Kim's Yoga

Yoga Journal - Yoga Philosophy - Free Yourself

2012-01-31T11:56:00.000-06:00

Interesting article from Yoga Journal about finding freedom from resistance. . .

Yoga Journal - Yoga Philosophy - Free Yourself

Practicing Yoga Safely

2012-01-13T08:53:00.011-06:00

A recent article in the New York Times titled "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" has caused quite a stir in the yoga world and there have been numerous follow-up articles on this topic. In the interest of healthy yoga, I wanted to share the link to the original NYT article as well as the response from the Iyengar Association -
http://iynaus.org/news/iynaus-response

Resolve to do Yoga in 2012

2012-01-03T10:34:00.000-06:00

Now is the time to add yoga to your healthy habits for 2012! Yoga has incredible health benefits (see posting below for table) and is a tremendous spiritual practice as well.

Hope Yoga is the perfect choice for someone who is interested in yoga but might be put off by the New Age or Eastern religious aspects of yoga taught in many studios. I teach a Christian approach to yoga which demonstrates how yoga can be practiced by Christians.

Beginners are always welome and I will start this year with a review of foundational poses and alignment principles so it is the perfect time to join us!

Health Benefits of Yoga

2012-01-03T10:22:00.006-06:00

As reported in Yoga for Medicine book by Yoga Journal and Timothy McCall, a study found the following health benefits of yoga:

Restorative Practice

2011-12-06T21:08:00.000-06:00

Here is the restorative practice that we did tonight in Hope Yoga. Practice this at home to alleviate some of the holiday stress!

http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/restorative-yoga-sequence - scroll to the bottom of the page to see the illustrated poses

Handstand Prep - Yoga Journal Video

2011-11-21T17:16:00.000-06:00

We just did this pose in class last week - watch this video to try on your own at home!

Handstand Prep - Yoga Journal Video

Yoga Journal Office Yoga - Stress relief you can do at your desk. Day 2

2011-11-11T09:42:00.004-06:00

Yoga Journal Office Yoga - Stress relief you can do at your desk. Day 2

Yoga Journal Office Yoga - Stress relief you can do at your desk. Day 1

2011-11-11T09:42:00.003-06:00

Yoga Journal Office Yoga - Stress relief you can do at your desk. Day 1

5 ways to listen better: Julian Treasure on TED.com

2011-11-07T15:14:00.000-06:00

In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, “We are losing our listening.” In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and the world around you.

5 ways to listen better: Julian Treasure on TED.com

The Stress Relieving Benefits of 'Corpse Pose'

2011-10-31T13:48:00.000-06:00

Most of my students would agree that Savasana, or corpse pose, is their favorite pose. But there are some terrific benefits to this pose as explained in this article - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rod-stryker/yoga-nidra_b_1055013.html?ref=yoga

New Study Shows Yoga Helps Back Pain!

2011-10-26T09:07:00.000-06:00

Yesterday's New York Times published an article detailing the elements of the study.
This new study, published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, followed 200 people for 6 months.Patients took a 75-minute yoga class and did daily yoga exercises on their own.

“Compared with self-care, yoga and stretching class participants were significantly more likely to rate their back pain as better, much better or completely gone at all follow-up times,” the study noted.
“More participants in the yoga and stretching groups were very satisfied with their overall care for back pain."
Click here for full Times story.

Yoga Journal - Shift Stress into Low Gear

2011-10-17T15:56:00.000-06:00

Yoga Journal - Yoga Holistic Healing - Shift Stress into Low Gear

Meditation Reduces Pain Rapidly

2011-10-03T19:38:00.000-06:00

After practicing 20 minutes of meditation daily for just four days, study participants found that meditation reduced their perception of pain by up to 57%.

As reported in the October 1, 2011 issue of Bottom Line magazine, this finding was presented by Fadel Zeidan,PhD in a recent meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

Yoga Journal - Yoga Basics Column - Relaxation 101

2011-10-03T19:35:00.000-06:00

Yoga Journal - Yoga Basics Column - Relaxation 101

Yoga Journal - Extended Triangle Pose

2011-09-25T06:38:00.000-06:00

Yoga Journal - Extended Triangle Pose

Watch your breath!

2011-09-14T17:09:00.000-06:00

This article from Yoga Journal is about pranayama - the breath control practice that we have been doing at the end of class!

Yoga Journal - Yoga Pranayama - Blissful Breath

Having Trouble Sleeping?

2011-09-08T14:54:00.001-06:00

Check out the suggestions in this article from Yoga Journal.

Yoga Journal - Yoga Well-Being - Sweet Slumber

Yoga Journal - Yoga Anatomy - Stretching your Side Waist

2011-08-25T14:58:00.000-06:00

Interesting articles on how to stretch your side waist:

Yoga Journal - Yoga Anatomy - Free Your Pelvis

Yoga Journal - Extended Triangle Pose

Daily Insight -- Observing Posture

2011-06-03T15:39:00.001-06:00

How does your posture stack up?

Daily Insight -- Observing Posture

Yoga Sequences for Home Practice

2011-05-31T20:00:00.001-06:00

Here is a nice set of yoga sequences that you can do on your own at home. The poses are available on the Iyengar Association website at http://www.iynaus.org/practice/practice.php

Daily Insight -- Look Away!

2011-05-23T11:36:00.000-06:00

For those of us who spend way too much time staring at a computer screen. . .

Daily Insight -- Look Away!

Want a Natural High?

2011-04-16T19:45:00.000-06:00

Do yoga. Adults who did an hour of yoga three times a week felt less anxious and more upbeat during a three-month study than those who spent the same amount of time walking, say Boston University researchers. Brain scans taken before and after a yoga class revealed that levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter associated with better moods, increased 15 percent. Researchers believe yoga's deep breathing raises GABA levels by stimulating the vagus nerve, a pathway that triggers relaxation.

Quoted from More magazine April 2011

Yoga Journal - Yoga Asana Columns - What Science Can Teach Us About Flexibility

2011-04-11T14:25:00.000-06:00

Yoga Journal - Yoga Asana Columns - What Science Can Teach Us About Flexibility

My Yoga Journal -- Neck Savers

2011-04-06T09:02:00.000-06:00

More great advice from Julie Gudmestad - this time on neck savers!

My Yoga Journal -- Neck Savers

Yoga Journal - Yoga Practice - For Beginners: Balasana

2011-03-15T10:22:00.000-06:00

Here is a great article about one of our favorite articles - Balasana or Child's Pose:

Yoga Journal - Yoga Practice - For Beginners: Balasana

Great Idea on Rolling Your Mat!

2011-03-14T19:01:00.001-06:00

Here is a simple way to keep your mat clean!

Rolling Your Mat

Yoga Journal - Yoga Meditation - Inhale, Exhale, Relax

2011-03-14T18:51:00.000-06:00

Another great article from Yoga Journal with the theme Inhale, Exhale, Relax. It reminds me of what one of my yoga teachers once said about the breath - inhale, exhale, repeat as necessary!

Yoga Journal - Yoga Meditation - Inhale, Exhale, Relax

Daily Insight -- Let Your Breath Be Your Teacher

2011-03-10T13:37:00.000-06:00

Daily Insight -- Let Your Breath Be Your Teacher

Yoga Journal - Yoga Basics Column - Bridge Party

2011-03-09T20:08:00.001-06:00

I am trying to include Bridge Pose in every class now so here is an article about this pose that you might enjoy reading!

Yoga Journal - Yoga Basics Column - Bridge Party

My Yoga Journal -- Good Mornings

2011-02-02T16:26:00.000-06:00

My Yoga Journal -- Good Mornings

"I'm Not Who I Was" By Brandon Heath -

2011-02-01T08:36:00.000-06:00

I love the words of this song but especially the images of his friends!

Daily Insight -- Find Alignment in Mountain Pose

2011-01-30T20:42:00.001-06:00

Daily Insight -- Find Alignment in Mountain Pose

Managing Plantar Fasciitis

2010-11-23T14:34:00.000-06:00

Since our own Margot is suffering from plantar fasciitis, I thought this article might be helpful to her and any of you who might also suffer from this foot condition. And guess what, Downward Facing Dog is one of the recommended poses!

Managing Plantar Fasciitis

Baby in Restorative Yoga Pose

2010-11-03T09:43:00.000-06:00

How's this for sweet relaxation?

Kochi, son of a Restorative yoga teacher from Japan, enjoys a morning Restorative yoga pose.

Tight Hips?

2010-10-24T08:54:00.000-06:00

Since many of us have tight hips from sitting so much, you may be interested in this article from Yoga Journal!

Daily Insight -- A New Perspective on Hips

Backbending

2010-10-13T19:47:00.000-06:00

This week we worked on backbending in class. Here are some backbending poses that you can try on your own!

Yoga Journal - Yoga Home Practice - Curves Ahead

The Meaning of Life

2010-09-28T13:03:00.001-06:00

A dear friend of mine posted this video to her Facebook page. I just love it and wanted to share it with my dear yoga friends!

B.K.S. Iyengar 1938 newsreel Part 1 (SILENT)

2010-09-28T12:57:00.001-06:00

This is a film made by McPetruk in 1938 showing B.K.S Iyengar demonstrating yoga. Here we see a young Iyengar (still alive, well, and doing yoga, BTW) doing advanced poses that constitute the advanced A & B astanga series. This is obviously well before Iyengar dropped the vinyasa aspect from his practice and rebranded it as "Iyengar Yoga", putting greater emphasis on alignment.

How to Have Super Supple Shoulders

2010-09-01T12:50:00.000-06:00

For those of you with shoulder issues, here is an article from Yoga Journal - My Yoga Journal -- How to Have Super Supple Shoulders

The Whisper Wall

2010-08-16T20:16:00.000-06:00

You know how one thing leads to another. . .well, while viewing the Elizabeth Gilbert interviews on beliefnet.com (see posting below this one), out of the corner of my eye, I saw this little ad about how God doesn't have to shout to get our attention. I followed the link and found The Whisper Wall http://www.thewhisperwall.com/whisper-wall

There are some really touching stories about how God got the attention of individuals - watch and be moved.

Elizabeth Gilbert Interviews on Beliefnet

2010-08-16T19:58:00.000-06:00

Those of you who know me know that I am crazy about Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat Pray Love (see the link in my reading list on this site). I found this series of interviews with Elizabeth Gilbert on beliefnet.com - watch and judge for yourself http://www.beliefnet.com/search/site.aspx?q=elizabeth+gilbert

And, of course, go see the movie with Julia Roberts! http://www.letyourselfgo.com/

Christian Meditation

2010-08-16T14:01:00.000-06:00

For those of you who are interested in learning more about Christian Meditation, here is a site that you may find helpful - The World Community for Christian Meditation http://www.wccm.org/item.asp?recordid=howto&pagestyle=default

Hip Openers

2010-08-11T16:18:00.000-06:00

For those of you who sit a lot and have tight hips, here is a hip opener sequence from Yoga Journal you can do at home.

Home Practice Video Sequence Hip Openers

Is Yoga a Religion?

2010-08-10T12:53:00.000-06:00

Check out this article and decide for yourself!

Yoga Journal - Yoga News & Trends - Is Yoga a Religion?

All You Need is Yoga

2010-07-24T15:35:00.001-06:00

Yoga might be good for flexibility or relaxation, but to be truly fit, do you have to combine it with an activity like running or weight lifting?

Check out this article from Yoga Journal - Daily Insight -- All You Need is Yoga

Spent - book by Frank Lipman, M.D.

2010-07-19T20:49:00.002-06:00

I am reading this book called Spent - End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again by Frank Lipman, M.D.

I read some excerpts from this book in class on July 20. Great stuff and it even includes some restorative yoga postures!

If you are interested, you can probably get this book either in hardback or paperback at the library, or purchase from Amazon or your local bookstore!

Or you can check out Dr. Lipman's website for more information.

Tennis Ball Exercises You Can Do at Home!

2010-07-19T20:39:00.001-06:00

Here is a link to the tennis ball exercises we did in class on July 20. Great work for releasing fascia!!

http://laurensfitness.com/2008/02/24/tennis-ball-part-1-a-tool-you-never-knew-you-had/

April - What Science Can Teach Us About Flexibility

2010-04-12T15:04:00.001-06:00

This month instead of posting an article about a specific pose, I wanted to share with you this interesting item from Yoga Journal about what science can teach us about flexibility.

Yoga Journal - Yoga Asana Columns - What Science Can Teach Us About Flexibility

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Garden and Flower Meditations

2010-03-29T10:25:00.000-06:00

Here are two nice meditations that you can try at home. Just follow the link to the Yoga Journal article below and then download the MP3 files to perform the meditations.

http://www.yogajournal.com/livemag/lmcontent/10

March Pose of the Moon - Half Moon Pose

2010-03-29T10:22:00.000-06:00

Here is a fun pose that we have worked on in class! Try it at home - hint, use the wall to help you balance!

Yoga Journal - Half Moon Pose

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How Flexible are Your Arteries???

2010-01-15T15:01:00.000-06:00

In a post on their Well blog under the headline, “Phys Ed: Can Touching Your Toes Test Your Arteries?” writer Gretchen Reynolds answers thusly: pretty much.

“A provocative new study published this year in the journal Heart and Circulatory Physiology suggests that there may be a novel way to test at least one element of your heart’s health right in your own living room… Sit on the floor with your legs stretched straight out in front of you, toes pointing up. Reach forward from the hips. Are you flexible enough to touch your toes? If so, then your cardiac arteries probably are also flexible.”
“Cardiac artery flexibility is one of the less familiar elements of heart health. Supple arterial walls allow the blood to move freely through the body. Stiff arteries require the heart to work much harder to force blood through the unyielding vessels and over time could, according to Kenta Yamamoto, a researcher at North Texas and lead author of the study, contribute to a greater risk for heart attack and stroke.”

Count on Yoga: 38 Ways Yoga Keeps You Fit

2009-11-03T13:39:00.002-06:00

Yoga Journal - Yoga Well-Being - Count on Yoga: 38 Ways Yoga Keeps You Fit

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Christian Yoga

2006-12-27T15:16:00.000-06:00

My inspiration for beginning a yoga class directed at Christians was Susan Bordenkircher - the woman responsible for the idea of "A Christian Approach to Yoga".
I attended a workshop with Susan on how to teach a Christian yoga class before I ever starting teaching yoga at Hope Church.
You can learn more about Susan as well as purchase her book and excellent yogo videos/DVDs by visiting her website at http://www.christianyoga.us/home.htm

Free yoga classes via the Internet

2006-12-27T15:09:00.000-06:00

I always encourage my students to practice yoga outside of my classes.

You can now find all kinds of free yoga classes on the internet. One of the best sites is Yoga Alive where you can download audio yoga classes. Here is the website link: http://www.aliveyoga.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT

Another website, Yoga Today, offers free daily podcasts of yoga classes. Via ITunes, you can subscribe to this podcast so the downloads can be scheduled automatically. The website is at http://www.yogatoday.com/