Five Points Yoga

Barrett's Blog

Archive for July, 2009

Yoga Music Inspires!

Posted July 30th, 2009 | 5 Comments » | Bookmark and Share

 

I love music, and I really love music while I practice!   Some people play music while practicing and some don’t, but if you’re curious about it, I thought I’d give you some ideas. 

 

My all-time faves that you’ll hear in class all the time:

 

1. Any Shiva Rea compilation – one of my favorite teachers who creates amazing music compilations (and produces great DVDs) :

Jala   – Jala means water, and you will just flow right through this CD! I play this at Black Lotus all the time.

Shakti Rhythms – Shakti means power, and this is a strong (but not frenetic) CD that will keep you energized.

Yoga Rhythms – A classic, and one I still go back to over and over.

 

2. Jai Uttal – a regular kirtan (sacred yoga music) maker

Music for Yoga and Other Joys – I come back to this again and again.  It’s mellow and beautiful

 

3. The Spirit of Yoga – great for relaxing practices

 

4. Donna Delory

The Lover and the Beloved – my current favorite!  I play it all.the.time

 

5. Wah!   Anything by her, but especially:

Savasana, and Savasana 2 – awesome for relaxation

Hidden in the name – double CD with some beautiful tracks

 

6. Jennifer Berezan

Returning – so many babies have been born to this music!

 

Those are some of my favorites, but I’ve also found some fun music over the years through Itunes playlists.   I usually search for yoga tunes.  

 

I also like music that isn’t yoga specific.   I’ve loved practicing to Moby, general reggae, Ali Farka Toure, and lots of other “world” music.  And yes, occasionally, I’ll do yoga to some 80’s tune (Livin on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, anyone?).   

 

These days in yoga classes, you can hear almost anything!  I was once asked to teach a disco yoga class, with disco music blasting in the background.   I politely declined, and that health club is no longer operating (coincidence?  You decide).  

 

But really, if it works for you, that’s awesome!  Whatever gets you to the mat.

 

I’d love to hear what you’re listening to these days, and if you even like to listen to music while you’re practicing.  Send in a comment.   I know I’ve missed something good!

 

Keep on grooving,

 

Barrett

 

Posted under Personal Experiences, Yoga

Get Right on the Mat

Posted July 23rd, 2009 | 1 Comment » | Bookmark and Share

Two weeks ago, a private student and I made a pact:   instead of going right to our computers when we get home, we’d go right to our yoga mats.   Even if it was just for a minute or two, we were both interested in breaking the habit of getting sucked into our online world as soon as we walk in the door.  

 

The first week I wasn’t so good at this.  It was a busy and hard week, and that’s always a challenging environment to try to make a change in.    This week has been better though, and I’ve found myself going to the mat more often than the computer.   It’s been great! 

 

My favorite things on the mat?   Well, it depends.   Sometimes I do a sun salute.   Sometimes I sit down and do a forward bend (very calming for me).   And sometimes I lie over a block or curl myself up over the bolster.  Heavenly!   I feel much more in control and present than when I check out whatever’s going on in my email.  

 

Try the experiment  – get right on your mat when you get home, and circumvent your usual pattern, whether it’s turning on the TV, going to the fridge, or logging on.  See how it works for you, and let us know!

 

Enjoy your practice, 

 

Barrett

Posted under Personal Experiences, Yoga

Overheard in Yoga Class

Posted July 21st, 2009 | 2 Comments » | Bookmark and Share

 

Before class started yesterday, I heard this question posed:

 

“Which do you think has more nutritional value:  beer or ice cream?”  

 

An earnest debate ensued 🙂

 

 

Enjoy your practice (before you partake in either beer or ice cream),

 

Barrett

Posted under Food, Personal Experiences, Yoga

Foot Foundation

Posted July 14th, 2009 | Leave a comment » | Bookmark and Share

 

 

Some of you may have heard me talk about my chronically sprained ankles.   When I was a teenager, about once a year I’d sprain one of my ankles badly enough that I’d have to ice it and wear an ace bandage for about 4 weeks (often in the summertime – boo!).   Every morning I’d wake up and my ankle would be so stiff and swollen, and I’d wonder if it would ever be back to normal. 

 

One of the worst times this happened was in Israel, where I studied abroad in college.   I was really getting into yoga at the time, and practicing a lot on my own.   I sensed that working with yoga might help my ankles feel better over time.  

 

And I was right!   The last time I sprained my ankle was the next summer.   By then, I was committed to yoga, and was taking my first teacher training.   I remember spending every morning practicing slow sun salutes, and working on kneeling and downward dog back and forth.    My ankles quickly grew strong and they’ve never had a problem since!   I credit yoga with it.

 

Recently, the NYTimes Well blog featured an article about sprained ankles, and the importance on balance (thanks for the tip, Angela!).   I read it today and really got excited by the fact that my love of balances probably really helped my ankles all those years ago!

 

Today I taught a leg practice in yoga class – lots of strengthening of the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and gluteal muscles.   We did a few foot and ankle strengthening postures as well, and I mentioned the NYTimes article.  

 

After class, a relatively new yoga student approached me and told me that since he’s been practicing, he hasn’t noticed his chronically sprained ankle feeling stiff at all.   He mentioned that when he went to physical therapy for his ankles, primarily he received balancing postures similar to yoga postures that we practice in class.   He credits his regular yoga practice over the last few months with helping him “fix” his sprained ankle once and for all.

 

Yoga’s the best J

 

So, enjoy the wobbling next time you practice balance postures like Tree, Eagle, Dancer and Half Moon. All that wobbling is helping your feet and ankles stay strong and balanced, so that you are less likely to sprain your ankles.  And check out this mini-article from Body and Soul and this larger article from Yoga Journal about strengthening and stretching the feet.

 

Barrett

Posted under Personal Experiences, Yoga, Yoga Articles

Gratitude Journal

Posted July 7th, 2009 | 1 Comment » | Bookmark and Share

Over the years, I’ve kept lots of journals.  I still have all my journals from childhood and my teens stored away. However,  I haven’t kept a regular journal in a few years – just a few sporadic writings here and there.  

 

Recently, I’ve picked it up again though.   I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal.  This is an idea I heard years ago, I think on Oprah(!!).   The idea is that every day you write down 5 things you’re grateful for (to read more details about it, click here).  It can be anything – from a really exciting event (I got a new job!  I just went skydiving!) to the most basic of things (I love my parents.   I’m happy for a roof over my head.). It’s a very private practice for me, and so I often repeat myself, or write similar things in different ways, because it’s just a reflection of what’s inside in that moment.

 

Some days you find you’re spilling over with gratitude, and that’s fun.  However, I think it’s especially helpful if you’ve had a bad day.   Usually, the gratitude journal helps put everything in perspective.  There’s so much to be grateful for – we are so lucky – even if we have some terrible days along the way, you know?

 

 

One thing I’m finding as I’m keeping the gratitude journal – yoga shows up on it almost everyday.  I use it for so many things, and there’s so many parts of yoga to be thankful for. 

 

 

So here’s 5 (that I want to share) things I’m grateful for today:

 

1) I’m so happy to have had the beautiful weekend (and Monday)!   It’s helping me not care about the gray and rain today.

 

2) The impatiens on my deck.   They’re the only flowers out there that look good with lots of rain.

 

3) My farm share – the greens have been amazing this year, and I have so many yummy choices in my fridge currently.

 

4) Andala tea – spicy Middle Eastern goodness at my favorite café

 

5) My bike – it’s so fun to bike to work, and now I have a bike rack so I can carry more easily. 

 

And one more, because they’re just flowing today!

 

Bonus: Hand to big toe pose – awesomely fun today!  Felt like I could hold it effortlessly forever. 

 

 

In gratitude,

 

Barrett

Posted under Health and Wellness, Personal Experiences, Yoga

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