April Update

Hi Friends,

As we begin to see new life blooming around us it is an aknowlegment of new beginnings, an opportunity to look deeper within ourselves and come back to our core, doing away with the old and uneccesary and rediscovering what truly makes us happy and grounded.

It is fitting that the pose of the month for April is Trikonasana (Uttita & Pavritta) because when practicing Trikonasana the focus is on standing firmly on your two feet, with the weight of your body evenly distributed between left and right. This is keeping you grounded. When we physically ground ourselves, and build our strength and balance from the ground up, our upper body becomes light and lifted, and more importantly, our mind becomes free. The work we do on our mats, most certainly carries over into our lives off the mat.

Trikonasana is one of the fundamental poses in any Yoga practce. Therefore you may notice a focus on returning to basics in our classes this month, this is by design in order to welcome in many new students as well as embracing the chance to explore deeper that which we feel we know to see if we can discover a bit more, possibly a new perspective, some "newness" shining through the old...a bit fitting for spring don't you think?

We will have a regular class schedule for sping break week. In addition, beginning this Easter Sunday; sunday class will be extended to a traditional yoga class length of 90 minutes. We hope you enjoy a few extra minutes of stretching, breathing and relaxing on your Sunday.

Please check out our blog findyourflow.blogspot.com for more information on Trikonasana. We are working to create an interactive resource so please feel free to comment, make suggestions; the blog is for all of us.

Thanks again for all of your support. We feel incredibly blessed for the opportunity to share yoga with all of you.

om shanti

Allison & Mary-ann

April Class Schedule:

monday: 8:30-9:45 pm (home studio)

                      28 burnside dr., hastings-on-hudson

tuesday: 9:30-10:45 am

                     pilates & more, 129 main st., dobbs ferry

wednesday: 9:30-10:45 am (home studio)

                         333 broadway, dobbs ferry 

thursday: 9:30-10:45 am

                      pilates & more, 129 main st., dobbs ferry

sunday:****** 9:30-11:00 am *****extended 15 minutes

                       pilates & more, 129 main st., dobbs ferry

Pose of the Month- April 2009

Trikonasana-Utthita & Parivritta

Tri=three    kona= angle     asana=pose

utthita=extended    parivritta=revolved/twisting

Benefits:

-Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, chest and spine

-Strengthens the core

-Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees and ankles

-Stimulates the abdominal organs

-Improves digestion

-Helps relieve stress

-Relieves backache-especially during pregnancy

-Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain and sciatica

Revolving Triangle is especially beneficial for:

-Improving Balance and building coordination

-Opening the chest for deeper breathing (therapeutic for asthma)

-Stimulating Digestion

-Toning the abdominal organs and muscles

Cultivating Stability in Uncertain Times

Trikonasana is one of the 6 fundamental standing poses of the Ashtanga Yoga System, from which Vinyasa Yoga is derived.  Every student, no matter what level they are, starts the Ashtanga practice with a series of poses, in which trikonasana is always present.  In almost any yoga basics book, you will find pictures and descriptions of trikonasana.  Almost any person who has taken a yoga class, will recognize the sound of the words, and the sight of the pose.  In short, it is a crucial asana when building a yoga practice.

Many of us are facing some of the most challenging times of our lives, trying to find ways to cut back and still live life to it's fullest.  We are faced with stresses at work, at home and within our relationships.  During such uncertain, sometimes very disruptive times, we can rely on our yoga practice, and fundamental standing poses like trikonasana, to carry us through.

When practicing Trikonasana the focus is on standing firmly on your two feet, with the weight of your body evenly distributed between left and right.  You are creating a strong foundation, and firmly rooted bases.  This is keeping you grounded, with your feet firmly under your body, taking your roots down into the mat, through the floor, and into the earth. 

 When we physically ground ourselves, and build our strength and balance from the ground up, our upper body becomes light and lifted, and more importantly, our mind becomes free.  When we are physically grounded and strong, we can be mentally grounded and strong as well.  When we have physical balance and lightness, we can have emotional balance and a sense of levity as well.  The work we do on our mats, most certainly carries over into our lives off the mat.

In the face of uncertainty and levels of stress that are unprecedented, we can rely on the familiar, the grounding, and the stabilizing--- trikonasana.  Our old friend can be called on to carry us through, bring us back to the basics, and root us deeply in the present moment.

 Take your exhale deep down into your feet, and through the roots, into the earth. Then, feel free to extend up out of the bases. Like a flower blossoming up toward the sun.  Allow the mind to release into the familiar, and experience the present moment of breath--- then LET GO.  Enjoy the sense of stability, calm and ease that you can find there, and bring that with you into your days off the mat, outside of your practice.

Om shantih......