After The Masters
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Oil paintingCynthia Limeberry |
December
News & Events
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS: Thu Dec 23 and Fri Dec 24 NO CLASSES Thu Dec 30 and Fri Dec 31 NO CLASSES The schedule for December is now online. Thanks for your continued support. The latest winner of our monthly $50 drawing is… Jules A. Article- “BE
PREPARED” to prevent Colds/Flu
One of the major contributors to catching the common cold or flu is stress. Stress hormones reduce the size of the thymus gland (primary organ of immune system), which affects its ability to properly produce immune cells. Any physical activity will boost the immune system and may even temporarily reduce stress, however YOGA can provide not only a short term immune boost and stress relief it will also provide you with long term immune system strengthening and stress relief strategies to use in everyday life. Stimulating the specific glands and organs of the immune system through asana (poses) and pranayama (breathing) will keep your body resistant to colds and flu and your mind resistant to the stresses of this holiday season. Winter can cause additional stresses- heating bills, school closing and missing work due to snow, power outages, holiday festivities, increased medical costs due to colds and flu, and so on… and so on… So in addition to YOGA here are a few other fairly simple things you can do this winter to relieve the stress. First, make a game plan. Start now planning how you will handle these situations as they arise. Here are just a few suggestions: Close off rooms you don’t regularly use and put plastic over the windows to ease heating bills. Check with neighbors you know and trust for emergency childcare or your boss to see if working from home is feasible. Have emergency supplies such as candles and hand warmers or have an escape plan for power outages and head to the nearest hotel (remember to never leave candles or other portable heat sources unattended or on while everyone is sleeping). Let the true spirit of the holidays guide your festivities. We live in a world full of excess and attachment. So this holiday season give the gift of you. Being with the ones you love and spending your time and money on doing things together- buy gift certificates for a movie, an activity (like YOGA), dinner, etc. Just let them know you want to share the experience with them. So this holiday season enjoy the calming effects of the Boy Scout motto “Be prepared” in both mind and body by joining me for a yoga class today. Over the next few months in every class I will share with you the specific immune system and glands stimulated by a pose. In addition the next few newsletters will be dedicated to other aspects of the yogic lifestyle, which helps boost the immune system, and practices to help relieve the symptoms of a cold/flu and speed up recovery. Pose of the Month
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana or Bridge Pose- This beginners pose lengthens the spine, opens the hips and chest and strengthens the gluts and legs. It energizes the whole body and relieves stress by activating the thymus gland. It stretches the hamstrings, ankles, upper back and shoulders. Other benefits include preventing osteoporosis and improving digestion. Therapeutic for high blood pressure, asthma and sinusitis. Avoid this pose if you have any neck injuries. Begin lying on your back. Bring the feet in as close to the hips as possible and no wider than the hips. Arms down by the side with palms down. Inhale into the entire waist, expanding the belly, sides and back. Exhale tuck the tailbone (lower back on floor), press back of head into the earth and lift hips off floor. Keep the tailbone tucked and reach the knees away from the body (keep knees in line with hips avoiding letting them roll out). Lift up through the back ribs moving the heart toward the chin, resist by lifting the chin slightly and soften tops of shoulders toward the earth. Inhale deeply into diaphragm then move the breath up the belly and into the heart and over the top of the shoulders, exhale feel the breath easing down the back over the spine, flowing into the hips, gluts, genitals completing a full circle of energy to the front lower body. Continue the breath, lengthening and softening the muscles. Keep the gaze straight up without turning the head from side to side. Variations of the arms and legs as well as supported versions will be added to the pose directory on our website at afterthemasters.org Links and Resources
Go to our website and look for a special link with a special present just for you!
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