Saturday, October 29, 2011

pose of the week: head-to-knee pose

Janu Sirsasana

How to do it:

1. Start sitting with your legs straight out in front of you.
2. Bend your right knee, and place the sole of your foot to your inner left thigh.
3. Begin to fold over your left leg, adjusting your torso slightly to the left and drawing your left side ribs in.
4. Inhale, lengthen the spine, then exhale, draw your navel in and up to fold deeper over the leg (you may place your hands on either side of your leg, on your shin or grabbing the outside of the foot).
5. Avoid rounding in the back and keep your hips leveled.

Hold for 5-10 breaths then repeat on the other side

Benefits:
  • Stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings, and groins
  • Stimulates the liver and kidneys
  • Relieves anxiety, fatigue, headache, menstrual discomfort

Friday, October 28, 2011

YOGA for YOUTH!


So I’ve been MIA again from this blog, and been hard on myself because of it. Do I really not have time in my schedule to write? This has long been my outlet for expression, but life as it seems gets in the way.
 
I just completed another teacher training certificate to add to my repertoire. This time, it was with Yoga for Youth led by the great Krishna Kaur.  This training was like no other, and it was truly transformational.  My original understanding was that I would be learning about teaching yoga to at-risk youth, and to get the necessary tools on how to teach these types of kids with issues (poverty, substance abuse, violence, crime, family, education, minority issues). I thought to myself “how rewarding it would be to get out and give the gift of yoga to these underprivileged youth”.

On my first day, I was excited to get back into training mode. I’m not a downtown driver, and during the workweek, the streets of TO are chaotic. I left super early, but still arrived 15mins late….not a great start. From the moment I walked into the room, around 70% of the class were wearing all white and turbans. Ummm, did I not get the memo! The training was taught Kundalini style!!  What did I get myself into?!

The chants, mantras, mudras, and poses were so foreign to me, it freaked me out! It actually terrified me.  I wanted to leave, but how would that make me look? I’m not a quitter and decided to suck it up and go with an open mind. I’m so glad I did! Everyone was so welcoming, and we became one big loving family. Through heartache, trauma and sorrow, we discovered happiness, hope and determination. I was an emotional wreck, mentally and physically exhausted from all the stories I heard of young people and those that experience first hand at abuse. I had chest pains and to top it off, nightmares, which my mom had to come rushing into my room to calm me down.  We meditated A LOT, which was a great release for me emotionally and opened my mind in full force.

At the end of the training, I realized that we all have a lot in common even though we may not know each other; we are not alone. I found a new appreciation for kundalini yoga and that I really want to start teaching with a purpose…with more light, more heart and more meaning.  We really don’t know what goes on in people’s lives and where they come from. If I can make someone smile and change a person’s life for one day, then I have done my part.

Thank you to all the wonderful people I’ve met. I will cherish each and every one of you. Sat Nam xo

Monday, October 3, 2011

pose of the week: chair

Utkatasana 

How to do it:

1. Start standing with your feet together.
2. Begin to shift your weight into your heels then inhale the arms up along side your ears, as you bend your knees imagining you are sitting in a chair.
3. Tuck your tailbone under, lengthen the spine and gaze up towards your hands.
4. Roll your shoulder blades down and back and keep your feet and knees parallel.

Stay for 5-10 breaths then slowly come up to standing and release the arms by your side.

Benefits:
  • Strengthens the ankles, thighs, calves and spine
  • Stimulates the abdominal organs, diaphragm and heart
  • Increases overall strength and endurance