Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
Who's Your Teacher?
Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Baron Baptiste, Choudhury Bikram, Ana Forrest, and John Friend. These are some of the celebrity names that adorn the covers of yoga magazines, DVDs and glossies for international retreats. I had a student ask me who I thought were the best yoga teachers and then narrowed the question to those teachers I would or have studied with. This is a good question, but not as simple as it sounds. Every teacher has had an influence on me depending on one thing--me. At different stages I have been ready to either let go of a particular practice or to be ripe and receptive to a new one. Some teachers, although brilliant, just don't resonate with me, while others inexplicably do. The wise adage is that the teacher is there when the student is ready. I think this is very true.
We live in an unique time when there are many, many yoga teachers and many coming on line daily. Each comes with their own experience, training, style, age and ability. These teachers need to be able to attract and retain students, offer clear and meaningful instructions, keep the students safe and sometimes try to make a living. Only 20 +/- years ago, many who were teaching had studied directly with the masters in India. They were the first wave of teachers who brought the teachings directly to us in America. Since then you can imagine the dilution, as yoga is re-intepreted over-and-over again, training program after training program, until today, many teachers do not know the basis (lineage) or their teaching. Does anyone care or does it matter? When possible, I study with teachers as high up the ladder as I can and, I can. Fortunately, living in the Bay Area(1) we have many instructors who studied at or very close to the source . They are old(er), yes, and wiser. Most turn their noses up at the yoga-plus offerings, like yoga and wine, suspension yoga(2!), yogalaties, hot yoga, divine yoga flow, etc., etc. Their teachings feel pure and authentic. The classes are not "personality based" and there is no loud music, flipped dogs or dying warriors. And, there will be a generous savasana (final rest) at the end.
But, don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that the dispersion of yoga from the original teachers has been a bad thing. On the contrary, many brilliant teachers have enhanced and expanded on the practice making it practical, safe and accessible to our culture. Yoga brings us improved health and wellness regardless of its source.
How do I answer my friend's original question? I guess I'm a cafeteria-style yogi. You can find me this Friday at 9 a.m. at UrbanFlow in San Francisco in a class with a uber-charismatic teacher. It will be heated and packed with loud music, chanting and lots of sweating. It will be hard and probably unsafe for some of the students. Or, on the flip side this morning I studied pranayama and Iyengar yoga with Tony Briggs, who studied directly with Mr. Iyengar and has been teaching over 35 years. It can be both ways, for me at least. What about you? Tell me.
(1) To name a few, Judith Lasater, Tony Briggs, Ramanand Patel, Richard Rosen, Manouso Manos, John Smith, Mirka Kraftsow.
(2) OMG, check it out: http://www.omgym.com/
Want to read some of my previous articles? You can do it here. Enjoy.
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Yoga on Center Rocks!! Enjoy UNLIMITED classes all summer long with a $300 Summer Pass good for June 1-August 31.
Save $60.
Antonia Kao is bringing Authentic Movement to POST WellnessAuthentic Movement is a simple practice where students move with eyes closed in the presence of a witness, allowing for a deepening of intimacy with Self and other. Find out more here about Authentic Movement and Antonia here.
Be Happy on Fridays! Instead of shots of tequila and fried artichoke hearts, spend your Friday happy hour with ME moving and grooving at an
most-levels vinyasa flow class. in an Introductory session on June 15, 2-4:30. Westside Yoga 4:30 - 6:00
The lovely, Iris Lambert is adding a class at the popular Alive Yoga Studio, Wed, 9:30 -11 am, AND, Tuesdays from 7-8 AM at the Dhyana Center.
Besides our yoga mat, where can we go for help? Now in Petaluma, Renee Masotti, MA, LMFT, is accepting new clients. She offers individual adult psychotherapy, couples counseling and spiritual development. More on Renee right here.
Immerse yourself....50-fabulous hours of yoga with Shy Sayer starts June 28 through July 27. The training is designed to help you deepen your understanding of Yoga, in order to cultivate a solid, safe and effective practice. Info's here.
We've been hearing lots about the health value of spices like cinnamon, tumeric and licorice. But, if you're like me, you're at a loss as to actually how to use them. Ayurveda Health Practitioner, Deacon Carpenter is offering a 4 week series to enlighten us. Wed, 6-7 in Healdsburg. Don't forget to visit Shed, while you're there. Info is here.
Brian Hogencamp comes to Westside Yoga once a month offering a progressive study of asana, yoga sutras, and pranayama. June 7 is the next date. Get it on your calendar. 3:30 - 6:30.
Alese Jones has a new DVD, Gentle Yoga and Chair Yoga. If you are interested in purchasing a DVD ($20 each) contact Alese via email: alesej@aol.com.
At Post Wellness by Design in Petaluma, Susan Topf will offer Goodnight Relaxation Yoga, where gentle, releasing stretches/poses held for longer will allow your body to rest easy. Class will be held one a month, so check the schedule.
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.
Get boatloads of yoga information and lots of free downloads from YogaU Online. Really, tons. It's a great resource for teachers and students.
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 Yoga and Your Heart
This should make the drug companies nervous, but probably won't.
"According to a new review and meta-analysis of 44 randomized studies on the effects of yoga, a regular yoga practice can help to reduce many of the leading risks for heart disease and stroke, such as stress, obesity, depression, and hypertension."
Tell you doctor about it. Here's the info. |
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Lymph: The Elixir of Life
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Our Longevity Juice
Our Lymph system is one of the least understood systems of the body. But according to Ayurveda, the study of lymph is also the study of longevity and rejuvenation. According to Dr. John Doulliard, "It is the lymph that governs the emotional and hunger responses at the first scent of your favorite food." It's the first smell of the warm brownie that gets your lymph going!
Dr. Douillard has a lot to stay about the emotional charge of food the effect of the 6 tastes on our emotions and well-being. Don't let the Ayurveda jargon dissuade you.
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 Flexibility
Yoga's not about what you think. The flexibility that you hear about is not about touching your toes or putting your foot behind your head. It's emotional flexibility-how well you deal with change, your adaptability.
I like HuffPo's article, The No. 1 Myth About Yoga (And How Learning The Truth Can Change Your Life). Here's author's metaphor on flexibility:
"Compared to reeds in the field, trees look strong. But when the storms come, the trees can be uprooted, while the reeds move back and forth with the wind (read: change) and remain grounded. They're still standing when the storm (read: drama) passes."
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Forgiving is Hard
We all know how important it is for our mental health to learn how to forgive others. But, it's hard. This article from Great Good Science Center (GGSC) tells us how to overcome (or deal with) some common barriers, like:
Barrier #1: Unreadiness Barrier #2: Self-Protection Barrier #3: "Face" Concerns |
Stengthen Your Bones
Sorry to break the news, but we are losing strength as we age. According to Yoga Therapist, Baxter Bell:
". . . as muscles age, especially after about the age of 50, we start to lose muscle mass in a process called sarcopenia . . .it is considered a normal part of the aging process, one that can lead to visibly smaller skeletal muscles-the ones that move our body and limbs around-which are then also going to be weaker." You guessed it, yoga is the antidote. Dr. Bell offers a short strengthening series, right here. |
Daily Dharma - Tricycle Magazine
January 7, 2014
Dualistic Divisions
We divide our world into me/you, friend/enemy, desirable/ undesirable, fulfilling/frustrating, and so on. It's a natural process, but a very arbitrary, utterly subjective one. Somehow we're able to ignore this last fact. We're in dualistic division mode, and we act on that; all sorts of emotions come into play, and we act on them. We reinforce the tendencies-Buddhists might say, we create or compound karma-that make the illusion thicker, stickier, more solid. And the further we are from truth, the more elusive happiness becomes.
-- Pamela Gayle White, "The Pursuit of Happiness"
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Be Happy 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!
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Schedule of Upcoming Classes
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Week of June 1, 2014
Monday
8:30 - 9:45
Sebastopol
Private
Tuesday
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Healdsburg
Private
Wednesday
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Windsor
Private
Thursday
8:45 - 9:45
Graton Community Club, Graton
Gentle Flow - All Levels
4:00 -5:00 p.m. Healdsburg Private Friday 4:30 - 6:00 Westside Yoga Studio Happy Hour Vinyasa
Saturday
9:00 - 10:30
YogaOne, Petaluma
All Levels Flow
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Week of June 8, 2014
Monday
8:30 - 9:45
Sebastopol
Private
Tuesday
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Healdsburg
Private
Wednesday
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Windsor
Private
Thursday
8:45 - 9:45
Graton Community Club, Graton
Gentle Flow - All Levels
4:00 -5:00 p.m. Healdsburg Private Friday 4:30 - 6:00 Westside Yoga Studio Happy Hour Vinyasa
Saturday
9:00 - 10:30
YogaOne, Petaluma
All Levels Flow
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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
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