Mostly catching up. On Friday evening, November 9th, I put on my first 3-hour workshop, "Women's Health: Bodywisdom." Three hours is a long time, yet it seemed to go quickly--with a lot of laughing. I covered the benefits of weight bearing exercise--like walking--and stretching the body to keep things supple and lubricated. We spent a lot of time finding and flexing the hammock muscle of our pelvic floor. Imagine the giggles that evoked. There were six of us. We learned about bone health, breathing and breast health. We spent time moving through specific poses as well as time resting in restorative poses . . . I'll revisit this workshop again.
Other exciting news (for me, at least): I worked out a lovely version of the Moon Salutation for the chair. My student, Jennifer, who is seated, as she calls it, helped me refine the poses so that we move fluidly through the linked poses to created a powerful homage to the moon in all her splendor. This sequence is something I will use often. It is as complete a vinyasa as the Sun Salutation for chair. I like both; having someone in a wheelchair, however, poses a problem while doing the Sun Salutation since the legs and feet are required to move. With this version I've created for the Moon Salutation, our legs can remain still, creating an anchor for the upper body.
Upcoming classes: beginning in January we will have a new teacher, Anne Miller (check the teacher page for her biography, etc. to be posted soon) who has already taught a breast cancer support class in Wenatchee. Over the past few months she has been taking teacher training at Mellow Monkey studio in Post Falls, Idaho. She will joining Moon Tree Gentle Yoga and Wellness Center in January with several cancer support classes. Keep checking the schedule page--I will post times and days as soon as possible.
Take note: There will be no Full Moon Salutation Class in November since I will be in San Diego over Thanksgiving weekend. Go outside and take a moonbath.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
More Gratitude
Today's list is endless, but I will include only a sampling:
1) The San Diego Witch fire has been almost completely brought under control. Thank you and a wet smoochie to all the firefighters, reporters, and the people who have supported the crews.
2) My folks are okay; their house is safe and they are in good health . . .
3) My friend Lannie fell but instead of breaking anything--her head, leg or ankle--she just mangled herself. In pain, yes, but whole. Whew!
4) I get to go play with Big Deena whose roots go deep tomorrow. She is the best playmate.
Gracious and spacious,
Ma'lena
1) The San Diego Witch fire has been almost completely brought under control. Thank you and a wet smoochie to all the firefighters, reporters, and the people who have supported the crews.
2) My folks are okay; their house is safe and they are in good health . . .
3) My friend Lannie fell but instead of breaking anything--her head, leg or ankle--she just mangled herself. In pain, yes, but whole. Whew!
4) I get to go play with Big Deena whose roots go deep tomorrow. She is the best playmate.
Gracious and spacious,
Ma'lena
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Moon Watching
Thursday night's full moon, called a Harvest or Hunter's Moon (to assist with the harvest or hunt, depending) was bright and bold, a cliche of moonness--round, full, bright and glorious. The next morning, on my drive in to teach the early class, the moon hung low in the sky, a veil of ivoried lace, so close I wanted to clutch it to my breast. Last night, again, the massive moon, higher now but emanating moonglow like a klieg light, a spotlight of lunar brilliance. As I went outside this morning at half past eight, the sight of the moon slug low in the Western sky surprised me. A pale disk, this moon seemed as pale and transparent as old bone china, yet was as substantive and present as stone--solid and timeless.
Alternate names for October's full moon include Travel Moon, Blood Moon, and my personal favorite, Dying Grass Moon. These names are evocative of seasonal transformations, concentrating elemental forces, slowing down and moving inward.
November's full moon occurs during Thanksgiving week and the studio will be closed. I'll be in San Diego. Also known as a Hunter's Moon, other names are Beaver Moon, Frost Moon and the lovely and descriptive Snow Moon.
Come and join us on the afternoon of Sunday, December 23rd, to celebrate the Yule Moon, from 4 until 5:30 pm.
An article from "The Times of India": LUCKNOW: The full Moon visible on Friday will the largest and the brightest of this year. An annual celestial event, the Moon would be closest to the Earth while moving around it in an elliptical orbit.
In-charge of Indira Gandhi Planetarium Anil Yadav says "Though the Moon was bigger on Thursday as well but it would be the largest on Friday.
It is expected to be about 14 per cent bigger and around one-third time brighter than an average full Moon. Moreover, usually the full moon is southward positioned during this time of the year (October to December). Hence on Thursday and Friday, while observing from the equatorial regions, the Moon will appear to be much brighter. "
Elaborating further, he says the perigee (when Moon is closest of the Earth) is about 363,104 kilometres, while its farthest point (apogee) is about 405,696 kilometres. Its average distance from the Earth on other days is around 384,600 kilometres.
"So, this visually larger full Moon is possible because the one seen on October 25 and 26 is actually about 25,000 miles closer than otherwise."
On how to determine that the Moon is bigger or not, he explains that if a layman wants to see a larger moon then he will have to stretch his hand and point his index finger towards the moon.
"It will usually cover the apparent diameter of the Earth's natural satellite.
But on Friday, the Moon will appear slightly larger than the index finger, this is one way to prove the big full Moon," he adds.
Yadav while talking about viewing the full moon through naked eyes cautioned against viewing the full Moon on the day without appropriate filters on the telescope as it could severely damage the retina of the eyes.
Alternate names for October's full moon include Travel Moon, Blood Moon, and my personal favorite, Dying Grass Moon. These names are evocative of seasonal transformations, concentrating elemental forces, slowing down and moving inward.
November's full moon occurs during Thanksgiving week and the studio will be closed. I'll be in San Diego. Also known as a Hunter's Moon, other names are Beaver Moon, Frost Moon and the lovely and descriptive Snow Moon.
Come and join us on the afternoon of Sunday, December 23rd, to celebrate the Yule Moon, from 4 until 5:30 pm.
An article from "The Times of India": LUCKNOW: The full Moon visible on Friday will the largest and the brightest of this year. An annual celestial event, the Moon would be closest to the Earth while moving around it in an elliptical orbit.
In-charge of Indira Gandhi Planetarium Anil Yadav says "Though the Moon was bigger on Thursday as well but it would be the largest on Friday.
It is expected to be about 14 per cent bigger and around one-third time brighter than an average full Moon. Moreover, usually the full moon is southward positioned during this time of the year (October to December). Hence on Thursday and Friday, while observing from the equatorial regions, the Moon will appear to be much brighter. "
Elaborating further, he says the perigee (when Moon is closest of the Earth) is about 363,104 kilometres, while its farthest point (apogee) is about 405,696 kilometres. Its average distance from the Earth on other days is around 384,600 kilometres.
"So, this visually larger full Moon is possible because the one seen on October 25 and 26 is actually about 25,000 miles closer than otherwise."
On how to determine that the Moon is bigger or not, he explains that if a layman wants to see a larger moon then he will have to stretch his hand and point his index finger towards the moon.
"It will usually cover the apparent diameter of the Earth's natural satellite.
But on Friday, the Moon will appear slightly larger than the index finger, this is one way to prove the big full Moon," he adds.
Yadav while talking about viewing the full moon through naked eyes cautioned against viewing the full Moon on the day without appropriate filters on the telescope as it could severely damage the retina of the eyes.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Gratitude List
Okay, so I'm not really a frequent blogger. I'll try and remedy that but I still have no idea if anyone has read any of my previous posts . . .
Here goes:
1) I am grateful that I have a yoga studio that is so warm and safe.
2) I am grateful that my classes are small so that I can get to know each student--not just names and faces, but quirks, laughs and emotional status.
3) I am so grateful today that my parents have not had to evacuate their home in San Diego, and that the weather seems to be calming down thereby easing up the fires.
4) I am also grateful that I am blessed with so much bounty in my life that I am overfed . . .
That's about all for now. My goal is to attempt to write in this a few times a week.
a perfect ginko leaf,
ma'lena
Here goes:
1) I am grateful that I have a yoga studio that is so warm and safe.
2) I am grateful that my classes are small so that I can get to know each student--not just names and faces, but quirks, laughs and emotional status.
3) I am so grateful today that my parents have not had to evacuate their home in San Diego, and that the weather seems to be calming down thereby easing up the fires.
4) I am also grateful that I am blessed with so much bounty in my life that I am overfed . . .
That's about all for now. My goal is to attempt to write in this a few times a week.
a perfect ginko leaf,
ma'lena
Saturday, June 9, 2007
June Schedule Update
We changed the Level 2 Monday night Vinyasa class to a Level 1 so more people would have an opportunity to take it. There were only three of us last Monday, but I am hoping more students will show up to experience this challenging and calming style of flowing meditation.
My own experience was startling because I realized I hadn't taken a traditional yoga class in months--too busy concentrating on getting my teaching practice up and running to bother. And how sad is that? Daniella put us through our paces. I was the only one to have had any experience with vinyasa so she broke down the poses. After warming us up she moved into showing us the basic sequence of Sun Salutation, made up of 12 linked poses. It felt great but I confess that down dog is a challenge for me (between being fat and having iffy shoulders I struggle to stay in down dog. Not only do I have a lot of weight to hold up but neck surgery a few years ago trashed my neck and shoulder on the left. Should I even mention that I have rotator cuff issues?) By the time we reached the end of our final salutation, I was happy. One might say the endorphins had kicked in right about then. From the Sun Salutation we moved into a lovely vinyasa: Warrior 2, Side-Angle to Triangle and back to Warrior 2. I've always loved this flow because it makes me feel balanced and strong, two traits I desperately crave.
I walked out of class feeling happy and sore, challenged yet invigorated. I slept well that night . . . so thank you, Daniella.
My own experience was startling because I realized I hadn't taken a traditional yoga class in months--too busy concentrating on getting my teaching practice up and running to bother. And how sad is that? Daniella put us through our paces. I was the only one to have had any experience with vinyasa so she broke down the poses. After warming us up she moved into showing us the basic sequence of Sun Salutation, made up of 12 linked poses. It felt great but I confess that down dog is a challenge for me (between being fat and having iffy shoulders I struggle to stay in down dog. Not only do I have a lot of weight to hold up but neck surgery a few years ago trashed my neck and shoulder on the left. Should I even mention that I have rotator cuff issues?) By the time we reached the end of our final salutation, I was happy. One might say the endorphins had kicked in right about then. From the Sun Salutation we moved into a lovely vinyasa: Warrior 2, Side-Angle to Triangle and back to Warrior 2. I've always loved this flow because it makes me feel balanced and strong, two traits I desperately crave.
I walked out of class feeling happy and sore, challenged yet invigorated. I slept well that night . . . so thank you, Daniella.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Moon Is Blue
Report on Thursday, May 31st's Blue Moon Salutation
From the website www.infoplease.com I found a few factoids about blue moons. "There are in fact two definitions for a blue moon . . . a blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month." That one is obvious. Here's another, "the blue moon is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons." Okay, that one is more problematic because it has something to do with early Christians and how they mapped out their holy days. Appropriately, blue moons come around once in a blue moon: "Over the next twenty years there will be a total of 17 blue moons . . . " and the last time we had a blue moon was on July 31, 2004. Another interesting thing is, "the rare phenomenon of two blue moons . . . occurring in the same year happens approximately once every 19 years. 1999 was the last time . . . in January and March."
For our class--the first Chandra Namaskara (Moon Salutation)--11 people showed up to celebrate. I was nervous but I managed to calm down once we started. I warmed us up and then moved into the vinyasa, trying my best to offer options for the beginner as well as the more seasoned yoginis. We had two women, both long time practitioners in the Iyengar style, who stationed themselves up front and I found it reassuring and grounding to have them on either side of me, embracing me like parentheses. We moved into namaste hands and up into our crescent moon then half moon and out into a loud goddess pose and 5-pointed star. From there we moved into triangle, pyramid and lunge before coming into a wide legged forward bend and a squat (representing the new moon). We then reversed our poses, following the path of the moon and back into namaste hands. We raised big energy and laughed a lot before cooling down and falling into savasana and the bliss of stillness.
From my perspective, it was an empowering class and I look forward to creating a community of "moon sallies" each month on the full moon.
See you on June 30th @ 3:30 for the next class!
From the website www.infoplease.com I found a few factoids about blue moons. "There are in fact two definitions for a blue moon . . . a blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month." That one is obvious. Here's another, "the blue moon is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons." Okay, that one is more problematic because it has something to do with early Christians and how they mapped out their holy days. Appropriately, blue moons come around once in a blue moon: "Over the next twenty years there will be a total of 17 blue moons . . . " and the last time we had a blue moon was on July 31, 2004. Another interesting thing is, "the rare phenomenon of two blue moons . . . occurring in the same year happens approximately once every 19 years. 1999 was the last time . . . in January and March."
For our class--the first Chandra Namaskara (Moon Salutation)--11 people showed up to celebrate. I was nervous but I managed to calm down once we started. I warmed us up and then moved into the vinyasa, trying my best to offer options for the beginner as well as the more seasoned yoginis. We had two women, both long time practitioners in the Iyengar style, who stationed themselves up front and I found it reassuring and grounding to have them on either side of me, embracing me like parentheses. We moved into namaste hands and up into our crescent moon then half moon and out into a loud goddess pose and 5-pointed star. From there we moved into triangle, pyramid and lunge before coming into a wide legged forward bend and a squat (representing the new moon). We then reversed our poses, following the path of the moon and back into namaste hands. We raised big energy and laughed a lot before cooling down and falling into savasana and the bliss of stillness.
From my perspective, it was an empowering class and I look forward to creating a community of "moon sallies" each month on the full moon.
See you on June 30th @ 3:30 for the next class!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Schedule for June 4th - July 1st
Mondays
Vinyasa Level 1 w/Daniella 8:45 am – 10 am $10/$13
Vinyasa Level 2 w/Daniella 5:45 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Tuesdays
Vinyasa Level 2 w/Daniella 8:45 am – 10 am $10/$13
Yoga for Lunch w/Michelle 11:45 am - 12:30 pm $10/$13
Vinyasa Level 1 w/Daniella 3:45 pm – 5 pm $10/$13
Vinyasa Level 2 w/Daniella 5:45 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Wednesdays
Stretch & Restore w/Ma’lena 4 pm – 5: 15 pm $10/$13
Gentle & Mixed Yoga w/Ma’lena 5:45 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Thursdays
Chair Yoga w/Ma’lena 8:30 am – 9:45 am $10/$13
Yoga for Lunch w/Michelle 11:45 am – 12:30 pm $10/$13
Restorative Yoga w/Ma’lena 4 pm – 5:15 pm $10/$13
Gentle Yoga w/Ma’lena 5:30 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Fridays
Gentle & Mixed w/Ma’lena 7:30 am – 9 am $10/$13
Gentle Plus w/Ma’lena 9:30 am – 11 am $10/$13
Sunday
Restorative Yoga 8:30 am – 10 am $10/$13
Gentle & Mixed Yoga 10:30 am – noon $10/$13
Once a Month Classes
Saturday
June 30th Full Moon Salutation
W/Ma’lena 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm $13
Vinyasa Level 1 w/Daniella 8:45 am – 10 am $10/$13
Vinyasa Level 2 w/Daniella 5:45 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Tuesdays
Vinyasa Level 2 w/Daniella 8:45 am – 10 am $10/$13
Yoga for Lunch w/Michelle 11:45 am - 12:30 pm $10/$13
Vinyasa Level 1 w/Daniella 3:45 pm – 5 pm $10/$13
Vinyasa Level 2 w/Daniella 5:45 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Wednesdays
Stretch & Restore w/Ma’lena 4 pm – 5: 15 pm $10/$13
Gentle & Mixed Yoga w/Ma’lena 5:45 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Thursdays
Chair Yoga w/Ma’lena 8:30 am – 9:45 am $10/$13
Yoga for Lunch w/Michelle 11:45 am – 12:30 pm $10/$13
Restorative Yoga w/Ma’lena 4 pm – 5:15 pm $10/$13
Gentle Yoga w/Ma’lena 5:30 pm – 7 pm $10/$13
Fridays
Gentle & Mixed w/Ma’lena 7:30 am – 9 am $10/$13
Gentle Plus w/Ma’lena 9:30 am – 11 am $10/$13
Sunday
Restorative Yoga 8:30 am – 10 am $10/$13
Gentle & Mixed Yoga 10:30 am – noon $10/$13
Once a Month Classes
Saturday
June 30th Full Moon Salutation
W/Ma’lena 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm $13
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