The sacrum, often overlooked, plays a vital role in both spinal health and overall movement. It's not just a single bone but a fusion of five vertebrae that occurs as we age, usually completing the process in our 20s. Despite this fusion, the sacrum is part of a dynamic system that requires awareness and movement to stay healthy.
Yoga and creativity share a special connection. Both require us to move beyond the confines of the familiar, to explore the unknown, and to embrace the perspective of a beginner—a fresh lens through which we see the world. This convergence of yoga and creativity is a catalyst for inspiration, opening doors to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of being.
Yoga therapy is fundamentally about empowering you to take an active approach to self-care through the tailored application of yoga. Unlike general group classes, which aim to benefit a wide range of participants, yoga therapy offers a personalized and evolving practice that addresses specific health challenges and promotes overall well-being.
iRest Yoga Nidra can be perceived as resting, especially since rest is in the name, and we all are not people who rest. Resting can even be a bit scary. It is easy to wonder: Will everything be OK if I slow down and rest? What if I told you that iRest Yoga Nidra is active resting? You are doing something. You are actively listening to a voice, following the prompts, re-wiring your brain, and improving your health.
Join Dogwood Studios at the Botanical Garden with weekly Yoga classes starting August 17th and all day retreat on October 14th! Practice in connection with community and Mother Earth and be nurtured by nature..
Being in nature amplifies the positive impact that yoga has on our mental health. Spending time outdoors can ease our busy brains and remind us of our deep and lasting roots in the natural world. According to Kripalu outdoor guide, Mark Roule, “we co-evolved with nature; we were shaped, influenced, and adapted to interact and resonate with the wild.”
iRest is a systematic methodology of active rest that helps you integrate your experience. iRest is based on the ancient teachings of Yoga Nidra but presented in a form made accessible for modern-day living. It is designed to bring the healing benefits of yogic and meditative practices to a wide variety of people. Although you might fall asleep during iRest, the goal is for the conscious mind to be available to inquire about your experience. You learn to make choices for what you need and to let go of what no longer serves you.
4th of July gives us time to celebrate the joys of freedom. However, real freedom is an internal practice. Group classes at Dogwood Studios will follow our regular schedule throughout July. As everyone celebrates Fourth of July, you will find a few subs throughout the month and Joint Freeing Yoga on July 4th will be offered as an On Demand Video rather than a live class.
Dharma is sometimes simplified as meaning duty. It is the ability to choose to do what is to be done and avoid what should not be done. Dharma is choosing what is proper over what is not proper so that you uphold the natural order of life. Dharma is not a mandate. Dharma is that which supports others. It is the pleasure due to harmony when you help another person or you alleviate their discomfort. This is the meaning of dharma to make the world a better place.
Service week is one way that Dogwood Studios practices seva. Seva is “the practice of selfless service.” It is acting with heartfelt intention to make the lives of others better without expectations for the outcome of that action. We offer service through kindness and compassion with no expectation of personal gain.
Join the Dogwood Team on Wednesday June 21 as we hold space for these inquiries in a special Mindful Movement class to mark the Summer Solstice.
We will gather in community to celebrate this day of the longest light in the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout human history and across cultures and societies, this day has been honored and celebrated globally. This day is a reminder that we are all connected by the rhythms of the Earth, of the Sun, and of the seasons. Even those who live in the Southern Hemisphere experience the opposite but equal phenomenon: the longest day of dark. Thus, we are living on a planet that is inherently balanced, always oscillating between opposite but equal forces.
“We all are very fortunate in the Insight Yoga Sangha to have Sam join our global group of endorsed teachers. With each teachers’ dedication and expertise, we look forward to connecting with you.” ~Sarah Powers, founder of Insight Yoga Institute
Amanda and Sam talked about Sam’s endorsement by Insight Yoga Institute. In this short interview, Sam explains the journey of freedom and the psychological inquiry that has been integral to her growth and learning at Insight Yoga Institute for the last 11 years with one of her teachers, Sarah Powers. Sam highlights the importance of always learning, growing and evolving.
One way to experience the completeness within is to embrace silence. Ainslee introduced us to the value of silence with this quote from Thought for Today.
"Behind all creation is silence. Silence is the essential condition, the vital ingredient for all creation and all that is created. It is a power in its own right.
The artist starts with a blank canvas – silence. The composer places it between and behind the notes. The very ground of your being, out of which come all your thoughts is silence. The way to silence is through meditation. When you arrive in your own silence you will know true freedom and real power. Stop, take a minute, and listen to the silence within you today.”
