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.
Every time we show up to our yoga practice we can open ourselves up to learn something new about ourselves. We can invite curiosity to listen and notice how the body, mind and spirit respond to our practice. We should strive to observing without judgment or desiring to fix or change anything. If we are lucky, we can embrace mindfulness and learn something new about ourselves.
For many people, their first exposure to yoga is the physical practice, referred to as yoga āsana. Everyone’s body is different so their physical practice will be different. No matter how you practice yoga āsana, you are integrating the physical, energetic and spiritual body. Yoga āsana offers a tangible tool to cultivate stillness through movement.
Adopting a beginner’s mind can be a powerful tool for cultivating joy and embracing the present moment. As we navigate the journey ahead, let us move with an open mind, embracing each moment as an opportunity for renewal. In the simplicity of presence, the beauty of growth, the release of expectations, and the nurturing of self-compassion, we uncover the true essence of joy that lies within us all.
Before we turn over this new leaf (or calendar page), let us reflect on the year behind us and on the moments of joy, peace, and happiness. True joy comes from the meaningful service we were able to offer to the wider community in 2023. We are all so grateful for the opportunity to be of service and to provide space for people to BE, to LEARN, to GROW.
This December, cherish your traditions and honor your values. Give yourself permission to linger in an embrace of a loved one and at the same time give yourself permission to be alone. Enjoy the beauty in all that surrounds you. As we end 2023, ask yourself how can you connect to your unlimited self? NOW is the time we can practice leading our lives with connection and contentment.
The winter solstice is upon us. Each day the sun’s journey across the sky continues to shorten, and each night the stars have a little more time to gaze upon the Earth. It is a time to reflect on the year that is behind us: on the growth we have made, the joy we’ve shared, and the challenges we have faced. It is also a time to dream about the year ahead: to make intentions and consider the abundant possibilities that may come our way. In our yoga practice, we seek to restore balance to our body, mind and heart, and to carry this balance out into our daily lives so we may come from a place of integrity and compassion.
The five hindrances are mental states that challenge our ability to be mindful and present. These hindrances include sensual desire, ill will, sloth, worry or restlessness, and doubt. Gil Fronsdal, author of Unhindered, encourages us to approach worry and restlessness with a sense of curiosity and mindfulness. Instead of trying to push these emotions away, we are encouraged to sit with them, observing the sensations and thoughts without judgment. By approaching these hindrances with awareness, curiosity, and equanimity, we find opportunities for growth and deeper understanding on the journey toward greater peace and presence.
Yoga can help you learn to become more aware of why you react the way you. Your practice supports leaning into the full human experience and enjoying being in the present movement and experience the fullness of life. Pausing to savor the experience of awe can take you outside of yourself and give you the opportunity to really experience living in the present moment.
Yoga is a dynamic practice that generates a healthy stress on the bones and connective tissues. Rather than assigning rigid labels of good or bad to specific postures, it is best to approach our practice in a functional way. There is not a one-size-fits-all posture that suits every body or one that is suitable all the time. Certain postures can create imbalance if not approached mindfully.
Strengthening the core, whether done in Yoga or other practices, are impacting the fight-or-flight response. In 2016, Peter Strick, a leading neuroscientist at the University of Pittsburgh mapped the connection between the core muscles, adrenal glands, and brain. The awareness that we gain through mindful yoga practices leave a positive imprint throughout our day.
