FLORIDA
MIAMI F FORT LAUDERDALE F PALM BEACH
www.TodaysYoga.com
FEBRUARY 2017
OGA
VALENTINES COUPLES
PLAY TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER
10 AMAZING SUPERFOODS THE ABC’S OF
GRACEFULNESS
YogaFest
KELLY BROOKBANK AND KEITH FOX
Plus: YOGA PATH • PARTNER/ACRO • YOGA MYTH BUSTERS february 2017
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CONTENTS
TODAYSYOGA cover stories
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february 2017 ON THE COVER
Partner and Acro Yoga
YogaFest with Kelly Brookbank and Keith Fox
Partner and Acro Yoga are practices that invest value in connecting the pair with each other in deeper levels of consciousness. It comes down to not just tuning into our own breathing but our partner’s breathing accompanied with ours.
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by Aaron Erickson and Kyoung-Im Kang
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Studio Spotlight: Yoga Path
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YogaFest with Kelly and Keith
Yoga Path Palm Beach in West Palm Beach offers a varied yoga schedule, and the chance to sip on cold-pressed organic juice as you relax outside by the koi pond.
plus . . . 13 16 17 19 22 26 28 4
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YogaFest raises funds to share yoga, music, meditation, and arts with various groups, including teens. by Lynzy Ferris
8 Happy Valentine’'s Day!
Yoga Myth Busters The Seaside Sutras The Yoga Chronicles News and Notes Play Together, Stay Together
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Food and Nutrition On the Horizon
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Michelle Tamblyn graduated from the Anuttara 200 hour teacher training in July 2011 and the Level 2 Raja training in February 2012 after beginning a serious practice in yoga seven years ago. In addition she has training in Restorative and Yin Yoga. She is also a Reiki Master and Integrated Energy Therapy practitioner. Michelle can be reached at michelletamblyn10@gmail.com
TODAYSYOGA Executive Editor Julie Murphy
Managing Editor Lynzy Ferris
Director of Photography Sean Egiziano
Cary Bayer taught Transcendental Meditation for three decades and is the founder of Higher Self Healing Meditation. A Life Coach, he’s worked with Oscar-winner Alan Arkin and Emmywinner David Steinberg. He’s the author of 13 books, including Higher Self Meditations. His syndicated column, “Life 101,” appears in wellness publications throughout the country. Visit www.carybayer.com/higher-self-meditation.html
Digital Manager
Corey Gleichenhaus
Ambassadors
Paty Renda • Jessica Coyne • Ashley Eisenberg Melody Tunks • Gabi Fernandez • Phylice Kessler
For Editorial:
Leslie Glickman Leslie Glickman is known for her passion for building community! Her mission is to make yoga accessible to everyone. She has been a teacher of teachers for over twenty years, a national presenter, guest speaker and community leader. Her vast involvement with the community makes her one of South Florida’s most recognized yoga personalities.
call 844 - 600 - YOGA e-mail: editorial@TodaysYoga.com
Regional Advertising Director of Sales & Marketing Pedro Luna pedro@TodaysYoga.com
Nicole Bowdler is a yogini, stargazer and physical medium for Archangel Metatron. He activated her path as a physical medium and helped her attune to multi-dimensional reality. The Angelic mission here on Earth is to help humanity remember their Divine Self. The divine remembrance of humanity is love, unity, and abundance for all of creation. For private sessions with Metatron, go to www.MetatronAngel.com
Paty Renda is a 200 hour certified Aananda Hatha Yoga teacher and Vedic Thai Bodywork practitioner. She also holds certifications from Baby Om Yoga, Kids Yoga, Seniors Yoga, Vedic Thai Yoga Bodywork and Yoga Nidra meditation. Her wish is to make yoga playful, relaxing and appealing to every person in the world. Email Paty at citygoddessproject@gmail.com Also look for Paty Renda and The City Goddess Project on Facebook and at www.patyrenda.com
Nikki Bruno draws her inspiration from the natural world. She has spent time as a marine biologist, trail hiker, science teacher, yoga teacher, writer, musician, and she regularly races sailboats. She is the founder of Student Coaching Services, an education company that teaches students the real-life skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced world. You can learn more about her and her work at studentcoachingservices.com.
Production Manager Jenny Diaz jenny@TodaysYoga.com
For Advertising:
call 844 - 600 - YOGA e-mail: advertising@TodaysYoga.com
For Circulation:
call 844 - 600 - YOGA e-mail: delivery@TodaysYoga.com Printed on Recycled content 10% (post - consumer)
published by
TODAYS YOGA, INC President
Jeffrey (JD) Diaz
Vice-President David Ramoy
455 NE 5th Avenue, Suite D-151 Delray Beach, Florida 33483 844 - 600 - YOGA Todays Yoga Magazine is published monthly and distributed to over 300 locations throughout South Florida. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2017 Todays Yoga, Inc., all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
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Building Connection and Trust in
Partner and Acro Yoga 1.
Happy Frog
This is a great place to establish eye contact and calm connected breathing. For the person giving the adjustment, be mindful of your body’s weight into the receiver as you gently give depth to the lengthening of the inner thighs. Follow the position as in the picture and gently assist the receiver’s supine frog stretch while applying alternating palm compressions to the upper chest and shoulders, working out any tension that you may find. Breathe slow deep breaths and enjoy taking care of each other.
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Hridaya Heart Opener
Sitting back to back in staff pose, inhale, sweep arms up and gently connect with your partner. Exhale and begin to relax. Gently take turns bowing forward and bending back, creating length in the hamstrings and then opening your heart. Allow the breathing to complement your movements. Be mindful, be elegant, and stay sensitive to your partner.
Written and demonstrated by
AARON ERICKSON and KYOUNG-IM KANG interviewed by
LYNZY FERRIS Photos by
SEAN EGIZIANO 8
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Partner and Acro Yoga are practices that invest value in connecting the pair with each other in deeper levels of consciousness. It comes down to not just tuning into our own breathing but our partner’s breathing accompanied with ours. It is not just our own comfort we seek but our partner’s comfort in the position, as well. These poses are great practice in establishing connection, trust and communication between two people. Start off soothing and simple with our partner poses and build up to the acro when you’re ready. Relax, have fun, and enjoy!
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Caduceus Twist
A symbol of health and vitality, the Caduceus twist symbolizes rising to higher and higher states of union. Sit back to back in a cross-legged position. Start with a deep breath and tune in to your partner’s breath. Take your left hand to your right knee and begin to look over your right shoulder. If you can reach, take hold of your partner’s left knee with your right hand and keep your spine straight. Twist gently and hold the position for a few breaths. Then exit the twist slowly and switch sides. Breathing is the key to unlock the potential in your practice.
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Inverted “Pachi”
Warning: Practice this sequence at your own risk. It is advised to seek professional guidance before attempting this. Coming from the acro yoga position, Bat, the flyer slowly brings their straight legs together and hands on their shins while maintaining a pike position. The base places heels of hands on lower edge of the deltoid. Take time to tune in to the most supportive position for your bodies. Both flyer and base keep their arms straight the whole time. The slow release into the final expression of inverted Pachi is where graceful balance is found. To come out of the pose, gently place the flyer on their feet behind the base’s head, and, voila! february 2017
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oga Path Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, FL offers a varied yoga schedule, and the chance to sip on cold-pressed organic juice as you relax outside by the koi pond. They believe in community; donating to local non-profit organizations from the proceeds of their monthly outdoor vinyasa class in the park. Today’s Yoga spoke to Chelsea Gage, to learn more about this South Florida studio. Q - Hi, Chelsea! Tell us about your studio, Yoga Path Palm Beach. A - We opened Yoga Path in October 2013 with the vision of creating a sanctuary for all students on their own yoga path. Yoga Path Palm Beach is rooted in the community surrounding it and our students are the pulse that keeps us thriving. Nancy, the founder of Yoga Path, believes yoga is for everyone and it does not discriminate; the young, the aging, the flexible and non flexible, can all benefit through yoga. At Yoga Path we offer a wide variety of classes, including: Vinyasa, Ashtanga Mysore style, Yin, Restorative, Therapeutic, and Gentle Yoga. Our classes are taught by highly trained, passionate teachers (all RYT Yoga Alliance certified and insured) who will guide you through your practice, creating a challenging, safe atmosphere. Q - What advice would you give to someone who is new to yoga? A - “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” Just start! We hear all the time, “I’m not flexible enough for yoga!” That is precisely why you come to yoga, to make your body (and mind) flexible!
Nancy Gage (left) and Chelsea Gage
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STUDIO SPOTLIGHT
Yoga Path Palm Beach
Q - Favorite quote? A - “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” The Bhagavad Gita Q - Do you have any upcoming workshops or trainings you would like everyone to know about? We have our 200-hr RYT Vinyasa-based Teacher Training with our teachers, Nancy Gage, Amanda Palermo and myself, beginning March 31, 2017. We are also very excited about our upcoming Peru retreat in July. We will visit Cusco, Pisaq, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, offering daily yoga and meditation classes, as well as immersing ourselves in the culture and history of Peru. Q - Where can students find more information about Yoga Path Palm Beach, including pricing, events, class schedules? A - Call the studio at 561-557-4026 or visit our website at www.yogapathpalmbeach.com
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5 Simple Steps Towards Wellbeing by Rina Lichtinger Enjoy these suggestions for shifting the frequency of your mind to one of wellbeing and peace. 1. Repeat positive affirmations, (for example) • In the vastness of life where I am, all is perfect, whole and complete. • I see resistance patterns within me only as something else to release. • I am the power in my world. 2. Ask for Guidance Repeat 3 times: “I ask and intend to connect to Source.” 3. Practice Being in the moment Sit for meditation, close your eyes and for a few minutes simply become the observer of near and far away sounds; listening to the sounds of life. 4. So Ham Mantra Meditation So Ham can be translated as, “ I Am All That Is”. Close your eyes and repeat the mantra several times (silently or out loud). Inhale up the spine as you say the word, “So”, and exhale down the spine as you say the word, “Ham”. Be a silent observer. 5. Use Crystals in Relaxation Lie on your back with limbs outstretched and place crystals in your hands while you rest for ten minutes. Some of my favorite crystals: Selenite: clears negative energies, opens the crown chakra and increases telepathic communication. Mangano Calcite: Helps to release fear and grief and move past limitations, restores selfacceptance and unconditional love. It works with the heart chakra. Pyrite: Stimulates intellect, enhances emotional willpower and positivity. Opens the third eye chakra. For meditation, place in your dominant hand. Smoky Quartz: Aids in grounding and in the transmutation of negative energies. Connects to the root chakra. For meditation, place in your non-dominant hand. Muzquiz Fluorite: A “psychic vacuum cleaner” which clears the energy field, provides better memory, balances brain chemistry and works with all chakras. Place on your forehead, on the third eye chakra. Aqua Aura: Balances the chakras and the energetic pattern of the heart, opens one up to one’s potential. You can read more techniques in my book, Visions of Light: the Power of Letting Go. www.rinaishwari.com.
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Yoga Myth Busters
by Julie Murphy
“Real Men Don’t Do Yoga”
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f you’re a guy who won’t go near a yoga studio because you think it’s full of flexible, fit, slim, young women, that’s completely understandable. (Although I have male friends who would see that sentence as immediate motivation to rush to yoga quicker than you could say Om). For thousands of years, yoga was taught and practiced mostly by men, in India. When it became popular in the West as a fitness craze for women in the 70s and 80s, it somehow also acquired a stigma of being a woman’s thing—of no use to men. You know, like macramé. How ridiculous and how untrue! For decades, women have enjoyed the many yoga benefits of flexibility, strength, balance and peace of mind; while men continue to suffer from lower back pain, tight hamstrings, immobile hips and the endless stream of thoughts of a stressed-out, busy mind. Whether it’s to supplement or replace a sweaty gym workout, or you’d just like to be able to pick up your grandchild without herniating a disc, you too can join the growing number of men in the US benefiting from yoga. Gym dudes will see improved flexibility and increased muscular endurance from the long holds in yoga poses. Golfers will enjoy an easier swing, from more limber spine and hips. Businessmen will discover improved concentration and focus, perhaps setting an intention for their work week with more clarity, after experiencing how using intention during yoga creates awareness and discipline. With manic schedules and stressful responsibilities, that one hour or so of yoga may be the only time for some men to decompress, slow down, and breathe. And don’t worry if you can only do 10 percent of what an ultra-bendy female next to you is doing. Choose instead to do 100 percent of what your body can do. That is more than enough. The general female tendency of more flexible hips makes way for the overall male tendency of more strength, so there will be poses most men can access more easily than most women—if that matters to you. You’ll know you’re really “doing yoga” when you don’t give two hoots about that kind of competition anyway, because you’re too busy enjoying how good you feel during and after yoga. Almost convinced? Here’s a nudge that may motivate you … yoga improves your sex life. Yes, read that again. An NCBI study (pubmed/20646186) reveals yoga as “an effective method of improving all domains of sexual functions in men.” Athletes, film stars, singers and business execs have turned to yoga; as a powerful anti-ageing tool for building stamina, improving concentration, and reducing anxiety and depression. LeBron James, Tom Brady, Sting, Adam Levine, Russell Simmons, Larry Brilliant, Robert Downey, Jr., Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Alec Baldwin and many more. That’s quite a diverse group of yoga guys; not to mention the less-famous, equally-fantastic men who practice at our local yoga studios. There’s a yoga mat waiting for all men; it’s simply a matter of finding a yoga space where you feel comfortable. Do some research, perhaps try a class led by a male teacher, or go with a friend—male or female. It won’t be long before Warrior and Plank Pose become a casual part of your health and fitness conversation. Namaste. Julie Murphy is South African and has been teaching yoga and meditation in the US since 2007. In a former life, she was a business exec in the high-tech industry. Julie is well known for her soothing Yoga Nidra work, and is energized by its positive impact. She is inspired by yoga as a way for anyone to reach their full potential—in body, mind and spirit. For info on Julie’s album recordings and yoga retreats, visit yogaressa.com.
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PROFILE
Kelly Brookbank
Interviewed by Lynzy Ferris
YogaFest A Festival for a Better Future
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ogaFest is about community. However, what would you like to tell people about the driving force behind YogaFest and how it works within our teen community? YogaFestFL proceeds go to the Be The Change program, part of The MahaShakti Foundation (a 501(c)(3) organization). We raise funds to share yoga, music, meditation, and arts with various groups, including teens. We feel that today all teens are “at risk� given our environment (drugs, competitiveness, bullying, etc). Our programs give teens healthy coping mechanisms to face the stresses of life. Many teens volunteer and work at YogaFest all day to make the event possible. Further, we have a merit-based scholarship program which takes teens on a life-changing, empowering, annual retreat to Costa Rica, where we practice yoga and meditation, and we give back to the local community through volunteer work.
YogaFest started as an Earth Day festival, how is it still carrying out that intention of giving back to our earth? All yoga classes are on the grass and our volunteers work really hard to make sure we leave the public park as beautiful as it was when we set it up. We work with healthy food vendors, such as The New Vegan and The Raw Juice Company, to provide delicious food and beverages that do not impact the Earth in negative ways. We also work with sponsors, Kashi
2016 YogaFestFL
Lexi Hidalgo
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Brice Sullivan
Tell us more about the concept of team teaching this year at YogaFest! Every year we’ve wanted to add more teachers, which is challenging to do at a one-day event. Paige Held and Kelly Green from The Yoga Joint started combining forces years ago into one time slot and the students loved this. So, in addition to our noon class taught by Keith, Vivian and Lexi; teams of two excellent teachers will lead the other classes. For example, Terri Cooper and Juliana Trejo will lead a Chakra experience together, and Tara Wood joins her co-teacher, Paul Toliuszis, for a Delicious Flow. 2016 YogaFestFL
Ashram and Sustainable Kashi, to educate our community about permaculture and volunteer work surrounding that. Finally, our Be The Change teen retreat allows our teens to plant thousands of trees in Costa Rica to help a local organization (Sula) with erosion issues along the riverbanks and to protect homes, water, and communities.
Where would teens interested in your Teen Program and in applying for a scholarship, find more information? Our teen application is available at www.YogaFestFL.com or call me at 704-756-9245 with questions. Our teen trip in 2017 is July 24 to 28 and applications are due soon. We offer free teen yoga every Thursday at 4:15 p.m. at our Buddha Lounge location in Delray Beach, FL. Meanwhile, teens from other areas who attend yoga (at a studio or at school) are welcome to apply. Anyone who wishes to support the teen scholarships can make a donation at www. yogafestfl.com or simply buy a ticket to the event to support the program. Namaste. Thanks to all our corporate sponsors who make the event and the teen program possible: Ultimate Software, YogiMemes, Pura Vida Resort, The Jay Block Companies, The Frog Pad, Brenner Real Estate Group, Krama Yoga Institute, Liquivita Lounge, We Build Awesome, and Today’s Yoga Magazine.
Keith Fox and Kelly Brookbank with daughter Lela Skye Fox
YogaFest is for everybody. What kind of classes will our yogis be able to enjoy? Our YogaFest line up includes diversity for all ages and experience levels. We have meditations, empowerment talks, Kundalini, Iyengar, Vinyasa, drumming and Bhakti sessions. Our classes vary from Gong Meditation with Jiwan Kaur; to Acro Yoga for all levels with Ari Traverso, Alina Flor, and Joaquin De Teresa; to an amazing yoga class with live music with my husband, cofounder, Keith Fox, and two wonderful teen teachers. They will be empowered by sharing with thousands of yogis, including their teen peers. Meanwhile younger kids can enjoy making tie-dye T-shirts and having their faces painted by our teen volunteers.
2016 Costa Rica Teen Retreat Cover photo by Sean Egiziano - Today’s Yoga Magazine (front) Kelly Brookbank and Keith Fox with daughter Lela Skye Fox (Back) Lexi Hidalgo and Vivian Kelly
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The Seaside Sutras
Oceans of Love
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henever my heart feels low or broken, I go to the water. I sit on the shore of the ocean, or the lake, or the river, and I just watch. I sit, amazed at how it can be both reflective and transparent at once. How it is tangible, yet impossible to keep in your hands, how it effortlessly bends streams of hot photons that were directly shot from the sun at 186,000 miles per second, how it gently moves around every obstacle in its path while still chipping away, atom by atom, so that the path will become easier over time... I don’t recall a time in my life when I haven’t been instantly calmed by the presence of Earth’s most essential element. So, I made sure I’d always have a reason to be nearby water. I pursued marine biology as a vocation, picked up sailing for sport, and taught conservation in every weather but lightning. I was, and still am, desperately in love. But it’s not unrequited. In fact, the ocean loved me first. Why do we want to experience love, anyway? We need to feel supported, valued, appreciated,
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By Nikki ‘Harini’ Bruno
and protected. It’s the essential craving of humanity—after all, we rely on each other for survival, and love keeps us on each other’s good sides. Sometimes though, humanity doesn’t get the memo. So, I like to look broader. Our loving ocean gives us rain, add sun and carbon and out comes food and oxygen, which then travel through our bodies’ minuscule rivers of saltwater to support our existence. Amazing! But how can we also feel valued and appreciated by a simple, non-living, substance? Yoga tradition recognizes many varieties of love, but they culminate as one form—the energy of creation itself. However, to experience creation, we must be creators, we must give love. After all, a fundamental law of the universe states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Whatever energy you give is reflected right back in your direction. In appreciating and being grateful for the ocean’s support, I experience appreciation. In valuing and protecting the ocean as I would my own life, I experience the feelings of value and
protection. Just imagine how much love you can experience when you appreciate, value, and protect everything else that supports you, too! So, during this month of chocolate and flowers, don’t despair—whether or not you have a sweetheart has no bearing on the amount of love in your life. It surrounds you, day in, day out. Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d say that love, ‘God’, and water are the same thing—a simple, formless, energetic entity that can simultaneously create, power, and transform life, as we know it. It surrounds us and is within us, unconditionally offering what we need to survive—as long as we unconditionally give love back.
POSE OF THE MONTH Upward Facing Bunny Meets Bakasana (Crow or Crane Pose) Brooke Wege is a local South Florida
yogi who loves hot Vinyasa flow. Here she is, captured in a yoga moment with Sprinkles, her rabbit. Brooke tells us this about her yoga practice: “When I do yoga I feel at peace. It’s as though everything else around me has completely disappeared. It de-stresses me. It inspires me to be a better person. To be more open to myself and others.” Sprinkles the rabbit loves Brooke and enjoys joining her for yoga (perhaps Brooke can teach her to do Rabbit Pose next).
Core Yoga: Strengthen and Stabilize from the Inside Out by Michelle Tamblyn
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he practice of yoga asana, or the poses, links breath and movement to create awareness in the body. Your core is the deepest center of your physical being. Everything extends from your core and is therefore linked together. Yoga works from the inside out. When your awareness begins at the core, you can start to see what muscles may be dysfunctional and what muscles are working harder and over-compensating for the weaker ones. In core yoga, you will learn to properly contract and engage the innermost core muscles, which stabilize your spine. These deep internal stabilizing muscles set the stage for the larger exterior muscles, which are responsible for big body movements. When the core is weak, the surface muscles take on extra work and have to stabilize the body and move it at the same time. Some forms of back pain are from incorrect patterns of movement which we adapted to over a long period of time. Without learning the new movements, the weak muscles will stay weak and the tight muscles will stay tight. The transversus abdominis is the deepest layer of the abdominal muscles, which wrap around like a corset, holding all the organs in. These muscles provide stability to the pelvis and thoracic vertebrae by working together with the lumbar multifidus. The lumbar multifidi are the smallest and deepest layer of back muscles that run up your entire spine and link each vertebra of the spine together.
By learning to isolate these muscles through core yoga, you can shift your patterns of movement and change old habits. This helps you to correct misalignment in your body and apply this knowledge in everyday activities, such as when bending and lifting, or for better posture. Some of the core muscles associated with movement include the rectus abdominis, the internal and external obliques, and the erector spinae (the muscles that help you to stand up straight and to bend backwards).
Send us your pic! In your post: Get creative! Let us know how yoga makes you feel! How has it improved your life in some way? #potmc and tag @todaysyogamagazine
Yoga works the entire body, expanding outward from the core. Correct breathing is the foundation of activating your inner core and creating balance between the inner and outer stabilizing muscles. It is the stability of the spine and postural alignment that affects the function of the rest of your body. Mix up your yoga routine a bit and try some poses or a class to specifically target the muscles which help us build core strength while maintaining flexibility. You may see improved posture and potentially experience a reduction in lower back pain. Stabilize from within, for a greater sense of wellbeing!
Post on Instagram/FB with #potm AND tag @todaysyogamagazine or email “My POTM” to editorial@todaysyoga.com We select a few each month for TodaysYoga.com AND we’ll choose one pic to feature in the printed issue of Today’s Yoga Magazine! Thanks again, Yogis!
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ASK PATY
Question Submitted by Sarah G.
Is there a perfect body for yoga? “True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.” ~Aadil Palkhivala, Fire of Love Almost every teacher has heard this question at some point I’m sure. We are always so tough on our bodies and the misconception that yoga only serves the skinny and super flexible can, in part, be blamed on yoga media. Nearly all yoga advertising shows the super bendy, skinny woman, creating the misunderstanding that yoga is not for all body types, nor for men, or seniors. The truth is that yoga is so much more than asana (pose) practice! There is no perfect yoga body; there is a will to practice yoga and if you are practicing, then your body is a yoga body! I have seen the most amazing asanas being done by people of all ages, shapes and genders. People with serious physical limitations have shown me that their yoga can be more profound than anyone else’s. The point is; love your body, as it is, love it as hard as you can because that body is carrying your soul. From that love, you can create changes, improvements and developments you never imagined possible. Then bring your body to yoga, be proud of your practice, love each moment, each breath and watch your internal world transform! Thank you for the great questions! Keep them coming! Connect, contact, and ask paty@todaysyoga.com
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Much love, Paty
NEWS • NOTES
iYoga Delray Beach Opens February 1
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elray Beach gets a new gem when iYoga Delray Beach (formerly Iyengar Center of the Palm Beaches) reopens in their same location, under their new owner, Director Colleen Gallagher at 601 N. Congress Ave Suite 426. Colleen is the only Certified Senior Iyengar Instructor in the state of Florida. Her studio will offer classes for all levels, from ageless to advanced. In addition to nurturing and sharing her knowledge with her local students, Colleen travels the country mentoring and training other teachers.
February Freshfest in West Palm Beach
Freshfest is a one-day health, fitness and music festival held at the Meyer Amphitheater on February 11, 2017. It’s described as a collision of health, fitness, and music, where you can celebrate a multifaceted healthy lifestyle, including a fitness schedule with over twenty different classes and a live DJ. Pretty much a party, an all-out ecstatic celebration of health and mindful wellness! Freshfest is also committed to supporting local small businesses, so you’ll find a plethora of vendors, local artisans and creative entrepreneurs; all 100% invested in health, fitness and wellness. And don’t miss the variety of inspiring workshops on good food, vitamins, and healthy living. Join in the fun at Freshfest, where “freedom explodes, love conquers, and inspiration flourishes.” Details: February 11, 2017 | 9am – 4pm | Meyer Amphitheater, 105 Evernia Str., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 www.freshfestfl.com
Ashtanga Mysore Yoga Comes to West Palm Beach
Colleen has a patient, encouraging teaching style, combining a hard work ethic with a sense of fun and lightness to deliver a meaningful class. For more info visit iYogaDelrayBeach.com or call 954-254-5172 Marti’s Closet is also conveniently located in the new iYoga Delray Beach Studio. For twenty years, Marti Parker-Krauss has combined her love of fashion and yoga into a curated boutique of the highest quality and fashion-friendly brands that work for women of all shapes and sizes— dressing her students and friends in some of the best kept secrets in leisure wear!
Nancy and Chelsea Gage have created a sanctuary for all yoga students at Yoga Path Palm Beach, and are delighted to announce the addition of an Ashtanga Yoga, Mysore-style program, led by Authorized Level I instructor, Angelique Sandas. The program is based on the teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, who learned from his Guru, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, and structured the practice of Ashtanga Yoga as we know it today. Ashtanga is a dynamic practice; a Vinyasa system with a scientific approach where asanas are organized into six series of set sequences. The physical work affects the subtle layers and the nervous system, essential for yoga, bringing about profound physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual results. In the Mysore method, students are taught one-on-one within a group setting, moving at their individual pace, guided by the instructor as needed. This approach allows an in-depth relationship of trust and understanding to develop between teacher and student, while also allowing the student an independent study of their personal practice, developing a deep awareness of the self. Ashtanga Yoga teacher, Angelique Sandas, had the opportunity to study with the Guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and continues her training with his grandson, Sri R. Sharath Jois, in Mysore, India. In 2011 in Mysore, she received authorization to teach Ashtanga Yoga from Sri R. Sharath Jois. Mysore Schedule: Sunday 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., Monday – Thursday 6:15 to 8:30 a.m., and Friday: Led Ashtanga Primary Series at 6:30 a.m. Yoga Path Palm Beach, 4514 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33405.
New Yoga Studio in Coconut Creek
Evolution Yoga is a brand new, state-of-the-art studio, using a holistic approach to health, healing and overall wellness. Evolution Yoga offer a variety of practices (including aerial yoga) in five separate rooms and provide luxurious spa-like changing rooms with well-appointed showers. You’ll find them at 6814 N State Road 7, or call 954-421-0589 for more info. Check out new member specials at http://southflorida. evolutionyoga.com
A Safe Space for New and Expecting Moms
Bombay Room Yoga has created a space for expecting and new moms to build community and connect in a welcoming and safe environment. “We have some women who have never attended a yoga class but know that the breath and movement will help them with their labor and delivery. We also have seasoned yogis who want to practice with other pregnant women and attend classes where postures are varied to best suit such a unique time in their lives”. Andrea Doyle, RYT, taught and practiced during her pregnancy and noticed a shortage of prenatal programs in East Fort Lauderdale. This inspired her to work with Margit Hamilton, owner of Bombay Room Yoga, to put together a prenatal offering. “We run each series for eight weeks, creating an opportunity for women to bond and form friendships; sharing experiences, symptoms, doctor/midwife recommendations and birth stories”. The next logical step was to create a Mommy & Me Yoga class where their Prenatal Mommies could re-connect with baby in tow. “It’s really wonderful to be a small part of their journey and I just love getting to meet the babies when they come back for Mommy & Me,” says Andrea. Learn more about Prenatal and Mommy & Me classes at www.bombayroomyoga.com
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The Eight Limb Path to live your life as a yogi… by Leslie Glickman
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he Eight Limb Path laid out by Patanjali for yoga, is not only a way of discovering this magical and ancient practice, but also a way of living consciously. It is a lifelong process, to be taken in baby steps. Join me on this journey, one teaching at a time, in each issue of Today’s Yoga magazine, and discover the simple yet profound insights to living your yoga. Are you really practicing yoga both on and off the mat?
The first “limb” is the Yamas, which have five distinct teachings. Ahimsa: doing the least amount of harm; Satya: truthfulness; Asteya: non-stealing; Brahmacharya: moderation; and Aparigraha: noncoveting. This month’s focus is on the fourth yama, brahmacharya. My mission is to make yoga accessible to everyone and my commitment to my work means I often find myself working seven days a week. I value my family, my marriage, and my personal time, yet sometimes it is challenging to balance my life. I know I am not alone in this struggle. With this month being February and a focus on Valentine’s Day, love and romance, I think this deserves an even closer look. To find the answers to these challenges I always turn to yoga. Brahmacharya—moderation, holds the answer. This teaching has been interpreted many ways and is often misunderstood. Some refer to this yama as celibacy or not misusing intimacy. Yes, intimacy is about giving and receiving energy in a respectful way, but I believe the conversation is much broader for it to be relevant today. So, let’s include all energy here, not just intimacy. How are you using your energy? Where are you overusing it? Could you possibly be underusing it? I recently evaluated how I dedicate my time and I realized that I was spread too thin and sacrificing the very things I needed to maintain balance in my life. I figured out a way to honor all aspects of my life, starting with a schedule change, creating some free time to focus on my personal life.
photo by Naya Photography
This will include date nights and personal travel, while still maintaining my connection to my community, studio and students. Moderation, the core teaching of brahmacharya, is the key. Putting our energy to good use and not wasting it on things that hold no value. Patanjali so brilliantly places the teachings in order, with each practice building on the previous one. The concepts of doing the least amount of harm, truthfulness and non-stealing are the foundation for brahmacharya. If we truly embody these three concepts in our lives, then the application of moderation will come with ease. The ideology of brahmacharya is not encouraged in today’s culture. This month’s challenge is to catch yourself any time you feel overscheduled, overwhelmed, exploited or depleted in any way. This simple concept of moderation can become deeply profound work, requiring a level of consciousness which we can learn through our yoga practice. Take this month to journey through brahmacharya; apply it on and off the mat and watch a balanced life unfold.
A Leap of Faith into Yoga Teacher’ Training
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wo years ago, if you had told me that I would complete a 200-hour yoga certification program, I might’ve laughed in your face. Two years ago, I had never even been to a yoga class. Yoga tends to find us when we need it most and I was in the midst of some personal struggles; going through some emotional ups and downs, when I stumbled upon my first yoga class. Shortly after, I discovered American Yoga in Deerfield Beach, a place that would become a safe haven for me. Just as the universe had guided me to yoga and the right studio, it also led me to their teacher training program. An unplanned, last-minute decision, it has changed my life in ways I never fathomed. I didn’t think I was ready for teacher training, since I was fairly new to yoga, but I’m learning so
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much about my own practice and to believe in my own abilities. As yogis, we have strong mindbody awareness, yet often we forget the power behind the awareness that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Teacher training is a commitment and I was already taking on a lot when I signed up — but I would soon find out that the program would keep me from becoming overwhelmed. Practicing yoga nearly every day reiterated how crucial it is that we take time to clear our minds. In the midst of a chaotic world, teacher training helped me stay grounded and present. The teacher training has also taught me to cherish the relationships in my life. Being the youngest in the group, I’ve gained so much perspective in the past few months, and I look up to every one of my yoga colleagues. In a media-
by AIMEE O’GARA
driven society where skepticism and mistrust are prominent, it has reminded me good people DO exist. Everyone has something to offer. When I began the teacher training program, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to teach, but it has made me reflect on how yoga teachers have changed my life and how they continue to inspire me on a daily basis. If I can impact even just one person the way my teachers have affected me, I will consider myself a successful yoga teacher. If yoga teacher training is something you’re considering, take the leap of faith and go for it! I can 100% guarantee that you will gain something positive from the experience. Aimee O’Gara is a recent American Yoga Teacher Training Graduate. She now is certified with her 200hour RYT Vinyasa Yoga Certification.
Nicole Bowdler
Running Your Life As A Business: February 2017 Monthly Forecast
from Archangel Metatron channeled through Nicole Bowdler
Something Big 2017!
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or the past four years, Something Big has happened on the first day of January at Mizner Park Amphitheater. This year over 1,500 participants rolled out their yoga mats in celebration of the new year. “Something Big” is a free community yoga class hosted by Leslie and Andy Glickman, assisted by the Yoga Journey studio team, and this year, accompanied by international recording artist, DJ Drez.
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y dear children, learn to love your life as you would a business. Learn to create every day as though you are launching a new product into the world. As you create towards your supreme efforts of financial responsibility and sharing project designs, your reflection of a life well lived will arise. This month supports creative ventures with business. If you’re waiting to launch that new idea or market your services, now is the time! By month’s end you will be rocketed into higher frequencies of love, which supports the unfolding of your heart’s desires. If you keep comparing yourself to someone else’s business design, you will miss the very best piece of you. Take a deep breath and go over that again. No one is designed like you, in the ENTIRE universe. So, follow your guidance and intuition this month. We have been receiving quests of
intervention this past month; what you fail to realize, is that the request will materialize through your physical action. We cannot do the work on Earth without you; a joint venture indeed. Learning to take responsibility when the task is too large or asking for help in a specific area will yield more fruit than going at it alone. Establish timelines and project plans to make longer projects more definable and accomplishable. Set your goals in writing and make it so you are the ultimate creator. True abundance on this Earth is for those who create! Do not wait for others. You came here with all you need, so get started in your divine and ultimate creation. Define your unique creation in the form of a service or product. Get feedback from the market in the form of sales or requested modifications. Expand on what is working and move forward in the physical receipt of your divine business. Execute your plan in love and happiness; as that is the proper frequency of success and true abundance. With love, Nicole and Metatron
The yoga, the music, the beautiful South Florida weather and the magical time of year when people are feeling optimistic about their potential for growth and change, all combined to create a perfect way to kick off 2017. The event aimed to elevate the community through connection and it is clear that their mission was embraced by all those in attendance! This year’s theme, Now We Begin, beautifully mirrored the first of the Yoga Sutras: “Now, the teachings of Yoga”. It is in this first line of the ancient text that the essence of yoga is revealed. NOW, is the teaching of present time - you could literally close the book right there. “All that we have is now...this is the first moment of the rest of your life”, said Leslie. The theme was meant to inspire us all to stay in the present and embrace a new beginning. Now more than ever we need to connect as a community and that is what happened. The crowd was diverse, all ages and all shapes and sizes. The amphitheater was filled with families, multiple generations and yoga practitioners of all levels. A yoga teacher, inspirational speaker and community leader, Leslie’s intention has always been to bring the community together. For further information about Leslie, Yoga Journey Studio or Something Big 2018, visit Yogajourney.com.
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Oska Pulse
Play Together, Stay Together by Rina Jakubowicz and Eric Paskel
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Workout Pain? Relief at Last
s yogis who have studied collectively for over thirty-seven years, we are filled with information, from ancient to present teachings, about the art of conducting relationships. Yet as we sit here thinking about a Valentine’s message on relationships, we both choose the importance of being playful together! The simplicity of having fun carries a lot of value in a relationship. When we are playful, we laugh. When we laugh, we are experiencing a moment of freedom. We are present. Laughter lowers levels of stress by altering cortisol levels, creating happiness and a special connection with your partner. Conversely, stress is kryptonite for any relationship. It makes us uninspired to be romantic and keeps us alienated from one another, leading to a disinterest in sex, which then causes all sorts of other problems. But let’s keep this article playful ;)
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ake silly faces, speak in an accent, tickle them and talk gibberish.”
For a limited time, purchase an Oska Pulse for $349. $50 off the regular $399 retail price (plus free shipping).
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Children tend to laugh three times more than adults. Being playful brings out that wonderful child-like quality within us which makes us feel light-hearted. Laughing with someone creates a bond, and bonding is continually needed in order for a relationship to flourish and to feel trust with your partner. Since many people complain about their partner not being present or engaged in the relationship, playfulness can reinforce that your partner is with you and you are with him/her. Take a moment to reflect if you are the one who might need to add some playfulness to your relationship. If so, here are some fun suggestions we do together to ensure our relationship stays alive, healthy and present. 1. Give each other silly, sweet nicknames so that when you say their name or hear your name, it automatically makes you softer and sillier. 2. Watch a movie or TV show that makes you both laugh hysterically. Rewind a funny moment and watch it again. Crack up at each other cracking up! 3. Do things together that you would do as kids … bike ride, skateboard, kick a ball around in the park, go to Disney World, play dress up (in whatever way you
want to interpret that.) 4. Play games when you’re doing mundane, routine things, like driving, or eating dinner at home. For example, play eye spy, license plate games, or sing songs together. 5. Remember your teenage years, when you might have been a bit more adventurous and willing to do rebellious things that now as an adult you might never do? DO THEM ANYWAY!!! Pinch your partner’s butt cheek in public, dance, or step away from a party to go make out! 6. When you see your partner stressed out, make them laugh in any way you can. Make silly faces, speak in an accent, tickle them and talk gibberish. Lighten the mood with your presence. These are just a few ways that help us stay young and exciting during the ups and downs of a relationship. Be the couple that plays, stays engaged, interactive, in the moment and creative. Every day will be your recess and the world will be your playground—all while hanging out with your BFF!
Rina Jakubowicz and Eric Paskel are both students of the foremost Vedanta teacher in the world, Swami Parthasarathy. Rina and Eric are published writers and international touring teachers. They have owned and operated multiple studios and have led retreats and trainings worlwide. Rina and Eric are currently based out of Los Angeles where they somehow find sanity amongst the “cray”. For more information, check out rinayoga.com and ericpaskel.com or electricsoul.yoga.
The ABCs of Gracefulness by Jack Miller
Stepping stones Zippynizm
Grace is artistic alertness actively acquiring and accelerating an awareness of abilities, affection and attunement. Grace is the beauty of bold blissful breathing, bonding and being. Grace creates channels of consciousness, connecting circuits of capabilities. Grace is dancing with danger while diligently dealing with the dilemmas of drifting disasters. Grace is effortlessly exuberating expressions of efficiency, evolving into eternal excellence and enthusiasm. Grace is fearlessly facing the fault lines of fear, while forever feeding on the frequencies of the Father. Grace is gratefully grappling with the gust of grim, while gleefully grasping the gifts of guidance and greatness. Grace is harnessing health, happiness and hope with humility, humor and H2O.
THE 9-5 YOGI
BY STEPHANIE GADALETA
Self Love = Self less
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appy Valentine’s Day to you! Some of us wait all year for this illustrious day of love and romantic surprises, while others have banished it from the far reaches of our minds so that we don’t have to deal with its heart-shaped, chocolate-covered woes. Whatever your personal stance might be, I feel strongly that this Valentine’s Day, something more deserves to be explored. Unless you have taken yoga teacher training, or have read an informative yoga book, you might not have come across the words, “eight limbs of yoga” or “yamas”. The eight limbs of yoga as written in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, can be simply described as an outline on how to live a meaningful, disciplined, and purpose-filled life—both on and off your mat. The yamas are the first of the eight limbs, translated from Sanskrit as “universal truths.” One yama in particular, ahimsa, can be interpreted as “nonviolence to all living things.” To be honest, ahimsa was never a yama I thought was important aside from the fact that Patanjali provided me with further justification for friends and family as to why I should not eat meat. Along with reminding me not to act on my road rage, what else did it really have to offer me? Well, only everything. Ahimsa also translates to “nonviolence to yourself” aka self-love. How much self-love are you truly experiencing if you’re comparing yourself to others, not eating healthily, or self-sabotaging? If you give other people and your job so much love, compassion, and commitment to the point that you are left feeling empty, then it’s time to fill your very own love tank. What better time to celebrate loving yourself than on Valentine’s Day? Whether you have a Valentine or not really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you are making time to show yourself love. It can be as simple as drawing yourself a bath after a long workday or as elaborate as taking a trip alone. When your life becomes a series of over-commitments to others and under-commitments to yourself, is that really a life well lived? Let your February be filled with abundance, fun, yoga (of course) and a whole heap of ahimsa—to yourself and others!
Grace is integrating information into infinite intelligence while ignoring ignorance, insanity and illusion. Grace is judiciously juggling the joys of jubilance while jumping over the jagged rocks of jeopardy. Grace is knowing that knowledge, kindness and kinships are keys to good karma. Grace is living in the light of life, laughter and love. Grace is majestically marching through the marshes of mayhem, while miraculously managing the marvels of mind. Grace is nobility in the face of negativity, nursing the needy while negotiating with narrow mindedness. Grace is openness to the omnipotent, omnipresent omnipotence of the oneness that is ours. Grace is a passionate possession of potential possibilities while prayerfully pursuing the prize of peacefulness. Grace is questing to quench the quivering questions of the quark. Grace is riding the rivers of adventure and the rapids of change with robust readiness and resilience. Grace is steadily swizzlin while seeking salubrious solutions to suffering, scandal and sinfulness. Grace is targeting a task with talent, teamwork and tenacity. Grace is utilized on Urantia as the underlying unity uniting the universes in Love. Grace is vigilantly visualizing values and valor as victorious over virtue-less vile, villains. Grace is the willingness to weather the winds of wrath while wisely working the wheels of progress. Graceis extraordinary excitement expressed as excellence. Grace is youthfully yearning for and yielding to Yahweh. Grace is zestfully zooming through the Zany Zen of Zippynizm.
~ Love and light beautiful people ~ Stephanie is a 200-hour certified vinyasa yoga teacher and has her Reiki level I certification. She teaches at Hot Salutations and American Yoga. You can find Stephanie’s blog at http://the9-5yogi.com
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MEDITATION 101 Potato Chips, Ice Cream & Meditation BY CARY BAYER
How to Break Free of the Action-Impression-Desire Cycle
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ate too much ice cream last night. Ice cream, potato chips and chocolate have been tough challenges for me. I love them all – too much. This column explains the psycho-physiological forces that keep us under the sway of such substances. Understanding this can set you free. Suppose the Lakers, my favorite sports team, are on TV tonight, a rare event, so I stock up on chips. The taste of the chip is delicious and – as Lay’s said in an unforgettable ’60s ad campaign starring Bert Lahr – you can’t eat just one. Wise yogis explain why: the impression on your tongue and in the storehouse of mental impressions – called Chit – awakens desire for another. Your hand obeys and you eat another. The impression of the chip gets deposited in the Chit, collides with an impression left from the past (months, even seconds, ago). And desire for another chip emerges. This action-impression-desire cycle continues until you finish the bag, or – God forbid – a second (chip makers are wise, and Wise happily gives you two for one). This “chip-out” might be re-enacted the next time your team plays on TV, the next time you watch any TV, or even the next night. I discovered this action-impressiondesire cycle when reading the commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. I confirmed his insight experientially. The two essential ways to overcome the action-impression-desire cycle involve eliminating the impressions. The overwhelmingly popular method involves
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abstinence; the more subtle, less practiced, way involves non-attachment. Twelve-step programs teach abstinence to prevent further impressions of the challenging substance. One day at a time, an alcoholic vigilantly guards against having any alcoholic beverages pass his lips, preventing the onset of an actionimpression-desire binge. One lapse, even after years of sobriety, can trigger that cycle in all its intensity. Maharishi taught non-attachment. Without giving up Cherry Garcia you can familiarize consciousness with the higher Self beyond the storehouse of impressions. As serenity develops, you can enjoy the sweet without sweating it. The experience of the Self is blissful. You’ve found something more intoxicating than alcohol, that makes you higher than marijuana, and that’s sweeter than the ice cream on your spoon. In time, you can enjoy the substance in a balanced way without getting addicted to it. Naturally, it takes some time to cultivate this peace. When, through regular contact with the Self beyond your Chit, you develop evenness of mind in the face of your substance of choice; you can have your cake, eat it too, and not binge. There are a variety of ways to enable the mind to transcend thought and experience this bliss of Being. So, do whichever works for you. I’ve tried many, and the one that’s worked by far and away the best for me, has been Transcendental Meditation. Call it my cup of tea – or cup of non-attached Chubby Hubby ice cream, as the case may be.
Artist’s Back Injury Led Her to a New Creative Passion
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alm Beach Gardens artist, Caren Hackman, has been painting since childhood. But it was literally a backbreaking ordeal that led her to her new artistic passion—inspirational yoga portraits. In 2008, a back injury left Caren in pain. Unsuccessful surgery worsened the situation. It sidelined her for two years during which she lived with not only pain, but also anger over her diminished quality of life. In late 2010 she was first introduced to yoga. “Yoga saved my life,” she said, still with emotion. As she learned more about the physical aspects of yoga, it began a slow, personal evolution, a catharsis, leaving the anger behind. As the spiritual essence of the practice became clear, Caren was drawn to share that passion through her art. She is now dedicating her creative time to yoga artwork. “This series of paintings shows my great love and respect for the practice. I hope that viewers can feel that love and connection with the spiritual and physical aspects of yoga,” she said. Her online store features Yoga Portraits– hand-painted, original portraits on artist canvas; and Yoga Expressions–digital paintings printed with high-quality archival inks on artist canvas. No two paintings are the same and they can be customized to include a Sanskrit word, person’s name, symbol, or a yoga studio logo. The artwork on canvas hangs from supports at the top and bottom. “In an effort to free the artwork from the traditional constraints of frames and glass, I have developed a hanging system much like ancient Asian scrolls.” As often as possible in her creative work, Caren portrays patterns in nature. A
beautiful example is her recent yoga painting, Ancient Oak Tree. It incorporates the yoga Tree Pose with an ancient Caren Hackman oak she saw at San Felasco State Park, near Gainesville, FL. “It was a magnificent tree with gnarled trunk, sprawling limbs, and giant roots.” Caren has been painting since childhood and doing graphic design professionally since college, with a degree in industrial design. “My dream had always been to be an artist, but I had a huge love of building things and tactile projects. Industrial design filled that need. I continue to paint and exhibit while running my graphic design business and creating illustrations for clients.” Her work is already getting noticed, exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Florida and represented in numerous collections, from Texas to New Jersey. She has been awarded two Artist in Residence positions: by Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, and by the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. In South Florida, Caren is well-known for her dedication to community projects. She has founded the GardensArt program and Artists of Palm Beach County. Caren illustrated the life of George Morikami for the Morikami Museum. Her contributions include the Norton Museum of Art’s ArtServe, Armory Art Center, Boys and Girls Club Gators Galore, SunFest, Palm Beach State College Campus Art Gallery. You can experience Caren Hackman’s yoga series at www.yogapainter.com.
ARTS • CULTURE Love All Wrapped Up in a Great Book by Dindy Yokel
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ove is in the air, on the mat and everywhere during the amorous month of February and all year-round if you truly embrace the path of yoga; taking the lessons off the mat and into everyday life. Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., P.T. gives us the road map on how to do that in her superb, easy to read book, Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life. Dr. Hanson Lasater is a co-founder of The California Yoga Teachers Association and Yoga Journal, and the author of eight mustread books. In Living Your Yoga, Dr. Hanson Lasater takes the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, bringing them into the present day, yielding an “aha” moment on nearly every page and pairing them with asana and pranayama. E a c h chapter ends with a list of practical suggestions and a meaningful list of mantras that match the topic and flow easily off the page and into one’s life. So, skip the chocolate and honor yourself and those you love who love yoga and give them the gift of reading Judith Hanson Lasater’s Living Your Yoga – OK, OK, a few bites of really fabulous dark chocolate might make the reading a tad more enjoyable. Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life By Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., P.T. Paperback 173 pages $14.95 A yoga practitioner for over 20 years, Dindy Yokel deepened her practice by studying at the Azul Yoga Institute of Boca Raton. She specializes in Yin, Hatha, Gentle and Restorative styles; incorporating meditation, chakra balancing and yoga philosophy into her teaching. Dindy is also the founder and CEO of DindyCo PR & Marketing, an internationally recognized boutique agency specializing in PR, marketing and advertising. dindy@yoginidindy.com
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FOOD • NUTRITION Florida Students Get Cooking For Dairy Council’s Gridiron Challenge
Yogurt, cheese, milk ... the options are endless when it comes to cooking with dairy products. And to prove just that, the Dairy Council of Florida is now accepting recipes for its fourth annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge, a fun-filled cooking competition for elementary and middle school students throughout Florida. The initiative, which is designed and supported by the Florida Dairy Farmers, is part of Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and NFL to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. Elementary and middle school students in groups of four are encouraged to create and submit a healthy, original recipe that prominently features dairy products. The deadline for submissions is March 3, 2017. The top four student teams in each Florida NFL market – represented by the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars – will compete for the grand prize at the Gridiron Cooking Challenge as they cook their recipe on-site in less than 60 minutes. The winning team in each NFL market will receive a prize pack for their school valued at up to $2,500. For more information, visit www.floridamilk.com.
Roasted Red Pepper Salad
NOT JUST ANOTHER ROASTED PEPPER!
10 Amazing Superfoods by Pai Dayan
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uperfoods are nutrient powerhouses which pack large doses of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. Eating them may reduce the risk of chronic disease and prolong life. Throughout the world, people are discovering superfoods which play an important role in giving your body the essential nutrients it needs, to be in tip top shape. From athletes to business execs, the health conscious are adding superfoods to their diet to improve endurance, recovery time and mental clarity.
Here is a list of ten favorite superfoods: Acai Berry – This berry’s list of attributes includes a high level of antioxidant activity similar to cranberries, and higher than blueberries and strawberries. Acai reportedly have the highest antioxidant value (ORAC) among fruits and vegetables and are the only berries that contain measurable amounts of omega-3s. Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) – Rich in antioxidants, they contain vitamin C (equivalent to ten percent of the daily recommended value), polyunsaturated (good) fatty acids, and several B vitamins. They also contain carotene, protein, calcium, iron and phosphorus (for healthy blood and tissue formation). Cacao – Raw cacao contains nearly four times the antioxidant power of your average dark chocolate—more than twenty times than that of blueberries. Studies have shown that chocolate affects your emotions by raising serotonin levels, which explains why chocolate is often craved when gloominess looms.
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Chia Seeds – Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber, this super seed contains 500% more calcium than milk and the same amount of omega-3s as wild salmon. Chia also has an appetite-suppressing quality, helping you feel full—ideal for your weight-loss regimen, especially for stress eaters! Beet Juice – The rich color in beets comes from the cancer-fighting antioxidant and phytonutrient, betalain. Besides their liver-protecting qualities, beets also contain iron, which helps deliver oxygen throughout the body and fights anemia. Ginger – Relieves digestive problems such as nausea and loss of appetite, and eases motion sickness and pain. It can be consumed fresh, dried as a spice, in oil form, or as juice. Turmeric – This antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory spice gives curry its distinctive taste. It’s a prominent medicinal tool in Ayurveda, the ancient medical tradition of India, where turmeric is widely used and the prevalence of the four most-common US cancers is ten times lower. Studies suggest that curcumin, the compound which gives turmeric its deep golden color, may protect against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and also improve circulation, prevent blood clotting and tame a variety of pains. Coconut Oil – A heart-healthy antioxidant that can help bolster your body against viruses and bacteria. It can also boost thyroid function and blood-sugar control, as well as aid with digestion, reduce cholesterol and keep weight balanced. Kale – A member of the illustrious group of cancer-fighting cruciferous vegetables, kale is the most popular health food today. The deep, leafy green is super high in calcium, iron, Vitamin A, C, K and fiber. Moringa Oleifera – Best known as an excellent source of nutrition and a natural energy booster. Also known to provide antioxidants, fight inflammation, slow signs of aging and protect the brain. Pai Dayan is the CEO & Founder of Dr. Juice Inc. based in Fort Lauderdale.
By Christine Ferris Ingredients: At least 3 red bell peppers 1 stalk of celery (diced) Choice of greens 1 small clove of garlic Fresh parsley (Italian flat leaf preferably) Fresh basil Himalayan sea salt Fresh cracked black pepper Extra virgin olive oil Balsamic vinegar Grill the red peppers whole (or roast in the oven) until the skins are lightly burned on all sides. When the peppers are fully cooked, transfer to a brown bag or to a glass container with a lid and seal tightly. Once the peppers have cooled, remove the stems, seeds, all of the skins, and discard. I like to cut or tear the peppers into strips about ½ in wide. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil somewhat generously. Add balsamic vinegar, not so generously. Add herbs, celery, garlic, salt and pepper. Roasted red peppers can enhance any sandwich or antipasto, or simply serve with your favorite Italian bread, crostini or cracker! Enjoy! Christine owns and runs Pompano Beach Food Tours. Go to www.pompanobeachfoodtours. com and use the discount code: TODAYS YOGA to get a 10% discount on your next food tour in Pompano Beach! Food tours are allergy and diet modification friendly.
Turmeric
The Spice of Life by Dr. Akhilesh Sharma, B.A.M.S., N.D., Ph.D. (herbal medicine) U.S.A.
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he ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine considers turmeric to be one of the best herbs of India. The facts about turmeric, which Ayurveda has known for thousands of years, are now being proved in laboratories around the world. Below are a few uses for turmeric. Skin Internally or externally, turmeric is viewed as “skin food”: it purifies and nourishes the blood and skin, leaving it glowing with health, and clearing blemishes and impurities. The classic way to apply turmeric topically is as an ‘ubtan’—mixing it with chickpea flour, sesame or almond oil, a little fresh cream and honey. External application stops pain and swelling, heals wounds, and treats many skin diseases, ranging from acne to leprosy. The Respiratory System Support of the respiratory system is one of the main traditional uses of turmeric. As an antioxidant it protects the lungs from pollution and toxins. It also helps the oxygen transfer from the lungs to the blood. If you are prone to a cough or asthma, mix 2-3 grams of turmeric in ghee into a large glass of warm water.
First Aid Turmeric can be used as first aid for accidents, ranging from cuts to concussions. To ease trauma, give turmeric in a tall glass of hot milk: 1 spoon of turmeric and 1 spoon of ghee. Turmeric is also a hemostatic, able to stop the bleeding of a wound. Pain and Inflammation Turmeric minimizes pain and is an excellent anti-inflammatory herbal treatment for arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injuries, and stiff muscles from both underactivity and overactivity. In addition, using turmeric before and after surgery will decrease inflammation and accelerate healing. Blood and Liver Cleanser Turmeric protects the liver from toxins and pathogens. About 2 grams of turmeric is taken with a glass of milk, morning and evening, for one month, to activate and rebuild the liver. Turmeric can also be used to purify and move the blood during the menstrual cycle. Turmeric Vs. Cancer Turmeric is considered to be anti-cancerous because it neutralizes substances and conditions which can cause cancer. It directly helps a cell retain its integrity if threatened by carcinogens and the curcumin in turmeric can often destroy a tumor. Even if one chooses the allopathic route to treat cancer, turmeric can be used to increase the treatment’s effectiveness and decrease its side effects. It is known that turmeric, and especially curcumin, inhibits skin cancer, likely due to decreasing the expression of proto-oncogenes.
Female Reproductive System Turmeric regulates menses, decreases intensity and pain of periods, and decreases amenorrhea and uterine tumors. Though there are no technical papers on turmeric’s effects on hormones, it is true that it helps to balance those hormones which can cause breakout and disharmonious periods. Turmeric and Yoga Turmeric is considered one of the best herbs foods for yoga. It increases flexibility and reduces muscle pain and inflammation, allowing one to stay in asanas for longer and with greater ease. It also increases and purifies Prana. Dr. Akhilesh Sharma is a world-renowned Ayurvedic consultant. He has travelled to various institutes, medical schools and alternative health care centers, worldwide. Dr. Sharma has 26 years of experience in Ayurveda, including as a research scientist at India’s biggest manufacturer of Ayurvedic health care products. He holds workshops and Panchakarma and Ayurveda training programs and also provides private consultations on health care issues. Dr. Sharma is the recipient of the Dhanwantari award from the President of India and has been honored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Prince Charles. He can be contacted at ayurvedatoday@ hotmail.com and www.ayurvedatoday.org.
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ON THE HORIZON
For more event listings visit TodaysYoga.com Advanced students welcome. This long slow deep practice is all levels and is presented in a candle lit room with live music.Investment - $30 This event sells out - Please pre-register! www. yogajourney.com
FEBRUARY February 2 Free Yoga at Peacock Park 6:00–7:00pm 2820 McFarlane Road in Coconut Grove. Relax your mind and stretch your stresses away after a long day along the Biscayne Bay at Peacock Park! Free February 4 Urban Yoga Fest 2:00–8:00pm 20th Avenue between Tyler St Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Grab your mat. Bring your kid, best friend and dog and find your tribe in the middle of the city and breath, move & dance to Yoga, Local & Vegetarian Village, Music & Kids tepees. A Tribe Events $25 February 4 FREE YOGA DAY! Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm Free yoga class by Voluntary donation to The Humane Society of Broward. Weston Yoga and Wellness Center 2600 Glade Circle Suite 400, Weston Please visit our website for the schedule of the event. All levels are welcome! Space is limited. Call to reserve your spot (954)349-6868 February 4 South Florida Gala - A Celebration for the Animals The Humane League will host a celebratory evening to honor the local office’s progress for animals in the
past year. The gala will celebrate South Florida’s monumental efforts to reduce animal suffering with delicious drinks and mouthwatering vegan appetizers and desserts, and inspiring speakers, including Jonathan Balcombe, PhD., the New York Times bestselling author of What a Fish Knows. 7:00–10:00pm at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. For more info contact zsigle@thehumaneleague.com February 7, 14, 21, 28 Free Yoga Class Join us for “Free and Easy Yoga with Ann” every Tuesday Morning at 8:30 in Bryant Park South (Lake Worth) near the exercise equipment. 60-minute, all levels HATHA Flow. Bring a mat, water, intention and breath. Namaste February 8 Use of Labyrinths across Religions with Labyrinth Walk 6:00–7:00pm Snyder Sanctuary at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Join us for a discussion on the use of Labyrinths across Religions. We will invite guests to walk the labyrinth upon completion of our discussion. Kindly RSVP: kaplanjm@hotmail.com. February 10 Yin Yoga with Candle Light & Live Music with Leslie Glickman @ Yoga Journey Studio, 1950 Glades Road, Boca Raton in the Wyndam Hotel 5th floor. 6:00–8:00pm. Join Leslie Glickman in the studio. Beginner &
February 11-12 Teacher Training with author Louise Goldberg of the Yoga Center of Deerfield Beach. Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Need Author: Classroom Yoga Breaks Go to www.yogaforspecialneeds.com February 12 Valentine’s Tantra Journey Boynton Yoga Wellness 4:00–6:00pm Explore Tantra to connect in love to your life, your self and your personal relationships. Space is limited $20/person. To register, visit us at boyntonyogawellness.com or call 561-455-6342. February 12 Sunrise Meditation on the Beach by Chopra Center Certified Instruction 7:00–8:00am Beachfront. 400 Briny Ave. in Pompano Beach. All are invited to attend. Please come even if your contribution is the gift of your presence. Suggested donation $515 per person, commensurate with meditation studio class prices. We also offer an energy exchange if you would like to contribute in that way instead of OR in addition to another contribution. February 12th—March 7th Kids Yoga Teacher Training with Miss Chriss, Kula Yoga Shala, Jupiter, FL Have you ever thought: “WOW, Kids need Yoga!” Our kids live in a fast paced world of pressure, judgment, and over-stimulation. Yoga teachers, health practioners, parents, and any in the fields of child psychology or physical development are encouraged to register for this 25-hour Kids Yoga Teacher Training. $399 by 1/12/17, $449 after. www.kulayogashala.com for full details February 18 Feng Shui the Basics with Inessa Freylekhman 2:00–4:00pm Trio Yoga 2328 NE 2nd Ave. in Miami Learn to harmonize the energy in your home and life by drawing on the ancient principles of feng shui. You will leave with tools you can immediately apply to improve the energy flow in your home and attract more of what you truly want in your life. $40 February 21 Balance, Equanimity & Carriage Yoga Workshop 6:00–8:00pm Vicky Cesani’s Magic Oneness Garden 528 NE 121 Street in Biscayne Park. We will create a beautiful matrix of nature,body movement and stillness in our minds. Every pose is a balance pose and the dance of being in and out of balance is the practice. $20 – $25
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February 24 Mindset & Manifestation: The Secrets to Creating What You Want Whether you are struggling to fulfill your goals and desires, experiencing a feeling of being stuck, looking to improve your relationships, or working through a time of transitions…inside of you is everything you need to create everything you want. 7:00 - 9:30pm. Boynton Yoga Wellness – Boynton Beach. $45 in advance/$50 at the door. Contact Tracy @ 954.540.2905 • tracy@ thelittfactor.com February 26 On the Ball: Low Back, Abdomen & Chest, and Arms/Hands with Kat Danio at Simply Yoga 1:00 –3:00pm. The workshop will explain where and why the body tightens up over time due to structural alignment habits, faulty movement patterns, illness/ injury, and pain/trauma. You’ll learn techniques to roll out muscles and fascia to release kinks, trigger points, and other tightly bound areas. You will leave with a deeper knowledge to improve mobility and posture through a series of ball rolling exercises. Limited to 16 participants—register at www.simplyyogadelray.com
MARCH March 5th American Yoga in Deerfield Beach will be hosting a meditation, yoga, and channeling workshop with Nicole Bowdler, Lynzy Ferris, and Michelle Martin. From 1:00-4:30pm. Enjoy an introduction on the use of crystals and how they can facilitate healing and energetic enhancement along with doing a meditation. Includes a 90 minute powerful Vinyasa flow followed by a channeling session with Nicole and Archangel Metatron, with Q & A. This powerful workshop will be concluded with snacks, refreshments and a trunk show with Funky Yoga! Website http:// www.monica-alice-yoga.com March 5th Yoga Nidra Guided Relaxation and Live Music at Simply Yoga, Delray Beach. 4:00–5:30pm. Yoga Nidra plus Richard Brookens’ blissful live music to soothe and transport you into your “yogic sleep”. Yoga Nidra is a powerful form of guided relaxation—experience deep rest in the body, while the mind remains awake, calm, and ready for positive Learn how to reconnect with an underlying feeling of well being during your day-to-day life, long after the Yoga Nidra is complete. $30—please reserve your space at www.simplyyogadelray.com under Workshops/Events. Julie’s Yoga Nidra CDs will be available at the event.
Send listings to us at: calendar@todaysyoga.com
FIND YOUR FLOW Miami/Dade County
Broward County
Palm Beach County
COCONUT GROVE Hot Yoga House Miami 2500 SW 28th Lane (305) 856-9922 miamibikram.com
CORAL SPRINGS Fusion Fitness 4670 Coral Ridge Drive (954) 345-9642 www.fusionfitnessyoga.com
BOCA RATON Mindful Healing Center 26 SE 4th Street (561) 901-5808 www.myfloraaura.com
Dharma Studio 3170 Commodore Plaza (305) 461-1777 www.dharmastudio.com
DAVIE Krama Yoga 12900 W. State Road 84 (786) 238-6043 www.kramayogainstitute.com
Yoga Aura 2910 N Federal Highway, #B (561) 409-0811 www.yogaaura.com
CORAL GABLES Prenatal Plus - Yoga, Inc. 401 Miracle Mile #405 (305) 498-6722 prenatalplusyoga.com Prana Yoga 247 Malaga Avenue (305) 567-9812 www.pranayogamiami.com MIAMI Miami Yoga 301 SW 17th Road (305) 856-1387 www.miamiyoga.com
DEERFIELD American Yoga 1645 SE 3rd Court (561) 789-8080 www.americanyoga.net FORT LAUDERDALE The Yoga Joint 6131 N Federal Highway (954) 916-7253 www.theyogajoint.com Bombay Room 3354 NE 33rd Street (954) 567-1110 www.bombayroomyoga.com
TRIO Yoga - Mind, Body & Spirit Studio 2330 NE 2nd Avenue (305) 573-1841 trioyoga.com
Bikram Hot Yoga 721 SE 17th Street (954) 523-0047 bikramyogafortlauderdale.com
MIAMI BEACH Miami Life Center 736 6th Street (305) 534-8988 miamilifecenter.com
Red Pearl Yoga 918 NE 20th Avenue (954) 828-1651 redpearlyoga.com
Synergy Yoga Center 844 Alton Road (2nd floor) (305) 538-7073 www.synergyyoga.org
SUNRISE/WESTON Yoga Factory & Fitness 15481 SW 12th Street, Suite 300 (954) 370-6869 yogafactoryfitness.com
Green Monkey Yoga 1827 Purdy Avenue (305) 397-8566 www.greenmonkey.com MIAMI SHORES 305 Yoga 9537 NE 2nd Avenue (305) 917-5886 www.305yoga.com
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TAMARAC Yogi Plus Yoga 6329 W. Commercial Boulevard (754) 235-3353 www.yogiplusyoga.com WESTON Weston Yoga 2600 Glades Circle Suite 400 (954) 349-6868 www.westonyoga.com
BOYNTON BEACH Boynton Yoga Wellness 7545 West Boynton Beach Blvd, #102 (561) 455-6342 www.boyntonyogawellness.com DELRAY BEACH Simply Yoga of Delray Beach 2275 S Federal Highway, #150 (561) 735-7172 www.simplyyogadelray.com Delray Yoga Shala 10 NE 2nd Street (561) 441-3467 delrayyogashala.com JUPITER Zeal Yoga 1209 Main Street, #108 (561) 320-3213 www.zealyoga.com LAKE WORTH The Cozy Yogi 307 Lake Avenue (561) 713-2707 www.cozyyogi.com PALM BEACH Haute Yoga Palm Beach 340 Royal Poinciana Way #332b (561) 514-9098 hauteyogapalmbeach.com WEST PALM BEACH Yoga Path Palm Beach 4514 S Dixie Highway (561) 557-4026 www.yogapathpalmbeach.com Om Yoga and Wellness Studios 410 Northwood Road (561) 410-0162 www.omyogawellness.com/
List Your Studio and Reach 25,000 Avid Yoga Enthusiasts Each Month for 3 months
Call 844-600-YOGA or email directory@TodaysYoga.com february 2017
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accept the love we think we deserve.” “We
STEPHEN CHBOSKY
Namaste
photo of Kelly Green by LARA RIOS PHOTOGRAPHY
february 2017
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