Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Too much of a good thing?

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Too much of a good thing?

By Erica Harris

A lot of times I am asked, "How many times should I practice yoga per week?"  Of course, this is my own personal opinion, and should yours differ, we can still be yogi friends :)  I believe in doing some form of yoga every day: even if its just a few sun salutations in the morning to wake up the body (search "Amazing Yoga" via iTunes for a great example of a sun salutations warm up).  The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 times per week.  Walking the dogs, house cleaning, or anything that gets you moving counts!

I, personally, wake every morning with a few forward folds and sun salutations (about 4-8 times will do it).  During snow boarding season I increase my warm-ups in the morning and evenings.  By moving the body we can prevent future injury.  Currently, I teach 5 classes per week.  Most classes I do very little demonstration (but I might sneak in a satisfying downward facing dog) and I usually participate in the classes abdominal work.  However, as an instructor I still require myself to attend class.  I like to attend class at least twice per week.

If you're brand new to yoga I recommend 2-3 times per week in  a group format and daily warm-ups (such as sun salutations or other forms of stretching/cardio).  With this said, it is always important to listen to your body.  If you need to rest, rest. If you need to be challenged, challenge yourself in a way that you feel energized and not pushed to injury.  My oldest rule is if it hurts don't do it (or do the modification pose). If you feel challenge, accept it and breathe into it.  

Finally, if you need a place to practice yoga in a group, check out Mighty Yoga in Ithaca: Yoga every day of the week!

Yogi Toes

As a second part of my challenge I will also try out Yogi Toes: a super absorbent towel that can be placed right on the yoga mat.  I'll be the first to admit that when I practice yoga, I sweat like a pig! Yogi Toes have been seen in such publications as: Fit Yoga, Self, Flare,Shape, and Vouge magazines (just to name a few!)  Yogi Toes come in many colors, including a Chakra Collection-

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 .  Once you select your unique color ( I think I will go with the blue chakra, emphasizing life and yes, sexuality ;), you're ready to use!  Place the Yogi Toes towel on your mat (towels will fit the width of the mat and about half of the length).  Yogi Toes towels are unique in that they have tiny silicone nubs or grips on the back of the towel (

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)

--providing optimum grip to the mat.

So, if you should happen to look over at me in one of our classes at Mighty Yoga, perhaps I won't be slipping around my mat and there will be more sweat on my towel than dripping off my face!

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Jade Yoga Mats

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Jade Yoga Mats

By Erica Harris

The Jade Yoga Mat challenge!  I have been using a plastic-based yoga mat for my entire yoga practice.  Some mats were thicker like Wai Lana, and others were beautiful designed such as Gaiam (my mat boasts of a stretched out white tree and soft green hues).  Still, if you have ever done yoga in a heated studio (or in your basement) you may find yourself slipping and sliding.  This seems to be a common question among students: how to stop sliding around or reduce mat bunching.  

I had heard of Jade mats but had never felt one or tried it.  To make such a $60 investment (sold at Mighty Yoga) I had to investigate.  Jade boasts of being "Nature's best yoga mat".  Why you ask?  Jade mats are environmentally friendly-"made in the U.S. of natural rubber containing no PVC or other synthetic rubber". Because of Jade's unusual ingredient, rubber, Jade's mat's won't slip and guarantees maximum grip when you're standing in the powerful warrior pose or hovering over the mat in crow pose.  Jade mats will also be comfortable--the optimum amount of cushion making it easier on the knees or feet in standing positions.

On the Jade website, the company boasts of Jade mat users such as Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, and other famous yogis.  And to top icing on this rubber cake, Jade Yoga company will plant a tree for each mat purchased.

During the month of September I am going to take the Jade Yoga mat challenge.  Starting September 1st, this yogi is going to switch to Jade!  I'm thinking the purple mat is calling my name!

Ommmmmmmmmmmm....

Confessions of a Yoga Instructor: Join us in chanting: Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

By Erica Harris

I remember the first time I was in a yoga class and the class chanted om.  The sound took me by surprise as it echoed in the tiny studio.  The thought wasn't too unfamiliar.  I think as a kid I saw a cartoon character, like Donald or Daffy Duck, sit in a lotus position and sing out "oooooommm" has he looked like he was about to go into a deep trance (or hover off the ground).  But other than this, I had no idea what it meant or what it was for.

It wasn't until I really started getting serious about my practice that the meaning of om came up again.  "Om" most accurately means "to sound loudly".  It can be found in many different cultures and languages: in Chinese as 唵 and of course, in the ancient Sanskrit writings known as praṇava प्रणव.  The act of chanting om can be of spiritual nature, such as before reading sacred texts, used in personal mantras, or even a symbol of one's spirituality (or God).

As you can see, there is no clear answer of what om means--since it can mean many different things to different people. Sometimes I have students that ask me if yoga is a religion or "Do you have to be Hindu" to properly practice yoga.  I heard another instructor answer this question perfectly, "Yoga can be a spiritual practice, but its not a religion, because it does not dictate the nature of a God to be worshipped". 

You'll find that instructors will chant om at the end of our practice.  This is a nice way to bring an end to class and to focus on the harmonic vibrations that this powerful sounds makes.  So, on the next inhalation, chant om once, if you choose, or just sit and listen to the beautiful sound it makes, noticing how you feel.

Shanti & Om,

Erica

(Studio: mandarin orange and beautiful wooden floors!)

Ithaca's New Power Yoga Studio
Grand Opening

Join us on Sunday, August 16th for our opening day.

Come visit the bright new studio, take a class, or stop by to learn

about the benefits of yoga!

There will be 75-minute classes at:

10 am

12 pm

5 pm

Stop by to chat before or after a class. 

Come meet our teachers from 9:30-2 and 4-7pm.

We also have a survey on our website that you can take to get $5 off your next class

Hope to see you there!

Find our full schedule online at www.mightyyoga.com.

 

Confessions from a Yoga Instructor

By Erica Harris, Instructor at Mighty Yoga

If you think about it, it makes sense.

Any exercise program focuses on warming up our bodies before vigorous activity. The temperature of the yoga room is similar to our body's own temperature. This accelerates improvement in many of the benefits of your yoga practice.

Regular exercisers recognize that peak performance occurs when fully warmed up and your body generates heat from the inside radiating out and into your muscles.

On a personal experience I have noticed my students are able to get into poses they don’t general have the flexibility for.  When I do yoga in a heated room, especially a hot yoga room, I sweat a lot! Its probably a good idea to bring a towel and defiantly drink water before class, a little during, and a lot afterwards.  During class, I feel challenged by all the sweating and rewarded by the poses.  After class there is a sense of rejuvenation and detox.  When we sweat we are cleansing our bodies-I’ve even noticed healthier skin!

For my regular hatha style classes (Spark! Studio, TC3, and private yoga) I use the space to my advantage.  For example, the first 15 min. are crucial for warm up. So, don’t be surprised if we sweat a lot during that time.  Once we get to the balancing poses (about mid-way through the class) our bodies will natural start to cool themselves.  Another extremely important time to have a warm body is during our back posing sequences (bow, locus, wheel, bridge, etc.)  By the time we hit the floor in savasana our bodies are cooler and the fans or outside air comes on: and it feel AMAZING!

Mighty Yoga studio is unique in which we are able to control the temperature more accurately.  So when you arrive to your first class we are ready to go!  Be prepared to be challenged and amazed with what your body can do! How do you know if you can do power yoga at Mighty Yoga? "If you can sit down on the floor and get back up, then you can do Power Yoga!"

Take a short Survey!

For a limited time: Take a short survey and we'll send you a coupon for $5 your next class. Limit, one per person.

Mighty Yoga OPENING DAY!

August 16 Special!

Classes are only $5 on our first day. We'll have classes at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 5:00 pm.