Yoga is the only kind of movement one needs. Is that true? Let’s look at a standard, garden-variety yoga class: inside a room, on a mat, for about an hour, two or three times a week. The student moves forward, back, bending, squatting, lunging, and some twisting. And while this IS beneficial and healthy, it does not fulfill the body’s movement needs. 
Continue reading
For students not knowing the body anatomy, they might think its possible to have the organs themselves twist or wring out in a particularly deep twist. And teachers, not being mindful of their words, might give this as a metaphor to imagine what’s happening inside. But it’s not true, and not physically possible to have the organs of the body twist or wring out.
BKS Iyengar in a deep twist
While achieving an amazing balancing feat like we sometimes see in advertising is unrealistic for the average person, a reasonable expectation for a regular yoga practice is improved overall balance.
While there are many causes for loss of balance, a common one as we age is “use it or lose it.” As busy and distracted as we are during an average day, we probably don’t take time to mindfully balance and move out of the normal plane of movement. A regular yoga practice can help use and strengthen those tissues, muscles, nerves, and bones needed to balance.
A frequent excuse for those who want to take a yoga class but feel inadequate to even start is that they are not flexible enough or that they cannot touch their toes. So we will start the year busting that myth!
Continue reading
“It’s not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.”
Francis Bacon
A student shared this NPR story after class today, and here is the link for those interested.
The Global Legacy of Yoga
The legacy of Indian yoga master, B.K.S Iyengar, and his influence on yoga in the Western world.
Several class members wanted the playlist and a copy of this flow, so here it is. Each song has a few postures to play with until the song is over. Each person flows at her own speed and stays with each posture as desired.
Continue reading
Here is some instruction about a general principle of how to know the right kind of response when others are suffering. I am copying the whole story and giving the link from whence it came.
Illustration by Wes Bausmith / Los Angeles Time
Continue reading
A quote brought in by a class member. I will have to get more info about the source.
I asked God to take away my pride, and God said No.
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up,
Continue reading
Early this morning we were able to view the full moon and a total lunar eclipse. Its the perfect opportunity to celebrate in our morning yoga class with the moon salutation.
Continue reading
email: leslie @ rexburgyoga.com
208-569-7437
email: shellyspratling @ gmail.com
208-206-8390
