June 7th, 2010
Written by Michelle Maguire
The Jasmine is blooming in my backyard. It is giving out an amazing amount of Prana. What is Prana? I always had trouble relating to this ancient word of yoga because every time I heard the words “life force” I would think of Star Wars and most recently Avatar. I have recently been reading Perfect Weight by Deepak Chopra. In this book he has a wonderful way of simplifying the word Prana. I have found myself able and willing to get energy throughout my day not only from food, water and exercise but also from everything around me. I found the blooming jasmine the perfect example of Prana and it has provided happiness and fulfillment in my daily successes.
Taking just a few moments and a little imagination throughout your day to really appreciate what nature has to offer is a great way to remind yourself to feel connected to life “forces” around us. Allow this awareness to clear your mind and allow your body to enjoy the benefits of being healthy and alive. The idea that we are able to receive Prana not only from food but everything around us is a very empowering idea, you may even find yourself eating less. Other sources of Prana include the sun (one of the strongest) and the ocean.
Have a Prana filled day!
Do you have a Prana source you would like to share?
Tags: A Gentle Way, A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center, Avatar, Deepak Chopra, Lanita Varshell, Prana, Star Wars
Posted in Diet, Yoga for Health | No Comments »
May 17th, 2010
Setting Up Booth at Expo
Written by Michelle Maguire
On Friday, May 14, 2010 A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center came face to face with an estimated 600-700 of the 1,100 employees of Alvarado Hospital. Our staff came together to help spread the word that “gentle yoga” is the way to go. The Health and Wellness Fair had a theme of “Spring into Wellness”. The fair was a great way to let all of the employees know that we are just around the corner from them!
The Bio-Mat was there on display for employees to enjoy. It was the studio’s first step to kicking off a Bio-Mat awareness month scheduled for June. Be sure to keep your eye out for Bio-Mat specials in June!
Thank you to all the teachers, staff and volunteers who made this day possible! There was a lot of wonderful energy and a fun way to remind the community that the studio is here to help them relax, renew and rejuvenate!
Namaste
Tags: A Gentle Way, A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center, Alvarado Hospital, Alvarado Hospital Health and Wellness Fair, BioMat, Health and Wellness Fair, Lanita Varshell, Meditation in Movement Style Gentle Yoga, Spring Into Wellness
Posted in Bio-Mat, Yoga for Health | 3 Comments »
April 30th, 2010
Peacock Pose
Nicholas Burner and Declan Maguire holding the pose "Peacock"
Written by Michelle Maguire
The above picture is from a second grade field trip (7 and 8 year old children) to our wonderful and famous San Diego Zoo. When you go to the zoo and look at the animals and gardens of the zoo you feel a real connection to the earth and all the beauty it holds. The animals and plants make us smile and wonder. Watching children explore the zoo is an amazing thing to watch. When Nicholas and Declan saw the peacock showing off they immediately went into the above yoga pose. The boys intuitively demonstrated to the peacock that they understood the importance of being acknowledged. It was truly a breathtaking moment.
One of my favorite visualizations that I have learned from Lanita Varshell at A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center is taking care of myself as if I were a child. This can be especially helpful if you do not have a lot of fond memories of childhood. The idea of recreating your childhood is very powerful and nurturing. Or if you do have a lot of fond memories use them to your advantage in daily tasks. It is also helpful if you are a caregiver or a parent and you need to smile and laugh at life a little more.
So take this idea of taking care of yourself as you would a young child and see what effect it has on your day.
Do you have a story about a child that has helped you nurture yourself?
Tags: A Gentle Way, A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center, Lanita Varshell
Posted in Classes at A Gentle Way, Yoga For Kids, Yoga for Health | 3 Comments »
April 19th, 2010
Written by Michelle Maguire
One of the things that we all struggle with is how to spend our time. When it comes to taking care of ourselves, many times we say, “I don’t have time.” With our health care system strained, it is especially important to take better care of ourselves. For any of us that have had to spend time in doctor’s offices, we know that it is a very time consuming endeavor. The idea of preventative medicine is the idea of being able to stay out of doctor’s offices as much as possible.
Being in a preventative state medically is ideal. Going to the doctor for annual check ups and necessary tests along the way is smart preventative medicine. Including Yoga in your life is also smart preventative medicine and it can also assist you in staying out of doctor’s offices if you find you are already spending time there.
If you need motivation to start a yoga routine or just figuring out what yoga is all about there are two great resources to help you get you started. The first is taking a Newcomer’s Class at A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center. This is a great way to introduce yourself to yoga and it is also a great way to get re-introduced if you have been a way for awhile. This class is very motivating and occurs once a month at the studio. Sign up today!
A second resource can be found at the studios in-house store. It is Chapter 9-Great Excuses, Great Solutions in the book, The Healing Path of Yoga, Time-Honored Wisdom and Scientifically Proven Methods That Alleviate Stress, Open Your Heart, and Enrich Your Life by Nischala Joy Devi.
What helps you stay motivated taking care of yourself?
Tags: A Gentle Way, A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center, Lanita Varshell, Nischala Joy Devi
Posted in Classes at A Gentle Way, Yoga for Health | No Comments »
March 29th, 2010
Written by Michelle Maguire
Yoga helps us develop self-awareness. Sometimes our mind and busy lives tell us that we can keep going and going. Sometimes this can go on and on and ultimately the result is illness in one form or another.
On Thursday I was in a Meditation in Movement Style Gentle Yoga class with Lanita Varshell. I have been taking this class for years now and my challenges will vary on any given day. Sometimes my challenges are in the meditation and sometimes they are physical. Ideally these two come together for the ultimate yoga experience. On my physically challenging days I know that my body is telling me that my mind wants me to do more than I am physically capable of. I believe when this happens to me that stress related illness is beginning to form in my body.
When you take the time to slow down and listen to your mind and body you will start to understand not only where you hold your stress but that some days your entire body is holding stress. On these days I have found that I am able to improve my overall disposition by doing an hour session on the Bio-Mat. Sometimes I immediately feel better other times I am definitely on the track to getting better. The pain I am feeling in my body subsides and I am able to go on with all the things that I need to do in life.
The yoga class allows me to better take care of myself and the Bio-Mat is a great addition to any well-being program you may be doing for yourself. It helps re-balance your mind, body and spirit. Next time you visit A Gentle Way, stop by the front desk and make an appointment for an incredible experience on the Bio-Mat.
For more information go to:
https://agentleway.thebiomatcompany.us/home/
Do you use the Bio-Mat? Do you have a story you would like to share about an experience you have had using the Bio-Mat?
Tags: A Gentle Way, BioMat, Lanita Varshell, Meditation in Movement Style Gentle Yoga
Posted in Bio-Mat | 3 Comments »
March 22nd, 2010
Written by Michelle Maguire
We have all heard of people having premonitions or intuitions, but science can’t really prove them, and for those of us who need “proof” we set these ideas aside. But how does it feel when you were reminiscing about a friend and you run into that person the next day!
Recently I was in a group yoga class at the studio and was asked to think of a word to concentrate on during Savasana. My mind picked the word JOY. That evening I received a free weekly e-mail from Nishala Joy Devi, The Secret Power of Yoga and it stated, “United in the Heart, consciousness is steadied, then we abide in our true nature–Joy.” It struck me as great and I felt an accomplishment in my yoga practice. I felt like I was “on the right page”. This feeling of connectedness is what we all desire, and it feels good when it comes our way.
Premonition and Intuition are both referred to as the apparent ability to acquire knowledge without reference or the use of reason. It is believed that it is an innate ability that comes from past experiences and knowledge.
In Lanita’s classes you often hear her say, “Smile even if you don’t feel like it. A smile comes from joy and sometimes joy can come from a smile.”
So, the word joy was my word of the week. I noticed it and it produced itself in my life. I attribute this awareness to my yoga practice at the studio and will always be very grateful for my group yoga classes.
Do you have a story about a premonition or intuition that you would like to share? Has a yoga class brought clarity to you in some way?
Tags: Lanita Varshell, Nischala Joy Devi
Posted in Classes at A Gentle Way, Meditation In Movement | 1 Comment »
March 2nd, 2010
Whether you are new to yoga or a returning student A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center can guide you and help you become more aware of our daily experiences. Yoga is a practice that will help you complete your daily tasks without fatigue and with pleasure.
There is a zen saying, “Paths cannot be taught, they can only be taken.” I think of this when I question how long it will take me to “learn” yoga. I have decided that it will take me as long as I live.
I find my yoga practice changes and adapts to what I need at a particular time in my life. Recently I have been taking classes from our newest yoga instructor Jen Edwards. She is a mom like me. On Tuesday, Jen was guiding the class through Meditation In Movement. I kept thinking there was somewhere else for me to be. This will happen in yoga, yet what I find amazing is that when you take time to stop and breathe with intention, you always come out of a class wondering why you resist slowing down so much. When you complete a class the world becomes less heavy and our intentions more clear.
Do you have a gentle yoga experience that you would like to share? Do you want to know how to get started treating your body and mind better? Let me know your thoughts and experiences and together we can make our lives a more joyful experience.
Tags: A Gentle Way Yoga and Joyful Movement Center, Lanita Varshell, Meditation in Movement Style Gentle Yoga
Posted in Classes at A Gentle Way, Meditation In Movement, Yoga for Health | 1 Comment »
