Bodies Revealed

I understand the controvery surrounding the current exhibit at Union Station, "Bodies Revealed," but I went this past weekend and I am so grateful for my experience. I took 2 hours to absorb everything and the next day taught 2 yoga classes, with a completely different/new outlook. If you are at all interested in what is going on inside your body and how it works, consider this exhibit. I am fascinated with the muscles and bones, as it's just the nature of my profession, but all of it was very cool, from getting a closer look at the digestive system, circulatory system, and all of our senses, to just being able to completely "get" the whole picture. I feel I have changed for the better. I have taught 6 classes and trained a few clients since attending this exhibit and each class I was better at understanding exactly what was going on with each of my participants. And for that, I am grateful. I am glad this exhibit exists and hope you'll take the time to learn a little more, as we all live within our body; a body which is a gift we are blessed to have received and strive to take care of everyday. namaste! -em

Pranayama (BREATHING)

Pranayama Tips: Position, props, and partners can all assist you in breathwork.

By Tony Briggs (www.yogajournal.com)

1.Supine Position. The basic techniques of pranayama are best learned lying down; you won't be distracted by the challenge of maintaining a stable, upright, seated posture, and you can use a bolster to help expand your chest. Fold a blanket into a bolster—about 3 inches thick, 5 inches wide, and 30 inches long. Use a second blanket to form a thin pillow and lie back so the thin bolster supports your spine from just above your sacrum to the top of your head.

2. Seated Position. The optimal position for pranayama is a simple seated meditative pose—Sukhasana, Siddhasana, or Half or Full Lotus Pose—with the addition of jalandhara bandha, the chin or throat lock. To perform jalandhara bandha, raise the top of your sternum toward your chin, tuck the hinge of your jaw toward your inner ear, and softly lower your chin toward your sternum.

3. Feedback. In pranayama you strive to distribute your breath evenly throughout your entire lungs—top and bottom, left and right, front and back. At first, you may have a hard time sensing the parts of your lungs that aren't opening; a gentle, steady touch (and verbal feedback) from a yoga buddy can increase your awareness and help you learn to breathe fully and evenly.

4. Props.You can use props to help you sense where your lungs may not be expanding fully. Belts cinched snugly around your rib cage—one up near the collarbones and one around your floating ribs—will quickly show you which parts of your lungs you tend to neglect. You can also bring awareness to the contact between your back and your bolster to see whether you tend to breathe more with the upper or lower portions of your back lungs.

Addicted!

Okay, so I know as part yoga you are supposed to let go of many things: competition, expectations, judgement, and so forth. So, I am sure proclaiming my addiction is not very "yoga" of me. However, I just have to share. I am completely addicted to peppermint essential oil. I swear by this stuff. It is totally invigorating and uplifting. I try to put some on before I teach any class (anybody notice lately how fresh I smell?!). I have some on right now! I was no stranger to peppermint and many other essential oils, but I wasn't really into it. Then about 5 weeks ago I was at my hair stylist's and she put some on me and I was a changed woman! Let me tell you, at only about $6/bottle at Whole Foods, there is no reason any of us should be without. Benefits of peppermint include soothing digestion, improving concentration, heartburn, headaches, depression, and more (check out the website of Young Living- my favorite independent distributor of essential oils). -em

Yo-ga! Yo-ga! Yo-ga!

(courtesy of realage.com- I love those guys!!)
These days, yoga gets more love than whoever’s starring in The Bachelor. And for good reason.

Yoga reduces blood pressure, lowers heart rate, decreases stress hormones, and increases three relax-it’s-okay compounds.

The Feel-Good Three
Talk about a natural high. Yoga has been shown to boost blood levels of serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins -- three natural feel-good substances. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel cheerful and content. Dopamine is a brain chemical closely tied to the pleasure centers of the brain. And endorphins? Those are the opiate-like compounds that produce a sense of well-being. Go big three!

Quick Start
And the best news: You can get the benefits of yoga from a single exercise or a full-fledged class.

Nifty

Hey everyone! If you're crazed like me by trying NOT to use plastic bags at the stores, I want to let you know about a nifty, little gadget bag my mom and I found at Target (go figure- they've got it all!). They are selling cool, little red bags for $.99 that zip up into themselves to form what looks almost like a wallet. So... they fit perfectly into a purse or pocket... making it MUCH easier to remember your bag at the store. If you're still fine with using plastic bags every time you make a purchase, please realize they estimate, world-wide, each person uses 1,000 bags a year. Bags that don't go anywhere. That will be here forever. -em
(to view these bags, visit www.greenbag.info)

A closer look at Downward Facing Dog

According to Yoga Journal, Downward Facing Dog, in Sanskrit, Adho Mukha Svanasana (AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAHS-anna)adho = downward, mukha = face, svana = dog,
Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
Energizes the body
Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
Strengthens the arms and legs
Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
Relieves menstrual discomfort when done with head supported
Helps prevent osteoporosis
Improves digestion
Relieves headache, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue
Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma, flat feet, sciatica, sinusitis.
So, what are you waiting for?! Let's "DOWN DOG!!" -em

EarthWalk 2008: Our Karma Yoga

Join my team!!! The 2008 Kansas City EarthWalk is April 19th and I have formed a team, "Our Karma Yoga." EarthWalk and EarthFest are hosted by a local organization called Bridging The Gap. "Bridging The Gap works to make the Kansas City region sustainable by connecting environment, economy, and community. Bridging The Gap is all about interconnectedness and helping citizens, businesses and government understand the impact of our decisions and behavior on our present and future community and world," (www.bridgingthegap.org). This year's EarthWalk is scheduled for April 19th. The walk begins at 9:00 at Theatre In The Park, which is located at Shawnee Mission Park (a beautiful part of our KC Metro). Our team, "Our Karma Yoga", will be participating in the long route, which is 2.7 miles, non-competitive. It is handicap accessible and strollers, wagons, and leashed dogs are permitted on the walk route. As fellow yoga enthusiasts, it would mean so much to me to have you join our team and be a part of this amazing event. Why did I name our team, "Our Karma Yoga?" According to Wikipedia, "Karma yoga (Sanskrit: कर्म योग), or the "discipline of action," is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward." During our yoga classes, we are participating in hatha yoga. Again, from Wikipedia, "Hatha Yoga is what most people in the West associate with the word 'Yoga' and is practiced for mental and physical health throughout the West." In other words, hatha yoga is the physical poses/postures, as well as the breathing and meditation/relaxation will do in our classes. Yet, we all know, yoga continues off of our mats. I feel it is extremely important that we find something in our lives that is important to us, that we do to make a difference in our world. Some help rescue animal shelters, others foster children. For me, it's stepping in and continuing to learn how I can help my environment. While I am pale in comparison to others that do so much more than me, I am actively learning more about how I can help our community. One way is by participating in EarthWalk and EarthFest, and inviting you to join us. To join "Our Karma Yoga," simply log on to and click on "EarthWalk and EarthFest" in the left side column. Then click on "Join a Team" on the right side. You can join as an individual or family. Invite your friends! Everyone is welcome to join our team. Immediately after our walk is EarthFest. Please feel free to stick around and visit the many vendors that will be sharing ways we can continue to live greener. I look forward to seeing you on Earth Day, April 19th! -em