January 22, 2014

Re-cap

This week in our Yoga practice we had a little winter sports conditioning!  While on vacation in Salt Lake City, I went to the speed skating trials with my family.  I was fascinated by the training maneuvers they were doing in preparation for their speed skating event.  They were doing yoga poses!  They used straps and blocks and held positions, did warrior I and chair pose, strengthening targeting those muscles they use for skating.  It reminded me of one of my students that does synchronized swimming and I really appreciate how yoga can benefit the body for sports and dance.

Our theme this week was Yoga for Snow Sports .  We did poses for tubing down a hill, riding a chairlift up the slopes (chair pose), raised our heart rates with X-country ski moves, and did some snow board “shifty air” kicks.  We added in some poses to mimic the things we see in the beautiful snowy mountain wonderlands with mountain pose, eagle, rock (child’s pose) and tree. We used blankets and bolsters and picked up snowballs (cotton balls) with our toes and had…  Snow Much Fun!

Class Highlight:
I had one of my 5 year old students who had just been to India, remind our class that you must always look someone in the eye when saying Namaste or it is bad luck. In our culture we teach children to look people in the eye when you say hello or shake their hand.  I love the even deeper meaning of the word namaste, it provides a true opportunity for connection.  In the Sanskrit language the literal meaning breaks down like this

namah = bow
te = to you
Namaste ~ I bow to you

And Wikipedia says this: Namaste as a gesture is used to greet one another. It’s a gesture of respect that can be used globally between people of all age, race and gender. Totally encompassing the belief that “we are one.”  Hands together at heart center “represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra”.

Namaste. What does it mean to you?


Trending:
Check out this great pic from Us Magazine! http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/gisele-bundchen-does-yoga-with-daughter-vivian-11-months-for-second-time-picture-2013112

Practice Pose of the week:

We usually call this one superman (viparita-shalabhasana), this week it became tubing, or tobogganing down the wintery slopes.  Hold for 3 breaths, rest, repeat 3x.

Benefits

- Great warm up pose for core work
- Strengthens the lower back, upper back and buttocks
- Massages the abdomen and improves digestion

*Reminders:
For VG and Growing Room: No Classes Monday Jan 20 (MLK Jr. Day) or Monday Jan 27 (staff development day).