30 April 2007

The Week in Yoga

1 Tues:
Yoga Ananda is now a Center for Yoga and Wellness


2 Wed:
Mysore Ashtanga begins at Bliss Yoga, 9:30 am, then every Monday and Wednesday


5 Sat:
T5T The Five Tibetans workshop, and Contra Dance at Cobalt Moon

Chakra Yoga Dance with Dana Preacher, E-RYT500 at Ageless Yoga and Massage Center


6 Sun:
Portraits at Cobalt Moon (see my post "Portraits," below, for full information)


7 Mon:
FREE massages at Yoga Ananda, 4-7 pm. Call 680-7344 to reserve your space.

Postnatal Fushion and Baby Yoga begins at Howell Park in Atlantic Beach

चांगe इस थे ओनली कोन्स्तंत

And that is Hindu for "change is the only constant." This seems appropriate as I announce yet MORE additions to my teaching schedule (!). Plus I wanted to show off my new Hindu translator. Isn't it pretty?

So what do we have...you can now come enjoy Restorative Yoga at Yoga Fusion of San Marco. This will be the studio's initial foray into the uncharted territory of morning classes. I would love to see you there to support the new additions to Yoga Fusion's schedule. With enough interest expansion throughout the week with a variety of class styles is likely. Restorative Yoga classes last 90 minutes and will be conducted in the heat. Restorative yoga is designed as a therapeutic release of stress and tension where we will explore deep stretchig and relaxation. They will be every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:15 am beginning May 8--next week!

Click here to see the map for the studio. Parking and entry is around the back. Turn west onto Lasalle Street from Hendricks and follow the alley off the left side of the street.

27 April 2007

Portraits

Greetings! An exciting event has come to my attention and I had to share. My fellow yogi and friend Gisela and her husband Glenn will be performing with several others in an evening of dance at Cobalt Moon Center. Check out the flyer below for more info. I am psyched to see one of the most graceful yogis I know do her dance thing!

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

23 April 2007

The Week in Yoga

24 Tues:
10 Week T'ai Chi Workshop begins, at Cobalt Moon Center


27 Fri:
Teachers Assistant Weekend with certified Master Baptiste Instructor Elizabeth Huntsman, at MBody Yoga, through Sunday


28 Sat:
Understanding Chakras, at Yoga Den

Thai Massage Workshop with Iain Broadbent of Blue Lotus Ancient Healing, at Cobalt Moon Center

Healthy Back Yoga with Joan and Jim Ryan,at at Ocean Yoga

DJ Power Yoga Party, at MBody Yoga


29 Sun:
Prenatal Yoga Birth and Baby Sign & Yoga Class Series begin, at Tranquil Waters


30 Mon:
Kate Proctor returns from baby leave (yea!), at Yoga Den

Serenity Now! Changes to Schedule...AGAIN!

Hello one and all! As we head into the month of May please note some changes to my teaching schedule:

Core Fitness San Jose
Wednesdays.....7pm.....Fitness Yoga.....ongoing
*Mondays have been cancelled and Tuesdays will resume with Lee Ann.....effective May 1

Yoga Life
Thursdays.....7pm.....Yogilates.....ongoing
Fridays.....7pm.....Serenity Yoga.....effective May 1

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That lovely shirt you see below is available along with lots of others at the studio. Here is my bio from the Yoga Life site:

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Mandy Dehlinger, RYT

""I always aim to guide students in awakening their positive energy and igniting their mind-body connection. I strive to create an environment where everyone can transcend the physicality of yoga and go out and apply what they take from class and make practical improvements in their lives.""

Mandy's teaching style focuses on proper alignment and engaging pranayama breathing techniques, both which serve as the basis for a strong and safe practice.

Mandy came to yoga in 2000 as a way to get exercise for her body. She soon realized and developed a greater appreciation for the deeper levels of this transformative practice. She was so moved by the many benefits yoga has to offer she recently left her career in scientific research to dedicate herself to teaching yoga and continue her yogic studies. Mandy is a 200 HR Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and is certified in mind-body and sun-power yoga styles.
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Looking forward to seeing you there. This leaves my days free for private clients and the usual l-i-v-i-n'!

15 April 2007

News on My Teaching Schedule, and Praise

This has been an amazing week. I have had the chance to practice and teach at three studios and meet inspiring teachers and business owners.

First, and perhaps the biggest news for me personally, is the news that I have added a new class to my teaching schedule. I will be teaching yogilates every Thursday evening from 7-8:15pm at Yoga Life in Deerwood. This is a very high-energy class and it's relatively new to my repertoire as far as teaching goes, though I have practiced this style personally many times. I was sweating buckets the first night! The routine works you from head to toe, inside and out. Very rewarding. I am loving the change of pace and getting the opportunity to work with a new set of students. A huge thank you to owner Sara Torbett for allowing me this time slot. Please drop in for a class and check it out!




On Friday I dropped into Yoga Ananda for the Happy Hour class with Melissa Johnson. A very fun and creative flow. I have to admit that my tear ducts are hypersensitive, but Melissa read a great passage during savasana about loving your enemy as your brother that resulted in a few drops falling. It speaks a lot to a teacher's ability when she is able to guide you into that state of receptivity and then deliver some powerful words to contemplate. It made me think about enemies on a grander scale, and what is going on in the world. To paraphrase, consider the idea that we should look upon our enemies simply as our friends that are gravely misunderstood. Offering compassion to those we are most angry with. Thank you, Melissa, for reminding me!

Finally on Saturday I attended a morning class and an afternoon beginner's workshop at the invitation of Mark White, owner of MBody Yoga . If you are a fan of Baron Baptiste and you haven't already been to one of Mark's classes, the time is now! Mark has nailed down this particular teaching style and manages to keep the lightness required in yoga while still offering a very challenging sequence. It was the perfect balance in my view. I also learned some very useful info on alignment and adjusting during the workshop. There were 4 men in the workshop! I love seeing the males interested in yoga...I really feel like it is going to snowball the more guys that discover yoga. There are some great upcoming events at the studio beginning April 27, such as a teacher's assisting weekend with a master Baptiste instructor, and the always popular DJ power Saturday night extravaganza. Click through to MBody to find out more!

06 April 2007

Spotlight: Alyson Foreacre, Yoga Den

Welcome to the first installment of a series spotlighting yoga business owners and operators here in Jacksonville. I thought what better way to kick things off than with none other than one of my own teachers.

Alyson Foreacre began Yoga Den in 2002 and is located in Mandarin. I have been one of the lucky students to train as a teacher there and earn my certification. Yoga Den is the only Yoga Alliance registered school in metro Jacksonville. Latest offerings include prenatal yoga and new modular training for teachers. For more information, click here.

Om Page: When and why did you start practicing yoga?

Alyson Foreacre: I took my first class 2000. A good friend of mine said we should try it. I was marathon training at the time and felt that I was in pretty good shape; however, I was not prepared for Power yoga! WOW! I couldn't believe how many muscles were talking to me the next day. Loving the challenge, I couldn't wait to get back to class. I noticed a difference in my posture in only my second week of practice, and my running felt better than ever...I was hooked!!

OP: What is your favorite style of yoga to practice? Favorite pose?

AF: Being an endurance junkie with a history of tight muscles, I like Power yoga practiced in the heat. I don't have a favorite pose, I love many! I do have a least favorite...FROG!!

OP: What made you decide to open your own studio?

AF: It just evolved really. My first job was teaching in my neighborhood at the pool house, but after only 2 months, the space was needed for summer camp. There were about 20 people wanting to continue, so I found a little month to month rental place close by. My thoughts were to lease until camp ended and then move back to the pool house. Unlike my neighborhood gig, this rental space was open to anyone who wanted to come, and the first month brought us 75 students! It was that fork in the road thing, and my very supportive and optimistic husband said "let's go for it!", and here we are 5 years later!

OP: Provide a brief history of your yoga business to date.

AF: We opened in April of 2002 where Guitars United is now (my brother-in-law's shop...very cool!), and moved to a larger space in July. We started training teachers in 2004. Branched out to a few other locations in 2004 also. We sold the Southside studio to one of our instructors, Mark White, who now owns MBody Yoga, and the original owner of the Ponte Vedra studio came back after about 10 months. Having one location is much more enjoyable, but we wanted to try to save the 2 studios that were about to shut their doors (Southside was Yoga 101, and Ponte Vedra was Bridges to Health), and we had plenty of freshly trained teachers ready to roll out their mats. The Ponte Vedra location is no longer there, but MBody Yoga is rockin', so no regrets! It was a great lesson in many things...mainly, the realization that I needed to keep a healthy balance between my family and my job, and multiple studios wasn't how do do it! 2006 was a much happier and healthier year, and I love our Mandarin studio! We have been in this location for 2 years now, and it feels like home.

OP: What is the greatest pleasure of yoga business and what is the greatest pitfall?

AF: The greatest pleasure is seeing the positive changes yoga has on the students; both short term--the before and after class difference in state of mind, and long term--physical, mental and emotional benefits are evident after just a few months! People really seem to wake up, and become more vibrant. That rocks!! The pitfall? Personally, none really...don't get me wrong, there can certainly be stress, but that's just part of the ride. If you're in it for the right reasons, and believe that this is really what you were meant to do, then potential "pitfalls" that could take you down become learning opportunities.

OP: What made you decide to start training teachers?

AF: When I first opened, I taught all the classes, and quickly realized I could use some help! I sent several people to Discovery Yoga,(the school where I trained), to get their 200 hours, but I knew that the power yoga training was needed, as this was not offered there. In fact, it was not offered anywhere around, and as time went on, I had more and more requests for some power training. One thing led to another, and I thought it would be good to offer both all-level and power yoga training, so teachers could be more marketable.

OP: Do you think there is enough demand for the influx of new yoga teachers? Why or why not?

AF: Yes, because yoga is just scratching the surface in small-town America, and in this market there are so many untapped areas of opportunity. I can think of several locations where a studio could rock, and most neighborhood clubhouses offer classes, or are open to it, not to mention corporate yoga. Like anything though, just because you have a certification, doesn't mean you'll get the job. Think of growing up in school...some teachers you connected with, others you didn't. It's the same thing with teaching yoga. I think personality and energy have more to do with teaching yoga than the academics of the practice. Anyone can call a pose, but it's all in the presentation. There is something to be said for natural talent, confidence and one's ability to inspire others.

OP: What trends do you see on the horizon for yoga in the western world?

AF: I think more and more people will start practicing, from word-of-mouth testimonials, Dr. referrals and curiosity. Once you start, you quickly realize it's something you should not do without; you feel better than ever!!


Thank you so much to Alyson for agreeing to this article! Look for the next spotlight coming very soon.

Elaine Benes did not edit this!!!!! All those extra exclamation points are Alyson's own. This totally goes to show what an enthusiastic and energetic yogi she really is. ;-)

04 April 2007

Upcoming teacher training

Here is your chance to train with a master! Naader Shagagi trained none other than our own Melissa Johnson, proprietor of Yoga Ananda. This teacher training intensive is not just for those planning to teach. Even if you just want to get deeper in your practice and/or learn the history and philosophy of yoga, teacher training is a great place to do it. And with this intensive format over just 10 days, you can really delve in while making the most of your time.

Here's the info:

http://www.yogaanandastudio.com/Events.htm

200 HOUR TEACHER TRAINING

Description:
10 DAY INTENSIVE! SIGN UP NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE. $200 deposit required. Join us for this rare opportunity to train with a true master of Yoga.This training will certify you with Naader Shagagi's creation of CURATIVE YOGA™ the therapeutic way of harmonizing your first 3 bodies. This is an ideal course for students who want to deepen their own practice or develop skills to teach others classical Hatha Yoga of Mystics™. Training will span over Ten 10 hour days with a total of 100 intensive contact hours, home study, teaching experience at the studio as well as follow-ups through Melissa Johnson of Yoga Ananda. Make up lessons available.

Training is $1200

CLICK HERE to leave your $200 deposit or pay in full.

For more information about Naader Click here

200 Hour Certification will include:
· Breath and Movement, POSTURES
· Anatomy & Philosophy
· Structure of Poses
· Alignment
· 8 Limbs of Classical Hatha Yoga
· The Realms of Mind
· Inner Purpose

Facilitator:
Naader Shagagi

About the Master Teacher:Trained in Raja Yoga at the Self Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles, and Hatha Yoga at The Yoga College of India, Beverly Hills, Naader Shagagi has been studying Yoga and Meditation since 1983. A former Ph.D. Candidate in Engineering at the State University of North Dakota, Naader also studied Philosophy and religion before coming to Los Angeles as a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda in 1985.

Location:
Yoga Ananda

Date:
April 20-29, 2007

Time:
Times will vary daily

Price:
$1200 ($200 deposit required by March 15th)

All I can say is this is truly a very reasonable tuition cost. Most 200-hour programs are about $2000 and up, up, up.

Links & More

Namaste everybody! I have put up links to every Jacksonville yoga studio...Jacksonville proper. Beyond the metro region we have many other talented and dedicated yogis in the Beaches, Amelia, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and on and on. Also up is the myspace page for Urban Core Yoga as well as the main site. Check these out!