Cheryl Thomas, RYT

www.cherylthomas.com

yoga@cherylthomas.com

415-308-3377

The Yoga Clothing Issue (Pt 2)

Next week: The Rest and Men's!

It wasn't that long ago when yoga was practiced in ballet tights and a leotard or baggy sweats and a t-shirt. With the meteoric rise in downward facing dogs, the clothing designers jumped in, offering us stretchy spandex, organic cotton, hemp and recycled bottle tops and bottoms. The styles ranged from long bell-bottoms to capris to shorty-shorts. Last week I reviewed Lululemon and Athleta and if you missed it, it's here.

I got lots of responses from you, the readers. Thanks everyone! Here's more.

Prana - Now privately owned after a stint with Liz Claiborne, Prana is an activewear company. Their website devotes lots of bandwidth to the "Life" section with links to Doing the Right Thing, Good for the Earth, In the Moment, Rejuvenate, Climbing and Yoga. I own some Prana, but mostly outerwear. Maybe a year ago I slid into their SF store opening was having a half off sale. I bought. And now, I'm an "influencer" and get some deals (I've agreed to secrecy, so don't tell anyone, OK?). I own one Prana yoga top and don't like it. I think it's a fabric issue. The daily wear stuff I love. Are you new to Prana? Heidi says they run small so consider sizing up.

Lucy - It used to be a catalog-based company before in 2002 when it opened its first store. Started in Alameda, it's now owned by VFC, an umbrellac with others like Smartwool, Wrangler and Eagle Creek (and lots more). They are an "activewear" company, but have a great selection of yoga wear.

Heidi likes Lucy's tops, because she's "not chest mooning the class with every forward fold"! They seem to have the most cross back and halter styles that she likes. Lucy's $99 compression bottoms are Robin's choice. They're slimming and seem to hold everything in (smile). In addition to eeling tucked in, "they add support to the lower back and stomach", says Robin. The $99 is a lot in my opinion.

Carmela also gave Lucy a thumbs up. She likes the summer weight pants that come just below the knee but are form-fitting with flattering thigh seams and a higher rise". Since she's tall, thin and high-waisted, she sizes up to avoid the crotch thing. Thanks for reminding me, Carmela, Lucy offers a discount card for yoga teachers.

Ahnu - Ahnu's tag line is "Premium Yoga Apparel" and appears to be owned or marketed by New Balance. I bought two Spree Capri pants at Sports Authority Elite in Corte Madera.http://www.newbalance.com/Spree-Capri/885166181516,default,pd.html?start=9&cgid=264000. I'm in love with them. Priced at $59, they hug where they should. The waist is cut high enough to avoid any spillover or crotch crease. They won't last forever as I already see a bit of tattering at the seams, but that's OK, I've gotten plenty of wear from them. I'm trying to figure out a way to get a couple more.

There's more, of course!! Lots more. Next week I'll cover "The Rest" and "Men's (where is it?". And, there's still time to contribute. Email me.

Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.

Bulletin Board

I'm thrilled to be back at Yoga on Center in Healdsburg. I'll be teaching Tuesday and Thursday at Noon while Alese is travelling. Tuesday's class will be gentle and Thursday will be a yin yoga/restorative combo. Double Yum!

On January 5, Maria Alfaro is offering Healing with Neurogenic Yoga at YogaOne Petaluma. It's based on Dr. David Berceli's technique of Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises™ (TRE). It's on my calendar.

Kusuma Rose, after spending 3 years in India, is right you in Graton. She's offering a series of Ayurvedic and Yogic Cooking and Yoga Philosophy. The beautiful flyers are here and here. Sounds like an opportunity! For Qs, contact Kusuma at kusumacreates@gmail.com.

Ayurveda Guru, Deacon Carpenter, creator of those delicious VedaBars, is offering a 4 week series of Spice Classes. It's true, every day spices can greatly benefit our health like Anise, Cinnamon, Garlic, Licorice, Cilantro and Rosemary. It's all at the Wellness Center of Sonoma County, right here.

NEW YEARS DAY - Do a triple and hit Tony Brigg's donation class at 10 a.m. at Wellness by Design and then at the reasonable hour of 2:00, Anne O'Brien will be holding her annual donation ($30-$100) class in support of The Art of Yoga Project and Headstand. Yoga One Petaluma, Then.......New Years Day yoga with Shy! Is there any time for a quick nap???

It's HAPPY HOUR time on Fridays with me at Westside Yoga. I teach from 4:30 - 6:00. It's vigorous vinyasa flow yoga followed by 15 minutes of much deserved rest.

Did you see it? On the upper right of this page. You betcha. It's a Follow Me on Twitter link. Do. It'll be fun to connect with you a bit more often.

My weekly schedule is below (scroll down or click here!). Or, you can always go to my website and click on the always up-to-date calendar to find where I might be.

More Tony Brigg's. His next Advanced Studies class begins on 1/2 at 2-4 at Alive Yoga in Sebastopol. It's super fun. There are pre-reqs. Contact Mr. Briggs at tony.briggs108@gmail.com.

Get boatloads of yoga information and lots of free downloads from YogaU Online. Really, tons. It's a great resource for teachers and students.

How to be Miserable

This is a fun read. It's "The 14 Habits of Highly Miserably People". I got it off of Facebook*. Here's a clip:

"So if you aspire to make yourself miserable, what are the best, most proven techniques for doing it? Let's exclude some obvious ways, like doing drugs, committing crimes, gambling, and beating up your spouse or neighbor. Subtler strategies, ones that won't lead anyone to suspect that you're acting deliberately, can be highly effective. "

Read all about it here.

*Thx FB friends.

Secrets of a Long Marriage

I look forward to the emails from the Interdependence Project. Their latest Top 10 blog posts contained this nugget on the secrets of a long marriage.

Here's a clip:

I am not the woman I was back then, and he's not that man. Our relationship's not the bright, shiny, untested, brand-spanking-new marriage it was in 1980. It's something different. It's been myriad relationships -- spouses, parents, adult children, caregivers, cared for, empty-nesters, full-lifers -- and that's how it lasts.

Accepting impermanence is key to staying married, actually. It's only by knowing that your relationship will change, your partner will change, your life conditions will change that you can stay. All of that will happen, of course, and if you fight it, if you cling to where it is at one stage or to an ideal of how it should be, it will fail.

So, it's about accepting change. Read the rest here. While you're on their site, sniff around. It's rich. They have a great podcast also.

In Praise of Older Yoga Teachers

Thanks for sharing this article via Facebook, Tony Briggs. Much to think and talk about. Not only am I "older" (I guess), but I've been teaching for many fewer years than my age contemporaries. There is nothing like experience and time on and off the mat to build wisdom, knowledge and teaching nuance. What do you think? Read the article here.

Daily Dharma - Tricycle Magazine

Dec. 27, 2013

Responsibility

The suppression of despair, like that of any deep recurring response, contributes to the numbing of the psyche. . . Of all the dangers we face, from climate chaos to permanent war, none is so great as this deadening of our response.

- Joanna Macy, "The Greatest Danger"

This is the Time for Gratitude

You know I'm a fan and supporter of Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) They're out of Berkeley and are a science-based..... well, better that they tell you.

Here's an excerpt from their recent email:

"In fact, here at the GGSC, we think that practicing gratitude year-round is the path to a happier and more resilient life. It's not always easy, but Jeremy Adam Smith has some suggestions for how to up your gratitude quotient with six habits of highly grateful people.

"And Robert Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude, debunks five myths about gratitude, challenging objections and misconceptions."

Good stuff, don't you think?

Don't be Miserable on Fridays!

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!

S
Schedule of Upcoming Classes

Click here to jump to my calendar

Week of December 29, 2013

Sunday

10:30 - 12:00

Westside Yoga Studio

Vinyasa Yoga - All Levels

Thursday

Week of January 5, 2014

Tuesday

Noon - 1:00

Yoga on Center, Healdsburg

Gentle Yoga

Thursday

8:45 - 9:45 a.m.

Graton Community Club, Graton

Gentle Flow - All Levels

Noon - 1:00

Yoga on Center, Healdsburg

Gentle Yoga

Friday

4:30 - 6:00

Westside Yoga Studio

Happy Hour Vinyasa

In This Issue

The Yoga Clothing Issue

Did you Know?

Article Headline

Secrets of a Long Marriage

In Praise of Older Yoga Teachers

Daily Dharma

This is the Time for Gratitude

Happy Hour Vinyasa

Week of December 29

Week of December 22

Bulletin Board

Graton Yogis Info:

Did you know your class pass (get these from your instructor) are accepted by all yoga teachers at Yoga in Graton?

We Gratonite Yogis have a place to call our own. It's www.

yogaingraton.com. There is information about current and new yoga classes offered in Graton. Don't live in Graton? No problem. We want you to come anyway.

You cannot be lost if you don't care where you are.

Judith Lasater

When people ask me what equipment I use, I tell them my eyes.

Ansel Adams

"Not to have what we want is stressful; to have what we do not want is stressful." Buddha

Dalai Lama: "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

"Everything will be alright in the end. And if it is not alright, it's not yet the end!" The Magnolia Hotel movie

If your Food can go bad, it's good for you. If it can't go bad, it's bad for you. Originally pinned by Michael Leaming, Ed.D. onto Fitness, Nutrition & Wellness