INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2934, 7, '2013-10-11 11:11:31', '2013-10-11 18:11:31', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/August-2013.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2935" alt="August 2013" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/August-2013-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImagine a juggling act that involves a person running down a row of spinning plates balanced on sticks, trying to keep them all spinning? That is an apt description of my life! Most days, I am keeping my home life, work life, family obligations, personal goals, yoga teaching, and other obligations "spinning" while making sure nothing drops. Living such a fast-paced existence-and doing all these things relatively well-is a challenge, even for a yogi.\n\nFortunately, I can always rely on my yoga practice to help me keep it all together. Right now, my focus is on pranayama and meditation. I practice mindful breathing (pranayama) to keep myself focused and present as I concentrate on the current wobbling "plate" about to fall, and then I move my focus to the next one in danger of falling. Our staff smiles when they see me take deep breaths during stressful or fast-paced situations. They know they can rely on a calm leader to keep things going. At home, before going to sleep, I spend time meditating by reading a selection from <b><i>Meditations from the Mat</i></b> by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kennison. In these ways, I practice yoga off the mat.\n\nMy on-the-mat practice allows me to bring it all together. I love every opportunity to be on the mat! Whether I am taking a class at The Sanctuary, watching a DVD at home, or developing my own practice, I enjoy taking the time to just <b><i>be</i></b> with my body. I watch how each asana feels at <b><i>that</i></b> moment. My greatest challenges are to remain non-judgmental and refrain from competition. Overcoming temptation to criticize my practice, "I did it better yesterday," or "Why can\'t I go deeper into the asana?" continues to be a journey. It becomes even more of a challenge when I am dealing with a (chronically) sore shoulder or other physical issue. How hard do I push myself, what asana do I avoid, is it OK to work through the discomfort?-these can be distractions to my practice. When I stay present on my mat, the results are amazing.\n\nOddly enough, these struggles have made me a better teacher! I approach each asana with the mindset of creating an accessible practice for each student. What props and modifications can we use? How does the student feel in that asana? What can I do or say to encourage the class to be present? And it all comes together when a student tells me after class, "That is just what I needed today!"', 'Staff Spotlight: Barbara Melanson, RYT', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-barbara-melanson-ryt', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=2934', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2954, 7, '2013-10-14 11:29:14', '2013-10-14 15:29:14', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ss_102089027.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2955" alt="ss_102089027" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ss_102089027-300x300.jpg" width="300" height="300" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you spend a number of hours seated at a desk each day, you have likely felt the strain on your back, hips, legs, and, well, just about everywhere. Sitting for hours is unhealthy, simply put, but you can relieve some discomfort with a few basic yoga stretches.\n\nOne of the best stretches you can do while seated is a variation of Keyhole Pose. While seated in a chair, place your right ankle just above the left knee in a loose cross-legged position. You will have a triangle-shaped space between your legs. Flex your right foot to keep your knee safely positioned. If it feels comfortable to fold forward a bit, keep your spine long as you reach your chest forward as you fold. Stay in this position for a minute or so and then switch sides.\n\nNext, push your chair back a couple feet from your desk. Open your legs so that you create a V shape with your thighs. Turn your toes out in the same direction as your legs. Inhale as you ground your sit bones and lengthen your spine. Exhale and fold forward bringing your hands to the ground or just letting your arms hang. Inhale and lengthen your spine as much as possible, and exhale while you relax and hang. Stay for five to ten rounds of breath. Inhale as you come up, maintaining a flat back.\n\nSpinal twists are particularly accessible while seated in a chair, where you can utilize the chair itself as a prop. While seated, inhale and ground the sit bones as you lengthen your spine and bring your left hand to your outer right thigh as close to the knee as you can. Exhale and hold either your right arm rest or the right outside base of your chair with your right hand as you begin to twist to the right. Inhale and lengthen the spine again, exhale and twist a bit further. Continue this pattern, inhaling to lengthen and exhaling to twist as you move deeper into the twist. You may find it possible to hold the back of your chair with your right hand or arm (depending on your chair and depending on your body) to take a deeper stretch, but it’s not necessary. Stay for five to ten breaths. Repeat on the left side.\n\nFinally, to get some blood flowing and add a bit of strength to your day, place your hands flat on your chair partially under your thighs and just in front of your bottom. Be sure your palms are well grounded and your fingers spread wide. Tuck your tailbone and with a nice deep inhalation try to lift yourself up off the chair. Your feet may even lift off the ground. More likely, however, your hips won’t rise at all. That’s OK. Now you have something to work on. One day, they will lift. Here are a few tips for this pose: Be sure each hand stays grounded—the entire hand. If your wrists are not happy, do the pose just once. Then do it again tomorrow. And again then next day. Your hands will get stronger and the discomfort will fade as long as your entire hand is well grounded. (If your chair is too soft, however, you want to do find another chair to practice this pose on.) Be sure to not hold your breath—let the lift be a complete inhalation and the descent be a complete exhalation. And release your expectations. This pose will also help relieve tension in your muscles as you relax afterward.\n\nPractice these poses daily and you will likely start to notice you are more comfortable despite long stretches in a seated position. They can easily be practiced while you’re working away.', 'Desk Yoga: More Comfort While You’re Seated', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'desk-yoga-more-comfort-while-youre-seated', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:53:39', '2016-11-17 01:53:39', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=2954', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2960, 7, '2013-10-30 16:50:12', '2013-10-30 20:50:12', '&nbsp;\n\n<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/images.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2961" alt="images" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/images.jpg" width="275" height="183" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe fourth of the five koshas is vijnanamaya kosha—the wisdom sheath. Vijnanamaya encompasses intuition and intellect. It can be thought of as the witness mind, or that aspect of our consciousness that is not <i>entangled in</i> what we are doing or thinking, but rather, acutely <i>aware of</i> what we are doing and thinking. Vijnanamaya kosha is awareness, simply put.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you’ve reached the point in your yoga practice where you are much less distracted by random thoughts or occurrences and much less caught up in the anticipation of the next posture, you find that you are more able to <i>feel</i> the pose. You know what is happening in your body and your mind as you settle into the posture, noticing the nuances. This awareness is achieved when vijnanamaya kosha is properly developed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVijnanamaya builds on the foundation of the previous, outer sheath—<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/manomaya-kosha">manomaya kosha</a>. Manomaya lays the groundwork for reaching vijnanamaya. We must first navigate the seas of our turbulent and busy minds before we are able to rise above the waves of thoughts that pull us away from our center. With this practice, we develop a steady mind and are able to view ourselves from a distance, so to speak. Vijnanamaya allows us to step back from our current situation and view it from a better perspective. This is where insight comes from.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike manomaya, vijnanamaya can be obtained with regular yoga asana, pranayama, and meditation practice. Once we are able to fully engage vijnanamaya kosha, we will experience a deeper peace in our lives that comes by way of freedom from thoughts, actions, and speech that does not serve us. Given the world we live in, it is highly unlikely that you will maintain this awareness 24–7. Rather, it will come in waves, gradually increasing over time until you are much less likely to get caught up in the daily dramas your mind tells you about. As your yoga practice deepens, take notice of the subtle changes that occur and you will notice aspects of your awareness that exemplify the development of this kosha.', 'Vijnanamaya Kosha', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'vijnanamaya-kosha', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:01:57', '2017-02-01 23:01:57', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=2960', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2964, 7, '2013-10-30 17:05:11', '2013-10-31 00:05:11', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Susann-L.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2965" alt="Susann L" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Susann-L-224x300.jpg" width="224" height="300" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was born the middle of three girls on June 4, 1943 in Philadelphia. My dad was an accountant with the Philadelphia Electric Company and my mom stayed home to raise us. In eighth grade, my Spanish teacher inspired me to become a Spanish and French teacher; I later graduated from Radford University in Virginia in 1965 and began my teaching career in Alexandria, VA. It was there that I met my husband, Jack, who was the principal of the middle school. In 1989 we move to Florida where I started teaching at Lemon Bay High School in Englewood. After 12 years there, I retired in 2001. I lost my husband two years later and was really at loose ends for a while.\n\nNow I spend my days volunteering in the office at Congregational United Church of Christ in Punta Gorda. I also am known as the "Betty Crocker" of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte because I bake four to five cakes each week and give them away. I also love to read, especially James Patterson and Danielle Steele.\n\nI began practicing yoga one and a half years ago when the Sanctuary held an open house. My best friend, Susan Cheney, invited me to attend, promising we would go out to lunch afterwards—that was the reason I went, for the lunch. We took a sample chair class, but by the time we got to the sandwich shop it was closed. So no lunch, and I wasn\'t really sure about yoga.\n\nI started with chair yoga, and if it weren\'t for Susan dragging me there, I probably would have quit. Then I took an intro class with Margit Bannon and everything changed. She was such an inspiration and so understanding of my "issues" that I just kept with it. When I wanted to quit, she wouldn\'t let me. I graduated to level I, but depended on her guidance so much that I was afraid to try other instructors. One time she was on vacation and I had no choice. I wanted to go to class. Since then I have found that <i>all</i> of the instructors are just as caring, concerned, and patient as she is.\n\nWhen I started practicing yoga I had problems with balance and strength. I have scoliosis and my posture was becoming worse over the years. In the year since I have been practicing, I am stronger and steadier. My cholesterol has dropped from 300, HDL cholesterol is over 100, and I am no longer pre-diabetic. My posture has improved greatly! I am also calmer and more relaxed and in control of my life.\n\nDue to a recurring back injury, I still have problems with some of the postures. I also have arthritis in my right knee and need to keep it wrapped during practice. It does hamper some of the postures I try, but I try to adapt whenever I can.\n\nMy favorite yoga poses are bridge pose, reclined leg stretches, and of course, savasana. The instructors, the peace I feel, and my improving health and well-being keep me coming back four days a week. Every one of the instructors inspires me to do better each day and to give myself credit for what I can do now that I couldn\'t do before.\n\nMy favorite quote is one from a meditation class with Jennifer:\n\n"Nothing in the world is permanent, and we\'re foolish when we ask anything to last, but\n\nSurely, we\'re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it."\n\n—W. Somerset Maugham', 'Yogi of the Month—Susann', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-susann', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=2964', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2968, 7, '2013-10-31 05:04:11', '2013-10-31 12:04:11', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/margit-staff-spotlight.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2969" alt="margit - staff spotlight" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/margit-staff-spotlight-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI often tell my yoga students that the hardest part of class is getting there—getting on your mat to practice. But no matter how difficult it might have been (aligning those stars to get there), you’re always glad you came, feeling much better than when you arrived.\n\nThe good news is that yoga isn’t limited to the studio and requires next to no equipment in order to practice. This is good news for me, considering my work days are long. Having the luck to be able to teach both of my life’s passions: tennis and yoga, and on a good day, yoga for tennis. I can practice anywhere; on and off the mat, or on and off the tennis court. On a bad day I might not know where I am until I look at my feet and see tennis shoes or bare feet!\n\nFor those reasons I am grateful that I don’t have to wait for the luxury of attending a proper class in order to practice yoga. I practice postures between classes and clients in order to restore myself and as I find myself needing balance on a physical level, I am reminded that there is more to yoga than the asanas we take. Having developed good discipline and concentration through asana, theoretically I am ready for meditation, or at least ready to put into practice the limbs following asana in the <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/category/8-limbs-of-yoga">eightfold path of yoga</a>.\n\nOn a tennis court these limbs come to me naturally as I synchronize my breath with my strokes (pranayama—breath practice). I am able to drown out anything and everything surrounding the lines of the court while engaging in competition (pratyahara—withdrawal of the senses). What matter is here right now—this shot, this point (dharana—concentration). And when I can combine these states of mind I experience a sense of being “in the zone”—having become the ball myself, and reaching my maximum potential in a state where I feel most alive (dhyana—meditation).\n\nDhyana is meditation and I struggle with all of the limbs leading up to it off the court. Like any other sport or discipline it must be practiced and often times the biggest difficulty is making the time to sit without interruption. I don’t sit often, usually finding myself on the opposite ends of the spectrum—running around the court, roaming the studio, or completely collapsed at the day’s end. As I strive for balance I will follow my own advice and just get myself to sit and stay a while, on or off the mat, to reflect upon and experience the other limbs of yoga.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yoga Practice On and Off the Mat—Margit', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-practice-on-and-off-the-mat-margit', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=2968', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2993, 7, '2019-10-18 14:22:07', '2019-10-18 18:22:07', '[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="3.22" fb_built="1" _i="0" _address="0"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" _i="0" _address="0.0"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" _i="0" _address="0.0.0" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="3.29.3" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" hover_enabled="0" _i="0" _address="0.0.0.0"]<p><img class="wp-image-6631 alignleft" src="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/yoga_class_wellness_page.jpg" alt="yoga_class" width="315" height="210" /></p>\n<p>If you are brand new to yoga, there are a few things that you will want to know to prepare you for class. Yoga can seem like an intimidating practice, but it doesn’t have to be. When you know a few basics about what to expect, you’ll feel more ready for class. Whether you are brand new to yoga or you are coming back to the practice after a very long hiatus, the following tips will help you ease into the practice.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><b>Wear Comfortable Clot</b><b>hes that Are Not Too Loose</b></p>\n<p>You will want to wear clothing that is comfortable, first and foremost. But be sure to not wear a shirt that is too loose. That big, comfy t-shirt you love? You won\'t feel as comfortable in it as it falls over your head when you are inverted in Downward Facing Dog Pose. A t-shirt is fine, as long as it has a tighter fit. You don\'t have to show up in a skin-tight, leotard-like ensemble or even the "yoga clothes" that you think you must wear to be a yogi, but you should wear something that will allow you to move comfortably and without wardrobe malfunction.</p>\n<p><b>Barefoot Please</b></p>\n<p>Yoga is practiced barefoot for a couple important reasons. When your feet are in direct contact with the ground you will be better able to actually feel <i>how</i> you are standing on your feet. You will notice how you place your weight, and you will be able find stability using the muscles of your feet. Socks are not recommended because you could slip during practice. Yoga mats are designed for bare feet and hands. As an example, if you are standing with your legs in a V, in socks your feet would be more likely to slip outward, which could end with you in the splits or, more likely, with a pulled muscle.</p>\n<p><b>Com</b><b>e with an Empty Stomach</b></p>\n<p>It is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. When the stomach is full, movements such as forward folds, twists, and inversions are not very comfortable. As a general rule, you can eat a snack or light meal two hours before class or a large meal four hours before class. That will ensure you are most comfortable during the practice. Drinking fluids before class, however, is recommended to keep you hydrated.</p>\n<p><b>Let Go of Judgment</b></p>\n<p>The other students in your class will likely have a range of abilities. You may find that you feel self-conscious or insecure about how you are doing the poses. You may feel that you “look like a fool” from time to time. Please know that the other students are much more focused on their own practice and are not nearly as preoccupied about you as you might think. We are much more likely to be judging our own practice than that of others. That too, however, must be released. Each day your practice will be different. The poses will feel slightly different, you will be in a different mental and emotional place, and your body will respond to the practice differently as time goes on. Instead of placing judgment on your practice, simply notice what is happening in the moment as well as over time, and leave it at that.</p>\n<p><b>Yoga will alway<b>s be Practice</b></b></p>\n<p>This is one of the most comforting, yet often overlooked aspects of yoga. You may find that your competitive nature comes out during yoga practice, but please remember that there is no final competition, no presentation, no “perfect” pose. You are practicing, and will always be practicing yoga. Let that notion help take the pressure off that you should be practicing in any particular way. Listen to the cues of your body, and keep practicing.</p>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]', 'What to Know for Your First Yoga Class', 'If you are brand new to yoga, there are a few things that you will want to know to prepare you for class. Yoga can seem like an intimidating practice, but it doesn’t have to be. When you know a few basics about what to expect, you’ll feel more ready for class. Whether you are brand new to yoga or you are coming back to the practice after a very long hiatus, the following tips will help you ease into the practice.', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'what-to-know-for-your-first-yoga-class', '', '', '2019-10-18 14:23:11', '2019-10-18 18:23:11', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=2993', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3000, 7, '2013-11-24 12:04:12', '2013-11-24 19:04:12', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/jpeg-front-cover.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3001" alt="jpeg front cover" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/jpeg-front-cover-199x300.jpg" width="199" height="300" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe are so proud of Melissa Goodwin, an instructor at The Yoga Sanctuary and accomplished children’s book author. In fact, Melissa has been published extensively in children’s and national magazines and won a <i>Writer’s Digest</i> Annual Poetry Competition Award in 2010.\n\nMelissa grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, where she spent a happy childhood living in her imagination and writing stories in her head. It was only a matter of time before those stories spilled out onto the written page. Melissa’s books <i>The Christmas Village</i> and its sequel, <i>Return to Canterbury</i>, are the culmination of her lifelong dream to write the kind of books she loved to read as a child.\n\nMelissa’s books are targeted to readers ages eight and up, but they are also an adventure the whole family will love, filled with suspense, secrets and surprises to the very last page. Come join Melissa at Copperfish bookstore on Thursday, December 12th, 5:30 to 6:30 pm for their “get in the holiday spirit” kickoff. Melissa will be reading from the <i>The Christmas Village </i>and launching its sequel <i>Return to Canterbury</i>. She will also be signing books and donating $1 from the sale of each book to the Yah Yah Girls Backpack Kidz Program.\n\nSee you there!', 'Get in the Holiday Spirit with The Yoga Sanctuary’s Melissa Goodwin', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'get-in-the-holiday-spirit-with-the-yoga-sanctuarys-melissa-goodwin', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3000', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3019, 7, '2013-12-02 14:17:19', '2013-12-02 19:17:19', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/untitled.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3020" alt="untitled" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/untitled.png" width="225" height="224" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe last of the five koshas is anandamaya kosha—the bliss sheath. Anandamaya encompasses not the feeling of bliss, but rather, the experience of bliss. In contrast to vijnanamaya kosha, you do not witness the bliss sheath, you <i>are</i> the bliss. Bliss can be thought of not as an ecstatic happiness or even joy, but a steady state of being, no matter what circumstance arises.\n\nThe state of wholeness, of integration with the moment and with yourself, encompasses the inner sheath of anandamaya. This bliss state is usually experienced in fleeting moments, but can remain for longer periods. Importantly, anandamaya is still a sheath, a layer that can be peeled back. When anandamaya is peeled away, we reach atman—our very center. Atman is our direct connection with the divine, with the essence of all that is. It is our pure consciousness.\n\nAnandamaya pervades each of the previous outer sheaths, but is only experienced once we are able to peel the illusions of each sheath away to reveal our true nature. Anandamaya can be experienced in those moments when you are wholly immersed in that which you are doing—when you no longer separate yourself from your experience.\n\nStriving to reach anandamaya kosha is a futile attempt, for it is only revealed when we release any form of mind control over it. Anandamaya is not of the mind. It is a deeper experience than that which can be contemplated. Even describing it in words is not completely accurate. The bliss of a child fully immersed in the moment—that is anandamaya.', 'Anandamaya Kosha', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'anandamaya-kosha', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:01:45', '2017-02-01 23:01:45', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3019', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3023, 7, '2013-12-02 14:42:48', '2013-12-02 21:42:48', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Jackie-Mays-e1386020455338.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3024" alt="Jackie Mays" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Jackie-Mays-e1386020455338-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI grew up in Canada until I moved to the United States with my husband of 16 years, whom I met while working in my family’s carnival business. Now we travel five months out of the year with our concessions, and settle in the rest of the year in Punta Gorda.\n\nTwelve years ago I tried yoga when I was looking for a form of exercise, but found it boring. After a shoulder injury—and massage therapy and medications—I walked into the The Yoga Sanctuary studio and met Jennifer. I have been coming back ever since, attending five days per week. My shoulder is better, and I am calmer despite my loud voice (inner voice). When I am not practicing, I can really tell that I need to get back on the mat!\n\nAlthough I am a workaholic—my hobby is my work—I do enjoy riding my bike in the country. And a perfect day for me is a quiet day at the pool.\n\nMy favorite pose is shoulder stand, and my biggest challenges are my breath and trying to not plan my day while in Savasana.\n\nMy favorite quote: It is what it is.', 'Yogi of the Month: Jackie Mays', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-jackie-mays', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3023', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3029, 7, '2013-12-02 14:56:25', '2013-12-02 21:56:25', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/melissa-meehan.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3030" alt="melissa meehan" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/melissa-meehan-300x169.jpg" width="300" height="169" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYoga has been a continuous journey for me. Early on, I enjoyed the asana practice and how good it made me feel every time I met the mat. Then later, I took the plunge into teacher training and finally realized I am a student of life for life on the yoga path.\n\nI started yoga due to the aging process, and five years later I now realize that the aging process is not going away. It seems that after every restful night of sleep I awaken to a stiff body—spine, joints, and hamstrings that all need to be stretched daily. I thank my lucky stars that I like yoga, and that it is convenient to practice at home as well as the beautiful zen-like studio with wonderful spirits at The Yoga Sanctuary.\n\nMore than ever before, I find myself enjoying meditation online with Deepak Chopra. He always brings a morsel or more of insight that seems so appropriate for the day. Also, after reading chapters 10–13 in <i>Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness</i> by Erich Schiffmann , meditation was clarified for me in a way that made sense. It revealed a way to actually practice in daily life and use our intuitive self to make clear decisions.\n\nIn fact, just a few weeks ago I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with a busy schedule. I asked for help with the question “What should I do?” and sent it out into the universe while letting it go. Within 48 hours I had an answer via email and I just smiled. A week later I received another answer to the same question. It made me realize all answers can be this simple without the worry and stress if you find stillness to ask for help.\n\n<b>Yoga off the Mat</b>\n\nI’ve always been curious about my purpose in this life (my dharma) and what job I should be doing in life. In meditation online with Deepak, I realized that my purpose can be as simple as loving others, and creating joy and peace for others. I began to open my mind and change my perception about my current job as a marketing rep and realized what a wonderful venue to do exactly that—sharing a smile, giving the gift of listening, lending a helping hand, showing compassion, and connecting with others.\n\nI find my days very enjoyable. Every day is a good day if I am grateful, if I keep in the present moment, and if I offer love, peace, and joy to others. At the Yoga Journal Conference, Aadil Palkhivala reminded us that if you are complaining, blaming, justifying, or making excuses, you are no longer practicing yoga. I love the simplicity. Life is easy and joyful if we can just let go of our thoughts and be present. My precious dog Ella reminds me of this every day!', 'The Yoga Sanctuary Staff Spotlight—Melissa Meehan', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'the-yoga-sanctuary-staff-spotlight-melissa-meehan', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3029', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3038, 7, '2013-12-15 12:25:05', '2013-12-15 17:25:05', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/baddha1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2228" alt="baddha" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/baddha1.jpg" width="210" height="150" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nQuite possibly, you have felt a wave of emotion come over you during yoga class. It may have been sadness, joy, or even a negative sentiment that took you by surprise as you moved through your practice or held a certain pose. Crying during yoga, ecstatic elation, or even intense anger are all normal emotions to feel during yoga practice. During yoga, the <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/the-koshas">subtle bodies</a> become unblocked and deeper emotions can be revealed—sometimes when we least expect them.\n\nSadness can be triggered while in postures such as Cobra, Upward Facing Dog, or Wheel, all of which have heart-opening qualities that can have an intense effect, particularly in people who have a guarded or broken heart. Strong emotions are not uncommon after a practice that includes backbends. Child’s pose is another haven for sad emotions as we turn inward, seeking comfort in ourselves. If you find yourself crying in class, know that this is simply part of the practice. Try to stay with your breath and let the release wash over you.\n\nFeelings of intense happiness are also common during yoga as we begin to understand ourselves better. After a particularly challenging posture that you maintained with steadiness and ease, you may feel pleased. As you connect more deeply with yourself in the practice, you may also feel more connected to those around you—also a great feeling. Or, you may feel a literal rush of endorphins after class that sets your mood for the rest of the day. Recognize your good feelings as they arise and know that they are part of the practice. Be careful, however, that you do not come to expect feeling elated after every class. Emotions are not that predictable, and neither is the yoga practice itself.\n\nFinally, you may have also felt the wave of anger, disappointment, or annoyance when you didn’t “get the pose right,” when you remembered an event from your week, or when you were bothered by something said or done by someone else during class. We are all susceptible to these negative emotions, even on the yoga mat. Fortunately, the yoga practice helps us to slow down and notice our emotions as well as our responses to these emotions. The next time you find yourself peeved on the mat, find your breath. Notice the feeling and use your breath to move through it.\n\nBy recognizing and honoring the emotions that arise during yoga, you will better understand yourself, which is what this practice is really about at its core. You can use your experience with emotions on the mat to help you experience emotions off the mat in a constructive way. Emotion is part of the human experience and yoga can help us to better respond to the emotions that come.', 'Experiencing Strong Emotions during Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'experiencing-strong-emotions-during-yoga', '', '\nhttp://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/the-koshas', '2017-02-01 18:41:36', '2017-02-01 23:41:36', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3038', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3041, 7, '2013-12-29 14:33:05', '2013-12-29 19:33:05', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/untitled1.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3042" alt="6 branches of yoga" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/untitled1.png" width="240" height="160" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the majority of Westerners, yoga begins with the physical asana (posture) and pranayama (breathing) practice. For this reason, in the West yoga has come to be loosely defined as primarily a physical practice. But the reality is, this aspect of yoga, which is known as Hatha Yoga, is only one of six main branches, or paths, of yoga. The other five include Jnana, Karma, Bhakti, Raja, and Tantra. Like a tree, each branch of yoga can grow and develop at the same time.\n\nJnana Yoga is the branch of knowledge, wisdom, introspection, and contemplation. The study of classical texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabrata, Ramayana, the Vedas, and the Upanishads form the basis of Jnana Yoga.\n\nKarma Yoga is the branch of service or action, often referred to as selfless service. The concept of karma refers to the effects of one’s past actions on future circumstances. The more we engage in selfless service, the better our karma and, thus, the better our future circumstances. The Bhagavad Gita discusses the philosophy of Karma Yoga and offers stories as examples of the practice.\n\nBhakti Yoga is the branch of devotion to God or a higher power. Bhakti is driven by divine love and involves our personal relationship with God and, thus, might be a different experience for each person based on his or her beliefs. The Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata Purana, and Puranas texts all discuss the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga.\n\nRaja Yoga is the royal branch, or classical yoga (also called ashtanga yoga). Raja yoga involves the eightfold path, or the <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/category/8-limbs-of-yoga">eight limbs of yoga</a>. The purpose of Raja Yoga is to calm the fluctuations of the mind as outlined by the Yoga Sutras, the classical text of this branch. Raja Yoga is sometimes viewed as an umbrella over Hatha Yoga because it encompasses the goals of Hatha Yoga.\n\nTantra Yoga is the ritual branch. A combination of practices and ideas, Tantra Yoga views the universe as the physical manifestation of pure consciousness—that which connects us all. Everything in existence is thus treated as such. Tantra Yoga recognizes the subtle energies behind all that is physical and mental, and creates rituals to honor these aspects of life.\n\nHatha Yoga is the physical and mental branch. Hatha Yoga involves asana and pranayama practice—that which we are most familiar with in yoga class. Hatha Yoga prepares the body and mind for Raja Yoga. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is the classical text on the philosophy of this branch.\n\nOver the next six months, each branch of yoga will be discussed in more detail so that you gain a deeper understanding of the wider framework that is yoga. As you learn about the other branches of yoga, you might notice that you are already pursuing more than one branch. You may find that one particular branch—or many branches—appeal to you.', 'The Six Branches of Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'the-six-branches-of-yoga', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:41:20', '2017-02-01 23:41:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3041', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3047, 7, '2013-12-29 14:52:28', '2013-12-29 21:52:28', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/yogi-of-month-e1388353845723.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3046" alt="yogi of month" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/yogi-of-month-e1388353845723-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI grew up in Michigan enjoying the things offered by Lake Michigan—nature and blustery winters. Because of those roots, I am an avid sailor, snow skier, and hiker. After receiving my BS in Education from Northern Michigan and an MS in Training Development from Purdue University, I went into the Army as a Lieutenant and retired as a Colonel. I never thought I would make the military a career, but I did. I spent 26 years going to places I could never have imagined. Each experience gave me an appreciation for what I have back home. I learned a lot about people and humanity. After retiring from the military I was a Director for Training Development for a large defense company designing and developing simulations and simulators for training.\n\nI started yoga about four years ago looking for an alternative to lifting weights and to improve my flexibility as I got older. I took yoga actively for about a year and then got transferred to Orlando by my company. The travel of the job took me mostly out of yoga for the next two years, but I knew it was a great challenge for both body and soul. Six months ago I began actively practicing yoga again, and I plan to do it for rest of my life. I practice six days each week and take a mix of Level II, Mixed, and Ashtanga classes.\n\nI was looking for a way to mentally decompress and improve both my strength and flexibility. I still keep a pretty active lifestyle and knew I had to "keep using it or lose it." Yoga has been the best thing I ever did to improve my mental state, clear my mind, and de-stress. My flexibility has improved ten-fold, and I have regained both core and upper body strength.\n\nI have found the greatest benefits of yoga to be the self-reflection and bringing my mind and physical body together. Yoga has helped me align my type A mind to my type B body! I find it to be both mentally and physically challenging. Yoga brings me peace of mind and a sense of well-being within both my body and soul.\n\nAs for other life challenges, I am dealing with an aging parent with Alzheimer’s, which makes me realize how fragile we are. I try to not take life for granted and enjoy every day I have.\n\nOutside of The Yoga Sanctuary, I am active in sports and bike riding. I am Ducati motorcycle nut. I also still enjoy sailing, having been an avid sailor most of my life. I enjoy the arts, music, and theater, all of which help keep my mind active. And I love animals. I have two rescue dogs and a cat—Freeby, my pit bull, Jake, my miniature Australian shepherd, and Munchy, my alley cat.\n\nMy favorite poses are inversions. I really like the strength building and endurance required to let my mind go. I love the challenge to improve and take on more complex poses, and I greatly enjoy being with others who have a common bond with yoga. I love to learn from those who have been doing yoga for a while. I am amazed at what mind over body can accomplish.\n\nAt the studio, Jennifer inspires me to do better. I greatly appreciate the teaching that occurs during the practices. I have always been a teacher at heart and a good teacher motivates the students to do better in their own space. I think overall the instruction at The Yoga Sanctuary is consistently well done.\n\nMy favorite quote:\n\n"Dreams make life tolerable." I have always been a dreamer!', 'Yogi of the Month—John Lewis', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-john-lewis', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3047', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3051, 7, '2013-12-29 15:28:15', '2013-12-29 22:28:15', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Julie-Huffman-e1388355999737.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3050" alt="Julie Huffman" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Julie-Huffman-e1388355999737-224x300.jpg" width="224" height="300" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took my first yoga class 10 years ago. After teaching fitness classes at the YMCA for several years, I enjoyed the calm, quiet, peaceful feeling I experienced after practicing yoga. Growing up in a family of teachers, it seemed only natural for me to do the same. Teaching is what I have always done! I was a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and now substitute regularly at our local preschool.  I often see a child take a yoga posture, such as downward facing dog, without even realizing it. Yoga postures are so natural for us at any age.\n\nThe benefits of yoga for me are new every day.  Each time I get on my mat there is a different way to stretch and move into and out of postures.  Most of my early yoga knowledge came from books and daily emails from Yoga Journal. I read everything I could—I was fascinated. The physical aspect of yoga was obvious, and I remained stuck there for a while, completely immersed. At a yoga workshop I attended, my teacher said, "The next step is to take your yoga off the mat."  I wasn\'t quite sure at the time what that meant.\n\nMy husband and I have been spending our last seven winters here in Florida. I was homesick for a while until a friend suggested I take a class at The Yoga Sanctuary. I began taking lots of classes from the incredibly talented teachers there, and in 2013 I was fortunate to be accepted into the Teacher Training program. Thousands of the questions I still had about the discipline of yoga were answered, but Bonnie and Jennifer also left us to discover some of the answers for ourselves. Yoga is more than the physical—it is more than being on the mat. It is how we live our lives. It is how we share our gifts. It is how we shine our light.\n\nBesides yoga, my passions include long daily walks with my dog Roxie, growing flowers and herbs, and cooking healthy foods. I enjoy the sunrise in Florida as well as in my home state of Missouri, and I am usually up long before the sun shines. I also love spending time with my family and miss them terribly while I\'m away. Fortunately the friends I have made at Burnt Store Marina and at TYS are also like my family.\n\nYoga is exciting to me and I am truly honored to be able to share in that excitement through my teaching. The greatest gift a teacher receives is realizing they have made a positive difference in the lives of their students.\n\nFavorite book: the <i>Bible</i>\n\nFavorite Food:  Any fresh local produce, Missouri peaches and tomatoes, and Florida tangelos\n\nFavorite Yoga Pose:  Any restorative pose\n\nMost Challenging Yoga Pose:  All hip openers', 'The Yoga Sanctuary Staff Spotlight—Julie Huffman', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'the-yoga-sanctuary-staff-spotlight-julie-huffman', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3051', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3074, 7, '2014-01-25 07:30:49', '2014-01-25 12:30:49', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/untitled.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-3075 alignnone" alt="untitled" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/untitled.png" width="276" height="183" /></a>\n\nThe hardest part of yoga is getting on your mat on a regular basis to practice. It can seem as though there are 30 different reasons for NOT showing up to practice on some days. And often, a lapse in practice can snowball into quite a lengthy period of time. In order to make sure you continually return to your mat, it can help to unpack your reasons for showing up in the first place.\n\nOften, we come to yoga for physical and mental reasons. Increased strength, flexibility, and stamina, or decreased stress, the need to nurse an injury or heal the body, or the desire to connect to a deeper spirituality are the most common reasons people come to yoga in the first place. But when you take a closer look at your own personal reasons for showing up to practice, you will find that connecting to the underlying layers of why you practice will keep you coming back to your mat day after day.\n\nLet’s use a couple examples to show how you can unpack your WHY. Let’s say you come to yoga to gain more strength and flexibility. Ask yourself WHY you want more strength and flexibility. Your answer might be “Because I feel better when my body is strong and flexible.” Then ask <i>WHY do you want to feel better?</i> Your answer might be, “Because when I feel better I know that I am healthy.” <i>WHY do you want to be healthy?</i> “I want to be healthy as I get older so that I can enjoy my family.” <i>WHY do you want to enjoy your family as you get older?</i> “Because sharing moments with them is one of my favorite things in the world.” <i>WHY is sharing moments with them one of your favorite things in the world?</i> “Because it fills me with love.”\n\nAha! You have arrived at your core reason for practicing yoga. When you firmly connect to this reason—I want to practice yoga because it fills me with love—then you will be more likely to get on your mat and do your practice. Let this reason be your inspiration for practice.\n\nLet’s look at another reason. Let’s say you come to yoga to deepen your spirituality. <i>WHY do you want to deepen your spirituality?</i> “Because when I connect to my own spirituality, I feel peaceful.” <i>WHY do you want to feel peaceful?</i> “Because when I feel peaceful, I interact with others in a better way.” <i>WHY do you want to interact with others in a better way?</i> “Because I want to deepen the relationships I have.” <i>WHY do you want to deepen your relationships?</i> “Because feeling connected to others makes me feel safe and loved.”\n\nAha! When you connect to this reason—I want to practice yoga because it helps me feel safe and loved—then you will be more likely to practice on a regular basis.\n\nYou want to be careful to let your reasons be positive reasons and not negative reasons. For example, if your reason for wanting to deepen your practice was instead the negative reason, “Because I feel disconnected to my source of inner peace,” you will head down a rabbit hole of negativity that might help you understand why you are disconnected, but it won’t give you a positive focus to help drive your practice. By flipping the reason around to your positive version of the reason, you will help ensure that you move in the right direction for revealing your inspiration for practice.', 'Connect to Your WHY to Keep You Coming Back to Your Mat', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'connect-to-your-why-to-keep-you-coming-back-to-your-mat', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:40:55', '2017-02-01 23:40:55', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3074', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3095, 7, '2014-02-03 12:57:48', '2014-02-03 17:57:48', '[caption id="attachment_1247" align="alignleft" width="206"]<img class="wp-image-1247" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/jnana-mudra.jpg" alt="jnana mudra" width="206" height="137" /> jnana mudra: the gesture of knowledge[/caption]\r\n\r\nJnana Yoga is the branch of knowledge, wisdom, introspection, and contemplation. The study of classical texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabrata, Ramayana, the Vedas, and the Upanishads form the basis of Jnana Yoga. It is important to understand, however, that Jnana Yoga is not just about acquiring information. It is the integration of that knowledge in a way that opens up a wider perspective that is at the heart of Jnana Yoga.\r\n\r\nJust as the breath is the thread of the physical practice of yoga, the wisdom that comes from applying knowledge is the thread of Jnana Yoga. The accumulation of knowledge is certainly a part of Jnana Yoga, but more important is to truly understand the information in a way that goes far beyond words.\r\n\r\nJnana Yoga could begin with the recitation and contemplation of verses from a yogic text. Taking the time to meditate on new information allows it to sink into the psyche in a way that can widen the students understanding not only of the passage, but of life itself. This is Jnana Yoga. It is yet one more path to understand our true nature.\r\n\r\nJnana Yoga teaches that all preconceived notions must be left behind so as to not skew our perceptions. On a practical level, by simply cultivating curiosity about the world around us and the information we come into contact with on a daily basis, we can open ourselves up to a new way of understanding ourselves. By letting go of judgment and comparison when taking in new information, we may just find that we understand ourselves on a deeper level.', 'Jnana Yoga: The Yoga of Knowledge', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'jnana-yoga', '', '', '2017-05-31 13:02:23', '2017-05-31 17:02:23', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3095', 0, 'post', '', 1); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3098, 7, '2014-02-03 13:07:44', '2014-02-03 20:07:44', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Connie-and-Harold-1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3099" alt="Connie and Harold 1" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Connie-and-Harold-1-211x300.jpg" width="211" height="300" /></a>\n\n\n\nHarold and I were high school sweethearts. We married after I graduated high school one year after he did. We both got jobs in Ohio after graduation, and we started our family two years later. We have three wonderful sons who have given us nine grandchildren. Throughout the years we have found that to keep our love alive, we enjoy the good times and work through the hard times. True love stays alive all on its own.\n\nAt our age our values haven’t changed, but they are different now. Someone once told me that in order to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values. It’s very important for us to stay healthy and active, and we are finding that yoga helps us do that. We find that we enjoy going to yoga together, which surprised me because the opposite was true when we went to the gym. Harold was always telling me how to do things “correctly.” In yoga class, we have to listen to the awesome instructors who guide and correct us both. We honestly do understand each other better by taking these classes together. We laugh together and are always in a good mood afterward.\n\nWe came to yoga because our son surprised us one day with private yoga classes. We were nervous and also reluctant, but when your kids turn into your parents, you listen. Bonnie taught our private class and she made us feel very comfortable. After the classes, Harold decided he would go back to the gym because he said yoga was more for me. I continued for a month or so. My son told his dad to try it again for a longer period of time. He did. Almost a year later, we both still enjoy coming. After every class our bodies feel so much better. That’s why we keep coming back.\n\nWhat surprised us most about yoga are the poses that look so easy but are not easy when done correctly. I never knew there were so many ways to stretch. Our only regret is not practicing yoga earlier—back when we thought that the more you hurt the better you were doing.\n\nOutside of yoga we have many interests. Harold has every toy imaginable, though I would say that fishing is his favorite. We enjoy boating, riding on our jet ski, swimming, and riding our Goldwing motorcycle. I also teach two-year-old children twice a month at our church. And we love visiting our grandchildren and having them visit us.\n\nTo someone just starting out in yoga we would say, do not hesitate! You’re never too young or too old. The Yoga Sanctuary makes you feel at home the minute you walk in and meet Anna’s smiling face. She answers all your questions and the instructors are warm, friendly, and very good at what they do. Going to the gym is fine, but yoga is an added bonus! We all need to work at staying mobile. Harold and I find that yoga helps us do that.', 'Yogis of the Month—Harold and Connie Miller', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogis-of-the-month-harold-and-connie-miller', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3098', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3101, 7, '2014-02-04 13:55:11', '2014-02-04 18:55:11', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/untitled.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3102" alt="untitled" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/untitled.png" width="195" height="259" /></a>\n\nIn the <i>Yoga Sutras</i>, one of yoga’s most sacred and oft referenced texts, Patanjali tells us that our “practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and in all earnestness.”\n\nWhen I think on <i>firmly grounded,  </i>I think of the deep roots of an oak that have spread throughout a yard, rooting down, down into the earth, offering up the strength and stability from which the tree grows and flourishes.\n\nWhen I think on <i>well attended to, </i>I think of mindful and focused attention, concern and love, without expectation of anything in return. I think of the care one gives a loved one when that loved one cannot care for themself. <i> </i>\n\nWhen I think on <i>a long time, </i>I think how long is long? And I remember times when a minute was an hour, a day was a week, and a year was a breath.\n\nWhen I think on <i>without break, </i>I think there is no more to say. There is no “without much of a break” or “without a break more or less”; without break is without break.\n\nWhen I think on <i>in all earnestness, </i>I think about what is most important to me, and just what am I willing to do for that?\n\nSometime ago, I started on a journey initiated by my own teacher, Tias Little. As part of his teaching and my training, I was asked to create a kind of <i>svadhaya, </i>or self-study, project. I chose to do a 54-day meditation practice that focused on cultivating the spirit of loving kindness. I’ve had a consistent –yet not always daily—meditation practice for the past number of years. My thought was to use this project to develop the consistent –and daily—practice that I’m always aspiring to.\n\n<i>Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and in all earnestness. </i>\n\nWithin two weeks, my practice became part of my life, my day-to-day routine. I’d heard somewhere that it takes 27 repetitions for something to become an ingrained habit. This was my hope. Let my practice become my habit. And that it did—for 54 days. And then 55, 56, and 57. But somewhere along the way I skipped a day and <i>without break</i> became without break except for this one day. And then it became without break except when I’m really busy or when I have to be to work really early or when I have other things that need to be <i>well attended to</i>… The next thing I knew my newly established habit had become my old habit, practicing consistently inconsistently.\n\nA part of this project was to document my experience with it; what happened when I consciously sat every day cultivating the attitude of loving-kindness? I found that I moved throughout my day with more ease. I found that the busyness of life did not bear down on me. I found that my relationships blossomed and compassion filled my heart. But the most important thing I found came afterwards, when the project was complete. I found that it takes about three days, that’s it, three days of not practicing for all of that to slip away. Like being on a spinning carnival ride, when I’m not practicing, I’m spinning too, uncontrollably, getting dizzy and nauseous, going round and round, no longer <i>firmly grounded</i> to anything. And then I remember…\n\n<i>Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and in all earnestness.</i>\n\n…And I sit back down, and I start all over again, <i>in all earnestness.</i>\n\n&nbsp;', 'In all Earnestness - by Jennifer French', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-free-topic-jennifer', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3101', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3117, 7, '2014-02-14 06:55:07', '2014-02-14 11:55:07', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/untitled1.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3119" alt="untitled" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/untitled1.png" width="275" height="183" /></a>\n\n\n\nOn a day-to-day basis, you may not notice all of the changes that are occurring in your yoga practice and that occur as a result of your yoga practice. Over longer periods of time your memory of your original practice begins to fade and you may forget altogether where you began or even where you were six months ago in your practice.\n\nKeeping a yoga journal to record your thoughts is a great way to bring a new awareness to your practice. By taking a few minutes after yoga to jot down thoughts about the practice, over time you will have a nice record of your progress. This can be a great tool not only to help you learn more about how your practice is deepening, but it can also help you to determine what is the best practice for you under certain conditions.\n\nA yoga journal is a great way to learn about how our practice affects us on a physical, emotional, and mental level. If you noticed that a particular pose, sequence, or class felt great when you were experiencing a certain emotion or mental state, then write it down. You will be more likely to remember what worked if you write it down, and you can always turn to your journal at a later date when you might be feeling the same way again.\n\nYet another useful reason for keeping a yoga journal is the valuable insight that arises while we are on the yoga mat. Have you ever had a really great idea or solved a problem you were facing while on the mat? In those moments when we are focused on our breath—while all else fades away—we can often tap into a wiser insight that comes from simply being. Recording your insights after practice will help you to keep those thoughts fresh so that you will be able to put them into use later on. If you don’t record it, you may forget the idea even arose. With a journal, you will always be able to re-learn what you may have forgotten.\n\nIf you want to get a new perspective on your yoga practice, keeping a yoga journal will help you to view your practice through a wider lens. Carry a journal with you to class or keep one in your car and take a few moments to record your thoughts about practice. Record whatever thoughts come to your mind and then read back through those pages every few months to gain a deeper understanding of your practice and yourself.', 'Start a Yoga Journal—Track Your Practice', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'start-a-yoga-journal-track-your-practice', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:35:08', '2017-02-01 23:35:08', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3117', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3124, 7, '2014-02-28 14:53:27', '2014-02-28 19:53:27', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-5649 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/karma-300x300.png" alt="karma yoga" width="300" height="300" />Karma Yoga is the branch of action and selfless service. Karma yoga involves doing, working, and giving of our time without the expectation of anything in return. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes this form of yoga by saying, “Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise is called yoga.” The book states that we must engage in action, but leave the rest to a higher power while releasing expectations.\r\n\r\nFortunately, we have the opportunity to practice Karma Yoga every day. Karma Yoga can be implemented in both large and small ways in your life. Maybe you help a disabled or elderly woman load groceries into her car. Or perhaps you volunteer at an animal shelter. You may even start a non-profit organization of your own. Opportunities to practice Karma Yoga abound.\r\n\r\nSimple acts such as letting a car into the lane ahead of you while in traffic or doing something nice for someone without expecting a return of the favor can help release you from the strong and sometimes negative pattern of expectation. Larger acts such as donating time or money to a charity on a regular basis will help you to take your karma yoga practice into your community.\r\n\r\nThe great thing about Karma Yoga is that it helps to melt away expectations. Once practiced on a regular basis, the simple joy of giving just to give will help fill that space that expectation once occupied. You likely already practice Karma Yoga in many ways in your life. This month, pay special attention to when you are giving and doing for the joy of giving and doing. Take note of how this makes you feel and how it enriches your life.', 'Karma Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'karma-yoga', '', '', '2017-09-02 16:03:59', '2017-09-02 20:03:59', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3124', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5651, 7, '2017-09-02 16:03:59', '2017-09-02 20:03:59', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-5649 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/karma-300x300.png" alt="karma yoga" width="300" height="300" />Karma Yoga is the branch of action and selfless service. Karma yoga involves doing, working, and giving of our time without the expectation of anything in return. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes this form of yoga by saying, “Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise is called yoga.” The book states that we must engage in action, but leave the rest to a higher power while releasing expectations.\r\n\r\nFortunately, we have the opportunity to practice Karma Yoga every day. Karma Yoga can be implemented in both large and small ways in your life. Maybe you help a disabled or elderly woman load groceries into her car. Or perhaps you volunteer at an animal shelter. You may even start a non-profit organization of your own. Opportunities to practice Karma Yoga abound.\r\n\r\nSimple acts such as letting a car into the lane ahead of you while in traffic or doing something nice for someone without expecting a return of the favor can help release you from the strong and sometimes negative pattern of expectation. Larger acts such as donating time or money to a charity on a regular basis will help you to take your karma yoga practice into your community.\r\n\r\nThe great thing about Karma Yoga is that it helps to melt away expectations. Once practiced on a regular basis, the simple joy of giving just to give will help fill that space that expectation once occupied. You likely already practice Karma Yoga in many ways in your life. This month, pay special attention to when you are giving and doing for the joy of giving and doing. Take note of how this makes you feel and how it enriches your life.', 'Karma Yoga', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3124-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-09-02 16:03:59', '2017-09-02 20:03:59', '', 3124, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3124-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3136, 7, '2014-03-02 07:16:05', '2014-03-02 14:16:05', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Susan-M.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3152" alt="Susan M" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Susan-M-300x282.jpg" width="300" height="282" /></a>\n\nI moved to Miami from Alabama in 1969 to work for an airline for ten years, and then bounced around the state of Florida, finally landing in Port Charlotte in 1983 in time for my two daughters to start school. My girls now live in Nashville and Jacksonville with their amazingly beautiful families. I have five grandchildren.\n\nI was ordained as a minister by Interfaith Seminary in New York and Unity International Ministries in Lee\'s Summit Missouri. It is my joy to serve as minister of Unity Church of Peace in Port Charlotte as I have for 15 years. I am now a newlywed, having married a wonderful man and fellow adventurer on this journey of life this past November.\n\nMy introduction to yoga was in the 1970s. Books by Ram Dass, Richard Hittleman, and Jess Stern inspired me to want to know more. My practice was erratic and undisciplined at best until I met a wonderful teacher in Port Charlotte in the 1990s who took me under her wing for a few months. Our paths ultimately took us in different directions, but I admire and love her to this day, as one does tend to love and admire their yoga teachers.\n\nSeven years ago my practice became the more disciplined one that I had always desired. I regularly attended classes at the YMCA where I met a beautiful yogi, Monica, who introduced me to The Yoga Sanctuary where I have been practicing for five years. Now I attended classes four days a week as my schedule permits. I enjoy level one, mixed level, and the sunrise classes.\n\nThe greatest benefit of yoga for me is that it serves as one of my most powerful spiritual practices. I look at my yoga practice as an opportunity to align body, mind, and spirit as I bring myself into each moment with the breath and set an intention of centeredness for the rest of my day. Also, I see yoga as a wellness program. My health is good and to keep it that way, my intention is to maintain a program of radical self-care in body, mind, and spirit.\n\nI very much enjoy being challenged by a posture, and it\'s interesting to watch ego rise up and try to push me into places where I know I may not, on any particular day, be ready to go. It\'s a challenge to be honest with one\'s self and to stay on one\'s own mat. That\'s a part of the practice.\n\nI suppose my favorite yoga poses change from day to day depending on what\'s going on within body and mind. Some days I think that the standing poses are my favorite, and then I very much enjoy the days when we start on our back. What keeps me coming back to yoga? It\'s my touch stone. It keeps me sane. Yoga is truly a sanctuary for me.\n\nFavorite Quote:\n\n"The day will come when, after harnessing the winds, the tides, gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love; and on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin', 'Yogi of the Month—Susan Miller', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-susan-miller', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3136', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3140, 7, '2014-03-03 13:27:28', '2014-03-03 20:27:28', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/untitled.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3141" alt="untitled" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/untitled.png" width="222" height="227" /></a>\n\nMany of us are familiar with the phrase “yin and yang.” We recognize at once the black and white symbol, which seemingly represents polar opposites. As I look at my yoga practice, I see the yin and the yang. I love Ashtanga and our Monday Level 2 class for the vigorousness and difficulty levels of those practices. This is yoga at its most yang. But I also love Yin yoga for its slower, more meditative quality and the opportunity it gives me to ground and connect to myself in a nurturing way.\n\nBut the symbol of yin and yang is not just about opposites. In Chinese Tao philosophy, the circle of the symbol represents everything. Within this <i>everything</i>, yin and yang co-exist and intertwine like spooning lovers. Yang represents the sun, heat, energy, and strength. It is maleness. Yin represents the earth, cold, matter, and passivity. It is femaleness. So all is born of this interaction—the coming together of female and male, yin and yang.\n\nIn my own practice, I know that I was totally out of balance while I practiced only Ashtanga/vinyasa power yoga. My muscles were always sore. My life at the time I began yoga was very yang. I was an attorney and I was full-on all of the time. I pushed and forced my way through each day, getting as much done as I could, trying always to win each battle, and setting aside very little time for reflection. And I was profoundly unhappy.\n\nBefore I found yin in my yoga practice, I found yin in my life. Needless to say, it wasn’t a simple slowing down—it was a full-blown crash. In the middle of a trial, I short-circuited and could barely go on. Luckily, my boss recognized this immediately and took over and finished the trial. I had been practicing law very successfully for almost 20 years, but my nerves were worn raw. I knew the jig was up and I did the only thing I knew to do. I surrendered! I resigned my job and began to try to piece together a life I could actually handle—one that included rest, taking walks, writing, spending quiet time on our farm.\n\nMy yoga practice, however, still persisted at the heart-pounding, full-sweat Ashtanga/power yoga pace. It was as if I was assuaging my guilt over not working by overworking my body. After only 18 months of practicing yoga on a regular basis, I enrolled in teacher training. In the middle of teacher training, I fell on our boat. I ended up with external fixators and pins in my wrist for almost the remainder of the training. I even showed up at yoga classes with these Frankenstein-ish bolts and screws in my arm. My teacher kindly convinced me that maybe power yoga was not where I needed to be right then.\n\nI was then introduced for the very first time to the softer side of yoga. I took a restorative class, then a Kripalu class. As I healed, I found these slower, more meditative classes took me on a journey inside my troubled self. I began to see the imbalance I had always had in my life. Thus, my yin practice was born.\n\nIn the yin and yang symbol, in the white, bright yang there is a spot of dark yin, and in the blackness of the yin there is a bright spot of yang. These spots of the enveloped opposite remind us that nothing is all yang, nor is anything all yin.', 'Yin Yang - by Annie Moore', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-anne-moore', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3140', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3190, 7, '2014-03-31 10:55:16', '2014-03-31 14:55:16', '&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=" wp-image-5549 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/baddha-sukasana-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="256" height="170" />Bhakti Yoga is the branch of devotion. It integrates a spiritual aspect to yoga. That spirituality can take the form of religion or a connection to God, nature, love, or a higher power. At its essence, Bhakti Yoga helps us to realize our connection to all that is by recognizing the part of us that is eternal. It is the ultimate surrender to the divine.\r\n\r\nBhakti is “pure, unselfish, divine love,” according to Sri Swami Sivananda. “There is not a bit of bargaining or expectation of anything here. This higher feeling is indescribable in words. It has to be sincerely experienced by the devotee.” Your yoga practice may not involve Bhakti Yoga at first, but as you get more interested in the philosophy and practice of yoga, you will likely begin to find a deeper meaning in the practice. This is the natural evolution of Bhakti Yoga. You might already be practicing Bhakti yoga, you simply didn’t have the term for it.\r\n\r\nBhakti yoga often begins with ritual, offerings, mantras, or ceremonies. The practice of all forms of yoga can involve bhakti if a sense of divine devotion is present. You might choose to offer up your yoga practice (or anything in your life, for that matter) to a higher power. You could recite a mantra that has special meaning for you. Place a picture of spiritual being in a special place where you practice or meditate, or wear mala beads to remind you of your true nature.\r\n\r\nBhakti Yoga is said to be a sweet practice that softens the heart. Perhaps you might begin to notice a deeper connection in your yoga practice—to yourself, to others, and to a higher power, whatever your interpretation. Yoga can help you to find this connection.', 'Bhakti Yoga: The Yoga of Devotion', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'bhakti-yoga', '', '', '2017-05-31 12:59:49', '2017-05-31 16:59:49', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3190', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5550, 7, '2017-05-31 12:59:49', '2017-05-31 16:59:49', '&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=" wp-image-5549 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/baddha-sukasana-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="256" height="170" />Bhakti Yoga is the branch of devotion. It integrates a spiritual aspect to yoga. That spirituality can take the form of religion or a connection to God, nature, love, or a higher power. At its essence, Bhakti Yoga helps us to realize our connection to all that is by recognizing the part of us that is eternal. It is the ultimate surrender to the divine.\r\n\r\nBhakti is “pure, unselfish, divine love,” according to Sri Swami Sivananda. “There is not a bit of bargaining or expectation of anything here. This higher feeling is indescribable in words. It has to be sincerely experienced by the devotee.” Your yoga practice may not involve Bhakti Yoga at first, but as you get more interested in the philosophy and practice of yoga, you will likely begin to find a deeper meaning in the practice. This is the natural evolution of Bhakti Yoga. You might already be practicing Bhakti yoga, you simply didn’t have the term for it.\r\n\r\nBhakti yoga often begins with ritual, offerings, mantras, or ceremonies. The practice of all forms of yoga can involve bhakti if a sense of divine devotion is present. You might choose to offer up your yoga practice (or anything in your life, for that matter) to a higher power. You could recite a mantra that has special meaning for you. Place a picture of spiritual being in a special place where you practice or meditate, or wear mala beads to remind you of your true nature.\r\n\r\nBhakti Yoga is said to be a sweet practice that softens the heart. Perhaps you might begin to notice a deeper connection in your yoga practice—to yourself, to others, and to a higher power, whatever your interpretation. Yoga can help you to find this connection.', 'Bhakti Yoga: The Yoga of Devotion', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3190-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-05-31 12:59:49', '2017-05-31 16:59:49', '', 3190, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3190-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3194, 7, '2014-03-31 11:03:45', '2014-03-31 15:03:45', '&nbsp;\n\nIn yoga, you will inevitably encounter challenging postures and movements that might even cause you to avoid them altogether. For example, you may find that Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) is extremely challenging—and you wouldn’t be alone! Those poses that are most challenging tend to be the ones we need to be doing on a regular basis.\n\nIf you change your attitude from one of avoidance to one of curiosity, you will find that the challenging parts of yoga can be your greatest teachers. When you change your perspective of challenges as a way to move through them rather than away from them, your entire practice can change.\n\nThis is also true off the mat. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is one of the best ways to grow. Embracing your vulnerabilities—on and off the mat—is a powerful practice that will help you not only get to know yourself better, but also help you to experience life in a new way.\n\nThe next time you reach that dreaded pose, instead of heading to the bathroom, adjusting your yoga pants, or staring at “that one person” who does it perfectly, find your breath and take the pose. Every. Single. Time. One day, a few weeks or a few months down the road, you will realize that your relationship to the challenge has transformed. This practice is one of the gifts of yoga. Use it on your mat, and then try it in your life.', 'What Your Challenges in Yoga Can Teach You', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'what-your-challenges-in-yoga-can-teach-you', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:35:32', '2017-02-01 23:35:32', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3194', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3197, 7, '2014-03-31 11:13:44', '2014-03-31 18:13:44', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/photo-for-staff-spotlight-April.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3198" alt="photo for staff spotlight April" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/photo-for-staff-spotlight-April-300x205.jpg" width="300" height="205" /></a>\n\n“You think too much.”\n\nI’ve been told that more than once. And you know what? The people who said it were right. I’ve always been a worrier—I worried about everything! I also have a great imagination, which, as a writer, is an asset. But I used to believe that I had to think out everything I was going to write in great detail <i>before </i>I wrote it. My mind was a very busy and rather messy place!\n\nI say “was” and “were” and “used to” because I have been working hard to change this. In retrospect, it occurs to me that all that thinking and worrying and imagining was a way of trying to control the world. It was as if I thought that by worrying enough, I could prevent bad things from happening.\n\nI think we all know that’s not how it works.\n\nThe mind is a beautiful and miraculous thing.  But the same mind that can write poetry and solve problems can also cause tremendous suffering. A beautiful mind doesn’t use our memories and imaginations to torture us with thoughts about what happened in the past or the infinite unknowns of the future.\n\nOnce I began to delve into yogic philosophy and wisdom, my eyes and mind were opened to a wonderful realization: this practice that I loved so much could also be the key to reining in my overactive mind. It could help me reduce or even eliminate the unnecessary mental suffering caused by “thinking too much,” and it could help me be more fully engaged in my life, right here, right now.\n\nI began meditating, but for a long time, I felt like I wasn’t getting the hang of it. My mind wandered. I criticized myself for not doing it “right.” More often than not, I fell asleep!\n\nWhat eventually helped me was finding a mantra —a set of gentle, loving phrases to repeat over and over. Before long, I found myself repeating them not just during my meditation time, but when falling asleep at night, upon awakening, while taking a walk, driving the car or simply sitting quietly. After a few months of this practice, I found that if my mind started to conjure up worrisome thoughts, I automatically shifted it back to my comforting phrases.\n\nI feel calmer now and more present in this life with which I’ve been blessed. I rarely worry. And as a writer, I’ve found that not thinking so much before I write allows a freer flow of creative inspiration that takes me to delightfully unexpected places. In my writing and in my daily interactions, my words, actions and responses feel more heart-centered and authentic than they did before.\n\nBefore this practice, I secretly doubted that the mind could be retrained. Of course others said it could be done, but they were yogis, gurus far more enlightened than I. They seemed to me somewhat like members of a special club with a secret password that the rest of us were not given.\n\nBut having experienced it myself, I can say with confidence that yes, we ordinary humans really can control our minds rather than letting them control us. The key was, and is, practice. <i>Diligent, almost constant practice</i>.\n\nIn his book, <i>The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</i>, Sri Swami Satchidananda writes, “As the mind, so the person; bondage or liberation are in your own mind.” I prefer liberation, so I return to this practice again and again. And again.\n\nRelevant Yoga Sutras:\n\nYoga Sutra 1.2:  Yoga is the restraint of the fluctuations of the mind.\n\nYoga Sutra 1.12: These fluctuations are restrained by practice and non-attachment.\n\nYoga Sutra 1.13: Of these, practice is effort toward steadiness of the mind.', 'A Beautiful Mind – by Melissa Goodwin', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'a-beautiful-mind-by-melissa-goodwin', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3197', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3201, 7, '2014-03-31 11:22:09', '2014-03-31 18:22:09', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/630.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3216" alt="630" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/630-270x300.jpg" width="270" height="300" /></a>\n\nBefore she passed away, I had planned for Marilyn Bunte to be our yogi of the month. So in honor of her, I’d like to share some of my memories of Marilyn as well as some memories from others at The Yoga Sanctuary.\n\nMarilyn was of my very first students when I began teaching yoga in Punta Gorda 11 years ago, well before we opened The Yoga Sanctuary. She stayed with me back then, and as soon as the studio doors opened, Marilyn was one of the first to come in. A lovely woman, she was not only a student but a friend. She was sweet, friendly, and always smiling and giving big hugs. She was very committed to the yoga community at the studio, always willing to help out and attending all the events. She was a truly a part of our yoga family.\n\nMarilyn was so much fun to be around. She made a point to include everyone, no matter what the activity. A beautiful woman, Marilyn was the type of person that you never forget. She was always “put together,” even before a yoga class! She had a warm heart and was always so thoughtful of others. We were all fortunate to be able to be a small part of her life. Marilyn will be forever missed and will always hold a space in our hearts.', 'Yogi of the Month—Marilyn Bunte', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-marilyn-bunte', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3201', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3219, 7, '2014-04-22 05:39:05', '2014-04-22 09:39:05', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/untitled.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3220" alt="untitled" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/untitled.png" width="284" height="177" /></a>\n\nAirplane flight sure takes its toll. Between waiting in line, security checks, and overbooked flights, the stress and discomfort of flying begins long before the plane ever takes off. The flight itself, however, is where the real discomfort sets in. Small seats, crowded cabins, and long flights set us up for aches and pains both during and after the flight.\n\nFortunately, you can make your next flight more comfortable with a few yoga stretches. The following sequence can be done mostly while seated with a couple added poses you can do while standing.\n\nTo begin, sit up tall in your seat. Drop your chin toward your chest to stretch the back of your neck. Then, inhale and let your chin circle up toward one shoulder. Exhale your chin back down to your chest and inhale up to the other side. Do this for a few rounds of breath. Next, sit up tall and let one ear drop toward your shoulder, stretching the side of your neck and the shoulder for a few breaths. Inhale up and exhale to the other side.\n\nNext, bend your right knee and bring the outside of your right ankle just above your left knee. This may feel like a deep stretch. If so, stay here. If not, fold forward somewhat to deepen the stretch. Stay for about 5 breaths and then switch sides.\n\nThen, from a seated position place your left hand on the outside of your right knee. Inhale and lengthen your spine and begin to twist to the right as you exhale. You can hold onto your armrest with your right hand to support the twist. Stay in the pose for about 5 breaths. Exhale back to center and repeat on the left side. Next, sitting up tall, place your hands on your knees. Inhale and roll forward on your sit bones, opening your belly and heart, and looking up. Exhale, tuck your tail, round your back, and tuck your chin. Continue this pattern, opening the front body as your inhale, and opening the back body as you exhale.\n\nFinally, cross your right arm over the left at the elbow. Bend your arms and wrap the right arm around the left until your hands meet. Draw your elbows down and outward to maximize the stretch in your shoulders and upper back. Stay for a few rounds of breath and then repeat on the left side.\n\nYou can also do a few stretches while standing, either while waiting in line for the restroom or during a momentary stand-up break. Hold onto the back of your chair for support, bend your right leg and hold your right foot behind you. Hold the stretch for a few breaths and then switch sides.\n\nNext, stand up tall and raise your arms overhead. Hold your left wrist with your right hand and shift most of your weight into your left food. Keep your weight in your left foot as you reach and stretch over to the right. Stay for a few rounds of breath. Inhale back to center and switch sides.\n\nIf you do these postures about once per hour during your flight, you will feel less stiff and sore from your travel. Print this article out or load it on your phone or tablet so you can find some relief while in the air. Bon voyage!\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yoga for Airplane Travel', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-for-airplane-travel', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:41:12', '2016-11-17 01:41:12', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3219', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3223, 7, '2014-04-26 12:20:08', '2014-04-26 16:20:08', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/eight-levels-of-raja-yoga-300x300.png"><img class="alignright wp-image-3224 size-thumbnail" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/eight-levels-of-raja-yoga-300x300-150x150.png" alt="eight-levels-of-raja-yoga-300x300" width="150" height="150" /></a>\r\n\r\nRaja Yoga is the royal branch of yoga. It is rooted in meditation, but encompasses all forms of yoga. Also known as Ashtanga Yoga, or the eight limbs of yoga, Raja yoga is a comprehensive practice with an aim of transcending the thoughts of the mind. Raja Yoga is the practice resulting in the “cessation of the fluctuations of the mind,” as laid out in Yoga Sutra I.2. To achieve this state, the eight limbs of yoga are undertaken, as follows.\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li>Yamas: Five moral restraints that involve our interactions with others: non-violence, truthfulness, moderation, non-stealing, non-covetousness.</li>\r\n 	<li>Niyamas: Five ethical observances that involve our personal practices: purity, contentment, austerity, study of sacred texts, and awareness of our divine nature.</li>\r\n 	<li>Asanas: Physical postures.</li>\r\n 	<li>Pranayama: Breath control.</li>\r\n 	<li>Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses in order to still the mind.</li>\r\n 	<li>Dharana: Concentration.</li>\r\n 	<li>Dhyana: Meditation.</li>\r\n 	<li>Samadhi: The highest state of consciousness.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nRaja yoga is the royal path—the king of yoga. You can practice Raja Yoga to quiet your own mental chatter and calm the mind, ease the body, and inspire the spirit. On your yoga mat, you practice asana and pranayama quite obviously. But you also practice pratyahara when you fix your gaze on one point during practice. In this way, you rely less on looking around or at yourself as you do actually feeling what is happening during the practice.<i>  </i>On and off the mat, you likely already engage in various yamas and niyamas.\r\n\r\nThe first five limbs require action on the part of the practitioner. The last three limbs simply arise as a result of the work put into the first five limbs. Like the branches of a tree, the eight limbs of yoga develop at the same time, but often at a different pace. Take a note of what limbs you currently practice and how your awareness has changed as a result. This is Raja Yoga.', 'Raja Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'raja-yoga', '', '', '2019-11-14 16:37:48', '2019-11-14 21:37:48', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3223', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3227, 7, '2014-04-26 12:25:14', '2014-04-26 19:25:14', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3237" alt="BG" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BG.jpg" width="270" height="187" /></a>\n\n<strong>"<em>The yogi is entitled to action only, not to the fruits of his actions</em>."  —Bhagavad Gita</strong>\n\nThe first time I read this passage I cried. Jumping to the negative interpretation, which was my habit, I understood this to mean that no matter what I did, no matter how many right actions I performed, I would not get what I really wanted in life. So why bother?  I had enough self-awareness, however, to realize that this line of thinking was not helping me. I knew I needed to reconsider. Were the scriptures really meant to frustrate and depress us? Not likely.\n\nAround the same time I encountered this passage, I noticed that there were some pretty wonderful things developing in my life—namely, my two beautiful daughters Savana and Lily. And I remembered frequently what my guru years ago had told us students over and over. "Perform your actions skillfully, selflessly, and lovingly without attachment to the results." He was reiterating what the Gita said. When I considered this in the context of my glorious job as a mom to two girls, it was so much easier to grasp.\n\nToday I am at the stage of life where I feel a lot of responsibility. My girls are teenagers and my parents, elderly. Right action can be pretty challenging, and I don\'t always see the results I am hoping for. But my meditation practice is stronger than it has ever been and, as a result, I am better able to recognize that I am not the drama of my life.\n\nIn the past year I have witnessed some remarkable events. My oldest daughter\'s soccer team played in the finals of the Division One President\'s Cup. My husband of 17 years divorced me. And my parents demonstrated large and unexpected acts of generosity. Through the ups and downs, I attempt to see all events in life as fruits—and not MY fruits. This helps be to be glad on a daily basis.', 'Staff Spotlight: Gwen Burdick', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-gwen-burdick', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3227', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3250, 7, '2014-04-30 04:58:56', '2014-04-30 11:58:56', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Yogi-of-the-mont.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3251" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Yogi-of-the-mont-224x300.jpg" alt="Yogi of the mont" width="224" height="300" /></a>\n\nI grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley, later attended college in Massachusetts and then grad school in Washington DC. After graduation I continued to work and live for 20 years in the Washington DC area. My husband Bob and I then moved here to Punta Gorda in 2001. We have a beautiful little Maltese dog named Baby (she weighs just 5 pounds) who fills out our family just wonderfully. The rest of our extended family is still in the Northeastern United States.\n\nI first started yoga in 2005 at the Punta Gorda Club with Bonnie as my teacher, but I feel that I really started in 2007 when The Yoga Sanctuary opened. Since then, I have tried to be a consistent student.\n\nIn the beginning I thought yoga would help my flexibility. I wanted to see if it would lessen my chronic lower back pain. When I first started with Bonnie at the Punta Gorda Club, it was difficult for me to even sit cross legged for just a few minutes; the lower back pain was too great. My flexibility was terrible and my hamstrings were extremely tight. After a few years, I found out that I have arthritis in my lower back. My chiropractor told me I had the back of a much older person and I that needed to get serious about things or I would find myself in deep trouble in 20 years.\n\nSo I decided to try yoga seriously, going at least 2 times a week every week that first year. I have inched my goals up to attending a yoga class on average five times a week. Now sitting thru an entire class is possible, with support, of course. I find that when I miss a few classes, my body pulls back in and I find myself with lower back pain all over again.\n\nPhysically, my balance is still pretty good. My flexibility is better than it was when I started. Also, I find an emotional lift as I stand taller after class. Things come back into perspective for me then. I also find that going to a yoga classes helps me mentally because I have to be still, be quiet, and focus only on the instructions of my teachers. This is probably the biggest benefit for me. Yoga has helped reduce my lower back and hip pain. I have also found that my pelvis is more in alignment. I do a lot of walking and aerobic exercise, and yoga is a wonderful complement to my daily routines.\n\nWhen it comes to challenges in yoga, I find that motivating myself to practice at home is an impossible task. Perhaps one day it won’t be such a challenge, but for now it is something I just cannot get myself to do, no matter how good my intentions are. I also still find forward folds to be extremely difficult. I know that I can bend my knees (Margit has given me instruction on this numerous times), but I just find it frustrating.\n\nOutside of the yoga studio, I spend a lot of time at the Visual Arts Center, working and volunteering. I also am an avid reader, and so I volunteer at the library bookstore twice a month. My yard keeps me busy as well; I am often out there in the early morning with my scissors and gardening clothes.\n\nMy favorite yoga poses are puppy pose and child’s pose. Puppy allows me to stretch my upper and middle back with no added pressure on my lower back. I get a great stretch in my chest and shoulders as well. Child’s pose allow me to breathe into and stretch my lower back without fear of injury.\n\nI keep coming back to yoga because it makes me feel better about myself and about life in general. The teachers are wonderful, Anna is the best, and the other students are fun to get to know. I love and admire all of the teachers that I have at the Yoga Sanctuary. I find I learn different things from each one of them. They all inspire me to do better and just be. The lovely part of going to class at the Yoga Sanctuary is that there is no pressure to do more than you are able to do—there is no feeling of competition. I am never made to feel badly about my own physical limitations or what I cannot do.\n\nMy favorite quote is “The road to a friend’s house is never long.” I can’t even remember where I found it, but it is how I try to live my life each and every day.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yogi of the Month—Cathy Lindenauer', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-cathy-lindenauer', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:21', '2016-11-09 00:06:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3250', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3258, 7, '2014-05-24 05:36:38', '2014-05-24 09:36:38', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-6065 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/j18-200x300.jpg" alt="japa, mala beads" width="200" height="300" />\r\n\r\nMeditation is a practice that brings about a state of mind in which the present moment is fully experienced. It can sound esoteric and even elusive, but meditation is actually very practical. Meditation helps to calm the incessant stream of thoughts flowing through the mind. That does not mean meditation is a complete lack of thoughts, however. Rather, mediation helps to clear out thoughts that are not based in the present so that we can fully experience the moment we find ourselves in.\r\n\r\nThe benefits of meditation are many. Meditation helps to calm and relax the body and mind. It helps reduce stress and inflammation. And regular meditation can lead to improved cognitive function. Meditation helps us to more clearly see the world around us, which is helpful for determining how we should respond to people and situations. Through meditation, we develop keen insight, not only about ourselves, but about the world around us.\r\n\r\nIf you have been intimidated about meditation because you think that sitting still for long periods of time sounds too difficult, rest assured—meditation does not have to be hard. In fact, it is usually best to begin easy. All you need is a comfortable place to sit. You could sit on the floor, on a cushion, or even on a chair. Find a comfortable seated position by grounding your sit bones and lengthening your spine. Let your hands lay anywhere that feels comfortable. They could be on your knees, palms up or down, or in your lap, hands folded or loose.\r\n\r\nSimply close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Notice how your breath feels and sounds. Notice how your body moves in response to your breath. Most importantly, notice when your mind wanders to other thoughts, and then guide your attention back to your breath. Even if your mind wanders over and over, as long as you bring your attention back to the breath each time it does, your practice will be a good one.\r\n\r\nBegin with a short five-minute meditation. Set a timer and sit for five minutes. Try to do that every day for a week. Notice how the practice changes from day to day. Some days you will find it easy, and other days you will find it difficult. The following week, you could try seven or ten minutes. Each week, gradually increase your time until you are meditating for at least 20 minutes each day. This simple practice will have an amazing impact on your life when you do it regularly.', 'Meditation 101', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'meditation-101', '', '', '2018-09-29 17:41:05', '2018-09-29 21:41:05', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3258', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (6066, 7, '2018-09-29 17:40:44', '2018-09-29 21:40:44', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-6065 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/j18-200x300.jpg" alt="japa, mala beads" width="200" height="300" />\r\n\r\nMeditation is a practice that brings about a state of mind in which the present moment is fully experienced. It can sound esoteric and even elusive, but meditation is actually very practical. Meditation helps to calm the incessant stream of thoughts flowing through the mind. That does not mean meditation is a complete lack of thoughts, however. Rather, mediation helps to clear out thoughts that are not based in the present so that we can fully experience the moment we find ourselves in.\r\n\r\nThe benefits of meditation are many. Meditation helps to calm and relax the body and mind. It helps reduce stress and inflammation. And regular meditation can lead to improved cognitive function. Meditation helps us to more clearly see the world around us, which is helpful for determining how we should respond to people and situations. Through meditation, we develop keen insight, not only about ourselves, but about the world around us.\r\n\r\nIf you have been intimidated about meditation because you think that sitting still for long periods of time sounds too difficult, rest assured—meditation does not have to be hard. In fact, it is usually best to begin easy. All you need is a comfortable place to sit. You could sit on the floor, on a cushion, or even on a chair. Find a comfortable seated position by grounding your sit bones and lengthening your spine. Let your hands lay anywhere that feels comfortable. They could be on your knees, palms up or down, or in your lap, hands folded or loose.\r\n\r\nSimply close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Notice how your breath feels and sounds. Notice how your body moves in response to your breath. Most importantly, notice when your mind wanders to other thoughts, and then guide your attention back to your breath. Even if your mind wanders over and over, as long as you bring your attention back to the breath each time it does, your practice will be a good one.\r\n\r\nBegin with a short five-minute meditation. Set a timer and sit for five minutes. Try to do that every day for a week. Notice how the practice changes from day to day. Some days you will find it easy, and other days you will find it difficult. The following week, you could try seven or ten minutes. Each week, gradually increase your time until you are meditating for at least 20 minutes each day. This simple practice will have an amazing impact on your life when you do it regularly.', 'Meditation 101', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3258-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-09-29 17:40:44', '2018-09-29 21:40:44', '', 3258, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3258-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3267, 7, '2014-06-01 09:13:09', '2014-06-01 13:13:09', '<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/yoga.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3268" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/yoga.jpg" alt="yoga" width="270" height="186" /></a></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Tantra yoga involves the philosophy that explains the creation and existence of the universe and everything in it. While many mistakenly believe that Tantra yoga is the practice of sexual acts in a spiritual manner, Tantra yoga actually involves “a deeper understanding of the web of life that pervades all,” according to Radjami Tigunait, spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">In Tantra, the creation of the universe as we know it is explained as an “explosion” that separated Shiva (divine consciousness) from Shakti (creative energy). Tantra yoga practices are an effort to unite the energies of Shiva and Shakti in order to understand our true nature—that we are all one. </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Tantra yoga involves practices that help to awaken the kundalini energy at the base of the spine. It travels up the spine through the chakras to the crown of the head at Sahasrara chakra, where Shiva and Shakti energy once again unite and consciousness is awoken. In this state, the individual recognizes his or her true nature. The control of prana, or pranayama, is an integral part of Tantra practice because prana controls energy flow. </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">According to Tantra, the human is a mini universe—a microcosm within the macrocosm. All that exists within the universe (the five elements—earth, water, air, fire, ether) also exists within us. Tantra’s goal is to recognize that we are all the same. Tantra philosophy views the body not as an obstacle to enlightenment, but rather as a tool to facilitate enlightenment. Tantra is “a system to lead the aspirant to pure consciousness. The entire universe is the manifestation of this consciousness and the human being is a miniature universe that parallels the whole of the external manifestation,” according to Swami Rama, founder of the Himalayan Institute.</span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Tantra yoga is a branch of yoga that helps us to understand the universe and our place in it. As with the other branches of yoga, Tantra can be practiced along with other branches of yoga. Each branch essentially leads to the same destination—a greater understanding of our true nature. </span></p>', 'Tantra Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'tantra-yoga', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:35:45', '2017-02-01 23:35:45', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3267', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3277, 7, '2014-06-28 11:49:04', '2014-06-28 18:49:04', '<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/july-yogi-of-the-month.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3278" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/july-yogi-of-the-month-168x300.jpg" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="168" height="300" /></a>\n\nThe Yoga Sanctuary—this is the place that I can just <em>be</em>. This is the place I can find silence. This is the place I make intentions. This is the place I\'m learning to meditate. This is the place I\'m allowed to have “spicy” spots. (Thanks Ms. Jennifer.) This is the place I am known. This is the place I am grateful for.\n\nI\'ve followed Bonnie since her early morning classes at the Punta Gorda Club. I had started jogging and was having some back issues. Yoga was recommended. I still jog, injury free, after all these years. I\'m just finishing the Yogi Runners series and highly recommend it to anyone who walks or runs and hopes yoga will help.\n\nI practice yoga more now that I\'ve retired from a 20-year career at Edison State College. Yoga has become a part of my daily life. I use yoga breathing when I train hard, when I\'m nervous, and even when I can\'t sleep. I\'ve gained mental clarity and a strong sense of calm as a result of a regular yoga practice.\n\nOutside of the Sanctuary, this month I am celebrating 65 years on this earth. Major celebration! I am so grateful to be healthy and feel fabulous. I am also celebrating my completion of the Master Gardeners certification last month. I find much happiness when I have my hands in the dirt.\n\nI love restorative poses as well as challenging poses, depending on my mood. Aren\'t we lucky that the Yoga Sanctuary offers classes to meet all our needs? The most difficult pose for me is the cross-legged sit. One day my hips will open, my back will become unstuck, and voilà—full lotus!\n\nI hope to attend the Yoga Journal Conference being held in Florida in November. I love asanas, but I\'m also interested in all limbs of yoga. And I\'ve forgotten to mention how great the Yoga Sanctuary workshops are. I always learn something new.\n\nI love the Nike slogan: Just do it! But Fred Devito wrote another quote I love: “If it doesn\'t challenge you, it won\'t change you.”\n\nThank you Yoga Sanctuary for being a part of my life.', 'Yogi of the Month—Mary Harder', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-mary-harder', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:20', '2016-11-09 00:06:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3277', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3282, 7, '2014-06-28 12:18:43', '2014-06-28 16:18:43', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-5646 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/hatha-300x300.png" alt="hatha yoga" width="300" height="300" />Hatha Yoga is the branch of physical yoga. The practice of Hatha Yoga brings about steady posture, health, and lightness of the body, dealing with the physical aspects of the body. Hatha Yoga is the most familiar yoga practice in the West. It is described in the classical text <em>Hatha Yoga Pradipika</em>, written by Svatmarama in the 15<sup>th</sup> century CE. The text describes asanas (postures), purifying practices, mudras (finger and hand positions), bandhas (energetic locks), and pranayama (breathing practices). Today, Hatha Yoga is considered a combination of four things: asana, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation.\r\n\r\nThe practice of yoga often begins with Hatha Yoga because the body can be a great obstacle on the path to attaining peace of mind and ultimate realization of our true nature (<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/samadhi">samadhi</a>)—that we are all one. Hatha Yoga heals and opens the body and cleanses the nervous system so that the higher limbs of yoga—<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/pratyahara">withdrawal of senses</a>, <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/dharana">concentration</a>, and <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/dharana">meditation</a>—occur without effort. For many, Hatha Yoga is the foundation upon which the yoga practice is built.\r\n\r\nThe word <em>hatha</em> means, literally, sun (<em>ha</em>) and moon (<em>tha</em>). It is the balance of opposing energies—positive and negative, soft and hard, cold and hot, receiving and giving, female and male. Asana and the accompanying pranayama make up the Hatha Yoga practice, helping to balance and unite these opposite energies within us. Hatha Yoga practice is not about attaining a perfect posture but, rather, is about finding steadiness and ease (sthira and sukha) while in the posture. This is achieved using correct breath, bandhas, and gaze (dristhi).\r\n\r\nHatha Yoga is an umbrella term under which all the different styles of yoga as we know them (hot yoga, ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, restorative yoga, etc.) are found. All of these styles of yoga incorporate asana and pranayama into the practice in different ways, hence the different styles.', 'Hatha Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'hatha-yoga', '', '\nhttp://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/samadhi', '2017-09-02 16:00:53', '2017-09-02 20:00:53', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3282', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5648, 7, '2017-09-02 16:00:53', '2017-09-02 20:00:53', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-5646 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/hatha-300x300.png" alt="hatha yoga" width="300" height="300" />Hatha Yoga is the branch of physical yoga. The practice of Hatha Yoga brings about steady posture, health, and lightness of the body, dealing with the physical aspects of the body. Hatha Yoga is the most familiar yoga practice in the West. It is described in the classical text <em>Hatha Yoga Pradipika</em>, written by Svatmarama in the 15<sup>th</sup> century CE. The text describes asanas (postures), purifying practices, mudras (finger and hand positions), bandhas (energetic locks), and pranayama (breathing practices). Today, Hatha Yoga is considered a combination of four things: asana, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation.\r\n\r\nThe practice of yoga often begins with Hatha Yoga because the body can be a great obstacle on the path to attaining peace of mind and ultimate realization of our true nature (<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/samadhi">samadhi</a>)—that we are all one. Hatha Yoga heals and opens the body and cleanses the nervous system so that the higher limbs of yoga—<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/pratyahara">withdrawal of senses</a>, <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/dharana">concentration</a>, and <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/dharana">meditation</a>—occur without effort. For many, Hatha Yoga is the foundation upon which the yoga practice is built.\r\n\r\nThe word <em>hatha</em> means, literally, sun (<em>ha</em>) and moon (<em>tha</em>). It is the balance of opposing energies—positive and negative, soft and hard, cold and hot, receiving and giving, female and male. Asana and the accompanying pranayama make up the Hatha Yoga practice, helping to balance and unite these opposite energies within us. Hatha Yoga practice is not about attaining a perfect posture but, rather, is about finding steadiness and ease (sthira and sukha) while in the posture. This is achieved using correct breath, bandhas, and gaze (dristhi).\r\n\r\nHatha Yoga is an umbrella term under which all the different styles of yoga as we know them (hot yoga, ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, restorative yoga, etc.) are found. All of these styles of yoga incorporate asana and pranayama into the practice in different ways, hence the different styles.', 'Hatha Yoga', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3282-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-09-02 16:00:53', '2017-09-02 20:00:53', '', 3282, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3282-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3285, 7, '2014-06-30 14:40:33', '2014-06-30 21:40:33', '&nbsp;\n\n<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3288" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/images1.jpg" alt="images" width="219" height="230" /></a>\n\nIn this day and age it’s easy to become jaded or disassociated with ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us. At first glance, it can sometimes feel as though each of us is alone and left to fend for ourselves as we fight our way through this crazy life. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. This feeling is one of the many reasons why coming to the mat, and getting the chance to reconnect with ourselves and the beautiful world around, us is so vital.\n\nWhen I first decided to try yoga, my focus was solely on the physical aspects (asana). At the time, I had only superficial goals. I had no idea what was in store for me when I decided to give it a try. Over time I began to realize that there was so much more to yoga than I had ever imagined. At first I felt overwhelmed, and then excited to learn as much as I could.\n\nThe many complexities that have and continue to unfold throughout this journey, both on and off the mat, are fascinating. Each angle of the practice, whether physical, emotional, philosophical, or even medicinal, weaves together to create exactly what is promised—yoga: union, oneness.\n\nOne aspect, which is very dear to my heart, is <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/karma-yoga">Karma Yoga</a> (the yoga of action, or selfless service)— paying it forward and helping to create a kinder and brighter environment. Ever since I can remember, I have been drawn to helping others and have always enjoyed volunteering, donating to worthy causes, and advocating for the voiceless. I didn’t contemplate why this was, because it simply was. I felt no attachment to an end result and wanted nothing out of it except for the satisfaction of doing it. Perhaps that was my first experience with yoga.\n\nWhen I first enrolled in The Yoga Sanctuary’s Teacher Training program and we received our syllabus, I was excited and intrigued to find that we would be volunteering time to The Animal Welfare League as part of our training. From the outside looking in, one might ask “What does this have to do with yoga or teaching people to stand in Tree Pose?” The answer: “Everything.” We are all connected and our collective energies both on and off the mat help to unite us.\n\nWe all strive for a quieter mind, a healthier body, and a more positive outlook on life. There are certainly many ways to get there, but applying Karma Yoga—both on and off the mat—is an inspiring means.\n\nThere is a sense of inner peace and harmony that comes with acts of selflessness. Suddenly, the mind feels quiet, the body feels content, and the true Self has a chance to just be. It is something that cannot be described in words. It needs to be experienced firsthand.\n\nI look forward to continuing this path alongside many of you, perhaps by exuding kindness into the world; maybe feeling inspired to volunteer time and effort to help others; or even by turning inward and sharing some of that love and support with ourselves. After all, energy is contagious. Sometimes a friendly smile is all it takes to lift someone up.\n\nImagine if each of us were to share this experience. Think of how much positive energy would be circulating through us, our community, and throughout the entire world. The thought alone fills me with peace. And that is a beautiful thing.', 'Karma Yoga: Paying it Forward by Sally Bartolotta', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-yoga-on-and-off-the-mat-with-sally', '', '\nhttp://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/karma-yoga', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3285', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3294, 7, '2014-07-12 15:45:09', '2014-07-12 19:45:09', '<img class="wp-image-6625 alignleft" src="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/breath.jpg" alt="yoga-breath" width="310" height="207" />\r\n\r\nProper breathing is what makes yoga, well, yoga. Attention to breath is what transforms mere exercises into a dynamic practice that helps us to understand our true nature. But before going too deep, let’s take a look at what it takes to breathe well during yoga practice.\r\n\r\nIt will be helpful to get acquainted with the diaphragm—the large muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. It essentially bisects the torso into two parts. This muscle is quite mobile. It has the potential to be drawn down low into the abdomen upon inhalation and pulled up into the chest cavity upon exhalation. That is, if it is called upon to do so. Unfortunately, most of us do not utilize the diaphragm to breathe, and so we lose the ability to really fill our lungs with air.\r\n\r\nThe three-part breath is the best way to experience breathing with the diaphragm. Begin seated (or reclined on your back) with your hands on your belly.\r\n\r\n<strong>Part 1.</strong> Sit up tall and relax the shoulders. Then relax the muscles of the belly. Next begin to inhale with the belly completely relaxed, and try to draw the breath down into the belly. (The breath doesn’t actually go into the belly, but the movement created by the breath does.) If you have trouble achieving this, push the belly out somewhat as you inhale to get the feeling of the movement. As you do this, take a moment to notice that you are able to fill your lower lungs with air. As you exhale, feel the belly sink back in (drawing it in if you need to in order to feel the movement).\r\n\r\n<strong>Part 2.</strong> Next, place your hands on your lower rib cage. As you inhale, feel the belly expand (part 1) followed by the rib cage opening and expanding. As you exhale, feel it sink back in. Follow this movement for a few rounds of breath, noticing how the lungs fill with air from the bottom up.\r\n\r\n<strong>Part 3.</strong>Finally, place your fingertips on your collar bone. Inhale and feel the belly expand (part 1) followed by the ribs (part 2) and finally, feel the chest rise and expand as your finish your inhale. Think about the top portion of the lungs filling with air at the end of the inhale, and think about how the exhalation empties this portion of the lungs first. Follow this movement for a few more rounds of breath.\r\n\r\nNext release your hands and sit with this three-part breath for a while, noticing how your body moves in response to the breath without having to actually feel it. This deep awareness of breath linked to movement will help you find more awareness in your yoga practice. Connect to it as often as you can.', 'Yogic Breathing 101', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogic-breathing-101', '', '', '2019-10-18 13:47:07', '2019-10-18 17:47:07', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3294', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (6627, 7, '2019-10-18 13:47:07', '2019-10-18 17:47:07', '<img class="wp-image-6625 alignleft" src="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/breath.jpg" alt="yoga-breath" width="310" height="207" />\r\n\r\nProper breathing is what makes yoga, well, yoga. Attention to breath is what transforms mere exercises into a dynamic practice that helps us to understand our true nature. But before going too deep, let’s take a look at what it takes to breathe well during yoga practice.\r\n\r\nIt will be helpful to get acquainted with the diaphragm—the large muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. It essentially bisects the torso into two parts. This muscle is quite mobile. It has the potential to be drawn down low into the abdomen upon inhalation and pulled up into the chest cavity upon exhalation. That is, if it is called upon to do so. Unfortunately, most of us do not utilize the diaphragm to breathe, and so we lose the ability to really fill our lungs with air.\r\n\r\nThe three-part breath is the best way to experience breathing with the diaphragm. Begin seated (or reclined on your back) with your hands on your belly.\r\n\r\n<strong>Part 1.</strong> Sit up tall and relax the shoulders. Then relax the muscles of the belly. Next begin to inhale with the belly completely relaxed, and try to draw the breath down into the belly. (The breath doesn’t actually go into the belly, but the movement created by the breath does.) If you have trouble achieving this, push the belly out somewhat as you inhale to get the feeling of the movement. As you do this, take a moment to notice that you are able to fill your lower lungs with air. As you exhale, feel the belly sink back in (drawing it in if you need to in order to feel the movement).\r\n\r\n<strong>Part 2.</strong> Next, place your hands on your lower rib cage. As you inhale, feel the belly expand (part 1) followed by the rib cage opening and expanding. As you exhale, feel it sink back in. Follow this movement for a few rounds of breath, noticing how the lungs fill with air from the bottom up.\r\n\r\n<strong>Part 3.</strong>Finally, place your fingertips on your collar bone. Inhale and feel the belly expand (part 1) followed by the ribs (part 2) and finally, feel the chest rise and expand as your finish your inhale. Think about the top portion of the lungs filling with air at the end of the inhale, and think about how the exhalation empties this portion of the lungs first. Follow this movement for a few more rounds of breath.\r\n\r\nNext release your hands and sit with this three-part breath for a while, noticing how your body moves in response to the breath without having to actually feel it. This deep awareness of breath linked to movement will help you find more awareness in your yoga practice. Connect to it as often as you can.', 'Yogic Breathing 101', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3294-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-10-18 13:47:07', '2019-10-18 17:47:07', '', 3294, 'https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/3294-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3323, 7, '2014-07-26 16:32:49', '2014-07-26 20:32:49', '<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3324" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/index-300x96.jpg" alt="index" width="300" height="96" />\n\nThe doshas are the three mind-body constitutions. According to Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old sister science to yoga, there are five elements that make up everything in the universe: earth, water, air, fire, and space. These elements, in different combinations, make up each of the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nJust as the five elements make up the doshas in different combinations, we, ourselves, are made up of the doshas in different combinations. Vatta is mostly air and space; pitta is mostly fire with air and water influences, and kapha is mostly earth and water. Most people have one or two predominant doshas, although some people (not many) are balanced across all three.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA vata predominant person is always on the move, physically and mentally. They constantly have new ideas, but have trouble following through. They tend to be energetic, yet introverted and usually have a lean physique.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA pitta predominant person is firey in every way. Their bodies tend to run warm, and their tempers can be equally hot. Pittas have a big appetite and excellent digestion. They are often intellectual thinkers, and usually have a strong, muscular body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA kapha predominant person, in contrast with vata, is a slow mover, physically and mentally. They are most comfortable staying put, and can have trouble with motivation. Kaphas are the most content and loving of the three dosha types. They tend to gain weight easily and usually have curvy figures.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOver the next four months, we will cover each dosha in more detail. You will learn about dosha imbalances and how bring them back into balance, how to eat for your dosha, and what yoga practice is best for your dosha type. The best way to determine your dosha is to consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner, who can most accurately determine your predominant doshas. Alternately, there are online quizzes, <a href="https://yogainternational.com/article/view/dosha-quiz">like this one</a>, available that can estimate your dosha type for you.', 'The Three Doshas', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'the-three-doshas', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:16:28', '2016-11-09 00:16:28', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3323', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3326, 3, '2014-07-26 16:39:01', '2014-07-26 20:39:01', '<img class="alignnone wp-image-3334 size-medium" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/yogi-e1406719574635-225x300.jpg" alt="yogi" width="225" height="300" />\n\nBefore I moved to Florida in January of 1996, I retired from Human Services as a caseworker, a career in which some days were greatly gratifying and others a true heartbreaker. My husband Bob and I married in November of 1995 after having known each other for 24 years. We bought our first home in Florida while on our honeymoon.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy first try at yoga was an attempt of self-taught yoga with a book. That didn\'t last long. My next attempt was when I joined Bonnie at her old yoga studio. For the first couple of years I only practiced gentle yoga due to pain and a couple of surgeries. Since Bonnie opened her new Yoga Sanctuary, I have become a regular student.\n\nAfter my back surgery, I wanted to get into yoga more regularly to help me regain lost strength, acquire knowledge for improved breathing (for my asthma and emphysema), and to help my balance. I had a compressed nerve for a year before my back surgery which caused nerve damage. Luckily I did have some nerve rejuvenation with the aid of medication and my gentle yoga. The stretching in class was a tremendous boost to my recovery.\n\nI attend 4 to 6 classes a week, unless it\'s September when we do the yoga challenge—what fun! I enjoy level one, gentle, yin, and just recently started mixed. I also like to do meditation and restorative. My biggest challenge is still balance. My yoga instructors are such a beautiful blend of their differences. They each have a very calming effect on their students and they have all been a huge inspiration to me.\n\nWhen I\'m not on the mat, my favorite place is the beach. I love the water. When I\'m not at yoga or on the beach, I stay busy trying to help my best friend who no longer drives due to her diabetes. I have also been honored by being asked to be a deacon at my church. My flock keeps me busy with cards, extended communion, or whatever else is needed.\n\nI have two biological sons. My older son, Lance passed away in 2012. My youngest son Shawn lives in Boston with his wife Satya. My "bonus" son Jeff lives in Sarasota with his wife Lisa and my two youngest grand kids, Olivia and Jack. My "bonus" daughter Jen lives in Virginia with her husband Brent and my oldest grandson Jeffrey. Their daughter Brittany goes to college in Toledo, Ohio. My husband and I are so very blessed.\n\nA couple of my favorite poses are Downward Facing Dog and Plank. They just feel good and enable me to feel my own strength. I try to live by my own theory. If I\'m not where I want to be, doing what I want to do, when I want to do it, then I must be where I\'m needed.', 'Yogi of the Month—Darlene Nuckols', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-darlene-nuckols', '', '', '2016-11-10 20:33:44', '2016-11-11 01:33:44', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3326', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3328, 7, '2014-07-26 16:51:33', '2014-07-26 23:51:33', '<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3329" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/1391360224-300x199.jpg" alt="1391360224" width="300" height="199" />\n\nBefore taking yoga teacher training, I had never used the words <em>surrender</em> or <em>non-attachment</em>. These particular words peaked my interest, however, when I came to realize that they could change my life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI would never have labeled myself as controlling, but I would have labeled myself as stubborn. This quality has made my life frustrating and irritating at times, causing worry, anger, etc. In my mind I always had a vision of how things should be—at work, in relationships, in families—but my vision and reality were two completely different roads, and I felt a bit lost at times.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYoga philosophy has taught me to surrender, detach, and let go. Detachment has a connotation of carelessness, but it simply means being in the present moment. It means being aware of everything around you, yet not attached to any particular outcome or emotion that arises as a result. It means you no longer stand in <em>avidya</em>, or ignorance, seeing life from only your point of view. Instead, you open your mind to the many perspectives and realities that cross your path.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLetting go involves release of a need to control the details of life. It means being in the present moment—no matter the circumstances—with full awareness and gratitude. By practicing non-attachment to people, things, ideas, thoughts, jobs, and routines each day, you learn to accept that “things are as they are.” You realize that you have the choice to react or not, get irritated or not, get angry or not. The only things you can truly control are your thoughts, actions, and words.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith consistent practice of letting go and non-attachment you begin to feel peace within. With surrender, you are more able to connect to this peace, which brings clarity and ease into life, a flow of giving and receiving love.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor more in-depth information, read <em>Living Your Yoga</em> by Judith Lasater, chapters 3 and 12, and Yoga Sutras 1:12 and 2:7-8.', 'Learn to Surrender by Melissa Meehan', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'learn-to-surrender-by-melissa-meehan', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3328', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3347, 7, '2014-08-29 06:04:19', '2014-08-29 13:04:19', '<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3346" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/staff-spotlight-september.jpg" alt="staff spotlight september" width="275" height="183" /></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">An important lesson that I have learned since beginning my yoga practice in 2005 is that it’s best to not overdo, overthink, or over plan, but instead to go back to the roots of existence, to the rules of nature, and to feel one with what really matters. It’s what we mean when we hear or say, “Take a breath”—slow down and take your life one moment at a time. In my teacher training at Rishikesh Yog Peeth in India this summer I heard my teacher say, “Being enlightened is being completely present in the present moment.” It seems so simple, but yet so hard with our Western mindset of improving our multitasking skills. </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Learning from nature is the foundation of the development of the yoga practice. It really appeals to me—starting the day with asana practice at sunrise, calming down as the day winds down with meditation practice at sunset, keeping up with the rhythm of the seasons in what we eat and how we maintain our space and body. Have you ever seen a stressed out bumble bee, frustrated flower, or an aggravated moon? </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Everything in nature has its place and time, its flow and order. You are a part of that order and flow, so slow down and feel the connection. Keep it simple. Make a clear path to recognize stillness between the asanas. Pause between breaths, and find space between thoughts. Yoga, the tradition deeply rooted in observing nature, teaches us that. </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Once we are in a steady and comfortable posture, we have time for dhyana (meditation) that connects our individual consciousness with universal consciousness. Once we make a pause between inhalation and exhalation, we truly practice pranayama that nourishes our nervous and endocrine systems, the core of health in the body. When we create space between thoughts, we are truly present in the present moment, and each of us becomes a Buddha, enlightened, even if for just a short time. </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">We are better with less—less anger, less stress, less attachment, less cravings, less doubt. Open space will be available for inward work, reflection, and extension of that inner true self.</span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Keeping it simple, but true to the universal (yamas) and personal (niyamas) ethical practices, we create space and time for valuable relationships, irreplaceable memories, and a kind, healthy, and happy lifestyle. We keep worries away, as there is no need for worries that do not help our situation. We keep health and peace within and without. We ride the wave of balance and abundance that is out there, knowing that what is needed will be provided. We enjoy life today!</span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>\n<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Yoga practice and the infinite knowledge of other Indian philosophies teach us to keep asking what, why, when, and how, and to remember that for each question there is an answer. Ask your question and wait—be patient. Instant gratification is the mistake of the modern world, so take a breath and open your heart to receive an answer.</span></p>', 'Keep it Simple by Anna Martin', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'keep-it-simple-by-anna-martin', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3347', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3349, 7, '2014-08-29 06:09:49', '2014-08-29 13:09:49', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3350" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/yogi-of-the-month-e1409317725420-225x300.jpg" alt="yogi of the month" width="225" height="300" />\n\nI was born in California and raised in a military family, the oldest of three kids. My father was an officer in the Air Force, and we had the great experiences of traveling and living throughout the United States and Europe. I moved to Punta Gorda 14 years ago with my two children, Maggie and Ryan, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, looking for a new adventure. Being the older, bossy sister that I am, I persuaded my two younger brothers to join us in Florida. My parents are still in Albuquerque, for the time being, until I can hopefully persuade them to move here also. So if I had to call a place other than Punta Gorda my home, Albuquerque would be it. I met my husband Douglas through work many years ago and in March we celebrated six happy years of marriage. He also has two boys, so our house has been very loud at times when everyone is at home.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI first tried yoga at the PGI Civic Association when I moved to Punta Gorda, but I never had a consistent practice until I came to The Yoga Sanctuary three years ago. Working as a salon owner and hair stylist, I have a very physical job being on my feet most of the day working with clients. I feel yoga is a great way to balance the physical and mental aspects of my career.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI don\'t have the discipline to do yoga on my own, so I try to make it to The Yoga Sanctuary for classes at least three times a week, sometimes more if my work schedule allows it. I think I have tried all the classes at The Yoga Sanctuary at one time or another, but I am an early bird and really enjoy the Sunrise Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. It is a great way to start the day with the sun just rising in the quiet of the morning.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen I first came to the Yoga Sanctuary, I had just been diagnosed with rather painful arthritis in my hips, most likely from the years of working on my feet. Trying to not be dependent on medication to ease the discomfort, I went to physical therapy and then continued my "therapy" with yoga.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSome of the greatest benefits of practicing yoga are, first, the obvious physical ones: strength, flexibility, and ease of discomfort in my joints. The benefits continue with the not-so-obvious-from-the-outside ones: a sense of calmness and less whirring of activity in my brain, especially when we do alternate nostril breathing. That is really cool.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYoga has changed my health and life by giving me a sense of wholeness. I enjoy the physical challenges, the quiet atmosphere, and the strength my body has gained. I have also lost over 20 pounds these past three years In part to being more mindful of what my body needs (or doesn’t need). If my dinner choice involves a drive-thru, it\'s probably not the best for my body!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSome of the challenges I face are just part of being human. I need a push once in a while when I get complacent. I try not to compare, and I am getting better at that. I like that The Yoga Sanctuary doesn\'t have mirrors. When my husband and I went on a cruise last year and I took a yoga class in the mirrored gym, I saw what my mirrored-self looked like vs. the mental image of myself. Ha-ha! I just had to laugh at my thinking and I\'m going to try and stay focused on the mental image of my true self! Also, being focused and staying in the moment can be a big challenge for me—making my grocery list while resting in Savasana is not ideal. It is progress, not perfection, though.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy favorite place right now outside of the Yoga Sanctuary is being at home on our mini farm. This year we have raised a dozen chicks that are now sharing with us their fresh eggs. We also have six Nigerian dwarf goats with one mama goat that possibly has babies on the way. This is in addition to our three dogs and one hamster. I really enjoy sitting outside, being surrounded by these creatures and feeding them by hand. All of the animals have names and are like pets to us. When I am surrounded by this beauty, I have the greatest sense peace with the world and myself.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSome of my favorite poses, because I don\'t have just one, are wide-legged forward folds because they feel so good in stretching my lower back, and I also like Pigeon Pose. I remember the first time I really got into Pigeon Pose, it was such an emotional release for me; tears ran down my face. It just seems to squeeze out the bad stuff in my body, both physically and emotionally. And of course, I really like Savasana!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat keeps me coming back to yoga is the routine that I am comfortable with and the not knowing what to expect when I get there. All of the teachers are amazing, and each is unique and blessed in the gifts that they have to offer their students and the community. I am continually inspired by the other yogis at The Sanctuary and their personal stories of victory.\n\nFavorite quote: Rule 62, "Don\'t take yourself too seriously."', 'Yogi of the Month—Colleen Hope', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-colleen-hope', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:20', '2016-11-09 00:06:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3349', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3352, 7, '2014-08-29 07:00:16', '2014-08-29 14:00:16', '<img class="wp-image-5684 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/vata-300x292.jpeg" alt="" width="250" height="243" />Vata dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements air and space. People who have a dominant vata dosha tend to be on the move, energetic, and always seeking new experiences. Like air and space, vatas are difficult to pin down. They always come up with new ideas, and have an optimistic viewpoint of life in general. They are talkative, impulsive, and excitable. They can also be touchy, moody, and restless.\r\n\r\nPhysically, vata dosha types tend to be slim with angular features and dry skin. Vatas are often cold when others are not. Their appetite is irregular and digestion is sensitive. They crave sour, salty, and acidic foods. Emotionally, they easily experience anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.\r\n\r\nWhen vata is in excess, a person may experience insomnia, restlessness, or have an inability to listen. Constipation, diarrhea, or gas and bloating may exist as well as excessively dry skin. Nervousness, anxiety, and scattered thoughts are common when vata is out of balance.\r\n\r\nThere are a number of practices that can help to balance vata. A yoga practice that is grounding, with plenty of standing poses, is helpful. The warming effects of vinyasa yoga are beneficial for vata imbalance. The calming effect of ujjayi breathing is also beneficial for vata types. Sticking with one particular practice or teacher can also be helpful for vata imbalances.\r\n\r\nAn excellent mantra for vata types is the Ganesha mantra: Om gam ganapataye namaha (Om Ganesha, the remover of obstacles). Repeating this mantra during meditation is a healing practice for vata imbalance.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to diet, balancing vata dosha involves eating foods that are pungent, sour, salty, and sweet while reducing bitter and astringent foods. Reducing vegetables that are more difficult to digest, such as beans, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, is recommended. Increasing consumption of ginger, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, sea salt, mustard, and black pepper will be helpful. Eliminating coffee and alcohol is best for vata imbalance.\r\n\r\nWhether your dosha is vata dominant or vata-pitta dominant, many of the practices that help to balance vata will be helpful to you at some point. Take time to notice your own tendencies and do what you can to balance your doshas when you notice an imbalance. You may find that you understand yourself more because of this practice.\r\n\r\nA vata predominant person is always on the move, physically and mentally. They constantly have new ideas, but have trouble following through. They tend to be energetic, yet introverted and usually have a lean physique.', 'Vata Dosha', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'vata-dosha', '', '', '2017-10-03 15:36:33', '2017-10-03 19:36:33', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3352', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3358, 7, '2014-09-16 16:05:07', '2014-09-16 23:05:07', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3359" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/untitled.png" alt="untitled" width="200" height="150" />\r\n\r\nThe number 108 is considered an auspicious, or sacred, number. For this reason there are 108 beads on a japa mala, or prayer garland. It is why many people do 108 sun salutations on summer and winter solstice. During our chanting for peace at The Yoga Sanctuary this month, we recognize the significance of 108.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhy 108? As it turns out, the number 108 shows up again in again in mathematics, nature, and in yoga. Just a few of many examples follow:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMathematically, 1 to the first power is 1, 2 to the second power is 4, and 3 to the third power is 27; 1 x 4 x 27 = 108. 108 is also divisible by the sum of its digits (1 + 0 + 8 = 9; 108 divided by 9 = 12.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn nature, we see that the diameter of the sun in 108 times that of the earth, and the distance from the sun to the earth is 108 times the diameter of the sun. The average distance of the moon from the earth is 108 times the diameter of the moon.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn yoga we see that at the heart chakra converge 108 energy lines, or nadis. In Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga, there are 108 marma points, or energy points, on the body. And in the Sanskrit alphabet, the sacred language of yoga, there are 54 letters, each with a masculine and feminine (Shiva and Shakti) version; 54 x 2 = 108. There are 108 Upanishads, or Vedic texts, 17 of which discuss yoga.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe number 108 also shows up in eastern religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism all regard 108 as a sacred number. The numbers 9 and 12 are also thought to be sacred (12 x 9 = 108.) Tuning into the power of this number is a great way to connect to nature, or to our source.', 'Auspicious 108', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'auspicious-108', '', '', '2016-11-18 14:24:52', '2016-11-18 19:24:52', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3358', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3362, 7, '2014-09-30 04:50:44', '2014-09-30 08:50:44', '<img class="wp-image-5682 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/pitta-300x292.jpeg" alt="dosha" width="248" height="241" />Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements fire and water. People who have a dominant pitta dosha tend to be intense, responsive, sociable, and knowledgeable. They can also be judgemental, critical, and fanatic. They have strong opinions, are not afraid to speak their mind, and have a strong intellect.\r\n\r\nPhysically, pitta dosha types tend to be of medium build and medium weight. They have smooth features and oily skin. Pittas, being made up of the element fire, tend to often feel hot. Of all three doshas, pittas have the strongest digestion, also due to the fire element. There are not many foods that pitta types cannot eat. They crave sweet, bitter, and astringent foods. Emotionally, they are quick to feel anger, hate, and jealousy.\r\n\r\nWhen pitta is in excess, a person will feel anger, hostility, and judgment. They will be argumentative, controlling, and experience intolerance of delays. Inflammation, infections, fever, acne, and excessive hunger or thirst may exist. Intolerance of heat, bloodshot eyes, and migraines are common when pitta is out of balance.\r\n\r\nThere are a number of practices that can help to balance pitta. A yoga practice that is not too straining in nature is best. Lengthening of the ujjayi exhalation helps to cool the body and mind. For pitta dominant types, it is important to let go of attaining a perfect practice or pose. Surrendering to the teacher’s instruction without self-judgment is crucial. Finding steadiness and ease can be a particular challenge for pittas.\r\n\r\nAn excellent mantra for pitta types is: Lokah samastah sukinoh bhavantu (May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute to that happiness and to that freedom for all). Repeating this mantra during meditation is a healing practice for pitta imbalance.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to diet, balancing pitta dosha involves eating foods that are bitter, sweet, and astringent while reducing pungent, salty, and sour foods. Reducing “hot” foods such as tomatoes, peppers, radishes, black pepper, cloves, mustard, and table salt is best. Increasing consumption of coriander, cumin, fennel, and cinnamon along with cool foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits will be helpful. Eliminating coffee and alcohol is best.\r\n\r\nWhether your dosha is pitta dominant, vata-pitta dominant, or pitta-kapha dominant, many of the practices that help to balance pitta will be helpful to you at some point. By noticing your own tendencies, you will be better able to do what you can to balance your doshas when you find an imbalance. You will likely find that you understand yourself more because of this practice.', 'Pitta Dosha', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'pitta-dosha', '', '', '2017-10-03 15:32:10', '2017-10-03 19:32:10', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3362', 0, 'post', '', 1); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5683, 7, '2017-10-03 15:32:10', '2017-10-03 19:32:10', '<img class="wp-image-5682 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/pitta-300x292.jpeg" alt="dosha" width="248" height="241" />Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements fire and water. People who have a dominant pitta dosha tend to be intense, responsive, sociable, and knowledgeable. They can also be judgemental, critical, and fanatic. They have strong opinions, are not afraid to speak their mind, and have a strong intellect.\r\n\r\nPhysically, pitta dosha types tend to be of medium build and medium weight. They have smooth features and oily skin. Pittas, being made up of the element fire, tend to often feel hot. Of all three doshas, pittas have the strongest digestion, also due to the fire element. There are not many foods that pitta types cannot eat. They crave sweet, bitter, and astringent foods. Emotionally, they are quick to feel anger, hate, and jealousy.\r\n\r\nWhen pitta is in excess, a person will feel anger, hostility, and judgment. They will be argumentative, controlling, and experience intolerance of delays. Inflammation, infections, fever, acne, and excessive hunger or thirst may exist. Intolerance of heat, bloodshot eyes, and migraines are common when pitta is out of balance.\r\n\r\nThere are a number of practices that can help to balance pitta. A yoga practice that is not too straining in nature is best. Lengthening of the ujjayi exhalation helps to cool the body and mind. For pitta dominant types, it is important to let go of attaining a perfect practice or pose. Surrendering to the teacher’s instruction without self-judgment is crucial. Finding steadiness and ease can be a particular challenge for pittas.\r\n\r\nAn excellent mantra for pitta types is: Lokah samastah sukinoh bhavantu (May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute to that happiness and to that freedom for all). Repeating this mantra during meditation is a healing practice for pitta imbalance.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to diet, balancing pitta dosha involves eating foods that are bitter, sweet, and astringent while reducing pungent, salty, and sour foods. Reducing “hot” foods such as tomatoes, peppers, radishes, black pepper, cloves, mustard, and table salt is best. Increasing consumption of coriander, cumin, fennel, and cinnamon along with cool foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits will be helpful. Eliminating coffee and alcohol is best.\r\n\r\nWhether your dosha is pitta dominant, vata-pitta dominant, or pitta-kapha dominant, many of the practices that help to balance pitta will be helpful to you at some point. By noticing your own tendencies, you will be better able to do what you can to balance your doshas when you find an imbalance. You will likely find that you understand yourself more because of this practice.', 'Pitta Dosha', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3362-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-03 15:32:10', '2017-10-03 19:32:10', '', 3362, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3362-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3371, 7, '2014-10-01 05:29:48', '2014-10-01 12:29:48', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3372" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/staff-spotlight-204x300.jpg" alt="staff spotlight" width="204" height="300" />\n\nI began yoga in 2002 as I was finishing my master\'s degree and found myself very much stressed and increasingly gaining weight. A friend recommended yoga and gave me some VHS tapes to get me started. I spent over a year with Brian Kest Power Yoga tapes and Yoga Journal magazines learning about yoga—these were my companions as I transitioned from school to work and living in a new location where I knew no one. Eventually I found a yoga studio to practice at, and my desire to continue learning about yoga continued. My outlook on life has changed in so many ways as a result of yoga. I have found a confidence in myself and an acceptance of who I am.\n\nI love the outdoors and enjoy spending time outside. Some of my favorite activities are kayaking, walking, hiking, biking, sailing, reading, and sewing. I am also passionate about my work as an environmental consultant where I am lucky enough to work on projects that help to protect and restore our local environment.\n\nI love a good adventure, a road trip, exploring off-the-beaten-path areas, and boating in areas more or less untouched by people. I have always found spirituality in nature. Over the past couple of years I have been exploring more spiritually, and just over the past couple of months have established a regular meditation practice. In the past I enjoyed meditation but was never able to make it a regular practice. As with other things in my life, I have found you cannot force changes, but they will come in time when you are ready.\n\nI originally began teaching nine years ago after doing a short teacher training program as a way to deepen my understanding of yoga. I enjoyed teaching for several years and sharing my love of yoga with others. As a teacher I am very aware of the differences between individuals. No two individuals will experience a practice the same way because we all bring to the mat a unique body and past experiences. I hope to teach in a way that honors these differences.\n\nI recently completed a 200-hour Kripalu teacher training, a first step towards my goal of being able to offer yoga as therapy for people facing chronic health problems. Helping my mom as she lived through the realities of cancer made me realize that this was the direction I wanted to take my life. The greatest gift teaching has given me is the ability to help others feel a sense of peace and connection in this oftentimes hurried and disconnected world.\n\nFavorite book: Although difficult to choose, my oldest favorite is <em>I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings</em> by Maya Angelou\n\nFavorite food: homemade pizza\n\nFavorite yoga pose: Legs up the wall. I often use this pose as a counter to other activities—after a long walk or bike ride it feels great!\n\nMost challenging yoga pose: Shoulderstand', 'Staff Spotlight—Jaime Boswell', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-jaime-boswell', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3371', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3374, 7, '2014-10-01 05:38:34', '2014-10-01 12:38:34', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3375" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Yogi-of-the-Month-Sue-Reeves-222x300.jpg" alt="Yogi of the Month - Sue Reeves" width="222" height="300" />\n\nI was born and raised in Wheaton, IL as a fifth generation Irish Catholic. My mother still lives there. I have two brothers and a wonderful husband of 36 years, Paul. I unexpectedly retired from the telecommunication industry after 32 years of service due to multiple sclerosis (MS).\n\nI started practicing yoga in the early 80s to relieve job stress and the tolls of everyday life in the fast lane. I was really looking for a way to clear my mental "sludge." I practice yoga daily albeit not an entire segment at a time due to some physical constraints.\n\nI have been taking private lessons at The Yoga Sanctuary for six years. I first studied under Bonnie and then ultimately with Jennifer. They are both so totally amazing and provide a non-structured practice with me weekly depending upon the condition of my MS at the time. They both think quickly on their feet, and we always have an interesting practice as a result.\n\nBefore I started practicing yoga, I could never shut off my mind while climbing the corporate ladder. I learned how to breathe and meditate to calm myself while increasing my overall flexibility and mobility. I was an athlete growing up, so yoga seemed like a natural progression into the adult, meditative, heal "thyself" world.\n\nFor me today, my greatest yoga benefit is the ability to learn how to move and manage my MS spasticity and pain. Jennifer and Bonnie have shown me how to do this successfully. I honestly feel that I would not be able to manage my disease as naturally as I do without using yoga in my daily life. It not only improves my movement issues, but greatly calms my mind as well. When my father was losing his battle with Alzheimer\'s, yoga was the only thing, along with my faith, that got me calmly and emotionally through that time.\n\nOf course, I continue to face daily challenges with my MS. However, continuing my yoga journey is a large, satisfying challenge too. I feel exhilarated when I am able to accomplish new and/or difficult moves. Jennifer will tell you that I am always concerned with my posture correctness! Probably my biggest challenge is working with my new service dog, Crystal. She comes to my private lessons and helps me to move around and keeps a watchful eye on my yogi so she doesn\'t hurt me!\n\nYoga inspires me and makes me appreciate my level of wellness. I could not accomplish this journey or have come so far without Bonnie, Jennifer, and Anna. I thank them all and love them dearly.\n\nOutside of yoga, I am very active in non-profit fundraising in the community. I am an MS mentor for several organizations and doctors. I also support the fundraising and training of New Horizon Service Dogs.\n\nMy favorite pose is Downward Facing Dog. I love it because my dog Crystal does it so well and I cannot!\n\nFavorite quote: “Try to be the rainbow in someone\'s cloud.” —Maya Angelou\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yogi of the Month—Sue Reeves', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-sue-reeves', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:20', '2016-11-09 00:06:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3374', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3378, 7, '2014-10-14 08:06:46', '2014-10-14 12:06:46', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3329" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/1391360224-300x199.jpg" alt="1391360224" width="300" height="199" />\r\n\r\nAs we get more and more familiar with the physical practice of yoga, we find that we can more easily move into and out of the postures without having to think about them so much, or without having to look around at what the postures should look like. We begin to integrate them into our bodies in a way that helps us to deepen the practice. After a while, certain poses become almost second nature. We simply take the posture when its name is called.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen we reach this place in the practice, we start to feel, to some extent, like we know what we are doing. As with learning anything new, as we gain proficiency, we feel accomplished. Once we think we have “mastered” a pose, our attitude about it can become rigid. We no longer seek to understand the pose, because we already know it. This phenomenon may not be something you have noticed, but it happens to us all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe best way to see your practice in a new way is to cultivate a beginner’s mind. Be curious about your practice, even if it’s the same practice you have done for many years. Take the time to really listen to your teacher. Follow each cue as though you didn’t already know it. Remember what it was like when you began this practice and you had to really pay attention to understand what you were doing. Then apply that same attention to your practice today.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBy reconnecting to a beginner’s mind, yet built upon the foundational knowledge you have already gained, you will find that your practice takes on a whole new feel. Try to experience each posture as new. Feel each breath as though you are still “working on it.” Remember that this practice never ends. There is always more to learn, more to incorporate, and more to understand. And as we understand more about the practice, we understand more about ourselves.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Cultivate a Beginner’s Mind', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'cultivate-a-beginners-mind', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:40:41', '2017-02-01 23:40:41', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3378', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3382, 7, '2014-11-03 06:25:54', '2014-11-03 13:25:54', '<img class="wp-image-5678 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/kapha-300x292.jpeg" alt="dosha" width="231" height="225" />Kapha dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements earth and water. People who have a dominant kapha dosha tend to be passive, peaceful, calm, and consistent. They can also be lethargic and stubborn. They are deliberate in their actions and are very loving.\r\n\r\nPhysically, kapha dosha types tend to be of larger build and may be overweight or have difficulty losing weight. They have big, beautiful features and voluptuous bodies. Of all three doshas, kaphas are most likely to suffer conditions that involve congestion, mucus, and swelling. Kapha types tend to crave sweet foods and can easily overeat. Emotionally, they tend toward depression.\r\n\r\nWhen kapha is in excess, a person will feel depressed and possessive. They will be stubborn and can develop greediness. Sinus infections, colds, chest congestion, asthma, and cysts are common when kaphas are out of balance. They will also have difficulty finding motivation.\r\n\r\nThere are a number of practices that can help to balance kapha. A yoga practice that helps cultivate joy is best for kaphas, who are challenged to commit to a regular practice. Particular focus on the end of each asana, or posture, will be helpful. Maintaining the integrity of the pose from beginning to end helps kaphas feel more accomplished in the practice. Maintaining a mindset of devotion, or Bhakti, will help keep kaphas coming back to the mat.\r\n\r\nAn excellent mantra for kapha types is: Asato ma sadgamaya; Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya; Mrtyorma amrtam gamaya (Lead me from untruth to truth; Lead me from darkness to light; Lead me from death to immortality). Repeating this mantra during meditation is a healing practice for kapha imbalance.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to diet, balancing kapha dosha involves eating foods that are bitter and astringent while reducing sweet, salty, and sour foods. Reducing mucus-generating foods, such as dairy and wheat is best. Also, reduction of sweet, heavy fruits and salt is recommended. Increasing consumption of lighter grains, green leafy vegetables, berries, as well as basil, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves (chai tea!), cumin, and ginger will be helpful. Kaphas are the one dosha group that can best tolerate moderate amounts of coffee and alcohol.\r\n\r\nWhether your dosha is kapha dominant or kapha-pitta dominant, many of the practices that help to balance kapha will be helpful to you at some point. By noticing your own tendencies, you will be better able to do what you can to balance your doshas when you find an imbalance. You will likely find that you understand yourself more because of this practice.', 'Kapha Dosha', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'kapha-dosha', '', '', '2017-10-03 15:40:23', '2017-10-03 19:40:23', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3382', 0, 'post', '', 1); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5680, 7, '2017-10-03 15:22:37', '2017-10-03 19:22:37', '<img class=" wp-image-5678" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/kapha-300x292.jpeg" alt="dosha" width="231" height="225" />\r\n\r\nKapha dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements earth and water. People who have a dominant kapha dosha tend to be passive, peaceful, calm, and consistent. They can also be lethargic and stubborn. They are deliberate in their actions and are very loving.</div>\r\nPhysically, kapha dosha types tend to be of larger build and may be overweight or have difficulty losing weight. They have big, beautiful features and voluptuous bodies. Of all three doshas, kaphas are most likely to suffer conditions that involve congestion, mucus, and swelling. Kapha types tend to crave sweet foods and can easily overeat. Emotionally, they tend toward depression.\r\n\r\nWhen kapha is in excess, a person will feel depressed and possessive. They will be stubborn and can develop greediness. Sinus infections, colds, chest congestion, asthma, and cysts are common when kaphas are out of balance. They will also have difficulty finding motivation.\r\n\r\nThere are a number of practices that can help to balance kapha. A yoga practice that helps cultivate joy is best for kaphas, who are challenged to commit to a regular practice. Particular focus on the end of each asana, or posture, will be helpful. Maintaining the integrity of the pose from beginning to end helps kaphas feel more accomplished in the practice. Maintaining a mindset of devotion, or Bhakti, will help keep kaphas coming back to the mat.\r\n\r\nAn excellent mantra for kapha types is: Asato ma sadgamaya; Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya; Mrtyorma amrtam gamaya (Lead me from untruth to truth; Lead me from darkness to light; Lead me from death to immortality). Repeating this mantra during meditation is a healing practice for kapha imbalance.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to diet, balancing kapha dosha involves eating foods that are bitter and astringent while reducing sweet, salty, and sour foods. Reducing mucus-generating foods, such as dairy and wheat is best. Also, reduction of sweet, heavy fruits and salt is recommended. Increasing consumption of lighter grains, green leafy vegetables, berries, as well as basil, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves (chai tea!), cumin, and ginger will be helpful. Kaphas are the one dosha group that can best tolerate moderate amounts of coffee and alcohol.\r\n\r\nWhether your dosha is kapha dominant or kapha-pitta dominant, many of the practices that help to balance kapha will be helpful to you at some point. By noticing your own tendencies, you will be better able to do what you can to balance your doshas when you find an imbalance. You will likely find that you understand yourself more because of this practice.', 'Kapha Dosha', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3382-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-10-03 15:22:37', '2017-10-03 19:22:37', '', 3382, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3382-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3385, 7, '2014-11-03 06:30:33', '2014-11-03 13:30:33', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3386" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/yogi-of-the-month-200x300.jpg" alt="yogi of the month" width="200" height="300" />\n\nThis month, we are honoring Jane Eckles, who recently passed away, as our yogi of the month. Jane has been a part of The Yoga Sanctuary for quite some time. She was kind and compassionate, and always interested in others. She loved her family and really enjoyed her time at the lake with her grandchildren. She was always an inspiration, full of joy, and had the spunky energy of someone half her age.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“She would wisk into class with her hair done and makeup just right, take some of our most challenging classes, and wisk back out saying, ‘Jenny, that was a gooooood one!’ She is one of the few people, besides little Maya Yonker, who called me Jenny. I will miss hearing her say my name.” —Jennifer French\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Jane was part inspiration and part intimidation. Over 70 and petite, she never seemed to break a sweet in Ashtanga.” —Gary French\n\n&nbsp;\n\n“Jane reminded me about the value of taking life one day at a time. She will be missed at TYS.” —Cathy Getz\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. May her spunky spirit live on in the hearts of her loved ones.', 'Yogi of the Month—Jane Eckles', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-jane-eckles', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:20', '2016-11-09 00:06:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3385', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3388, 7, '2014-11-03 06:39:18', '2014-11-03 13:39:18', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3389" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/images7G3SE4DW.jpg" alt="images7G3SE4DW" width="200" height="141" />\n\nAs we approach the busy season here in Punta Gorda, I can’t help but be obsessed by this idea we call <em>time</em>. We all have a million expressions for it: “Don’t waste your time,” “It’s about time!” “In the interest of saving time,” and so on. I, myself can’t help but feel that I am “pressed for time” in a world where everything is scheduled. I, too, often hear myself say, “I don’t have the time.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis is why I and many others enjoy (not to mention need) the practice of yoga. Unlike many other activities that encourage us to multitask, yoga forces us to stay present or at least attempt to stay in tune with our mind and our body for the duration of the practice. For a few brief moments we can forget about that to-do list and ultimately learn what we really need—that is, if we are able to “take the time” to listen and feel what we are being told from within.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOur breath is the vehicle by which we tune in to this inner intelligence. In fact many yogis believe that life is measured by the number of breaths they have left rather than by years. That’s good news for those of us who feel like we are often “living on borrowed time.” As we breathe and as we draw our minds back to our breath (on and off the mat) we get a sense of slowing down this concept of time, and every breath—every moment—becomes important.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe often get a sense in these moments that everything is, and will be, okay, and that we are truly happy. While these moments can sometimes be quick and fleeting, it’s important to note that if we stop and smell the roses—when we are willing to slow down and make ourselves and our well-being a priority—these feelings can be accessed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhile we often think of our yoga in a classroom setting, the real work is done off the mat when we take what we have learned into everyday situations. Instead of those familiar time-related mantras we have grown accustomed to say and hear, let’s turn it around and instead say that we are “right on time,” and that “there’s a time and place for everything.” Let’s remember that “everything is and will be okay,” and that we are exactly where we need to be in the moment. Just like when your yoga instructor cues your mind back to your breath, reel yourself back in and enjoy and learn from the experience.', 'There’s No Time like the Present by Margit Bannon', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'theres-no-time-like-the-present-margit-bannon', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:04', '2016-11-09 00:04:04', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3388', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3400, 7, '2014-11-30 06:34:53', '2014-11-30 13:34:53', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3401" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Dec-Yogi-of-the-Month-Photo-300x300.jpg" alt="Dec Yogi of the Month Photo" width="300" height="300" />\n\nI was born in upstate New York and moved to Florida with my parents at the age of nine. I remember telling people that I would <em>never</em> move back. My fondest childhood memories are from that time in New York and, while I love where I live, there are pieces of me that miss "home" every day. Regrettably, my skin has become far too thin to tolerate temperatures below 50 for any length of time, so here I will stay. Also, I love the ocean and Florida seems to have an abundance of it—win!\n\nI first started practicing yoga in my mind and with DVDs many years ago. I was in the throes of an eating disorder and knew yoga could help, so I practiced. At the time, practice meant groaning through 10 minutes of a 20-minute sequence, and then quitting. As you can imagine, I was not benefitting greatly from this. I began practicing in earnest just before Earth Day in 2013. My eating disorder was as controlled as it will ever be. I was growing tired of my current fitness routine, which consisted of miles upon miles of running followed by miles of biking. Though it had gotten me through my battle with bulimia, the physical exertion was not sustainable. I turned to yoga, and I have not turned back.\n\nI started in the gentle and level 1 classes to get my form, function, and terminology down. The instructors at TYS do an <em>amazing</em> job in all of these areas. When I got a bit more comfortable, I progressed into more advanced offerings. Now you can see me in any mixed, flow, or level 2 class that my schedule allows. Confession: Some of my favorite classes have been the Yin classes. They are delicious!\n\nBefore yoga, I had quite a bit of physical discomfort. My hips and lower back were suffering from the intensity of my other exercise modalities. Yoga has helped to greatly alleviate these unpleasant sensations. I feel longer, stronger, and much more flexible. We all know that yoga is replete with physical benefits, but the emotional benefits are staggering. I have found myself more engaged, receptive, adaptable, and kind. I have even found the Magical Pause Button. No idea what I am talking about? It\'s that thing you can push when something (a situation, a request, a confrontation, etc.) is hurtling at you and you feel the need to react <em>immediately</em>. I found the ability to pause, to analyze, and to decide an appropriate course of action. Honestly, it doesn\'t work every time, but it has worked <em>many</em> times, and for that, I am eternally grateful.\n\nOutside of The Yoga Sanctuary I spend my time as many of you do. I work to pay my bills. I raise a family. I worry about working, and I worry about my family. It is incredibly difficult for me to loosen the reins on responsibility. I am a work in progress, always. Along for that wild ride are my husband Patrick and our two boys Jordan and Joshua. Some of you have met them. As a family we have seen some very trying times, but I wouldn\'t change a thing. They are my world, my sanctuary.\n\nOne of my favorite quotes is from Hemingway: "The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.” I find great beauty in truth. It is difficult to live honestly, but it is the only way to truly live.', 'Yogi of the Month—Amy Judy', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-amy', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:20', '2016-11-09 00:06:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3400', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3413, 7, '2014-12-01 16:49:46', '2014-12-01 23:49:46', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3414" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/IMG_2037-300x199.jpg" alt="IMG_2037" width="300" height="199" />\n\n<em>“Unified Consciousness results when the gunas return back inward because the Ascendant’s purpose is fulfilled, or when the Absolute Self is permanently stabilized in the Divine Power of Pure Consciousness.”   The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sutra IV.34</em>\n\nOf all the definitions of yoga that I have come across, the one that resonates with me the most is: <em>union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness</em>. From this perspective, connection to something higher than oneself is the ultimate, attainable goal.\n\nI once heard it said, “An ocean accepts all rivers.” Imagine how interconnected we are: to each other biologically, to the Earth chemically, and to the universe atomically. In essence, we are constantly exchanging energy with all of creation, seen and unseen. In fact, just as the Earth’s energy field travels at the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, so, too, does our human energy field, connecting us to the entire universe--<em>synchronistically</em>.\n\nOne subtle, effective way to physically experience union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness is by walking barefoot on the grass, at the beach, etc., in the morning or evening.  Research has shown that along with directly connecting us to the roots of Mother Earth, this experience also stimulates the absorption of life energy from the sun and neutralizes free radicals and balances cortisol rhythms. Because we are designed to co-exist within the universe, when we are in harmony with nature, we are naturally practicing yoga.', 'An Ocean Accepts All Rivers by Lisa Ahrens', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'an-ocean-accepts-all-rivers-by-lisa-ahrens', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:38', '2016-11-09 00:04:38', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3413', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3418, 7, '2014-12-10 06:25:17', '2014-12-10 11:25:17', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3419" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/untitled.png" alt="untitled" width="243" height="207" />\r\n\r\nAlthough most people come to the practice of yoga with some sort of goal, it usually becomes clear that there is so much more to the practice than any one particular goal can encompass. But it can still be easy to fall into a pattern of striving to achieve a certain (fill in the blank here) with our practice, especially when it comes to the yoga postures, or asanas.\r\n\r\nYou may have seen someone doing a pose that looked, to you, perfect. Or maybe you admired a photo or video of a yoga practitioner demonstrating a “perfect” pose. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the desire to achieve that which others have achieved before you. Unfortunately, when your mind is preoccupied with such a goal, your yoga practice will suffer.\r\n\r\nInstead of striving to attain a perfect pose, let your practice be one of observation and acceptance of your current state. By moving your perspective from a hypothetical future situation—you striking the perfect pose—to your current, real situation, you will begin to notice the perfection of your imperfection. Notice your attachments and aversions, and try to let those dissolve as you fully embrace where you are right here, right now.\r\n\r\nYou will begin to see that this practice is not about getting anywhere or checking anything off your list. It’s about coming back to yourself in a raw, real, and nonjudgmental way. Let go of your preconceived notions about where this practice is taking you. They will only distract you from where you are really going. Yoga is a journey, with every step along the way meant to be the destination.', 'Yoga Is a Journey, Not a Destination', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-is-a-journey-not-a-destination', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:33:43', '2017-02-01 23:33:43', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3418', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3429, 7, '2015-01-03 14:22:00', '2015-01-03 19:22:00', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-3440 size-full" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/styles-hatha.png" alt="" width="212" height="208" />\r\n\r\nThe most familiar form of yoga practiced in the West is <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/hatha-yoga">Hatha Yoga</a>, which is a combination of physical postures (asana), breath work (pranayama), meditation (dhyana), and relaxation. There are many different styles, or expressions, of Hatha Yoga. In fact, there are so many different styles of yoga that one can quickly confuse one style with another. To help lessen the confusion, over the next five months we will discuss five main styles of yoga: Iyengar, Ashtanga, Viniyoga, Sivananda, and ISHTA yoga. These styles all share similarities—they link postures with breath as a tool to help ready the body and mind for meditation. Some common yoga postures are found in all of these styles.\r\n\r\nIyengar yoga, developed by the late B.K.S. Iyengar, is a precise yoga practice that emphasizes alignment using props and modifications along with pranayama practices to help the practitioner gain physical and spiritual well-being.\r\n\r\nAshtanga yoga, developed by the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, is a system of yoga that comprises a set sequence of postures, each building on the last toward the next, coupled with breath, a fixed gaze (drsthi), and energetic locks (bandhas) as a way to ready the body and mind for meditation, and thus, realization of our true nature.\r\n\r\nViniyoga, developed by Gary Kraftsow, a student of T.K.V. Desikachar, adapts various methods of practice to the unique condition, needs, and interests of the student, using tools to individualize and actualize the process of self-discovery and personal transformation.\r\n\r\nSivananda yoga, developed from the teachings of Swami Sivananda, is based on five principles: proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet, and thinking. A gentle practice, Sivananda begins with Savasana (Corpse pose), followed by pranayama, sun salutations, and a sequence of 12 basic postures. A meditation practice accompanies the practice.\r\n\r\nISHTA yoga, developed by Yogiraj Alan Finger, blends the ancient and contemporary sciences of hatha (physical postures), tantra (the belief that our essential nature is divine), and Ayurveda (the awareness of the impact our circumstances have on our physical, emotional, and energetic states).', 'Different Styles of Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'different-styles-of-yoga', '', '\nhttp://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/hatha-yoga', '2017-02-01 18:38:03', '2017-02-01 23:38:03', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3429', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3433, 7, '2015-01-03 14:31:29', '2015-01-03 21:31:29', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3434" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_2626-225x300.jpg" alt="IMG_2626" width="225" height="300" />\n\nI was born in Michigan and moved around the mid-west as a child, living in Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana. When I was 15, I was a passenger in a car accident. During the accident my sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae were dislocated, partially severing and stretching my spinal cord. My diagnosis is quadriplegia, but I was able to regain much of the use of my arms and hands. I am confined to a wheelchair with no use of my legs. When I was 19 I moved to the east coast of Florida on New Year\'s Eve. There I was lucky enough to meet my husband, David, and in 2006 we moved to Punta Gorda to be closer to my dad. We live here with our dog, Baci, and our cat, Crackers.\n\nI began practicing yoga with Bonnie at The Yoga Sanctuary in 2009, and now I work with Jennifer. I thought about practicing yoga for about a year before I got up the nerve to send an email to the studio to inquire as to whether practicing yoga was even possible for me. I thought yoga might be good for the aches and pains that come with a spinal cord injury. Although I knew in my heart that yoga would be good for me, I was scared. I don\'t really like people I don\'t know touching me. I knew I would have to talk about my disability, what "works" and what doesn\'t, why I get goose bumps or clammy when I\'m physically uncomfortable, and other things that were only discussed with my family and closest friends. I emailed TYS. Despite the fact that I kind of hoped that no one would reply, Bonnie did. Not only did she reply, but she also got me excited. She told me about quadriplegic yogi Matthew Sanford. If you haven\'t read his book "Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence," get it today. He is an inspiration.\n\nI do private yoga sessions every other week. I am not particularly disciplined, so my at-home practice consists of stretches and breathing, usually in response to an acute ache, pain, or stressful situation. I also attend workshops on occasion.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI have many gripes that come with being a wheelchair user. My shoulders, neck, and arms ache. Fortunately, yoga keeps my bursitis at bay. My aches and pains are now manageable. I could barely turn my head before I began to practice yoga. Now neck stretches are something I love, not fear! During my sessions Bonnie, and now Jennifer, provides the movement that my legs don\'t get on their own. We put them up, we stretch them, we breathe, and my legs relax. It\'s funny how independent you feel when you allow someone else to help you for a few minutes. I also enjoy the energetic aspects of yoga. I love breathing out and letting that negative energy go.\n\nWhen I started yoga, I was looking for things to make me get out of the house. I work from home, which makes it easy to get stuck in a rut where I\'m tired at the end of the day and don\'t get out for even a breath of fresh air. Yoga is like physical therapy that is relaxing and enjoyable. Yoga is my way of continuing physical therapy on my terms. For me, the greatest benefit of practicing yoga is the ability to move beyond my wheelchair. When I practice I move in ways that I never do in my day-to-day life, which feels so good. My favorite poses are any twist, or arms straight up.\n\nThere aren\'t many things in my life that I can say I have done consistently for five years, but yoga is one of them. I am inspired by my family, because they make me want to feel my best. I still face all of the same challenges I faced before beginning yoga, but now I have some new tools to deal with them. If my neck aches, I know what to do to address it in that moment. If my shoulder hurts, I know what to do. My challenges remain the same, but my response is different since I began my yoga practice.\n\nOutside of yoga, my husband and I love to travel and cook. Work takes up a lot of our time, but we try to balance that out by having fun with friends and family, and we love taking Baci out for happy hour at the many dog friendly restaurants around town.\n\nAs for quotes, I will leave you with an all-time favorite and a yoga favorite. I think Dr. Seuss is one of our great philosophers, and he once said, "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!" This is so true. It\'s what I had to accept when I welcomed Bonnie and Jennifer into my life. And my favorite yoga quote comes from Bonnie Yonker herself. I was checking out after practice, and TYS had a teacher training going on. I asked Bonnie whether the teacher training addressed adaptive yoga; I was thinking about adapting yoga for people with disabilities like mine. She said, "All yoga is adaptive, everyone\'s practice is unique." That was the moment I felt at ease with my practice. When I\'m at TYS, it\'s not about my physical challenges, it\'s not about accessibility or adaptability, it\'s just my hour as a yogi.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yogi of the Month—Kelly Sweet-Hamilton', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-kelly-sweet-hamilton', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:06:20', '2016-11-09 00:06:20', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3433', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3436, 7, '2015-01-04 06:37:22', '2015-01-04 11:37:22', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3438" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/cathy-225x300.jpg" alt="cathy" width="225" height="300" />My first yoga class was in 2002. I remember one pose in that class, Viparita Karani, known in English as Legs Up the Wall. It struck me as being very relaxing and not at all what I expected. In 2003 I retired and found myself with time to devote to a more fit lifestyle. The convenience of the twice-weekly yoga class that followed the aerobics class I attended at the fitness center helped me meet my goal to integrate a stretching routine into my workout. It soon became apparent that there was more to this yoga discipline, and that Legs Up the Wall was really a meditative, quiet, inward posture for me and not just a nice hamstring stretch.\n\nTwo days a week became not enough, so I found Bonnie at the Punta Gorda Club, along with two additional teachers, and drove to town every day for class. At first I was looking for strength and balance training as well as the benefits of stretching. Then I became interested in the philosophy and did some reading. My husband Jim and I travelled to southeast Asia and China, and I became aware of the legends and stories associated with the ancient Hindu traditions. (Listen carefully to those CDs playing while you are in a TYS class.)\n\nBonnie opened the studio in 2007. I was there on the first day. The program was much different than “health club” yoga. There was Sanskrit, chanting music, and a quiet, inward focus. There were eye pillows during Savasana, bolsters, blocks, and straps—and no clanging weights! I really enjoyed practicing a more structured routine devoid of the chatter, and I realized that I was changing so much that I could give up the aerobics and running. I wanted to do it all, and so I took lots of classes—two each day was not uncommon. My practice at this time was also based on my desire for proficiency in the poses. It took a while to realize that in my late 50s I was never going master Pincha Mayurasana!\n\nToday I come to the studio for the inward time. I struggle with the wandering mind, especially in Savasana. I’ve had a couple of injuries and learned to let my ego go a bit regarding the “perfect” posture. I’m back to some exercising outside of my yoga practice. My teacher training was a turning point for me. Hopefully now I have found more compassion in all of my life, not just on the mat. My greatest lesson is to embrace that we are all doing the best that we can do and to step back and focus on that when I am critical of others. Unfortunately I fall down on that one too, but my goal is to keep coming back to it as a lifestyle mantra.\n\nMy Retail Manager duties began in 2010 in preparation for the opening of the current studio location. I have been blessed to be a part of our TYS family and all of our wonderful teachers and students. I sincerely hope that we can provide our clients with a selection of excellent products for each individual’s yoga practice. I welcome the comments and special requests for yoga props, books, and clothing items.\n\nSo, as we head into 2015 and my 65th year on the planet I am thankful for being a part of this welcoming, growing, diverse Yoga Sanctuary family. Many blessings to all of you and wishes for good health and happiness ahead.', 'Staff Spotlight—Remember When by Cathy Getz', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-remember-when-by-cathy-getz', '', '', '2016-11-10 20:33:27', '2016-11-11 01:33:27', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3436', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3449, 7, '2015-02-03 08:10:04', '2015-02-03 13:10:04', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3450" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/images5T5W4FOS.jpg" alt="images5T5W4FOS" width="192" height="192" />\n\nIyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar who studied with Sri T. Krishnamacharya beginning at age 16. He began teaching in 1936 in Pune, India at the age of 18. He later authored the yoga classic <em>Light on Yoga</em> and is one of the main teachers credited for bringing yoga to the West. Iyengar passed away in the summer of 2014 at the age of 95. He continued teaching until his very last year of life alongside his daughter Geeta and son Prashant. His son and daughter carry on the teachings.\n\n“Research based experience” and “experience based research” helped Iyengar develop his yoga teachings which are based on the eight limbs of yoga as outlined in <em>The Yoga Sutras</em> of Patanjali. Iyengar Yoga caters to any and all body types. It is a highly alignment-focused practice that utilizes many props in order to facilitate the postures for different bodies. Poses are often held for longer periods of time so that the student can learn how to find steadiness and ease within the posture.\n\nThe practice begins with introductory postures, many of them standing poses. Once some degree of familiarity in the standing poses is achieved, forward folds, backbends, twists, and inversions are added. Shoulderstand and headstand are introduced as soon as the student is ready, due to the therapeutic nature of these poses. For students who cannot safely practice shoulderstand or headstand, other inversions are taught so that the student can still get the benefit of inverting the body. Postures are adjusted on an as-needed basis while specific cues are given to help the student understand the mechanics of the postures in his/her own body. Every class ends with Savasana to release the body and still the mind.\n\nOver 200 asanas, or postures, are included in the Iyengar system, and each practice varies so that the student can experience a range of postures. Once the student is ready, pranayama (breath control practices) are introduced to further help the student concentrate the mind and optimize the flow of prana, or life force, within the body.\n\nWhile Iyengar Yoga is a specific style of yoga, many other styles incorporate aspects of Iyengar Yoga because of its longstanding influence in the West. Chances are good you have experienced some form of Iyengar Yoga if you are a regular yoga student who has tried a variety of yoga styles.', 'Iyengar Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'iyengar-yoga', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:43:12', '2016-11-17 01:43:12', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3449', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3452, 7, '2015-02-03 08:29:24', '2015-02-03 15:29:24', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3453" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/staff-spotlight-225x300.jpg" alt="staff spotlight" width="225" height="300" />\n\nI have always enjoyed moving around. After teaching elementary school for 10 years, and the birth of our son, I began teaching fitness part time at our YMCA—aerobics, strength training, weights, loud music, etc. If that wasn\'t enough, I took up running and competed in 5K runs until I injured my knee and required surgery. Something needed to change!\n\nI had taken a few yoga classes, but we didn\'t have a class in our small town in Missouri. I heard about a weekend teacher training and decided to try it. Essentially, I began teaching yoga before I had really developed my own practice! Even though I was leading classes, I felt the benefits and liked the mindful movements and peaceful feeling left in my body after practicing.\n\nIn 2008 we came to Punta Gorda to spend the winter and I discovered The Yoga Sanctuary. Leaving my home and family has always been difficult so attending classes was definitely on the top of my list, and I was a regular at the studio.\n\nI began to realize that yoga was more than the asana and that the mat was a quiet and private place where I could be to sort out my thoughts and emotions. That is what now continues to draw me back to my mat each day.\n\nIn 2012 I enrolled in The Yoga Sanctuary’s teacher training program. I can\'t say enough wonderful things about the gift of yoga given to us by Bonnie and Jennifer. They encouraged us to develop a home practice which would then guide and inspire us in teaching our students. I was finally starting to get this!\n\nTeaching classes at TYS has been a blessing for me. My greatest joy is my students. We are on this beautiful journey together!', 'Staff Spotlight—Julie Huffman', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-julie-huffman', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3452', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3455, 7, '2015-02-03 08:34:13', '2015-02-03 15:34:13', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3456" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/yogi-of-the-month-224x300.jpg" alt="yogi of the month" width="224" height="300" />\n\nBob and I first met when a temporary housemate of his whom I had been casually dating invited me over to see the house. Bob was painting the ceiling of his sunroom, I recall. There was an immediate attraction. Bob recalls that I was wearing tight yoga pants—I don’t remember that!\n\nWhen it comes to keeping our love alive, there is no magic. We work at it. We are very different people who are committed to our life together. We have both grown from each other’s interests, strengths, and weaknesses. As a couple, we share some very basic values: honesty, trust, work ethic, a desire to keep learning and experiencing new things, and an appreciation of friends.\n\nYoga is one of those things that has been an important part of my life for many years, but it has become part of Bob’s life only recently. Most importantly, it is yet another thing we have in common and can experience together; the practice has rounded out our rough edges.\n\nWhen I lived in NYC in the 70s I became aware of yoga because it was a big “new” thing. That was it for me! The physical aspect of yoga was appealing to me because it was something that I could actually do despite not being particularly athletic. But the biggest attraction was the spiritual, holistic aspect of yoga philosophy.\n\nWithout yoga, I believe I would be even more physically compromised than I am. Since I have developed severe scoliosis over the last 20 years, it is yoga that keeps me flexible, helps me manage pain, and keeps my attitude positive. Without yoga I am simply not the same person. Bob keeps coming back to the practice with me for the sense of tranquility and the realization that he is more in tune with his body. He enjoys the physicality of course, but also that the practice allows time for inner reflections. The mindfulness involved in the practice was an unexpected insight. It’s unlike any other activity. I have learned that I am capable of more than I thought.\n\nThere are days when I just don’t think I can do it. Or when I get so busy, I don’t make room for my practice. Sometimes I feel inadequate because I can’t do “what the other kids” are doing. Then I tell myself: That’s ok. I will do what I can. Bob’s biggest challenge is sitting with his legs crossed.\n\nMy favorite part of the practice is that what I learn about myself in my yoga practice is directly applicable to every aspect of my life. It is “life practice.” Bob’s favorite part is savasana. Ha ha.\n\nNow that I am retired from a business career, I spend my time on what I love: music—particularly working with the Charlotte Symphony—theatre, travel, and time with friends. Bob spends a lot of time with various volunteer groups. He works with Master Gardeners &amp; Green Thumbs as well as with Team Punta Gorda, the boating team.\n\nFor people who are just starting out in yoga, I recommend that you find a teacher you are comfortable with. Don’t worry about what you think you can’t do. Listen to what your body is telling you. Really embrace the lessons of yoga that will change your life: breathe, begin to let go of the chatter in your mind, breathe, understand that there is nothing but now, and, oh yes, breathe. Bob recommends that you go to The Yoga Sanctuary or find a studio that is as close to that quality as possibly. And know that it’s okay to acknowledge a thought and then let it go.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yogi of the Month—Bob and Sherry Bechtold', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-bob-and-sherry-bechtold', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:51', '2016-11-09 00:05:51', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3455', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3464, 7, '2015-02-11 14:11:07', '2015-02-11 19:11:07', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3465" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/home-practice-300x180.jpg" alt="home practice" width="300" height="180" />\n\nSome days it seems as though you have an endless list of reasons to <em>not</em> practice yoga. You’re too tired, you have too much to do, you can practice later/tomorrow, you just don’t feel like it, etc., etc. Your mind will come up with an impressive and convincing range of legitimate reasons to stay home. Don’t fall for it. There are always good reasons to practice yoga. Keep these 5 on hand for those moments when you feel yourself succumb to the gravitational pull of your couch.\n\n<strong>Once you begin, the rest is easy. </strong>The hardest part of practice is showing up. Although most of your attention is focused on the difficulty of the practice, getting to the mat is actually your biggest obstacle. So instead of worrying about the practice itself, concentrate all your effort into simply showing up—as if the only requirement is that. Once you show up, simply surrender to the practice, and it will take on a life of its own.\n\n<strong>Your mind will be clear and your body will feel better. </strong>The yoga postures (asana) and breathing (pranayama) are designed to bring comfort to the body and mind. The specific movements, attention to the breath, and concentration required to maintain steadiness and ease throughout practice all help to bring about clear a state of mind and healthy condition of the body. You will feel these effects, especially with a regular yoga practice.\n\n<strong>You will feel calm and relaxed afterward. </strong>At the end of practice in Savasana, you will completely surrender to stillness. The mind moves even more to an inward focus. The movements of the body still. In these few moments, you completely surrender to the natural rhythm of your breath, allowing the benefits of the practice to fully integrate within you. Once you arise from Savasana, you will find a sense of calm and relaxation that complements the activity of the asana practice. The good news is that you get to take this calm and relaxation with you off the mat.\n\n<strong>You will have more energy. </strong>Although you expend a lot of energy in your yoga practice, you will also be helping to optimize the flow of energy (prana, or life force) within you. This is one of the reasons why you feel good after a yoga practice. Being calm and relaxed, yet alert and with energy reserves, is the unexpected after-effect of the practice. Yoga works not only on the physical layer, but also on an energetic layer (<a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/pranamaya-kosha">pranamaya kosha</a>).\n\n<strong>You will be one practice closer to knowing yourself. </strong>All the work we do on our mats does help us to feel better, physically. But on a deeper level, once we begin to notice that our practice on the mat is a perfect reflection of our life off the mat, our awareness sharpens. We become more attuned to our emotions, our thoughts, and our patterns. We begin to see ourselves—and those around us—more clearly. We understand others because we see ourselves in them. We begin to view the connections between ourselves and others as less separate. This helps us to better know ourselves.\n\nThere are hundreds, likely thousands, of reasons to get on your yoga mat. Perhaps you have some reasons not listed here. Find the reasons that are meaningful to you, and use them to help you get to the mat on a regular basis.', '5 Reasons to Get on Your Yoga Mat', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', '5-reasons-to-get-on-your-yoga-mat', '', '', '2016-11-16 21:05:58', '2016-11-17 02:05:58', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3464', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3477, 7, '2015-02-28 07:29:20', '2015-02-28 12:29:20', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3478" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ashanga.png" alt="ashanga" width="233" height="217" />\n\nAshtanga Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga developed by the late Sri K. Patabbhi Jois in conjunction with his teacher Sri T. Krishnamacharya, the father of Western yoga. The practice is said to be adapted from the 8-limbed Ashtanga yoga system outlined in <em>Yoga Korunta</em>, an ancient yoga text by Vamana Rishi. Pattabhi Jois began studying yoga at the age of 12 and went on to be a great Sanskrit scholar devoted to the practice and teaching of yoga. Today the practice is carried on by Jois’ grandson Sharat and his daughter Saraswati in India, and by his son Manju in California.\n\nThe Ashtanga asana practice is centered around vinyasa—the link between breath and movement. Every movement in the practice corresponds to a specific breath. Every pose is linked to the next by a flowing, cohesive breath and movement practice. The vinyasa is designed to heat the body for detoxification via sweat.\n\nAshtanga yoga utilizes the Trishtana Method—focus of attention or action on three main places: pose (asana), breathing (pranayama), and gaze (dristhi). Asanas purify, strengthen, and give flexibility to the body. Breathing must be steady, with an even inhalation and exhalation, and performed using correct energetic locks (bandhas). And by fixing the gazing point, the mind is stabilized and becomes less distracted.\n\nThe practice begins with the primary series—a set sequences of postures, each building on the previous toward the next. Although there are six series in total, most people find the primary and intermediate series challenging enough for a lifetime of practice. The exacting Tristhana Method of the Ashtanga practice creates a reliable container in which the practitioner can surrender. Once the practice is memorized, the mind calms and can more easily go inward. The practice is designed for that\n\nAccording to the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India, “When yoga practice is sustained with great diligence and dedication over a long period of time, the heat generated from it burns away these poisons [desire, anger, delusion, greed, envy, and sloth], and the light of our inner nature shines forth.”', 'Ashtanga Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'ashtanga-yoga', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:43:26', '2016-11-17 01:43:26', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3477', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3480, 7, '2015-02-28 07:34:36', '2015-02-28 14:34:36', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3481" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Annie_pic-231x300.jpeg" alt="Annie_pic" width="231" height="300" />\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">I came to yoga in a way that is not usual for me—little by little, one piece at a time. Usually, I hit things full force, but with yoga it was a much slower process in the beginning. My first experience with yoga was attending classes with a friend of mine in a large room in a scientific warehouse. My friend and I liked the class, but we didn’t stick with it. We were power-walkers at the time, walking up the mountains of Charleston, West Virginia at break-neck speed.</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;"> </span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">I then bought a yoga DVD called “The Firm.” This was so appropriate as I was still a busy practicing attorney. I remember the DVD as being very challenging, which I liked, but to me it was still just exercise.</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">Then in the middle of a very stressful, life-changing year, I booked myself a retreat in Grass Valley, California at an Ashram. There, I was introduced to the book “Autobiography of a Yogi,” by Paramahansa Yogananda. I began to meditate a little and it seemed to have some impact on my stress. A few months later, I came to my first studio yoga class. It was an Ashtanga class! Little did I know that yoga did not have to be as hard as Ashtanga. My experience with “The Firm” and Ashtanga led me to believe that yoga was a kick-butt kind of exercise, with a calming mental side to it (at least in Savasana). </span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">Now I was hooked. I think I needed all the physicality of Ashtanga because my mind was so fast-moving and cluttered, that the thought of sitting still without first wearing myself out seemed an impossible one. I loved my first teacher, Jeff, who was very kind and more than a little goofy. Jeff was a follower of Swami Vidyadhishananda and so I attended a four day silent retreat led by the Swami at the Hari Krishna Temple in West Virginia. That was the beginning of my quest for more—more spirituality in my yoga, more variety in my yoga (slow as well as vigorous yoga), and more time and energy devoted to my yoga.</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">Since then I have taken five teacher trainings (200 hour, Yin, Ashtanga, 500 hour, and Pranayama) and have retreated with Yogananda’s disciple, Roy Eugene Davis. I have even started my own type of yoga, wherein I combine the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with the 8 Limbs of Yoga. It is not a type of asana (posture) class, but more a philosophy/meditation experience. I am writing a book entitled “12 Steps on the 8-Fold Path.” I feel so blessed to have been given the gift of love of yoga. I want to share it with the world!</span>\n\n&nbsp;', 'Staff Spotlight—Annie Moore', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-annie-moore-2', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3480', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3483, 7, '2015-02-28 07:42:00', '2015-02-28 14:42:00', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3484" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Linda-H-224x300.jpg" alt="Linda  H" width="224" height="300" />\n\nI am a teacher. In May, I will retire after nearly 55 years of teaching secondary and college German classes. I have two sons who were married this past year and now have two granddaughters. I am divorced, but have been in a committed relationship for the last eight years.\n\nI started yoga two years ago at the Yoga Sanctuary. My California son was an enthusiastic practitioner and he encouraged me to enroll in the introductory class at The Yoga Sanctuary because I had been struggling with rheumatoid arthritis. I attempt to attend a class each weekday at the studio, and when I don’t make it, I do some things at home. I am guided mostly by the time of day the class is offered. I prefer the early morning classes and vacillate between Gentle and Yoga I.\n\nBefore I began practicing yoga I realized that I was becoming less flexible and active. After two years of practice my arthritis is not as much of an issue. I was able to stop arthritis meds and was told by my rheumatologist recently that I don’t need to return for periodic check-ups as long as my health remains as it currently is. Perhaps the biggest surprise benefit of my practice was gaining an awareness of the physical body. I never really took the time to listen to what it was telling me. I enjoy the quiet peacefulness and the focus on me.\n\nI still find some parts of the practice challenging. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do Tree pose without losing my balance. I dread it when a teacher says that we are going to do that pose, yet I know that I need the practice in order to gain better balance. I tell myself that there are other poses that were once challenging and that now I have come to enjoy—for instance the Downward Facing Dog pose. I find it amazing that my arms struggle to maintain my weight in that pose at the beginning of practice, but by the end of a session I feel like I am floating above my arms. I would have thought that fatigue would set in later in the practice, but I have the opposite experience.\n\nI keep coming back to yoga because of the knowledgeable and helpful instructors, of course. But what really motivates me is the accomplishment of other students—I look around at them and say to myself, “I want some of that."\n\nOutside of yoga, my favorite pastimes are travel and reading.\n\nMy favorite pose is during warm up. I love the Cat/Cow stretching. I can almost hear the unkinking of my spine as it I become unglued.\n\nMy favorite quote is a motto that I’ve always subscribed to: “You can do anything that you set your mind to doing."', 'Yogi of the Month—Linda Hissam', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-linda-hissam', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:51', '2016-11-09 00:05:51', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3483', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3488, 7, '2015-03-02 06:08:20', '2015-03-02 11:08:20', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3489" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/10636824_10152868518445132_999539435443115095_o-300x199.jpg" alt="10636824_10152868518445132_999539435443115095_o" width="300" height="199" />\n\nHere are some of the great entries from our Yoga Creative Writing Contest. Thank you all for sharing with us how yoga has changed your life!\n\nAmy P. "Yoga has improved my health, wellness and spirit. I cannot thank my teachers and friends for sharing their practices with me and guiding me to more spiritual and physical health. "\n\nColleen H. "My yoga practice has given me a quiet place to be, both physically and mentally. It is a retreat for me, a time-out; it gives me a sense of calm. After my practice, I am refreshed and renewed."\n\nJan P. "Mobility, flexibility and thankfulness are all words that pop up when I think of the benefits of yoga. Having practiced for many years, yoga has afforded me the opportunity to greet each day with a smile and a heart of gratitude for my physical well-being. I am grateful."\n\nPaula T. “It has taught me how to listen in to my breath for Peace, to sleep better, to gain balance and center myself as a mother, artist and wife.”\n\nEthel A. "I am now 72 years old. At age 25 I had two heart attacks, compliments of early birth control pills. This was a wake-up call to me, which led me on a quest for a healthy lifestyle. I was fortunate in the early 70\'s to attend a hatha yoga seminar by Joel Kramer which totally convinced me that yoga was worthy of a lifetime of study and practice. It has kept me active and allowed me to introduce Yoga concepts to those around me; family, friends and neighbors."\n\nHeather B. "I was introduced to yoga by my sister in law. I suffer from terrible back pain as well as depression. Once I began taking classes at the sanctuary I noticed the aches and pains in my body went away, and I felt stronger. Due to my depression, I have a hard time enjoying things.   There was nothing that soothed my ever constant mind that would not shut off.   I found that yoga not only have me peace from my ever constant mind, but I enjoyed and looked forward to my next session. Due to my new work schedule I no longer am able to enjoy it like I used to and boy does my mind and body feel it! "\n\nPauline K. "Yoga has improved my flexibility, balance and decreased my pain levels.   It has also provided me with a calmness that is most welcome in my life."\n\nKimberly A. "One year ago, I had a ruptured brain aneurysm. I spent 10 days in the neuro unit at Jackson Memorial. When I came home from the hospital, I was so weak I could hardly get out of bed and suffered from chronic headaches. I began practicing yoga as part of my healing process. It has been an amazing experience that has helped me gain my life back. The mindfulness has helped ease the headaches along with many other benefits. I wish I could come to The Yoga Sanctuary every day!"\n\nHedda C. "How wonderful to look forward to an hour to yourself, as often as you like. Yoga continuously provides that opportunity while working on my physical needs. The guided poses and stretching never fail to rejuvenate my psyche and my body; I always feel better after a yoga session. The frosting on the cake is that I finally managed to get my husband interested in yoga and it is a wonderful way to spend time together and share a healthy interest. I have become an ambassador for the practice as has my spouse. "\n\nMary B. "After a serious car accident, breaking the top of my tibia off, a knee replacement a year later and finishing my PT, I joined the yoga sanctuary. Working with Bonnie and the other instructors, learning the breath properly and going inside, slowly by slowly, I regained full range of motion. The patience and guidance of these teachers, made all the difference in the world. Thank you so.\n\nFran W. “It’s been at least 5 years since I took Bonnie\'s Basic Yoga Class. She taught me to love Yoga. She also helped me to better like my body and what it does for me. The practice of Yoga is why I have become more flexible. I thank Bonnie and Jen often. I still practice yoga when I can. Yoga is amazing as are Bonnie and Jen. Thank you!”\n\nRanee T. "Yoga has given me the skills, tools, wellness and discipline to endure 12 years with a chronic and debilitating medical condition and life\'s challenges prior to this event and subsequent life modifications. Today it gives me the strength and courage to pursue newly available treatment that will again change every aspect of my life ~ except my yoga practice, spirit and connection. Wishes for wellness for all ~Namaste."\n\nMartha F. "My Yoga Practice: Stretch and bow, twist and straighten, laugh with a teetering balance suddenly held true. Life’s petals open, quietly release aches and cricks and fear revealing my heart. I am home."\n\nRich N. "Breathe, stretch, transform."\n\nRobin W. "I have learned peace after devastating loss. I have found body and mind strength,that I never knew I had. I have learned breathing practices that help keep my asthma under control. Yoga keeps my mind centered, and my body healthy. Thank you Yoga Sanctuary, for setting me on this path."\n\nMartha P. “Like a knot at the base of a willow tree...I was bound by stress and anxiety. Now I can feel the wind in the airy branches of life being unbound through yoga. And like that tree I continue to grow.\n\nDon  W. “Looking for some balance, lazy Florida winter, following the breath.”\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yoga Creative Writing Contest', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-creative-writing-contest', '', '', '2016-11-16 21:05:42', '2016-11-17 02:05:42', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3488', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3495, 7, '2015-03-14 12:56:49', '2015-03-14 16:56:49', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3496" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/untitled.png" alt="untitled" width="259" height="195" />\n\nFrom an outward perspective, the practice of yoga seems very physical. An often continual progression of movements, yoga is rightly considered to be a physical exercise. But there is one element of the practice that sets it apart from other exercises—the breath. In fact, without the incorporation of a breath focus, the movements we know as yoga would not even be considered as such. The breath is what fuels the practice and transforms it from a simple exercise into a powerful tool for the mind, body, and spirit.\n\nOn the breath flows prana, or life force. The careful control of breath, and thus, prana, during a yoga practice helps to not only bring about a sense of calmness to the body but also to the mind. By maintaining our attention on the breath, we are able to remain in the present moment. Although the mind will wander as distractions arise, by returning to a breath focus over and over, the mind becomes trained to more easily find this natural state.\n\nThe breath is a central theme during any yoga practice. Fortunately, it is an accessible tool. You are breathing every moment, and so every moment you have the ability to work with your breath. There are a number of techniques to help you keep your attention on the breath, and it doesn’t really matter which one you choose. The best approach is to experiment with different methods and find what works best for you.\n\nYou might find that the sound of the breath, or the feeling of the breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils, or the way the body moves in response to the breath are useful ways to focus your attention on the breath. You might even like to count your breath or think the word “inhale” when you inhale and “exhale” when you exhale. Each of these techniques can work. Try them all out at different times to find which one best helps maintain your breath focus, and then let that become your habit of creating a steady attention to the breath during practice.', 'Without the Breath It\'s Not Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'without-the-breath-its-not-yoga', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:11:33', '2017-02-01 23:11:33', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3495', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3501, 7, '2015-03-28 08:22:11', '2015-03-28 15:22:11', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3502" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Fred-Johnson-169x300.jpg" alt="Fred Johnson" width="169" height="300" />\n\nI was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago; where I met my childhood sweetheart, Jane, my wife of twenty nine years. We raised three wonderful children, two whom are professional ballet dancers and one is an aspiring artist. At twenty four years old, I experienced the death of my close friend and this sent me down the career path of emergency medical service. I soon became a volunteer firefighter in my home town while pursuing a career as a full time firefighter paramedic. I took a job in a neighboring community in 1988 and over the next twenty five years rose to the rank of battalion chief.\n\nI started my yoga practice because of a promise to Jane, that when I retired from the fire service I would begin yoga. She had for years tried to get me to practice yoga but I was more focused on the strength training and plyometric exercises that I thought I needed for my job performance.\n\nLife has a way of slowing you down even if you are not listening. At forty eight years old, I had my first hip replacement. Sixty three days later I was back on the job fighting fire. My orthopedic surgeon informed me that my other hip would need to be replaced in two to three years. Unfortunately he was correct. At fifty two years old, I had my second hip replacement. At that time I was no longer a line firefighter but a battalion chief. Prior to my second surgery, Jane had planted the seed that I would not return to work but instead retire and join her in sunny Florida. She was right. Unfortunately, my second surgery did not go as well as the first and I continued to have nagging issues with my psoas muscle. I then enrolled in an introduction to yoga class at The Yoga Sanctuary where Jennifer exposed me to the basics of yoga and proper yoga etiquette.\n\nI started practicing regularly two years ago with chair and gentle yoga. Slowly progressing into level 1, level 2 and yin. Yoga has changed my life. By the end of my career, with numerous broken bones, a torn ACL, bulging discs and bi-lateral hip replacement, I could barely dress myself. This was not how I had envisioned going into retirement. My yoga practice has helped me to slow down and truly listen to my body and not just use it as a tool to accomplish a task.\n\nI\'ve discovered yoga to be an emotional roller coaster. In a class I go from calm to frustrated, I find myself laughing and the next second I want to cry. It is an exhausting ride for a one hour class. I have come to the understanding that it will be a long slow process to reverse the damage I inflicted onto my body over the past fifty years.\n\nOutside The Yoga Sanctuary, I assist Jane with her art business. We both enjoy fly fishing Charlotte Harbor and golf at Myakka Pines. The running joke with our kids when they found out that I was doing yoga was that I was in class just for the savasana. Well - that is my favorite pose. It gives me time to reflect on the changes that occurred in class and the work that has to be done.\n\nWhat keeps me coming back is the fact that I see positive change in my body. No matter how small the effect, it is positive.\n\nAs I was sitting in my physical therapist\'s office one day, I stumbled across a quote by Ashleigh Brilliant, “There is a whole word that I am in control of and it ends at my fingertips.” This struck me as fitting for my current life outlook.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yogi of the Month-Fred Johnson', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-fred-johnson', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:51', '2016-11-09 00:05:51', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3501', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3504, 7, '2015-03-28 08:30:39', '2015-03-28 15:30:39', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3505" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Melissa-Goodwin-300x273.jpg" alt="Melissa Goodwin" width="300" height="273" />\n\nAround the year 1965, a woman named Sue Luby moved to my hometown of Andover, Massachusetts and changed my life. Sue offered yoga classes – we’d never heard of yoga, but for some reason my mother decided we should give it a try. This would have been around the early days of hippies and flower children, but my mom was no hippie. She was a middle-class suburban housewife who had grown up in a strict and regimented boarding school in England. I don’t know what made her want to try this weird new thing called yoga; but she did, and she took me with her. I was 10 years old.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSue Luby’s classes took place in a local community building that smelled musty and had dusty wood floors. I didn’t like that very much, but when we got down on the floor, Magic Happened. Sue had us doing stretches and twists and assuming all sorts of strange positions, and I LOVED it. I remember distinctly being in plow position with my legs over my head and my toes touching the floor and I glanced over at Mom (please don’t turn your head in plow position J) and saw that she was doing it too. And I thought, “This is very, very cool.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI realize now how lucky I was to have been exposed to yoga at such a young age. I wasn’t an athletic girl; I couldn’t run fast and I had no upper body strength. But my body liked yoga and my heart liked it too. I can’t say that I practiced all the time from the age of 10 on, but throughout the years I always practiced some of it some of the time. Whenever I felt sore or stiff or tired, I’d always go back to the yoga poses.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt was around 1990 that I found my way back to a consistent, dedicated yoga practice. I can separate the rest of my yoga journey into four significant phases: The Maine Phase, The Scottsdale Phase, the Santa Fe Phase and the Punta Gorda Phase.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn Maine, I was taught by a teacher with an Iyengar background, which means that she focused strongly on proper alignment and holding the positions. It was here that I began to really understand the dynamics of the poses and their benefits.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen we moved to Arizona, I began taking vinyasa or “flow” yoga classes, and this became my practice for the next seven years. Vinyasa yoga was strong and fast and sweaty and fun. I gained strength and learned to challenge myself. When we were about to move to Santa Fe, New Mexico, my Scottsdale teacher asked me if I’d ever considered becoming a yoga teacher, and without thinking, I answered, “Yes.” I actually hadn’t really been considering this consciously, so I think it must have been my heart that answered the question.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to take teacher training as soon as we moved to Santa Fe and by great good fortune, this turned out to be the home of master teacher Tias Little. Not only did he offer teacher training right in Santa Fe, but he owned a yoga studio there as well. Over the next several years I studied with Tias, completed his training program, took many of his workshops and practiced at his studio, YogaSource. (Tias is also Jennifer’s teacher.). Eventually I became a teacher there too.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSanta Fe is rich with yoga – the teachers at YogaSource came from many backgrounds, but most had a strong Iyengar influence and great depth of experience. It felt good to get back to an alignment-based focus and to learn daily from these exceptional teachers. The studio also brought master instructors from all over the world, so I felt like I was in a kind of Yoga Heaven.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt seems strange to realize that it wasn’t until Santa Fe that I began to understand that there is more to yoga than the physical practice. It was there that I first learned about the Eight Limbs, the Yoga Sutras and yoga philosophy. For the first time, I came to see yoga as a system for living that encompasses not just the physical poses, but also how we think about life and how we navigate the world and our relationships with others.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow, here in Punta Gorda, I find myself again blessed to be part of a beautiful and caring yoga community. During my vinyasa and teacher-training years, I put a lot of attention on learning more challenging poses like handstand, headstand and forearm balances. I thought I’d never be able to do some of them, but with practice I did, and that felt great. But now my practice focuses more on doing simple things well. I like to really “work” the basic poses with a focus on understanding their dynamics and benefits in order to benefit not only my own body, but so that I can help students explore the poses safely and understand better why they are doing what we instruct them to do. I am also moving much more deeply into the spiritual side of yoga– exploring meditation and really trying to embrace the principles of yoga as a complete lifestyle that can bring happiness, peace and balance to my life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nP.S. Sue Luby eventually opened a yoga studio in Andover, MA, and 50 years later, it is still there.', 'Staff Spotlight-Melissa Goodwin', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-melissa-goodwin', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3504', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3508, 7, '2015-03-31 05:50:42', '2015-03-31 09:50:42', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3329" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/1391360224-300x199.jpg" alt="1391360224" width="300" height="199" />Viniyoga™ adapts various methods of yoga practice to the unique condition, needs, and interests of the student, using tools to individualize and actualize the process of self-discovery and personal transformation. Adapted from the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya to his son, T.K.V. Desikachar, Viniyoga was further refined by Gary Kraftsow, founder of the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI).\n\nAccording to AVI, “Viniyoga is a comprehensive and authentic transmission of the teachings of yoga including asana, pranayama, bandha, sound, chanting, meditation, personal ritual, and study of texts.” Derived from yoga sutra 3.6: tasya bhūmiṣu viniyogaḥ: “The practice [of samyama] is to be accomplished in stages.” Samyama is the combination of the last three limbs of yoga: dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (liberation, or enlightenment).\n\nViniyoga utilizes the principles of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, which involves the warming up and contracting of a muscle before stretching it as a way to decrease injury. Each posture begins with a gentle moving into and out of the posture so that the body becomes accustomed to the pose in a gradual manner.\n\nViniyoga is particularly beneficial for people who need a more therapeutic approach to the practice of yoga. Viniyoga can address low back pain or sciatica, hip tightness, or upper back, neck, and shoulder sensitivities. The practice focuses on targeted movements and holding of postures linked with specific breathing patterns to loosen tight muscles that might be inhibiting movement and creating pain.', 'Viniyoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'viniyoga', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:43:39', '2016-11-17 01:43:39', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3508', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3514, 7, '2015-04-09 08:06:25', '2015-04-09 12:06:25', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3515" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Jyotish-picture-300x232.jpg" alt="Jyotish picture" width="300" height="232" />\n\nMost people today look to the Gregorian calendar or even their smart phone for an awareness of the passage of time. Whether or not skilled in time management, most of us can feel the pressure of the unfolding of time. Sunrises, sunsets and the lunation cycles are the basis of the time we notice, but do we give real consideration to how time is created? The ancient cultures did. They looked to the sky for answers. <em>Jyotish</em>, "the Science of Light" in Sanskrit, is the yogic study of our solar system, time and the spiritual life lessons that unfold as a result. Modern Astronomy, taught in schools everywhere, is an observable science, but the ancient yogis explained the spiritual principles and wisdom that underpin the precision of the Universe in which we live.\n\nThe authoritative ancient text on <em>Jyotish</em> is <em>Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra,</em> brought forth by the sage <em>Parashara</em>. More recently <em>Swami Sri Yukteswar</em> stated that "The message boldly blazoned across the heavens at the moment of birth is not meant to emphasize fate, the result of past good and evil, but to arouse man\'s will to escape from his universal thralldom." As the goal of all Vedic sciences is Self-realization, Vedic Astrology, practiced for thousands of years, can provide insight into the soul\'s journey and destiny. It can tell us about the absence or presence of certain tendencies. The more we understand about planetary indications in the heavens and the relationship between the Vedic sky and our life on Earth, the more we can perceive consciousness as a unified whole. We can make peace with where we are. We can take responsibility for our lives and make the best of situations.\n\nOn April 14, 2015 the sun enters Aries and marks the Vedic New Year. Join us at The Yoga Sanctuary on the new moon in May for an introductory investigation of timeless <em>Jyotish </em>concepts, the Vedic sky we live under right now and the individual birth chart. <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/workshops?mobile=false&amp;options%5Bids%5D=1053&amp;options%5Bsite_id%5D=2338">Click here to learn more</a> about this upcoming workshop.', 'What Time Is It? The Vedic Sky: Gwen Burdick', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'what-time-is-it-the-vedic-sky-gwen-burdick', '', '', '2016-11-18 14:23:36', '2016-11-18 19:23:36', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3514', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3535, 7, '2015-05-03 07:02:24', '2015-05-03 14:02:24', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3536" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Marge-Keller-300x232.jpg" alt="Marge Keller" width="300" height="232" />\n\nSeven years ago I retired as a fourth grade elementary school teacher about 20 miles west of New York City. My husband Coty and I live there for five months each year, and we enjoy boating, clamming, and spending time with our family. I have two children and four granddaughters ranging in age from five to 17. Coty and I reunited 20 years ago after not seeing each other for 25 years—we were high school sweethearts. We spend the rest of the year in Port Charlotte and love being able to ride our bikes every day.\n\nI have always loved ballet and have studied it since I was a child. I continued as an adult, teaching it while my children were growing up. After a while, I moved onto yoga, studying Ashtanga and other athletic forms. Then wear and tear crept into my hip. Doctors suggested a hip replacement. I decided it was time to stop running after kids, and come to the comfort and warmth of beautiful Florida.\n\nAt this time I had to rethink my exercise because I couldn’t put weight on my hip. First I found Pilates, which strengthened the surrounding muscles. I bought a machine and still do about 40 minutes a day. I also ride my bike a few miles each day. When I found Jennifer, I restarted yoga, but this time gently. Practicing yoga helps me to stretch and calm my mind. This rounded out my exercise regimen. I love my routine—I remain mobile and take no medication.\n\nI take four or five gentle and yin yoga classes a week. I have a love/hate relationship with Annie\'s happy hip day, but seriously, these hip poses seem to be specifically designed for me. It\'s funny, but sometimes when my shoulder hurts, Jen will do a shoulder class. Yoga practice seems to know what I need much better than I do. There\'s always this good feeling of a fresh start after each class. It helps me let go of fretting and carry on. When my kids visit me, they all want to go to The Yoga Sanctuary. It is an oasis of peace and tranquility.\n\nOutside of yoga, I enrolled at the Visual Art Center to learn how to bezel beach glass, and have been taking metal and enameling courses there for six years. I\'m inspired by the chakras and the symbols of yoga. I use them in my work. This season I sold my jewelry at the Placida Art Market.\n\nMy favorite quote: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. Meet me there."\n—Rumi', 'Yogi of the Month—Marge Keller', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-marge-keller', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:51', '2016-11-09 00:05:51', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3535', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3538, 7, '2015-05-03 07:11:10', '2015-05-03 14:11:10', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3539" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Gwen-278x300.jpg" alt="Gwen" width="278" height="300" />\n\nI was eleven years old when I watched Mark Spitz win his seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics. A nearly full-size poster of him in the red, white and blue speedo hung on my sister\'s closet door. My father\'s stopwatch was always nearby. We were a family of swimmers. Six AM and six PM daily practices were not to be missed. "Train hard, Swim fast, Win" was the prevailing philosophy in our home. Then one day in High School, a gym teacher held a yoga class and, for the first time, I experienced a non-competitive land activity that felt natural. I didn\'t know why, but I made a note of it.\n\nLater, as I was receiving a formal education, the "Win" philosophy became "Learn." Math, Physics, Art, Foreign Language, Biochemistry, even Religion courses were offered and all were thrilling to me. But I noticed that most of my classmates seemed to know what they wanted to be when they grew up. I did not. They only thing I knew for sure that I wanted to be when I grew up was wiser. And I began to doubt if any of this knowledge was getting me closer to that.\n\nGrace dawned in my thirties; I met a Swami from the Himalayas. He touched my heart and it opened. I started to feel. He instructed me on a few basic things: posture, breath, food and japa meditation which made sense to me. He spoke to me about service to others and very gently pointed out some of my characters flaws that I didn\'t want to admit to myself but knew I would have to address. He told me that the most important thing I could do was to be happy. Soon after he sent me on my way, my daughters were born and, coping with the hullabaloo of motherhood, the importance of Yoga Science and Philosophy became crystal clear.\n\nToday, as I try to integrate what I think I know, I realize that swimming introduced me to the value of <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/pratyahara">pratyahara</a> and <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/pranayama">pranayama</a>. Academia stirred an interest in the <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/jnana-yoga">jnana yoga</a> path. Family life gives me a direct experience with the <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/the-six-branches-of-yoga">karma and bhakti paths of yoga</a>. Yogananda said "Everything else can wait, the search for God can not wait." The best advice I can give my beautifully willful, stressed-out and frequently injured teenage girls these days is, "Practice, Study, Serve, and Surrender." Then just keep going.', 'Staff Spotlight: Gwen Burdick – Remember When', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-gwen-burdick-remember-when', '', '\nhttp://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/jnana-yoga', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3538', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3541, 7, '2015-05-03 07:22:02', '2015-05-03 11:22:02', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3542" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/1185730_10151869842777220_914988203_n.jpg" alt="1185730_10151869842777220_914988203_n" width="160" height="160" />\n\nSivananda Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga brought to the West in 1957 by Swami Vishnudevananda at the urging of his Indian teacher, a medical doctor named Swami Sivananda. Vishnudevananda founded the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres based on Swami Sivananda’s teachings with a mission to spread peace, health, and joy through yoga. To date, there are over 60 Sivananda locations around the world.\n\nSivananda Yoga integrates four paths of yoga: <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/karma-yoga">Karma Yoga</a> (selfless service), <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/bhakti-yoga">Bhakti Yoga</a> (devotion), <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/raja-yoga">Raja Yoga</a> (eight limbs of yoga), and <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/jnana-yoga">Jnana Yoga</a> (yoga of knowledge). The entire practice revolves around “Five Points of Yoga”:\n<ul>\n	<li>Proper exercise (asanas, or postures)</li>\n	<li>Proper breathing (pranayama)</li>\n	<li>Proper relaxation</li>\n	<li>Proper diet</li>\n	<li>Positive thinking and meditation</li>\n</ul>\nPertaining to proper exercise, there are 12 main asanas practiced in different variations: Headstand, Shoulderstand, Plough, Fish, Seated Forward Fold, Cobra, Locust, Bow, Spinal Twist, Crow, Standing Forward Fold, and Triangle Poses. Sun Salutations traditionally begin the practice, and Savasana always ends the practice. Some chanting may occur during class.\n\nSivananda breathing practices focus on teaching deep, slow abdominal breathing to help support the movement of prana, or life force. Relaxation practices are three fold, with a focus on physical relaxation, which can be attained during Savasana; mental relaxation, which can be achieved by bringing proper attention to the breath; and spiritual relaxation, which is achieved by understanding one’s own true nature.\n\nSivananda’s proper diet is a lacto-vegetarian diet, which is said to bring about maximum body-mind efficiency. Finally, positive thinking and meditation are achieved by following the 14 points of meditation, which outline meditation techniques. Thirty minutes of daily meditation is recommended.\n\nSivananda Yoga classes are appropriate for all yoga practitioners. The classes tend to move at a gentle pace with long holds for each posture, and provide a well-rounded practice for any student.', 'Sivananda Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'sivananda-yoga', '', 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/bhakti-yoga\nhttp://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/karma-yoga', '2016-11-16 20:43:52', '2016-11-17 01:43:52', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3541', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3557, 7, '2015-05-17 14:57:40', '2015-05-17 18:57:40', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3558" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/11-300x200.jpg" alt="11" width="300" height="200" />\n\nIf you snickered at the title of this post because your experience of Downward Facing Dog pose is anything <em>but</em> resting, then you are not alone. Virtually everyone experiences some form of struggle with Downward Facing Dog, especially at first. It’s a challenging posture for a range of reasons. Most notably, it takes a lot of upper body strength to hold the posture for an extended amount of time. It also requires specific alignment and modifications to find a steady breath while in the pose. With a few alignment and modifications tips, you will be able to find a more stable posture so that you can more easily build your Down Dog endurance.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt all begins with your hands. When you lose the integrity of your hand position, you lose most of the foundation of the pose. That is, when the palms of your hand cup—or when the base knuckle of your index finger lifts off the ground—you lose your steady base and risk injuring your wrists. Instead, be sure to evenly ground all four corners of your palms, paying particular attention to the grounding of your index finger’s base knuckle. Maintain this even grounding during the entire pose and also while transitioning into and out of the pose. Spread your fingers wide apart to help support your body’s weight. At first, it will feel uncomfortable to maintain this activation in the hands, but over time you will come to love the stability it creates.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf you struggle with pain in your wrists, hold the pose for one or two breaths and then lower your forearms to the ground to take the weight off your wrists. Over time, you will likely find that you can maintain the full posture for longer and longer periods of time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNext, you will stabilize your shoulders. Shoulder tension is almost ubiquitous, and it continues to occur in Downward Facing Dog. To relieve this tension and create space around your neck, move your shoulders away from each other and down your back. Feel your upper arms turning outward and drawing back into the shoulder sockets. This will create nice alignment of the shoulders while relying on the strong muscles of your back to help stabilize you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFrom there, bring your awareness to your lower body. If you feel tightness in the backs of your legs and your heels are not on the ground, you likely have tight hamstrings and/or a sensitivity in your low back, both of which are very common. First of all, don’t feel as though you need to get your heels to the ground. For some people this may never happen, and that’s okay. Try bending your knees to relieve low back or hamstring pressure, and to find better alignment in your spine. This will also help to even out your body’s distribution of weight if it was off balance.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOnce you have found the right alignment, you will want to use bandhas to create a stability that will help you build endurance in the pose. Uddiyana bandha (navel lock) and mula bandha (root lock) will help you find the inner strength required to maintain ease in Down Dog. By drawing your low belly into your spine while at the same time drawing up on your pelvic floor and maintaining the activation of these locks, you will be fully integrated in Downward Facing Dog.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet your breath flow with ease as you settle into alignment, steadiness, and activation. Incorporate these tips every time you come into Downward Facing Dog and you will begin to understand what it means when we say Down Dog is a resting pose.', 'Downward Facing Dog—The Resting Pose', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'downward-facing-dog-the-resting-pose', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:55:09', '2016-11-17 01:55:09', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3557', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3581, 7, '2015-05-30 09:55:11', '2015-05-30 13:55:11', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3582" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ISHTA-Logo-300x65.png" alt="ISHTA-Logo" width="300" height="65" />\n\nISHTA Yoga, or the Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda, was developed in the late 1960s by Alan Finger and his father, Mani Finger, who was a student of Paramahansa Yogananda (author of <em>Autobiography of a Yogi</em>). Mani Finger transformed his home into an ashram in South Africa when Alan was a young boy, hosting many renowned yoga masters. As a result, Alan was exposed to a rich yoga culture from a very early age.\n\nThe practice of ISHTA Yoga integrates three main aspects.\n\nHatha: the physical asana (posture) practice linked with breath (pranayama);\n\nTantra: the belief that our essential nature is divine, part of the universal consciousness, and filled with bliss; and\n\nAyurveda: healthy practices that help create balance based on our individual constitution.\n\nTogether, these aspects combine to create a practice that balances body, mind, and spirit. ISTHA Yoga is not only a physical practice, but specifically includes practices that benefit the entire being.\n\nIn Sanskrit, the word <em>ishta</em> means “that which resonates with the individual spirit.” ISHTA Yoga combines various styles of yoga in a practice that is tailored to the individual. You will find that an ISHTA Yoga class incorporates some Viniyoga, Iyengar, and Ashtanga, in addition to breathing, meditation, and relaxation practices.\n\nAlan Finger and his wife, Sarah Platt-Finger opened the first yoga studio to bear the name of his teaching style, ISHTA, in Manhattan in 2008. They provide ISHTA Yoga teacher trainings, and as a result, ISHTA Yoga can be found at many studios around the world, including The Yoga Sanctuary.\n\n&nbsp;', 'ISHTA Yoga', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'ishta-yoga', '', '', '2016-11-16 20:48:46', '2016-11-17 01:48:46', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3581', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5891, 3, '2018-04-06 17:50:16', '2018-04-06 21:50:16', '[caption id="attachment_5908" align="alignright" width="225"]<img class="wp-image-5908 size-medium" title="Cathy Getz" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cathy_getz-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Cathy Getz in her favorite pose: Virasana[/caption]\r\n\r\n<em>The Yoga Sanctuary: </em>Can you tell us a little about yourself?\r\n\r\n<em>Cathy Getz: </em>From my first trip to Florida with Grandma when I was 18, I knew I wanted to live here, so when my husband Jim and I retired in 2003, the move was imminent. Jim and I already owned a vacation home in Burnt Store Marina.  I was raised by a fishing guide Dad and a Mom who loves to swim more than another activity (she is now 91), on Lake St. Clair in Michigan. Charlotte Harbor water was the draw.\r\n\r\nI have been a student at TYS since 2007 and had been associated as a Staff Member/Retail Manager between 2010 and 2015.  I call myself “Staff Emeritus” and still offer unsolicited advice and help when needed. I’m also a member of TYS’ first teacher training class in 2011.\r\n\r\n<em>TYS: </em>When and why did you first start yoga?\r\n\r\n<em>CG: </em>I started practicing at Burnt Store Marina in 2003 because I was curious and knew I needed something to slow me down. Two days a week was not enough and I began to search, finding Vibha Kumar, Virginia Williamson, and ultimately, Bonnie Yonker (former owner of The Yoga Sanctuary).  I drove to Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte every day for class and connected with other Yogis.  When Bonnie opened TYS in 2007 I had found a home.\r\n\r\n<em>TYS: </em>What are the greatest benefits of practicing yoga?\r\n\r\n<em>CG: </em>For me, the greatest benefit has been to learn to look at others with an open heart.\r\n\r\n<em>TYS: </em>How has your yoga practice changed your health and/or life?\r\n\r\n<em>CG: </em>I’m way less intense!  (I know some may refute that!).\r\n\r\n<em>TYS: </em>What is your favorite yoga pose and why?\r\n\r\n<em>CG: </em>I have two, sitting in Virasana and Sarvangasana (even though I do not practice it as often as I should).  I am well grounded in Virasana (Hero’s Pose) and can be very relaxed while still alert.  Shoulderstand just feels good to me; the neck stretch and ability to focus are the two main reasons.\r\n\r\n<em>TYS: </em>Do you have a favorite book or quote that you would like to share?\r\n\r\n<em>CG: </em>Again, I have two. Both are from fortune cookies and are now taped to my computer! “Compassion is a way of being” and “You feel restless – change is just around the corner.”', 'Yogi of the Month – Cathy Getz', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-cathy-getz', '', '', '2019-08-14 15:10:37', '2019-08-14 19:10:37', '', 0, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=5891', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3599, 7, '2015-06-28 05:42:12', '2015-06-28 09:42:12', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-6151 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/prajna-logo-297x300.jpg" alt="prajna yoga" width="297" height="300" />\r\n\r\nThe word <em>prajna</em> is a very old word, akin to the Greek word gnosis. Prajna suggests wisdom, a kind of sixth sense—or seventh sense—not intellectual but an intuitive wisdom. Through <em>prajna</em> one actualizes the dharma in everyday life and engages in the world whole-heartedly without grasping. To use the words of the Chinese sage Mahasattva Fu, one “takes hold of the plow with empty hands.” I founded <a href="http://www.prajnayoga.net">Prajna Yoga</a> with my wife Surya in Santa Fe, New Mexico, based on our collective forty years of practice and study. The first in-depth study training program in this practice was offered in 1998.\r\n\r\nIn this day of racy yoga classes, chic yoga wear, and classes that emphasize power work-outs, Prajna Yoga involves mindfulness and precision. In order to tap the internal alignment of a posture, a mindful approach is necessary, and this involves slowing the practice down. By going slowly a student can feel more, and attune to the changing rhythms within her body. We have a bumper sticker we designed that reads: DARE TO BE SLOW. It does take practice—and patience—to go slowly, especially in the midst of the lickety-split, pixel craze in which we all now live.\r\n\r\nThe aim of yoga is not simply to build strength and flexibility, but intelligence—a kind of somatic wisdom. How do we build this intelligence, this sensitivity? The key in all training, whether headstand, down dog, or seated meditation, is listening. It is through internal listening that one can attune to the subtle body including the breath, holding patterns in the connective tissues, emotions and thoughts. We think of this as the Art of Listening.\r\n\r\nPrajna Yoga combines insightful teachings on mindfulness that stem from the Buddhist tradition, with the techniques and practices within Hatha Yoga. The combination of these two are potent means to transform the mind and body. The Prajna approach involves “skillful action” and mindful articulation within a pose.\r\n\r\nThe practice always begins from the ground up. It is critical to set the foundation of a pose so that it is balanced and stable. Typically this involves the feet, but the foundation of a pose may be the crown of the head, the forearms, or the shoulder blades. When the foundation of a pose is set then one can safely build the temple of the pose.\r\n\r\nThe Prajna approach is inter-disciplinary and there are many elements woven together in the Prajna practice. One of the primary stitches in the weave is the way hatha yoga combines with the science of anatomy and structural alignment. Techniques from Iyengar Yoga are combined with principles from Osteopathic medicine, the work of Ida Rolf, and elements from Chinese medicine. Also in the Prajna weave are Taoist teachings, yoga for women’s health, nutrition, poetry, and Sanskrit studies. The emphasis throughout is not simply to build a more flexible and stronger student, but to educate students on the nuances of the mind-body-heart connection. The emphasis is to develop “Big Mind”—a mind (and heart) that is wide and broad in its perspective.\r\n\r\nOne of the things Prajna Yoga avoids is the rigidity of a system. Due to the authoritarianism and the self-serving motivations within any system (something that J. Krishnamurti cautioned against), Prajna Yoga emphasizes a body of practice that changes and evolves. This follows the original teachings of the Buddha who taught that nothing is static, neither the body, the weather, relationships between people, or beliefs. In this sense, the “system” of Prajna Yoga is like the current of a river. This flow can be seen in a variety of ways—the flow of awareness, the flow of vinyasa, the flow of blood and lymph through the body, and the flow of change that happens all the time. This flow also manifests as a practice that can change and adapt according to the needs of the time. In this sense Prajna Yoga is like the Tao and when the Tao flows it is responsive and dynamic.\r\n\r\nThe cornerstone of the Prajna Yoga approach is <em>metta</em> or loving kindness. The essential practice of kindness does not necessarily involve religion. In fact sometimes the dogma that stems from spiritual practice can become an obstacle to kindness. Metta does not require that one believe in one particular deity. Rather, this kindness manifests when one sees into the fragility of all life and the impermanence of all circumstance. Metta is the ground for being in relationship—within the teacher-student connection, within a marriage, and between co-workers and colleagues. The heart of metta practice involves ease, compassion and non-judgmental awareness toward oneself and others. One student spoke to the Prajna Yoga experience this way, “here is a practice that educates and challenges, but at the same time accepts a person for where they are and works them gently but firmly forward.”\r\n\r\nThe realization of metta involves the understanding that all life is inter-dependent, something Thich Nhat Hahn called inter-being. The symbol that best describes this is the “knot of eternity,” a weave pattern that best represents Prajna Yoga. This “knot of inter-being” is one of the eight symbols that expresses veneration for the teachings of the Buddha. The knot represents the indivisibility of all of life—all things animate and inanimate, all circumstance, and all activity. Suggested in this symbol is that there is no such thing as an isolated “I” or “me” apart from the weave of everything else. The suggestion of this weave is that the purpose of the path of yoga is not to get outside of or away from one’s relationships in the world. Rather, through understanding the inter-connectivity of all life, one participates more whole-heartedly and fearlessly in the fabric of life.\r\n\r\nPrajna Yoga involves a fearless approach to living, yet one that is realized through wisdom and compassion. By training the body to be centered and pliable and the mind-heart to be clear and open, one can live a wondrous and intimate life.\r\n\r\nLearn more about Tias Little\'s upcoming visit to The Yoga Sanctuary <a href="https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=2338&amp;stype=-8&amp;sTG=11&amp;sVT=21&amp;sView=day&amp;sLoc=0&amp;sTrn=100000060">HERE</a>.', 'Prajna Yoga: The Yoga of Wisdom and Compassion - A Guest Blog by Tias Little', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'prajna-yoga-the-yoga-of-wisdom-and-compassion-a-guest-blog-by-tias-little', '', '', '2019-02-04 18:28:01', '2019-02-04 23:28:01', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3599', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3605, 7, '2015-06-28 05:57:55', '2015-06-28 12:57:55', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3606" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Sarfaz-224x300.jpg" alt="Sarfaz" width="224" height="300" />\n\nMy name is Sarfraz Islam. I have lived in Port Charlotte for the last 30 years and recently moved to Punta Gorda. I am a physician who has practiced for 30 years, until March 2014 when I retired.\n\nI have always been inspired by the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga but could not spare the time to practice due to my busy career and life until a year ago.\n\nI was introduced to yoga about 6 years ago by a dear friend after a stressful incident in my life. Although yoga had a positive effect on my life, I did not keep up with it.\n\nIn April of 2014, I joined The Yoga Sanctuary in Punta Gorda and started practicing 3 to 4 times a week. Now I feel physically and mentally rejuvenated. The aches and pain I felt for many years are much less intense. The stamina to walk has improved. In stressful situations, meditation and restorative yoga brings me back to a state of peaceful mind and body.\n\nI continue to practice yoga 3 – 4 times a week. I attend gentle, level one and mixed level yoga classes. My favorite pose is the tree pose; it focuses on balance, concentration and meditative thoughts.\n\nYoga has changed my life in many ways. Not only am I able to create more peace and tranquility around me, I can also successfully relieve tension in my muscles. All in all, it makes me a more balanced human being.\n\nI feel I still need to learn a lot more. I know that I can’t learn each and every yoga pose, so I keep coming to learn as many as I can. Despite all the above mentioned benefits, I still feel there is a lot to gain in it for me—physically and spiritually.\n\nMy favorite quote is:\n\n"Do not dwell in the past,\n\ndo not dream of the future,\n\nconcentrate the mind\n\non the present moment."\n\n- Buddha', 'Yogi of the Month: Sarfraz Islam', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-sarfraz-islam', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3605', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3611, 7, '2015-06-29 12:37:29', '2015-06-29 19:37:29', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3612" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/remember-when-224x300.jpg" alt="remember when" width="224" height="300" />\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">A few times over the past couple years I have been asked the question, “When did you start practicing yoga?” I realized that, subconsciously, I have been practicing yoga throughout my life and in various ways since I was five years old. At that age, I would put on “shows” for my grandparents, featuring Hanumanasana (splits, or Monkey Pose), Dhanurasana (bow pose), and Urdhva Dhanurasana (back bend). As a young introvert, dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation) arose naturally when I was by myself—reading, painting, playing, or skating.</span><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;"> </span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">I was brought up to understand the ground rules of satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), and aparigraha (non-greed). Oh, the stories I could tell about the learning curve of being truthful! Always seeking knowledge (svadhyaya), I was guided to explore different languages, cultures, and ethnic and religious differences. </span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">My subconscious yoga experience continued as I got older. As a young adult, a difficult-to-treat skin condition led me to encounter doctors who practice the Buteyko Breathing Method, a pranayama practice that helped me to heal. My path has been long and rich with experiences, both good and bad, that have made me who I am—and brought me to the place I am—today.</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">Consciously, I found my way to the yoga practice ten years ago when a good friend invited me to a class at another yoga studio in Port Charlotte. I don’t remember the exact experience, but I do remember that I wanted to come back. I felt at home, and I knew there was a lot to explore and learn. </span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">During my first year of practice, each class intrigued me more. I wanted more of this abundant, available knowledge. I participated in many firsts: a kirtan with David Newman, a book club, and a Sanskrit language and Indian spices workshop. I trained in Reiki I and II. This growth made me feel comfortable with who I was and where I was, and it defined the path to where I wanted to go. I know that I will be on that path for many years to come. </span>\n\n&nbsp;', 'Staff Spotlight: Anna Martin - Remember When...', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-remember-when', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3611', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3625, 7, '2015-07-15 05:15:47', '2015-07-15 09:15:47', '<h5>Teacher Appreciation Day</h5>\r\n<h5>By Gwen Burdick</h5>\r\n<h5><img class=" wp-image-5961 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/guru-purnima-2-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="281" height="281" /></h5>\r\n"Everything in the world has come out of one Divine Being, the sacred fire.  The sages are the direct manifestation of that fire.  No one understands them.  No one talks to them.  No one walks with them.  They live in their own world and yet, driven by intense compassion, they descend and walk among human beings.  They are kind and ever-engaged in guiding those who are in search of the Divine Experience.  When you have a real desire to see them, they come to you in the flesh.  Don\'t waste your time running here and there: they are always with you; they are your real companions." - Swami Rama as quoted by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait in <u>At the Eleventh Hour </u>\r\n\r\n<em>Guru Purnima</em>, the highest holiday in the Vedic tradition, is celebrated yearly on the first full moon after the summer solstice in the month of <em>Ashad</em>, usually our July, and corresponds to the beginning of the rainy season.  The Sanskrit word <em>Guru</em> means remover of darkness and <em>Purnima</em> is the full moon day of the lunation cycle.  On this day scholars, academics and students from a variety of spiritual lineages gather in fellowship, known as <em>satsang</em>, to honor and express gratitude for the wisdom teachings and past and present teachers that have inspired, guided, and protected everyone.  All forms of worship are said to be a thousand times more powerful on Guru Purnima.\r\n\r\nYoga and its sister Vedic sciences have been taught to sincere seekers by authentic teachers for thousands of years, one-on-one, in an unbroken fashion as an oral tradition. Saints and sages have lived throughout history, coming to teach the same message to diverse people, speaking diverse languages, and teaching in diverse ways. Considered by many to be the most necessary part of life and the greatest gift, the <em>Sat Guru,</em> or Enlightened Master, is the embodiment of the three Gods of the Universe:  Lord Brahma the Creator, Lord Vishnu the Sustainer and Lord Shiva the Destroyer.  Further, the Guru principle is available to us through the written word of the sacred texts, as the ancient seers stored this wisdom in the language of various scriptures.  It is the hope that, through God\'s grace, the lamp of knowledge is lit within each of us, the darkness of ignorance is removed, and that we may have a direct personal experience of our own Divinity.\r\n\r\nTraditional ceremonies and festivities on Guru Purnima normally include <em>kirtan</em> (chanting), <em>havan</em> (a fire ceremony where prayers are offered) and <em>prasad</em> (a food offering, usually kheer, a sweet rice pudding).  On this important day, disciples not only recommit to their own spiritual path, but brother and sister-disciples recommit to each other as well in solidarity on their spiritual journeys.', 'Guru Purnima', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'guru-purnima-teacher-appreciation-day-by-gwen-burdick', '', '', '2018-06-28 17:56:00', '2018-06-28 21:56:00', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3625', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5955, 7, '2018-06-23 17:28:51', '2018-06-23 21:28:51', '<h5>Teacher Appreciation Day</h5>\r\n<h5>By Gwen Burdick</h5>\r\n<h5><img class="size-medium wp-image-5954 alignleft" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/guru-purnima-1-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></h5>\r\n"Everything in the world has come out of one Divine Being, the sacred fire.  The sages are the direct manifestation of that fire.  No one understands them.  No one talks to them.  No one walks with them.  They live in their own world and yet, driven by intense compassion, they descend and walk among human beings.  They are kind and ever-engaged in guiding those who are in search of the Divine Experience.  When you have a real desire to see them, they come to you in the flesh.  Don\'t waste your time running here and there: they are always with you; they are your real companions." - Swami Rama as quoted by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait in <u>At the Eleventh Hour </u>\r\n\r\n<em>Guru Purnima</em>, the highest holiday in the Vedic tradition, is celebrated yearly on the first full moon after the summer solstice in the month of <em>Ashad</em>, usually our July, and corresponds to the beginning of the rainy season.  The Sanskrit word <em>Guru</em> means remover of darkness and <em>Purnima</em> is the full moon day of the lunation cycle.  On this day scholars, academics and students from a variety of spiritual lineages gather in fellowship, known as <em>satsang</em>, to honor and express gratitude for the wisdom teachings and past and present teachers that have inspired, guided, and protected everyone.  All forms of worship are said to be a thousand times more powerful on Guru Purnima.\r\n\r\nYoga and its sister Vedic sciences have been taught to sincere seekers by authentic teachers for thousands of years, one-on-one, in an unbroken fashion as an oral tradition. Saints and sages have lived throughout history, coming to teach the same message to diverse people, speaking diverse languages, and teaching in diverse ways. Considered by many to be the most necessary part of life and the greatest gift, the <em>Sat Guru,</em> or Enlightened Master, is the embodiment of the three Gods of the Universe:  Lord Brahma the Creator, Lord Vishnu the Sustainer and Lord Shiva the Destroyer.  Further, the Guru principle is available to us through the written word of the sacred texts, as the ancient seers stored this wisdom in the language of various scriptures.  It is the hope that, through God\'s grace, the lamp of knowledge is lit within each of us, the darkness of ignorance is removed, and that we may have a direct personal experience of our own Divinity.\r\n\r\nTraditional ceremonies and festivities on Guru Purnima normally include <em>kirtan</em> (chanting), <em>havan</em> (a fire ceremony where prayers are offered) and <em>prasad</em> (a food offering, usually kheer, a sweet rice pudding).  On this important day, disciples not only recommit to their own spiritual path, but brother and sister-disciples recommit to each other as well in solidarity on their spiritual journeys.', 'Guru Purnima', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3625-revision-v1', '', '', '2018-06-23 17:28:51', '2018-06-23 21:28:51', '', 3625, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3625-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3642, 7, '2015-08-02 07:31:02', '2015-08-02 14:31:02', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3643" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/sanskritslang-300x103.jpg" alt="sanskritslang" width="300" height="103" />\r\n\r\nYoga is a centuries old practice with a rich philosophy steeped in the ancient language of Sanskrit. A language once rarely spoken by people in everyday life, Sanskrit is being revived in India such that over 14,000 people currently consider it to be their native language. For the most part, however, Sanskrit is considered to be a sacred language and is reserved for use by those who seek to understand the deeper philosophy of yoga and Indian culture.\r\n\r\nWhile modern yoga has lost some of its integration with the Sanskrit language, you have heard some Sankrit in class. Every yoga posture has a Sanskrit name, and many teachers choose to use these names, often alongside the English name. For example, Trikonasana is Triangle Pose. Sound familiar? Savasana is Corpse Pose. Then there is pranayama, the breath practice, and asana, the postures.\r\n\r\nIf you have any experience with mantra, or chanting, you have delved even further into the Sanskrit language. Each syllable of Sanskrit holds its own vibration, and when sounded out, the person chanting absorbs that vibration. Chanting ‘om,’ for example, instills a sense of peace that helps us to find our center. You may have already felt this yourself.\r\n\r\nIn a similar way, each Sanskrit word has a deeper meaning that is linked to the many ancient myths of India. Over the next few months in this series, we will highlight different yoga postures and discuss the myths that surround each one so that you can experience your yoga practice in a more comprehensive way.', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Sanskrit', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-sanskrit', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:46:54', '2016-11-08 23:46:54', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3642', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3645, 7, '2015-08-02 07:36:45', '2015-08-02 14:36:45', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3646" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MaryEllenHanley-192x300.jpg" alt="MaryEllenHanley" width="192" height="300" />\n\nI was born, raised, and educated in Brooklyn, NY. I studied social science at Fordham University, NYC and 35 years ago married my husband Jay. We have two sons, Ian and Ryan. Jay and I lived in NYC, Long Island, and Boston before purchasing our home in Punta Gorda in 2011.\n\nOnce I retired in 2007 after 32 years in the telecommunications industry, I eagerly awaited the opening of a new yoga studio, Healing Tree Yoga, in Quincy, MA. I began a Hatha Yoga practice there once they opened. Yoga was a perfect fit for me. I wanted to develop a sense of calm and peacefulness in my life and reduce some of the noise and clutter in my life by learning to live more simply. I looked forward to an activity that was personal and non-competitive.\n\nLike many of my colleagues, the pressure of the corporate culture, commuting long hours, and raising a family left me with chronic tension in my jaw and neck. My posture was poor due to hours spent compiling reports and spreadsheets, slumped over my desk with little or no daily exercise.\n\nSlowly but surely, through yoga I learned to focus on breathing to keep my mind present. I have to admit that it took some time for my A type personality to let go of the ever present to-do list. I am ashamed to admit that there were times when I would lie on my mat thinking about what salad to serve that evening while my classmates were in downward dog.\n\nStretching, twisting, and strength-building postures began to transform my body into a more nimble, relaxed, and graceful version of myself. I could see that my posture improved; I became more aware of my sitting and standing, now mindful of keeping my spine straight, my shoulders back, my heart forward, and my neck relaxed.\n\nI try to take at least two yoga classes per week. I am most comfortable with Level 1 classes, but I also love to attend Sunrise Yoga. Some days, Gentle Yoga suits me just fine. I also developed a mini-yoga practice that I do at home.\n\nYoga has given me the wonderful gift of appreciating quiet. I love to sit and focus on breathing. This brings me to such a peaceful place. I have become less tolerant of loud music, action films, and noisy, crowded public places. While I am tolerant of friends and family who enjoy loud music and animated conversation, I have learned that quiet is very important to my well-being.\n\nI have also learned to be more focused on whatever task is at hand, trying to not succumb to distraction. And I am trying to lead a life of moderation. Do I need 12 handbags? Of course not. Well, I am still working on this.\n\nI still find balance poses challenging and inconsistent. Some days I feel I can stand in tree pose all day and other days I can’t get started without falling out of the pose. I do not have great upper body strength, and I have some knee sensitivity and wrist issues—all minor concerns that make my yoga practice a bit challenging some days. Surely not showstoppers, however!\n\nOutside of The Yoga Sanctuary, I play golf (yet another challenge). I am on the Board of Directors at Twin Isles Country Club here in Punta Gorda. I love to read, and when I can, I paint with watercolors.\n\nMy favorite yoga postures are the Sun Salutations. What a beautiful way to honor a new day.\n\nYoga contributes so much to my sense of well-being. I could not live without it. When I sit quietly, it is easy to be reminded of how much I have to be grateful for. I enjoy trying new poses and continually strive to do better with the fundamentals. I am inspired by the dedication of the yoga instructors at The Yoga Sanctuary and my fellow yogis practicing by my side. I am awed that yoga has been practiced all over the world for many, many years.\n\nMy favorite quote:\n\n“It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who has been swimming naked.”\n\n—Warren Buffet', 'Yogi of the Month—Mary Ellen Hanley', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-mary-ellen-hanley', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3645', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3652, 7, '2015-08-03 05:51:48', '2015-08-03 12:51:48', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2828" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/sally-300x300.jpg" alt="sally" width="300" height="300" />\n\nMy first experience with yoga occurred in 2006 shortly after moving to Florida from northern Virginia. Moving out of state was a particularly difficult decision to make, but I bought my first house, packed my belongings, and ventured 1,000 miles away from everything I\'d ever known. I felt scared, excited, and incredibly independent.\n\nAs someone who has never been particularly enthusiastic about exercising, sports, or physical activities (I was always picked last in gym class and played hooky when the physical activities were particularly challenging), I kept hearing about this trend called yoga. I figured it would be a great way to try something new and hopefully attain a smoking hot body. Instead, I found a whole lot more.\n\nIn the sleepy town of Ocala there wasn\'t much to choose from, but I was lucky to find a little studio called NUYU Yoga. I picked out the easiest sounding class, and walked in, shaking in my skin. I was intimidated by what was sure to be a room filled with beautiful, lanky women exhibiting perfect aesthetic postures.\n\nTo my surprise I found regular people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, beautiful and perfect in their differences. My yoga teacher, Lynda Geril, was warm and kind, and I instantly felt safe and comfortable with her. She walked me into the studio and directed me to the mats and props, which immediately sent up red flags. Blocks and straps were surely some sort of torture devices that would force me into unnatural positions and leave me crippled on the way out.\n\nBut looks can be quite deceiving. It turned out that the props were there to help me (who knew?!). With the guidance of my teacher, the postures were surprisingly attainable and adaptable for my body. The anxiety I walked in with disappeared with each exhalation, and before I knew it, class was over. I had survived! As I walked toward my car, I felt this strange feeling: contentment. My body and mind felt amazing, and I was immediately hooked.\n\nI attended four to five classes per week of various levels of yoga, Pilates, and Yogalates. Around the same time that I made the decision to move to North Port in 2009, Lynda Geril announced she would be closing her studio to spend more time with family. It was a bittersweet goodbye, but I will forever be grateful for her warmth, humor, and kindness, and for introducing me to a lifelong friend: yoga.\n\nFast-forward to 2011. After attending many yoga and Pilates classes at studios near North Port, I thought I would never again find the magic I had in Ocala. Sure, many studios and gyms have great merit, but I felt like Goldilocks searching from class to class and teacher to teacher to find one that was "just right.”\n\nI had all but given up when I received an email about something called "The Yoga Month Challenge." I had already taken a few classes in 2010 at The Yoga Sanctuary’s old building, and while I loved the classes, Punta Gorda was too far for me to drive. But when the Yoga Month Challenge popped up, and I saw that it was a benefit for The Peace River Wildlife Center, I felt a spark of fire that I hadn\'t in years. I immediately signed up and pre-registered for all 20 of my classes. With the enthusiasm and support of the wonderful teachers and students at TYS, I actually did it! And that accomplishment felt amazing. I was excited to keep attending classes and had finally found the "magic" I was looking for.\n\nWhen I first took yoga classes back in Ocala, we practiced in a studio that was covered in mirrors, focusing on the physical aspects of asana and some light breathing. So all I really understood was how a pose was supposed to look from the outside. In a society that focuses so heavily on the outer layers, this seemed perfectly normal to me. It would be years before revelations would begin to surface about why I felt so good on the <em>inside</em>. The idea of chakra or dosha balancing was years ahead of me, but the benefits were there the whole time.\n\nPracticing at The Yoga Sanctuary, I felt challenged in different way: "How in the world could I create a Triangle pose without being able to see myself?" I thought at first. But with the guidance of our teachers, and lots of gentle adjustments, I found my Triangle pose, and felt it the way it was intended—from the inside out. Another piece of my yoga journey clicked into place.', 'Staff Spotlight— Sally Bartolotta, Remember When', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-sally-bartolotta-remember-when', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3652', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3657, 7, '2015-08-18 11:34:58', '2015-08-18 15:34:58', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3659" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/online-yoga-yogaforrunners1-300x199.jpg" alt="yoga " width="300" height="199" />\r\n\r\nAthleticism requires a certain drive—mentally, physically, and emotionally. The dedication of an athlete is admirable—the many hours spent training, week after week, and the moment of glory when an athlete is making a play or finishing that last mile—it’s no wonder so many athletes are also our heroes. But it’s not all fun and games. The life of an athlete can take its toll. Fortunately, the practice of yoga can help athletes balance their training so that they experience more physical comfort, enhanced balance, and mental sharpness.\r\n\r\nMuscle tightness in athletes is usually quite prominent due to the many hours of strength training required, which is disproportionate to the time spent stretching. While many athletes incorporate “a few minutes of stretching” before and after their training, it’s not enough. Yoga helps to balance this tightness not only with postures that increase flexibility, but also with breathing and awareness techniques to help the athlete relax areas of the body where tension is held. This is important for people who are prone to injuries. Yoga helps bring about an awareness that can prevent injuries in athletes who tend to “push through it.”\r\n\r\nBalance is another aspect that yoga helps athletes to hone. Every sport requires a certain element of balance, but rarely do athletes train for it. Postures that help to improve balance, such as Vrksasana (Tree Pose), Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III), and even standing postures such as Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) all help the athlete to establish a firm stance, no matter the position of the feet. This training helps athletes maintain balance as they engage in their sport.\r\n\r\nMindfulness may be the best reason of all for athletes to practice yoga. While yoga postures help to bring about better flexibility, relaxation, and balance, ultimately it is the mind that can make or break any athlete. Most athletes say that when they are fully engaged in their sport, they are able to reach a state of complete absorption—as though everything drops away and all that is left is the current moment. This is mindfulness. Rather than catching glimpses of this powerful state, yoga teaches continual mindfulness. Sure, it takes practice, but the more an athlete can reach this state on a regular basis, the better able they will be to perform when it matters.\r\n\r\nOverall, yoga helps athletes get out of their heads and let go of competition. When the athlete is able to tune into the present moment—with a body awareness and comfort gained through the yoga practice—they can take their performance to the next level.', 'Yoga for Athletes', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-for-athletes', '', '', '2016-11-18 14:34:19', '2016-11-18 19:34:19', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3657', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3663, 7, '2015-08-27 10:59:58', '2015-08-27 14:59:58', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3664" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tadasana-240x300.jpg" alt="tadasana" width="240" height="300" />\n\nWe begin the series of yoga asana myths with Tadasana, or Mountain Pose. While this posture is not necessarily steeped in Indian mythology as many of the others, Tadasana is a fundamental yoga posture that is rich in symbolism. From the Sanskrit words <em>tada</em> (mountain) and <em>asana</em> (posture, or seat), Mountain Pose is the essence of stability and foundation. Tadasana contains the building blocks for every other posture in yoga.\n\nThe posture itself “promotes the stillness, strength, relaxed power, and stability we associate with mountains,” says Alanna Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>. She explains the inseparable relationship between mountains and rivers, both represented by the Indian god Himavat, who represents the Himalayas and is considered the father of Ganga Devi, the goddess of the Ganges, India’s most sacred river.\n\n“When we stand in Tadasana, the head, being nearest to heaven, is where we receive the blessings that flow through the rest of our body like a river,” she says. The even stance of Mountain Pose—the lengthened spine and steady base—sets the tone for practice.\n\nIn India, there is a mountain called Mount Kailas with two lakes—one shaped like the sun and the other like a crescent moon, which represents hatha (<em>ha</em> = sun, <em>tha</em> = moon) yoga. Mount Kailas is considered the seventh chakra—<em>sahasrara</em>. The two lakes have been likened to the two streams of energy (<em>ida</em> and <em>pingala</em> <em>nadis</em>) that rise up one central channel (<em>sushumna</em> nadi) moving toward the highest level of consciousness. Mount Kailas is considered a sacred mountain.\n\nWhen we stand in Tadasana, we are equally grounded and arising. Our base is firm, yet we reach upward toward the heavens. Our spine is situated as it would be during meditation, ideal for the free flow of <em>prana</em> (life force) throughout the body. Take the time to connect to this energy in Tadasana. It can help you to maintain it throughout your practice.', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Tadasana', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-tadasana', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:45:44', '2016-11-08 23:45:44', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3663', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3666, 7, '2015-08-27 11:30:06', '2015-08-27 18:30:06', '[caption id="attachment_6422" align="alignleft" width="277"]<img class="wp-image-6422" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Anita-3-e1562689832387.jpg" alt="Anita Stuart" width="277" height="369" /> Anita with her dear cousin Nicole. Nicole was visiting Punta Gorda all the way from Germany.[/caption]\r\n\r\nI was born and raised as the youngest of three children in Kempen am Niederrhein, Germany, and then West Germany. After my school years I did an apprenticeship in a local firm. I met my husband (who was in the army) in 1974, got engaged a year later, and we married in El Paso, Texas in 1977. We only lived there for a few months before receiving orders to move to Italy. After our third year tour in Italy, we were able to get a transfer to Germany and moved to my hometown where our son Nigel was born.\r\n\r\nI have always been an active person. I taught step aerobics for a number of years. I began doing yoga using DVDs and later attended yoga classes at my fitness center, but I always felt that I needed more guidance. So when I moved to Punta Gorda, I visited The Yoga Sanctuary and knew that it was the right place for me.\r\n\r\nMy main reason for starting yoga was to find a better balance in my life. I have been blessed not to have had any medical issues that led me to want to do yoga. I practice five days a week, and during the winter months I practice up to seven classes weekly.\r\n\r\nYoga has made me more flexible, and I am learning to calm myself in stressful situations. It has taught me to be more mindful.\r\n\r\nSince I am fearful of falling, some of the poses like Crow still intimidate me. I keep trying to overcome, however. My favorite pose is Warrior II. I really like all of the teachers and fellow yogis at The Yoga Sanctuary. There is so much we can learn from one another!\r\n\r\nI am currently really enjoying my husband’s recent retirement—finally having time together is wonderful. I enjoy walking, cross training, biking, and boating. I also love knitting.\r\n\r\nMy favorite quote stems from my mother: "From nothing comes nothing!" So if you want to make positive changes, you have to apply yourself.\r\n\r\n<strong>NOTE: Our beloved Anita passed away peacefully on the morning of June 11th, 2019. She will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched. </strong>', 'Yogi of the Month—Anita Stuart', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-anita-stuart', '', '', '2019-07-10 08:47:18', '2019-07-10 12:47:18', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3666', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3669, 7, '2015-08-27 11:38:44', '2015-08-27 18:38:44', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3670" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/4c0db0e4-0de6-4b01-acb4-c57d6fe4945d-284x300.jpg" alt="4c0db0e4-0de6-4b01-acb4-c57d6fe4945d" width="284" height="300" /><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">Ironically, I began massage therapy school without ever having received a massage. However, I was attracted to the idea of touch as a method of healing the body both physically and emotionally. In 1998 I graduated from the massage therapy training program at the Florida College of Natural Health. Since then I have logged more than 300 hours of continuing education classes in different massage styles. During each massage session, I integrate techniques from different modalities to customize the massage to the client’s individual needs.</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">In 2007, I was living in Atlanta and working at a wellness center that specialized in Ayurvedic massage. Ayurveda, literally meaning “the knowledge of life,” is an ancient system of health care native to India. In the center, we were trained in many of the Panchakarma oil massage therapies. These therapies incorporate the use of herbal oils to address and treat imbalances in the doshas (the components of an individual’s constitution).</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">Since yoga is the sister science to Ayurveda, beginning a yoga practice seemed like the next step to take in continuing to explore “the knowledge of life.” After moving back to Florida in 2010, I joined The Yoga Sanctuary and immediately fell in love with yoga—so much so, that I wanted to start the teacher training program right away. I was gently advised to first develop my yoga practice. Five years later I was ready. In April, 2015 I graduated from the teacher training program and have begun teaching yoga.</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">My favorite yoga pose, Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) began as my least favorite. I struggled with every aspect; balance, opening the hips and chest, strength, confidence. I still have a long way to go towards achieving full expression in Ardha Chandrasana, but I am enjoying the journey and what it is teaching me about myself.</span>\n\n<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;">The practice of yoga is life changing, awakening both the physical body and the energetic body. It is about listening to your inner voice. And it is always about balance. What a joy to share with others.</span>\n\n&nbsp;', 'Staff Spotlight— Diane Danaher', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-diane-danaher', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3669', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3678, 7, '2015-09-13 09:00:46', '2015-09-13 13:00:46', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3344" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/tt.jpg" alt="tt" width="210" height="136" />\n\nSummertime brings with it warm days and a slower pace. Often, our yoga practice falls prey to the sloth of summer. You For example, you may not practice while on vacation and then, two weeks after you return, you find that you <em>still</em> haven’t gotten back on your mat. Sound familiar?\n\nOr maybe your practice is lacking the oomph it once had. Perhaps you take the easier variation of a pose because, well, it’s easier. You know that you are fully capable of strutting the full expression of Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose), but you usually take the modification just because you<em> can</em>. Does that ring a bell?\n\nAs fall approaches, it’s time to take your practice up a notch. Show up to your mat as though it were the most important action of your day. Then show up to each pose as though it were the most important action of your day. Then do it again for the next pose, and the next.\n\nTaking your practice up a notch does not mean, however, that pushing past your limits is necessary. But if you are not practicing near your edge—the place in each posture that feels challenging yet does not incur pain—then you are not fully experiencing the potential of your practice.\n\nThis month—Yoga Month, take notice of your practice. How frequently are you practicing? What is your quality of practice? Could you try a stronger class or a new style of yoga? Could you add another class or two per week? Could you begin a daily practice? Could you add a meditation to your practice? Are you showing up fully to each and every pose of your practice?\n\nYour intention and dedication play a big role in how you show up on the yoga mat. Tap into the potential of your practice by setting intentions and truly dedicating yourself to the practice. You will likely find that your practice takes on a new quality.', 'Take Your Practice Up a Notch', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'take-your-practice-up-a-notch', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:40:10', '2017-02-01 23:40:10', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3678', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3681, 7, '2015-09-16 09:03:31', '2015-09-16 13:03:31', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2862" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/om-symbol-300x300.jpg" alt="om symbol" width="300" height="300" />\r\n\r\nIf you have been to a yoga class, chances are you have been invited to chant ‘om.’ Whether at the beginning of class as a way to set the space or at the end of class to close the practice, chanting om is a wonderful way to tune back into the present moment and connect to something greater than ourselves.\r\n\r\nThe sound om is actually made up of four sounds: A-U-M . The ‘A’ is pronounced “ah,” the ‘U’ is pronounced “oo,” the ‘M’ is pronounced “mm,’ and the space afterward is held for silence. These sounds represent the waking (A), dreaming (U), and deep (M) sleep states, while the silence represents the witness state of consciousness—pure awareness. It is all three states encompassed in all that is and ever was. The sound of om is said to be sound of the creation of the universe. It is considered a sacred sound.\r\n\r\nThe four-part sounds of om are easily experienced while chanting. The ‘A’ sound begins at the very back of the throat, the ‘U’ sound resonates at the middle of the mouth, and the ‘M’ sound at the lips. Take a moment to chant these sounds and feel the progression from the back to the front of the mouth. It will help you better experience the om chant.\r\n\r\nChanting om at the beginning and end of practice, or at the beginning and end of meditation is a wonderful way to enter and leave a space/time that you set for yourself to deepen your understanding of your yoga practice. Try chanting om—or a round of oms—at times when you could benefit from reconnecting to your center. It can help transform your emotional and mental state.', 'Chanting Om—Why We Do It', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'chanting-om-why-we-do-it', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:10:45', '2017-02-01 23:10:45', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3681', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3684, 7, '2015-09-24 08:22:53', '2015-09-24 12:22:53', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3685" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Gustave-Caillebotte-les-raboteurs-the-floor-scrapers.jpg" alt="Gustave Caillebotte- les raboteurs - the floor scrapers" width="290" height="202" />\n\n"Oh, Aspirant, learn to practice until the last breath of your life." Patanjali\n\nThe word <em>Sadhana</em> in Sanskrit means spiritual exertion towards an intended goal or the means of accomplishing something. According to Vedic teachings, that something is to live in a state of Self-realization, and any discipline or practice undertaken for ego-transcendence, freedom from suffering, or spiritual liberation is the final goal of life. We all want to live a happy life and the inherently difficult path of <em>Sadhana</em> is the way to live in the world yet remain above it. The Sages tell us that the resources available are immense, but that, as we are human beings, we are bound to stumble and make mistakes. Our True Nature exists; a burning desire for purification of the smaller, limited self is needed. This will allow us to understand that all of life is <em>Sadhana.</em>\n\nIt is worthwhile to consider first our daily habits and routines. The physical body needs to be attended to in a way that supports our spiritual intentions rather than creating discomfort and obstacles for us, and yoga philosophy suggests that we pay attention to a few basic things: sleep, food, breathing and exercise. Going to sleep on time, waking up on time, and getting as much sleep as we really need may seem simple, but any parent of a teenager can explain what this principle looks like when it\'s out of balance. Neither exhaustion nor inertia support the spiritual path. Nourishing the body with food that is <em>sattvic</em>, (fresh and unprocessed), eating the right amount, at the right time, with the proper frame of mind, all are a must. Further, eating food that is prepared by someone who loves us or by us for ourselves or another is considered a practice in its own right. Pausing before a meal and saying grace of any sort is helpful. Breath awareness is much overlooked. Deep diaphragmatic breathing stabilizes the nervous system and is essential for clarity of mind. Next time you are upset, notice what happens to your breathing pattern. Implementing even the simplest pranayama practices can have huge benefits.   Lastly, it is important to find an exercise and movement program that suits us. We don\'t have to train like Olympic athletes. Hatha Yoga is particularly effective as it addresses strength, flexibility, endurance and alignment. If we are gentle and honest with ourselves we will discover where we need to make adjustments in our daily routines and why. Intentionally making an effort to improve these areas of our lives is the first step of <em>Sadhana</em>.\n\nNext time we will consider <em>Sadhana</em> in the form of mediation and charity work.', 'SADHANA – by Gwen Burdick', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'sadhana-by-gwen-burdick', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:39:53', '2017-02-01 23:39:53', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3684', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3687, 7, '2015-09-27 06:58:33', '2015-09-27 10:58:33', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1607" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/trikonasana-300x296.jpg" alt="trikonasana" width="300" height="296" />\n\nTrikonasana, or Triangle Pose, is a symbol of trinity. Sacred trinities exist in so many forms in yoga. From the practical mind, body, and spirit or birth, life, and death to the more esoteric main energy channels (nadis) of ida, pingala, and sushumna or the three gunas: tamas, rajas, and sattva, triads exist throughout yoga and, in fact, throughout life itself.\n\nThe gunas are the three qualities that make up our body and mind. Tamas is the quality of inertia. When we feel tired and sluggish, tamas is in control. Rajas is the quality of activity and passion. When we are excited, rajas is in control. Sattva is the quality of calm. When we feel peaceful, sattva predominates.\n\nEach of these three qualities is necessary at different times and for different situations. When bedtime nears, we need tamas so that we can fall asleep. When morning comes, we need rajas to get up and get going. And when we are feeling unsteady, either mentally or physically, we need sattva to help us find calm.\n\nEach person is born with a certain ratio of each of the three gunas. You probably know some people who are very energetic—they have more rajas. People who are slow-moving have more tamas. And people who are usually peaceful have an abundance of sattva.\n\nThe triad nature of triangle pose helps us to understand the integration of life’s balance of three. Alanna Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>, recommends, “. . . when performing Trikonasana, it’s helpful to meditate on the solid foundation that we need in order to live a sattvic life and leave the world of maya behind.”\n\nThe three gunas make up everything that we perceive with our senses, also known as maya, or illusion. Balancing tamas and rajas so that we can attain a sattvic state will help us to transcend the illusion that we are our body and mind. In fact, we are much more that what we can perceive with our senses. Yoga helps us to realize this truth of our nature.', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Trikonasana', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-trikonasana', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:45:27', '2016-11-08 23:45:27', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3687', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3690, 7, '2015-10-03 14:07:57', '2015-10-03 21:07:57', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2910" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/october-2012-300x225.jpg" alt="october 2012" width="300" height="225" />\n\nWhen I lived in northern Kentucky in 1999, my roommate and I signed up for a six-week, once-weekly yoga class learning the sun salutations in a gymnasium. We went every week and loved it. But that was the end of yoga for me until I moved to Ft. Myers in 2003. At that time I was stressed out from work and not feeling well. I needed <em>something</em>, but wasn’t sure what. I found my way back to yoga, taking a class a week when I could. I instantly loved it as I had before, but soon life took over and I stopped going to class.\n\nYoga didn’t come back to me until 2008 when I found The Yoga Sanctuary. I cherished going to class on Saturdays. The Yoga Sanctuary was a beautiful place with kind people and great teachers—not to mention the fabulous eye pillows for Savasana. I loved the way the practice made me feel, although I didn’t enjoy Trikonasana (Triangle Pose). It felt awkward.\n\nI soon found myself going to class four times a week. I enjoyed the asana practice and started to take workshops. In 2010 I was excited to take the teacher training at TYS. We read books about yoga philosophy and were taught about asana, pranayama, meditation, Ayurveda, chakras, etc. In a short period of time I learned a lot. Life seemed to make more sense with this new knowledge. Things started to click, and life seemed to flow easier. The asana practice brought me to yoga, and the philosophy of yoga keeps me on the path.\n\nAfter becoming a teacher I continued my home practice, which I now cherish. With more practice I became stronger and more confident. The stuck energy in my chakras began to open up—hips, spine, shoulders, throat, heart. And now I really enjoy Trikonasana! I am still working on my core, but this summer I discovered that by using breath of fire with some core asanas, my manipura chakra has better energy already.\n\nI am a huge Deepak Chopra fan. From him I have learned more about meditation and life. There is so much more to learn. I feel blessed and grateful to the teachers and students at TYS as I continue on this journey. In my classes I want people to feel cherished for who they are, to enjoy the peacefulness and lightheartedness at the studio, and to enjoy the practice using the breath to create space and energy in the body and mind so they find clarity, joy, and peace in their daily lives.', 'Staff Spotlight—Remember When Melissa Meehan', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-remember-when-melissa-meehan', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3690', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3692, 7, '2015-10-03 14:14:28', '2015-10-03 21:14:28', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3693" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/marie-hicks-169x300.jpg" alt="marie hicks" width="169" height="300" />\n\nI have lived here in Charlotte County since 1969 and recently completed 30 years of employment with Barbara T. Scott, Clerk of the Court. I have three grandchildren.\n\nA few years ago I tried a few yoga classes and since then, I always wanted to get back into it. Last year I was able to take the six free classes that our county Risk Management team put together with The Yoga Sanctuary. After those classes finished, I tried a membership at the studio and have been a member ever since. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year.\n\nI practice yoga two to three times a week to increase my flexibility and get some exercise. Sometimes my work schedule does not allow me to practice, and I really miss it when that happens. My favorite classes are Gentle, Level 1, and Restorative.\n\nPrior to August of last year, I suffered severe muscle spasms that required me to take muscle relaxers to relieve the pain. But since starting my yoga practice I have not had any muscle spasms, and my back feels stronger. Overall, my entire body feels stronger.\n\nSince starting my practice, I have been incorporating more natural things into my daily life. About the same time that I started yoga, I began researching and using essential oils. I use them daily in one form or another as maintenance and as an alternative to over-the-counter medications.\n\nAs a result of practicing yoga, I have an overall sense of peace and confidence. In the last year I have definitely noticed a change in my entire being. I have always been a positive person, but this last year—in retrospect—I realize that I don\'t let things bother me as they had in the past. I think this has been extremely beneficial in my workplace.\n\nAs far as challenges that show up in my practice, I still have trouble quieting my mind. I struggle to let go. Meditation and getting to the quiet place has been difficult for me.\n\nI have so much more to learn and I am eager for it. Every class I learn something—even just a slight adjustment can make such a big difference.\n\nMy favorite pose is Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani) Pose. For me, this pose is extremely relaxing.\n\nOutside of yoga, I like to read, shop, explore, and to learn new things. And I love family time. Every Sunday my family and I get together for dinner. This time is precious to me. I also watch and cheer on my grandkids in their individual activities. I am inspired by my family—each member has qualities that I admire.\n\nMy favorite quotes: “It is what it is; it is what you make it!”\n\nAnd the Serenity Prayer.', 'Yogi of the Month—Marie Hicks', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-marie-hicks', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3692', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3701, 7, '2015-10-13 07:05:08', '2015-10-13 11:05:08', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3075" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/untitled.png" alt="untitled" width="276" height="183" />\r\n\r\nYoga practice as we know it in the modern world tends to be heavily focused on the physical aspect of yoga. Western practitioners are first intrigued by the asana (postures) and pranayama (breath control) that are taught in yoga studios far and wide, but when we view yoga in the larger context of its history, we find that yoga philosophy plays an essential role.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to philosophy, most teachers reference the <em>Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</em>, a systematized compilation of yoga knowledge compiled around 400 CE. The <em>Yoga Sutras</em> describe what yoga is, why it is important, how to attain it, and what might come as a result of regular practice. And by “practice,” it refers more to a state of mind than to physical movement. Only three of the 108 sutras even refer to asana.\r\n\r\nThe concept of yoga did not first appear in the Yoga Sutras, however. The<em> Bhagavad Gita</em>, an earlier text said to be compiled by the sage VedaVyasa between the fifth and second century BC, discusses the philosophy of yoga in depth. It describes the yoga of devotion and knowledge as well as the yoga of action and transcendence of action within the story of prince Arjuna who faces doubt just before the Kurushetra War. Although the story plays out on a battle field, scholars interpret Arjuna’s dilemma symbolically as an internal struggle within the psyche.\r\n\r\nEven before The<em> Bhagavad Gita</em>, the <em>Upanishads</em> describe yoga as a means of attaining Self-realization through the practice of meditation, mental discrimination, and mantra recitation. And yet before the <em>Upanishads</em>, the <em>Rig Veda</em> describes a dedication to the rising sun in the morning as a practice of “union,” or yoga.\r\n\r\nDelving into ancient Indian texts is a wonderful way to add meaning and understanding to the practice you do on the mat. Incorporating this study, which is ultimately a form of self-study, will help you to deepen your experience of yoga.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Yoga Philosophy—A Practice Far Beyond the Mat', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-philosophy-a-practice-far-beyond-the-mat', '', '', '2019-12-31 11:40:51', '2019-12-31 16:40:51', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3701', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (6730, 7, '2019-12-31 11:40:51', '2019-12-31 16:40:51', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3075" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/untitled.png" alt="untitled" width="276" height="183" />\r\n\r\nYoga practice as we know it in the modern world tends to be heavily focused on the physical aspect of yoga. Western practitioners are first intrigued by the asana (postures) and pranayama (breath control) that are taught in yoga studios far and wide, but when we view yoga in the larger context of its history, we find that yoga philosophy plays an essential role.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to philosophy, most teachers reference the <em>Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</em>, a systematized compilation of yoga knowledge compiled around 400 CE. The <em>Yoga Sutras</em> describe what yoga is, why it is important, how to attain it, and what might come as a result of regular practice. And by “practice,” it refers more to a state of mind than to physical movement. Only three of the 108 sutras even refer to asana.\r\n\r\nThe concept of yoga did not first appear in the Yoga Sutras, however. The<em> Bhagavad Gita</em>, an earlier text said to be compiled by the sage VedaVyasa between the fifth and second century BC, discusses the philosophy of yoga in depth. It describes the yoga of devotion and knowledge as well as the yoga of action and transcendence of action within the story of prince Arjuna who faces doubt just before the Kurushetra War. Although the story plays out on a battle field, scholars interpret Arjuna’s dilemma symbolically as an internal struggle within the psyche.\r\n\r\nEven before The<em> Bhagavad Gita</em>, the <em>Upanishads</em> describe yoga as a means of attaining Self-realization through the practice of meditation, mental discrimination, and mantra recitation. And yet before the <em>Upanishads</em>, the <em>Rig Veda</em> describes a dedication to the rising sun in the morning as a practice of “union,” or yoga.\r\n\r\nDelving into ancient Indian texts is a wonderful way to add meaning and understanding to the practice you do on the mat. Incorporating this study, which is ultimately a form of self-study, will help you to deepen your experience of yoga.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;', 'Yoga Philosophy—A Practice Far Beyond the Mat', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3701-revision-v1', '', '', '2019-12-31 11:40:51', '2019-12-31 16:40:51', '', 3701, 'https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/3701-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3706, 7, '2015-10-31 09:03:38', '2015-10-31 13:03:38', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3707" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/sadhana.jpg" alt="sadhana" width="198" height="255" />\n\nOnce we find relative ease in the physical body, we can turn our attention to the mind and the necessary practice of meditation. Vedic teaching tells us that the mind is the cause of both bondage and liberation. An undisciplined mind runs incessantly from one object of the world to another. The one-pointed mind gained through meditation, however, can withdraw from the external world, go beyond mental yammering, and experience the potential of its essential nature. It is through the <em>sadhana</em> of meditation that we learn to be the seer of our thoughts without getting involved in our thoughts, whatever they may be.\n\nIt is best to undertake <em>Sadhana</em> in the form of a daily meditation practice without expecting immediate results. Yoga philosophy teaches that sustained effort over time is what is important. To assist in developing self-discipline, try to sit for meditation at the same time, in the same place, every day (before sunrise if possible). All that is necessary for posture is steadiness, allowing the head, neck and spine to be in gentle straight alignment. After we have found stillness in the body, we observe the flow of the breath. At this point we learn to focus internally and allow the breath to become smooth, deep and uninterrupted. Beginners need not start with more than just a few minutes of meditation a day; practicing for long periods with discomfort is counter-productive.\n\nThere are many forms of meditation. Japa, the silent recitation of a mantra with full concentration, is considered the most effective way to purify and nourish the mind. The word <em>mantra</em> in Sanskrit means "that which protects the mind." The Sanskrit mantras use the technology of sacred sound to breakdown <em>samskaras</em>, old habitual thought patterns, and build new sattvic ones. Some mantras are simple, some quite complex. Exact pronunciation is not required, purity of intent is. Find a mantra that suits you from a feeling standpoint and allow your mind to follow it as you practice your daily meditation. With persistent effort, we can get a glimpse of the peace of the realm beyond the mind. The Sages tell us to begin wherever we are; there is no chance that we will not progress.\n\nNext time we will consider <em>Sadhana</em> in the form of selfless action.', 'Sadhana - Part 2: By Gwen Burdick', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'sadhana-part-2-by-gwen-burdick', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:39:36', '2017-02-01 23:39:36', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3706', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3709, 7, '2015-11-02 06:53:53', '2015-11-02 11:53:53', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3710" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/warriors.jpg" alt="warriors" width="200" height="73" />\r\n\r\nVirabhadrasana, or Warrior Pose, has three versions: Warrior I (with hips squared forward, arms raised overhead, hands in prayer); Warrior II (with hips open and arms outstretched); and Warrior III with one leg on the ground, one leg back, and arms and torso reaching forward). Virabhadrasana is named after Virabhadra, a great warrior who was born from one of lord Shiva’s locks of hair.\r\n\r\nThe story goes that Sati, daughter of King Daksha, adored Shiva. One day Daksha threw a huge party and invited all possible suitors except for Shiva, whose drab attire and questionable company did not please the king. But when the moment came to choose a mate, she threw her garland high into the air and called out Shiva’s name. He appeared, wearing the garland, which sealed the marriage to Draksha’s dismay.\r\n\r\nLater, King Daksha threw another celebration, known as a yagya. He invited everyone except Shiva and his daughter. Sati decided to come anyway but was ridiculed and shunned by her father for all to see. Her anger and sadness drove her to jump to her death into the yagya fire. When Shiva learned of the circumstances of her death, he threw down a lock of his hair, which transformed into Virabhadra, the great warrior.\r\n\r\nAlanna Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>, likens the transformation of Virabhadra to the Warrior Poses. As he rises out of the ground his hands are raised and face turned up (Warrior I); as he draws his sword to cut off Daksha’s head his arms are outstretched (Warrior II); when he places Daksha’s head on a stake, his arms reach forward (Warrior III).\r\n\r\nWhen Sati learned of what Shiva had done, she was quite upset. To make amends, Shiva replaced King Draksha’s head with that of a goat. The king was so happy to be alive that he forgave Shiva, and threw a party in their honor.\r\n\r\nAccording to Zo Newell, author of <em>Downward Dogs &amp; Warriors, Wisdom Tales for Modern Yogis</em>, Virabhadra is “the personification of righteous anger and the noble impulse to defend the innocent.” Such impulses, whether acted on or just thought about, are a regular part of life. Kaivalya refers to Yoga Sutra 1.33 to address such impulses: “In order to preserve an elevated state of mind, be happy for those who are happy, cultivate compassion for those who are sad, feel delight for those deemed to be lucky, and experience indifference toward those perceived to be wicked.”\r\n\r\nWhen practicing Warrior poses, consider the strength they require and build, but remember that this strength must always be tempered with a sense of ease. This balance is what makes a true warrior, on and off the mat.', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Virabhadrasana', '', 'draft', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-virabhadrasana', '', '', '2019-04-08 12:57:43', '2019-04-08 16:57:43', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3709', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3712, 7, '2015-11-02 07:00:38', '2015-11-02 14:00:38', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3714" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HeleenStaff-Spotlight-300x225.jpg" alt="HeleenStaff Spotlight" width="300" height="225" />\n\nGrowing up in the Netherlands, I was introduced to yoga as a child by my aunt, Frieda Thepass, who lived with us. In 1957 she founded Stichting Yoga Nederland (now known as Yoga &amp; Vedanta ) with a small group of yoga friends. It is still one of the most respected yoga organizations in the Netherlands and Europe.\n\nLooking back, I realized that I have applied many of her yoga teachings to my daily adult life. Not until a few years ago did I recognize what a gift my aunt passed on to me.\n\nIn 2013 I joined TYS and it was like coming home. Two years later I began the Teacher Training program at The Yoga Sanctuary to get a deeper understanding of yoga.\n\nI have been teaching most of my life. I was an art teacher in the Netherlands, taught golf in Westchester, NY, finished the Yoga Teacher Training at TYS in April 2015, became a certified Yoga for Golfers instructor in July 2015, and completed the Foundations Course for the Gokhale Method in August 2015.\n\nThere is something pure, basic, natural, awesome, humbling, and amazing about teaching yoga. My focus is to integrate yoga with everyday life. I am especially interested in incorporating the poses, breathing, and meditation into standing, walking, sitting, bending, lying down, and foremost into breathing, so that people can live more (mind)fully on and off the mat.\n\nI am inspired by my family, friends, students, and teachers, as well as everyone and everything around me.\n\nThere are many favorite poses, but it is breathing that I most enjoy.\n\nI have just finished reading <em>Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind</em> by Maura O’Halloran, and at the moment I am reading again <em>Yoga, the Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness</em> by Erich Schiffmann.\n\nFavorite quote: “Wanderer there is no path, paths are made by walking.” —Antonio Machado, Spanish poet', 'Staff Spotlight— Heleen Schouten', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-heleen-schouten', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3712', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3717, 7, '2015-11-02 07:14:44', '2015-11-02 14:14:44', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3718" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Scott_Jeannie-300x241.jpg" alt="Scott_Jeannie" width="300" height="241" />\n\n<em>Scott and Jeanie Lee were high school sweethearts and have been happily married for 29 years. They grew up in Sylvania, Ohio and have lived throughout the United States in Michigan, Texas, Alaska, and Kentucky, and they now travel the eastern coastal states as full-time cruisers on their sailboat. Scott pursued a career in computer programing with his final job as the database administrator at St. Clair Medical Center in Morehead, KY. Jeanie made a career as a trombone performer and teacher, most recently as a professor of music at Morehead State University and trombonist with the West Virginia Symphony. </em>\n\n<em>In 2008 they retired from their jobs, sold their house, and decided to live and travel aboard their 42’ sailboat Joie de Vivre (Joy of Living). Sailboat life certainly required vast changes in their lives by downsizing their belongings and learning how to do without some of the conveniences that we all take for granted (long hot showers and constant Wi-Fi access, for example). But at the same time sailboat life allowed them the freedom to travel and taught them to slow down to appreciate life and each other more. It was well worth the swap!</em>\n\nWe started yoga in 2003 in our mid-30’s while living in Kentucky. Our first yoga instructor, Susan Thomas, started the class in the basement of a church as a benefit for the local food pantry. Entry to the class was a food donation. Susan was a fantastic instructor and really gave both of us a sound foundation to start our yoga practice. Scott started the classes first as a way to gain flexibility and upper body strength to improve his cycling. Jeanie soon followed too see what the classes were all about and learned that the flexibility and stress relief were both beneficial to her trombone playing.\n\nOur practice varies a lot depending on how much we are travelling. As soon as we get settled into a new area, we like to find a yoga studio to attend three to four classes per week. Sometimes it is difficult to find the motivation to practice on our own so we are always happy to discover an active yoga community. We’ve practiced yoga in recreation centers, park pavilions, amphitheaters, soccer fields, city waterfronts, on the deck of our boat, and even on beaches in the Bahamas.\n\nHere at The Yoga Sanctuary, we most often attend the Mixed Level and Level II classes. In our travels we’ve been privileged to study under many great teachers. We are very thankful to now include Jennifer in that list!\n\n<em>Before doing yoga, Scott had noticed that his flexibility had deteriorated over the years. After gaining some experience with yoga, the flexibility improved, but he was also very pleasantly surprised to see noticeable improvements in his strength and balance—areas that he had not even been aware were weakening as he grew older. As a trombonist, Jeanie often had back and arm pain from the long hours of practicing and performing. She didn’t specifically try to use yoga to “fix” these problems, but after weeks and months she noticed that yoga poses gradually became less painful as she gained flexibility, and this transferred to her musical activities as well.</em>\n\nYoga has been beneficial for us in mind, body, and spirit. These words might sound cliché, but there is great truth in them. We both notice a profound negative effect when our yoga practice gets interrupted by our travels and always eagerly return to classes when the opportunity arises again.\n\n<em>For Scott, his newfound increase in flexibility and strength has allowed him to tackle the physical challenges found on a sailboat without as much danger of injuring himself. For Jeanie, the greatest unexpected benefit has been the stress relief that comes from yoga. The calmness that is gained in class carries throughout the day and allows her to face unexpected challenges without the anxiety or stress that might normally accompany them. This might be called a “marriage-saver” benefit.</em>\n\nAs life happens, it seem that one or both of us often has some new physical issue to deal with, more often than not it is a pulled muscle or injury doing everyday sailboat activities when we haven’t been practicing yoga regularly. The tough lesson that we keep re-learning is to keep the practice going.\n\nWe both enjoy sailing, cycling, hiking, and camping. Just this summer we were introduced to pickleball by some of our sailing friends, and we now have a new favorite pastime to add to the list.\n\n<em>Scott prefers the extended side-angle pose because it offers a challenge, and he seeks constant growth through yoga. Jeanie enjoys the triangle pose. It allows her to feel the stretch and energy moving in all directions through all of her limbs at once and seems to embody all that yoga is about.</em>\n\nWe both keep coming back to yoga to maintain our strength and flexibility so that we can continue our current lifestyle. Sailing is often long periods of non-activity interrupted by intense physical activity, and yoga keeps the body in tune for these sudden shifts.\n\nScott – “Not all who wander are lost.” ―J.R.R. Tolkein\n\nJeanie – “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” ―William Shakespeare\n\n&nbsp;', 'Yogi of the Month—Scott and Jeanie Lee', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-scott-and-jeanie-lee', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3717', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3725, 7, '2015-11-10 07:39:53', '2015-11-10 12:39:53', '[caption id="attachment_3726" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-3726" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/diwali-300x209.jpg" alt="Rangoli with diyas" width="300" height="209" /> Rangoli with diyas[/caption]\n\n<em>Diwali</em>, which means "row of lights" in Sanskrit, is a celebration in India and around the world to honor the inextinguishable Light within all of us.  It occurs in late October or early November every year on the New Moon when the two great luminaries of our solar system are at their weakest influence.  Astrologically, <em>Surya</em> (the Sun) is in its position of debilitation in Libra every year at this time. This means our solar nature—vision, consistent power and clarity—is the most difficult to access individually and collectively on <em>Diwali</em>.  <em>Chandra</em> (the Moon) is also at its weakest as it joins <em>Surya </em>in the sky, for it is completely dark on this day of the lunation cycle.  Consequently, the light of consciousness is most difficult to feel on this day.\n\nThis may seem counter-intuitive at first, but although the energies of the Sun and Moon create life on Earth, it is our own Inner Light that ultimately dispels the darkness of doubt, confusion, fear and ignorance and allows us to evolve spiritually. The goal of all <em>sadhana</em> is to gain access to that Light within ourselves.  An important story of the Ramayana correlating to the ceremony of <em>Diwali</em> tells of the happy return of the King (<em>Surya</em>) and Queen (<em>Chandra</em>), after years spent in exile and suffering, along a path and row of lights lit by the villagers. Festivities on this day include sweets and fireworks, as lamps are lit in homes, offices and temples in worship and reverence to the Light that is not subject to time, space and causation. On <em>Diwali</em> we are reminded that Light is always victorious over darkness.', 'DIWALI: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'diwali-festival-of-lights', '', '', '2016-11-16 21:53:59', '2016-11-17 02:53:59', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3725', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3734, 7, '2015-11-19 08:16:37', '2015-11-19 13:16:37', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3329" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/1391360224-300x199.jpg" alt="1391360224" width="300" height="199" />\n\nOne reason that yoga appeals to so many people is because, in addition to the great physical and mental benefits, its added spiritual/philosophical dimension can be integrated into a wide range of belief systems. When you hear the phrase, “Yoga is for all,” you may think about how the postures can be adapted for different body types, but this phrase also applies to different beliefs. Whether your beliefs entail religion, spirituality, a mindful experience of the present moment, a connection to nature, or no belief whatsoever, yoga can help you connect deeper with your faith.\n\n<em>The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</em>, considered the authoritative text on yoga, intentionally omits any reference to religion. The philosophy lays out guidelines for the achievement of enlightenment, which is considered to be a continual experience of the present moment. Yoga sutra 1.2 clearly states the purpose of yoga: Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.\n\nTo achieve this state of ever-presence, the eight limbs of yoga are outlined. The Yamas and Niyamas present personal and societal ethical codes. Asana (postures) and Pranayama (breathing) practice are just as we practice them in class, leading to Pratyahara, or withdrawal of the senses and Dharana (concentration).Prolonged concentration leads to Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (enlightenment), the ultimate culmination of the practice.\n\nSamadhi is the revelation that we are all one. Those of certain faiths will understand this as being one with God, one with nature, or simply one with oneself. Each of these beliefs is valid and can be strengthened by the yoga practice. If you’ve come to the practice seeking something greater than yourself, it’s likely that you will find it. If you’ve come to the practice for physical gain, it’s likely that you will also find a deeper meaning when you look. Be open to this experience and what it might show you.', 'Yoga for any Faith', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-for-any-faith', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:39:12', '2017-02-01 23:39:12', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3734', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3737, 7, '2015-12-01 05:46:08', '2015-12-01 12:46:08', '<h5>By Margit Bannon</h5>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class="wp-image-6649 alignleft" src="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/yoga-for-tennis.jpg" alt="yoga-for-tennis" width="305" height="203" />\r\n\r\nIf you play tennis it’s not such a stretch (pardon the pun) to say that you might enjoy the practice of yoga, and if you practice yoga that you might enjoy tennis. Let’s consider the parallels between these two disciplines.\r\n\r\nAs yogis we often say that there is no substitute for “getting on the mat” on a regular basis. And if you play tennis you know that it’s a game of repetition. During a recent conference I had the pleasure of taking a class with yoga master and Yoga Journal Editor, Jason Crandell, who said, “In order to build strength we need repetition and accuracy.” This statement is true not only for yoga but also for improvement in the game of tennis.\r\n\r\nWhile it’s easy to focus on the physical nature of both, practice on the mat and the court leads to mental toughness or what we know in yoga as <a href="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/pratyahara/"><em>pratyahara</em></a> (being able to drown out everything outside of our current activity). If we haven’t done the work and aren’t physically fit and confident, withdrawal of the senses becomes more difficult as distractions come in the form of excuses (insert your favorite here).\r\n\r\nAs we advance in our practice and we become more able, we find focus, <a href="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/dharana/"><em>dharana</em></a>, the ability to concentrate on a single point of attention—as a tennis enthusiast, the ball. When we can combine these last few limbs of yoga, we more easily reach our goals of being “in the zone,” playing to our maximum potential, and reaching a state where we feel most alive (<em><a href="https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/dhyana/">dhyana</a>).</em>\r\n\r\nWhile these goals are not easy to master, we tennis players and yogis alike continue to not only struggle but also crave the challenge that these pastimes provide. In this way we improve our games, our practice, and also the quality of our lives.\r\n\r\n<em>Margit Bannon is a certified tennis professional through the USPTA as well as a yoga teacher certified through Yoga Alliance. If you share the love for tennis and/or yoga and would like to follow Margit please “like” her Facebook page: </em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/playtennispracticeyoga"><em>www.facebook.com/playtennispracticeyoga</em></a>', 'Play Tennis. Practice Yoga.', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'margit-bannon-play-tennis-practice-yoga', '', '', '2019-11-16 17:19:51', '2019-11-16 22:19:51', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3737', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3740, 7, '2015-12-01 06:06:54', '2015-12-01 11:06:54', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3741" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Natarajasana-variation-170x300.jpg" alt="Natarajasana variation" width="170" height="300" />\n\nNatarajasana, or King Dancer Pose, is the embodiment of King Nataraja, a depiction of Shiva, the god of destruction. Shiva represents change. With birth must come death; with destruction must come rebuilding. Nataraja represents Shiva as the ever-present change in the universe.\n\nIn statues of Nataraja, Shiva dances in a ring of flame that represents samsara, or the cycle of birth and rebirth. According to Alana Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>, you can think of this cycle as reincarnation, or you could think of it as the continual cycle of life patterns that play out again and again. You know that lesson that life keeps trying to teach you? It’s quite intentional. These patterns exist to help us grow and evolve.\n\nAround Nataraja’s neck is a cobra, its venom a symbol of <em>avidya</em>, or the veil of illusion that prevents us from knowing our true nature as divine. Nataraja has four arms: one holds a drum that signifies the rhythm of time; one holds the flame of enlightened knowledge thought to be the remedy to the illusion of avidya; and one hand is held up with the palm facing outward while the other faces downward, representing revelation and concealment—again, symbols of change.\n\nKing Dancer stands on one leg atop a small dwarf who represents ignorance. Shiva stands above him, maintaining mastery over ignorance. “By standing over the demon of ignorance, he is able to have a higher gaze, or a higher level of consciousness, which allows him to rise above daily drama,” notes Kaivalya. Standing firm in Natarajasana helps us to see life more clearly.\n\nKing Dancer Pose is quite challenging. It requires a release from fear. “Shiva’s dance is born out of a liberation from the fear of change,” Kaivalya states. The deep backbend and strong balance of the pose draw upon our ability to release fear and stand firm in our ability to take life as it comes. Some days we remain steady in the pose; other days, we fall. Such is life. Noticing the ebb and flow instead of fearing its consequences can truly set us free. This is the real goal behind Natarajasana.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Natarajasana', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-natarajasana', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:44:39', '2016-11-08 23:44:39', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3740', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3753, 7, '2015-12-11 13:01:56', '2015-12-11 20:01:56', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3754" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/aparigraha-0_3-300x300.png" alt="aparigraha-0_3" width="300" height="300" />\r\n\r\nThe hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us. It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities, swept away under the allure of celebrations, lights, and get-togethers. But before you hurry off to your next event, take some time to slow down and connect to what this season really means to you.\r\n\r\nFor many people, this time of year is a time of giving. If you are someone who likes to give during the holidays, check in with your motivations. If you feel as though you must give gifts simply as a courtesy to the people who are gifting <em>you</em>, why not suggest that you both donate to a local charity instead of spending time and money on gifts that you may end up giving away? Or, if you tend to spend more money on gifts than you anticipate year after year, why not get creative and make your gifts? A delicious plate of home-baked cookies will always win more hearts than will another holiday candle.\r\n\r\nThe first limb of yoga is made up of five niyamas, or social observances. Of the yamas, <a href="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/aparigraha">aparigraha</a>, or non-hoarding, is the fifth. We would be wise to remember that most, if not all, the <em>stuff</em> we have in life really doesn’t matter when it comes down to it. If you want to give this year, give from your heart. Find meaning in the gifts you give.\r\n\r\nThis month when you come to your mat, take your mind off that new [fill in the blank here] you’ve been wanting. Instead, connect to how you want to feel. And connect to how you want your loved ones to feel. This awareness may change the way you participate in the holidays. You’ll likely find that it leads to a different kind of giving.', 'The Yoga of Giving', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'the-yoga-of-giving', '', '', '2016-11-16 22:02:08', '2016-11-17 03:02:08', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3753', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3759, 7, '2016-01-04 17:16:55', '2016-01-05 00:16:55', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3760" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sharon5-169x300.jpg" alt="sharon5" width="169" height="300" />\n\nThe palms gracing Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Florida pull the eye to the unseen horizon where the beach meets the Gulf of Mexico. The horizon becomes visible at the pristine beach at the end of the road. From the first hint at the vastness of that place, I knew that Indiana would not be my home again. It was May of 1971.\n\nSmall town Indiana, where two of my high school teachers had taught my father and would teach my two younger brothers, was a great place to establish roots, but the corn and wheat fields did not contain the same allure as the wide open feeling of the place where the sand meets the sea and the breeze carries the promise of freshness with a hint of infinity.\n\nMy career choice has always been the hospitality industry. The only differences between teaching t\'ai-chi and yoga and serving food and beverages are the items being served. It is all about being in service to our fellow humans.\n\nWhen my son Andy was six years old and wanted to learn martial arts after watching “The Karate Kid,” we went to Shuman’s Black Belt Academy to discover a world of possibilities. After observing for a time, I joined the fun. From taekwondo (the way of the hand and fist), I learned the joy of using my entire body in a new way. From there, t\'ai-chi was a natural segue for me and Yang-style t\'ai chi ch\'uan was love at first step in 1995. Then other styles of t\'ai chi ch\'uan became mine—first Wu, then Chen, followed by Sun-style as well as Bagua and several weapons forms. Weapons might sound at odds with ahimsa, or non-harming, but the focus of the sword is to balance or project beyond the body to aid in understanding. In 1997 I began teaching Yang-style t\'ai chi.\n\nAs I ventured into the world of t\'ai chi and yoga, my husband was my biggest supporter. We were together since 1982 and married in 1984. His greatest love in this lifetime was his family. He had a quick wit and the warmest hands of anyone I had ever met. He had a ferocious, fiery temper and passion for life and an undying love and loyalty for his family. He passed away in 2010, which still feels so raw in my heart.\n\nThe book, <em>Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation</em> by Jess Stern was my introduction to the age-old tradition of yoga. I learned from this book that yoga is so much more than the physical practice and is based on an entire philosophy of the eight limbs of ashtanga. The title was intriguing and told the story of the author’s immersion into the mysterious yogic world. The next thing I learned was that I needed a teacher, so yoga took a back burner to the rest of my life—family, home, career, finances—the four pillars of muladhara, or root chakra.\n\nMy second t\'ai chi workshop with Dr. Paul Lam, where I began my study of Chen-style t\'ai chi in 2003 featured yoga as an evening activity. Troyce Thome, a professor from Saddleback College in California, led us through a yoga practice that was an experience words cannot explain. Regular practice was still a few years off for me until I would meet Bonnie in 2007. My first class at The Yoga Sanctuary with Cody McClymet (sp) was Iyengar style. Upon reflection, that was a life changing moment. I came away with the seeds of a love for yoga.\n\nTeaching, for me, rises naturally from my scientific mind that always wants to know the how and why of what makes something work. From the first TYS offering of teacher training it became my goal to participate and become certified in my home sangha, or community—a goal that became realized in 2015.\n\nMy goal as a teacher is to learn kindness, patience, and to understand the drive of all humans to be the best human possible, practicing kindness and patience themselves. I also strive to live the Maitri prayer that Melissa Goodwin reintroduced at ahimsa practice: “May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I dwell in peace.” It is from there that we learn to substitute “All Beings” for “I”: “May all beings be happy, healthy, and may they dwell in peace.”\n\nI am inspired by our teachers. Jennifer, who so skillfully presents shoulder stand in an upright, achievable form before turning our perspective upside down, making the seemingly impossible exciting and available in a safe manner; Anna, who brings India, the home of yoga, to life with her photos and her sense of purpose; and Heleen, who always questions and explores as we converse. I am inspired by my son, who points out the successes and looks to the next rung on the ladder, prompting me to do the same.\n\nMy Hong Kong orchid tree that was uprooted by Hurricane Charley inspires me because it is a symbol for thriving after adversity. It is in riotous blossom now and home to many species of butterflies and bees. The fragrance greets me as I venture outside, carried on the gentle wind. The knowledge of Self that comes from the study and practice of yoga and t\'ai chi is my inspiration.\n\nWarrior I is my favorite yoga pose, which is the foundation out of which has flowed the combination of yoga poses and t\'ai chi postures that converge to create a synergy where I find the flexibility and strength that is greater than with each practice on their own. Brush the Dragon’s Eyebrows and Toe Kick are my favorite t\'ai chi postures, which flow out of Warrior I to bring prana and chi (life force) into alignment.\n\nMy favorite yoga book is <em>The Heart of Yoga</em>, by T.K.V. Desikachar, which explores and simplifies the teachings of Krishnamacharya, the father of modern yoga who bridges modern and traditional yoga. My favorite t\'ai chi book is <em>The Dao of Tajiquan</em> by Tsung Hwa Jao, whose dreams are becoming reality as t\'ai chi is being practiced in the beautiful parks of this country as it is practiced in China.\n\nMy favorite quote is by Rumi, from his poem “The Guest House” quoted by Annie Moore in the first class I took at TYS:\n\n“This being human is a guest house.\n\nEvery morning, a new arrival.”', 'Staff Spotlight—Sharon Fultz', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-sharon-fultz', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3759', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3764, 7, '2016-01-04 17:26:45', '2016-01-05 00:26:45', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3765" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/linda-d-169x300.jpg" alt="linda d" width="169" height="300" />\n\nI am number four of five children who grew up in Ohio with a loving family. I moved to Florida in 2003 with my husband after dreaming about moving here since our first vacation in 1979. I work in a dental office as a business assistant and have been in the dental field for over 25 years after working in the medical field for 15 years.\n\nMy first time ever doing yoga was when I came to The Yoga Sanctuary in 2010 for the new student package, and Bonnie gave me my private class. I have practiced ever since. For years I could only come on Friday mornings, but now I try to make it to at least four classes a week when I can. I attend Gentle, Level 1, and Restorative classes. My goal for 2016 is to start the Mixed class. I am also trying to attend as many workshops as I can—they have all been amazing.\n\nI have struggled with a weight problem for years, so I was much heavier when I started practicing, but I would do the best I could with poses. I have since changed my whole outlook to my weight and just embraced a healthier lifestyle. I have been successful in losing weight and I feel my yoga practice has helped me focus on myself and achieve this.\n\nFor me, the greatest benefit of practicing yoga was learning the connection that my mind and body have, and embracing that. I always loved coming to classes and have met life-long friends from doing so. When my husband passed away suddenly in May, The Yoga Sanctuary became the one place I could come and feel a sense of peace and calmness. My brain could stop racing, if only for an hour. I was so thankful that I already had this in my life and blessed that everyone there gave me love and support at such a difficult time—and still do.\n\nChallenges I face in yoga arise when I do not feel confident doing new poses. I am hard on myself when I feel that I did not do it right. My favorite yoga pose is Bridge Pose. It stretches and strengthens at the same time.\n\nI keep coming back to yoga because of the feeling of my mind, body, and spirit coming together that I get from my practice. All the different ages of people who come to practice yoga inspire me. It is something that you can do no matter what age you are.\n\nOutside of yoga, I love to swim, exercise, and go to the beach.\n\nMy favorite quote: “A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are for what you have.”', 'Yogi of the Month—Linda DePillo', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-linda-depillo', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3764', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3767, 7, '2016-01-04 17:35:12', '2016-01-04 22:35:12', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3769" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cobra-1-300x240.jpg" alt="cobra" width="300" height="240" />\n\nBhujangasana, or Cobra Pose, represents our ability overcome fear. While the cobra is generally considered to be a creature that evokes fear, our ability to look past this initial instinct and view fear from a new perspective is key to helping us move past it.\n\nAs discussed last month, around the neck of Nataraja, or Shiva, hangs a cobra. The cobra’s venom is a symbol of <em>avidya</em>, or the veil of illusion that prevents us from knowing our true nature as divine. It is this veil that keeps us living in fear. Removing this veil removes the fearsome nature of the cobra, for fear is tied to the veil of illusion. Once we understand our true nature, fear is no longer relevant.\n\nSnake and cobra symbolism is scattered throughout Indian mythology. Shiva’s son, Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, also wears a cobra—around his waist as a symbol of “his commitment to mastering his fears,” according to Alanna Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>. Ganesh strives to live a spiritual life as his father has taught him.\n\nIn one Indian myth, the world itself is built upon the coils of the serpent Ananta Shesha. Vishnu is also often depicted resting on the coils of Ananta Shesha. It is said that when Ananta Shesha uncoils time and creation take place, and when he recoils the universe ceases to exist.\n\nOne of the most common symbols of the cobra in yogic mythology is the coiled serpent at the base of the spine, awakened by the rising of kundalini energy up the sushumna nadi (main prana channel that runs up the spine), coiling around the chakras as it rises. When kundalini energy is awakened through the practice of yoga and meditation, this energy is freed to rise up toward the crown chakra, creating a state of enlightenment. This symbolism is also seen in depictions of the Buddha with a cobra positioned above his head, symbolizing his enlightened state.\n\nWhen practicing Cobra Pose, try to change your own perspective. Feel your chest fill with air as you rise up against the pull of gravity. Release tension in your arms in an effort to find ease amidst effort. Only through surrender will you find the strength to hold Cobra Pose with an easy, slow breath. Let this practice help you remove fear in Cobra Pose as well as other more challenging poses in your practice.', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Bhujangasana', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-bhujangasana', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:44:21', '2016-11-08 23:44:21', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3767', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3777, 7, '2016-01-12 08:06:56', '2016-01-12 13:06:56', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3778" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sound-of-silence-300x185.jpg" alt="sound-of-silence" width="300" height="185" />\n\nSilent meditation, which you can experience in our weekly meditation class, is a way to quiet the mind and open the heart to the possibilities of the moment. Silence is a powerful tool that helps us turn inward and listen to the quieter voice that comes with insight. Before the voice of insight, of course, we first hear the louder thoughts that pass through: “Can I really sit here for a whole hour?” “My nose itches.” “I wonder what I’ll have for dinner.” “I can’t believe that so-and-so said such-and-such to me today.” And so on.\n\nOnce those thoughts—none based on the current moment—begin to fade to the steady rhythm of the breath, insight has the space to arise. Insight lands more like a feeling than a thought. It takes up the moment, and then, like everything else that arises, it passes. Only when we are truly silent can we access this treasure trove of wisdom that resides within us.\n\nSome people might find, especially at first, that silence only amplifies the “monkey mind”—those incessant thoughts that continually pass through the mind. But when you view this amplification as a tool, as a way to bring your attention to the thoughts themselves, you will find that you can more easily let them go. By noticing the thoughts, you begin to understand how your mind strays from the present moment. Knowing, as they say, is half the battle. Once you recognize the true nature of your mind, you’ll find it easier to anchor your mind to the moment by simply remaining present with your breath.\n\nAccessing the power of silence can help you tune into the healing nature of presence—your ability to experience the moment, as it exists. The more frequently you tune into this healing silence, the more frequently you’ll be able to experience the peace it brings. Set aside a few minutes a day for silent meditation. Start with 10 minutes, and build your way up as it feels comfortable. This one simple practice will have profound effects on your life when you keep at it over time.', 'The Healing Sound of Silence', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'the-healing-sound-of-silence', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:09:34', '2017-02-01 23:09:34', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3777', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3782, 7, '2016-02-02 16:38:14', '2016-02-02 21:38:14', 'Hanumanasana, or Monkey Pose, in its full expression, is the forward splits, a challenging pose that represents the pose Hanuman took as he leapt from the southern tip of India to Sri Lanka to rescue his good friend Ram’s wife, Sita, who had been kidnapped by the evil demon Ravana.\n\nHanuman’s story begins much before this famous tale. He was actually born Anjaneya, son of Anjana, a mortal woman, and Vaju, the god of wind, so he was half human, half god. He was a troublesome youngster, however, and one day was fatally struck down by the sun god, Surya because of his mischievousness. Vayu’s fury at Surya’s actions caused him to take in a deep breath, threatening all of humanity. To appease Vayu, the gods compromised, and Anjaneya was returned as Hanuman, but was unable to fully remember his own divinity.\n\nHanuman was removed from his mother and put into the care of Sugriva, the monkey king. Hanuman took the shape of a monkey to better get along with his family. One day he met King Ram, who immediately took to liking him. It was shortly thereafter that Ravana plotted to take over Ram’s kingdom and kidnap Sita. When he did, Ram could not rescue Sita because he had to defend his kingdom, so he sent his trusted friend Hanuman to save her.\n\nIt was then that Hanuman took the great leap to Sri Lanka. He was unsure how he would make the great journey, but his faith kept him going despite not knowing what he was truly capable of. “Many of us shrink before impossible tasks, or even tasks that are just a bit hard, because we are just like Hanuman. We easily forget that there is a part of us that is also divine and can accomplish the impossible,” says Alanna Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>. His faith and dedication brought him to Sita, where he promised to later return with King Ram to save her and fight off Ravana’s army. And they did just that, winning back their kingdom.\n\nThe same faith and dedication can be applied in the pose Hanumanasana itself. A challenging pose, it can take much time to take the full expression of the pose. Faith and dedication are essential to finding steadiness and ease in the pose.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Hanumanasana', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-hanumanasana', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:44:06', '2016-11-08 23:44:06', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3782', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3784, 7, '2016-02-02 16:41:29', '2016-02-02 23:41:29', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3785" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/morans-e1454456462452-225x300.jpg" alt="morans" width="225" height="300" />\n\nWe are honored to have been asked to be Yogis of the Month. Eddie and I are originally from New York State—Eddie is from Yonkers, and I grew up in the Bronx. We later moved to the Hudson Valley where these two city kids found themselves living in the farm country of Dutchess County. Eddie and I have been married for forty six years and we have two grown children, one of each. Our daughter and her husband have blessed us with two beautiful grandkids, and our son and his wife have just informed us that we will soon be grandparents for a third time, which we are overjoyed about.\n\nEddie and I met while we were both employed by the Old New York Telephone Company. After moving upstate I was a full-time mom for a good number of years but later worked at various positions: the Home Insurance Company; managed a bookstore in Rhinebeck, New York; and then mostly worked as a medical assistant both in New York and in Florida. Eddie left “Mr. Bell,” a job he was just not happy with, and took the test to be a firefighter, making a career out of that. He loved the job and would probably still like to be doing it, but injuries ended his career after 23+ years.\n\nAs to why we started yoga, for Eddie it was more or less a dare. He attended a class with the previous owner of The Yoga Sanctuary, Bonnie, when she taught at the Punta Gorda Fitness and Tennis Club. After taking the one class he thought, “Wow, there is really something to this,” and has practiced ever since. I had belonged to the same gym and also started with Bonnie. We then followed the practice to the building known as the Swiss Chocolate factory, which became The Yoga Sanctuary. It was here where we were introduced to Jennifer, the current owner (who by the way did a great job transitioning the business), and immediately liked her.\n\nAt this time we both are taking level one classes for the most part. Eddie has had some back problems and thinks the yoga has been more helpful to him than anything else. Since I retired I have been practicing a variety of classes four to six times a week, mostly level one, occasionally mixed, sunrise which I really love, chair, and restorative. Some of you probably know that I recently fractured my pelvis, a freakish accident that made me realize how much yoga meant to me and how much I missed it. I absolutely attribute my road to rehabilitation to have been hastened by my previous yoga practice.\n\nAt this time, Eddie and I would also like to thank all of the wonderful people at The Yoga Sanctuary for their thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. Thank you all. We try now to make it at least three times a week and I’m sure that this is what has helped me gain more mobility and to find improvement every day. Without actually knowing it, per se, yoga has also helped us deal with the ups and downs life has to offer, and of that we are both appreciative.\n\nWhen we are not practicing, Eddie likes to dabble in the arts. He draws mostly in charcoal and paints oils and sometimes pastels. He also likes to fish and enjoys sports. I hope to get back to my biking, spin classes, and hopefully running one of these days. We also enjoy road trips with no special destination in mind and no time restraints—we are very fortunate to be able to do this. We usually end our road trip at the grandkids. Did I say no special destination in mind? The grandkids are of course very special to us.\n\nMy favorite poses are Child’s Pose and Legs Up the Wall, which currently I am unable to do completely, but I know that in time I will be able to do them again. Eddie still says his favorite pose is whatever comes next, especially if it is something new. After 13+ years of practice, it always amazes and delights him when one of the class instructors demonstrates for us something we have not done before.\n\nAs for my favorite quote, well I’m not sure if I’ve heard this somewhere before, but I heard myself saying it to a friend just the other day: “I would like to do today what I could not do yesterday.” As for Eddie he told me his favorite quote of all time is when I say, “You’re right.” He said this laughing, and he better be. Love to all. —Karen and Eddie', 'Yogi of the Month—Eddie and Karen Moran', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-eddie-and-karen-moran', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:05:50', '2016-11-09 00:05:50', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3784', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3787, 7, '2016-02-02 16:48:30', '2016-02-02 23:48:30', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3050" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Julie-Huffman-e1388355999737-224x300.jpg" alt="Julie Huffman" width="224" height="300" />\n\nWe have all been students and have had many teachers. As students, we remember those teachers who have given gifts that we take with us throughout our lives. It’s the little stuff—the details we learn that inspire us to find our passions.\n\nMy parents were my first teachers. They taught me right from wrong, unconditional love, and how to make my way into the world. In elementary school my teachers taught me to read, the rules of English, and that my first answer is usually the correct one. Teachers at church, band instructors, piano teachers, swim coaches, dance teachers, and scout leaders created impressions upon me and shaped me into the person I have become. Even my dog, Roxie, teaches me to stop and learn from nature.\n\nIt only made sense that I decided to be a teacher. I came from a family of teachers. My dad was a professor of Western Civilization at William Woods College; my mother was a middle school teacher at Missouri School for the Deaf; and my sister taught kindergarten for 34 years. I have taught swimming, cheerleading, Sunday school, and after school youth programs. I also taught elementary school for 10 years before becoming a mother and teaching my own son.\n\nAbout 20 years ago, I took my first yoga class. My teacher suggested I continue to take classes and keep practicing. I took several teacher trainings through YogaFit. One of my teachers taught me to take my yoga off of the mat. Another taught me the alignment of Warrior II. And yet another taught me Ujjayi pranayama. In a workshop with Paula Tortolana Self, I learned a technique to open my knees. Aadil Palkivala told us to always remove our shoes before entering the house. Judith Hansen Lasater said we are all beginner yoga students. All are details—small yet really important stuff that I will always remember.\n\nTwo teachers inspired me enough to take a 200-hour yoga teacher training. These are the two teachers I admire and respect the most. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to be a student in their yoga classes for the past 10 years. They taught me the skills and attributes required to be an effective teacher: developing a daily practice with meditation, learning the physical postures and how to model them, teaching to the level of my students, proper sequencing of a class, utilizing props for comfort, and always being present with the students in class. I am grateful for the desire and passion they cultivated in me to be a forever growing teacher of yoga. Thank you Bonnie Yonker, Jennifer French, and all of the talented teachers at The Yoga Sanctuary for teaching me all of the details and small stuff it takes to be a yoga teacher. It all adds up to big stuff.', 'Staff Spotlight: Remembering My Teachers— Julie Huffman', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-remembering-my-teachers-julie-huffman', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3787', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3792, 7, '2016-02-13 11:44:06', '2016-02-13 16:44:06', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3793" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Loving-Kindness-300x199.jpg" alt="Loving-Kindness" width="300" height="199" />\r\n\r\nIn the Buddhist tradition, the practice of <em>metta</em>, or loving kindness, plays an important role. The ability to view other people and beings with benevolence is a strong value of this belief system. But in a world with so much violence, so many differing opinions, so many people who behave in ways that are not aligned with our own beliefs, how is it possible to truly view others—<em>all</em> others—with loving kindness?\r\n\r\nThe answer is, simply put, with practice. Just as we come to the yoga mat on a regular basis so that we can more easily come back to a peaceful, centered state of mind, so too can we cultivate loving kindness with regular practice. The metta practice is a practical, systematic way to increase your ability to perceive all beings as worthy of loving kindness. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity. You can get started today, in fact.\r\n\r\nFind a comfortable place to sit. You could sit on a cushion or chair—whatever is comfortable and that allows you to sit erect without leaning against a support. Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath for a moment to help you get centered. Begin by sending loving kindness to yourself. Feel accepted and loved—as though you are enough. Once you connect deeply to that feeling, move on to someone you love dearly. Feel your love and acceptance for that person. Once you feel it deeply, then move on to your family. Then extended family. Then your close friends. Then all your friends. Then acquaintances. Then your neighborhood, your town, your state, country, continent, and eventually, the entire world. Envision people all throughout the world—every one of them in need of love and kindness. Feel it deeply.\r\n\r\nThe metta meditation is a powerful practice that will help you to feel more connected to the people you know and love, and also to those people you don’t yet know, those you will never know, and even those you don’t want to know. With regular practice, your perspective will shift in a positive way. You may view problems in a new light (possibly as not problems as all). You will find a deeper understanding for the people you encounter in life. And you will likely feel a deep, true sense of peace in your heart. This simple practice is transformative.', 'A Practice for Cultivating Metta—Loving Kindness', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'a-practice-for-cultivating-metta-loving-kindness', '', '', '2017-02-01 18:09:16', '2017-02-01 23:09:16', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3792', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3859, 7, '2016-03-01 12:52:25', '2016-03-01 17:52:25', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3866" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/vasisthasana-1-300x200.jpg" alt="vasisthasana" width="300" height="200" />\n\n&nbsp;\n\nVasisthasana, or Side Plank Pose, is named after the great Indian sage Vasistha. The story begins with King Ram, who was an incarnation of Vishnu, one of three main Hindu gods responsible for the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the universe. Vishnu is the maintainer.\n\nKing Ram appeared on earth to restore <em>dharma</em>, or righteousness. But after his travels throughout the world, where he witnessed many devastating events, he fell into a deep state of depression. Vasistha saw this state of mind as a great opportunity, however. According to Alanna Kaivalya, author of <em>Myths of the Asanas</em>, “One must first see cracks in the ceiling before one can start to see the light shining through it.” King Ram was actually on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough, he just didn’t know it.\n\nKing Ram was skeptical. His lack of vision clouded his perception, but Vasistha showed him that it was this clouded vision that would help him to find clarity. Thus began a dialogue between King Ram and Vasistha that became the <em>Yoga Vasistha</em>, one of the main yoga philosophy and mythology texts.\n\nThe <em>Yoga Vasistha</em> teaches about <em>jivanmukta</em>, the state of the soul who is liberated while living. <em>Jiva</em> is the individual soul, expressed through the different aspects of human life; and <em>mukti</em> means liberation. “The magic occurs, explained Vasistha, when the individual soul merges with absolute freedom, so we can be, as the saying goes, in this world, but not of this world,” states Kaivalya.\n\nRam became one of the most well revered kings in Indian history. He even appears as the main character in India’s epic, the <em>Ramayana</em>. Vasistha’s teachings are thought to be responsible for Ram’s great achievements and success in life.\n\nThe symbolism of Vasisthasana is evident in the pose itself. A careful balance on one hand, the pose requires focus on what’s important. Clouded vision often arises at first, but clear focus is required to truly maintain the posture. With the body facing one direction, only part of the whole truth is seen. One must turn to complete the pose on the other side to view another perspective. This aspect of the pose reflects the challenge King Ram faced when he met Vasistha.', 'Exploring the Myths of Asana—Vasisthasana', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'exploring-the-myths-of-asana-vasisthasana', '', '', '2016-11-08 18:43:47', '2016-11-08 23:43:47', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3859', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3869, 7, '2016-03-02 14:32:01', '2016-03-02 21:32:01', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3286" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Sally-292x300.jpg" alt="Sally" width="292" height="300" />\n\nIt is said, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Upon reflection of the road I’ve traveled so far, I had no idea at the time how true these words would turn out to be.\n\nAs someone who grew up with emotional obstacles and low confidence, I learned at a very young age just how much power and responsibility a teacher holds. Unfortunately, my first lesson with this was a negative one. My first grade teacher imprinted scars that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. But luckily, I’ve had many wonderful and loving teachers since who helped clear the path and encouraged me to continue forward. And for that, I will always be grateful.\n\nShortly after moving to Florida, I decided I wanted to try yoga. This was an incredibly big leap for me at the time, since I was the kid who was always picked last in gym class. I remember being terrified walking into NUYU Yoga Studio in Ocala, FL. I was warmly welcomed in by owner and teacher, Lynda Geril, who I would practice with for three years before moving to North Port.\n\nAt the time, my confidence was so bad that I figured I’d try one class, feel embarrassed, and never want to return. As it turns out, Lynda’s carefree teaching style was exactly what my soul needed for that particular stage in my life. She had an unconventional teaching method—she took the full class along with us to experience everything the way that we did. Although this isn’t the style I would turn out to teach, or need later in life, it helped me to relax and feel as if we were in this together. Then a remarkable thing began to happen. I started to crave the mat, and I began to let go of insecurities, one at a time.\n\nFast forward to my move to North Port, I bounced around from studio to studio, feeling like Goldilocks. I had trouble finding a place where I felt the magic and the connection that I once had. Finding a teacher who truly resonates with you can be quite a challenge! Finally, I decided to expand my search to Punta Gorda, where I stumbled into The Yoga Sanctuary, and in a sense, never left.\n\nThe teachings and style at TYS are polar opposite to my first few years on the mat, but this was what my soul now needed. I had evolved so much as a person that I welcomed physical adjustments and the ability to learn proper alignment and to shake it off if I didn’t get it the first few dozen times around (if I got it at all). My teachers: Jennifer, Bonnie, Margit, and Melissa (to name a few) introduced to me a different and much more conventional way to learn, and from a place of compassion, humor, and lightness. Upon taking my first class here, and the initial shock of receiving my first adjustment, I wondered at first when the judgement would follow. But it never did. Instead I left feeling safe and secure, and welcome.\n\nThe irony that all those years later, after being traumatized by a teacher as a small child, that I would enroll in a teaching program for yoga makes me smile. I chose to let those early experiences teach me something instead of shut me down. With the help and guidance of Bonnie and Jennifer, I was exposed to positive role models, and all the hard work and soul baring they put into our teaching program helped shape us as emerging teachers, and give us the tools and confidence to begin a new chapter in our journey.\n\nWith that said, I have learned more as a teacher than I did as a student. I come to the mat as both, and I truly learn something from each of our wonderful students every single time we share class. It could be something obvious like outside knowledge, or just observing the way they settle into a pose. Everyone knows something we don’t, and it makes the world that much more interesting when we are open and receptive.\n\nWhether it is by way of teacher or student, personal interaction, or through a book, DVD, or online, with teachers such as Kathryn Budig or Tara Stiles, I welcome the opportunity to keep on learning.\n\nEven my husband Angel, who is a wonderful and passionate drum teacher, shares wisdom and inspiration with me. Although we teach two completely different activities that the other knows little about, we continue to grow closer through the love of teaching, and together we have made each other better teachers and better people.\n\nReflecting upon all the wonderful and selfless teachers (and students) who choose to share their wisdom and experience with me, whether academically or through the gift of music or yoga, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you!', 'Staff Spotlight— Sally Bartolotta', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'staff-spotlight-sally-bartolotta', '', '', '2016-11-08 19:04:37', '2016-11-09 00:04:37', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3869', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3871, 7, '2016-03-02 14:40:44', '2016-03-02 21:40:44', '[caption id="attachment_5393" align="alignleft" width="200"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-5393" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Kristi-200x300.jpg" alt="yoga teacher training" width="200" height="300" /> Kristi in Tadasana, the mountain pose.[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen I was a teenager, over forty years ago, I learned to do yoga at a neighborhood YMCA in Chicago. It was not a part of my life again until my husband Arthur, our dog Sweetie, and I moved to Punta Gorda.\r\n\r\nBefore moving to Punta Gorda, I worked for a living; first, practicing law as an employee benefits attorney for eighteen years. After 9/11, my life changed course and I went to rabbinical school. I became a conservative rabbi in 2009. Arthur, Sweetie, and I had a pulpit in a small synagogue in Rochester, New York for three and a half years.\r\n\r\nIn March of 2013, I had a stroke and our lives changed again. I was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. I started practicing yoga when my therapist gave me a pass to The Yoga Sanctuary. I had ignored my health for the past ten years and was hoping yoga would help me get started on a path to healthier living.\r\n\r\nYoga worked for me, big time. I started out with Restorative Yoga once a week. Next, I added Gentle Yoga classes once or twice a week. Now I am doing Level 1 classes four to five times a week. I have tried Mixed Level classes, but am not quite there yet.\r\n\r\nWhen I began practicing yoga at The Yoga Sanctuary, it felt like my joints had rusted over. I had no energy, was mentally impaired, and seriously depressed. But I put myself in yoga’s lap. At first, I began to feel better physically, had more energy, and looked forward to going to classes and being with people. I can remember not being able to follow directions, but all of the yoga teachers were patient and kindly helped me fold my blanket or my body in the right way. Now yoga feels like breathing—in fact, in large part, it is!\r\n\r\nFor me, the benefits of yoga are incalculable. With the love and support of Arthur, therapy, doctors’ care, and yoga, I am recovering my health. When I feel my aches and pains, I use yoga postures and breathing to relieve them. I am happy and am participating in our local homeowners’ association and am looking forward to doing a Passover teaching at our synagogue in Chicago in April. Mindfulness training is also really helping me cope with where I am and to focus on what I can do instead of what I have lost.\r\n\r\nI am able to see a future and would very much like to continue exploring how I might be able to bring some of the benefits of yoga and mindfulness training to others who may be in my own predicament. We’ll see how this evolves.\r\n\r\nAlthough I am sometimes depressed by the yoke of being “me,” yoga and meditation are restoring my confidence in myself. I am learning to mindfully address the natural physical challenges of aging, such as arthritis and hips that simply won’t open up all the way. I am also learning to accept the losses I have sustained as I rebuild and retain my ability to focus and learn.\r\n\r\nFortunately, I have progressed from feeling awkward and uncomfortable in restorative postures with plenty of props to looking forward to relaxing as well as being challenged by some of the more vigorous work in yoga class.\r\n\r\nOutside of The Yoga Sanctuary, I now study, walk, play mah jongg once a week, and work part-time. I keep the books for a small research company, Visual Awareness Research Company, Inc. I have a sister who invented a method of identifying at-risk senior drivers and, in most cases, can help seniors and others with cognitive decline speed up the ability to process visual information. We formed a company years ago to make this helpful tool available to people. I also take pictures of Arthur’s vast poster and contemporary art collection, which he is in the process of selling off, piece by piece, on the internet. In my spare time, I struggle with writing and rediscovering my voice.\r\n\r\nMy favorite yoga pose is Legs Up the Wall. It clears my mind, relaxes my lower back, and makes me feel calm and peaceful.\r\n\r\nThe practice of yoga has become a part of my everyday life. Yoga classes add a sense of discipline and community that I cannot access on my own. I very much like being part of a group where the members are seeking to be healthier and lead more meaningful lives.\r\n\r\nMy favorite quote is, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds,” by Albert Einstein. Sometimes we are afraid of what we don’t understand. Embracing a state of openness and not knowing can often illuminate our way.\r\n\r\nNamaste and shalom,\r\n\r\nKristi (Aviva) Berg', 'Yogi of the Month—Kristi Berg', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yogi-of-the-month-kristi-berg', '', '', '2017-04-03 16:44:27', '2017-04-03 20:44:27', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3871', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5397, 7, '2017-04-03 16:44:27', '2017-04-03 20:44:27', '[caption id="attachment_5393" align="alignleft" width="200"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-5393" src="http://theyogasanctuary.biz/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Kristi-200x300.jpg" alt="yoga teacher training" width="200" height="300" /> Kristi in Tadasana, the mountain pose.[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen I was a teenager, over forty years ago, I learned to do yoga at a neighborhood YMCA in Chicago. It was not a part of my life again until my husband Arthur, our dog Sweetie, and I moved to Punta Gorda.\r\n\r\nBefore moving to Punta Gorda, I worked for a living; first, practicing law as an employee benefits attorney for eighteen years. After 9/11, my life changed course and I went to rabbinical school. I became a conservative rabbi in 2009. Arthur, Sweetie, and I had a pulpit in a small synagogue in Rochester, New York for three and a half years.\r\n\r\nIn March of 2013, I had a stroke and our lives changed again. I was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. I started practicing yoga when my therapist gave me a pass to The Yoga Sanctuary. I had ignored my health for the past ten years and was hoping yoga would help me get started on a path to healthier living.\r\n\r\nYoga worked for me, big time. I started out with Restorative Yoga once a week. Next, I added Gentle Yoga classes once or twice a week. Now I am doing Level 1 classes four to five times a week. I have tried Mixed Level classes, but am not quite there yet.\r\n\r\nWhen I began practicing yoga at The Yoga Sanctuary, it felt like my joints had rusted over. I had no energy, was mentally impaired, and seriously depressed. But I put myself in yoga’s lap. At first, I began to feel better physically, had more energy, and looked forward to going to classes and being with people. I can remember not being able to follow directions, but all of the yoga teachers were patient and kindly helped me fold my blanket or my body in the right way. Now yoga feels like breathing—in fact, in large part, it is!\r\n\r\nFor me, the benefits of yoga are incalculable. With the love and support of Arthur, therapy, doctors’ care, and yoga, I am recovering my health. When I feel my aches and pains, I use yoga postures and breathing to relieve them. I am happy and am participating in our local homeowners’ association and am looking forward to doing a Passover teaching at our synagogue in Chicago in April. Mindfulness training is also really helping me cope with where I am and to focus on what I can do instead of what I have lost.\r\n\r\nI am able to see a future and would very much like to continue exploring how I might be able to bring some of the benefits of yoga and mindfulness training to others who may be in my own predicament. We’ll see how this evolves.\r\n\r\nAlthough I am sometimes depressed by the yoke of being “me,” yoga and meditation are restoring my confidence in myself. I am learning to mindfully address the natural physical challenges of aging, such as arthritis and hips that simply won’t open up all the way. I am also learning to accept the losses I have sustained as I rebuild and retain my ability to focus and learn.\r\n\r\nFortunately, I have progressed from feeling awkward and uncomfortable in restorative postures with plenty of props to looking forward to relaxing as well as being challenged by some of the more vigorous work in yoga class.\r\n\r\nOutside of The Yoga Sanctuary, I now study, walk, play mah jongg once a week, and work part-time. I keep the books for a small research company, Visual Awareness Research Company, Inc. I have a sister who invented a method of identifying at-risk senior drivers and, in most cases, can help seniors and others with cognitive decline speed up the ability to process visual information. We formed a company years ago to make this helpful tool available to people. I also take pictures of Arthur’s vast poster and contemporary art collection, which he is in the process of selling off, piece by piece, on the internet. In my spare time, I struggle with writing and rediscovering my voice.\r\n\r\nMy favorite yoga pose is Legs Up the Wall. It clears my mind, relaxes my lower back, and makes me feel calm and peaceful.\r\n\r\nThe practice of yoga has become a part of my everyday life. Yoga classes add a sense of discipline and community that I cannot access on my own. I very much like being part of a group where the members are seeking to be healthier and lead more meaningful lives.\r\n\r\nMy favorite quote is, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds,” by Albert Einstein. Sometimes we are afraid of what we don’t understand. Embracing a state of openness and not knowing can often illuminate our way.\r\n\r\nNamaste and shalom,\r\n\r\nKristi (Aviva) Berg', 'Yogi of the Month—Kristi Berg', '', 'inherit', 'closed', 'closed', '', '3871-revision-v1', '', '', '2017-04-03 16:44:27', '2017-04-03 20:44:27', '', 3871, 'http://theyogasanctuary.biz/3871-revision-v1/', 0, 'revision', '', 0); 
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3881, 7, '2016-03-15 08:42:45', '2016-03-15 12:42:45', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3096" src="http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/ys/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/89793688-300x199.jpg" alt="89793688" width="300" height="199" />\n\nWhether you first come to yoga during your golden years or you have been at it for decades, practicing yoga at a later age usually means making modifications that support your body in the right way. Fortunately, yoga is designed to be adapted to the individual’s body regardless of age, so with the right mindset, making modifications as you get older will be a natural progression.\n\nWhen in doubt, begin at the beginning. Level one and gentle yoga classes are geared for everybody—that is, every <em>body</em>. With plenty of modifications, props, demonstration, and verbal cues, beginner classes will teach you the nuts and bolts of yoga, and most of all, how to adapt the poses to your particular body.\n\nThe movements in yoga are often very different from the movements of everyday life, so it can take time to get used to this new way of configuring your body. But once you attend class for a few weeks to months, you will get the hang of the most common poses and know how to accommodate your needs during the practice.\n\nAfter a few months or a year or so of regular practice, depending on the individual, you will likely find that you feel comfortable trying more challenging poses or classes. You will likely find that your balance and strength improve, your focus sharpens, and your distracted mind becomes less so. You may find that you can more easily relax both on and off the mat, and that you are less stressed and have a better outlook on life.\n\nFrom increased bone density, reduced dowager’s hump (curvature of the upper spine that comes with age), and improved mood, yoga has been shown to have many benefits as we age. Yoga can be a comprehensive body, mind, and spirit practice. What you put into it you will get out of it—and usually more.', 'Yoga Practice as We Age', '', 'publish', 'closed', 'open', '', 'yoga-practice-as-we-age', '', '', '2016-11-16 22:01:15', '2016-11-17 03:01:15', '', 0, 'http://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/?p=3881', 0, 'post', '', 0); 
