From
3/17/04
Dear
Student;
I hope this letter finds you well. Classes are on tonight(St Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, 3/17)
I have attached the new schedule. The new series begins next Tuesday evening, 3/23. More information is at http:home.att.net/~ceyoga.
Today’s weather not withstanding, Spring is Springing so I remind you of the “Yoga Retreat to Relax and Renew” at the Shoreline Center on April 3rd. Fees: pre-reg:$35, at the door, $40. Additional details are below.
Thanks
to all those who attended Ravi Singh’s workshop on March 7th.
Turnout was beyond all expectations and feedback about the workshop was, as
usual, terrific. I’m sure the incredible spirit and energy
of the group the experience of elevated the benefits we all received form the
practices.
More thanks to those who were able to attend the Feb. 28th open house
at the Yoga Room. There was a wonderful variety of Yoga and meditation styles
presented. We seemed to have a number of people stop by who had never been
there. I hope the interest in the space will continue to grow as a result.
I am getting some terrific response from the “Yoga for Pain Relief and Healing” class based on Yoga and the Egoscue method. If you are interested in participating in a session, workshop or an ongoing class based on this approach to practice please email or call me with your thoughts.
Kundalini Yoga Classes continues, Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm at SCWC in Guilford and Saturday mornings at 9:00am at Beyond Care.
My Sunday class at the Yoga Room this session will focus the practice of Yoga posture, pranayama and meditation as vehicles to explore the Yogic model of the Kosha’s. This model views the self as consisting of five dimensions, known as koshas or sheaths. Specifically they correspond to the physical body, the energetic body, the emotional mind , the intellectual mind and the core self(bliss sheath). According to Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, “experience and understanding of the koshas helps us know the depth of the human body and mind and, ultimately, dhyana, meditation.”.
Yoga Therapy
Working with the system of the Koshas is an important framework of “Yoga Therapy”— utilizing the practices of Yoga to bring the mind and body from stress and disease to balance and wellness.
Simply stated, Yoga views all a manner of human suffering coming from our sense of separation from our natural state of balance and connection to our deepest selves and with all that is. According to Yoga, disturbances in our physical, mental or deep inner self can cause this balance and sense of inner integrity to be lost. This can create physical illness, energetic imbalances, emotional or mental disturbances or be at the root of deep restlessness and dissatisfaction. The techniques of Yoga are designed to address and remove the fundamental cause of this suffering at its source. All Yogic practices can target specific aspect or aspects of the self(kosha) to bring purification and healing. Asana(posture), pranayama(breath work), chanting, imagery and meditation are the tools Yogis use to attain our goals.
Truly, all Yoga practice can be considered Yoga Therapy. We all begin Yoga with some initial motivation or desire and find within the many techniques and practices the tools to resolve that need.
Whatever the initial motivation, a well conceived Yoga practice can change and heal us in the most profound way.
When more pressing, perplexing, or more far reaching concerns plague us additional guidance may be sought through individual Yoga instruction or Yoga Therapy. Whether the goals in Yoga are to learn and experience more advanced Yogic and meditative practices, to help to assess and understand the cause and possible solutions to dilemmas, to heal from dis-ease, or to navigate difficult times with the support of Yoga within a safe space, tremendous transformation can take place in our practice and our lives with the focused commitment to Yoga as therapy.
Practice:
Yoga breathing practices for balance, energy and calm.
Yogis have long recognized what modern medicine is now confirming, that there are two sides of the body and brain with qualities of mind and body associated with each. According to the “Holistic Online Website(www.holistic-online.com) research is showing ”The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left side controls logical verbal activity. The research showed that when the left nostril was less obstructed, the right side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects were indeed found to do better on creative tests. Similarly when the right nostril was less obstructed the left side of the brain was predominant. Test subjects did better on verbal skills.” Additionally, when stimulated, the left side of the brain is seen to support outward moving, extroverted active energy and the right side of the brain brought a calming quality of energy.
According to Yoga, when we are in good health, every two hours our breathing pattern shifts in which one nostril is dominant and that quality of mind will dominate at that time. When we are ill or stressed this rhythm is undermined. A basic Yogic breath(pranayama)breath to restore balance is called:
Nadi Shodana:
(You may begin the practice with a ratio of 4-4 seconds on the inhale and exhale and build to the 4-8 ratio described in the instructions).
***Begin
slowly(1-3 minutes with this and all pranayama and build your practice slowly
over time to avoid unpleasant side effects. 5-7 minutes is enough to bring very
healthful benefits. Please contact me with any questions or issues.
Some Variations:
To
energize: To
recharge your energy you can inhale and exhale through the right nostril at the
same ratios as above to stimulate the active(left)side of the brain(right
nostril breathing.
For relaxation: To
bring calm and support restful sleep you can breath in and out through the left
nostril at the same ratios(left nostril breathing).
And Finally: As we begin to gear up for the spring and summer, I encourage you keep up with practice as a way to prepare for and balance all the other activities which can take over your life. Avoid injury that can come from overdoing by warming up to your activity properly. Building strength and stamina over time over these next weeks can help you can have a great summer of injury free fun!
Special
Events and opportunities:
Private, semi private and small group Yoga Sessions
Over
the past several years I have worked with several students in private sessions
in both brief and longer term scenarios. The sessions have served different
purposes for each individual depending on specific needs and intentions.
Students have utilized this time to:
Evaluate
and modify postural issues and imbalances that may be at the root of injury as
well as more chronic discomfort and pain .
Enhance
skill, comfort and commitment to Yoga practice in class and at home.
Explore
higher breath work and meditation practices to further grow in yoga.
Support transitions to create healthier, more self supportive lifestyles.
Discover and utilize healing principles and practices designed to support your
ongoing wellness and personal growth.
Serve as a powerful compliment to other recovery and healing
practices…and more!
I am available for private and small group Yoga training, Yoga Therapy, and Yogic balancing and healing techniques. I also can work in individuals and groups in the Egoscue method of movement therapy for Postural alignment for pain relief and athletic enhancement, Sessions can be held in your home or at my teaching studio locations. For details and to answer questions about how you may benefit from one of these modalities please contact me at (203)488-1700.
Workshop
Series-
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
With
Alan Franzi
At: The Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health,
35
Boston St.
Guilford
Saturday, April 3rd, 1-4pm Cost is $40, $35.00 if
pre-registered
(all levels of experience)
Spring
Retreat to Relax and Renew
All
levels of Yoga practitioner can enjoy this mini-retreat designed to blow the
doors off cabin fever and lead you toward a Springtime of renewal and
enjoyment” Tone, stretch and relax with a seamless blend of active and
restorative movement, breath and Yoga posture sequences from the Hatha,
Kundalini and Vinyasa traditions and practices. Release a Winter’s worth of
deep stresses and vitalize your entire being with breath work and movement
experiences designed to cleanse, calm and empower. Re-connect within as you
explore guided imagery, sound and meditation practices created to support
healing, inner peace and a deep sense of well-being.
This specially designed experience is intended to afford the wonderful benefits
that can come from this unique and balanced synthesis of the “best of the
best” practices from the traditions of Yoga and meditation. This
workshop is for all levels.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please let me know your suggestions, feedback and questions. Once
again, thanked you for your ongoing support and I hope you continue to find a
way to include Yoga and its related practices to support you in your life.
I
hope to see you soon!
Sat Nam and Namaste!
Alan
**To be placed on an email list for the newsletter and other event info please
email me at: ceyoga@att.net.