Be Proud of Yourself

Graphic gleaned from http://www.yoga-manchester.co.uk/2016/03/10/pride-in-the-name-of-yoga-by-vicken-couligian/. Happy Pride San Diego! Equality!

Playlists

I tend to play a weird (wide) variety of music in my classes and get queries all the time about the artists. So, here are some of the ones that have inspired the most questions.

Song Title	Artist	Album
"1234"	Feist
Animal Party	Karen K And The Jitterbugs	Big Ol' Truck
Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)	The Laurie Berkner Band	Buzz Buzz
Catch The Moon	Elizabeth Mitchell and Lisa Loeb	For The Kids Too
Celebrate Love in Your Family	Beebo	Bunch of Songs
Doodlebugs	The Laurie Berkner Band	Whaddaya Think of That?
Fast and Slow (The Rabbit and the Turtle)	The Laurie Berkner Band	Rocketship Run
Fly Me to the Moon	The Laurie Berkner Band	Rocketship Run
Here Comes the Sun	The Beatles
Joy to the World (Edit)	Three Dog Night	The Best of Three Dog Night
Jump and Fly	The Laurie Berkner Band	Rocketship Run
My Family	The Laurie Berkner Band	My Family - Single
Peace Like A River	Elizabeth Mitchell	You Are My Little Bird
Put Your Pj's On	Neshama Carlebach	Every Little Soul Must Shine
Say Hey (I Love You) [feat. Cherine Anderson]	Michael Franti and Spearhead	All Rebel Rockers
The Goldfish	The Laurie Berkner Band	Victor Vito
The Rainbow Connection	Jason Mraz	For The Kids Too
The Sun Shines On Everyone	Snatam Kaur	Feeling Good Today!
Victor Vito	The Laurie Berkner Band	Victor Vito
We Are the Dinosaurs	The Laurie Berkner Band	Whaddaya Think of That?
Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)	The Laurie Berkner Band	Whaddaya Think of That?
Yoga Makes Me Happy	Karma Kids Yoga	Come Play Yoga!
The Rainbow Connection	Sarah McLachlan	Gather Round:Songs For Kids And Other Folks
With a Little Help from My Friend	Sgt. Pepper's Little Kids Club Band	Kids Sing the Beatles
The Sun Shines On Everyone	Snatam Kaur	Feeling Good Today!
Big Ol' Truck	Karen K And The Jitterbugs	Big Ol' Truck
(I Woke Up in A) Fire Truck	Karen K And The Jitterbugs	Big Ol' Truck
Bigger Than the World	Karen K And The Jitterbugs	Big Ol' Truck
Joy to the World (Edit)	Three Dog Night	The Best of Three Dog Night

Adult Classes

The "Yoga Church" instrumental music with the ocean sounds between songs are all from the recording group  "Dollar Tree - Body & Soul II" and the albums are "Inner Peace" and "Spiritual Relaxation."

The nature sounds with piano music (has those wolves and crickets every mentions) is New Age music from Tony Braasch, the album is "Moonlit Night."

The instrumental Broadway music is from The O'Neill Brothers Group, album "Instrumental Songs from Wicked, Les Miserables & Other Broadway Hits."

Another instrumental favorite is the artist Vargo, album "Beauty."

I'm also big on DJ Drez, Donna Delory, Wah!, Snatum Kaur and Jai Uttal.

Yoga Mat Reviews by Reviews.com

Received a nice communique via the interwebs the other day asking if I'd be so kind as to link to their comprehensive (well, 50-odd mat sampling) review of yoga mats. How could I not oblige? So please, click through and check out the top 10 of the 50 most popular mats, that include links for purchase (how convenient).

You can buy cheap yoga mats at just about any place these days, even your local pharmacy or Target, but if you want lasting quality, minimal VOC (off-gassing), good grip, durability, and if weight (or color or texture or material) is a concern, it helps to have a really good guide. Especially when prices go from the sublime ($12) to the ridiculous ($150 for custom paint jobs).

From their email, based on my comments about the Manduka yoga mat I reviewed back in 2015 http://byomyoga.blogspot.com/2012/07/yoga-consumerism-where-i-tell-you-about.html). Enjoy.

"I work for a small research team (Reviews.com), and we recently conducted an unbiased review of yoga mats, and Manduka came out as one of our top picks too! Anyways, I figured because you mentioned that specific yoga mat, you might be interested in seeing our full guide. We put in over 50 hours of research, surveyed over 100 yoga professionals, and consulted with "Boston's 2014 Best Yoga Instructor" to bring you the best!"
http://www.reviews.com/best-yoga-mat/

3 Types Of Vegetables For A Healthier Life

Carrots for better immunity

The main prerequisite for good health is the optimal functioning of the immune system and therefore special attention should be paid to strengthening the immune system.

Nutritionists recommend fresh pressed juices from fresh fruit and vegetables in which carrots have principal place. In fact, the results of numerous studies have shown that orange root, thanks to the abundance of beta - carotene, is one of the best keepers of the immune system.

This precious ingredient is a powerful antioxidant and carrots beside that is rich in vitamins D, E and the B complex, potassium, calcium, iodine, zinc, cobalt, pectin and essential oils.

Every day we should also consume bee products like honey, bee pollen, and beebread as they represent a real treasure of enzymes and other nutritional elements.

The listed products are rich in minerals and vitamins that strengthen our immunity, destroy the flu virus, boost metabolism, increase energy and stamina, and resistance to stress and various diseases.

When it comes to boosting the immunity best results are achieved if it is consumed a mixture of honey, garlic, pine needles, cinnamon and plantago.

Young spinach to strengthen our bones

Spinach is available throughout the whole year, and spring is the perfect time to enjoy this vegetable since young spinach has great and delicious taste.

Abundant in vitamin K, which, among other things is great for bones.

Like most spring fruit young spinach is an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium. He also contain folic acid and iron. Those who remember Popeye who strengthen his muscles with spinach, are convinced that it is the iron from spinach that made ​​him strong. Indeed, spinach contains significant amounts of iron, but also contains substances that hinder the absorption of iron.

The green color is due to chlorophyll,which is of great importance for detoxification since for long time spinach is being considered as a cleaner of liver and blood.

The additional advantage of spinach is its low calorie, because in 100 grams there are only 25 calories.

You can eat spinach with pasta, sauces, pies or you can experiment at your will. When it comes to detoxification, it is recommended to enjoy the young spinach salads, adding lemon juice. You can add many ingredients as goat's or cow's cheese, nuts, seeds and olive oil. Especially it is recommended apple, because thanks to the pectin, fiber from apples the cleaning will be complete.

Ginger Root against pain in knees

People who suffer from pain in the knees, with the consumption of ginger, oil and fish, can solve this unpleasant situation.

The effectiveness of specified food has its own experiential evidence, and are equally effective , regardless of the patient's age or the cause of the pain – claims the doctor from Vienna Dr. Hademar Bankhofer. The problems actually do not always have to be a reason for frazzled ankle, which is the characteristic of the older population. Sometimes they happen because of damage or because of hereditary factors.

Doctor Bankhofer claims that friction with oils of chamomile, St. John's wort, olive, Asian " tigers oil " can be really wonderful. It is just a matter of which fits to every different person, and because of these all these ointments must first be tried. In the diet, you must include fish, salmon, herring and mackerel. These types of fish are rich in omega - 3 fatty acids, which not only strengthens the heart, but also the strength the joints.

Ginger root can actually be very effective. The medicine is prepared so from the fresh root you will cut a piece,you will grated that piece and apply on the wrist. In order to enhance the effect, at the same time you will have to drink tea from these herbs - spices.

Tennis Balls for Tight Muscles - self massage techniques from Yoga International

(copied from THIS link )

Imagine you have a friend small enough to fit in your purse or briefcase who will give you nightly massages, easing stress, fatigue, and muscle tension all for a onetime cost of about $3. Think yellow. Think tennis balls.

The procedure is simple: place a tennis ball on a part of the body that is sore or tight and rest your weight on it. The pressure softens tight muscles and increases circulation. Dancers have long used tennis ball self-massage to work out their kinked-up muscles, and body workers frequently prescribe the practice for clients healing from chronic injuries. Asana practitioners searching for ways to increase flexibility and comfort in their bodies are beginning to get on the ball, too.

Self-massage with tennis balls is greatly enhanced by stretching, which further increases circulation and reeducates the muscles to rest at a longer length. Combining asana with self-massage is particularly useful for those of us who have muscles that for various reasons—injury, overuse, or years of inactivity—resist stretching. Here are some tips for using tennis ball therapy to unlock the gluteals, lengthen the hamstrings and adductors, and restore balance to the muscles along the spine.

We’ll start with a simple technique so you can get a feel for how this works before going on to more complex applications. Lie in savasana and place the tennis ball in the center of the fleshiest part of the left buttock. The pressure may be painful, but if it feels like good pain and you can relax in it, stay there for a few breaths. (If you find you are contracting muscles in defense against the pain, move the tennis ball around to find a spot that is less painful, or practice on a padded surface, which will reduce the pressure.) Relax and breathe. Imagine the breath circulating around the pressure and visualize the muscle softening over the ball. After a minute or so, remove the ball. Before repeating the process on the right side, notice how the left buttock feels flatter than the right and softens more easily into the floor.

(click HERE to read the rest of the article!)

Belt Yourself - Working the Psoas (SEW-az) - Your Knee in Triangle Pose

1) A few tips on how to best use a yoga strap (aka, belt).

https://www.doyouyoga.com/10-ways-to-use-the-yoga-strap-with-photos-55570/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7ocWNpZvhg

http://www.bodywindow.com/yoga-strap.html

2) A little bit here on how to release that deep hip flexor (that one that lets you lift your leg in front of you when walking, climbing stairs, or even helping to hold you upright) that can give you back pain if it's too tight:

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/release-tension-in-the-psoas

3) And how to get your legs and upper body and arms active in Triangle Pose so you never lean toward the ground, but always lift up (and avoid knee problems as well).

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/why-its-so-easy-to-hyperextend-your-front-knee-in-triangle-pose-and-ho

#PPOTD Two-week Recap (from b'yomyoga on Twitter)

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga Feb 14
#ppotd first day teach yoga #stmadeleinesophiescenter and i'm awash in goodwill. #lifeisgood #inmydharma

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga Feb 17
#ppotd thank your body for all it does, forgive it for all it doesn't, support it growing strong with a positive mind and deep full breaths

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga Feb 18
#ppotd if a friend offers a shared activity - accept! companionship does the heart good (thank you Claire Young)

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga Feb 20
#ppotd @YMCASanDiego open to the public all day today - get your family activities on!!

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga Feb 21
#ppotd never underestimate the power of alone time.

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga Feb 23
#ppotd #worldbeatcenter our school's 1st & 2nd graders were enthralled learning west African drumming and dance - a joy and privilege 2 see!

b'yom yoga‏@byomyoga 19h19 hours ago
#ppotd never miss a chance to tell someone you care about them

Pratipaksha Bhavana - Cultivate the Opposite - and PPOTD

At a workshop/conference/seminar I attended at Univ. of CA, SD the other weekend one of the recurring themes (for healing) was Partipaksha Bhavana, or "cultivate the opposite."

In the Sutra 2.33, Patanjali stated:
Vitarka badhane pratipaksha bhavanam.

“When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite [positive] ones should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavana.”

In other words, if you are feeling blue/down, you might be best served by getting up and being a bit social, having some warm comforting foods and interactions. If you are overstimulated and overheated, then a cool dip either physically (think - a pool!) or emotionally (deep breaths, a nap) might serve you well.

You can check into one of many articles are this in detail here: http://layogamagazine.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&id=355

But I want to comment on something topical and personal when it comes to this concept of cultivating the opposite. Our political climate is rife with distress. It's equal parts distracting, depressing, and irritating and very difficult from which to disengage. In fact, if you completely disengage you lose track of what's happening and you may feel even more lost. So, how do you stay cool headed, but informed. How do you follow your instinct about taking action with your local government but also not let negativity seep into every aspect of your life? How do you save energy for your family, your yoga practice, when you've been "fighting the good fight" all day, on phones, on line, or in other ways, especially if you job requires it.

I suggest, just briefly, take a time out and cultivate the opposite with a positive thought. Not a snarky positive one, but a truly decent, calm, pleasant, uplifting reflection on something GOOD in your life.

I am going to start posting Positive Posts of the Day (PPOTD) on facebook.com/byomyoga which will automatically post them on my byom_jackie Twitter feed. I welcome everyone to join in to the trend, not for "hits" and fame, but to spread a bit of good will and gratitude as quickly as we can spread frustration, outrage and bad news.

Use #PPOTD or #PositivePostoftheDay and feel free to tag me on Facebook as @byomyoga or @jackiegadd or @byom_jackie on twitter - I want to see the good things happening in your life. Because that will help ME cultivate the opposite when I"m feeling like the world is a bit out of control.

Extremely humble thanks to Amy Wheeler, PhD at amywheeler.com for the inspiration.

Solidarity and Kaivalya

I just read my son a book called The Yellow Star - recommended to me by a friend at his school, who read it to their children. I think for me this sums up everything my parents ever taught me about "good" and "right" and being strong, and being a community member. It's how I always felt in my heart and how I want to teach my son to be. It's not just about "standing up for the little guy;" it's about being willing to put yourself out there to make a statement about justice. It's about knowing in your heart that you are part of a bigger community and you must act to support it even if you are not personally needing the direct support.

The story was the legend of King Christian X of Denmark. The book acknowledges that the story in it's oral and written history, nor the version in this book, were fully true, but adapted version of an allegory for solidarity and support for ones brethren. 

The author writes in the end notes:

And what if we could follow that example today against violations of human rights? What if the good and strong people of the world stood shoulder to shoulder, crowding the streets and filling the squares, saying ,"You cannot do this injustice to our systems and brothers or you must do it to us as well." - Carmen Agra Deedy, The Yellow Star

You've read about the family that hid Anne Frank, and you've heard of Schindler's list and the woman from Poland who rescued children from the Holocaust. Many people are offended by any reference to this horrid event with respect to current political issues in the US. But I think the larger point here is that some people are willing stand up for what they believe in not with violence and guns (which happens too) or a military coup, but by thinking clearly, following their hearts, and taking a risk...and this is important.. for someone else. 

For supporting others and ourselves we have terms like have ahimsa (non harming), seva (selfless service), bhakti (devotion), sattva (purity), satya (truth), and all the yamas (ethics) and niyamas (observances) at deal with self conduct/care and ethics.... and a new one for me - KAIVALYA.

In the yoga sutras, the fourth chapter talks about moving from "I" based consciousness to self realization - a release of ego to find enlightenment. The Sanskrit term for this liberation is kaivalya. The yoga path is designed to help us find our way to our truest self, so that we may free ourselves from the idea that we are individual, and rather we are all interconnected, part of one big universe - one divine thing.

In order for us all to be free, we must not only acknowledge that we are "in this together" (in the immediate but also metaphysical sense) but also that someone that affects one affects us all - and we are obliged by the deepest consciousness to support whatever needs supporting. To stand shoulder to shoulder (or mat to mat, or heart to heart) and say "we are one."

Love and light, Om Shanti, Shalom.

Support for people with Cerebral Palsy - info from a blog reader

Good Afternoon, 

I just finished browsing through byomyoga.blogspot.com, and I noticed that you provide some great informative resources for those dealing with developmental disabilities and their families. 

A couple of years ago, one of my best friends gave birth to a child who has this condition, and supporting her through the process of learning about CP and creating the best possible life for him has shown me firsthand what families dealing with CP go through on a daily basis. 

Because of this, I appreciate you offering so many helpful resources to the public on this topic. I would love to recommend another resource for your site, http://www.thecplawyer.com/blog. The blog helps people whose children have been born with Cerebral Palsy understand their legal options. It also offers some great health and wellness information. 

I hope you are having a great week. Thank you again for offering so many helpful resources for those with CP and their families. 

Accessible Yoga - reprinted from the California Health Report

"The Accessible Yoga movement is introducing yoga to older adults and others not normally included in this largely young, white, middle-class movement: people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, those with different body types, and underserved communities.

"Aging With Dignity travels to the Accessible Yoga Conference in Santa Barbara for its first video report.

"Video reported and edited by Matt Perry"

http://www.calhealthreport.org/2017/01/09/accessible-yoga/