Why bother? What’s in it for me?

Why bother?  What’s in it for me? 

“When you start asana practice, you gain increased confidence, poise, self-assurance, and the radiance of health,” says Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar in his book Light on Life.  What’s not to like?

And, before you can say, “Yes, but….” He also says, “Yoga can be practiced by anyone whatever one’s state of mind or health.”  

Do you already come to a yoga class?  Whether you answer yes or no, you are welcome to come to the free class at the Yoga Space on the last Friday of the month.

If you said, “No” come and try it.  See how you feel.  If you feel better, you can come to another free class next month.

If you said “Yes,” you can come too.  The teachers rotate, so it is a chance to meet new teachers at entry level and start the weekend from a happy place. 

Whether or not you have regular yoga practice, “yoga vitamins” can help you feel better.  A “Yoga vitamin” should be easy for you to do. No change of clothes, no shower needed. You can just stop for a minute and then go on with all the things you need to do.  

In the photo Kirsten is demonstrating one of my every day vitamins.  (It is a good excuse to stay in the shower a few minutes longer in the morning.)

·      Interlock your hands behind your back with bent elbows. 

·      Keep your wrists apart and shoulders back and down.

·      Pull your hands down.

·      Make your elbows very straight.

·      Breathe freely. 

·      Inhale and lift your chest up.

·      Exhale and pull your hands and shoulder blades down.

·      Come out the same way you went in.  Release your elbows.  Release the interlock.

·      Repeat with the fingers in the opposite interlock.

·      Take this ‘yoga vitamin’ as often as needed. 

I also enjoy this ‘vitamin’ when I have to sit through a long meeting. Occasionally someone tells me they noticed I was sitting very straight.  I reply that if you do enough yoga, it becomes more comfortable to sit up than slump.

 The term: ‘yoga vitamin’ comes from Jill Johnson and Diana Shannon’s book on How to Practice. Jill also says “A vitamin is not a meal.”    If you want to try a full “yoga meal” come to the free yoga class at Yoga Space.  Remember! the last Friday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m.  including November 29, 2013.

Watch for the How to Practice workshop coming to The Yoga Space in the winter session.  Pam and I will do a focus class based on Jill and Diana’s book.  Each participant will go home with a yoga ‘fan’ of poses. http://yogaswatchbook.com/store. 

 by Sally Rutzky

Each week one of the teachers at the Yoga Space shares her thoughts and experiences in this blog. Sally Rutzky is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher, who teaches on Saturday mornings. The Intermediate class is at 9:30 a.m. and the Beginning is at 11:45 a.m.   The Yoga Space is a studio just east of Dexter serving Dexter, Saline, Chelsea, Manchester and Ann Arbor.  We have been helping people with their flexibility, strength, focus and stress management for over 14 years. Fund raising classes open to the public are scheduled on November 25 and 26. We offer a free class the last Friday of each month from 6-7 pm. 180 Little Lake Dr #1 Ann Arbor, MI, 48103. 734-622-9600 

http://yogaspaceannarbor.com/