Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com yoga@cherylthomas.com 415-308-3377 |
 Yogis are Nesters?
Algorithm this. Everything's being analyzed. You can't get by without some company (profit?) collecting, massaging and mixing data just like the new fusion food from Taco Bell--Breakfast Waffle Tacos. . If you didn't hear about it, Target's statistical model correctly inferred based on purchasing data that one of its customers was pregnant--a teenage girl in Minnesota. How? They minted data that showed "elevated rates of buying unscented lotion, mineral supplements, and cotton balls". (More here and here.)
Catch this. It turns out I spend less a month on fitness as compared to my CrossFit friends (not true). This is according to Cardlytics, a company that processes data by analyzing transactions. They studied millions of consumer in 2015 and here's their analysis of 4 fitness groups: Boutique Cyclists (Cyclists), Yoga/Pilates/Barre (Yoga), traditional Health Clubs (Health Clubs) and CrossFit. Let the fun begin!
When it comes to spending, which includes membership or classes, juice and t-shirts, CrossFitters spent an average of $120 per month; Cyclists, $99; Yoga, $75; and Health Clubs, $46. CrossFit devotees spend more on home improvement and splurge on clothes.They spend 7.4% of their retail budget on athletic apparel, which is more than cyclists and yogis. I'd swear the CrossFit fanatics only wore sweats and t-shirts to jump rope and throw around kettlebells. How could that compare to the price of Lululemon ($98 - $118) and Alo ($98 - $110) pants, That's how little I know about CrossFit.
What's up with Boutique Cyclists? They're the upper crust according to Cardlytics analytics. They spend larger portions of their retail budgets on gifts, jewelry and shoes than the others. On the flip side, they spend the least on discount apparel and wholesale or discount clubs. Their food budget is the largest--49% on full service restaurants. Cyclists spend the most on travel. No comment.
We, the users of Yoga/Pilates/Barre, got yoked together as nesters. Supposedly we spend more than the other groups on groceries, pet supplies and antiques. Antiques? According to the data, newcomers to yoga don't stick around long--7% retention rate--as compared to health clubs (17.5%) and CrossFit (13%).
What does this mean? Nuthin' and everything. We are getting statistically lumped into groups, subgroups and microgroups according to our purchases. It's easy pickings for a marketing company to know how much and where you buy gas which is then extrapolated into how much you drive, and then how far away you live from work, etc., etc.. It gets much creepier, I'm sure. I don't think they can track cash purchases, at least not yet.
** This was all reported in the Wall Street Journal's Personal Journal section on February 24. The online version is restricted unless you're a member. I was happy that a fellow student gave me the printed version. Note: Interestingly, the article mentioned the "lunk alarm" used at Planet Fitness gyms to discourage grunting while lifting weights. I guess it can be intimidating to the members. (Emoji smile.) I had to google lunk alarm and here's what I got.
Want to read some of my past articles?. They're archived right here. Enjoy.
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 Hump Day Hour Yoga: Starting next Wednesday I'm offering a one hour class on Wednesdays at Yoga Studio Ganesha from 5:30 - 6:30. Hooray for those of you who work and need to get your yoga on then head home for dinner. Qs? cheryl@cherylthomas.com.
I'll be teaching Ann Austin's Monday class on 3/7. It's just as fun as Fun Friday, just on Monday! Join us.
YogaOne Petaluma Open House with Yoga with Simone Simon and Music by David Sloves. Get on board now as this will sell out! 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Join Anne O'Brien at Post Wellness in Petaluma on March 12 from 12:30 - 3:30 for Th e Breadth of Seated Sitting Poses. Explore a variety of seated poses from vigorous & bendy to easeful & relaxing.
Tony Briggs and Liz Levy will pair up and offer Anatomy & Yoga Therapeutics starting in February. These two topics from these seasoned and brilliant teachers are a must for not just teachers, but students alike. Go to Westside's site for info.
We're lucky to have Judith Lasater in Northern California. She's offering a small group, Advanced Restorative Yoga series on 4 Wednesdays in March in Marin. I'm signed up!! Go here for more info.
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.
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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Is Gentle the New Advanced Yoga?
Very interesting....... Thought you'd enjoy this article from YogaUonline.com. From the article:
"Now that yoga class attendees who were never really into the yoga have largely migrated to Crossfit, and the once freely-given pass on safety has expired, grassroots practitioners are reclaiming the terms of their trade. The old school of yoga is resurgent, offering an antidote to a cultural infatuation with youth and body image."
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 Yoga for Depression and Anxiety
"Now that yoga is an established part of mainstream culture, there is an increased interest in using yoga as therapy for psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. A new meta-review of all published studies on yoga for trauma, anxiety and depression in the journal, Trauma, Violence and Abuse, suggests that yoga can be beneficial as an adjunct therapy, but those delivering services need sufficient training and expertise to be effective."
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Control on Screen Time 
Heh, Parents, check this out. The author, Rick Klau, was frustrated that his kids could easily hack into the "parental controls" which were in place to limit time on the computer or "devices". He's excited and wants to share that he found a reasonable solution. This software, called Circle, allows the child to choose their time on the computer and took the "cop" role from the parents. He says:
"Grades suffered as one kid would sneak a YouTube video (and another, and another) instead of finishing homework. Another child, given the choice between spending more time studying for an upcoming test and getting in just one more game of League of Legends or more time hacking around in Minecraft, would skip studying in favor of fun."
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 Chair Pose Challenges
The Sanskrit name of this pose is Utkatasana. Utkata means fierce, proud, high, haughty, superior, immense, large, difficult. Yes, it can be difficult as it uses some of the bodies largest, energy sucking, heat producing muscles. Here is Leslie's Kaminoff's comments and a more from Yoga International.
From Mr. Kaminoff:
"The knees are very mobile in this position because they are partly flexed. Gravity, rather than muscles working against each other, should be the main source of resistance in the pose. This is an interesting pose to explore a balance between effort and release."
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Schedule of Upcoming Classes
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Class Schedule - Week of February 28, 2016
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Tuesday
5:00 - 6:00
Private, Healdsburg
Wednesday
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
7:00 - 8:30
Private, Sebastopol
Thursday
8:45 - 9:45
Graton Community Club
All Levels
5:00 - 6:00
Private, Healdsburg
Saturday
All Levels Flow
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Wednesday
5:30 - 6:30
Ganesha, Sebastopol
Hump Day Yoga
7:00 - 8:30
Private, Sebastopol
Thursday 8:45 - 9:45
All Levels, Graton
5:00 - 6:00
Healdsburg, Private
Saturday 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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