Hooray! New Yoga for 2009!

Classes to resume at Tellcio Harbour Clubhouse!

Thanks to all my wonderful yogis down south 411,
class will begin again on Monday Jan. 12th ,9:00am.
This gentle class will continue on the path of reviewing standing poses
(asana), increasing flexibility, feeling our strength ( inner and outer)
as well as always working with kindness, awareness, breath and
plenty of smiling, I hope!

Thursdays at Greenback Cancelled

Just a sad reminder, that for now the Thursday night class in Greenback is no longer.
Still holding the Monday night, as well as classes at Honey Rock.
Hopefully, will start back up in the new year, will be here before we know it.
Thanks to all.

?

This is what I need plastered, or should I say, lightly tattooed (theoretically) to my being at all times. I take teaching Yoga with such a huge weight and responsibility I often feel I take on the stress I try to teach students to rid themselves of!
Aren't Yoga teachers supposed to be upheld in the most high light? Calm in all situations, able to cure themselves of all physical and emotional ailments with pranayama ( breath) asana (posture), quiet turbulent minds sitting in meditation with absence of thought?
I only know that I am so very human, and in that, capable of experiencing all things that cloud my path to joy and happiness that I strife to live and experience EVERYDAY. So, even in my ego holding at times self, I do turn to yoga. I will sit in my comfy chair to quiet the mind a bit, I will go to the mat and spend even 10 minutes there to release my self doubt and judgements. Yoga does help me keep calm and carry on. Being gentle on myself and sensing what by body needs to free up my mind from the negative chatter we all let in way too much. If you continue with your yoga practice, I KNOW you will begin to feel yoga healing in your own body/mind as well.
And as I continue to teach I can only deeply pray that you, whomever reads this, whether you are a student of mine , or a practitioner of yoga in any of its many enlightening forms-can begin to KNOW and FEEL that you can keep calm and carry on too. Thanks to all that come to my classes, I learn most from you. Peace, Diane

What is GABA? And What Does Yoga Have To Do With It?

While many studies are taking place using Yoga practice as a healing agent and an expressway to pain relief, one recent study I've read deals with depression. Dr. Chris Streeter in Seattle Washington found that the levels of GABA ( okay, that is code for the brain neurotransmitter GAMMA -AMINOBUTYRIC ) were signifignatly higher after a Yoga session, whereas the control group showed no increased level.

So, that does GABA have to do with anything? Low levels of GABA are linked to mild depression and anxiety, as well as PMS symptoms. Dr. Streeter also noting that epilepsy patients are given drugs to boost GABA to calm anxiety attacks which often bring on seizures.

Can practicing Yoga twice a week calm us, make us happier, help us to deal with stress with a peaceful heart, keep our GABA levels high ( those of us/you that want scientific purpose to your yogic health benefits) to continually lift our spirits?
YES! All of this leading to a deep wellness within, always there and constant. Yogis have known this for ages, but most western minds want proof. Can we not have faith in these benefits? Just keep doing your yoga, and you will notice the difference.
Here's to high GABA GABA GABA levels and may we all be smiling more often.!!
Namaste' Diane

Funny Funny and Funny Some more!!

Allrighty then, Let us practitioners of Yoga not take ourselves to serious. Check out this site www.yogadawg.com I still need to spend more time there...Laugh, have fun, see yourself and me too and keep in truckin', somehow slightly askew with your yoga, and I in my teaching.HHHAAAAUUUUUHHHMMMMMMMMM.

" All Is Not What It Seems"

So,
I was watching The Karate Kid the other day, and the young charge gets angry and frustrated after having to paint a huge wooden fence with certain arm stokes as directed by his teacher. He finally walks away in disgust thinking he is just being used as a maintenance man. Then the teacher leads him in a mock karate dance and the charge uses all these movements he unknowingly soaked up in his waxing on and off, painting up and down& side to side ect... " All is not what it seems." the teacher says.
I thought that Yoga can be similar. That so many of the small and foundational movements that we practice over and over have a huge long term benefit that we don't even notice right away. But, deep within changes are taking place. Immunity is strengthened, the heart is nurtured, flexibility is returning, stress that is seated deep in our cells is being squeezed out and replaced with fresh oxygen and blood flow. These are just a few Yogic benefits that are slowly taking place in the body mind.
We might wonder why we practice some of the same poses over and over. But keep the open mind, take every move and breath in without doubt that all is not what it seems.
Most of all, thank yourself for choosing Yoga, knowing that you have made the most healthful and fulfilling choice.

Tapas, Change and Grace

I was thinking about 2008 and of course, New Years Resolutions. What this means is, what does it take for me to resolve to do a few things differently?
It takes self-effort, or TAPAS in Sanskrit and the willingness and openness to change. Tapas is sacrifice in order to achieve something much better at a deep level. Tapas is making a choice to step on to the Yoga mat for 20 minutes even though i want to watch Matt Lauer on the Today show.
Opening up to change, letting the grace flow through your Yoga practice, into the daily life and having the tapas or heat (inner fire) to make better decisions. Allowing the flow of grace into your life. To quote Rama Berch "Yoga is the science of Grace. You open up your body and quiet the mind so that you can tune into grace...Grace softens the edges and opens the heart. Tapas makes you able to hold the grace."
So as we head into 2008 I know I will be thinking about Grace, Change and Tapas, and using my Yoga to invite all into my being. Hopefully becoming a better teacher, parent and human being. Oh yes, and remembering to step onto the mat when i really want to see that Britney Spears story....
Peace and Namaste'