by Jasmine | May 9, 2014 | Iyengar Yoga, Yoga For Weight Loss, Yoga Health, Yoga Teacher training
I’ve been doing yoga for over 15 years but I only recently discovered Iyengar yoga. After getting familiar with William Broad’s, Science of Yoga book and hearing all the ire it got for it’s chapter about injuries I wanted to learn more about this not-very well known kind of yoga. Many yoga teacher training programs do not have rigorous standards for anatomy or bio-mechanics or how to work with students that have injuries or other limiting conditions. I often did quite a bit of research on my own on how to address working with students safely.
Iyengar Yoga Poses and Classes in Philadelphia and on the Main Line
Iyengar teachers have the most rigorous standards in order to pass their certification. In order to become an Iyengar teacher, you have to be practicing Iyengar yoga for at least 3 years which means you should be attending at least 3 classes as well as have your own home practice. There are also over 5 levels of teacher training which range from introductory knowledge to Senior teacher. There are also exams and theory papers that are due at each level. Just signing up for an Iyengar training is no guarantee that you will become one. You can expect rigorous tests on poses, anatomy and other tenets about yoga philosophy.
What can you expect from an Iyengar yoga class? What are the poses like?
Going to an Iyengar class is unlike the flow-iness that you find in a typical hatha or vinyasa class. I have only been to two studios here in the Philadelphia area but both of them are rather austere. There is no music, no aromatherapy and no candles. The teachers will want to know about what physical limitations or injuries you have. Do you have a herniated disc, torn rotator cuff or arthritis in your knee? Are you scared that going to a typical yoga class will be painful or you’ll hurt yourself more? If yes, get your bum body to an Iyengar class. The teachers will work with you on a fairly customized level ( depending on how many people show up in the class)
Because most Iyengar classes assume a certain amount of knowledge about the poses and yoga in general it is not a great option if you are a brand new beginner. They will often say the names of the Iyengar poses in Sanskrit. They also assume you have a certain level of bodily awareness and propioception which most beginner yoga students don’t have . If you are a yoga beginner, you would either want to talk to the teacher first or attend a more basic yoga introduction course. Avoid going to an advanced, power yoga , hot yoga, or “all-levels class” since you will feel intimidated and overwhelmed with the poses there.
You often spend a long time dissecting and breaking down a pose. First you might see the teacher model the pose first, then instruct you how to get in it with some very technical anatomy cues to pay attention to in your own body. After being in the pose, the teacher might model it again or have another student go into and point out certain ways the student is holding their body in the pose. Often you will go into the pose again with these further anatomical refinements. Since the poses requires a lot of props, you spend some time getting and putting away props as well as building your pose with the props.
One of the teachers I go to is Donna Debs who has a home studio out in the Philadelphia Suburbs on the Main Line. Her home studio is on a beautiful private street and the studio itself is clean with all of the requisite props required for an Iyengar practice such as blocks, chair, wall-straps, bolster, blankets and eye pillows. I’m not sure how old she is but I suspect she is about my mom’s age with Jennifer Aniston’s toned, cut and sleek body. ( One thing about Iyengar teachers, they have the most defined, toned muscles which shows how much they are fully and completely engaging their body to do their practice) Donna teaches about 5 classes a week, a few in the morning and a few in the evenings but no weekend classes. Donna also cuts back on classes from the end of November and starts up again in January and there are no classes during the summer.
The other Iyengar teacher I take classes with is Robin Lowry who has a home studio in Germantown. Robin is a full-time high school teacher so only teaches about two classes a week in the evenings so it’s been tough for me to be able to attend her classes. Her studio is in an older style Philadelphia twin on the 3rd floor My only complaint about Robin is that I wish she had more classes or maybe a Saturday class .Robin only teaches classes during the regular school year and not on Mondays when there are school holidays. There is no AC in the studio which is why there are no classes from the end of May to the end of September.
by Jasmine | May 7, 2014 | Prenatal Yoga
I’ve been teaching Prenatal Yoga for Beginners in the Philadelphia area and I’ve noticed that often women will embrace or discover yoga for the first time in their life when they are pregnant? I wonder what it is about this practice that beckons women to have a greater attunement to their body and spiritual practices at this time of their life.
I really love teaching prenatal yoga for beginners since I feel like I get to be a part of one of the most exciting and intimate times of a woman’s life. You get to be a part of the some of the biggest hopes and dreams of women. I’ve also learned so much about birth, delivery, pregnancy and healthcare in general by teaching this prenatal class. I always have the women start in a circle so we they can share their hopes, fear and tips about pregnancy so they can feel a sense of community and connection to other to-be-mommies.
In some of my other yoga classes, students compare themselves harshly to the other students and sometimes push themselves to the point of discomfort so they can look like the other students. In the prenatal yoga classes for beginners, the students are always at their most conservative and they are not worried about doing the fullest expression of the pose.
WHY PRENATAL YOGA?
Pregnancy is a great time to learn how to emotionally, spiritually and physically release, open up and let go. Yoga also help you find the time and space to look within yourself, allowing you to openly explore your own intrinsic knowledge about the cycles of life. Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal yoga is a comprehensive and safe form of exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. Prenatal Yoga Classes are taught by highly qualified staff trained in Yoga Alliance Certified guidelines, methods and practices. Our yoga practice is gentle and nurturing, yet safe and supportive, so that mother and baby obtain the maximum benefit from postures without any strain.
Prenatal yoga links postures and breathing exercises to create awareness of your own mind, body and spirit, and the spirit of your baby. Yoga is ideal preparation for giving birth. Our yoga program is taught in a way that will help you access your own intuitive understanding of birth while helping you to connect to your partner.
Breathing practice during pregnancy opens the chest and helps to improve circulation in both mother and baby, ensuring a better supply of oxygen to the blood. It also calms the nerves and gives the mother greater control of her breathing during labor.
CAUTIONS
Since nausea is common during the first trimester, it may be helpful to practice in a well-ventilated room. During the second trimester your growing belly will require modifying some poses. Use common sense and avoid putting undue pressure on the abdomen in poses like Head To Knee Postures, Seated Forward Fold, and Forward Bends Towards the Knee, as well as Seated Spinal Twists. You may also choose to reduce the amount of vinyasa (flowing postures) if generating heat in the body makes you uncomfortable. The third trimester will require you to continue to adapt and even omit certain postures. Standing poses like Extended Triangle Pose, and Extended Side Angle Pose can help relieve back pain. A simple inversion such as Legs-Up-the-Wall-Pose can help to relieve swollen ankles. Some poses might require additional props or support (blocks, blankets, bolsters). Through each trimester the most important thing is to tune in to what your body is telling you and alter your practice accordingly. During and after your pregnancy, try not to be attached to your previous abilities or level of flexibility.
by Jasmine | Apr 7, 2014 | Stuff I like
We go to the Philly Flower Show every year and love seeing the Spring preview. It’s been a cold Winter and a slow Spring warm-up, so even thought The Flower Show was a few weeks ago, we’re sure you’ll enjoy these pictures! The theme this year was Articulture, so its rather unique compared to the years past.
by Jasmine | Apr 1, 2014 | Acupuncture, Thai Massage, Yoga Health
Just wanted to touch base and send a message about what’s going on yoga-wise with us. Between teaching couples yoga in Manayunk and Gentle yoga in Mt Airy, I’ve also been visiting plenty of local yoga studios (as a student). It’s refreshing to be the student sometimes…. it’s nice to have someone tell you what to do in class instead of directing everyone else………
I’ve attended Aerial Yoga at Fishtown’s Amrita’s Yoga… the most stunning yoga studio you will ever visit…. (and I’ve been to hundreds)….. feels like the Four Seasons designed that space.
Also went to Katrin Elia Yoga on the Main Line a few weeks ago….. Restorative yoga plus Marma point therapy…. heavenly.
Purenergy yoga in Paoli just opened up…. their Aerial classes are also high on my “to visit ” list.
The yoga I am most excited about this Spring is Namas Day though.
Namas Day is the creation of Philly Area Yoga, Philadelphia’s premiere online yoga and wellness resource.
The festival is another way that we strive to bring together the yoga community and share the incredible local talent.
They represent the community as a whole and are not affiliated with any studio or organization – they are independent and inclusive of everyone, every studio, every teacher, and every style, whether you want to jump around and sweat in a sweaty vinyasa workshop or want to be gentle and restorative in a yin class or Thai Massage.
This year’s event will involve a full day yoga workshops and master classes delivered by local instructors and wellness professionals.
It’s taking place at:
WHYY Building
Independence Mall West
150 N. Sixth Street
These are the workshops I plan to take… never seen acupuncture combined with poses before. I’ve taken Shawn Declue’s Thai Massage workshop before so I know this will be delicious. Never taken a goal setting workshop at a yoga event so that should make it a more transformational event.
Smart Goal Setting 101 led by Brittany Wallrath
Thai Yoga Massage led by Shawn Declue
Finding the Yin Within: A Yin Yoga and Acupuncture Experience led by Alice Dommert, Christopher Coan, and David Schiman
WHYY Building
Independence Mall West
150 N. Sixth Street
Saturday May 10th
8:30am – 6:00pm
Check-in opens at 8:00am…..
by Jasmine | Mar 30, 2014 | Yoga Music, Yoga Retreat, Yoga Teacher training
One of my favorite things to do at places like Whole Foods or the store in a yoga studio is to put on headphones and listen to some of the music they are promoting. One of my main tasks when I am at Kripalu or Omega is to plunk myself down and go through dozens of CDs and then only let my self buy my favorite 10%.
Just so you understand part of my biases, if a CD has a lot of slow-moving and then fast tempo songs I tend to discard those, even if I really dig them since I want to have one consistent mood when I am teaching or practicing and don’t have to get up and change the music….I just find that disruptive for myself. I tend to stay away from stuff that has loud bells or chimes in the middle of a long tranquil spell since it breaks the mood. It’s hard to hold tree pose when all of a sudden you hear a clanging, “GONG”.
Most of the music works well for other things like massage and other spiritual activities and some of them are just slow and sensual and great for just chilling and romancing. if you don’t like hearing someone chant Oooooommmmm for a full hour when you are practicing then you can check these out.
So here is my list of Yoga Music CDs Reviews, in no particular order.
Creation by David Young – This is a great all purpose yoga, massage or just chill CD. It has an even ambient tone and no surprises on it. He has a lot of other great romantic, spiritual music, some of which are more suited to yoga than others.
Mirabai Ceiba – A Hundred Blessings. Some of the tracks are in English and some in Sanskrit and one is even in Spanish. Their voices are soothing and quite melodic but the transition from a slow paced to a fast paced song might catch you off guard if you aren’t watching the pace of your class. Suitable for a vigorously paced yoga class for some of the songs.
Snataum Kaur – She does traditional Kirtan or chanting, some in English, some in Sanskrit. One of my Indian friends hates going and hearing westerners chant in Sanskrit…she says it hurts her ears to have Westerners butcher the sacred sounds of Sanskrit. (Hey Nikita, sometimes it hurts my ears to hear you butcher the English language with your Bengali accent) Kaur’s voice is very pure and angelic. My favorite CDs of hers are Prem and Celebrate Peace. I’ve been to a few of her concerts, which are not as pulsating as Krishna Das but still a moving and profound experience.
Sounds of Sleep for Infants – I’ve never heard anyone else play this at a yoga studio or any hippy-dippy event. It is basically the sound of heartbeat with some very soft music in the background which was produced so that parents could have a way to soothe their colicky infants to sleep. I actually like playing this for myself when I go to bed and then I got the idea to play this during the restorative part of the yoga class. It’s quite hypnotic and ambient. I wouldn’t play this during a vigorous yoga class but perfect for shivasana or for a restorative or gentle class.
