I am always working to enrich my teaching sequence. I am fortunate to have great yoga teachers. I work to incorporate their wisdom.
Chair Yoga for Rehabilitation at Spaulding Hospital
I was very fortunate to study Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga with physical therapists, Drs. Arrigo and Smith. Please read this fascinating article detailing their work at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Don't Just Sit There!
Yoga is appreciated in community with teacher and students celebrating breath and movement together. But there are other settings when yoga can be embraced.
Even while watching tv! Read on at 2young2retire.com
Never Hesitate To Ask
Yoga poses are often described in the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit.
Many people who practice or teach yoga become very familiar with the Sanskrit names of poses and movements. This is not a requirement.
Never hesitate to ask for explanations. If words don't make sense, regardless of the language--ask questions. We will learn together!
Yoga For Alzheimer's Disease
I'm happy to share this article with you about the benefits of yoga for those with Alzheimer's Disease, from www.alzcareblog.com
Witnessed
In a weekly class, I encourage quiet movement into yoga postures modified for the seated student.
I witness how this buoys mood.
In The Quiet
In the beauty of a Spring day we are struck with the sadness of the violence of the Marathon day.
Find solace in the quiet sound of your own breath.
Move slowly with gentle effort.
This is the helpfulness of yoga.
Meditation
The best benefit of yoga.
I share a thought today.
The physical benefits of movement in yoga are true, but let's not lose sight of the intention to find rest in the mind.
This is yoga.
There's Always Another Train
A lovely song lyric played in my New Year's Day yoga class.
With regard to yoga and so much else, opportunities come along regularly. They may always be there. Miss one. Wait patiently, with earnest desire. Another will come by.
Here is a story about yoga taught in prisons. For those taking the classes in prison, perhaps they can feel some sense of opportunity presenting itself. Another train.
What Is Yoga?
Yoga is not gymnastics or calisthenics or contortion. I teach yoga that is gentle, calming, helpful, fun and comforting.
Can anyone do yoga?
Yes!
I studied "chair yoga" with Lakshmi Volker, creator of the "Get Fit Where you Sit" chair program. I incorporate many of the great techniques of this method in my teaching.
In my studies I learned that individuals with disabilities, weight challenges, inflexibility, or those who just cannot get on the floor for whatever reason, can benefit from a practice of yoga on a chair. The chair replaces the yoga mat and becomes an extension of your body, allowing you to take full advantage of yoga’s benefits for fitness, overall health and relaxation. Even if you are in a wheelchair, you can receive the many benefits of chair yoga. It is the integration of body, mind, and spirit that helps the yoga practitioner feel well.
New Groups Forming
I am organizing my efforts to bring seated yoga to new groups. Are you interested? Please comment here or email me directly at diane@sitwithyoga.com
A Lovely Time
I work in an assisted living facility. I lead activities including current events discussions, name-that-tune sessions with dancing of course and an open art studio period. I also do a seated yoga class once a week. We start with attention to breath and a bit of meditation. The movement is gentle with options for more or less effort. The only rule being, no pain.
It is a lovely time. I believe that the attendees truly love it. Today one of my dear friends, a student in the class, after class was done said, "Oh, this is is just so wonderful. I feel so much better now. It is much better than aspirin."
It is, indeed.
Sit With Yoga
Here begins my exploration and continuous explanation of what that means to me.
Some history.
I was a girl in a time and place when athleticism by the likes of me was not celebrated. But, I found it for myself in the snow on the ski slopes and then running, through my twenties and to the starting line of a marathon at my fortieth birthday, and beyond. Always high on exertion, I continued to run and got on my bicycle and rode and then swam across lakes and dabbled in the pursuit of short triathlons.
In the meantime a nagging low back problem was not to be ignored. I tried many, many remedies. After over two years, after reaching a point where the limitations to my activity, including just walking, were not acceptable, I found myself in surgery. I was lucky. The outcome was good.
After the surgery, as means of recovery, I turned to yoga.