"Self Discovery through movement"

Isn't it about time you begin a deeper journey into yourself? Ask any Nia teacher, and they will tell you that self discovery frequently is rooted in a somatic, body-based experience. Nia combines movement with cognitive exploration, making it an exercise for your entire integrated being. Nia helps condition the body and the nervous system by involving education for the mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

“For me, Nia is movement as medicine. The practice feeds me and allows me to move my emotions, honor my spirit, and express my most wild self!” says Kelle Oien, Nia Instructor. Kelle's passion for Nia extends to the participants of her lively classes at Body, creating an impressive cult following. Stop by to experience the ecstatic celebration of movement that feels more like a party than a workout class.

If you are new to Nia, check out Kelle's weekend workshop "New to Nia - the Basics". The class will be held August 8, 2:00-4:30pm.

Photo Copyright Daniel Quat

BODY Studio on Yogamtes!

A few weeks ago, Body was graced by the presence of Kasey Luber - yogini and journalist. Kasey, also known as Karuna, was on a yoga adventure, in which she visited 50 yoga studios in 50 days. Half way through her journey she stopped by Body to take Emily Branden's Vinyasa with Music class. Check out the video she took in our studio!

For more on Kasey and her organization Yogamates, click here.

Find your own style

Have you ever noticed all of the familiar faces in your yoga class? That sense of community is one of the best parts of creating a regular practice at Body Studio. Uniting in meditation can be a powerful experience, and creating a weekly dedication to a sacred communal space has the potential to foster significant transformations.

Nevertheless, it can be very enriching to branch out to try a new class in a different yoga style. Find a new community of yogis in one of the 3 Yogic traditions offered at Body. If you've hesitated to try a new style of yoga because you're unsure of what they might entail, take a peak at the following demystifying descriptions.

Hatha Yoga : Focuses on breathing technique and extended meditation. This practice is excellent for purification of the mind and the physical body. This style of yoga is perfect for the beginner, because it tends to be slow paced, and helps develop proper technique in the asanas. ~Taught by Laurence, Tim, and Emily~

Vinyasa Yoga: This technique appeals to yogis who are looking for a faster paced class. All asanas are practiced in a flowing sequence that focuses on alignment and movement. Body offers several Vinyasa classes, occasionally with live music accompaniment. ~Taught by Emily, Sean, and David~

Ashtanga Vinyasa: These classes are generally lead off by a Sanskrit mantra. Historically this tradition originates from an ancient Indian text, the Yoga Korunta, that touted the benefits of following a specific series.

your body and the cosmos

" Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

What do you do to thank your body for carrying you through life? Find a simple way to practice gratitude to your body everyday, and in doing so, see yourself in everything, and everything within yourself.

-Keryn

Time & Gravity

"Time and gravity are the best teachers"

This is what one of Body's great yoga teachers, David, said to the class on Tuesday. Throughout the hour of his class, David guided us through an exploration of gravity and how intense it can be when combined with extended time. My muscles are happily feeling the effects of yesterday's class, which immediately gave me a renewed sense of adjustment - even in my bones. I highly suggest David's class for anyone who is looking for a uniquely meditative and stimulating experience.

-Keryn

Sattvic Sleep

A couple of nights ago, at 4am, I was woken up by my typically quiet dog, barking and growling into the night. Normally this wouldn’t bother me at all, but as I tried to fall back asleep, my mind began to move at lightening speed as I mentally went through every task I had planned for the day ahead of me. Ironically, the following day I was dragging in everything that I did, and my eyes closed at any chance they got.

Determined to prevent this from happening again, I did a little of detective work. I changed my sheets, fluffed my pillows, stayed away from caffeine & sugar all day long, and ate an early dinner. Suspecting it was exercise that my body & mind needed, I took a long uphill walk with my dog and then enjoyed a hot shower.

And then I got serious. I reopened a book I read a few years ago – Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar. The premise of this book is that health is earned specifically through sweat. Light on Life frequently elaborates upon the fact that yoga improves anatomical health equally as it helps psychological health. This is because the mind and body are essentially one, which simply must be aligned through yoga and mediation. Iyengar writes a long passage about sleep, and how it is time of renewal in sattvic sleep. This certainly was not the type of sleep I had the night before, and I was reminded that I could not pinpoint whether my restless sleep was a problem with my body or mind, because it was both.

Unfortunately, we all have experienced a night of restless sleep. Next time you experience one, I strongly recommend the Halasana Asana (Plough Pose) preceded by Salamba Sarvangasana. It really has given me a good night’s sleep. This pose calms the nerves, relieves tension in the neck and upper back, improves mental poise and mood, benefits the thyroid, and, of course, is a natural sleep aid. I only wish I had thought of it sooner!

1. Spread a folded blanket on the floor. Lie flat on your back with both legs and feet touching each other. Keep your palms facing the floor.

2. Exhale and bend knees over the chest. Press hands down on the floor and, with a swing, raise waist and hips.

3. Support hips with the hands and lift the trunk.

4. Raise hips and thighs further, supporting them with the back of your hands. From the shoulders to the knees, the body should be perpendicular to the floor.

5. Straighten legs towards the ceiling.

6. Stay in this position for two-three minutes. Gradually increase the duration to about seven-eight minutes.

7. Exhale. Bend the knees and gradually slide down buttocks and back. Release hands from the back and extend legs on the floor.

8. While exhaling, lower your legs over the head, one by one.

9. Inhale, then exhale, extending your legs over the head without bending them at the knees. Place toes on the floor.

10. Stretch arms on the floor in the direction opposite to the legs.

11. Interlock fingers and turn the wrists, so that thumbs rest on the floor. Tighten arms at the elbows. Extend them away from the shoulders. Also extend palms along with the fingers.

12. Stay in this position for about five minutes, breathing normally. Increase the duration gradually to about 15 minutes.

13. To come out of the posture, bend the legs, take the buttocks back, and slowly slide down, keeping palms alongside hips.

Wishing you sattvic sleep,

- Keryn

Men on the Mat

For anyone who missed my article in the Sun Monthly in June. I thought I would pass this on, Yoga is not just for women.

Yoga began more than 5,000 years ago as a religious endeavor for men. Fast-forward 5,000 years, and the Westernized view of yoga practice is that it is primarily a women’s activity, whereas the repetitive, quick and heavy process of gym going is generally identified as male. But the benefits of yoga for both genders are being more widely recognized, and more and more men are seeing yoga in a new light.

Our society has taught us that men should be muscular and strong. The answer to this is spending hours pumping iron focused on isolated muscle groups (biceps, quads, abs). Over time, this practice promotes strength by the flexing of bulk muscles, but the fact is, without supplemental forms of exercise (swimming, cardiovascular activities, even daily walks), many muscle groups never develop. To address this issue and for many other reasons yoga is a perfect supplement to any exercise and health regimen.
The benefits of yoga are impressive. It improves organ and respiratory function, reduces anxiety and back pain, promotes weight loss, improves sleep and has antiaging ability. Yoga has also been used to treat hypertension, prostrate issues, high heart rate and asthma. Athletes are even turning to yoga to improve their performance and prevent injuries. Superstars include the likes of Boston Celtic Kevin Garnett and former Los Angeles Lakers top scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the National Basketball Association, as well as Major League Baseball’s Barry Bonds. Even entire teams, such as the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the National Football League, practice yoga together; the list goes on.
I spoke with a man who had focused on the Western version of strength up until seven years ago, when he found himself stressed out and realized that his usual release, working out at the gym, was not helping to reduce his anxiety level. His wife suggested he come to yoga with her, and he has been practicing ever since. What he found was that yoga was far more challenging than he had imagined. His upper shoulder muscles had been trained for years to lift and to contract, not to relax and expand, as yoga does for muscles in addition to strengthening them. He says that although he still can’t touch his toes, he has learned how to better handle stress, has become more aware of his body, has more energy, and, coupled with his gym routine, is in the best shape of his life. Most importantly, he attributes his his new understanding the most essential part of living — his breath — to yoga. This practice allows time for deep focus on breath, relaxation and quieting the mind.
Another man, a newcomer to yoga, was very surprised by his experience and results. Walking in for first time, he expected there to be an ongoing competition about who could bend farther or hold a pose longer. He found instead that the students were there to focus on themselves and that egos had been checked at the door. “In two months’ time, I found myself opened up to feelings and emotions of which I was previously unaware, and many things I was holding on to were loosened.” Physically, he has found himself standing straighter, with tighter abs and more overall strength. He has chosen to include yoga once a week as part of his lifestyle.
Finding the right teacher and the right style of yoga may be the key to opening up a new part of yourself and finding strength. It’s important to find a teacher with whom you are really comfortable and a type of class that suits your style. For example, in the early stage of learning yoga, you may not want to be surrounded by a bunch of limber women with their legs around their ears. If you are too nervous to go to a class, try starting with a beginner’s video or book, and start with a few poses a day. You can gradually build yourself up to a more advanced workout until you feel comfortable enough to join a class. Here in Santa Fe, we have no shortage of excellent yoga instructors leading classes at all levels, at any given hour of the day. Namaste.