Theresa Franklin, NCTMB, LMT, RYT, CMT

Olivia Kelly, NCTMB, LMT

 

Feature Article

It's a rare - and lucky - person who knows what he wants to do at a young age.

 

Dr. Jaime Sanchez knew when he was 10 that he wanted to study and teach yoga. He was introduced to the ancient practice when he was 8, after his mother attended a yoga lecture. She told her children about it when she returned home, "and that's how we fell in love with it," he says.

 

Jaime started teaching in 1967 and hasn't stopped since. A naturopath since 1995, Jaime established the East-West Natural Healing, Inc. in St. Louis. He brings decades of experience, knowledge and expertise to Be Well Now in February for a 10-month Yoga Teacher Training program.

 

"I teach a very traditional method of yoga in my yoga teacher training class. It involves a lot of practice."

 

The training is divided between guided practice of asanas and lectures. Students practice poses in Sivananda, Iyengar and Hatha yoga styles and sit in on lectures in yoga philosophy and theory, meditation, chanting, mantras and other traditional yoga techniques.

 

But you don't have to be interested in teaching to take the YTT course.

 

"Forty percent of the people who take the workshop do it because they want to deepen their own practice," Jaime says. "They might want to help others but they don't need the extra income. They just want to do it for themselves."

 

"Practicing one hour of yoga a day is equal to one more quality day in our lives," Jaime says. "That's because it affects the lymphatic system. By doing postures, we massage so many parts of our body and minds - we keep our emotions balanced and stimulate areas of the brain."

 

Jaime says a yoga class shouldn't pigeonhole a person as beginner, intermediate or advanced because "that classifies people. I could have someone from the circus who is in my class and you'd think they would be flexible. The focus is not on flexibility but your mental attitude to yoga and life. Are you open to new experiences? I had a woman in her 70s who wasn't the most flexible but she was relaxed, focused, centered. That's the yoga attitude."

 

Jaime says we need to have more balance in our lives. It isn't good if we're always in motion. Nor do we benefit from today's sedentary lifestyle.

 

"We lie around, sit in the car, at work, when we eat. We don't walk enough anymore and that affects our balance, coordination and concentration, all the things that yoga helps."

 

"We need to stay mentally open. (B.K.S.) Iyengar said 'the mind is the key of the senses.' What we decide to see is what we do see. We need to educate the mind and discipline the body."

 

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With the holiday and New Year celebrations taking a toll on our skin, here's some tips to a New Year's resolution for the healthiest of skin!

 

1.  Is your skin shouting "I'm tired!"? Give it a great pick-me-up by using Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant, a gentle skin brightening exfoliant containing Rice Bran Powder, which will create a fantastic luminosity to the skin.

 

2. Since alcohol is so dehydrating to the body and makes the skin more sensitized, use Dermalogica's Ultra Calming Mist. This will not only add much needed hydration to the skin's surface but it will also calm and reduce the redness. It can be easily spritzed over make-up.

 

3. When nights out become mornings after and skin looks dry and dull, treat it with Dermalogica's Overnight Repair Serum, to replenish lost lipids and moisture and rebuild collagen!

 

4. How to handle the tell-tale dark circles around the eyes? You can't instantly get rid of dark circles, but helping the body detox, rest and revitalize through good nutrition and exercise will all help. Try Dermlogica's Total Eye Care, it contains anti-inflammatories and optical light diffusers, which are combined in a light concealer make-up base that deflect light and decrease shadow lines.

 

To get your healthiest skin yet, contact Kristi Watson at 462-3900.  

 

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Asana Zone

 

 

Join us for this yoga and weight loss workshop on Saturday January 19, 9-11 a.m.  Cost is $20.

 

Call today to register!