Happy Minds

Yoga In Nyc
Solstice in Times Square 2011 – Mind Over Madness Yoga

The Transition From Fitness to Yoga and Why I Stayed with Yoga

After 10 yrs of no yoga I started to practice again. Deciding yoga was the missing ingredient to the hard-core cardio and weight training I was into. Unfortunately 10yrs of workouts had tightened up my muscles and joints and all of the yoga poses that came so easily 10 yrs ago now seemed out of reach. Determined to get back to where I was, though nagged by the thought “you get stiff and then you get old’, I persisted.

Were the ‘work outs’ the culprit in losing flexibility? I was not willing to admit that it was because I had aged that I had lost flexibility!   Was it the fact that I didn’t stretch enough, after workouts? Who has the time to stretch?! I was a busy trainer running all over town taking care of clients. Cardio, weight training, stretching…it all took too much time! As I incorporated more yoga and less workout, I enjoyed it so much I enrolled in a 200hr yoga certification to compliment the fitness I was teaching.

It took 3 full yrs of all yoga and no working out, but I finally won back that beautiful natural flexibility! Did I want to go back to working out?

Not in the least, all that flexibillity felt too good. Plus, no more aches and pains from knotted, sore and aching muscles while pushing myself with workouts.

Was it worth the 3 yr investment? Well first of all my body looked and felt so much better. In yoga because you are constantly holding your own body weight in an endless array of movements from handstands, to shoulder stands, to one legged balances with twists and plank variations, my body remained very strong, sculpted and supple. I also learned to breath properly, stand quietly surrendering deeper into poses, practicing awareness of how each body part was aligned and activated. From a thoughtful intention and dynamic heart felt center I learned to ground myself by pressing into the floor which freed me to expand energy outward and upward to lengthen so as to create and feel the lines of energy while moving gracefully from one pose to the next. I discovered a form of moving meditation in union of body, mind and breath which is the definition of yoga.

 I also slimmed down, not from ‘dieting’ or effort but rather, a sense of fulfillment. Not as ravenously hungry as I was when I was “exercising” food simply, though I still enjoyed it, was fuel to feed my somewhat thankfully diminished hunger. It was no longer as tantalizing and appealing perhaps because I was calmer, and felt more at peace. I made healthier choices too, desiring foods and living situations that were colorful and simple. Yoga gave me the gift of self acceptance and self compassion, life’s ups and downs became easier and less jarring. I stopped feeling like I had to be better, do more, get leaner and I relaxed into my own skin more.

When I finished my full 500hr certification. Teaching became a wonderful outlet for me, a different form of meditation to calm and sooth.

Do I still have other forms of exercise? Sure! I love walking, for long distances too. Cycling also feels wonderful. Sometimes I have to run and I can, gracefully.   Gardening, landscaping our place in the country, chopping wood, weeding, helping my husband build beautiful rock walls, dancing, but the yoga is a part of my life that I practice everyday on and off the mat.

Deborah Caruana RN, CYT, CPT, MES, Yoga Lifestyle Coach

399 E 72 St  U..E.S. Manhattan  NY  10021

Website:  www.vitalsignsfitness.com

Email:      deb@vitalsignsfitness.com

About the Author

DEBORAH is a highly respected authority in yoga and personal training for overall peace and restoration, health and fitness, with more than 25 years of experience and success. Serving NYC in home, office, gym or her studio at 399 E 72 St.

- Licensed Registered Nurse
- 500 Hr. Certified Yoga Instructor
- Pre & Post Natal Maternity Specialist
- Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
- Lifestyle Fitness Coach
- Certified Medical Exercise Specialist
- Meditation Teacher

Can anyone recommend a cheap yoga place in NYC?

I have never done yoga before but am looking to get into it and I’m on a tight budget.

Hola,

I live in LA, but I do know of a “donation” based studio in NYC. We have them all over here in Santa Monica, CA. The best one I know of in NYC is:

Yoga to the People – http://yogatothepeople.com/new-york-yoga.shtml

At these studios you pay what you can. Please note that this does not mean free… It means you pay what you can generously pay. This could be $1 or $25. Remember, a yoga class is an exchange of energy and honesty.

As a yoga teacher myself, I find this is a beautiful way for teacher and student to meet each other half way.

I hope this help. Have fun with your journey/practice!

Aum Shanti

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Yoga Journal
Yoga Journal Conference

The Yoga Journal Gives the Complete Lowdown on Yoga

You can visit the website and check out for yourself if Yoga Journal offers what you are looking for. Before you subscribe, you could even try it out for free. There is a very useful yoga directory and a search option that lets you look for a teacher or studio to get started with yoga. As with all other magazines, Yoga Journal too has its fair share of informative articles related to yoga and the millions of people in love with this form of meditation and exercise..

If you have queries about anything yoga, Yoga Journal will provide you the opportunity to have your queries answered by a panel of experts. Also, if you want to know about yoga products, then Yoga Journal could be the place to find interesting new products thanks to its reader service. There are also articles about things that especially pertain to yoga such as yoga chants that you can get to know more about.

There is a section especially devoted to the beginner yoga student where you can get to know about yoga classes that would be suited for your particular needs. You can also get an insight into what the best poses for a beginner are as well as learn yoga history and philosophy. If you have doubts about whether yoga is suitable for you or whether yoga therapy is better, Yoga Journal will help you choose the best course of action. Reading about how others entered the fascinating world of yoga can help you overcome your initial hesitation.

Meditation

Meditation no doubt is central to yoga, and Yoga Journal devotes a whole section to matters related to meditation, which should help you understand what spiritual awakening and emotional well-being is all about. You can glean information on techniques; practices as well as methods of bring meditation into your way of life. This section of Yoga Journal is very impressive and may, in itself, well be worth the price that you pay for the magazine.

By: Ann Marier -

About the Author

For More Article Of This Author Visit :: http://www.thearticleinsiders.com/

Have you ever heard or tried urine therapy?

Are you familiar with it, tried it? did it work?
just outta curiosity here. don’t plan on doing this myself, lol
but in the Yoga Journal magazine I remember they had this article about people who consumed their own pee for various healing. sounds…..bizarre actually. wonder how old this method is?

” the juice of the Golden Fountain” has been used for over 5000 years. Mainly popular in Indian and Chinese medicine
Some medical doctors have cited various urine therapies as being potentially helpful for the treatment of cancer.
It works just as well as many modern -day drugs for some conditions – just make sure its your urine you drink and not someone else’s!!!

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Vinyasa Yoga
Power Vinyasa Yoga – Spinal Flow

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Evokes Mental Release

Peaceful, serene, strong, relaxed, pure — this is how you will feel after participating in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. This ancient method is based around the idea of “flow” and connected movements.

Like most forms of this type of therapy, it’s not just a series of “stretches” or exercises — but rather, a combination of philosophy, moral code, meditation and healthy habits. Muscle definition or flexibility may attract athletes to a yoga center, but for others it’s that spiritual meditation of this therapy that entices — resulting in a calmer mind, improved circulation and more energy.

Through active, fluid movements, six different positions and specially timed inhaling and exhaling exercises, students of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga hope to reach a state of internal cleansing, mental clarity, strength in body and connectedness with the universal soul. By following the “eight limbs” of this type of therapy, outlined by Indian sage Patanjali Maharishi, students practice the following: moral codes, self-purification and study, posture, breath control, sense control, concentration, meditation and contemplation.

In the beginning of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, the instructor will help students master “external cleansing practices.” They learn about morality and study, while practicing specific postures and breathing. Instructors help beginners find the correct positions and inspire students to live a just and moral existence.

Next, after days of mastering the proper poses and gaining strength, students will learn to control their minds. Through posture, breathing and focusing, the practice purifies the body, nervous system and mind over time.

In practice, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga involves six specific postures (otherwise known as “asanas”) that are always completed in the same order. In the opening asana, there are ten standing “Sun Salutations” or “The Primary Series,” which is intended to align and detoxify the body.

The “Intermediate Series” works on the nervous system by opening and clearing internal energy pathways. “The Advanced Series A, B, C and D” helps students achieve maximum flexibility, strength, definition and humility. Teachers emphasize the mastering of each level before moving on, with special focus and attention given to each step of progress.

The ujjayi (meaning “victorious breath”) method of exhaling and inhaling, combined with the fluid, dynamic asanas, heats the blood and generates a detoxifying sweat, or what is known as “internal cleansing.” Advanced methods of breathing techniques (bandhas) teach students how to “lock” or “seal” energy and redirect it to one of the 72,000 energy channels within the body.

To obtain maximum benefit from the asanas, learning to lock in positive energy is crucial. Nine different focus points seek to purify and stabilize the mind, facilitating concentration.

The spiritual and physical impact has roughly 16.5 million Americans practicing their “sun salutations” and “downward dogs” at their local studio of this therapy. You needn’t go to Mysore India to learn.

The yoga website can give you a listing of classes near you. Whether you’re looking for relaxation and spirituality or muscle-definition and a rigorous workout, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a great match.

About the Author

Mike Selvon’s yoga portal has some more useful information on ashtanga vinyasa yoga. Visit his web site and leave a comment at his yoga therapy blog.

Is there a power yoga studio on Long Island?

I’m particularly interested in vinyasa (flow) hot power yoga studio in the Nassau County area. Thanks!

dunno.

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Yoga: Yoga on the Internet

At one time it seemed that yoga was little more than a dated hippie fad, rather like the lava lamp. But now this ancient health system is back in vogue.

Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and Julia Roberts and Sting are not shy about advocating the mental and physical benefits of the discipline.

It is cool to carry around a little purple mat and tie yourself up in knots in local gyms and draughty church halls. It seems yoga is everywhere, and nowhere is it more omnipresent than on the net.

Should you wish to learn more about Sting’s views on the subject, for instance, you might care to read the in-depth interview available at the White Lotus website.

You’ll find a glossily professional web page which features authoritative articles on the many different forms of yoga – and the debate about which is the best.

You can also access a shop selling books and videos, or click through selection of celebrity interviews.

Share the well-illustrated interview with Sting, in which he expresses regret at not having started yoga earlier. But he adds that, if anything, the exercise seems to be reversing the ageing process.

This view is echoed by fellow megastar Madonna. Indeed, the title song, Ray Of Light, in her best-selling album incorporates a traditional yoga chant.

If you are moved to discover more details, Roots And Wings, a ‘yoga, bodywork and natural healing centre’ will be happy to provide you with the original Sanskrit text of that chant.

Roots And Wings is largely geared to selling yoga products, but you’ll also find articles, discussion groups and a search engine for locating those all important Sanskrit lyrics (just type in Madonna).

Another site, called Evolution, describes itself as an online yoga magazine, and although it can be a little graphic-heavy and slow, it’s a snazzy and informative creation.

The visitor is offered enticements such as a free email newsletter, meditation advice, chants and even recipes.

Should you find Evolution’s animated yoga girl icon annoyingly limber, you might be tempted to compete with her by practising a selection of yoga postures yourself.

Evolution allows you to call up these postures on your screen.

It seems that cyberspace is not yet the proper place to learn the subtleties of this ancient discipline: for that you’ll still need to take a traditional class with a teacher.

About the Author

Nicholas Tan has been involved in Article Writing, providing Free Articles, Internet Marketing, SEO, Adwords, & Adsense for more than 5 years and designs and develops websites. Submit your free articles and get your articles noticed! Get your Free Articles here! Submit Articles! We provide free articles and information. Check us out at Free Articles!

What do you think about girls who wear yoga pants?

Not for exercising or sports but for every day.. A lot of girls at my school wear skin tight yoga pants that show off their butt and I find it lazy and sloppy, what do you think of them?

They are ugly and such a fad!!! They are like leggings with a flare:(( why do people wear them Id they don’t do yoga??? Hence the name yoga pants??

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Yoga Posture
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What yoga posture is this called?

http://yogicameron.com/zero.php

The first I would identify as Eka Hasta Bhujasana (Elephant Trunk pose).

Eka = one
Hasta = hand
Bhuja = arm (or shoulder)
The connotation here is “one-leg-over-arm” pose.

Astavakrasana (Eight Angle pose)
Asta = eight
Vakra = bent, curved

Here’s a video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O8W7_TwwqI

Don’t confuse Bhujasana with Bhujangasana (Cobra pose).

Bhujapidasana
Bhuja = arm (or shoulder)
Pida = pressure
Connotation: “shoulder pressing arm balance/pose”

http://images.google.com/images?q=Bhujapidasana&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

Namaste’,
dwb

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