There are 3 doshas that make-up your bodily constitution, learn the specific dosha for your body. Then discover the foods best suited to your specific dosha.

We will learn which yoga postures are best suited to your dosha and we will practice those postures.

You will leave the workshop with a guide better food choices meant JUST FOR YOU!

You will also receive handouts so you are prepared to practice your particular yoga postures anytime you need a “tune-up”.

Most importantly, we’re going to have FUN!!!

Join us:

Saturday May 19th, 2:00-4:00 pm

Cost: $30 per person

The workshop will be held at the Harlingen Yoga Center.

Space is limited so reserve your spot soon!

You can RSVP via phone, email or Facebook.

Namaste!

Shirley

As we delve more into our asana (posture) and pranayama practice and discover new teachers, whether online or at workshops, it is easy to find a new version of yoga at each turn. It seems so much variety has been spurred for just this one limb of yoga practice. We hear terms like Hatha, Bikram, Ashtanga, Anusara and what exactly is Jivamukti Yoga? The later is actually a very spiritual and beautiful practice…more on this later.

Yoga continues to expand every year; it is estimated more than 20 million people practice some form of asana yoga in the United States, according to a recent NPR story. So what exactly is everyone practicing? Below we, with the help of Yoga Journal, have provided a brief description of some of the most popular types of asana yoga practice.

However, before you discover new ways you can open your body, there is one person you should note who was significant, to say the least, in shaping yoga asana practice as we know it today, no matter what form.

Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya

Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888 – 1989) was an Indian yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer and scholar.  Often referred to as “the father of modern yoga,” Krishnamacharya is widely regarded as one of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century and is credited with the revival of Hatha Yoga. He is widely considered the creator of the vinyasa-style of yoga, linking the breath with body movement.

Krishnamacharya approached every student as unique in the belief that the most important aspect of teaching yoga was that the student be taught according to his, or her, individual capacity at any given time. For Krishnamacharya, this meant that the path of yoga would mean different things for different people and that each person should be taught in a manner that he or she could understand clearly, no matter, which religion, creed,  country of origin or race. Some of his students also helped shape modern yoga echoing their teacher’s techniques and philosophy. These include BKS Iyengar (Krishnamacharya’s brother-in-law), K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009), TKS Desikachar (Krishnamacharya’s son) and Indra Devi (1899-2002), one of the first female yoga students, introduced yoga to Hollywood. Her students included Elizabeth Arden, Gretta Garbo and Gloria Swanson.

Although he may not be a household name, his legacy can be seen, learned and experienced in every yoga studio around the country.

Yoga A-Z:

Acroyoga: Just as the name suggests, this is a blend of yoga, acrobatics and Thai Massage. You will learn how to build physical strength, as well as to trust that you can “fly” into airborne partner poses. Yes, you need a partner for this one. Having a partner support your back, arms or feet can open tight areas, with massage techniques, encouraging an even greater release. All of that,  plus the excitement of practicing in the air.

John Friend

Anusara Yoga:The word Anusara means “flowing with grace,” and this style is a mix of challenging poses, life-affirming teaching and alignment principles. Anusara was founded by John Friend, a former student of BKS Iyengar, He found inspiration for his formulation of the Universal Principles of Alignment in his study of tantric philosophy (see Tantra) in the Siddha Yoga lineage. It provides flowing asanas with a lot of inspirational teaching as part of the practice.

K. Pattabhi Jois

Ashtanga Yoga: This physically demanding practice uses a fixed sequence of poses developed by Indian Yoga master K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009) and is taught worldwide. The entire sequence can take a lifetime to learn, but the primary series offers plenty of challenge, which is heavy on sun salutations, arm-strengthening Chaturangas and pick-ups and jump backs. This is not to be confused with the Ashtanga Yoga laid out by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga yoga translates to eight-limbed yoga, the path to unification with the universal self where asana is just one limb.

Baron Baptiste

Baptiste Yoga: Practiced in a heated room, this vigorous style will get your heart pumping and self-confidence stirring. Founded by Baron Baptiste (1963 -) the practice encourages you to find authentic personal power in life through your practice.

Bikram Choudury

Bikram Yoga: Also a heated practice, Bikram takes their heat to 105 degrees. Founded by Bikram Choudhury in 1971, Bikram Yoga involves a set sequence of 26 poses, half standing and half on the floor. The Bikram system is taught throughout the US by more than 5,000 certified teachers, taught by Bikram himself.

Ana Forrest

Forrest Yoga: Created by Ana Forrest, this type of yoga focuses on healing the body, mind, emotions and spiritual injuries through asana and breath work. Drawing from both Iyengar Yoga (see Iyengar Yoga) through the use of props and alignment, flowing movements of Ashtanga Yoga and influences of Sivananda Yoga (see Sivananda Yoga), Forrest Yoga uses the breath to track the body, often holding poses for long periods of time through breath work.

Hatha Yoga: The term Hatha refers to the physical practices of the yoga tradition. It refers to the use of the postures to find balance and harmony in the body. Ha, meaning “Sun,” or the masculine side of the body, and tha, meaning “moon,” the feminine aspects of our body that each person has. The concept of Hatha focuses on bringing a balance between both for a healthy life, mind and body. Although Hatha is used as a term for generally referring to a slower-paced class that teaches you to align your body and work with the breath, technically all asana practices are Hatha Yoga.

Hot Yoga: These classes are also held in a heated room, and involve an intense fast-paced, vinyasa-style (see vinyasa yoga) practice. The heat can make it easier to go deeper in some poses, which make the workout so intense. Expect to sweat.

Swami Satchidananda

Integral Yoga: This is more of a gentle practice. It integrates chanting, breathing practices, meditation and deep relaxation. Founded by Swami Satchidananda (1914-2002), Integral Yoga teaches the components of yogic life-style and encourages you to enjoy your natural health, well-being and joy.

BKS Iyengar

Iyengar Yoga: Founded by BKS Iyengar, one of the fathers of modern yoga, Iyengar focuses on alignment. Many types of yoga have been birthed from Iyengar’s practice by his students. This type of yoga teaches the fundamental building blocks of alignment and the best use of props for enhancing your practice and avoiding injury. The practice is often slow-paced, but you’re still likely to leave with burning muscles.

David Life & Sharon Gannon

Jivamukti Yoga: Both a physically and intellectually stimulating practice. You will flow through challenging asana sequences with a focus on the use of music to help your practice. Developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life in 1986, Jivamukti Yoga explores Sanskrit chanting, philosophical teachings and meditation.

Kripalu Yoga: In this style of yoga, you will learn to observe the sensations in the body and mind and develop insight into how your decisions, on the mat and in life, are serving you. Classes range from gentle to demanding, with an emphasis on adapting yoga to your needs and abilities. You can find Kripalu teachers around the country, but trainings and workshops are offered at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Kundalini Yoga: Finding energy is the main focus of this practice that emphasizes a unique blending of chant, movement and breathing. You will explore kriyas (an action, deed or effort) practices that combine mantra, breathwork and rapid movements, often repeated several times. Each class finishes with meditation, relaxation and cheerful song. It is said to bring health to the nervous and glandular systems and awaken the kundalini (an unconscious energy we all have said to be coiled at the base of our spine), which leads to practitioner to spiritual elevation.

Mysore Practice: A self led version of Ashtanga Yoga sequences. Instead of following a teacher’s cues, you learn the Ashtanga series and move through it at your own pace. The teacher gives one-on-one instruction and adjustments. This practice encourages you to listen to the own rhythm of your body and your instincts.

Power Yoga: As the name suggests, expect an intense workout that can strengthen the muscles and heat you up. Many of these classes are also held in heated rooms. Classes usually incorporate flowing sequences of standing poses interspersed with long, challenging holds.

Shiva Rea

Prana Flow Yoga: Prana Flow Yoga is a near-continuous motion to the beat of pulsing music. Founded by Shiva Rae, this yoga features a playful and creative sequencing often including dancing and Indian martial arts.

Restorative Yoga: These classes move students into guided and supported poses through the use of props, which allow you to sink into relaxation and soothe your nervous system. Classes typically include four to six floor poses held passively for several minutes. Expect a long Savasana at the end, usually about 20 minutes.

Swami Sivananda

Sivananda Yoga: A meditative practice based on the teachings of one of yoga’s forefathers, Swami Sivananda (1887-1963). This style blends chanting, breath work, meditation and relaxation into a slow moving asana class. There are only 10 centers in North America.

Tantra: Tantra influences many popular styles of yoga. It is delivered as a positive, life-affirming worldview, the Tantric perspective suggests that everything, including pleasure and pain, the good and bad, is an expression of the Divine Consciousness and can be used for spiritual growth.

Gary Kraftsow

Viniyoga: Respected for its therapeutic technique, Viniyoga offers a variety of methods, from asana and pranayama to mantra and meditation. Teaching is specialized to the individual and emphasizes mobilizing the spine and coordinating movement with breath. This method was developed by Gary Kraftsow, a student in the lineage of Krishnamacharya (1888-1889) and TKV Desikachar. Note the term Viniyoga was once used by Desikachar, but he abandoned the term preferring a more anonymous term for his father’s teachings. Kraftsow is the only American teacher certified by Desikachar to train teachers in the lineage Desikachar taught.

Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa (flow) classes vary, but the common thread is the way poses flow from one to another, synchronized with breath. This type of yoga is used in many other types of yoga. When a teacher says take a vinyasa, they usually are referring to the sequence of Plank, Chaturanga, Upward-Facing Dog (or Cobra) to Downward-Facing Dog.

Yin Yoga: Influenced by the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Yin Yoga is said to enhance the flow of prana in tissues around the joints through the practice of long-held poses. Yin sequences are often geared toward strengthening certain energy channels. Poses are held for several minutes.

Yoga Therapy: This yoga is taught one-on-one or in small groups, using gentle movement, conscious breathing, visualization and meditation based on individual needs. Based on the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya, yoga therapy offers students a method of self-care that can promote the healing of many illnesses.

Although the situation may not have escalated to the point where coming to Balasana (child’s pose) is complete torture for your nose, those sweaty tapas classes and placing our feet, hands and bottom here and there moving from pose to pose and who knows how many downward dogs, can really take a toll on your mat.

It’s just habit after we peel ourselves up from a relaxing savasana to just roll our mats up and/ or perhaps stuff it into our yoga bag, which can turn into a breeding ground for germs after a while. Think dark, damp and no air.

Don’t feel bad if cleaning your mat is something you never thought of. We usually think communal mats need to be cleaned as often as possible, if not daily. But when you hear the concept, it makes sense.

Cleaning your mat isn’t something you have to do everyday, but a few times a year keeps anything icky from taking residence in your space for your practice.

Not sure exactly how to clean? Well, we found out there are several sites with information and several ways to do so. Below are some of the ones we found online to be the best way to get the year’s grime and sweat, or however long it’s been, off your mat.

Yoga Journal: If your mat is lightly soiled, use a spray bottle, damp sponge, or terry cloth rag to apply a solution of two cups of water and four drops of dish soap. Rub the soiled areas. Wipe the mat with clean water; then rub with a dry terry cloth towel. Hang to air dry.

If your mat is heavily soiled, submerge it in a solution of warm water and mild detergent; use very little soap as any residue may cause the mat to become slippery during future use. Thoroughly hand wash the mat and rinse in clean water. After squeezing out the excess water, lay the mat on a dry towel and roll the mat and towel together. Stepping on the rolled up mat will squeeze more moisture out of the mat and into the towel. Then unroll and hang to air dry.

MindBodyGreen: Take a lemon, cut it in half (use one half for each side), then squeeze the lemon all over your mat. Lemon has long been used as a cleaning product for pretty much everything. Lemons are acidic and provide antibacterial and antiseptic properties for cleaning. Added bonus: they smell pretty good! Then take a sponge with a rough edge, cover it in soap and water (any of your favorite organic soaps are a great option), and sponge down your mat. Lastly, using the sponge with just water, clear off all of the soap, flip your mat and repeat on the other side.

Towel your mat off (preferably with something lint free) for expedited drying.

Or, MindBodyGreen also offers this second method:

1. Fill your bathtub a quarter to half way with cold to warm water.

2. While the tap is running add a large dollop of your favorite natural hair shampoo, something like Burt’s Bees Pomegranate and Soy Shampoo, and a few small drops of your favorite essential oils, maybe peppermint and lavender, so they disperse.

3. Unroll and submerge your yoga mat in the water. Swish it around a little and let it soak for a few minutes.

4. Along with the warm water, the shampoo will help loosen the schmootz and help break down the body oils on the surface of the mat. The essential oils will help to disinfect the mat and lend therapeutic soothing and lifting aromas.

5. With a clean sponge wipe the mat, making sure to get its front and back side.

6. Drain dirty water from the tub and rinse the mat under the faucet quickly so as to not waste water. Holding the mat over the tub let it drip dry for a few moments.

7. Finally, hang your mat to dry outside in the sun if you’re able. Sunlight is a natural, free disinfectant. Otherwise, hang inside over shower curtain rod or wooden clothes drying rack.

YogaMatters: All of our sticky, standard, lightweight, travel and ecoYoga mats are machine washable: Use a little mild detergent and a cool wash cycle (no more than 40 degrees). Don’t use the spin cycle. Allow lots of time to air dry (do not use a tumble drier or radiator) and avoid folding or using your mat until it is completely dry, as this may shorten its life. You can roll your mat up with a towel and squeeze excess water out to speed up the drying process. You can also use a damp cloth to wipe your mat clean. Do not wash your mat unnecessarily.

Cotton mats can also be machine washed – full details supplied with each mat.

YogaVa with Robyn Regula has three methods: Hand washing, machine washing and using a spray disinfectant in between uses or as needed.

When hand washing, it is helpful to have a bathtub. It works great if you have a hand held shower head (alternately use a plastic tub like the ones left over from yogurt). Use your hands, a clean sponge or a wash cloth; rub it gently (just use water or if you prefer use a mild soap like Dr. Bronner’s) and then rinse it well. If you use soap make sure you get all the soapy residue off. You can then put down a large towel, put the yoga mat on top of it, roll it up, stand on it, squish it and roll it around to get some of the water out of the mat and into the towel. Hang the mat to dry over a clothes drying rack, towel rod or over a shower curtain rod. If it is warm outside then put it outside to dry in the fresh air. The downside of this method is that it can take quite a while to dry depending on the temperature, humidity and airflow. It will probably take at least 24 hours or possibly even days. Be sure it is completely dry before rolling it back up. Otherwise the moisture that is in it will come out and it will feel wet, slippery and possibly a little slimy next time you go to use it. Give it more time than you think it needs.

Another way to wash your mat is to just put it in the washing machine. Some folks discourage this and say that it can cause little tears in the fabric, especially in top loading machines. I have not seen this happen to mine, yet use this method at your own risk. If you are nervous about it or feel uncertain just use one of the other two methods described here. I have tried this method with cold, warm and hot water, it all seems to work just fine, although most people recommend using cold water. Put one mat in the machine at a time, by itself. Sometimes I just use water other times I use a very mild soap. I have also put it in the dryer on the lowest temperature setting which seems to work just fine as well. Sometimes I’ll just dry it part way to get the initial wetness off and then air dry it the rest of the way; you can also do this with the bath tub method.

The third way to sanitize your yoga mat is to spray it down with an all natural disinfectant. Some of these are pre-made and sold in stores, yoga studios and online. You can also make your own very easily and inexpensively once you have the ingredients on hand. Find a nice, clean 8 oz. spray bottle with a good sprayer. Ideally find one that is pretty and makes you happy to look at and use, so you keep it out by your mat and will be more inspired to use it frequently. You will also need to find lavender and ti-tree essential oils and grapefruit seed extract (GSE). These are readily available at health food stores, natural supplement stores, some grocery stores and online.

We will be having our Wednesday, April 4th prenatal class, but we will not have our Friday, April 6th class.

We will resume our regular schedule Monday, April 9th.

Jason teaches extensively at conferences in the United States and abroad, is part of numerous teacher-training faculties, and directs the prestigious Mind/Body Center at the San Francisco Bay Club. He s recently partnered with Yoga Journal to continue creating high-quality, home-practice DVDs.

Energizing practice:

She has made great strides in the alignment and restorative practice of yoga teaching relaxation as a practice and then moving into asana that brings alignment back into each part of the body. As she would say, “Yoga is work.” For more information on Brigitte, visit her online bio.

We hope you enjoy her as much as we do!

Remember, only go to where you still feel comfortable, but challenged. Honor your body and your practice.

BackMitra Practice:

Alignment Practice:

 

I have included a few of her clips to mix in to your gentle practice

Seated Practice:

Standing Practice:

Release Stress & Tension Practice:

Tags: Jade Butler Take5Yoga
]]> http://www.harlingenyoga.com/home-practice-gentle-yoga/feed 0 http://www.harlingenyoga.com/home-practice http://www.harlingenyoga.com/home-practice#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:18:54 +0000 admin http://www.harlingenyoga.com/?p=5680 Some of the videos will include a few of our favorite teachers with a little introduction about that teacher and their contribution to yoga. As you do practice at home, always remember to ...]]> With the Harlingen Yoga Center closing, we will post videos this week so you can continue your practice at home, if you choose. We will include a post for each class so no matter what your level is, you will have something to work with at home.

Some of the videos will include a few of our favorite teachers with a little introduction about that teacher and their contribution to yoga. As you do practice at home, always remember to honor your body and and your practice; feel the stretch, not the strain.

We will see you back on the mat on Monday, March 12.

-Namaste.

We will reopen Monday, March 19 with our regular schedule. Although we are closed, we will be updating our website with videos and content for your home practice. Visit our blog for more details. Enjoy your spring holiday and be safe.

Namaste!

The Yoga Center was scheduled to be closed Friday-Sunday. However, the good news is that we will be open for Friday morning class and Saturday, too!

The Friday morning class will be 9:00-10:30AM. The class will be Open Level with an additional 30 minutes of restorative practice. We will be closed Friday evening, no class.

The Saturday class will be as regularly scheduled, 10:00AM-11:30AM.

I understand that there is still space available at the yoga retreat at South Padre Island this week-end, March 2-4.

It should be a lot of fun!

Call or email us if you would like registration information

Namaste!