Beat Your Next Hangover

The Dahn Yoga & Health Centers just released a silly video with instructions for beating your next hangover. It happens to the best of us, a few more tricks up your sleeve can’t hurt! Many of these tricks actually will make you feel better as they will kick start your body into releasing toxins at an increased rate. Your liver will start filtering more efficiently, while over all circulation rate increases will help flush your blood stream of any “bad blood”.

Try it out and let us know how it worked, or have a friend try and see what their reactions are.

If you have any tried and true methods for kicking a hang over, what are they and where did you learn them?

Applying the Universal Principles of Alignment in Anusara Yoga

1. Initiate your asana with Opening to Grace, an intentional approach of softness. In the first moment of your pose, align your heart’s intention with your spirit and your physical being. Soften your whole being with humility. You can begin with any asana.

2. Affect the Heart Chakra (The Heart Chakra is the centre from which feelings of love emanate. It is also associated with other virtuous emotions, such as joy, happiness, honesty, respect, compassion, understanding, and generosity, and with loving oneselfin a sincere, non-egotistic way) energy center as you maintain your pose. Muscular Energy, the second Universal Principle of Anusara Yoga, establishes stability andcoordinates physical strength. Muscular Energy draws into the Focal Point, an area of localized power in the body.

3. Expand energy with Inner Spiral. Energy expands from the feet up into the pelvis and waist area, thighs widen.

4. Apply Outer Spiral principle, which redirects energy inward, back down through the tail bone and out the legs and feet. Remember that the previous principles are still active.

5. Activate Organic Energy, the final Universal Principle of Anusara Yoga. Organic Energy is an outward energy that runs through the body’s outer core.

“Poser”

Here is a fantastic, little book review we just discovered, written by Emily Gould and posted online at: http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/lifestyle/emily-gould/posing-and-pain?page=full

Throughout the review, Gould speaks of both the good and the frustrating aspects of a new memoir named “Poser: My Life In Twenty-Three Yoga Poses” by Claire Dederer. Not only is the review well written and insightful, but it speaks of the personal journey we all go through as we adapt the Eastern philosophies of yoga into our Western lifestyles. Balancing family, yoga, work, and the day to day rigors of life can be daunting, but it is on the mat that we learn about ourselves and how to move though the life with internal grace and beauty. It can be easy to get caught up in the specifics of how a pose is supposed to look, or how far your body can explore a pose. – Just as much can be gained if we, like the author of “Poser”, start to put more emphasis on “submission, trust, transmission from teacher to student, imperfection, (and) the release of the ego.”.

“…Yoga is less about showy acrobatic poses and more about the internal awareness cultivated by spending time on the mat.” –

It’s Thursday and you know what that means! It’s Yoga Product Highlight Day! Today we are not so much highlighting a yoga product as we are a whole yoga shop. We don’t sell their products in the our little yoga shop, but we wanted to let you know about an amazing yoga store here in Portland.

Lululemon is an international yoga product company based out of BC Canada that specializes in “technical athletic apparel for yoga, running, dancing, and most other sweaty pursuits”. Not only do they have a wonderful store nestled behind Whole Foods in NW Portland, but they also teach classes once a week right out of their store. This month is extra special because Lululemon is highlighting Yoga Union Community Wellness Center for the whole month of February.

Lululemon does more than sell yoga products, they also teach classes right out of their store! Along with highlighting Yoga Union, they have asked to our our teachers to teach this months yoga classes. Both Tess Velo and Lyf Gildersleeve have been chosen by Lululemon to represent Yoga Union, teaching a total of 2 classes each. We don’t yet know what style of yoga they will be leading, but we encourage you to head over to Lululemon and check out what products they have to offer!

Ladies, do you need new yoga shorts or a new skirt? Maybe your old tank top is worn and tired? Check out their collection of yoga products geared for women and get ready for spring with a new tank top. Gentlemen, have you been wearing an old pair of sweats or track pants and been curious what it would be like to have an outfit that was specially designed for doing yoga? Hop on over to their online shop and find a whole range of cool products that do have some stretch, but not when it comes to your wallet.

Here’s the Lululemon February teaching schedule if you were curious about joining Tess or Lyf this month.

Tues., Feb. 1st, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tess Velo

Tues., Feb. 8th, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tess Velo

Tues., Feb. 15th, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Lyf Gildersleeve

Tues., Feb. 22nd, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Lyf Gildersleeve

Thanks Lululemon for highlighting Yoga Union Community Wellness Center and for providing Portland with some of the freshest yoga gear.

New Years Special Ends Today!

Late start on your New Years Resolutions? Good news, you have one more day for an unlimited month of yoga for $99 – regularly $120!

With the summer days of shorts, flip flops, tank tops and sunglasses quickly approaching us there is no time like the present to jump start getting fit for summer. Yoga Union offers various classes from intermediate to experienced levels at various times everyday to suite your weekly schedule. Classes offered range from Yoga 101 to learn the basics of your yoga journey to Hot Flow Yoga to Anusara Inspired level 2.
Offer ends today on this fantastic deal, make plans with friends – spread the word and enjoy a great time with your friends and loved-ones. Makes a fantastic gift too. : )

Stay tuned every week as we discuss the class types in depth as well as other interesting reads.
Namaste.

Planting Seeds with Amy Bratton

On Wednesday, in Amy’s Prana Vinyasa class, she talked about how the New Year has started and how we each have been blessed with a clean slate to work from as 2011 begins. She asked us to take the time in yoga class to plant seeds that were meant to represent aspects of our life that would grow throughout the year. As we would move from pose to pose, she would instruct us to plant seeds, with our palms in downward dog, or with our knees and toes in child’s pose. With great skill she lead us through a seamless Prana Vinyasa class, gently correcting postures, her calm voice instructing our movements and our thoughts.

For me, it was her lesson within the lesson that stole my heart and imagination. During class my mind would wander to an enormous garden, or an empty field that was longing to be turned into a forest. I imagined I was a vessel filled with seeds and every time I touched the ground, a new pod would be planted. I planted seeds of love for my family. I planted some in honor of wishes of health for the people I know who are going through physical hardships. I planted seeds that represented my passions and goals in both business and monitory prospects. As I planted, I imagined that the seeds I would plant today in yoga class would grow into a lush rainforest or beautiful vegetable garden, bearing fruits that I would share with everyone in my life. Some of the pods I planted on Wednesday will grow early in the spring, and some will be transformed by the coming summer’s heat. The realist in me even imagined that some seeds would never take root, being planted in sandy or shaded ground.

In a yoga class I find the movements and postures speak to me the most, but in Amy’s Prana Vinyasa class, it was the lesson she spoke to the class that reached out to me. The garden and the forest I planted both represent me, the body I live inside, the life I live and how I want the good in me to touch as many people as possible. It was Amy and her amazing teaching style that have opened my mind up to many positive intentions, she has encouraged me to start out my New Year on a more positive and selfless note than I have in years past.

Going forth, my peers (in class) and I will carry her lesson in our hearts. Thank you Amy for your encouraging and uplifting words.

Namaste

Five Class Gift Special!

Five Class Gift Certificates for $50 (Save $15)

This year give the gift of yoga and give the gift of real wealth – health.

For gifting only please. Must assign a recipient name to purchase. In studio sales only.

 

Yoga Union with Sianna, Jan 2011 Rock the Bhakti Tour, Playshops, Music and more!

Sianna Sherman is an internationally recognized certified Anusara Yoga teacher. In 2008 she was chosen by Yoga Journal as one of 21 talented young teachers who are shaping the future of yoga. Sianna playfully weaves alignment, therapeutics, and creative sequencing with stories, poetry, and Tantric philosophy that embraces the fullness of life. She has a special devotion to Collaboration, Community and Collectively Conscious Gatherings. She bows to all her teachers on this path of Grace, especially to John Friend, Paul Muller-Ortega, and Douglas Brooks.

www.opentograce.com

Radiant Health – Therapeutics for the Upper Body

Anusara Yoga’s Universal Principles of Alignment are powerful tools of transformation to help bring the body into a state of ease with the optimal blueprint. This class is for anyone who wishes for greater health in the shoulders, neck and upper body. Class will be an interactive, hands-on approach. Come ready to help each other.

Tapasya – Stoking the Inner Fire

Come join this alchemizing evening of stoking the inner fire with a potpourri of asana and full on devotion. It’s the path of the heart and the heat of our innermost dedication that turns lead into gold. Be ready to sweat and shine.

Brilliance, Bhakti and Backbends

Wake up your brilliance with this up-tempo practice of standing poses and backbends for all levels of practitioners. Together we will ignite our practice with the path of Bhakti Yoga and infuse our lives with the power of Love.

Listen Within – Hips and Meditation

The afternoon session will be an in depth exploration of hip openers, twists and some basic inversions to guide each person into the inner terrain of the ultimate teacher within.

Calling All Courageous Hearts!  (Intermediate/Advanced)

Jump in and play the edge in this lively practice of arm balances and deeper backbends with the Goddess Durga as our inspiration.  Durga rides the lion as a symbol of the yogi’s courageous heart. Bring an open mind, willing heart and smiling eyes.

 

 

Friday:    1-4 Radiant Health – Therapeutics for the Upper Body $60

Friday   6-8  Tapasya – Stoking the Inner Fire $35

Sat.   11-1:30  Brilliance, Bhakti and Backbends $45

Sat.   3:30-6   Listen Within – Hips and Meditation $45

Sun. 10-1  Calling all Courageous Hearts!  (Int/Adv) $55

“Yoga Gives Back” Donation Class

The Holiday season is upon us, it’s a time where the feeling of giving overwhelms us, a time when people are encouraged to give to the needy and the less fortunate. In honor of the spirit of giving, we are having a very special donation only Vinyasa Yoga Class.

On Friday 12/31 the 4 pm Vinyasa will be a donation class to benefit Yoga Gives Back. This is a fantastic non profit organization that supports micro-financing loans to poor women in India. According to YGB, people in the U.S. spend six billion dollars a year on yoga; while in contrast 40% of the world’s poor live in India. Yoga is a gift from India and this is a chance to give back! The class will be a sliding scale $5-25 and we are even lining up some live music!

Join us for a yoga class that makes you feel even better than normal.

Gomukhasana:

Gomukhasana, a yoga pose with endless benefits. Some of the primary benefits of Gomukhasana are:
Stretches triceps, rotator cuff, latisimus and pectoralis muscles of upper body.
Stretches gluteus, tensor fascia latae, piriformis and other hip rotator muscles of lower body, and opens the chest and thoracic spine.

To perform this method start by:

Start seated with your legs extended in front of you. Bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor. Cross your right leg underneath your left leg bringing your foot to the outside of the left hip.

Your left leg moves over top, so that the thighs cross tightly and your knees are close to stacking one on top of the other, in the center of your body.

Flex both feet, and position your ankles an equal distance away from the thighs to allow both of your sitting bones to meet the mat.

Press the outside edges of your feet into the earth, keeping them flexed.

Bring your right arm out to your side at shoulder hight, and rotate the palm up so that the shoulder balde melts down your back.

Inhale and raise your right arm overhead until it is beside your ear. Keep your neck relaxed and in neutral.

Exhale as you bend your right elbow, placing the palm of the hand onto your back, towards the middle of the shoulder blades.

You may gently use your left hand on your right elbow to encourage the elbow to move more towards the midline.

As you inhale, bring your left arm out to your side at shoulder height, rotate your palm down noticing the opposite motion of the shoulder blade slightly up.

Bend your elbow, exhale and lower your arm to your side with the back of the hand on your lower back.

Slide your hand across your low back until your upper arm is beside the torso, then reach your hand up the back towards the middle of your shoulder blades.

If your hands touch, curl the finger to link your two hands.Keeping your spine tall, neck in neutral and relaxed, imagine reaching the elbows away from each other, while they hug towards the midline.

If the head is able to touch the right arm, gently press the head back into the arm, lengthening the back of the skull.