Neponset Valley Yoga Newsletter - June 2011

Meditation to Stay Young Well, it seems that you CAN teach on old dog new tricks!    Okay, so I feel like a broken record, but I just love it when scientists and researchers give us these amazing insights into techniques that have worked for more than a millenia! Now don't get me wrong, I think getting data to support health claims is a good thing. I'm also a yogini, which means I trust the laboratory of my own body to tell me what is and what isn't effective. Meditation is high on my list of healthful habits - whether you have 30 minutes or just 5... every little bit matters. So, brew a cup of tea, read this article from the Guardian, then close your eyes and sit with it!    Yoga at the Core Toning the belly, buttocks, and pelvic floor The creation of a good yoga practice includes working from and strengthening the core muscles of the body. When we move from a strong and stable foundation, the limbs move with less effort. remember Patanjali's advice to have a steady, comfortable posture? This is definitely one of the ways to help achieve that steadiness. Try this great sequence to help strengthen Mula Bhanda (pelvic floor muscles), the Transverse Abdominals (girdle muscles) and the Glutes. Personal Space You think it's crowded at the Studio? In America, we have a more luxurious concept of "personal space" than most other countries. We don't want other people too close, and we like to browse when we shop. People in many eastern countries have been living in tight quarters for centuries, and are masterful at using every available inch. But, I have to say, the resilience of these vegetable vendors in their "market" brings that mastery to an art form. "I'll have some of those delicious greens... oh, wait, once I peel myself off the wall!"