Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
Our Microbial Cloud
Here's a trigger warning: This article will be tough for germophobes. They will want to permanently lock themselves in an hermetically sealed space suit like Matt Damon in Martian. Trigger warning? What's a trigger warning? Used on college campuses, professors give warning to students on issues that might be considered difficult for some, like PTSD sufferers, rape victims or other sensitive subjects. Seen as helpful, it has also been considered(1) to be "undirected and driven largely by students, to scrub campuses clean of words, ideas, and subjects that might cause discomfort or give offense." You germophobes have been warned.
Besides Scientific American, discussion of our microbiome is everywhere like in mainstream media like The Atlantic, Economist and New York Times
. Our microbiota is an ecosystem made up of bacteria, viruses and fungi that we carry with us. We have more microbacterial cells than our own human cells (10 - 1), begging the question of just how human we are. Most of the discussion has been about the gut and the interaction of our microbiome on our digestive track, emotions, hormones, etc. However, our microbiome is not just in us but outside us as well. Like the Peanuts character, PigPen, we are carry around our "essence" in one big cloud around us.
According to a recent NPR reporting by microbial ecologist, James Meadows, "we're kind of spilling our microbial companions all over our houses and our offices and the people around us". Conversely, other are "spilling" their stuff all over us. Our personal microbiome is specific to ourselves and like our DNA, can be identified. Research shows that over time, our microbiome begins to resemble those of people we live or work with. Microbiome researcher Rob Knight, says. ". . . you're releasing microbes into the air and some of those microbes are colonizing the people you're with."
Meadows says that each of us give off a different amount to the air around us depending on how much we scratch and fidget. He adds that "we each give off a slightly different cocktail of those bacteria. There are just really subtle differences".
Patrick and I made a brief visit to his brother's house last weekend. We brought home microbes from his brother, sister-in-law and 2 barky dogs. Like a hostess gift, we left our stuff there also. When we picked up our dog, Rosie, from the sitter, she brought with her bacteria, viruses and fungi from 2 other dogs, 2 adults, and a child, plus the microbiome from any other places they went during those 4 days. Every time you're in contact with anything, from people to animals to dirt, there's an exchange. Deal with that, Purell!
This can get very creepy if you think about it too much. Planes, movie theaters, crowded bars, raves and churches become vehicles for mass swapping of microbes. There are a few things you can do. We can help our microbiome stay healthy and happy. You know all that stinky food, like kimchee, kombucha and sauerkraut? Our microbes love them like I love Cheetos on a roadtrip. Eat well and avoid antibiotics. Everyone thanks you.
(1) http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/
Want to read some of my past articles?. They're archived right here. Enjoy.
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Hey, Graton Yogis! There's news. See below or click here.
Find some quiet on Columbus Day. Silent Retreat with meditation, medical qigong, restorative yoga and yoga nidra all in one glorious day with Shirley Gilloti and her daughter, Camina. 10/12 from 10-5. Angela Center, Santa Rosa. Info here. Flyer is here. The Ceres Project has a super fun fundraiser on October 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Lagunitas Brewery. Fun folks, delicious food made with love and world class beer. Make sure you get in on the auction. Patrick and I won a trip to Hawaii last year!! New Owner Special at YogaOne--Get 10 classes for $100!! Crazy good deal for over 60 classes and 2 locations: Petaluma and Santa Rosa. Thanks, Deacon! Hediyeh lovers....Her Saturdyas at Anjenaya in Occidental are coming to an end. with the last class Oct 17. Beginning October 31, she'll be at Thrive Yoga Every Saturday 9-10:30am! The fabulous Liz Levy will be offering a special focus class on Cultivating Gratitude on Saturday 11/21 from 3-5. Find gratitude and intention through your practice and stay grounded during the holidays. Space is limited so get in now. RSVP here. Anne O'Brien will be offering a workshop on Workshop entitled Power and Poise and will include asana, pranayama, and a guided meditation. We've missed Anne, and here's an opportunity to her masterful teaching. All at POST Wellness on 10/18.
FUN Fridays.....at Ann Austin's Friday 9:15 class at Yoga Studio Ganesha. Truly, it's Cirque de Soliel meets Olga Korbut meets Patthabi Jois. There's no better way to learn the FUN poses than from Ann! Hot off the Press - Tony Briggs will be heading up a yoga teacher training at Westside Yoga Studio in Sebastopol starting in January. Also pranayama workshops at Westside. Lots more Tony offerings at www.tonybriggsyoga.com.
Another important opportunity to teachers and serious students. Study anatomy with Judith Lasater at Mt. Madonna. Not just any anatomy, but Experiential Anatomy, billed as the The Most Fun Anatomy Course Ever. I'll be there. More info here.
Know about Yoga in Graton? It's hopping! Find 5 classes a week ranging from Gentle to Slow Flow to All Levels, featuring me, Corina Stoicescu and Denise Hammond. Time and places at YogaInGraton.com. Restorative Yoga..........Thanks to your interest in this important practice, I'm adding a permanent Wednesday class. See below for details!!! 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.
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 The Adult Nap
Thanks to your interest in this important practice, I'm offering a a Restorative Yoga class on Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:45. The location will be at Yoga Studio Ganesha on the Square in Sebastopol. Pricing - Buy a 4 class pass for $54 ($13.50/class) or 8 classes for $100 or Drop-In of $16. Yoga in Graton students can use your punch card ($10 per class)!!!
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  Graton Yoga Change this Week
There are no better students than the Yoga in Graton crowd. This week is the Graton Community Garden Show so there will be no classes at the Club. However, gracious student, Sam Werback, has offered her home for us to hold class.
Because of the limited space, I'm taking sign-ups for the Monday and Thursday 8:45 classes. The Monday class has 5 spaces available and the Thursday class only 2. If you're interested in either or both classes, email me here and I'll send you details. Thanks, Sam!!
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Spiritual Bypass, Emotional Immaturity
Jack Kornfield is one of the leading Buddhist teachers in America and co-founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Here's a bit from an article entitled "How Can People Be Deeply Spiritual and Emotionally Immature?" from Spirituality and Health Magazine.
"No amount of computers and worldwide Internet and nanotechnology and biotechnology, and all these amazingly great, new capacities is going to stop continuing warfare, racism, tribalism, environmental destruction. Those spring from the human heart."
Mr. Kornfield is always worth your time. |
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Importance of Savasana
Judith Lasater is one of the most respective yoga teachers in the US and Internationally. I'm grateful to have been informed and inspired by her teachings. Here's a video of Judith Lasater being interviewed by her daughter, Lizzie Lasater in their audio series, Living Your Yoga. Now, there's no need to wait and travel to Judith Lasater. You can have her right in comfort of your easy chair. Her audio course is here.
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Schedule of Upcoming Classes
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Class Schedule - Week of October 4, 2015
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Monday
8:45 - 9:45
All Levels Yoga
Tuesday
5:00 - 6:00
Private, Healdsburg
Wednesday
5:15 - 6:45
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Restorative Yoga
Thursday
8:45 - 9:45
5:00 - 6:00
Private, Healdsburg
All Levels Flow
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Wednesday
5:15 - 6:45
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Restorative Yoga
Thursday 8:45 - 9:45
All Levels
5:00 - 6:00 Private, Healdsburg
Saturday
9:00 - 10:30
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.
Quotes I Like
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
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
Dalai Lama
"Everything will be alright in the end. And if it is not alright, it's not yet the end!" The Magnolia Hotel movie
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