Dear student;

I hope this letter finds you well. 
Thanks so much to those who continue to support the ongoing Yoga classes. The new schedule is attached. You can also find it and other info, included archives of past copies of this newsletter at www.creativeedgeyoga.com. Again, I encourage you to keep Yoga in your life during these often stressful times of the holiday season..
I have just returned from training and practice in the Egoscue Method at the main clinic in Del Mar. The experience was terrific. I was able to see first hand the benefits this modality offers to all those seeking a life freed from the artificial limits imposed by chronic pain and debilitating health conditions. I am looking forward to expanding upon the practice and implementing what I have gained in this experience to better serve you.
By popular demand I am doing a Posture Alignment workshop at Raven’s Wing Yoga on November 13^th, 1-3:30pm. 
I am also doing a Kundalini Yoga  Holiday Mini Retreat at The Shoreline Center on November 20^th, 1-4pm.  Details for both workshops are below. 
Many thanks to those who attended the Ravi and Ana’s Kundalini Yoga workshop on October 2^nd and 3^rd. Feedback as always was great as always. Ana and Ravi always manage to create absorbing and transforming experiences. We will certainly be sponsoring them again. The date planned is Sunday February 6^th, so keep alert for information to follow. 

Yoga Therapy

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.  Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown 

Growing in remembrance
Almost daily, when people find out I am a Yoga teacher, I am asked if there something they can do to solve this or that issue or relieve the stress they are feeling.  There are a multitude of techniques and practices that can immediately and over time impact our stress level and overall happiness in a positive way. However, as any student of Yoga knows, implementing any breathing technique, imagery or meditation is often destined for very limited results without some ground of habit and skill. That, of course, that comes from an ongoing and evolving practice of the art. 

One example of this is the very simple notion that the most immediate indicator of emotional or mental state is the rhythm and placing of the breath. Ragged, rapid or shallow breathing can be indicator of mental or physical struggle, troubled emotional states, distracted or diminished focus and more. often, If we can change the quality of the breath, the mind state will shift accordingly. Relaxation or greater energy are the immediate effects; new awareness and life changing perspectives over time are the greatest possible rewards.
Breath in this regard can be both the positive trigger to permit access to the calm amidst the storm of a distressed body and mind. In addition it can be the vehicle to bring remembrance of the 3 “A’s” of awareness, acknowledgment and adjustment” that lead to a new paradigm of thinking. We can use this  transformational aspect to free us form the patterns that create the climate of disease and stress in life.

Reconnecting to ourselves in this way is a habit that can be built through practice in Yoga, meditation or other healing discipline to which we have committed. Remembrance of the breath (pranayama) is unique and central to many of these practices. Its power and importance lie in the immediacy of its effect on our experience and the central role it can take in leading the wayward mind and body into the present moment. From this powerful personal presence can spring a new and more evolved experience of life. 
Practically speaking, at the center of formal Yoga practice, coordinating breath in movement helps open the body and deepen our absorption in our sensations. We can consciously direct the sense of breath within to align the body, safely and deeply work in Yoga postures, resolve physical and resolve the physical or energetic blockage that present themselves in that moment More importantly it affords us the ability to open to a deeper absorption in the moment through the highlighted experience of sensations. For those with busy lives who’s spinning momentum of mind doesn’t lend itself to easy relaxation, the skills of concentration and focus gained from this entrainment of the mind on breath in movement are often a pre-curser to getting greater benefit from more contemplative practices. 
I believe that taking the first aid technique of “taking a deep breath” into the joy of ongoing immersion in the moment, with all the benefits that entails, is a lifelong experiment. From a five or ten minute calm sitting in the morning, a mindful walk at noon, a weekly Yoga experience or intense daily sadhana (spiritual practice), we are benefited from some sort of skillful manner of checking in with ourselves. As the mind clears, the body strengthens and our energy reserves are buoyed, the commitment to our own path of inquiry can deepen. It soon becomes not a question of whether, but just how and when we will one take this time to come home to ourselves. All this can come from the “inspiration” of the breath.

 Practice:
One such skillful manner of checking in with oneself is given by 1970’s meditation master and Yogi, RP Kaushick. In his very simple mediation primer, Light of Exploration: Talks on Meditation, San Francisco, 1975 , DR. Kaushick  outlines a very simple way to relate to thought and move into silence through mediation.
He suggests sitting up meditation position, allow the spine to be elongated and upright to stay alert in the posture. Almost immediately the mind will continue with its stream of thinking. As you awaken to this begin to explore the origin of a single thought. As you do so the space between thoughts will grow longer and deeper. As this process is complete and a stream of thought begins again, repeat the process. Soon the space between thoughts will grow and you will be able to abide in a deeply renewing silence for longer periods of time. Time itself will cease to exist as you enter this healing “timeless” silence more readily.
Such is the effectiveness of the technique that  Dr. Kaushik recommends complimenting this practice, best done in the AM, with an evening meditative review of the events of the day from waking until sleep. This will sustain and strengthen the practical faculties of mind such as memory and linear thought for your functioning in the day to day  world. 

Special Events and opportunities:  
Workshop Series with Alan Franzi
Please contact me to pre-register at (203)488-1700
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At:       
Raven’s Wing Yoga867 West Main St
Branford, CT
Saturday, November 13^th,  2004,
1:00-3:30PM
$26.00incl. tax pre-registered; $32.00 incl. tax at the door, Space is limited
  (all levels of experience) 

“Posture, Pain and Performance:
Yoga, Meditation and the Egoscue Method of Postural Alignment for Healing and Pain Relief” 
Our ability to move freely and without pain or limitation is at the root of a life lived fully.  The Egoscue Method of Postural Therapy is a non-medical therapy designed to restore the body to it’s design posture and function, providing the opportunity to mitigate and resolve chronic pain and other conditions that slowly rob of us health and joy  in life.
Here we will re-discover the tools needed to empower yourself to resolve these issues and the limitations they create in life. Learn tests to discover just how and why posture alignment is at the cause of muscular-skeletal pain and dysfunction. Enjoy specific, gentle movement and therapeutic exercises sequences designed explore the principles and practices of postural alignment and experience direct pain relief on your way to enhanced overall  life performance.  Practice breath-work and meditation as additional tools to help rediscover lost comfort and joy in your body.
Take time to introduce yourself to a practice that supports all you are doing in your quest to live the best, most active life you can!

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At:       
The Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health
35 Boston ST
Guilford, CT
Saturday, November 20^th, 2004
1:00-4:00pm
$32.00 pre-registered, 37.00 drop-in 

“Restoration Relaxation and Renewal--
                        a Kundalini Yoga Holiday Mini-Retreat    
Supercharge your inner core of light and life for the holiday season with this mini retreat.
Kundalini Yoga combines Yoga Posture, movement, breath work and meditation in ways designed to develop strength, tone, flexibility, balance and calm. Artfully sequenced sets of these techniques will be practiced that are intended to support physical strength, balance metabolism, restore the immune system, and enhance mood, vitality and much more!
Learn ways to cut free of the emotional and energetic effects of holiday stress and tension and enjoy all the possibilities from the connections to self and others that come from a strong sense of inner peace and balance.
Class is for all levels of experience

Services
Private, semi private and small group Yoga Sessions, Meditation Instruction, Corporate Yoga Classes,
Egoscue Method Therapy for Chronic Pain Relief and Enhanced life performance. 
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: 

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.

 I deeply appreciate your ongoing support and I hope to see you soon. 

Sat Nam and Namaste!

Alan

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