Lowering Cardiac Risk, Chair Yoga, etc.

Yoga may lower risk of cardiac disease as much as conventional exercise
You may find interesting and inspiring the article linked below, as well as other entries, on Dr. Baxter Bell's Yoga for Healthy Aging website.  Baxter combines his experience as a family physician with training in medical acupuncture and therapeutic yoga.  His website is intended to provide “information, advice and companionship on the journey:”

http://yogaforhealthyaging.blogspot.com/2015/04/yoga-lowers-heart-disease-risk-as-much.html

Imagine the holistic health we could foster with a balance of regular aerobic activity (it's such a great time of year to walk or bike); yoga, meditation and mindfulness; delicious, nourishing food; and the pleasure and support of social connection including through our extended yoga family.

Two more spaces in Chair Yoga, Wednesdays, 12 to 1:15 in West Medford
Please let me know if you'd like to claim one of the two remaining spots in the next term of Chair Yoga, which starts Wednesday, May 6 and runs through June 24th (with no class on May 13).  The class is held at Sanctuary, 458 High Street in West Medford, and is designed to be as gentle or as challenging as you wish or need, with ample time for contemplation and relaxation, discussion, and question and answer. All abilities are welcome. The fee is $105 for the 7-class term, or $20 per class to drop in (please contact Judy before dropping in to see if there is space, or ask to be placed on a call list in the event of cancellations).

Registration for Next Wellesley COA Term
Registration for the next term in Wellesley, which runs from May 5 through June 23, is this coming Tuesday and Wednesday (4/28 and 29) for residents and nonresidents, respectively.  The cost for the 8-week term is $105.

Drop-in Space on Saturday's
There are two open spaces in the 12:30 to 2:00 Saturday class at Judy's H'Om in West Medford.  Feel free to register for the rest of the term at a pro-rated fee or as a drop-in.  During the past few weeks there have also been occasional openings in the two earlier Saturday morning classes from 8:45 to 10:15 and 10:30 to 12:00.  Register with Signup Genius via the schedule on my website.

Making up Missed H'Om Classes
If you've signed up for the Spring term of classes at Judy's H'Om or H'Om Stretch at the Community Center, you're welcome to make up missed classes at either location.  Please register via Sign Up Genius.  I ask that H'Om Stretch students and card holders pay the difference in per class cost ($8) for making up classes at Judy's H'Om. Please try to take all makeup's before the end of the current term, June 27.                                

Tools for Stress Reduction and Resilient Parenting
Our last MFN class of the term is this Wednesday, 4/29.  I look forward to our discussion of Chapters 6 and 7 of the S.T.E.P. book, as well as the ways you cared for and nourished yourself these past two weeks!

Sebastio Selgado Documentary

Below is a portion of a photo Judy's H'Om students might recognize from the studio.  It’s by Sebastio Selgado about whom a documentary called "Salt of the Earth" was recently made.  I highly recommend seeing it -- be prepared to experience the full range of human emotion through this fascinating story and the stunningly beautiful photographs.  It's now playing at Landmark Theater in Kendall Square.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have concerns, questions or comments.

Thanks for continuing to be part of this extended family even if our only connection for now is through cyber space. 

May we be compassionate and peaceful, may we be courageous and steadfast, may we be joyful and free, may we be fully who we are.

Judy

“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it
positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”
                                                                                    ― T.K.V. Desikachar

Hi there,

I hope you're safe and cozy and enjoying the quieting down nature's white chill insists upon yet again.

Saturday Classes, Yes
Both Saturday morning classes will be meeting this week (2/15). 

Monday Class, 2/17, NoBecause the heat is turned off all day in the church on Monday holidays, there will be no class this coming Monday evening.

Yoga for Healthy Aging
If you're looking for some interesting and informative reading on many topics related to how yoga supports healthy aging, check out this website, an ongoing blog by one of my favorite teachers, Dr. Baxter Bell, with whom I'll be studying again at the end of March:

http://yogaforhealthyaging.blogspot.com/

Thoughts from Ralph Waldo Emerson
 Several of you have asked for a copy of the passage from an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson I read in classes this week prior to meditation. I've adapted it here from the original language:

There is guidance for each of us and by lowly listening
we shall hear the right word.  Certainly there is a right for you
that needs no choice on your part. Place yourself in the middle
of the stream of power and wisdom which flows into your life.
Then, without effort, you are impelled to truth and perfect contentment.

As always, please let me know if you have questions, comments or suggestions.
May you celebrate St. Valentine's Day by honoring the truth of your heart.

Judy

781-488-7664
www.yogawithjudyscribner.com

Hi All,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the mild easing of winter cold and noticeably longer days.

I wanted to share a few links I've recently heard about that you, too, might find interesting and/or useful:

Buddhify 2
Many of you have expressed interest in cultivating mindfulness and the restorative and focusing benefits of a regular meditation practice.  I thought you might be interested in taking a look at this application I recently installed on my phone for $1.99. There is a wonderful assortment of guided meditations spoken by a variety of lovely voices and accents.  There are meditations for feeling stressed, for walking or other exercise, eating, being online, traveling, waking up, going to sleep, getting back to sleep, and many more.  I think it's well done and very user friendly: 

http://buddhify.com/


Yoga Benefits for Breast Cancer Survivors and Others
You may have seen Channel 5's recent reporting on this study.  I thank Sue in Monday night's class for telling me about it:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271779.php

While the study measured the effects of yoga (especially breathing and meditation) on reducing inflammation and fatigue and improving sleep in survivors of breast cancer, it is reasonable to believe yoga can also help treat other diseases linked to inflammation, including type 2 diabetes, chronic heart disease, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.  It is gratifying and encouraging to see the growing body of research evidencing what yogi's have known intuitively and experientially for thousands of years.


Stretch Clock
There seems to be a new study every week showing the negative effects of long hours of sitting.  I thank Mary in the early Saturday class for telling me about this program one can install on the computer.  You'll be reminded to take a break from sitting with simple and effective exercises (many similar to yoga movements) that stretch and bring circulation to neck, shoulders, chest, hands and wrists.  Many can be done while sitting, and there are detailed instructions and demonstrations for each exercise.  I highly recommend this program with this one caveat on alignment:

Please note one important thing:  The man demonstrating the exercises usually has his chin lifted too high to allow the back of his neck to stay healthily long. As some of you have personally experienced, an habitually shortened neck (which often happens when the chest collapses downward causing the head to lift too high in compensation) can cause great discomfort as well as impingement of the nerves leading into the head, shoulders and arms.  So please, if you try out these exercises be ever mindful of lifting the heart and sternum and keeping the back of your neck long throughout the exercises.  If there were enough interest I could devote a class or workshop to practicing these exercises together.  I know many of you spend more hours than you'd like sitting in front of a computer and you might find these exercises, along with regular back bolster draping, helpful.

Here are three links to the Stretch Clock:

Introductory Video

http://www.stretchclock.com/index.html

Review the Basic Stretches

http://www.stretchclock.com/more/stretch/more-stretches#.UuQDFvYo4y4

Download

http://www.stretchclock.com/download/index.html#.UuQBmPYo4y4

That's all for now -- apologies for being so long-winded.  Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.  I hope to see you in class soon.

I thank you all for your continued and enthusiastic presence.
Judy

781-488-7664
www.yogawithjudyscribner.com

Hi all,

Fall Term ends Wednesday, December 19th. Please do your best to take makeup classes prior to that date.

Winter Schedule
The upcoming winter term begins Saturday, January 5th. 

Gift Certificates are available in any amount for a single or group of classes, private sessions, or 10-class card, good for 4 months.  Please order by December 18th to assure delivery by the 25th.
Openings Wednesday at H'OmThere are two openings for the last two classes at H'Om yoga (12/12 and 19), 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  I am also accepting registrations for the next 7-week term of Wednesday evening classes beginning January 8th.  Term tuition is $175 and attendance is limited to five students.  Please contact me if you'd like to drop in or register for next term.

Tuesday Evenings at H'Om -- class is filled for the first series of Winter classes.
There may be occasional drop-in opportunities about which I'll let you know via email at the start of the week.

That's all for now.  I hope you're finding peace, lightness and joy during this solstice month.

with appreciation for your continued presence and inspiration,
Judy

True Meaning of Yoga
In the spirit of the holiday season, here's a link to a message from Eric Bell of Global One TV about the "true meaning of yoga", a hard copy of which I'll have available in class this week.  I found it quite moving.  http://www.globalone.tv/profiles/blogs/what-is-the-true-meaning-of-yoga


Workshop with Sarah Powers
I'm excited to be sharing with you in the upcoming weeks what I've learned from a recent weekend intensive in "Insight Yoga" with Sarah Powers.  She presented an exquisite blend of yin and yang yoga and insight meditation that develops resiliency and strength for the upcoming Winter season.

Boston Globe Article (11/23/11) on Yoga
If you haven't already seen today's Globe article on Yoga, here's a link.  The article describes a number of recent studies on the benefits of yoga, most of which you have probably experienced. However, I find the scientific confirmation of what yogi's have known intuitively for thousands of years interesting and affirming and hope you will too.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2011/11/28/stretching-boundaries-yoga/wXBfmgO7C5G8SJYmgGSxrK/story.html

The View From H'Om

Just sharing this collage of pictures I took last week through the windows of H'Om studio..

Developing a Home Practice (Fall 2011)

I will work with you in your home to develop simple sequences of postures based on individual needs, which can be easily incorporated into daily routines (at sink, computer, T.V., in bedroom, etc.)

One-hour visit for $75; three visits for $200