Monday, April 27, 2015

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