Yoga – Conscious Community Magazine: Recent Episodes
Yoga – Conscious Community Magazine
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT The benefits of yoga are felt the FIRST time you do it. We go to yoga because we want to increase flexibility, strengthen and tone our muscles, alleviate stress and let go of our busy days. For some, it’s the only time we may get one hour to …
By Stefanie Arend Some types of yoga specify precisely how certain positions should look, and many people attempt to emulate this ideal image, whereas Yin Yoga is oriented towards the person practicing it. Our inner teacher is truly our most important yoga teacher, and I believe there is great healing potential when we listen to …
By Marianne Clyde What do we do when it looks like the world is going to hell in a hand-basket? We change our focus. Not by putting our head in the sand, but strengthening our own internal locus of control. So that rather than become part of the problem, we become the solution. The …
By Monica Tunnell, RMT, RYT “Yoga is the cessation of the movements of the mind. Then there is abiding in the Seer’s own form.” ―Patañjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali In the Eastern world, the path through yoga has had a different road…the physical practice, or asana, a single limb of the practice, has always been one …
By Stefanie Arend In our busy world, anxiety affects more people than ever. We power through late nights at work, are constantly bombarded by messages even after leaving the office, and are haunted by performance pressure in the classroom and workplace. The internet makes it easier than ever to compare ourselves to others and harder …
By Stefanie Arend I cannot imagine my life without Yin Yoga. It is my personal anchor, and I do it every single day, rain or shine. As an avid year-round practitioner, I can attest that Yin Yoga is especially useful in the summer because it balances the Yang energy which is strongest in the hot …
By Cynthia Gran – It’s easier to tell a lie than it is to tell the truth… It’s easier to drag your feet than it is to be a man… It’s easier to see the book upon the shelf, Than to see yourself —See Yourself, George Harrison “The outer world, all that you see with …
By Michael Fine The Bikram Method is a style of Hatha yoga. Each class lasts 90 minutes and is comprised of two sets of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. It is conducted in a room heated to 105°F and 40% humidity. The series systematically works every muscle, bone, joint, tissue, tendon, organ, and system …
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT Most everyone will tell you that if you can reach the point of forgiveness toward another person or yourself that a “weight will lift from your shoulders.” With the holidays upon us, the topic of forgiveness is front and center, as we may be interacting with people for …
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT – Most everyone will tell you that if you can reach the point of forgiveness toward another person or yourself that a “weight will lift from your shoulders.” With the holidays upon us, the topic of forgiveness is front and center, as we may be interacting with …
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT Anger. A powerful emotion. Everyone feels anger at some point. We all feel it uniquely. Yet, our bodies experience it nearly identically. Feeling angry is an example of how we create our own suffering because of what we perceive, how we perceive it, and the way we react …
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT “Are you one of those yogis?” A question that I frequently hear after I tell someone what I do for a living. I can hear in the tone that it’s a bit of a loaded question. I admit that it used to ruffle my feathers. I’d think a …
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT – Suffering is defined, in a broad sense, as an experience of unpleasantness and aversion associated with the perception of harm or threat of harm in an individual. The opposite of suffering is pleasure or happiness. Suffering can be mental, physical or emotional. It affects each of us …
By Raquel Jex Forsgren, Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT – “Embracing reverence and love for all (Ahimsa), we experience oneness.” — Yoga Sutra 11.35 In The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman’s Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras, author, spiritual leader and one of my beloved teachers, Nischala Joy Devi, said, “When we …
Interview by Janae Jean and Spencer Schluter – For this installment, we had the pleasure to interview renowned vocalist, workshop leader, peace activist and author, Snatam Kaur. Kaur was raised in the Sikh and Kundalini Yoga tradition. She has released more than 20 recordings and published three books. Her well-received book, Original Light: The …
By Shelley Russell – “Take one yoga class, by the body, three times per week.” There is a growing number of parents, a quiet army who are saying no. No to children being overdiagnosed, overtreated and medicated. Families who are rejecting processed foods offered to the masses and deciding to grow and prepare their own …
By Bharat Kalra – When I talk about “my body,” I am declaring that I am separate from my body. When I say “my mind,” I am declaring that I am not my mind. But, if I am not my mind or body, then what am I? Long ago, human life revolved around three basic …
By Shannon Chada – Just as a yoga practice is unique to each individual, so is the art of being in-tune with our doshas. We are all different in mind and body, and our yoga practice should be a unique devotion to our overall wellness. Using supportive asanas, pranayama, nutritional choices, herbs, spices and essential …
By Heather Kellogg – Community = Attitudes + Interests + Goals It’s Wednesday, my alarm went off at 5:30 am. As I was getting ready for work, I laid down on my hardwood bedroom floor. “UGH, my back” I pulled myself back up and finished getting ready for my day. Out the door and onto …
By Shannon Chada – Just as a yoga practice is unique to each individual, so is the art of being in-tune with our doshas. We are all different in mind and body; and our yoga practice should be a unique devotion to our over-all wellness. Using supportive asanas (postures), pranayama (breath-work), nutritional choices, herbs, spices …
By Shannon Chada Just as a yoga practice is unique to each individual, so is the art of being in-tune with our doshas. We are all different in mind and body, and your yoga practice should be a unique devotion to your overall wellness. Using supportive asanas, pranayama, nutritional choices, herbs, spices and essential …
By Shannon Chada – Just as our yoga practice is unique to each individual, so is the art of balancing our chakras and our doshas. We are all different in mind and body; your yoga practice should be a unique devotion to your over-all wellness. Using supportive asanas specific to our doshas is an important aspect …
By Shannon Chada Love & Light – Yoga for The Crown Chakra This month we rise to greet our Crown Chakra. Sahasrara is Sanskrit for “the lotus flower of 1000 petals,” and it is our connection to higher realms and The Divine. Located at the top of our head, the Crown Chakra connects us to …
By Shannon Chada – Are you in touch with your intuition, or are your physical senses getting in the way of your inner knowing? We often tend to rely on our physical senses of sight, sound, touch, feel, and taste, so that we dismiss the message of our intuition. We typically use our mind, intellect, …
By Shannon Chada – Are you manifesting what you want in life with a clear voice? Is it resonating with truth? As we ascend through the chakras, the throat chakra is about the expression of self; your truth, purpose, and creativity. The fifth Chakra, focusing on the spiritual plane, is associated with the color turquoise blue. …
By Shannon Chada – Each one of us is in the process of weaving our own life tapestry. It is with each strand that we tell our stories of brokenness, pain, gratitude, and joy. This all-encompassing masterpiece is a reflection of our life, the journey of our heart and mind. The Sanskrit word for heart chakra is Anahata, which means "unstruck," as in the sound of the unstruck bell. Its name implies that if we listen …
By Shannon Chada – When we look within ourselves to ask the question “who am I?” a process of peeling back the layers begins. First, we release the obvious labels, “I am a mother, a wife, a Reiki Master Teacher, etc.,” then we dive a bit deeper, seeking a more meaningful depiction. In my own journey, as the layers unraveled, I found myself exploring notions of being a helper, healer, and teacher, …
By Jim Kaminecki – There are many benefits of exercise that are widely known. It’s not simply something that benefits the physical body, although that is certainly the case. A consistent routine also has benefits for emotional and psychological well-being. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience, and the body is the temple from which all that experience flows. …
By Shannon Chada – Let’s face it, sometimes it’s hard to get those creative juices flowing! While at other times, it seems creativity is pouring so fluidly, we are almost dragged out to sea in a tidal wave of passion! So, how can we help balance this ever-fluctuating flow? Connection, Creativity, Movement, and Breathwork. Energetically, …
http://www.fullcircleharmony.org/author/shannon/ By Shannon Chada – We commonly hear people tell us to “Ground Ourselves!” While we may understand that this idea of grounding ourselves means to find balance, how do we actually go about the act of “grounding?” In our human nature, we constantly seek to find this balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit. Through …
By Cynthia Gran Sometimes I don’t want to do anything; I just want to sit still. Winter is a great time to turn inward and reflect. Quiet and stillness come naturally as we contract from the colder weather. Nature itself becomes quite still during the winter as most plants go dormant and many animals hibernate. …
By Cynthia Gran My husband and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this month! I’ve been thinking about how we’ve grown over the years. We’ve consistently returned to yoga’s guiding principles our whole marriage. Our common yoga training was marked with reminders to be aware of our thoughts, our actions and our speech, and …
By Cynthia Gran During the summer when days are long and warm, many people enjoy spending time outside. Whether walking, biking or doing yoga, being in Nature is a rich experience, and with a little conscious effort, it becomes even richer. Here’s how you can bring your practice of meditation and mindfulness outside to …
By Cynthia Gran “The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem For that sweet odour which doth in it live.” Sonnet 54, Shakespeare Discovering essentials oils and their therapeutic uses, or aromatherapy, can be as transformative as the first time you realized the profound depth of yoga. Yoga and meditation teach us about ourselves, …
By Cynthia Gran “Little Darling, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter. Little Darling, it seems like years since it’s been here.” Here Comes the Sun, George Harrison As soon as you walk outside on a spring morning, the senses awaken. The ears fill with bird songs. The sun shines brighter and …
Column: Yoga From My Experience by Cynthia Gran “Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer; But I’m not the only one. I hope some day you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” Imagine, John Lennon Mir. Pokoj. Kapayapaan. Shalom. Frieden. Shanti. Pace. Salaam. Sülh. Heiwa. …
Silent Surrender by Cynthia Gran Column: Yoga From My Experience “Help me Lord, please to rise a little higher. Help me Lord, please to burn out this desire.” Hear Me Lord, George Harrison Recently I went on a silent meditation retreat. I’ve practiced meditation for years, but never had a chance to do five days of …