First Class Free

Namaste Yogis!

JANUARY 25TH, 2010:  I was out at Target this morning and overheard two ladies one saying to the other: "I'm so over Winter. Yeah I've been over it since it started." Ok. I get that.  I'm one of those folks for whom staying well in Winter is hard.  My balance is constantly disturbed in the Winter (I’m more sensitive to sound & emotions, more easily agitated, more difficulty concentrating, relationship to food is vastly different – my digestion is more sluggish, I want to eat more but don’t get full, can’t warm up, harder to relax, hold my breath more, tired but not sleepy). Does any of that sound familiar?

For most of my life I thought I was alone. Thank goodness I found Yoga and eventually my studies expanded to include the sister science to Yoga called Ayurveda.  According to Ayurveda, we are all made up of the 5 elements; ether, air, fire, water and earth.  The 5 elements combine to create the three doshas; Vata (air and ether), Pitta (water and fire) and Kapha (water and earth.)  We are each born with varying quantities and qualities of the doshas, denoting our unique psychobiological make-up or constitution.  One of the three doshas is usually primary, one secondary, and the third least prominent.  Health depends on maintaining this proportion in balance.

Here’s the thing.  STAYING WELL IN WINTER IS HARDER FOR US IN COLDER CLIMATES.

It is much easier to maintain balance (mentally, emotionally, physically) let’s say in Spring and Fall. So what do we do? Give up? NOPE. That’s not it. If we don’t get off the couch the downward energy and sluggishness INCREASE and we feel worse. Bummer. The answer to maintaining balance (or at least have a shot at it) is to address the high degree of Kapha in all of us this time of year and keep moving.  YOGA ENERGIZES:  it helps restore energy to a tired body allowing cells, senses and nerves to quiet down.  It increases circulation to the adrenals, thyroid and kidneys which are the storehouse of energy.  YOGA REDUCES STRESS: it reduces cortisol and other stress hormones which drain the body of energy from being in fight or flight response.

However, the Yoga we should do is a steady slow-flow with some holding of poses and more inversions.  So that’s what we’ll offer you.  All you have to do to feel your best this Winter is show up for class.  You guys we have to keep the momentum going, it’s only January 25^th….we have a ways to go until Spring my friends. Just don’t give up! Stay the course. 

My themes for evening classes this week:

Jan 25^th Level 1 at 6:15pm-7:15pm and Basics 7:30pm-8:30pm:  Lazy People’s Yoga

Jan 26^th Basics 6:15pm-7:15pm Yoga and Weight Loss and 7:30pm-9pm Level 2 Yogapalooza (linking a gazillion poses gently, sweetly to one another)

Jan 27^th 6:15pm Level 1 Slow Flow for Home Practice

Jan 28^th 7:30pm Level 1 Using Inversions Safely for Healthy Metabolism

Jan 29^th 6pm Level 1 Avoiding Stuckness

Jan 31^st 4:30pm Level 1-2 followed by 6pm Wine and Cheese Party (Why Do A Yoga Retreat – Benefits of Spiritual Adventure)

So let’s plan a date. Make and keep this appointment with your LIFE, don’t skip Winter, get out there, stay involved and active in your life! Love the day, Silvia (Bonus article below)

”Staying Well in Winter Conditions

Winter brings in a handful of elements that may disturb the healthy balance we maintain during more moderate seasons. Cold weather disturbs, and increases vata. Add the dryness in the air, caused by indoor heat and it increases doubly. Kapha is affected in damp, cold conditions and can also be also exacerbated from not getting much fresh air and natural light.

When the air outside remains cold, it provokes the Vata quality in us all; inside the constant blowing of dry heat can also disturb vata through the quality of dryness; remember that balancing Vata is key to all individuals since when Vata moves, it directly affects the complementary elements, or doshas, for better or worse. Cold, windy and dry conditions can be hard to avoid altogether, and the following actions can counteract disturbed Vata:

* Staying well covered in cold climates - hats, scarves, and gloves 

* Nourishing the insides with warming foods, drinks and spices to promote internal fire

*Do more Yoga. Slowly flowing and interspersed with longer holdings an inversions to keep energy moving upward. Make sure to stay warm during the whole practice and cover up during savasana at the end of the practice

* Special attention to skin care in cold/dry conditions - keeping the skin, hair and nails hydrated and lubricated 

* Establish and keep to a daily routine - balancing vata in this way will help to keep all the doshas in balance”

Did you know that the single most common symptom amongst all disease is fatigue? This class tonight will demonstrate how the multiple causes of fatigue are interrelated and how you can experience more energy through yoga.

STATISTICS

·         One in four Americans complains of enduring fatigue, and blames everything from a lack of sleep to that general bugaboo: stress.

·         Approximately 20% of Americans claim to have fatigue intense enough to interfere with their having a normal life.

·         80% of American women & men suffer from Adrenal Fatigue at some point in their lives.

·         Approximately 20% of fatal road accidents involve driver fatigue

·         The average working mother spends 44 hours/week at work and 31 hours on family responsibilities per week in effect holding almost two full time jobs. 

·         The average working father spends 47 hours/week at work and 15 hours on family responsibilities