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Fall 2018 Schedule: Fall Prevention Workshop; Tai Chi Easy and Chair Yoga; Telephone Classes

by Melissa "Mati" Elstein in Chair Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga and Qigong
Posted on: September 14, 2018 9:38 pm - Permalink

Hi friends and family,

Wishing to those of you who celebrate the Jewish New Year, a blessed holiday and all the very best for the New Year – 5779!   Here is a cute song and dance video a friend sent me, and I thought it would bring a smile to you as well!  http://www.aish.com/h/hh/video/Get-Clarity-Aishcoms-Rosh-Hashanah-Music-Video.html

See below for my Fall classes and also for information on my cousin Michelle’s Fall yoga retreat for women in Vermont!  Sounds heavenly!

Falls Prevention Talk and Practice with Tai Chi Easy™ 

Friday, September 21:  1:00 – 2:30 pm

With Melissa Elstein, Tai Chi Easy™ Facilitator & 
Shannon O’Connor, DOROT Staff

As part of Falls Prevention Week at Dorot, this workshop is a part-lecture, part-exercise class.  Shannon will introduce tips to prevent falls and become more mindful when moving throughout your home or the community. Melissa will teach Tai Chi Easy™, a simplified yet practical version of Tai Chi created by Roger Jahnke, O.M.D.  Learn weight shifting exercises (and starting with Melissa’s chair exercise warmups), to gain confidence and leg strength.  This Tai Chi Easy™ class will include standing while holding the chair for support and weight shifting, but not tai chi walking.
Focus in motion with us!

Rsvp to Shannon O’Connor required for attendance to this Workshop:
(917) 441-3743 or soconnor@dorotusa.org
Main Tel:   (212) 769-2850
www.dorotusa.org

Check out DOROT’s Wellness Program!

Seated Tai Chi Easy TM Teleclass:
Dorot Center for Seniors “University Without Walls”

This telephone class brings the benefits of seated qigong, meditation, and breathwork to those who cannot attend in-person classes. This is now our fifth semester of our teleclass, and I have found that distance is no obstacle to having a profound group and individual experience.  Written materials are provided in advance of the class, and each session is devoted to reading and discussing the materials, alternating with experiential movement and guided meditations.  This class meets Fridays 10 – 11 am November 2 – January 18.  Please call Dorot to sign up, or for a catalog.  No prior experience is necessary!  In general, Dorot’s University Without Walls is a wonderful resource for telephone learning and community-building, and their courses cover a myriad of topics.  Please help spread the word about this wonderful resource!  http://www.dorotusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=seniors_programs_on_phone_D#.W5fW6ehKiUk

Check out DOROT’s Wellness Program!

www.dorotusa.org
(212) 769-2850

No Comments Tags: Chair Yoga, Dorot, Dorot for Seniors, Fall Yoga Retreat, Integral Yoga, Integral Yoga Institute, Tai Chi Easy, Telephone classes, University Without Walls, Yoga, yoga and qigong

Core Strength Hatha Yoga/Pilates Classes

by Melissa "Mati" Elstein in Community Supported Agriculture, Core Strength, CSA, Pilates
Posted on: July 25, 2018 4:20 am - Permalink

Hello Friends and Family!


Summer Meadow – Melissa Elstein 2018

I hope you are having a wonderful Summer, and enjoying all the fresh local produce that July brings forth – I was so happy to receive our first local corn of the season last week from my wonderful CSA farm membership. I highly recommend the Roxbury Farm CSA; if you’re on the UWS, their farm distribution is on Thursdays from 4-7 pm at 86th Street & WEA.  Memberships are seasonal, but they may be still accepting members as it goes through the Fall. For more information, please see http://www.roxburyfarm.com  I have been a member for years, and it is still a treat to pick up my weekly farm bounty (I split my membership with a friend). CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and our memberships support the work and future of these local, small, organic farms.

CORE STRENGTH HATHA I YOGA CLASSES:

I am delighted to be teaching at UWS Yoga & Wellness again the next two weeks!  Join us at Noon on Thursdays, July 26 and August 2 for Level 1 Core Strength Yoga which is a fusion class of pilates and yoga poses. We utilize small, soft exercise balls to assist with low back support but also to increase the abdominal strengthening.  Back strengthening is included, as well as standing balancing poses. We will focus on alignment and breath-centered movement so that strengthening is practiced in a safe, functional and effective manner. Learn how to effectively strengthen your core without doing abdominal crunches!  Class ends with yoga nidra/savasana to fully relax the body and spirit after our total body workout.  Hope to see you there!  Check out  http://www.uwsyoga.com for more information.

No Comments Tags: Core Strength, Core Strength Yoga, Good Energy Movement & Wellness, Good Energy Yoga & Reiki, Hatha Yoga, Melissa Elstein, Plank pose, Roxbury Farm, UWS Yoga & Wellness

“Chair Chi & Prana” Class at IYI NYC

by Melissa "Mati" Elstein in Chair Yoga, Hatha, Meditation, Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Yoga and Qigong, Yoga Nidra
Posted on: July 15, 2018 11:33 pm - Permalink

I hope you are having a wonderful Summer!  This Monday night is our final “Chair Chi & Prana” of the season, and I hope to see you there at the beautiful and peaceful Integral Yoga Institute.  After July 16, there will be a short break for August, and I will be looking forward to resuming this class in the Fall. (When the Fall dates are confirmed, I will email you as well.)  See below for more details on this Monday’s class; you may sign up at http://www.iyiny.org or simply sign up as a walk-in.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and hopefully I will see you tomorrow!

Class Descriptions:  

Chair Chi and Prana is hosted by the beautiful yoga center – Integral Yoga. This fusion class increases our vitality, and improves balance and coordination by combining Chair Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi Easy™ walking. Seated and standing Yoga poses strengthen and stretch the body, gentle and flowing Qigong movements enhance our life force energy (chi or prana), and Tai Chi walking increases balance and helps with fall prevention.  Additionally, these practices are a moving meditation that calm the nervous system, increase immune support, focus the mind, and are accessible to all bodies and ages.  We end class with a long savasana and yoga nidra (deep relaxation) to fully relax and absorb the benefits of our practices.  All levels are welcome! No prior experience is necessary.

No Comments Tags: Chair Chi & Prana, Chair Yoga, Integral Yoga, Integral Yoga Institute, Tai Chi Easy, Yoga, yoga and qigong

July’s Chair Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi Classes/Trainings and Finding Balance at Summer Solstice Times Square Yoga

by Melissa "Mati" Elstein in Chair Yoga, New York City, Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Yoga and Qigong
Posted on: July 4, 2018 6:01 am - Permalink

Hi friends and family,

Hope you are keeping your cool and comfort in the midst of this Northeast heat wave!  Please stay hydrated!

Speaking of heat, once again I attended the uniquely NYC “Summer Solstice Yoga” in Times Square.  This year, over 12,000 participants attended yoga classes throughout the day as Times Square was shut down to vehicles, and turned into one large outdoor yoga studio. Attendees were generously given yoga mats by Aerie and the Times Square Alliance, and we literally placed our mats in the center of the city (or the world, depending on your NY-centric perspective!).  Participants braved the high temperature, curious onlookers, photographers, and different styles of yoga to join with New Yorkers of all ages, sizes, colors, and backgrounds to create a beautiful mosaic of humanity.

Times Square Solstice Yoga is always one of my favorite events of the year as I find it uplifting being with so many others practicing yoga in such a large communal way. Even in the midst of chaos and busy urban activity, the practice of yoga prepares us to go inward no matter the external environment.  What better way to test that precept during a packed mid-day yoga class in Times Square! If we can literally balance and focus in dancer pose and other challenging asanas in the middle of 42nd Street, we know that with practice and intent, we can stay steady outside of yoga class no matter the circumstances. During these chaotic and anxiety-provoking times.our daily connection to that deep inner core within each one of us is so necessary for maintaining balance and finding inner peace.  Yoga, meditation, qigong, tai chi, dance, nature walks, creating art, gardening, shamanic journeying, writing, playing music, jogging are some ways during which we can go deeply inward. What do you find works best for you in this moment? Has that changed throughout your life, or has it remained a consistent path?  Enjoy the process and the journey!

This month, my yoga-qigong-tai chi fusion class (“Chair Chi & Prana“) will be held on July 16th at the beautiful Integral Yoga in the heart of the West Village. Much of the qigong and simplified tai chi that I incorporate into my yoga classes I learned from my first tai chi teacher – Dr. Roger Jahnke. http://www.feeltheqi.com/Dr_Jahnke/   If you would like to meet him in person, there will be a free intro evening at NYC’s Open Center on Thursday, July 5th: https://www.opencenter.org/awakening-healer-within  I hope you can attend that event this holiday week!

Dr. Jahnke created  “Tai Chi Easy”TM – the system of tai chi, qigong, self-massage that I studied at the Omega Institute in 2007.  http://www.healerwithinfoundation.org/taichieasy   It was a fantastic training, and to this day, it is the style that I primarily teach and practice. It is very accessible to all ages and levels of experience, and as you can see from our facilitator graduation photo, we had a fun and diverse group.

In July, Dr. Jahnke will be at The Open Center in NYC, and in August at Kripalu in the Berkshires.  Please go to his website to see the exact dates and for more information:
http://instituteofintegralqigongandtaichi.org/calendar/  I highly recommend doing one or more of his trainings!

Class Descriptions:

Chair Chi and Prana is hosted by the beautiful yoga center – Integral Yoga. This fusion class increases our vitality, and improves balance and coordination by combining Chair Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi Easy™ walking. Seated and standing Yoga poses strengthen and stretch the body, gentle and flowing Qigong movements enhance our life force energy (chi or prana), and Tai Chi walking increases balance and helps with fall prevention.  Additionally, these practices are a moving meditation that calm the nervous system, increase immune support, focus the mind, and are accessible to all bodies and ages.  We end class with a long savasana and yoga nidra (deep relaxation) to fully relax and absorb the benefits of our practices.  All levels are welcome! No prior experience is necessary.

No Comments Tags: Aerie, Chair Chi & Prana, Chair Yoga, Finding Balance, Healer Within Foundation, Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, Integral Yoga, Integral Yoga Institute, Kripalu, Omega Institute, Roger Jahnke, Solstice Yoga, Summer Solstice Yoga, Tai Chi Easy, Times Square Alliance, Times Square Yoga, Yoga, yoga and qigong, Yoga in Times Square

June 2018 Classes; Tai Chi Easy Trainings with Dr. Jahnke

by Melissa "Mati" Elstein in Chair Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga and Qigong
Posted on: June 9, 2018 4:33 am - Permalink

Dear friends and family,

I hope you are having a lovely June!  This month, in addition to my monthly Integral Yoga “Chair Chi & Prana” workshop, I am back teaching at Dorot for Seniors and Bloomingdale Aging in Place (“BAIP”), and look forward to reconnecting with my students there.

Many of you inquire about the qigong and simplified tai chi that I incorporate into my yoga classes, and I always recommend my first teacher – Dr. Roger Jahnke. http://www.feeltheqi.com/Dr_Jahnke/  He directs the Health Action Clinic in Santa Barbara, CA and is the founder and creator of “Tai Chi Easy” – Dr. Jahnke’s system of tai chi, qigong, self-massage that I studied at Omega in 2007.  http://www.healerwithinfoundation.org/taichieasy and  It was a great training, and to this day, it is the style that I primarily teach and practice. It is very accessible to all ages and levels of experience, and as you can see from our facilitator graduation photo, we had a fun and diverse group.

Every Summer, Dr. Jahnke returns to the Northeast to lead more trainings and this June – August, he will be at Omega in Rhinebeck, The Open Center in NYC, and Kripalu in the Berkshires.  Please go to his website to see the exact dates and for more information:
http://instituteofintegralqigongandtaichi.org/calendar/   In fact, there will be a free intro evening at the Open Center on July 5th: https://www.opencenter.org/awakening-healer-within  I highly recommend doing one or more of his trainings!

No Comments Tags: Awakening the Healer Within, BAIP, Bloomingdale Aging in Population, Chair Chi & Prana, Chair Yoga, Dorot, Dorot for Seniors, Healer Within Foundation, Health Action Clinic, Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, Integral Yoga, Integral Yoga Institute, Kripalu, Omega Institute, Roger Jahnke, Tai Chi Easy, The Open Center, Yoga, yoga and qigong
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Upcoming Classes

Mondays, 1/14 and 2/25 at Integral Yoga

Mondays, Jan. 14 and Feb. 25
6:30 – 8:00 pm
“Tai Chi Easy and Chair Yoga – Fusion Class”
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Thursdays, 2/7 and 2/28 at Integral Yoga

Thursdays, Feb. 7 and 28
10:00 – 11:30 am
“Gentle Hatha Yoga”
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Thursday, 2/14 at Integral Yoga

Thursday, Feb. 14
5:15 pm – 6:45 pm
“Gentle Yoga & Qigong – Special Valentines Day Class”
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Fridays Telephone Series with Dorot’s “University Without Walls”

April 12 – June 21, 2019
10:00 – 11:00 am
“Seated Qigong, Tai Chi Easy Arms, and Guided Meditation”
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Sundays, 2/17; 6/9; and 8/4 at Ailey Extension

Sundays, Feb. 17; June 9 and August 4
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
“Beginner Ballet”
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Friday, 9/21/2018 at Dorot

September 21
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
“Fall Prevention Workshop”  (60 years and over)
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