How Yoga Helps Me Run 06/12/2010
 Today I did my long run of the week, 9 miles. I'm building up one mile a week and have started doing 1 or 2 of my weekly runs on a treadmill. Well treadmills bore the crap out of me. Especially 9 miles on a treadmill, (I might as well express myself freely here right!) and I found my mind wandering. My mind really started wandering at about mile 4 or 5. I had had a cramp in my side for a few miles and I think I was trying to escape the discomfort by being in my head. I also was periodically feeling like I needed some replenishment and even getting a little light headed. (I listened to my body and gave it some water here and there as well as a bite of a cliff bar mid run.) I needed to change something if I was going to last for 9 miles. I remembered how part of the benefit of savasana after an asana practice is that it is a time for your mind to rest so that your body can use all of that energy for healing. Mental energy is energy used by your mind that could otherwise be saved for your body. At that point I consciously directed my awareness into my core, and 1st and 2nd chakras. I thought about and felt my body being energized through the first chakra, and the 1st chakra taking in energy from the earth. Any time I started feeling a little less energized or light headed I was reminded to stop thinking and come back into my body awareness. With the help of this awareness, I was able to make it through my 9 mile run strong. Yoga has given me so much body awareness that comes in so useful in other areas of my life. Yoga gives my body more flexibility to help prevent injury in other activities, it teaches my body to find peace in my breath even in physically challenging circumstances, and yoga helps me be more aware so I can find more enjoyment in staying physically, spiritually and emotionally open. Presence Power! 05/01/2010
 So much of our stress comes from not being present. When we hurry or worry we are projecting ourselves into the future and when we think about what we "could have" or "should have" done we are projecting into the past. One of the biggest blessings of a yoga asana practice is the power that it has to make you more present in your life. This presence power comes from being in your breath and truly feeling and listening to your body at the moment of your practice. It is so healing and does wonders for your spirit! Make time to bless your life with an asana practice 3-4 times a week even if it only lasts for 15 minutes! Set a goal that is doable for you, breath, and enjoy. Sequence #1- Lower back strengthening 04/01/2010
 This is the first of my free audio yoga classes. There is a sound glitch from the 4th second through about the 13th second of the track that happened in editing so please ignore that. I'm still learning as I go. :) This sequence is very beginner friendly, slow paced and approachable and is specifically built to strengthen the lower back with back and core strengtheners as well as hamstring stretches. All of these areas contribute to a healthy back. I know there are a lot of people out there with lower back issues. I also know many of those people are a little intimidated to go to a class full of more experienced yogis. So here is the solution! P.S. Your down dog DOES NOT need to look like the one in this picture to be perfect for you! (One variation of child's pose not mentioned in the podcast is with your knees apart and feet together.) Roll out your mat or pick a spot on the floor and enjoy your 50 minute practice! Yoga as Medicine 09/03/2009
There is a new book that I'm adding to my recommended reading list . . . Yoga As Medicine. Below is a very interesting chart from the beginning of the book showing different ailments and the percentage of people who were helped in those ailments from a yoga practice. Medical Condition #of people reporting %helped by yoga Alcoholism 26 100 Anxiety 838 94 Arthritis and Rheumatic Disorders 589 90 Asthma or Bronchitis 226 88 Back Disorders 1,142 98 Cancer 29 90 Diabetes 10 80 Duodenal Ulcers 40 90 Heart Disease 50 94 Hemorrhoids 391 88 High Blood Pressure 150 84 Insomnia 542 82 Menopausal Disorders 247 83 Menstrual Problems 317 68 Migraine 464 80 Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease 112 96 Obesity 240 74 Premenstrual Syndrome 848 77 Smoking 219 74 If you have any ailment that effects your physical abilities be sure to let your yoga teacher know so that you can work together to make your practice as beneficial as it can be. Not every class, or every pose is right for every body and this is the best way to insure that you get yoga that is right for you. Disengage your Mind 09/02/2009
"Do not contract your brain when you stretch your body." -B.K.S. Iyengar I read this quote last night and it struck me as really funny and of course really wise. Yoga has this tremendous power to teach your mind HOW to disengage, HOW to "not contract," HOW to let go, and just be open and aware. It happens in a sort of amazing, thoughtless, spontaneous way. One day you find yourself moving through your asanas with your breath not thinking, next thing you know, you catch yourself periodically through out your day not thinking, just aware and relaxed. Yoga teaches you how to meditate so that if and when you decide to take a seat with yourself for five minutes or half an hour, you have more of an ability to quiet the fluctuations of your mind and just be. Let your asana practice teach you how to relax your mind and just experience where you are. "Do not contract your brain when you stretch your body." Miraculous You! 08/20/2009
The premise of nutritional and herbal healing is that your body is an amazing miracle. It is always functioning properly and knows exactly how to heal itself. It is divine! All we need to do to allow our bodies to heal is provide them with the resources they need, whether that be provided through nutrition, herbs, energy, or in the case of yoga, oxygen. When you provide the resources, your body is a miraculous self healer. There is a quote that says, "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Take the time to show some self love through what you put into the vehicle you've been given. The more you show up on your mat to honor yourself, the easier it will become to demonstrate that same self love in the kitchen. Namaste! Upward Facing Dog 08/13/2009
 We practice upward facing dog in nearly every asana practice. This pose can be so beneficial when done with respect and awareness to how your body feels. As long as you only lift as high as your wrists and your lower back enjoy it, you will reap these benefits. Up-dog is an energizing backbend and so fights fatigue and mild depression. This pose also strengthens your spine, arms and wrists,improves posture, and opens up the front side of your body stretching your abdomen, chest, lungs and shoulders. It is especially therapeutic when attention is paid to pulling shoulders open, shoulder blades down and breathing deeply into your heart center. This pose can be done with the thighs on or off the floor. Postures are for the Breath 07/15/2009
"Asana is essentially the same process as pranayama. The difference is that movement of the body is used to enhance the breath process in asana." Spotlight on ROCKET 1 07/13/2009
The name "Rocket" may sound intimidating to yoga students unfamiliar with the series. The Rocket series was created by Larry Shultz who was an Ashtanga student of Pattabhi Jois (see previous post). "The series is a modification of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Intermediate series and is called the Rocket because 'It gets you there faster.' The Rocket is designed to wake up the nervous system and feed it the precious prana it craves while promoting a spirit of change and freedom in the practice." The Rocket 1 and Rocket 2 series are only taught by students who have done their trainings through It's Yoga, based in San Francisco, with Larry Shultz. Rocket 1 is offered at our studio, with Jenny Watson Tuesday nights from 8:15-9:30pm. Ashtanga Yoga 07/10/2009
Ashtanga Yoga is a style of yoga that goes back to Krishnamacharya in the late 1800's in India. This form of yoga went worldwide primarily through his student, Pattabhi Jois as well as those who later learned from Jois. | About Me
Amber Gurr I was first introduced to yoga in 2001 and quickly fell in love. In 2004, I completed my 500 hour teacher training with D'ana Baptiste and have done annual trainings since that time with notable teachers such as Mark Whitwell, David Williams, Baron Baptiste and Rolf Gates. I love teaching and I love seeing yoga bless both the physical and spiritual aspects of people's lives. I have a husband and 4 little boys, ages 9, 3, 2 and 0 that keep me busy and playing. I decided that now is the time for me to be home with my family so now I just sub a yoga class here and there. I also am a nutritional herbalist, herbalist, doula, have an Associates degree in music, teach piano and do some energy readings and healing here and there. I am excited to share some of the tid bits of truth that I have come across that have shaped my life thus far and hope that this sharing will assist many others in their journey. Namaste! |