1. Most studios are running great deals throughout September to promote yoga.
I know it is late in the month but IT’S NOT TOO LATE! If you’ve ever thought about trying yoga, now is the time to check it out and likely get a class or two – or heck, even a whole week – for free. Or if you’ve practiced in the past, but strayed from the mat, get your booty back in the saddle (metaphorically speaking).
2. The Semper Sarah Yoga in the Park 7 week series.
So, I was somewhat trumped by Denver’s appearance in Monday night football, but a handful of faithful and awesome ladies did enthusiastically show up for day 1 of class. Not coincidentally, the series began on Monday 17 September (Rosh Hashanah) and the theme of the class that day was “Faith is the Foundation” because the cog in the SEMPER Wheel is Faith. (I’m not Jewish, but found it pretty cool that the Jewish New Year began the same day as my faith-themed class.)
Therefore, I encouraged the students to have faith in themselves, to simply trust their bodies and minds throughout the class. Most of the practice was on the ground and with the eyes closed in order to sort of force them into relying on all of their senses (with eyes closed) as well as supporting that exercise (by staying mostly rooted on the ground). Symbolically, they had to get grounded in order to do the movements, and “getting grounded” directly correlates to the first chakra, which is the muladhara or root chakra. I know we talked about poop last week and now I’m about to get real personal again – the root chakra is located in the perineum. Other info about the root chakra…
Organs/the parts of the body with which the root chakra is associated: Lymph system, skeleton system (teeth and bones), the prostate gland in men, the sacral plexus, the bladder and elimination system, and the lower extremities (legs – feet, ankles, etc.), physical body support, base of spine, rectum, and immune system.
Mental, emotional issues: Physical family and group safety and security, ability to provide for life’s necessities, ability to stand up for self, feeling at home, and social and familial law and order.
Physical dysfunctions: Chronic lower back pain, sciatica, varicose veins, rectal tumors/cancer, depression, immune-related disorders.
I’ll break it down for you – the theory goes like this: if you have, for instance, chronic low back pain, it is a reflection of your lack of sense of security, survival, trust, or a bad relationship with money, home life, family, or job. The root chakra taps into our very basic needs of survival, home, and ability to protect and care for ourselves and family. If your first chakra is out of whack you will not have a strong ability to be grounded, to be present in the here and now, or be able to allow yourself to be nourished, in the sense of allowing one’s Inner Being to be satisfied. This chakra also reflects a person’s connection with their mother, and with Mother Earth, and their connection with the physical body. When your chakra is balanced and strong, you have a strong sense of self, support, and confidence.
*If you want to know more about the chakras and their association with illness, I recommend Anatomy of the Spirit by Dr Caroline Myss.
3. Need a Yoga Laugh?
Okie dokie, moving right along here. Now that you just had that intense lesson on the first chakra, you’ll want to read my recent yoga article,10 Reasons Why Christians Shouldn’t Do Yoga.
4. Need Another Yoga Laugh?
Or, if you still want more laughs, and haven’t read this article yet, take a read at the one MindBodyGreen published last month, 10 Reasons Why It’s Not Real Yoga Unless You Sweat.
5. Just for (Ford) Fun
In August I won a contest through Ford that brought me to the lovely Canyon Ranch Resort in Lenox, MA and included me as a part of a documentary that is scheduled to air on FOX later this year. Check out the VIDEO Ford Fusion just released. You’ll probably laugh at this, too 🙂
6. Are you a TRAVELin’ fool?
Hey there, wanderer, lucky for you that my next newsletter will include a top ten list of ways to do yoga ANYWHERE, anytime. Stay tuned! 🙂
*** Talk to me, Goose! ***
Have you been doing yoga this month? Have you started yoga for the first time this month? Have you gotten back on the mat after some time away? Was this the first time you learned about the root chakra? What did you think? Are you a Christian and a yogi; do the two practices mix for you? Inspired to change anything after reading this post that you want to share with others? Share away, folks! 🙂
Well, I hope everyone’s weeks are rollin’ right along. As always, don’t stress out about any of this and sacrifice your health in pursuit of it; just roll with it. Chose to live the life you love and love the life you live! 🙂
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