Tag Archive | "benefits"

Yoga for Women: From Pelvic Floor to Global Movement


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Celebrate Mother’s Day the yoga way with our special guests. Discover how women continue to balance family and career while carving out some personal asana/meditation time.

Candice Garrett joins us to talk about the importance of yoga for Moms including pelvic floor health, the Yoga Sutras of parenting and the power of a single breath. Then the producer/director of YogaWoman: The Film, Kate Clere McIntyre will shed light on the impact women on having on the world of yoga and the awakening of female power around the globe. This is a special episode dedicated to women everywhere as they nurture themselves, love passionately and lead powerfully in this moment and into the future.

Original Air Date: May 10, 2012

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Connect with Candice Garrett at Nine Moons Yoga on Facebook. Here are the Mama Sutras we referred to during the interview.

Discover YogaWoman.tv on Facebook and leave a message if you want the movie to come to a theatre near you.

Enjoy all our archived interviews available on iTunes including guests Cora Wen, Sadie Nardini, Waylon Lewis, Bob Weisenberg, Karma Carpenter, Amy Saltzman, Briohny Smyth and many more.

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Yoga in Schools: Turning Research into Effective Programs


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One of the most often asked question for school-based yoga programs is “Does it really work?” The International Association for School Yoga and Mindfulness (IASYM) responds with a resounding “YES!”

Our distinguished panel of quests will discuss some of the current research being conducted and how that research is translated into powerful school-based programs, bringing calm, focus and learning readiness into today’s classrooms. Karma Carpenter, Director of IASYM, Lynda Meeder, Director of YogaKids, Anne Buckley-Reen, OT & founder of Get Ready to Learn, and Cheryl Crawford, founder of Grounded, join us to share their experiences in researching the effects of yoga and mindfulness in schools. Discover how yoga is impacting kids, teachers and administrators through innovative programs proven effective by University research.

Original Air Date: April 25, 2012

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Our panel of amazing guests can be found at:

Karma Carpenter

Facebook

 

Anne Buckley-Reen

Facebook

 

Cheryl Crawford

 Facebook

 

 

Lynda Meeder

Facebook

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The Benefits of Om


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This is Part 4 in a four part series on Om. Enjoy Part 1: Om the Sound of the Universe, Part 2: Chanting Om: How to Teach Kids to Chant (video), and Part 3: To Om or Not to Om

Why It’s Great to Chant OM

There are numerous benefits to chanting and employing music to teach children and teens (see Benefits of Music in Kids Yoga Class.) “Om” is the primordial sound of the universe, the first vibration of creation, the eternal sound of the divine. “Om” in particular helps center and calm participants, bringing a sense of peace, focus and connection to ourselves, each other and the world. When chanted in repetition “om” is invigorating, strengthening and an effective way to release stress. Here are a number of the benefits of chanting “om.”

Physiological Effects

  • slows the heart beat
  • relaxes muscles
  • calms the body
  • decreases blood pressure
  • oxygenates the blood
  • massages the spine, chest, core, throat and head through vibrations

Mental/Emotional Effects

  • induces the relaxation response
  • improves task performance
  • increases clarity and concentrated focus
  • soothes the mind
  • increases effectiveness and motivation
  • deepens the connection to spiritual self
  • creates a sense of community (group chanting)

What benefits do you feel come from chanting “om?”

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An Early Morning Yoga Practice for a Better You


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Guest post by Bethany Winston

It seems difficult to leave the comfort of bed, maybe just for few minutes, before actually beginning to execute the ‘to-do’ list. But if you can wake up in the quietness and soothing calm of a refreshing morning, you will be delighted to find its charm. A warm cup of water with lime can get your digestive system going. Try giving a similar dose to your mind as well.

Everyone seems overwhelmed with daily chores; whether it is managing the ever-demanding boss, creating portfolios to channel your hard earned money or catering to the big requests of children. Reasons are endless. But within the busy and tight chores, finding some time for your self is imperative. An open secret that it is, the body and mind needs replenishment. And this goes beyond taking a healthy diet! Spending exclusive moments with self is not a tall order. Determination is the key.

What to Include

Yoga is an inexpensive tool when working for a better mind and body.

Working when the rest of the world sleeps can give an immense satisfaction and contentment. When beginning try moves and stretches to prepare your body for more elaborate postures which follow. Balasana can start your session, followed by other stretches like Cat-cow. Thereafter, you can move on to the more extended postures. For resting, Sukhasana is appropriate. And when performing each of the postures, watch the breath going in and out of the nose.

Finding a morning yoga schedule is recommended. It will encourage an active and complete yoga session, concluding with Savasana (Corpse Pose). While some postures are energizing, others, like forward bends, are calming. Sun Salutations produce heat and flowing movement linked to breathing. Standing poses can help in building strength and stamina. For improving concentration, balancing poses are appropriate. You can also practice twists, which detoxify the body relieving stress in the head, neck, and back. If you want to examine the world with a different dimension, inversions (upside down) are apt postures.

The Benefits

The short, yet meticulous, session is meant to work not only for the muscles but also the nerves. Early morning practice helps in setting the tone for your entire day. Sessions can be one reason to leave the bed few minutes before your usual timing, a natural compulsion. For many yogis early morning hours are lively and energetic. Your yoga session can potentially connect you to the energy, contributing to a healthy living.

A dedicated morning practice certainly produces encouraging results, boosting up your energy to meet the demands of the day. Irrespective of the day, try to maintain a similar structure in your practice sessions. When you can stick to the format, penetrating further becomes easier. Some find it helpful to incorporate a ritual blend in their practice sessions, giving a more meaningful and tempting edge to the early morning practices. Sun Salutation is a popular choice.

Before grabbing that aromatic cup of tea or coffee and the newspaper, spend a few moments with yourself. A good beginning is kick-start your day.

About the author: Bethany is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently read an article on nail care and liked it a lot. Few days ago she bought some Bathroom Lighting for her home.

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Kids Restorative Yoga for Winter Solstice


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Yin Yoga Helps Kids Relax & Connect

Most children’s yoga classes are of the yang variety: energetic, strong, mobile. This reflects kids natural tendencies toward movement, activity and spontaneity. However, kids sometimes become overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, overtired and sad. At our home this is often the case in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays. There is so much going on with concerts, parties, shopping, exams, get-togethers with friends and family, etc. that my kids (and I) simply need some down time.

The Winter Solstice provides a lovely opportunity to delve into a child friendly yin practice. This is a wonderful way to provide space and time for purposeful relaxation. Yin yoga also assists in turning inward and helps children connect with their intuition and personal wisdom, finding peace in a quieter, slower yoga practice.

Yin Yoga Poses for Kids

Kids Yin Yoga Best Practices

  • Allow the children to set the pace holding poses for as long as children allow, once they start to fidget, move along
  • Encourage longer holds with a timer or counting breaths
  • Approach with curiosity and wonder
  • Speak slowly, calmly – children will take their energy cues from you
  • Pretend you are practicing in deep water, every movement is slow and purposeful
  • Allow space for feelings of sadness, fear, anger
  • Most important – Breathe

Meditation for the Winter Solstice

Enjoy celebrating the solstice by using light as a symbol for change. I like using flashlights as they are safe with kids. With teens you may want to use candles. Sit everyone in a circle. Provide a light source for each participant. Turn the lights on/light the candles. Going around the circle, each participant says farewell to something they need to or are ready to let go and extinguishes their light. When all the lights are off, sit silently in the dark (how long you sit in darkness will depend on your group).  Allow your past hurts, heartaches, regrets to gently drift away. Turn your attention inward, enjoying the quiet stillness. Smile gently from deep within yourself. Begin to look toward the future. Once again go around the circle, this time each participant shares how they will welcome change and embrace love as they turn on their light.
Wishing you a lovely Winter Solstice.

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Natural Skin Care with Lilyfern Botanicals


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 Enter to win a fabulous Happy Baby Kit from Lilyfern Botanicals with a comment below. Draw date Oct 28th, 2011.

Years ago when expecting my oldest I learned about the benefits and healing properties of essential oils. Quickly adopted into our household were lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile. Then, this summer I discovered a fab company that uses these same oils and others in a variety of products to sooth and nourish the skin. Lilyfern Botanicals produces fabulous hand-crafted, natural skin care products that promote health and balance.

Happy Baby Kit

I was thrilled when given the Heal Baby Balm and Calm Baby Massage Oil for a review. Now, I no longer have an infant at home, but that didn’t stop the entire family from enjoying these beautifully blended products. Throughout the summer my kids loved using the balm on their mosquito bites: no sting and the itch was immediately gone. We also used the balm on scraped knees, sunburn, dry heals, cuticles and every other skin irritation imaginable. I was continually amazed at how versatile and effective it was and loved the fact that there were no chemicals or other nasty add-ins to harm my family.

The Calm Baby Massage Oil was equally as impressive. It has a lovely light scent and a little goes a long way. When they were little I used to give my babies a massage after every bath to calm and soothe them and really wish I had this handy pump dispenser filled with a mix of nourishing apricot kernel and sesame oil then. For this review I used it on all members  of my family and was impressed with its feel and texture during massage and will definitely be stocking up on more.

Lilyfern Botanicals has generously donated one Happy Baby Kit as a giveaway. The kit includes Heal Baby Balm (25ml), Calm Baby Massage Oil (30 ml), and Clean Baby Body Wash (250 ml).

How to Enter

Enter to win by leaving a comment which mentions one Lilyfern product you’d like to use and why. Visit Lilyfern’s on-line store for full product line.

Additional entries can be made by:

  • liking Lilyfern Botanicals on Facebook – comment here letting me know you did
  • sharing this contest on Facebook with an @Yogainmyschool.com link – one entry per day allowed
  • Tweeting this contest and including an @DonnaKFreeman tag – 3 entries per day allowed at least one hour apart each

Contest ends Friday, October 28th at 9:00 pm MDT. Winners will be contacted by e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply. Winners names will be published here, on Facebook and Twitter.

Read more about Lilyfern Botanicals in this recent Edmonton Journal article.

Lilyfern Botanicals generously donated the products for this review and giveaway. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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