Regulating Negative Emotion Through Mindful Movement

Philosophy, Wellness1 Comment

What we repress saps our vitality and thus our ability to feel alive in the present. To heal those parts of you damaged by suppressed emotions, simply let them flow. Maybe you don’t have to yell and scream at your partner. Maybe you just need to move! When you move as an open embrace of all the parts of yourself; your emotions, your deepest desires, your needs, and you attempt to live in alignment with these aspects of yourself, there will be movement and your life will change!

Are Generalists Healthier Than Specialists?

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There’s a movement system within us, that was built in and that our body craves. It doesn’t result in resistance and shut down. The code is already hidden deep within the molecular structure of our human body – our primal memory. We just need to remember and reawaken it. Finally something refreshing that makes sense, the fitness trend of natural movement (which includes Primal Vinyasa and other primal movement methods) takes the emphasis back to the very thing that we are best at doing: being human. “Movement” is really just the brand of the “unbranded”. We can’t truly call it a brand if it always existed – it’s just what humans are supposed to do.

Teen Yoga, Body Image, Self-worth, with Ivy Katz

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“… we explore what comes up mentally and emotionally. With the use of themes, education about the mind/body relationship and yoga philosophy, I aim to help them understand how a mindfulness practice can be a useful tool for them throughout their lives. Classes involve movement/asana, breathing exercises/pranayama, meditation and at times, partner discussions and reflective writing exercises. I ask students to choose the variation of movement that honors their physical body and mental state in the present moment.”

Yoga Challenge 2017

Secrets Of a Successful Challenge

Blog, Wellness, Yoga tips and hints, Yoga Training1 Comment

The tenth annual Yoga Union Yoga Challenge begins April 1st, 2017. We host the yoga challenge every April. We do it primarily for the three reasons:
1. It reminds us of the joy that consistent yoga practice brings into our lives.
2. It motivates us to emerge from winter hibernation into the glory of spring.
3. It builds community through a common goals.
The Yoga Challenge is meant to be empowering. The last thing you want to do is set a goal you can’t attain and then beat yourself up for failing. I’ve been participating in the annual yoga challenge every year running. I haven’t always completed it, but I have received some valuable lessons along the way. I’m happy to share some of what I’ve learned. Below are my essential secrets to ‘success.’

What Is The Ideal Yoga Community?

Community, Ethics, Life and Yoga, Philosophy, Uncategorized, Wellness3 Comments

We meet on mutual ground. In a center of beauty and inspiration. We come to inquire within. To seek our own answers. We come because we care. We come to remember who we are and what what life is for. Everyone is allowed to be themselves. They are seen, accepted, approved, and appreciated for their uniqueness. They work to see, accept, approve, and appreciate themselves.

Why I stopped going to Yoga – And Why I’m going back

Blog, Ethics, Life and Yoga, Philosophy, Teacher Training, Wellness, Yoga Training3 Comments

The problem with yoga and all this self awakening shit is that you are aware of your own mental tricks. The things your brain used to do to get you out of bad situations and make you feel ok with yourself and justify that the way you are is perfect and needs to alternation, they don’t work anymore cause you’re “enlightened” or whatever buzzword is popular this week. Really, it’s because you’re being honest and relatively aware of your own consciousness. Enlightened sounds entirely too graceful for what is really happening.

Kileen Swenson on Yoga and Chinese Medicine

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Yoga teacher and Chinese medicine practitioner, Kileen Swenson, sat down with Jenna Lynne Roberts to talk about these ancient healing medicines. How did you become a Chinese medicine practitioner? My interest in Chinese medicine came from teaching yoga and seeing how yoga affected people so profoundly, including myself. Being an introvert, teaching didn’t feel like I…

Awakening Heart Notes from Shambhavi

Blog, News, Philosophy, Sianna Sherman, WellnessLeave a comment

notes from the talk with Portland’s own, Shambhavi Sarasvati, who gave a talk to the group during the first part of the Intensive back in April. Shambhavi is the the spiritual director of Jaya Kula, and has written several books on Tantra in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition. When describing Tantra she says she is almost tired of the word, but not the practice… “Tantra is a way to find out who you really are and to live in the fullness of Reality. This is Self-realization. Nothing more or less.”