Healing Yoga NY

Illustrator David Macaulay, who is know for for his books Castle and Cathedral and The Way Things Work, just came out with a book that teaches us about the human body in a whole new way. The book, entitled The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body, gives us an anatomy and physiology lesson like we’ve never had before, complete with simple and fun illustrations that depict the complex workings of the body. Finally, an anatomy book that doesn’t induce sleep.

I was immediately drawn in by the metaphoric drawings and the way Macaulay distills complex functions into easy to understand concepts. If you’re looking for an insider’s view into the workings of the body but are tired of the standard anatomy and physiology textbooks, then I highly recommend this book. You can learn more about it, see a sample illustration, and listen to an author sound bite here.

Happy exploring!

If you’d like to meet Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews — of Yoga Anatomy fame — you can join them for a free book signing, talk, slide show and Yoga demonstration in the exhibit hall’s lobby from 1:00 to 4:00PM on Saturday, October 4th. Afterwards, join Leslie and Amy for a special guided tour of the amazing Bodies Exhibition from 5:00 to 8:00PM. The cost of the tour is $40.00, and all proceeds go to the Breathing Project’s Advanced Studies Program scholarship fund.

For more information and to register, click here.

Registration for the third annual SYTAR symposium is open. Click here for more information and to take advantage of early bird registration rates.

Ironically, this announcement coincides with author and well-respected yoga educator Leslie Kaminoff releasing this soon-to-be published article in the IAYT’s Journal in which he states he no longer wants the title Yoga Therapist. Click here to read Kaminoff’s brilliant commentary on yoga and yoga therapy. He raises a number of excellent points and I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly with him.

I’ve always leaned towards using the term yoga therapy because I felt that a distinction needed to be made between the Americanized version of yoga taught in studios across the country (which can often be considered exercise rather than yoga) and yoga in the true tradition of the art, which is fully described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Kaminoff offers a persuasive argument and I’m now reconsidering my former stance.

What do you think?

There are a lot of incorrect perceptions of yoga out there. Some think that you have to have the perfect body to practice. Others think that yoga is about how you look in a pose. While others think that you have to be flexible and the more yoga “tricks” you know, the better. For those of us who’ve found a deeper meaning to our practice, yoga is something else entirely.

It’s not surprising that yoga is perceived as a sport or as something that physically fit and flexible people partake in — that message is prevalent in the media. Look at the cover of many of the yoga magazines and what do you see? If only we could see yoga in a different way, from a different perspective. Just this past weekend I was flipping through a book at a yoga studio where I was participating in a training and I saw this delightful picture of what society would deem an obese woman in a yoga pose. But she wasn’t just “in” the pose — she was the pose. She was the picture (no pun intended) of pure joy. It was beautiful to see. If I ever saw that wonderful image on the cover of a yoga magazine, I would be very happy (and I would sign up for a subscription!).

Matthew Sanford is one of those amazing people who shifts your perspective just by hearing his story. Matthew is an Iyengar teacher who is paralyzed by the chest down due to a car accident when he was 13. If you’d like to see another side of yoga, check out the links below…

See an interview with Matthew Sanford on YogaMates.

Listen and/or read the transcript of a public radio interview with Matthew Sanford.

For anyone out there who thinks that they “can’t” practice yoga — think again.

You may know her as the anatomy and asana yogini — Susi Hately Aldous — and she’s coming to NYC this fall to teach a workshop entitled Advancing Your Yoga Practice: The Art of Slowing Down, which is based on her soon-to-be released book sharing the same title. If you’re a yogi in search of more ease in your postures (as well as a lesson in anatomy), then this workshop is for you. Here are the details:

Workshop Title: Advancing Your Yoga Practice: The Art of Slowing Down
Date: Wednesday October 1, 2008
Time: 6:30 pm-9:30 pm
Location: OmFactory: 265 West 37th Street @ 8th Avenue, 17th Floor (in midtown Manhattan’s garment district)
Price: $90

To register, please email Shala at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com or call toll free 866-229-2617.

I’ve been getting Susi’s ezine for years, and I enjoy every issue. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to to receive a wealth of anatomy insights in their inbox each month.

If you’re a teacher, Susi also offers a great PDF on her Web site entitled One Piece of Advice. This PDF offers exactly what it promises — helpful tidbits and advice from teachers to help bring out your best inner teacher.

I’m so glad that Susi is coming to NY! And you will be too.

Arturo talks about the benefits of restorative poses, visualization, and his style of teaching. Check out this interview on YogaMates TV now.

There’s a new online radio show in town — Yoga for Health. The show is hosted by Antonio Sausys who heads up the Yoga for Health International Yoga Therapy Conference. Click here to listen.

If you look at the far right-hand column (under the heading Interviews), you’ll find an interview with author and yoga therapist Larry Payne. Antonio and Larry discuss the past, present and future of yoga; yoga therapy; and helpful tips of yoga business owners. Listen and enjoy!

How does yoga benefit your health? Let me count the ways…

77 Health Benefits of Yoga

This interesting lists covers internal , external, emotional, body chemistry, exercise, disease prevention, and symptom reduction/alleviation. I know that these benefits are true, but unfortunately, there’s not enough research to back these claims up from a medical perspective. Still, this is a great list.

Two thousand and eight is a big year for some of yoga’s greatest illuminaries. This year celebrates what would have been the 120th year of Krishnamacharya, the 70th birthday of son TKV Desikachar and the 90th birthday of BKS Iyengar. The Krishnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation is paying tribute with a limited edition picture book.

The book is devoted to T Krishnamacharya and his “four-most” students Indra Devi, Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar and TKV Desikachar. It will feature some of the best photographs of these masters, as well as some of the most recent ones which have been shot by Kausthub Desikachar, who is the project editor. Most of the photographs in these books would never have been published before.

Here’s more information sent directly from KHYF:

The Plan is to bring out an interesting and one-of-its-kind book in about 120 pages in the size of 9.5 by 12 inches.To enhance visual quality, printing will be done on special paper. Since only 2008 copies of this edition will ever be printed, and it is being used as a fund raising project, it will be priced at around €108, which includes shipping by courier only. Bulk orders (10 or more) will entail a 5% discount.

It is expected that the book will be ready latest by November 2008, though we are targeting an earlier date.

The book is sure to be a collector’s item and hence we are confident that it will be sold out before too long.

To reserve your copy please email us with all of the following details (Full Name, Full Address including State and Country, Telephone Number and Email Address).

TO EMAIL US AND RESERVE A COPY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Yoga Month, the national awareness campaign to inspire a healthy and informed lifestyle, is partnering with the Yoga Health Foundation to add education about illness prevention and holistic practices to its upcoming U.S. city tour.

Here are all the details:

Yoga Community Rallies to End National Health Care Crisis

Los Angeles, June 18, 2008 – Leaders within the yoga community throw their support and knowledge of holistic health behind Yoga Month to end the national health care crisis. Toyota, Equinox Fitness, Luna, Health Magazine, and VibeHolistic have also enlisted in the Yoga Month health revolution.

For decades, the 18 million plus Americans practicing yoga have reaped the rewards of a healthy and vibrant life. Due to the health care epidemic engulfing the nation, the yoga community is aligning proven holistic techniques with traditional medical practices as it marches toward Yoga Month 09.2008, a national awareness campaign to inspire a healthy and informed lifestyle. 

Spearheaded by the Yoga Health Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, Yoga Month 09.2008 will gather yoga industry and health care giants together to take their knowledge of holistic living and its health benefits to mainstream society. The Yoga Health Foundation stresses health prevention and holistic practices that complement conventional medicine. Yoga Month 09.2008 is the first initiative of its kind to mobilize the yoga and traditional medical communities to ban together to fight the health care crisis in this country.   

During the month of September, yoga experts, homeopathic specialists, medical practitioners and green merchants will participate in Yoga Month’s 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour. Hillary Rubin, one of Yoga Month’s featured instructors, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 12 years ago. Rubin believes she owes her drug and symptom-free existence to yoga and holistic living. She will highlight her natural regime during the tour. The festivals will benefit those interested in a lifestyle enhanced by various schools of yoga, informed eating habits, and natural medical remedies often found in household gardens. 

These preventative and cost efficient alternatives provide a welcome counterpart to standard health care. The festival tour is scheduled for Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Denver, San Diego, Austin, and Vancouver.

To fully realize the potential of Yoga Month 09.2008, the Yoga Health Foundation formed strategic alliances with corporate sponsors to assist in putting an end to the health care crisis. Toyota, Equinox Fitness, Luna, and Health Magazine are just a few of the many sponsors on board in support of Yoga Month. 

In addition, the Yoga Health Foundation aligned with community outreach partner VibeHolistic to spread the message of Yoga Month in underserved communities. An empowerment company founded and managed by women, VibeHolistic’s purpose is to serve people of color by providing knowledge in the areas of yoga and holistic health. In preparation for Yoga Month, VibeHolistic will host a Spa Soiree on June 25^th at the Creative Chakra Spa in Marina Del Rey, CA. The event will bring together celebrated leaders within black and Hispanic communities to organize efforts for Yoga Month in September.   

Johannes Fisslinger, founder of the Yoga Health Foundation, believes the answers to many of the illnesses that maim, weaken, and destroy are found in nature and within the body’s natural ability to heal itself. According to Johannes, “Nature has given us inexpensive, easy to find, and simple tools to assist conventional medicine in addressing our health needs. Yoga Month health festivals will offer holistic alternatives that work and do not cost a lot of money.” 

Dr. Carrie Demers, an M.D. who specializes in internal medicine while practicing Ayurveda and homeopathy, agrees with Fisslinger. “Most diseases are preventable and curable with natural medicines and a healthy lifestyle. That is the simple truth. The general population needs access to this information and support for making changes in how to eat, exercise and manage stress.”  

For more information on the Yoga Health Foundation and Yoga Month 09.2008, please visit www.yogamonth.org or contact Vera Alexander at 818-762-4767.