5/27/09

Dear Student,

I hope that this letter finds you well.
I am on hiatus from classes until Saturday, 5/30.

The new summer series begin on Sunday at Ravens’ Wing Yoga and will continue until late August. I hope to see you throughout the summer, keeping the benefits in Yoga in your life as a foundation for the enjoyment of the activities of this time of year.
The Schedule is attached in pdf form. More information is available on my website at www.creativedgeyoga.com.

Note the new time!!! for the Kundalini Yoga class. It is now at 4:30-5:45pm on Wednesdays at the Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health in Guilford.

The ongoing  Yoga and Functional Movement for Posture Alignment, Pain Relief and Stress Management continues on Saturday mornings from 10-11:30am at the Shoreline Center in Guilford. 

Please let me know if you have requests for workshop or classes topics you would like to see.

Yoga Therapy:

For many of us, the improving weather of the spring and summer seasons bring out the dormant athlete, hidden gardener or in some way awakens us to the call of increased outdoor activities in our lives As our activity level increases is seems the aches and pains increase proportionately. Over the years, as family and work responsibilities increase it is may be more difficult to regularly carve out time to bring movement to our lives in an ongoing way so changing our activity levels can be a bit of a shock to the system.

Whatever the initial motivation, I believe it is important to hear the “still small voice within” that calls us to wholeness and work wisely in support of our desires to live a more active life. We are living organisms and are built to thrive on the stimulus and active life provides. We use our muscles to build strength, we move to sustain joint flexibility, metabolic balance and sustain the health and resilience of our organs and systems. Still, when we have been idle for awhile changing or increasing demand on our bodies can and usually does flush out the vulnerable, more dysfunctional aspects of ourselves. At these times the, pains or injuries we receive have a lot to tell about the bodies we are bringing to these activities. I believe it is a common mistake to blame things outside of ourselves such as our age or the activity itself for any negative consequences. To receive the effects of our activity as feedback and hear the messages without fear is therefore key to more wisely re- integrate enjoyable activities for our re-creation. All this is a component of lifestyle change that supports our lives and growth. Our ultimate responsibility therefore, is to interpret the messages of our deepest self as they unfold to address the problems that may come up. Yoga invites us to re-establish the conscious connection to our bodies and minds, trusting that our innate wisdom and instincts, the “guru” within may lead us to bring about a balanced approach to living. In doing so these messages may be heard, and our limits become the base for our recovered joy in movement and life.

Our Yoga practice in its broadest sense can be the foundation of our longing for the health and deeper experience of wellness we seek. The physical challenge of Yoga poses performed mindfully can themselves give us a window into how our body is working. The invitation Yoga gives us to consciously attend to proper form and appropriate challenge in movement and posture. Turing up the feedback our inner experience gives reconnects us to our present needs and abilities. Our path is always to consciously and compassionately become present.  When we release struggle, force and self rejection we can hear the messages clearly.

What differentiates the physical practice of Yoga from some other more limited approaches to physical culture is just that invitation to perform the intended pose or movement mindfully. We encourage and honor the meeting the “edge”  or limits of movement and strength with compassion. If we can avoid an overt or unconscious athletic approach to practice and override the pitfalls of pride or attempting to conform to a self generated image of what should be happening, our adjustments in our poses become more subtle, accurate, and intuitive. Our physical Yoga practice becomes a healthy foundation for other activities of our life and aligns itself with the higher Yogic aim of restoring ourselves to full function and well-being in body and spirit. From this deepening empowerment all the other endeavors of life can be transformed and intergrated into the broader approach to “Yoga”. The fruit of practice may evolve into a growing sense that all of life can become meditative(aware) process, with all the joy and responsibility that implies. 

Yoga Practice:

This is a simple cooling and calming practice for summertime, particularly times of stress

Kundalini Yoga "Anti Hypertension Meditation": a variation of Sitali breathing

**Sit in a cross legged position, place fingertips together forming a tepee, at the heart level. The base of the palm opens slightly toward the heart, the fingers point away. Apply moderate pressure to fingers and thumbs. Keep the eyes 1/10 open, and look down toward the nose.
***Inhale through the mouth to the maximum, and exhale through the nose.
***Breathe Consciously and feel the cool breath flow in on the soft tissue of the inner mouth/cheeks on the inhale, feel the warm moist air flow out of the nostrils on the exhale. 
***To end, sit quietly and listen to the sound chant back to you for about a minute.

Do this for 3, 11, or 31 minutes. Build up to these times over time. It is recommended that you sleep after doing it for 31 minutes.

According to Yoga;  this meditation helps to cleanse and calm you in face of all that comes up in Yoga; helping face and transform deep emotional work that KY helps access. It balances the para sympathetic  nervous system that provide perspective and overview amidst stressful experience, help counteract hyper tension, anxiety, provides stress release and helps to quit smoking. 

**Discontinue this or any Yoga practice if negative experiences arise. This is not to replac proper medical or psychiatric treatment in any way. If you have or may have an existing medical, psychiatric condition or are pregnant consult with your doctor before doing this or any other breathwork or meditation practice.

Additional Services 

I am available for private Yoga instruction, Yoga Therapy with a focus on Postural Alignment Therapy http://www.creativeedgeyoga.com/posture.htm.  

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 musculoskeletal imbalances that may be at the root chronic discomfort and ongoing heath conditions           

***Enhance skill, comfort and commitment to Yoga practice in class and at home

***Discover and utilize healing principles and practices designed to support your ongoing wellness and personal growth

***Explore higher breath work and meditation practices to further grow in yoga

***Support transitions toward healthier, more self supportive lifestyles.

***Serve as a powerful compliment to other recovery and healing  practices…and more!   

In addition sessions are available that employ a meditative healing practice format to support deep inner shifts and transformation that can accelerate your personal growth an amazing ways. 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.     

Again, enjoy the upcoming summer season and hope to see you soon in class!

Sat Nam and Namaste,

Alan

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****This newsletter is intended to inspire and stimulate thought and insight according to the general concepts and practices of Yoga and Meditative arts. The use of these opinions and ideas and techniques  is no substitute for any and all professional services to suit your specific personal needs. Always consult a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. 

Full Disclaimer http://www.creativeedgeyoga.com/disclaimer.htm