Finding Balance through Pratypaksha Bhavana - Thoughts from my Interview with Anita

I just re-listened to my interview with Anita Boser last night and once again was reminded of the importance of keeping yoga practice fresh.  I had the good fortune of having on hand an article that Anita had given me some time ago specifically on how both “power and pain” in the body centers around the functioning of the connective tissue.  There were some exercises suggested in the article that got me thinking in new ways – and I’ve learned that thinking in new ways only transforms if one puts those thoughts into action.  So, I got out my mat and began to work with the new material. It involved working with weights and using some other props to activate the core muscles.  I utilize light weights regularly in my practice to maintain strength and to keep reminding me of my habitual tendency to ‘fall into’ my right arch, hip and sacrum.  However, the exercises suggested in the article were quite novel to my body and the results nearly miraculous.  I found first off working this way to be quite challenging, and I had a difficult time maintaining balance.  I know from experience that’s a great sign that I’m not in a habitual pattern, so I was encouraged.  As I worked, I quickly felt fatigue in the areas on my right side that I have trouble getting to fire at all.  I took the lessons learned from these few ‘fascial exericises’ into my standard yoga poses, and I felt well – different.  I was standing fully on my right leg, instead of shifting over to my left.  I could feel my right glute medius firing fully and the weight evenly distributed across the arch of my foot, not because I willed it so, but because I was standing in balance: True samasthiti; an elusive experience I am forever chasing after. 

As I have been moving through my day I notice that I am still holding strong on the right side – effortlessly.  How fun!  New practice! New ideas! My mind is brimming over with novelty.  I’m reminded again of the sutras call to pratypaksha bhavana – to change our perspective in order to get ourselves unstuck.  As we bring new perspectives to the body, the mind also grows more supple. That’s the magic and wisdom of yoga.  Hooray – and thank you Anita!!!!  

If you haven’t listened to Anita’s interview on the how fascia affects our yoga practice, you must!  Your body will thank you!! 

Listen to this interview here: July 23 - Anita Boser

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Thoughts from Robin

It was such a pleasure to interview Carol Krucoff about her new book, Healing Neck and shoulder Pain with Yoga.  I’ve heard from many of you that the show inspired you to buy the book and begin to take your yoga practice more seriously as a method for healing.  That’s exactly what I had hoped Living Yoga Radio would do – support you in going deeper with your practice and expanding your yoga resources!  

In this vein I’d like to highlight an upcoming event: Samaraya Center’s sal-u-thon, a fund and awareness raising event on Saturday, July 24, 11-2 in Cal Anderson Park.  If you can join in, please do – if you’d like to support the great work that Samarya Center is doing, your donation would be most appreciated.

The Samarya Center is a 501(c)(3)organization dedicated to providing yoga and yoga therapy to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Located in Seattle's central district, we offer a variety of low cost yoga classes to our immediate community as well as to the greater community through our workshops, trainings and on-going yoga classes. As Seattle's non-profit yoga resource, with a large and active volunteer base, we have the ability to offer many free programs to marginalized and under served populations.  In addition to our many on-going community programs, including our ground breaking Bedside Yoga program for people who are seriously ill and dying, we have recently pioneered two new, innovative programs - one at Pike Medical Clinic, offering yoga for free to people with chronic pain, many of whom are homeless and/or drug addicted, and another is offered here, a free yoga class (with childcare) taught in Spanish for low income moms from the Latino community.  

Please come out to learn more about The Samarya Center, celebrate the radiance of you, the sun and community, and help us to reach our $10,000 goal to continue to provide and to grow our unique and desperately needed community programs. All the information you need can be found at: www.saluthon.org.  Register today, or send in your tax deductible donation of any amount!

On July 23 – I’m interviewing Anita Boser – the Queen of Undulation.  Listen in and learn how your asana practice may in fact be locking you into your body rather than freeing you up!!!  Don’t miss this most educational discussion! 

Blessings to you all – May your practice continue to evolve! 

Robin

Listen to this interview here: July 6 - Carol Krucoff

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June 28th Show - Yoga for Hope

It was a pleasure to speak with Michele Dionne and Tricia Madden of City of Hope, and Jenniferlyn Chiemingo, the instructor representing Seattle’s upcoming fundraiser Yoga for Hope.  To recap, here are a few inspiring facts about City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading Comprehensive Cancer Centers, for our local Yoga for Hope participants and sponsors to rally around:

• City of Hope conducts more than 300 clinical studies – involving 30-40% of its eligible patients.  The national average is less than 5 percent. 
• City of Hope has one of the top programs in hematology, prostate cancer and sarcoma in the state of California.  
• City of Hope has developed breakthroughs in cancer drugs and are responsible for the development of synthetic human insulin, which benefits millions of diabetics. 
• City of Hope has performed more than 9.000 bone marrow and stem cell transplants. 
• City of Hope is currently the only institution in the world to perform a clinical study using genetically engineered T-cells to recognize and attack glioma, a highly lethal form of brain cancer. 
• City of Hope has been awarded more than $52 million in research grants.

I’d also like to acknowledge the local studios and teachers who are behind making this an annual event – one our city and yoga community can really take pride in.  

Jennifer Hill - http://www.jenniferhillyoga.com/

Amber Tande - http://www.sutrayogaseattle.com/

Jenniferlyn Chiemingo - http://www.yogalife.com/

Laura DeFreitas - http://www.lauranidrayoga.com/

Jennifer Isaacson - http://www.jenniferisaacson.com/

Brian Charlton - http://site.balancefitnessandwellness.com/

Tami Hafzalla - http://www.bhakti-flow.com/

Cosetta Romani - http://puravitayoga.com/

Dora Gyarmati - http://www.mindfulpoweryoga.com/

Please, if you can’t participate yourself in the event, consider sponsoring one of these teachers or other friends in the community who will be there on July 10^th.  It’s easy!  To register or donate, just click visit the Yoga for Hope website.

And… given the Seattle summer we’re having – pray for sun (but not too much) Low 70’s, breezy, intermittent light clouds to offer a little sweat relief!

Blessings to all of you who will be out there on the lawn of Memorial Stadium… Saluting the Sun and the Spirit of Yoga!!!

Listen to this interview here: 

June 28th - Yoga for Hope

Click to listen now, right click and choose "Save As" to download!