ABCs of Yoga

We will begin a new series next Wednesday, 11/2 (Pisgah, 5:30-6:30) and Thursday, 11/3 (Cedar Grove, 5:00-6:00)!  

*ABCs of Yoga*

11/2-3/16 -- A-Armor of God Yoga

11/9-10/16 -- B-Beattitudes Yoga

11/16-17/16 -- B-Boundaries Yoga

11/30-12/1/16 -- C-Circles Yoga

12/7-8/16 -- DEEclutter Yoga

12/14-15/16 -- DEEbug Yoga

1/4-5/17 -- DEEnote Yoga

1/11-12/17 -- DEEvote Yoga

Invest in yourself, take to time to renew!  It's $60 for 8 weeks of balancing and breathing, strengthening and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g. We'll laugh and sing, be quiet and still.  It's a GREAT way to wrap 2016 and kick off 2017!

Unlocking Your SUPER POWER!

Getting anxious about Hurricane Matthew? Find your breath! Breathe. Breathe IN. Breathe OUT. Having trouble finding your breath? Lay on your tummy and feel your belly expand on the inhale and feel it contract on the exhale . . . Breathing helps your body calm down. Breathing soothes your anxious mind. It "feeds" the prefrontal cortex or "downstairs brain" so you can make better decisions. You ALWAYS have your breath, no matter the weather!

#ThrowBackThursday

We had so much fun yoga-ing in the pool this summer! It is fun to explore how postures work in the water vs. on the mat. Here's one sequence we could do more gracefully IN the water, not so on dry land . . . 

 goddess to half-moon, moving right

reset in goddess . . . 

 

then rock left!

HIPPO-Hurray for Thursday!

HIPPO-Hurray for Thursday! What is a SMALL thing you could do today to make a BIG difference in the quality of your Thursday? Did you know stretching for 20 seconds can have a HUGE effect on your energy levels? Close your eyes for 2 minutes to relieve the physical and mental strain of phones, TVs, computers, etc. Even it's just for 5 minutes, get up and get out for a walk! It'll get your blood flowing, muscles moving and reset your brain! Or smile, make a phone call, send a note -- tell someone why they matter! It'll make your day and their day better! It's the little things . . . :-)

Mindfulness Magazine, October 2016, p. 42

Get Your Yoga On for a Cure

Support Mammo Diva Lifesavers' "Get Your Yoga On for a Cure" at Palmetto Health Baptist Auditorium, 1501 Sumter Street, on Wednesday, October 5th from 5:00-6:00 PM. The cost is $10 (or donate more).  All Funds stay local to benefit the Palmetto Health Foundation Walk for Life. 

It's Good to Be HONEST!

We studied chapter 5 of Liz Curtis Higgs' "It's Good to Be Queen!"  We worked a "box" move to remind ourselves that BEING TRUTHFUL breaks us FREE of the "boxed in" feelings that lies, secrets, deceptions, and disguises lock us to.  Queen Sheba "shelved her pride, ditched her embarrassment, and spoke the truth, holding nothing back."

We moved one side of the box with goddess steps:  step sideways into goddess pose,

 then slide feet and hands together and repeat.

1st Box Corner:  "SHELVE YOUR PRIDE" 

Standing on the left leg, cross the right ankle over the left knee.  Bend the left knee and balance your half lotus.

Step back in Warrior 1 to make the 2nd box side.  Step back left,

 step back right.  Be intentional and strong as you move.

2nd Box Corner:  "DITCH YOUR EMBARRASSMENT" 

Again, standing on the left leg, crossing over with the right.  Left elbow stacks in right, arms back to back and maybe twisted once, depending on your flexibility!

Move the 3rd side of the box with cross steps.  Step to the side,

then cross right over left.

Step to the side,

crossing right behind left.

3rd Box Corner:  "SPEAK THE TRUTH"

Standing on the right leg, crossing over with the left.  Right elbow stacks in left, arms back to back. Wrap the arms if you need more stretch!

Step forward in Warrior 1 to make the final box side.  Step forward left,

step forward right.

4th Box Corner:  "HOLDING NOTHING BACK"

Standing on the right leg, cross the left ankle over the right knee.  Bend the right knee and balance your half lotus.

It's GOOD to Be OPEN

We explored chapters 2 & 3 tonight of Liz Curtis Higgs' It's Good to Be Queen.  We highlighted the author's idea to be OPEN you must be (1) Willing (2) Eager and (3) Available -- Here's our yoga moves to help us remember:

(1) Willing

(2) Eager

(3) Available

To be OPEN you also need to have ON your listening brain, your listening ears and your listening eyes!