Greetings LifeFit Yogis and Friends!
Can you believe it is August? It is the time of year that I spend juggling a balance between trying to make the most of the rest of the summer and planning for the Fall. Change is in the air, we all feel it. Hopefully we should look to embracing change, and growing with changing times. The key I think is to realize what you need to hold onto that is grounding for you, and then open your eyes and step forward, ready to take part in how life unfolds, helping it along in a positive way as best as possible. Sounds easy, and …I am saying this to remind myself too, as we have one son about to leave for college and a daughter about to take on her senior year of high school.
In June I took up running, just like last summer and, I compared this summer’s attempt to how it went before. The first month was more of a walk/run, and I was trying to walk less and run more as I got stronger. Last year, it took about 6 weeks for me to make it through my 3 mile destination without any walking. Not to shabby for someone who had not run in well over two decades. I try to think of good alignment and movement mechanics (you all probably expected that sentence). I try not to pound the pavement, to keep my neck long (especially when near the end of the run and I am tired) and my shoulders open, and yes, heart leading. I try to be very consistent with a long stride (best possible for a short person like me) and good heel to toe foot action. Most importantly, I try to keep long deep breaths that help to counter what some runners find – shorter, more shallow breathing. There have been many studies that compare yogis to other athletes and the surprise is the capability of yogis to keep up with even marathoners since their breathing/pranayama practice and more mobile ribcage mechanics contribute to greater lung capacity. On occasion I find that “monkey mind” takes my focus and then I start to get tired too early in the process and I have to reel my brain back in. I learned something the hard way that took my attention back to the books: knees do not do well running downhill. You may think it will be easier on the heart and thus draw out the length of the run, but the repetitive impact of the decelerating forces on the poorly designed joint leave the knee quite vulnerable. So I try to walk down any steep hill. This year I had a nice surprise – it took only three weeks to come to the same goal as before – after being another year older even! Personally I attribute it to the Juice Plus. I am quite thrilled. More children’s studies continue and now to place an adult order for the Juice Plus, one can get a child’s order for free….for up to three years even! Another promotion that is still going on: with an adult order of the basic Vineyard Blend, one can get a free bottle of the Antioxidants as well as a canister Complete Shake (each a one month supply). Our son has asked repeatedly to have his own Juice Plus supply sent to school. He prefers the gummies over the capsules and so do most adults even. Whatever you choose, for movement, or nutrition, I encourage you to keep at it and stay consistent!
The reason I decided to take up running and compliment my own yoga/Pilates practice was because I was going to a Pilates conference in mid July and I wanted to be strong and try everything presented. This summer was my second time attending a conference called “Pilates on Tour,” a great opportunity to study under first and second generation Pilates teachers- those who were students of Joseph Pilates himself and their students who then became teachers. We have more fun ahead of us this year in all group classes from information learned here! Those of you coming to work at my home studio in either small group or private sessions, will get to use a great new piece of equipment called CoreAlign. It is “state of art” and has only been around for 10 years, developed by an Israeli physical therapist, Jonathan Hoffman. There are several advantages to using a CoreAlign but the two greatest are: 1. The functional strengthening of the core muscles since most exercises are done in an upright manner and, 2. The potential for countering the asymmetrical imbalances in the body that we all notice in ourselves, as we age and especially after injuries. Yoga is a great tool here too, as all yogis know, but here we incorporate smooth movement with resistance through the range of movement in functional movement patterns. We met many physical therapists who work in hospitals and in doctors’s offices, who have and use Pilates equipment like reformers and the CoreAlign. I think if Joesph Pilates was still alive he and Jonathan would be the best of friends! Here is a link to the Balanced Body website that leads you to podcasts of some exercises on the Core Align http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/store/corealign.html Classes are forming for the Sept – May stretch, so if you are interested, please let me know soon!
Most of you know that I like to know the how’s and why’s behind anything in the health and wellness world. Two of my students have discovered a wonderful company of essential oils, called doTerra. I have always known that essential oils are valuable means for treating/healing ailments, for aromatherapy, in massage and body work, health and personal products, ... In being introduced to this company, I have learned that they are the only company out there with the great variety of oils that they offer, that are all 100% essential in their ingredients (no unnatural fillers). Studies with the products exist and are continuing and here are a few things that I learned that “wow”ed me: one of their blends, called On Guard (also tested on all 17 strains of mrsa and was effective in killing all 17 strains of mrsa) was used in vaporizers in a school during a flu season, in all the classrooms. Sickness diminished and the greatest complaint in the high school was that in the chemistry classes, the bacteria in the petrei dishes died. Another one of their blends called Terra Shield is great before and after bug bites, stronger than DEET and safe for the body – all essential oils. There are a huge variety of individual oils and they have many “blends, “with great educational information on their uses. These are oils that can be used in cooking and a few drops added to water or a favorite drink, also have health benefits. Now then, have we all heard lately, not to put anything on our skin that we wouldn’t put in our bodies? Many other essential oils on the market are dangerous if ingested, so be careful. This year, I am going to try both in my home studio and in some group classes to have a humidifier/vaporizer and try some of the oils. We will all experiment together. I have been using them already. In the coming months I will continue to share more of what I learn here. And, I will be interested in your feedback. The biggest question I have had so far has prompted me to state : our well-known “Sunbreeze,” essential oil blend from the Sunrider company still holds its own. I carry a bottle with me everywhere I go and as it is the only oil/blend made by the Sunrider company that boasts only the best ingredients in all of its products, there are two things about Sunbreeze that keep it in a class of its own: 1. It is a recipe based on Chinese medicine and has been used for centuries and, 2. This unique blend, sold in a small bottle ($12 – let me know if you want a bottle), covers a lot of ailments, from sore throats, to better breathing, to dizziness/light-headedness, to sore muscles, congestion when traveling at high altitudes, motion sickness, …. We will continue to use it in classes together too!
Lastly, I have asked students in various classes to confirm their interest/place in class. I have a full Sunday 5:15 Intermediate Yoga class. I have one small group class with a waiting list. I have two small group classes with space. I need a headcount/confirmation from all students in classes at CUMC. There is space in the Beginners Yoga class on Tuesdays at 12:15. Some schedules are attached. Not only do I hope to hear from you all soon, I very much look forward to our “new beginnings,” as classes get underway the week of Labor Day! Stay cool –
Mona Flynn
“The Thread”
There is a thread you follow
It goes among things that change, but it does not change,
People wonder about what things you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread
But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop times unfolding
But you don’t ever let go of the thread. - William Stafford
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