kathleen Carroll fans, find her teaching an "Intro to Ashtanga Vinyasa" at Westside for 4 weeks starting April 30. Go to Westside Yoga Studio's site for details.
Thanks Rialto Theater in Sebastopol for a FREE showing of The Island President ( www.theislandpresident.com). It received a five star review by Rotten Tomatoes and other critics.President Nasheed is faced with the challenge as one of the most low-lying countries in the world, a rise of three feet in sea level would submerge the 1200 islands of the Maldives. It's on my calendar.
Want to know more about Restorative Yoga? See below for 2 opportunities.
Want to get away, but not too far? In April, you can study, eat and hang out with the always popular, Tony Briggs, in Woodacre at a wonderful retreat house. It's beautiful, believe me, I've been there. If you commit the entire weekend, there is a drop-in option. Get info here.
Find me (and the lovely, Denise Hammond) at Solage in Calistoga this Friday from 11-1 with lots of other smart yogis as we enjoy a class with the accomplished, Anne O'Brien. After (or before) class you can hang out and enjoy the pool and amenities. By the way, she's got lots of great workshops coming up.
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. There's one NOW, Free,
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 Restorative Yoga Training
Want to know more about Restorative Yoga? Maybe you're a yoga teacher and are curious about the physiology of the relaxation response and how to modify the positions for your students. Maybe you're a student and think what we do is just "laying around".
Restorative yoga is showing up on lots of schedules at yoga studios and students are beginning to appreciate the time to rest and rejuvenate.
As part of the teacher training program at Yoga by Design, I'll be offering two trainings open to the public. That's you!
Saturday, April 13
1:00 - 4:00
Yoga by Design, Petaluma
Physiology of the Nervous System,
Set-up and Fine-tuning of Basic Poses, Modifications
$55
Saturday, April 20
1:00 - 4:00
Yoga by Design, Petaluma
Additional Poses, Modifications, Q&A
$55
This is perfect for everyone, especially yoga instructors or caregivers who want to know the hows and whys or offering Restorative Yoga.
Questions? Email me at cheryl@cherylthomas.com
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 Pamper Yourself - Self-Massage and Restorative Yoga
Liz Levy, yoga teacher and massage therapist extraordinaire, and I will be offering 2 1/2 hours of self-care and yumminess. Liz will lead us in self-massage, freeing up those tight spots. Then we'll spend 90 minutes in restful, luxurious, restorative poses. You'll leave rested and rejuvenated. Go here for our flyer. Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Time: 3:00 - 5:30
Register with Yoga on Center. See you there!
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 Happiness Tip: Take a Meditation Break
Here's a tip from favorite sites, Raising Happiness, by Dr. Christine Carter. This is the science based group out of UCBerkeley, The Greater Good Science Center, that studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
Dr. Carter support families with smart, useful and science-based information in all aspects of raising children. Their tagline is "Science for Joyful Kids and Happier Parents". Enjoy this article on Taking a Meditation Break. |
Daily Dharma - Tricycle Magazine
March 17, 2013
Our Capacity for Joy
Joy is not something we have to manufacture. It is already in us when we come into the world. We need only release the layers of contraction and fear that keep us from it.
-- James Baraz, "Lighten Up!
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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
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.
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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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