DC yoga teachers will travel to Ramallah this July to empower community members and build sustainable programs.

For the past 10 months, Shawn Parell and Angela Cerkevich, beloved local yoga teachers and heads of Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Anahata Grace, have been developing curriculum and raising funds for a highly-anticipated teacher training program in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Responding to a growing demand for expanded and increasingly sustainable yoga programs in the city, the project will come to fruition in July as part of an ongoing partnership with Farashe Yoga, a nonprofit center in Ramallah.

The training, which will be the first of its kind in the West bank, will serve to build resources and establish new yoga-based wellness programs to schools, community centers, and refugee camps. Many of the participants already assume service roles in the community and will incorporate yoga techniques into their work to better address physical and mental wellness and relief of stress disorders. In addition to individual benefits, yoga's principles and teachings can be integrated into life off the mat, acting as catalyst for transformation and growth within a community. According to Maha Al-Sheik, co-founder of Farashe Yoga, these tools are especially important in the Palestinian context, where movement and access to economic and social resources is heavily restricted.

Since it opened in 2010, Farashe has been striving to meet the needs of the community -- offering safe, accessible yoga throughout occupied territories with only a few volunteer teachers. Anahata will help to increase the cadre of teachers that are able to offer these healing services and enable Farashe to increase their program offerings and outreach efforts.

"Yoga is a transformative healing practice. As we move, breathe, and open in awareness, we are reminded of the interdependency of all things and of our belonging in the world," says Parell, who has an academic foundation in religious studies and over 1,000 hours in teacher training in multiple lineages. "We've been inspired by our own experience on the path of yoga, and believe it should be available to anyone who seeks it"

Parell will be accompanied by fellow teacher and Anahata Founder Angela Cerkevich to lead the nine-day foundational training in Ramallah, bringing 20 years of teaching experience to the project with specific expertise in yoga therapeutics.

Cerkevich, who is currently a doctoral student in GW's department of professional psychology, established Anahata Grace in 2007 to bring the benefits of yoga to vulnerable communities locally and abroad. The nonprofit's international work continues to be driven by its mission to empower people to work through trauma, to establish a safe and peaceful atmosphere for conflict resolution, and to build community and improve quality of life by removing barriers to holistic wellness tools that exist where those services are most needed. Beginning with a pilot project in Rwanda, Cerkevich and Anahata volunteers have focused on work in post-conflict areas, building sustainable programs through teacher trainings, program development, and the creation of supportive grants tools.

The upcoming training in Ramallah will emphasize making self-care skills available to all community members and empowering women as local leaders. There will also be a strong focus on the therapeutic aspects of yoga and meditation. The training will provide foundational skills to teach yoga and meditation to children and adults, with specialized topics including prenatal yoga, yoga for school teachers, and meditation for mood management.

The D.C. community rallied behind the project, gathering and contributing funds for the 5th Annual D.C. Global Mala project which brought hundreds together to practice in Meridian Hill Park last September. Many local studios participated in the project, with some offering studio space for donation-based yoga classes to raise additional support.

To learn more and support the work of Anahata Grace, please visit http://www.anahatagrace.org.

Continued here:
Alaina Sadick: Bringing the Benefits of Yoga to the West Bank

On June 8, 2012, I had the delight of joining 93-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch, who was recently named "Oldest Yoga Teacher" by Guinness World Records, as she taught yoga at the Pentagon.

It was incredible seeing 80 Department of Defense personnel -- service members and civilians -- in various yoga poses, from warriors to king dancers, and then flowing through a series of sun salutations to Tao's signature tango music. At one point, I said to myself, "This is pretty cool. I'm doing yoga at the Pentagon!" The final relaxation was especially poignant. I got a deep sense that these folks particularly needed and deserved those moments of personal peace.

At the end of the yoga session, I moderated a discussion on Tao's colorful life, as I've done many times before. There was great interest in Tao's time with Gandhi and her work in the French Resistance during World War II, as well as her peacemaking around the world, such as Yoga for Peace in Israel in 1995 and her more recent appearance at the 2011 Newark Peace Education Summit with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama.

During the Q and A, one woman asked why Tao agreed to teach yoga to a group of people who are focused on war and conflict. In her very humble manner, Tao explained that she was simply honored to be there among those who work tirelessly to protect our security. She explained how yoga plays a role in peacemaking, which is the ultimate goal for those in our military. In her view, peace is really about atonement. She broke down the word atonement into "at-one-ment," or oneness. Tao's perspective is that we all have the same breath inside us and yoga brings us closer to that realization.

For me, the day epitomized the essence of yoga in that it was about unity. All of the people in the group had very important "day jobs." Many had to be given permission to take time to be in the class. Yet, they came together, in great numbers, to share in the presence and practice of peace. If all of our leaders -- anyone making critical decisions affecting other people's lives -- would take time every day to experience even a few moments of stillness, I believe our world would be a better place. As the Dalai Lama has said, "World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not the absence of violence. Peace is the manifestation of human compassion."

Here's a peek into Yoga at the Pentagon with Tao Porchon-Lynch.

Yoga at the Pentagon

1 of 13

Yoga at the Pentagon with 93-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch -- Lotus Stretch

Yoga at the Pentagon with 93-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch -- Lotus Stretch

More:
Dr. Terri Kennedy: Yoga at the Pentagon With Tao Porchon-Lynch

Performing yoga is a great way to burn calories, but did you know that you can get even more benefits by participating in water yoga? Aqua yoga is both enjoyable and healthy, and it will keep you cool. In addition, this form of exercise is excellent for those with arthritis and other health conditions who cannot take part in regular yoga. I will highlight the benefits of water yoga and the many poses (asanas) that can be performed in the pool.

Benefits of water yoga

Performing yoga in the water has many benefits, including the following:

Therapeutic properties of aqua yoga

Water yoga is therapeutic in the following ways:

Water yoga poses (asanas)

Many asanas are ideal for performing in the water, including the following:

Most of these poses take advantage of the side of the pool by having you hold onto it with one or both hands.

Aqua yoga on video

If you want to see for yourself what water yoga looks like, watch one or all of the following videos:

Read the original:
Burn More Calories by Performing Water Yoga

Outdoor yoga class sees explosive growth

On Saturday mornings in Des Moines, people find themselves rolling out of bed to do more than just watch TV. They come to do yoga in the park.

"I love it. I think it is just so fun," said Lyn Marie Cunningham.

The Parks and Recreation Department was hoping to get 30 to 40 people when Yoga in The Park started. The event is at Grays Lake. But, with ever increasing attendance, it gets anywhere from 300 to 350 people every Saturday in the summer.

"People can come out if you've never tried yoga before. You can give it a chance without having any skin in the game, so to speak, just come up if you like it. You can just pick up and walk away. You don't have to worry about losing any investment," said Ben Page.

Yoga in the Park offers a different yoga experience each week because of the always-changing instructors. The 16 yoga teachers involved means it is like 16 different yoga studios.

"We went out, and we contacted all the yoga studios in the community, and we just got a tremendous response from them. And everyone wanted to be part of the program," Denny Kelly said.

"It's a nice way to start a Saturday, especially if you do a little yoga and go to the farmers market. It's a great Saturday," said Laura Jontz, who was there with John Hardy, who agreed.

Yoga at Gray's Lake started about four years ago. It is on the southeast part of the park. It starts the first Saturday in June and runs through the last Saturday in September.

Gray's Lake has its own Facebook page with nearly 10,000 likes.

Go here to see the original:
Outdoor yoga class sees explosive growth

There are many wonderful yoga class opportunities in town and many qualified teachers to pick from. We're very fortunate to be living in a community so focused on health and healing here on the coast. But that's why we live here, yes?

Did you know, there's a terrific "yoga find" way back in the Valley at St. Peter's Church, 700 Oddstad Blvd., off Linda Mar?

For anyone new to yoga or a bit shy about their abilities and want to get their feet wet, Donation Yoga is the perfect choice. For some, gym classes may be too physically challenging and fast paced, or it might be daunting to navigate a private yoga studio's many choices if you don't know which style or teacher would be a good fit.

Stress is definitely the plague of the 21st century. At Donation Yoga, the goal is to provide a safe and nurturing space where anyone can acquire tools to deal with life's stresses. Here you'll learn how to breathe correctly to relax, slow down, and let go. It's been scientifically proven that Yoga activates the relaxation response and kicks in natural anti-depression hormones to the brain. It can be quite effective for back pain as well. Evidence based studies also show that regular yoga practice will make one more cheerful and less anxious. This is a wonderful inexpensive and non-invasive way to foster health and well being into our lives. How much better can it get?

Meet the two Yoga Instructors

Susan Grace Macaulay

Donation Yoga was born in September 2010 when Susan Grace was looking for a new teaching venue. The small studio where she taught had closed and she was looking for an opportunity to serve the Pacifica community. While taking her widowed mother to a donation based yoga class in San Francisco, she came up with the idea there might be a place for a program like this in Pacifica.

Susan will be speaking at the annual Institute of Consciousness Research Conference in Canada this August 4-5th on the healing benefits of Yoga and how it relates to the 12 Step Program. She was the first guest speaker in the 12-month series of health and healing discussion groups at Florey's Book Company in Pacifica on the third Wednesday of the month. She kicked off the series, twenty-five people attended her presentation and loved it. She is a natural speaker/presenter.

Donation Yoga co-founder Carol Dunnewas born in Ireland and moved to San Francisco with her family when she was a teenager. She and her family have resided in Pacifica for the past 28 years and she's practiced yoga for the past 15 years.

Carol initially started using yoga to ease her aching bones as a result of many accidents over the course of her life. Yoga helped strengthen her body and alleviate her pain. Using yoga also had a calming effect and aided Carol to move away from her over-analytical brain. Carol is counseling clients at a detox center in the San Francisco Bay Area and reports yoga has helped to increase her creativity and intuition. She's able to be more effective in her career as a result. Yoga has also helped her to make wiser decisions giving her a better life!

Originally posted here:
Donation Yoga -- The best-kept secret in Pacifica

(AP) MUMBAI, India - For the last week, the laughter around Sheetal Talao pond in suburban Mumbai has taken on a muzzled quality.

On June 18, Mumbai's high court told police to do something about the laughter that erupted beneath Vinayak Shirsat's windows each morning, causing his family "mental agony, pain and public nuisance," according to the Press Trust of India.

Since then, members of the Sheetal Jogging Association -- who have been coming to the pond for three years for laughter yoga, devotional singing and light exercise -- have been trying to contain their mirth.

"Nobody's laughing now," said member Badruddin Khan.

Watch: Laughter Yoga

Sheetal Talao is, in truth, not a nice pond. The water is low and scuzzy with trash. But it's the only open space in a neighborhood of winding lanes in the northern suburbs of India's densely packed financial capital.

The single spot of constant shade -- a small gazebo -- is right in front of Shirsat's apartment, a three-story pink building with black bars on all the windows. Nearby are two curved benches, rising from a small plot of red mud and weeds, that the club uses for meditation and laughter.

"Only this much space we've got. Where can we go?" said Prabhakar Naidu, 45, who said that since he started laughing he's been able to walk up stairs without getting winded.

Before the police and courts got involved, a dozen club members would gather around 7 a.m. to sing bhajans -- devotional songs -- and clap for seven minutes. Then they laughed out loud for two minutes.

They would hold their ear lobes, tilt their heads back, and stretch their faces wide into smiles. "Ooh ooh, ha ha," went the chant. Then they would sweep their arms to their toes and reach for the sky, opening their mouths wide to say, "Ha ha ha!"

Read the original here:
India court tells laughing yoga group to zip it

HOUSTON, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In America, the concept of yoga is hardly unfamiliar. Yoga is viewed by many as a personal fitness endeavor, often divorced from its spiritual roots; in fact, yoga is offered in the exercise classes found at many gyms and YMCAs. While this more Western conception of yoga may be familiar, however, the more rigorous and rewarding practice of kriya yoga is often ignored by Americans -- but a teacher and kriya yoga master named Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath is seeking to change that. One of the only kriya yoga masters in the world today, Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath has embarked on a major world tour, bringing his teachings on this ancient tradition to audiences in India, Europe, and the United States.

A lifelong educator and kriya yoga enthusiast, Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath is no stranger to delivering his teachings to wide, international audiences. The master got his start as a teacher traveling through the Himalayan region, and since that time has authored books, developed popular YouTube videos, and even taught from the floor of the United Nations. His devotion to kriya yoga as an empowering and deeply spiritual pursuit is what has long characterized his life and work.

Most recently, Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath illuminated his beliefs in a tome called Babaji: The Lightning Standing Still. Referring to the book as his "life's work," Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath has been heralded for the volume, which has already sold out of its initial hardcover run. In the book, the teacher explores the divine presence known as Babaji, and also explains his views on kriya yoga and his well-known "Earth peace through self peace" mantra.

The author and teacher has embarked on a major international teaching tour, one that is equally devoted to illuminating the teachings of Babaji and also bringing the principles of kriya yoga into greater prominence. The tour began in India, and will run through the duration of the summer and into the autumn. Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath will be making appearances, and also offering multi-day kriya yoga workshops, in cities throughout the United States and Europe.

For more information about the tour, including a list of the remaining dates, interested parties can visit the author's website, http://www.siddhanath.org. The website has registration information, as well as information about the book, the author, and the practice known as kriya yoga.

ABOUT:

Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath is a spiritual mentor and kriya yoga master from Pune, India, who has been teaching meditation and yoga techniques for forty years. He has taught from the floor of the United Nations, and his YouTube videos have attracted thousands of hits. Additionally, he is an author and regular workshop leader. Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath is best known for his teachings on the topic of "Earth peace through self peace." Most recently, he published a book, Babaji: The Lightning Standing Still, that he believes to be he summation of his life's work. More information can be obtained at http://www.siddhanath.org.

Read the original here:
Kriya Yoga Takes Center Stages as Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath Embarks on World Teaching Tour

Authors note: Im an adventurous soul. Ill try just about anything once. I blame my mother. She told me over and over again, You dont know if you like something until youve tried it. You cant be afraid to try. And although Ive regretted my propensity to agree first and consider later more than once, it does add interest to my life.

We were sitting in a newspaper planning meeting one day, and the idea of covering the non-ball sports came up. As in, all the sports that arent the major ones (football, basketball, volleyball and baseball). Before I could apply the correct filter to my mouth, it declared but you cant write about them unless you understand them. And to understand them, you have to play the game.

My editor looked at me, cocked his eyebrow and asked, Whos going to try them? and my subconscious must have thought my life was lacking in new experiences because before I could stop it, it held hostage my common sense and said, I will.

Youre going to do Cross-fit or rock-climbing?

It was at this point I realized what I had done, but as the saying goes, in for a penny, in for a pound.

I had agreed myself into a corner. So here it is, my attempt to broaden my recreational horizons and share my experiences with you, our readers. I hope you learn from my (inevitable) mistakes and also possibly get inspired to try something new, or at the very minimum get a laugh or two.

Red Hot Yoga

There is only one place I found in Casper that offers hot yoga. Lifetime Health and Fitness has a specially-equipped yoga studio thats heated with infrared lights. The lights heat all surfaces of the room, including your body. Each class is 75 minutes long and classes are taught by a variety of instructors.

The benefit of hot yoga is the heat. It not only loosens muscles and improves circulatory response, sweating flushes out toxins in your system. People with chronic issues such as arthritis and fibromyalgia have shown improvement in their systems after practicing hot yoga. Any skill level is welcome in the class. If its your first hot yoga class, or if you have any chronic issues, its advisable to tell the instructor so that they can keep an eye on you.

Ive attended several classes over the past few weeks. Initially, I was nervous that I would be out of place in the class. The Monday evening class I attended was full of a mixture of ages, gender and skill levels. Anyone would feel welcome and comfortable.

Go here to see the original:
yoga story II

It's a moment Jillian Troth recalls whenever she's having a bad day at school, not getting along with a friend or simply not feeling her best.

Earlier this year, the 10-year-old stood in the Warrior II pose, arms outstretched parallel to the floor, one thigh extended outward, the other leg bent at the knee, with her mother, Johanna Frank, behind her. As Frank placed her hands on her daughter's upper arms, Marianne Impal's words floated around them, conjuring up a day where Jillian woke up and didn't feel like going to school. She'd done badly on a test the day before, none of the clothes she tried on fit well, and her friends were being mean to her. ... As Impal layered one challenging scenario atop another, she encouraged Jillian to feel how much she disliked herself in those moments, then asked her mom to push down on her arms. They collapsed effortlessly at Jillian's side.

Impal, a certified yoga instructor, then created a different scenario as Jillian again adopted the pose: This time, she woke up excited for school with just the right outfit to wear. As the day wore on, everything kept going right, from the many friends who made her feel included to the good reviews she got from her teacher. When her mom finally pushed down on her arms, they wouldn't budge, lowering only slightly the more pressure Frank applied.

"I usually think about that class and how good I felt and I just feel good about myself," says Jillian, of the lessons she took from the mother-daughter empowerment workshop taught by Impal.

"It was amazing how much strength it took to push down on her arms when she had a positive outlook as opposed to a demoralizing outlook," says Frank, of Doylestown. "It really enforced the idea of what a powerful outlook can do in terms of strength and self-esteem."

The message is part of a broader mission that Impal, a yoga teacher for more than 12 years, says she wishes she could bring to girls everywhere.

For now, the Doylestown resident is starting in her backyard. On Saturday, she will launch Y.E.S. Yoga, a training she developed specifically for teens and pre-teens to give them tools to live a positive and healthier lifestyle through the mind-body discipline.

While she has been teaching workshops incorporating empowerment themes and tools for years, Y.E.S. (Youth Empowerment 4 Self-esteem) is now her exclusive program. Impal will offer a Y.E.S. Yoga workshop for girls ages 10 through 15 at Cornerstone's TreeHouse Studio in New Hope on Saturday, the first of several she plans to bring to the area, while also certifying other yoga instructors to teach the confidence-boosting class.

"Yoga itself is known as a practice. When you practice something over and over, when you start to get it, when you feel like you're finally achieving something, that's where the empowerment comes from," says Impal, who also teaches vinyasa and hatha yoga at Cornerstone in Doylestown. "This is about practice makes possible. I want girls to get rid of practice makes perfect ... to know instead that practice makes anything possible."

Beyond incorporating strategic yoga poses with Fierce Pose, for instance, one of the more strenuous postures, she encourages girls to think of a particular challenge in their lives as they go deeper into the pose, using their ability to hold it for longer than they imagined as a metaphor for the strength to take on life's struggles rather than run from them Impal also includes self-esteem activities, journaling and stress-relief tactics. And she sends each girl home with her signature Y.E.S. Kit, a red keepsake box featuring a meditation CD for kids and teens, positive affirmation cards and a gratitude journal, among other items, that she initially designed for her own daughters, Nicole, now 13, and Renee, 15, as they approached their teenage years.

Continue reading here:
Using yoga as a gift of empowerment

Yoga is an exquisite form of exercise, but you need to know how to perform poses (asanas) to participate. With electronics being so popular, a great way to learn yoga poses is by getting excellent apps for your electronics. I will highlight the best apps for numerous electronics, including the iPhone, Kindle Fire, and Nintendo Wii.

iPhone: Free to $9.99

If you have an iPhone there are numerous apps you can get to teach you the correct yoga postures. Hatha Yoga: your portable Yoga studio is a supreme selection that you can easily download for $9.99. This app allows you to take a yoga class wherever you want, and voice instruction is included. For free you can get the Yoga Relax app that comes with calming music and high quality video. Other apps for the iPhone include the following:

Yoga Trainer Pro: $9.99

Long Deep Breathing: $0.99

A Prenatal Yoga: $0.99

Yoga Weight Loss: $0.99

Yoga at Home: Learn Beginner Yoga: Free

iPad, MAC and Kindle Fire: Free

If you own an iPad, Mac or Kindle Fire, you can get All-in Yoga HD free of charge. This is an awesome app that includes instructional photos for 250 yoga poses. It also includes a timer, music and voice instruction. This app is also available for the Android and Samsung mobile phone.

See the original post:
Top Yoga Apps for Electronic Devices