Contact information
email: leslie @ rexburgyoga.com
208-569-7437
email: shellyspratling @ gmail.com
208-206-8390
Mother Theresa Quote
The quote that I (Shelly) used in class on Tuesday is actually taken from Mother Teresa. I would like to use her original quote. 
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Dandasana – Staff pose
Danda means staff or stick in Sanskrit. A staff has the meaning of support.
The musical staff supports and identifies the notes in a piece of music.
The staff in an office or school are the people that support the mission of the school or business.
The staff here in the gym are the teachers, the front desk and trainers. We support the clients in achieving their goals.
The staff used by a hiker supports him going up and down steep areas.
A staff is a tool used by a shepherd.
A staff can be a ceremonial tool to show who is the king, queen, emperor or pharaoh.
A staff is a weapon in many traditional hand to hand combat venues.
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Posted in Class extras, Yoga stories
Tagged anatomy, asana instruction, shoulders, stories
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Matsyasana – Fish pose
We have seen this fish before in our study of the myths behind the yoga postures. Its the same fish that pulled the ark and saved the few sages from the great deluge.
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The process is perfect
“When we plant a rose seed in the earth we notice that it is small, but we do not criticize it as rootless and stemless. We treat it as a seed, giving it the water and nourishment required of a seed…..
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Shalabhasana – Locust
Shalabha is locust in Sanskrit. There isn’t a Hindu mythological story about the locust but there is a Biblical story about a plague of locust.
The only useful thing I could find about the locust is that some cultures eat them. I’m not going to be trying that any time soon.
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Vrikshasana
In Sanskrit, “Vriksha” means tree. For much of the history of mankind, the tree has been revered as a sacred symbol. When you look back at the ancient civilizations we find that the Sumerians saw the tree as a temple, a bond between heaven and earth. The ancient Chinese believed that the tree held the souls of the Gods. When the Egyptian God, Ra appeared each morning, He did so between two turquoise colored sycamore trees. For the native Indians of California, the Yana’s believed that they originated from the tree. One tree the West is familiar with is the Oak tree.
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Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer
Dancing is not necessary for life. Because life is dancing. Ataturk
Dance is the only art of which we ourselves are the stuff of which it is made. — Ted Shawn
Dancing is the first and last word in life. In dancing one draws nearer to oneself.— Jean Dubuffet
We do not always dance because we are happy, but we dance and cannot help but become happy.— Anonymous
Shiva, the cosmic dancer
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Your Brain on Yoga
Welcome to the online version of our 2012 yoga retreat: Your Brain on Yoga.
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Posted in Class extras
Tagged audio video, brain, class review, energy psychology, events, nervous system, relaxation response, yoga therapy
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Vasisthasana – pose dedicated to Sage Vasistha
The featured pose for this week is a challenging arm balance, the side plank. All of the postures that are named after sages are very difficult. Just like the path to become a wise teacher or sage is rigorous and difficult.
Posted in Class extras, Yoga stories
Tagged balance, partner, shoulders, side plank, stories
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