 Yoga Mannequin - Vrksasana Putting aside for the moment my ongoing series on Jung and Yoga (series?! But there’s only one article!), I wanted to share some thoughts and some resources on yoga apparel. That’s right: yoga clothes. One of the most talked about issues in the yoga community I’ve found is the affordability factor: not only of yoga classes, but also the high cost of some of the clothes suitable for a comfortable yet challenging and confident practice. Continue reading If the capris fit…  Photo by H. Cartier-Bresson from the cover of "Memories, Dreams Reflections" I’ve been reading Carl Jung again. June Singer’s “Boundaries of the Soul: The Practice of Jung’s Psychology” is an excellent Jung primer (originally published in 1972; Singer died in 2004 when she was well into her eighties). It is an in-depth exploration of Jung’s work that is full of insight from the point of view of a practicing Jungian analyst. I’ve read Jung’s memoir “Memories, Dreams, Reflections” many times over, but reading almost any of his technical work can be a daunting task, to say the least and sadly there are very few books that take the reader through the full spectrum of Jung’s fundamental contributions to the field of psychology. I’m enjoying it as much as any of the very good fiction I’ve read in the last year or so. Continue reading How Personal is Your Practice? Some thoughts on Yoga and the work of Carl G. Jung
Join us from 12-1:15pm Monday, 12.21.09 at CHI Studio for a special Winter Solstice Yoga class. We’ll begin with low lights and more restorative (yin) asana including supine postures and forward bends. We’ll move gradually toward opening the front body, releasing the light of the heart center through chest openers, back bends and slow-moving Sun Salutations (yang). After savasana we’ll end our practice with a seated meditation honoring both the seasonal and personal transformation and balance of the Solstice, surrounded by glowing candlelight. This class is suitable for all levels of yoga practitioner. Beginners are warmly welcomed. Come join us for the perfect, no-stress opportunity to honor the spirit of the season. Join me Saturday, November 28th at CHI Studio from 11:30am-12:45pm for a Post-Thanksgiving Feast Yoga Class! This will be an All Levels class (Beginners welcome!) that will focus on – you guessed it – the Digestive System! An energizing flow series will incorporate spinal twists and inversions to keep the digestive organs working in top form. CHI Studio * 807 Fletcher Street * Dallas, TX * www.chidallas.com
Question Students Never Ask: Why do we chant the sound of “OM” in yoga? What does it mean and what is the significance of chanting or saying it three times? I think Mr. Iyengar explains it well. The following is from his “Light on Yoga”:
It’s autumn and soon enough the holidays are upon us again. What’s the first sign for you? Changes in the weather? The first leaves turning on the trees? Scary jack o’ lanterns and bonfires? Changing seasons cause us to pay attention to what our senses are registering in us, perhaps more at this time of the year than any other. Why is it that so many people love the seasons of spring and fall so much? The senses are fully, actively engaged; almost overwhelmed. One of the surest signs for me (and my husband) is in what we want to cook and eat at home. Big bowls or plates of warm, comforting stewed things; or an impulse to bake rises up. I begin tagging recipes in the holiday issues of my food magazines. One thing that’s different for me this year though is a deepening awareness of how my body reacts to food. I was born thin and have been blessed with a very high-functioning metabolism for most of life. My body literally burned with digestive energy at night and my weight hasn’t fluctuated more than 3-4 pounds over the past 20 years. I’ve always been very conscious about what I eat and have for years leaned much more toward a whole foods diet, but have been able to eat pretty much what I want without worrying about calorie-counting. Classic pitta constitution. Continue reading Fire in the Belly: Manipura Chakra I picked up another private group yoga class over the summer. Some folks from a Dallas-based drug and alcohol recovery organization contacted me about setting up a twice weekly class for some of the ladies’ counselors and facility staff. We meet twice a week at CHI Studio for an hour. The regulars are fast becoming devotees and they look forward to their practice with an enthusiasm for the energy it’s giving them along with the stress relief from what must be very demanding, high-stress, emotionally draining work. I love my ladies! I continued my class with my private school teachers over the summer as well, which brought a level of continuity and deepening of their commitment to their practice. We continue on through the new school term with a weekly class that meets in the school’s new dance studio. The school is offering yoga classes for students this year too and the demand is high! If you’d like more information about forming a group class of your own (either one-off or ongoing) send me an email! I especially love working with new students and those looking to transition from Beginner to Intermediate and Advanced work. A one-off class for a special occasion can be fast-paced or slow and restorative. There are as many options for classes as there are interested students! Pranam~ Shannon
I will be teaching my regularly scheduled Restorative Yoga class at CHI Studio from 12-1:15pm. We have 2 other free classes at CHI on Monday as well, from 10:15-11:45am, a Vinyasa Flow-style class with my dear friend Mary Armstrong, and from 7-8:30pm, an invigorating Vinyasa-Flow class with my Teacher Training Instructor, Ro Chapa. First-time CHI clients can attend any class the rest of next week for $5 (regular $10 Drop-in). I’ll be back at Gold’s Gym in Valley Ranch on Saturday mornings. I’m teaching two classes, a Beginner Level yoga class from 9:30-10:30am, and an All Levels Flow yoga class from 10:30-11:30am. The best part: you don’t have to be a Gold’s Gym member to attend these classes! These classes are $10 for non-Gold’s members; members pay a $5 drop-in. Gold’s is rolling out these “elite”-style classes in their new studio room, new wood floors, adjustable lighting and temperature, and new props! Gold’s is located directly behind the Cowboys’ Training facility on Valley Ranch Parkway at MacArthur Blvd. Go here for Gold’s full class schedule. Bandha Yoga: Scientific Keys to Unlock the Practice of Hatha Yoga is not only the Website for Ray Long’s 2-volume “Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga” and “Key Poses of Hatha Yoga”, it is also a treasure trove of yoga anatomy resources for both students and teachers. I long for visuals like these to show my students when we talk about the muscles involved in specific poses. The 3D Pose Viewer shows the muscle model in several different asana:
The animation here is beautiful. I wish I could stop each pose though and enlarge! Guess I’ll have to break down and purchase the 2-Volume set, which was a highly recommended anatomy reference during my yoga teacher training. The texts do an excellent job of explaining and illustrating the relationship between the muscle groups that work and those that receive the benefits of that work in several different poses. I think my students will love being able to see what I’m constantly talking about in class but can only show them by pointing to my or a student’s anatomy. Go visit, have fun with all the tools and resources and let me know what you think! |
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Monday, December 21st, 2009 marks the earth’s Winter solstice, a moment in time when the earth’s axis is tilted farthest from the sun. The longest day of darkness also marks the return shift toward the sun’s light and the anticipation of Spring.
