Boost your mood with yoga!

Usually on the day’s you don’t feel like going to yoga class or partake in home practice are the day’s we need it the most! I’ve noticed both in myself as a practicioner and as an instructor that once the body get’s moving, mood changes. Movement energizes the body by giving it
prana, life force energy. Yoga decreases cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and bring balance to the body. Yoga practice increases
GABA levels in the brain. The benefits are limitless and can turnaround
mood!

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Coming into Breath- Yogic Breathing

I taught a yoga class this Monday for yogaHOPE. I teach at a residential treatment house for women getting treatment for alcohol and drug addictions. Today the mood in the house was one of the ladies wanting to do in class. Wanting to breathe and wanting to move. We focused on integrating both breath and movement. How can breath help one to move with ease and not struggle. The simple act of making a conscious effort of being aware of breath can create opening in both body and mind. Yogic breathing can begin with ujjayi breathing or ocean sounding breath. Other beginning yogic breathwork is viloma pranayama (breathing) or stair step breathing.
There is one thing that is always available and that is one’s breath.
So little by little we breathe to create space. Over time breath moves from a shallow breath to a deep breath. Yogic breath is prana, life force energy! Breathe in the new and breathe out the old!

Reference- Light on Pranayama- The Yogic Art of Breathing
BKS Iyengar

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Up & Moving in the New Year!

Each year we are faced with resolutions of change. What should I give up or do in the upcoming New Year. It is a great time of looking back and looking forward. I remember a teacher once saying to me, “Look at your daily living, is it surrounded with thoughts, people, foods and resolutions that move you forward or backward.” Wow, what an Aha moment! The natural
movement of life is forward not back… Each day we have the opportunity to create who we want to be. To align ourselves with our true being/nature. You have all the tools you need within. Not sure how to begin? Find a community, yoga studio, friend, family member that may have exactly what you’re looking for and support you on the way.
My resolution for the New Year is continuing to share the teaching of yoga and to work on those yoga poses I find challenging. When you open up to something new, you never know what awaits!

Good wishes of Health, Happiness & Movement in the New Year!

Namaste~Kat

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Restorative Yoga - Nourishment for the body & soul

Restorative yoga. What is it? Restorative yoga is about placing the body in a supportive yoga pose through the use of bolsters, blankets, blocks and/or folding chairs. The body may stay in the supported asana from 3-15 minutes welcoming release, relaxation, rest and nourishment.
Through the use of support the body opens freely. The support allows the body to be met exactly where it is.

Restorative yoga is soothing to both the physical and emotional body.
Through my home practice, I’ve incorporated a restorative practice at least once a week, sometimes more.

Home practice-
supported bound angle pose
supported hero’s pose
supported bridge pose
legs up wall pose
supported corpse pose with bolster under legs

I try to stay in each pose for ten minutes.

Benefits- provide calm & relaxation

Excellent reference for a Restorative Yoga practice is the book
Relax & Renew by Judith Lasater.

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