YOGA CONNECTION
NEWS &
INFORMATION
RECENT
MIAMI HERALD ARTICLE ON LEBRON JAMES AND HIS FITNESS "SECRET"!
May 2011
LeBRON
JAMES FITNESS SECRET IS OUT!
LeBron James’ rare mix of endurance and defensive versatility
has been one of the Heat’s keys to success this postseason.
James is averaging 43.4 minutes per playoff game during the
playoffs, which is second only to Bulls forward Luol Deng (43.5).
On Friday, James credited an offseason workout regimen of swimming,
yoga and Pilates for his stamina. He logged more than 45 minutes
in Game?2 of the Eastern Conference finals and played every
minute of the second half.
“Does it work for everybody? I don’t know,”
James said Friday. “I’m not a guru about how to
be in the best condition — don’t let me sit here
and tell you that. But it works for me.”
So, where exactly did James take his yoga and Pilates classes?
He kept it a secret Saturday.
“It was back home,” James said. “I can’t
tell you exactly where it’s at. It’s a secret place.
We hold a secret society over there. We don’t tell many
people.”
James’ secret yoga society might in the future include
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Spoelstra used yoga and Pilates this
season to stay in shape and relieve stress. As for communicating
with James during games about his star forward’s energy
level, Spoelstra said he’s never bothered.
“I never ask him if he’s tired or if he can absorb
that many minutes,” Spoelstra said. “He’s
a remarkably well-conditioned athlete. In many ways I think
he’s a freak of nature. … If we had to play every
other day, he could do it.”
James said he took advantage of his time off between Games
2 and 3 and made a point to stay off his legs at night. He said
there would be “no way” he could play 45 minutes
in back-to-back days. He also added that, in the postseason,
“it’s whatever it takes.”
“If I’m out there dogging it and I’m not
playing at a high level defensively and I’m not helping
the team and I’m playing these big minutes, then I should
come out and be on the bench,” James said. “Me just
being in good shape and continuing to be out on the court, I
try to help the team the best way possible and go from there.”
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December 2010
Many
of us think that yoga is simply about asanas or poses. Yoga
is not a system of exercise though. Yoga is a philosophy that
guides us toward harmony of our minds, bodies, and spirits.
Seeking harmony allows us to begin to understand the magic and
abundance of life! And when that is felt, our lives are enriched
as we begin to live in a state of constant gratitude and love.
THE YOGA CONNECTION is a special studio and we are honored to
offer our students many pathways toward complete seeking harmony.
As such, we are proud of the many talented instructors that
call THE YOGA CONNECTION home. Each one offers a unique gift
and has the talent and passion to guide you along with integrity,
love, and enlightenment! Our teacher were carefully selected
because of their special talents and personalities and training---
making our studio a complete yoga sanctuary offering just about
every form of mind & body movement---from gentle to flowing
to power.
In order to take advantage of the uniqueness, we encourage you
to push beyond your emotional and physical limitations/requirements
to truly transcend your practice. The transformation will only
be complete when you are open minded and receptive to the wide
menu the studio offers--including the different studios, the
different classes featuring varied styles of yoga and Pilates,
and the amazingly different teachers. Different means you have
the wonderful opportunity to learn and grow from the best!
We hope you have noticed that the studio has been going through
its own growth and transformation lately with fresh paint, beautiful
new retail merchandise and plants, and new classes/teachers.
As such, and as many of you know we have done in the past, we
are also growing and changing for the better. Life is about
change and embracing it, and THE YOGA CONNECTION strives to
bring our students along each step of the way.
We invite you to enjoy the enhanced environment and to get
to know our new instructors and try their classes...you will
not be disappointed! Let go of any preconceived notions or "likes
and dislikes" you may have as these keep you stuck and
disappointed, instead of open and moving forward. Join us in
the process of self realization and growth. Do not become overly
attached to one class, one teacher, or even one studio over
the other. If you have only practiced in the heated room, give
the classes in studio 1 a chance! If you have not tried hot
yoga, explore that setting for a change. Most importantly, do
not become so attached to one class or studio or instructor
...."addiction" is not part of the yoga experience!
Speaking of the heaters, remember that they should serve as
just one aspect of your yoga experience. The heaters or temperature
should never be allowed to become the overriding factor. Our
heated studio is regulated by a state-of-the-art system that
controls the temperature to an ideal level for optimal performance,
health, safety and enjoyment in an environment that is designed
to circulate heat and oxygen for perfect balance and practice.
Yoga is about opening your minds and hearts and bodies to experience
different possibilities. These possibilities will ultimately
allow you to expand your horizons!
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"Yoga is a way of moving
into stillness
in order to experience the
truth of who you are."
Erich Schiffmann
(from
our very first newsletter)
It seems appropriate to begin with a brief discussion of how
and why we start yoga. We
seem to all have different personal, yet similar, reasons, but
most of us seem driven to achieve our highest potential.
There are many of us suffering from physical conditions, both
structural and internal. Some of us desire stress reduction,
mood improvement, healing of grief. Others are looking
for focus, concentration, relaxation. And while most of
us desire to improve our physical bodies, we slowly realize
that we are improving our entire "Self", for yoga
is the practice of realizing your true essence, your true Self.
By focusing your mind, through your breath, you begin to realize
that you are more than body and mind. You are spirit,
and yoga enables you to truly connect with your spiritual Self.
Our philosophy at
Yoga Connection is to offer the practice of many styles of yoga,
pilates, relaxation. We believe that no style is "better" than
another. Instead, the goals and benefits of every yoga style
are the same. So we encourage our students to take advantage of
all of the many classes that we offer here. If your schedule
permits you to be here, take any class given at that time. It
makes no difference if you're a beginner or not, yoga is not a
competitive practice and you are not required to "keep up". We
have all started our yoga practice at our own individual
starting places. Some of us are more physically flexible than
others, some are more mentally flexible than others. Some of us
have more focus and balance in our lives, while others have more
strength. We all have our own individual strengths and
weaknesses, and they are not to be judged. Through the
consistent practice of yoga, we learn not to judge ourselves or
others, but only to work to improve ourselves.
We continually stress that there is no competition in yoga.
It is an individual practice, honoringyourself. Many of
us are a bit afraid to enter our first yoga class, not knowing
what to expect. Be patient. There is a lot of information
and a lot to learn. Your only job is to make yoga a consistent
part of your life, and it will miraculously transform your life.
That's all. And that's all that's required.
The rest just happens.
It is also our philosophy at Yoga Connection that we teach our
many styles not only with utmost professionalism, but also with
kindness. All of our staff are amazing. Our teachers
are incredibly skilled, verbal and are beautiful people.
They are aware of each individual in each class, and will come
around and literally help a student into the proper alignment
of a posture for that particular student at his/her particular
level. That is the beauty of our school and our classes.
An Article in Yogitimes discusses the beginning of a yoga practice
and says "Yoga scholars explain that the purpose of yoga
is to achieve 'Self Realization' or enlightenment. But
many people may not understandyet what this means. In
practical terms, the yoga practice is philosophy and exercise
that can make our everyday lives more peaceful, healthy and
happy. It can help us overcome physical pain, injury,
sickness, obesity, depression, dysfunctional relationships and
almost every other problem that we experience or create……..Yoga
is a powerful way to accept the reality of our daily life, discover
our ideas, choices and habits that lead to our unhappiness and
disease and work to improve every moment."
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
What
is YOGA? It would be impossible to assign one definition
to yoga. Some individuals think it is a religion or a
trendy type of exercise; however, it is not. It is a discipline
for discovering and eveloping the true Self. It is derived
from the Sanskrit root "yuj". The word literally translates
to mean "to yoke or join". In the practice of yoga we
work to bring harmony to the body, mind, and spirit, it also
refers to the union between the individual and something greater,
the liberation from the self and the ego. The practice
of yoga improves and gets rid of impurities in the nervous system
so we can perceive and interact in the world in a conscious
and optimistic manner.
Yoga
was systemized thousands of years ago by the Hindu philosopher
Patanjali. Yoga isbuilt on a foundation of ethics (Yama)
and personal discipline (Niyama). Yoga is on of the oldest
holistic health care systems in existence, focusing on both
the mind and body.
Anyone can
practice yoga asanas regardless of flexibility, age, or health.
The asanas (postures) can be modified to fit any individual's
needs. The experience is unique to each individual, and that, to me,
is the beauty of yoga. There are many different styles of Yoga
to accommodate all types of individuals and to find what
resonates with them.
The
Bhagavad-Gita also gives other explanations of the term
yoga and emphasizes Karma Yoga (Yoga by action). It is
said: "Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof.
Never let the fruits of action be your motive; never cease to
work. Work in the name of Lord, abandoning selfish desires.
Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise
is called oga."
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Meditation:
A Gift To Yourself
Meditation
allows you to explore your inner world with loving attention
and open yourself to spiritual insight. The only limit to the
realms you can explore and the insights you can receive is your
own imagination. The more you meditate and get in touch
with your "true" self, the healthier your sense of
self becomes.
You become a stronger and more balanced person. A more
clearly minded individual in harmony with yourself and the
world you live in.
MASSAGE:
An Important Compliment to Your Yoga Practice
As yogis,
we know how important it is revive the
mind, body, and spirit. As yoga is such an amazing gift to
ourselves, equally important is the touch of another. Studies
show that touch is critical in the development of healthy
human emotion and social interaction. Physiological benefits
include improved circulation, release of muscle tension, and
increased levels of endorphins. Perhaps most important is the
reduction of stress which, over time, may lead to disease. Thai
massage includes all of these benefits, as well as increased
range of motion in joints and increased energy levels.
Thai massage has been performed in Thailand for thousands
of years and was once their primary source of medical treatment.
Western medicine has since become more widespread in Thailand,
but due to the rising costs, Thai massage is once again becoming
a major source of health care.
Thai massage is unique in that it is performed in full
clothing on a mat. The therapist uses her body weight to take
the recipient into yoga-like postures. The added body weight
helps to take the recipient deeper into these positions than
they would normally be able to on their own.
Additionally, Thai massage works the "sen" lines of the
body. These are similar to Chinese meridians and are used to
increase energy flow and treat specific organs within the body.
Thai massage is offered at Yoga
Connection for a fraction of the
price you would pay at a spa. And who better to give you a
massage than one of your loving yoga teachers?
Don't
let
OM
scare you!
OM is the sacred symbol that represents the infinite.
OM transcends words and letters because it is the sound of
creation. The sound that is produced from the vibration is
like a deep, humming
OM,
also pronounced "AUM". When repeated,
OM is said to generate the mystic power that leads one's mind into
meditation and into the highest state of consciousness. When
you see the
OM
symbol, let it remind you of God, the Creator, the unspeakable,
and of the true spiritual being that you are.
So the next time you chant
OM,
feel the vibration and hum
that is at the center
of your being.
\
"Yoga
is meditation in motion"
Amrit Desai
SHAVASANA
Savasana - sava = a corpse
This asana is also known as MRITASANA, the dead man's pose.
Savasana is particularly recommended for the final relaxation
at the end of an asana practice or in between each asana.
Placing an eye pillow or cover around the eyes can help those
who are tense or suffering from stress. If panic occurs
during Savasana, keep the eyes open, but quiet. Savasana
brings tranquility & calmness, rejuvenates the entire body
& mind. It gives the experience of peace.