February's Theme: Heart
Physical Focus: 4th Chakra - Anahata
First, be in Love.
Then, if there is any time left, you can speak of it.
No head is needed to speak of Love, only Heart.
In this Heart there is no need for maps to get home.
The easiest thing is to be Here in this Love,
all else is effort and takes effort.
Remove all ideas: This is Love
Love, the Heart, this Moment, Is the Truth.
To see this Love everywhere see only from Love.
See from Heart and you will see only Heart,
but see from ego and you will see ego.
The moment of Love does not belong
to a "me" or to a "you" so there I am in Love.
When mind is no-mind it is Heart.
Heart is Self, is Atman, is Emptiness.
~~Papaji
Join Jody for Deeper Flow Friday, February 26th 6:30-8:30 pm to explore the Heart.
HAITI
We are so grateful to be part of such a compassionate and generous Flow Sangha (community). You really challenged us to GIVE BIG and we are so grateful for the inspiration. Together we are giving more than $1000 to MercyCorps for the people of Haiti. Thanks for your donations and for the Love you are Being and Realizing every day...
HOTTIES Sunday afternoon Hot 26 classes will continue through February (and, hopefully, March). However, we will need to cancel the first Sunday -- Feb 7 and March 7 due to previously scheduled Teacher Trainings. That is THIS SUNDAY. Please make a note on your calendar, and we are sorry for any inconvenience.
HEART DAY
VALENTINES WKEND EVENTS:
We are happy to welcome Melissa Smith as a Guest Teacher on Saturday, February 13th. She will be teaching both the 8 am Flow and the 930 am Gentle Flow classes. She teaches a Dynamic Vinyasa yoga class. Its always fun to experience a new teacher and Melissa is visting from Texas - so come check it out!
Melissa will also be leading a Dynamic Flow & Inversions Workshop later that day (see below).
Sunday, Feb 14th:
Join Adi & Jody as they co-teach an exploration of Divine Love during Flow Yoga at 9:30 am.
Adi and Steph will teach a special Partner Yoga class the evening of St Valentines Day at 6:30 pm for Yin/Restore/Meditation. You dont need to bring a partner to experience the magic of this class, but you certainly are welcome to.
Be free to join this class with or without a pre-determined partner, to allow yourself to experience the energy, breath, and trust inherent in using another as a prop and as a cooperative guide for part of class. Half of the class will be deeply within/individual focus, and the other half will include play and sacred trust, with a partner. This class will be perfect for all levels.
We will be exploring a meditation of the senses that will included a variety of sensual explorations including candlelight, poetry, chocolate, wine or tea, and other exquisite, mindful experiences of the senses. We will explore and look deeply at Love all ways.
The Way to A Woman's Heart...Spaaah...
Not sure what to get the LOVE in your life? Gift certificates at Flow are the perfect gift - they can be used for massage, skin care, natural medicine, acupuncture, yoga, cycle classes, pilates, pedicures, foot massage, Reiki, body wraps, facials and great active wear and yoga accessories. Tons of choice - every woman can find something she really likes at Flow. Purchase in any amount and the user can choose what they'd like to treat themselves to...health, balance and joy!
WINTER FOOT BAR SPECIALS:
Now through April 30th, you can get a luxurious Barefoot Spa Pedicure for $40! Experience the comfort and tranquility of the Flow Foot Bar - the most amazing pedicure in town.
How about a Couples Candelit Zen Foot Treatment in the Foot Bar (wine and chocolate optional)...$75 for two.
Single? Get some friends together and treat yourself to some FOOT LOVE with a pedi party or Zen Foot Treatment - you can chat, laugh, drink and make a party of it! Want to paint the town AND your toes RED? We have some great Valentine's REDs or PINKs.
Birthday? Shower? Book Club? A unique option is a Pedicure Party in the Foot Bar. We have space for food and drink, or can even arrange food for you. Take advantage of our winter special and book your party now. We can accomodate up to 8 persons taking turns getting toes done, chatting, snacking, drinking and enjoying each other's company
Oooohlala...LuLu...
NEW LULU IS IN THE HOUSE!
10-50% OFF SALE CONTINUES THROUGH VALENTINE'S DAY, so come check out the new LuLuLemon activewear and take advantage of the sale!
Need some great active wear, a journal, yoga props, a relaxing and inspiring CD? If so, NOW is the time to buy.
GREAT Valentine's Cards and Gifts from Papaya ~ Check out all the beautiful Papaya Art, love cards, and accessories for LOVELY gift giving. Romatincally-inspired cards, calendars, deco magnets, canvas art, tote bags, journals, and water bottles all featuring the beautifully inspiring papaya art out of Ashland, Oregon. Great prices on unique gifts!
Upcoming Workshops
DYNAMIC FLOW & INVERSIONS WORKSHOP
Sat, Feb 13th 1-4 pm
Flow Yoga, 541-FUN-YOGA (386-9642)
Cost: $40 if paid before Feb 10, $50 after
You are invited to experience Dynamic Flow Yoga with Melissa Smith visiting us from Texas. This workshop will incorporate breath, energy, fun, fluid movements, inversions and arm balances. Melissa will share dynamic sequencing along with fabulous music that will help you discover the freedom of movement integrated with proper alignment. Explore how this special combination of music and flow can open your spirit and invigorate your body!
This workshop is the perfect opportunity to invite inversions into your yoga practice. In a fun and safe setting, Melissa will clearly explain the basics for headstand, forearm balance, handstand, and shoulder stand.
The workshop will build on fundamental alignment principles to allow each practitioner to find his or her edge and explore possibility in these exciting poses.
The benefits of inversions include:
- Reversing the effects of gravity
- Confidence
- Rejuvenation
- Energizing
TEN GATES OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Saturday March 27, 2010
"Each of you are perfect as you as are, and you can use a little improvement." -Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
"It is true that we are already spiritually Awake, but in the unfolding of this naturally enlightened state, there are gates through which we inevitably pass. By orienting oneself to this process, one can get very clear on his or her relationship to full and complete spiritual Awakening."
Adi will direct meditations and Dharma talks to cultivate a deep looking at oneself, and one's positioning in the enlightenment process
***Note: No Yoga/Movement in this intensive
1pm until we’re Done --- $40
CPR & FIRST AID TRAINING
with Nick Puff, EMT
Join us at Flow on March 20th at 1 pm to receive this top-notch training by Nick & the American Heart Association. $40 includes your AHA Certification Card.
This informative workshop gives instructors the tools to create inspiring vinyasa yoga classes that are founded on flow yet grounded in the safety of exercise science. The learning includes physical execution, transitions, and modifications to traditional yoga poses with an emphasis on effectiveness and safety.
Dynamic vinyasa sequencing, flowing class formats, and transformative language for communicating the mind/body connection have made this the most popular vinyasa yoga style in the world today. While most attendees have experience as either yoga students, teachers, therapists, or as fitness professionals, there are no prerequisites, only the desire to learn and commitment to attend. Level 1 includes an innovative and experiential learning environment guided by a talented and experienced YogaFit Master Trainer, a high-quality yoga mat (first-time participants only), and a comprehensive training manual.
Teacher Training Level 3 - Mar 5-7
Level 3 takes trainees on an introspective journey of self-awareness. Trainees will spend time discussing metaphysical and philosophical aspects of yoga and the effects that yoga has on the mind-body connection. Through study of yamas, niyamas, and chakras, trainees take a deeper look at the transformational power of their own yoga practice. Then, using YogaFit teaching tools, trainees will learn how to integrate these concepts into their classes, making them a richer experience for participants.
Teachings include:
# Breakdown of 20+ New Poses and Sequencing
# Moon Salutation
# Health Benefits of Meditation
# Hands-on physical adjustments
# Study of the Right and Left Brain Activity
# Benefits of Journaling & Mindful Living
# Brain and Nervous System
# Importance of a Personal Practice
# Discussion of the 7 Chakras (energy centers) in the body
# Four Paths of Yoga
The prerequisite for this training is Level 1. You do not have to take Level 2 before Level 3. For more information or to register call 1-888-786-3111 x222 or visit www.yogafit.com.
Anatomy & Alignment - April 9-11, 2010
In this interactive workshop you will learn the musculoskeletal anatomy and biomechanics necessary to safely and effectively teach hatha yoga alignment. This workshop is beneficial for learning kinesiology specific to the foundational poses of all hatha yoga styles. In this workshop, we look beyond the foundational principles of YogaFit's Seven Principles of Alignment (SPA) to explore detailed musculoskeletal and biomechanical principles applied specifically to hatha yoga postures that will help you to become a safer and more effective teacher. This is not just another muscles and bones training. We will learn the following:
Review of Anatomical Terms and Landmarks
Joint & Muscle Action & Pose Transitioning
Pada Bandha - Foot and Lower Leg
Knees
Mula Bandha & Uddiyana Action - Hips, Pelvis and Spine
Standing Poses
Forward Folds
Shoulder Girdle
Backbends
Twists
The following two books are required for attendance:
Complimentary Text Provided:
Anatomy & Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries by Susi Hately Aldous
REQUIRED MATERIAL - please read prior to attending:
The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga* by Ray Long, MD
Please call 1-888-786-3111 x222 to register (we cannot register you at Flow)
Stephanie has studied Hatha Yoga Anatomy & Kinesiology with hatha yoga experts, including Susi Hately Aldous and Julie Gudmestead. In addition, she has spent hundreds of hours immersed in self study in this area. She is continuously inspired to examine the marvels of the body in relation to hatha yoga.
She relies on and consults several sources, including Yoga Journal articles on Anatomy, especially those by Julie Gudmestead, Susi Hately Aldous's Anatomy & Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries and also the Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga and Key Poses of Hatha Yoga books by Ray Long, PhD , and Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by David Coulter.
Her greatest teachers have been her students and fellow teachers. Through their questions, she continues to reexamine the body and its mechanics and subtle energies. Stephanie thought this exploration might be useful to some of you, as well, so we will be sharing some of these questions and answers with you from time to time or you can check the new website page "Alignment Q & A" under "What is Flow?".
Q: It seems as I do more and more vinyasa yoga, my wrists are gradually experiencing more sensitivity. What can I do?
A: Wrist discomfort or sensitivity can come from any of the following:
1) Not fully engaging hasta bandha
2) less than ideal shoulder girdle alignment in upper body weight bearing poses
3) Poor posture (accentuated thoracic kyphosis and cervical lordosis - upper back rounded, shoulders rounding forward, and head forward) causing congestion in the neck and shoulders that impedes blood flow and nerve transmission into/from the wrists
Hasta bandha is fully distributing the weight into the entire hand (all the fingers and especially the thumbs) to avoid pressure points, create free flow through the carpals to avoid stagnant energy in the wrists (too much wrist compression).
In my personal experience, wrist discomfort came from less than ideal shoulder girdle alignment in upper body weight bearing poses while rehabing a shoulder. Susi's book talks about how we experience congestion in the neck and shoulders that impedes blood flow and nerve transmission into/from the wrists. So, many times, wrist pain actually comes from the neck or shoulder. So, I spend more time on neutral spine, shoulder girdle and core stability in all fours and planks to reactivate the serratus anterior and stabilize and free the shoulders. Also, of course, doing more forearm options or using a "wrist wedge" prop is also helpful. I learned this from my on the mountain shoulder injuries and a resulting brief period of wrist sensitivity, and am now entirely pain-free in my yoga practice.~ S. Adams
PLEASE NOTE: That if there is pain or discomfort present in any pose or in daily life, a therapist or doctor should be consulted. Stephanie is not a doctor or therapist and is merely sharing her experience in teaching yoga as a means to see deeper into the body.
