The Whole Body

Every time you take a breath or work with one part of the body, another part is affected. For example, stand up and do a forward fold. Come out of the pose and massage your feet and do some ankle circles -- spend a couple of minutes on each foot. Return to the forward fold. Baring any major blockages in the body, you'll experience more release in the fold and be able to go deeper as a result of having loosened up the feet.


As you open your hips, the nostrils open and the breath becomes deeper. Everything is connected.


In class we'll focus on backbends and building stamina with long steady inhales.


Have a great week and see you soon,


Kris Kramer
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.totalhealthyoga.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

What is Yoga?

Most Yoga today is based on Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras. These sutras pretty much define Yoga and the eight limbs:

1. Actions (yamas)
2. Attitudes (niyamas)
3. Postures (asanas)
4. Breathing (pranayama)
5. Bring attention inward (pratyahara)
6. Focus (dharana)
7. Meditation (dyana)
8. Bliss or enlightenment (samadhi)

In our hatha yoga classes we focus mainly on the first five or six limbs.

The sutras define postures like this: "Asana must have the duel qualities of alertness (sithira) and relaxation (sukha)."

This week we explore staying alert during postures and breathing. Draw awareness to the body and the breath. Also, we practice relaxing without collapsing. This applies to the body and breath.

For example, as you sit reading this, take a moment to get very comfortable -- feet on the ground and back supported. Now picture yourself as a tall pillar candle. Release your muscles and skin like melting wax. The flame still flickers strongly on the inside; bring this vibrancy into your breath and feel the energy of life fill you. At the same time the muscles surrender. Do this for at least 6 breaths.

Best of luck and see you next week!

Kris Kramer
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
http://www.TotalHealthYoga.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Unity

Inspired by Barack Obama and his Ebenezer speech this week we focus on Unity. The word Yoga actually means to yoke or find union. In class we'll work on seeing the relationship between the legs and the spine. Also, noticing how not only does posture affect breath, but where and how you breathe directly impacts your posture.

For example, start your inhales from the top of the chest and then continue inhaling all the way down to the navel. Emphasize the chest expansion. This helps to straighten out rounding in the upper back. As you exhale, begin in the belly and then work your way up to the collarbones. Focusing most of the exhale in the belly brings length to the low back and prevents sway back or over-arching the lumbar area.

Consider how unity applies in your life. Through your practice do you begin to see how each part of the body affects the whole? Do you see how your attitude impacts those around you? When you find a place of peace and centering in your heart, notice how much easier it is to love and find empathy for others.

Namaste,

Kris Kramer
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
http://www.TotalHealthYoga.Blogspot.com

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Root of the Neck

This week, we're talking about the Root of the Neck as described by Richard Rosen. Here are a couple of interesting quotes from Thinkexist.com:

“Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' "

“A turtle travels only when it sticks its neck out.”

Whenever you find a blockage in your body or thinking that just won't go away, look to the root. What is underlying the tension or anger? For the neck, look to the shoulders. For anger look for sadness and fear.



Namaste,

Kris Kramer
http://www.totalhealthyoga.com/
http://www.totalhealthyoga.blogspot.com/

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!