Good Energy Movement and Wellness / Good Energy Yoga / Melissa “Mati” Elstein

Hi everyone,

Happy Inauguration Day!  I, along with many of you I’m sure, found today’s events very moving.  No matter what one’s political affiliation may be, we can agree that it was a historic day for America and the rest of the world.  I feel so fortunate to have experienced such positive history in the making, albeit by watching it on television and not live in DC.  But it was a special pleasure to have shared the experience with my friends at Gilda’s Club after our morning tai chi class.

In his speech, President Obama (and later Ret. General Colin Powell in a separate televised interview) spoke about how we all can serve the country and one another.  I immediately thought about yoga philosophy, and how being a yogi is so much more than practicing the asana (physical poses) or breathing exercises (pranayama).  In yoga, being of service is one of the main principles.  In fact, one type of yoga is all about service:  karma yoga.  Additionally, in yoga class we often offer the energetic or spiritual benefits of our physical practice to something or someone outside of ourselves.  In that way, we can also serve.  So, I hope the new administration will help to inspire us to be of service in whatever unique way it manifests for each of us.  Let us practice yoga together with that intention in mind.  And know that when we serve others, we are also simultaneously helping ourselves.

Hi everyone,

I just returned this evening from a week of teaching Tai Chi Easy™ and Qigong at The Omega Institute. It was wonderful seeing people who had no experience at all with tai chi or qigong be able to enjoy themselves, get into a deep state of relaxation, and feel and play with the energy (chi) they had accessed through the repetition of slow, graceful and mindful movement. I even had a few experienced tai chi practitioners (including a 92-year old teacher!) take the class a couple of times, and they enjoyed it as well.  It was very inspiring to receive first-hand confirmation that the form is accessible and healing to all!  Now that I am back in NYC, I am doing a 3-week Tai Chi Easy™ and Qigong course this month on three Thursday evenings at The Breathing Project Yoga Studio.

Hi everyone,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Fall weather.  In September, I went to an interesting lecture at The Tibet House given by an Ayurvedic Doctor discussing the “Vata” Dosha (one of the three personality and body types in Ayurveda of which we each have varying amounts, and which can become imbalanced).  As many of you know, Ayurveda is the sister science of yoga.  My first yoga training was strongly founded on Ayurvedic principles and yoga, and since then, I have been interested in continuing to learn how to apply this science to my personal life and my teachings.  This time of year, according to Ayurveda, is “Vata” season, as the elements that correspond with Vata are air and space. Autumn is the time of year when these Vata elements are most predominate in the environment, and the time period when seasons change is always a particularly vulnerable time.  Because “like increases like” (a basic Ayurvedic principle), it is advised that we be mindful that our activities and our food choices are not increasing the Vata element within each of us resulting in any physical and/or mental imbalances.  Because Vata is characterized by the qualities of movement and speed, the countering or balancing principles would be stability and steadiness.  In addition, because the energy associated with Vata is cold, the balancing principles would be warmth and nourishment.

So in practical matters, how does all this translate?  Well, according to the lecture and my books, this is the time of year to create and maintain steady routines around eating and sleeping, to get plenty of rest, to eat warm and nourishing foods, to drink warm and not ice water, and to choose activities that nurture the body and calm the mind, as anxiety and nervousness tend to increase during Vata season.  Mind-body healing modalities such as gentle yoga, qigong, meditation, yoga nidra, and Ayurvedic massages are especially helpful this time of year.  Warm milk (or milk substitutes such as almond, soy, or rice, etc.) with a little cardamom, nutmeg and maple syrup in the evenings can encourage a restful evening sleep, and is delicious.  If you find these concepts interesting, I highly recommend a wonderful and inspiring book about Ayurveda, yoga, the Vedic philosophy, and healing called “The Path of Practice” by Bri Maya Tiwari, the founder of the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda in North Carolina.  If you want any other recommendations, please let me know; I’m happy to share!

Hi everyone,

I hope you have enjoyed your summer.  I am back in town after spending some quality time in Vermont, Maine, and Boston. It was my first visit to Maine, and we loved it.  Gorgeous scenery, delicious food (I don’t think there was a wild blueberry pie that I said “no” to), and charming towns and villages.  Near Camden, we toured a beautiful herb and flower garden owned by an herbalist who sells oils, teas, and tinctures mostly made from plants grown on her land.  I purchased a wonderful oil called “Fairy Flower Bath and Body Oil” comprised of clary sage and rose geranium – heavenly.  Check out her website if you are interested in ordering any all-natural herbal products, or to read about her business and school:  www.avenabotanicals.com

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re enjoying your summer so far.  I just returned from an amazing vacation; hiking and staying at the lodges in the Grand Canyon (North Rim), Bryce, and Zion parks.  This was my first time experiencing these unique natural places, and I know it sounds corny, but each park’s distinct beauty and energy brought me to tears.  I wasn’t expecting to get so emotional, but upon arriving at the Grand Canyon and Zion, in particular, the enormity and beauty of the rock formations overwhelmed me.  The parks felt like enormous earthly temples.  I know from speaking with others that my experience was not unique.  In fact, I was fascinated to read on a park information sign at the “Cathedral” that one of the first geologists to work at the Grand Canyon, a Western student of Eastern philosophy and religion, saw parallels between man-made temples in India and China and these incredible rock formations.  Thus, many of the formations are named after Hindu deities, such as Vishnu, and figures from Eastern literature.  As a student of yoga and, more recently, qigong, I found this intriguing.

If you haven’t been to these national parks, I highly recommend this trip (even withstanding our drive back to Vegas in 116 ° heat!  And no, just because there’s no humidity doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel hot!

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well, and enjoying the beginning of Spring.  I realized that I had not emailed my schedule to you for a couple of months, and it was because I was in the midst of a wonderful Yoga Teacher Training program at Integral Yoga – “Gentle and Chair Yoga”. We graduated this past Thursday, and it was a really fabulous (though busy) two months of learning many adaptations and modifications in yoga for those who may be elderly, suffering from debilitating diseases, and / or temporarily or permanently weakened from illness or injury.  Given that when I started this training program, I had just torn a knee ligament and was pretty limited as to what I could do in yoga as well in my “regular” life, this training came at a perfect time!  I learned an entire yoga class that can be done in a chair that is both invigorating and relaxing; Chair Yoga is great!  If anyone is interested in learning, or has an elderly parent who could benefit, and would like to schedule a lesson, please let me know!

Hi everyone,

I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays!  I hope during the business of the holiday season (between the parties, the shopping, and the cooking, etc.) that we will be able to take the time to practice our yoga, tai chi or qigong, or whatever healing arts practices we choose in order to come to a place of calm and centering. It’s always during these busy, hectic times that the benefits of our practice reveal themselves.  For me personally, I find that even short periods of rest and relaxation (whether during brief mindfulness meditative moments, mini-qigong practices, or enjoying my meditation cd’s on my ipod during my subway commute or at the end of the day) can make all the difference in terms of being able to get centered in the midst of the city’s holiday chaos.

Please join me on Sunday, Nov. 18^th from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm as I conduct a Workshop at Integral Yoga Institute on “Asanas and the Chakras.”

During this 2 –hour workshop, you will learn about the energy system of the chakras, their properties, and their effects on our mental, emotional and physical states of well-being.  Through guided visualizations, asana practice (yoga postures), music, chanting, affirmations, and aromatherapy, we will explore how to create balance within the chakras and throughout the body (both the physical and energy bodies).

It will be a fun and creative way to explore this more subtle aspect of your yoga practice!

In July, I attended a Tai Chi Easy^TM and Qigong facilitator training with Roger Jahnke, OMD (www.healerwithin.com and www.taichieasy.org) at The Omega Institute (www.eomega.org).  It was very inspiring; I found the practices to be both relaxing and invigorating, and accessible to all.  I have been adding elements of what I learned into my yoga classes, and have recently added a Tai Chi Easy^TMclass at the Gilda’s Club. If you are interested in exploring this wonderful healing modality and moving meditation practice, please let me know!

I have two upcoming workshops in May:  a “Sun Salutation Workshop” at Integral Yoga Uptown and an “Intro on Reiki and Crystal Healing” at a spiritual women’s center on the upper west side – The Elizabeth Seton Women’s Center.

Please note that I will be teaching at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck  April 22 – 27.  If you are interested in learning more about Omega, a beautiful learning institution and retreat center that offers classes and workshops on yoga, the healing arts, personal growth, the environment, Buddhism, meditation, phycology, philosophy, etc., go to www.eomega.org .  While on the website, check out the “Being Fearless” schedule for the weekend of April 13th in NYC as well.  Maybe I will see you there too!