In case you missed this last month, I am sharing the link to my latest yoga article; it discusses how to relax the nervous system with yogic 3-part breathing, and published in the West Side Spirit on Jan. 31.  Here is the link:

http://issuu.com/westsidespirit/docs/mn_013113_ws

From the cover page, go to p. 18 (“Alternative Health”).  If anyone would like the article emailed instead, please let me know!

So the world survived the end of the Mayan calendar, and here we are already 2 weeks into in 2013!  I hope that since we did not experience the doomsday predictions for Dec. 21, 2012, that the alternative theory espousing the shift to an age of enlightenment, community and spirituality is true.  Given the many monumental issues the world seems to be facing, it feels as if there is an urgency in the air, with people desirous of this shift immediately.  I have read that before any major shift happens, there will be growing pains.  It does seem as if we are in the midst of a growth spurt, both with its’ positive and negative effects.  Let’s hope for a fantastic New Year, filled with abundance, peace and harmony for all as we leave the old era behind.

This Wednesday, is 12/12/12 and a new moon is the next day.  So it is a very auspicious time to write down your wishes, desires, plans for the New Year and the New Era – one that begins on Dec. 21 when the ancient Mayan calendar ends.  This also marks the shift from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age.  (See “A Planetary Awakening” – great book by Kathy Newburn).

You can do a vision board and/or a written life plan this Wednesday evening, and take some time to create your own ceremony or ritual around this.

It could also be a nice time to join with others in a group meditation or group wish, as we are now moving into a time of community, of brotherhood and sisterhood.  An understanding of our interconnectedness, with one another and with all on the planet.

So mark your calendars, and may our wishes for a positive future come true!

I am happy to announce that my “Ten Minute Stretch Break” dvd is now on sale for the holidays.  This would make a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer!  I have a number of copies of this DVD I am selling for $ 40 (normally sold for $ 50).

This dvd is geared towards non-dancers and dancers alike who would like to learn flowing sequences aimed at keeping the entire body supple and mobile.

Choreographed to inspiring classical music, I demonstrate beautifully choreographed stretch sequences and movements by ballet master Finis Jhung.  The sequences are very practical, as they are divided into ten-minute segments and included seated, standing, and floor stretches, as well as some basic dance movements.

Because the stretches are divided into short ten minute segments, you can choose to do any combination of the stretches at your discretion.  You will find stretches for the upper body, legs, hips, neck, and spine that will awaken and refresh the body, release tension, and calm the mind.  Each exercise comes with the option of viewing with instructions first, or simply following along.  For some excerpts and to purchase, please click on this link or paste in internet browser:

http://www.finisjhung.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_1&products_id=345

(Note that the quality of the actual dvd is clearer than the You Tube footage)

I hope you will enjoy this dvd as much as I enjoyed filming it with the lovely and brilliant teacher Finis Jhung!

I just returned from an amazing weekend at Omega Institute – one of my favorite places on Earth — where I was assisting sports coach and therapist Rob Polishook in his workshop “Unleashing the Performer Within”.   We had such a wonderful group of creative and talented participants, including a tennis player, dancers, musicians, actors, writers, teachers, and a lawyer. I came away very inspired by humanity, and our shared hopes, dreams, challenges and insecurities.  Due to the dedication of all involved in this workshop, we experienced emotional growth and spiritual insights in just a weekend – including for myself.   I taught qigong moves, meditations, and yoga nidra and these ancient healing modalities flowed so well with the psychological and other spiritual aspects of the course.  I hope we are able to repeat this offering at Omega, or elsewhere!

I hope you had a wonderful summer!  I am back from my ABT children’s ballet teacher training (I just found out I passed the exams – fortunately, as the training was quite intense), and from my trip to Israel – which was amazing on so many levels.  I look forward to reconnecting with you in September!

Also, I received this important information from Yoga Association for NY:  After winning the yoga studio tax issue in Albany, “[o]ur biggest challenge remains the issue of Independent Contractor versus Employee status.  After an effective meeting with the Department of Labor, officials have agreed to let Yoga for NY leadership create industry-specific guidelines based on the DOL’s current definitions of Independent Contractors versus Employees.

This is a make-or-break distinction that could create HUGE costs to small and mid-sized studios and close them for good.  We must succeed in getting the DOL to understand the distinguishing characteristics of the yoga business in order to avoid a crisis within our industry.  Our goal is to help all business that provide yoga to stay open and grow.

Yoga for NY needs your support to keep advocating on behalf of the yoga industry in New York.
Please support Yoga for NY and help keep yoga vital in New York.”   You can donate or attend their next fundraiser by clicking HERE.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer – whether it is traveling or being on a staycation.

As noted below, I am away for the last 2 weeks in August, and the first week in August I was taking an intensive children’s ballet teacher training course at ABT – so my teaching schedule in August is very limited.  After Labor Day, things return to normal!

I also wanted to let you know that the yoga tax issue I had previously emailed you about seems to be mostly resolved.  Because the NY Dept. of Taxation has decided that yoga studios will not be obliged to collect taxes (nor back taxes) on classes, it will keep the costs of smaller and independent yoga studios down, and help protect their survival in this competitive market.  The published document, which you can view online,  states:  “The guidance notes that charges for yoga classes by facilities in New York City that offer only instruction in various yoga disciplines are not subject to the New York City local sales tax.”

I believe there are some other pending issues and I will keep you up to date on those as I learn of them.  But in the meanwhile, this is great news!

Dear friends,

These are tumultuous times.  It seems every time we turn on the news or open the paper, we see or read about all the various protests happening here in NYC, as well as throughout the country and internationally.  Or perhaps, you have been actively involved by attending some of these protests and rallies.  There seems to be enormous tension between the status quo and the agents of change and progress, and some have posited that this is all leading up to a global shift of consciousness after the ancient Mayan calendar ends on or around December 20, 2012.   I have found while discussing these issues with others, that many of us have been feeling more emotional than usual, and that many “negative” emotions, such as anger, fear and anxiety have been rising to the surface.   As all emotions are energy in motion, and need to be expressed and examined in healthy ways, rather than repressed, this is not necessarily a bad thing.  However, if we find ourselves getting stuck in the muck of these dark emotions, what can we do to move through them and onward to a more peaceful state?

This past Sunday, I attended a workshop on Anger and Yoga at Integral Yoga Institute with the lovely Swami Ramananda, and I would like to share some of what we discussed with you as I found it very helpful.  When we are experiencing “negative” emotions, it is important to recognize and accept it, rather than deny it.  That doesn’t mean that we act out in damaging ways to ourselves or others, but rather to look inward and not deny that those emotions exist within us.   Here is where the yogic practices really do help.  When we practice yoga nidra, savasana, and meditation where we observe the body, emotions and thoughts without engaging or attaching to them, it can help us off the mat and meditation cushion as well.  With our meditative and mindful movement practices, over time we build the necessary “muscles” to bring that level of awareness and neutral observation to ourselves in our real lives – even in times of heightened emotion.  For me, and probably for many other students, it is especially helpful knowing that in yoga philosophy we are not defined by our thoughts, emotions nor our bodies.  Our true or highest self, the witness self, transcends these aspects of ourselves.  Often when I am in the midst of strong negative emotions, I forget this concept, and need to be reminded.  We may be experiencing anger, fear, anxiety, but that does not mean that we are defined by those emotions.  In other words, I may be feeling anger, but that does not mean that I am an angry person, or a bad person.  It is important to not layer self-criticism and judgment over the emotions we are experiencing.  Yogis engage in self-study – but that is always from a place of detachment or, if that word seems too cold, perhaps with loving curiosity.

There is much more we can discuss regarding this topic, but for now, remember that with our continued practice of yoga (all aspects of yoga, including but not limited to asana, yoga nidra, philosophy, and chanting), tai chi / qigong and meditation, we will experience benefits in our daily lives, and help ease the stress of modern times.

Hi everyone,

I am back in town after a wonderful 2-week stay in warm and sunny Florida.  For me, there is nothing like the ocean, the sun and the palm trees to refresh the body and spirit.  While I was in the sunshine state, in addition to my daily walks on the beach, I took ballet class at Miami City Ballet school, a kundalini yoga and gong meditation class, and a Pure Barre class.  When I travel, I find it interesting to check out different yoga, gyrotonic and dance studios and see how they compare to the places where I study in NYC.  It’s also a great way to connect with like-minded people and learn about the health-oriented and spiritual activities in that area.  For me, I find that forging these new connections makes me feel less like a tourist, and it is fun to discover mutual friends in the six degrees of separation (more like three degrees these days) of the yoga and dance world.

I am happy to announce that the “Ten Minute Stretch Break” dvd is now available for purchase.  In this new dvd, I demonstrate beautifully choreographed stretches and movements by ballet master Finis Jhung.  This dvd is geared towards non-dancers and dancers alike who would like to learn flowing sequences aimed at keeping the entire body supple and mobile.  Choreographed to inspiring classical music, we do seated, standing, and floor stretches, as well as some basic dance movements.  The stretches are divided into short ten minute segments, so that you can choose to do any combination of the stretches at your discretion.  You will find stretches for the upper body, legs, hips, neck, and spine that will awaken and refresh the body, release tension, and calm the mind.  Each exercise comes with the option of viewing with instructions first, or simply following along.  For some excerpts and to purchase, please click on this link or paste in internet browser:

http://www.finisjhung.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_1&products_id=345

(Note that the quality of the actual dvd is more clear than the You Tube footage)

I hope you will enjoy this dvd as much as I enjoyed filming the it with the lovely and brilliant teacher Finis Jhung!

I hope you are enjoying this little bit of Spring weather we are having in the middle of our Winter.  I am headed to Florida mid-February for my annual vacation satisfying my need for warmth and sun usually right about now.  But, at this rate, I can probably just camp out in Central Park!  I have noted my vacation days below.  Also, many of us have been discussing the NY Times Magazine article published the beginning of January in print and online.  As promised, here is my rebuttal to that article (the following is an excerpt; if you would like to read my full rebuttal, let me know and I will email it to you).

“In Defense of Yoga – A Gentle Yoga Teacher’s Rebuttal to the NY Times Magazine Article” ©

Recently, the New York Times magazine section published a lengthy article entitled “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body” by William J. Broad.  It garnered much publicity and controversy in the yoga world, amongst teachers as well as students who were incensed by the title, tone and content of the article.  There were so many responses sent to the Times that they had to cap the rebuttals after 12,000 were submitted, and there was much dialoguing on Facebook and other internet social media groups.  If the author wanted publicity for his book being published by Simon & Schuster next month, he indeed received it.

I do not think it random that from his book entitled “The Science of Yoga:  The Risks and Rewards”, he chose a chapter on the risks and not the rewards.  After all, fear sells and creates controversy – a great marketing ploy.  But even though we can understand the author’s or publisher’s intent to drum up a yoga controversy for book sales, it is unfortunate that the topic of safety in yoga classes was broached in this inflammatory manner.   The issue is a real one,  and it deserves to be discussed in a scientifically and rationally, not in a fear-mongering way based on anecdotes and random cases.

It is obvious that there are always going to be risks of injuries in any activity that utilizes the body.  People even get injured sitting at their desks at work — carpal tunnel syndrome and blackberry thumb are some common examples.  Most people take for granted that when they “work out” or participate in any activity whether it be dance, weight lifting, kettle ball classes, skiing, running, boot camp classes, tennis, golf, etc., that there are risks, and they assume those risks.  Yet, the NY Times article did not place yoga in context with any other common activity, and given its’ tone, it would lead one to believe that yoga was more dangerous than most other physical activities.

Another problem with the article is that “yoga” was used synonymously and exclusively with only one aspect of yoga – the asana practice or hatha yoga.  Yet, “yoga” is much more than that.  Western yoga practitioners are usually surprised when they learn that the yoga poses (asanas) are only one part of an “eight-limbed” path delineated in the revered and ancient yogic text, the Yoga Sutras, as the path to yoga or stilling the mind.   The other limbs of yoga are:  moral and ethical restraints and observances (yamas); inner practices and qualities (niyamas); breath control (pranayama); withdrawal from the desire of our senses (pratyahara); concentration techniques (dharana); meditation (dhyana); and the bliss or superconscious state (Samadhi).  Sutra II-29.

Yoga is the continual practice of all these eight limbs. Indeed, asana, or yoga poses, are only mentioned three times in the entire Yoga Sutras.  So the NY Times article conflates asana with yoga, and ignores the fact that asana poses are just one part of yoga.  If practiced without attention to the other limbs this physical aspect of yoga is actually not yoga.   As yogi Nischala Devi explains: ” Yoga is very popular, what is popular is not yoga.”

As mentioned in the article, I too have observed “many schools of yoga [that] are just about pushing people.”  I have seen classes in which many students were straining in poses, out of alignment, holding their breath, and not strong enough to be doing many of the poses given without the option of modifications.  The yama and niyamas, mentioned above, tell us to practice “ahimsa”, or non-harming, and “samtosa”, or contentment, while we do our yoga.  This means that we must accept how our bodies are feeling in each class, and recognize and respect our unique qualities without pushing beyond any individual limitations.  Without this “svadhyaya” or self-observation, we may be stretching, but we are not practicing yoga.  If we are practicing yoga with attention to these important principles, it is unlikely we would “wreck” our bodies.

Yet another problem with the Times article, is that it generally assumes that everyone is teaching and practicing rigorous, athletic forms of yoga, in which headstands, shoulder stands and extreme twists are routinely taught.  Yet, to lump all asana practice into a one-size fits all category is not truth-full, and is misleading.  It does a disservice to all the teachers who teach Gentle Yoga and Meditative Yoga, and who have safely worked with students comprising many different populations.   I, and many others, teach gentle or chair yoga to seniors, to the blind or visually impaired, to cancer patients and survivors, as well as to the general public.  Although (or because) we are not practicing the yoga discussed in the article, our students find themselves more at peace, more energized yet calm, stronger and with more mobility of body – and not suffering the types of injuries discussed in the Times article.

I hope that I can help to allay students’ and teachers’ fears about yoga, given the scary title of the Times article, and serve to show how true yoga is more inclusive and comprehensive than what was described in the Times.  Asana practice without the underlying principles of the Sutras is not yoga, and not all forms of asana practice are like the type described in the Times.  Yoga is much, much more than what the Times would lead us to believe, and it can be a wonderful healing practice in which we may find peace, breath awareness, stress-reduction, increased mobility and strength, ethics, and spirituality.

Excerpted from a lengthier article:  “In Defense of Yoga – A Gentle Yoga Teacher’s Rebuttal to the NY Times Magazine Article” © by Melissa “Mati” Elstein, RYT 

For the full article, please send requests to melissaelstein@nyc.rr.com