|
Bikram Philadelphia Newsletter
February 2010
In this third edition, we have the results of the PA Regional Yoga Championship, the First Friday Kirtan being hosted by our studio, and our "Posture of the Month" Part 2 of the Half-Moon Series.
PA Regional Yoga Championship
PA Regional Yoga Championship
Congratulations to the Pennsylvania Regional Yoga Asana Champions!
Last month Pennsylvania held its Regional Yoga Asana Championships at the University of the Arts. Congratulations to all our competitors: Anna Carapellotti, Schuyler Ferguson, Chris Fluck, Jessica Gardner, Matt Haedo, George Heckert, Jill Holden, Kate Ingersoll, Allison Kinter, Kyra Kontoudis, James Pfeffer, Joanne Rimeris, Joel Schneier, Joanne Rimeris, Megan Van Riet
Yes, I know it sounds like an oxymoron, yoga and competition; however when competition is appropriately conducted it can be a very positive motivating force that teaches us to explore our own abilities, as well as respect the abilities of others. Talk to any of the competitors and in the same breath they will tell you how excited they are for the first place competitors and how amazed they are at the improvement in their own practice in four short months of training.
We hope that the hundred and fifty plus attendees were inspired to open themselves up to the myriad of physical, mental and emotional benefits of yoga practice, and perhaps inspired to compete or volunteer next year. If so please let us know you are interested by emailing PAyogachampionships@gmail.com. The 2010-2011 championships will be held in September 2010, it’s right around the corner!
You can watch our 1st and 2nd place champions compete in the national championships live on Friday February 12, 2010 at 1pm on www.yogacup.com
PA Yoga Asana Championship Results:
Female Division
1st Place: Anna Carapellotti
2nd Place: Allison Kinter
3rd Place: Jessica Gardner
Male Division:
1st Place: Schuyler Ferguson
2nd Place: James Pfeffer
3rd Place: George Heckert
First Friday Kirtan
Hosted by Bikram Philadelphia
Beginning in March, our studio will host First Friday Kirtans.
Previously held at Govinda's on South Street, the Kirtans will begin around 7:00pm and be in the fourth floor studio. Because of the time overlap, we will be modifying our schedule on First Fridays to accomadate the Kirtan: 3:30pm, 5:30pm, and 7:30pm classes will be held in the third floor studio, while the 6:30pm class will be canceled. Remember, parking is difficult, especially on a Friday night, so if you can, walk or take public transportation; if you must drive, there are several parking garages nearby, or you can always park south of South St. and then walk about five or six blocks to the studio.
Interview with Hari (owner of Govindas - http://www.govindasvegetarian.com/)
What's going on First Fridays?
"A few local guys bring some instruments - harmonium, mrdanga (drums), kartals (Indian hand cymbals), maybe a flute - and there will be singing and chanting in call and response. Maybe a little dancing. Its a very sweet mood. After the kirtan, there will be some explanation, as well as a vegetarian dinner."
Very simply, what is kirtan?
"Very simply, yoga. The spiritual glorification of the Supreme through mantras and instruments, through call and response; communal chanting, singing, and dancing in honor of the Supreme. It is one of the highest forms of yoga."
What is the purpose of meaning of kirtan?
"As one of the highest forms of yoga, the whole idea is to connect, to control energy, fix the mind - it is a simple and ancient process. Kirtan is actually one of nine processes to purify the self and connect with the Supreme. So you are connecting with the inner self and the Supreme through spiritual sound vibration, which is very purifying. Sound is a very basic, primordial form of energy, so connecting with the Supreme and the inner self through sound or vibration is very purifying and uplifting. Think of the saying "Oh, he's giving me bad vibes" - bad vibes like bad vibrations. The saying comes from the idea that sound or vibrations or energy can be good or bad. So kirtan is overflowing with positive vibrations. These positive vibrations are soothing to the mind and uplifting to the mood. The effect is people feel happy."
Why are you bringing the First Friday Kirtans to Bikram Philadelphia?
"Why not? Many yoga studios have kirtan workshops or events. It is a way to expose students of hatha yoga to other forms of yoga. One of the great things about Bikram Yoga is it attracts a very diverse group of people. So hopefully we give a spiritual but not necessarily religious experience. People today want to connect to the Supreme, but they are very wary of religion. This is a way to introduce a more well-rounded picture of what yoga is all about and how all the yogas are connected. The purpose is to give an understanding of kirtan, and uplift people, bring them happiness at the same time."
Thank you.
"Hare Krishna!"
Half-Moon Series Part 2: Backbending and Hands-to-Feet Pose
Posture of the Month
This month, our featured posture is Part 2 of the Half-Moon Series, Ardha-Chandrasana with Pada-Hastasana - Half-Moon Pose with Hands-To-Feet Pose. For Part 2, we will be covering Backbending and Hands-to-Feet Pose. Thank you to Katelyn for writing this month's featured posture!
Don’t you just love that first backbend followed by that u-turn to a deep forward bend? If that doesn’t wake up the spine in the first 15 minutes of class, then you must not be participating. So here’s a few instructions, reminders, tips and benefits for practicing the beloved backbend and hands to feet postures.
Backward bending:
Directions:
First of all, your back will hurt in the backbend. Get over that as you lift your torso up out of your hips. INHALE as you drop your head back all the way and look for the floor (even if you can’t see it!).
Slowly bend the arms and the spine backwards. Make sure it is the lower, middle and the upper back that are bending backwards here. Keep pushing the upper body backwards until it feels like you are going to fall down. Now push the hips, stomach, legs forward towards the mirror. Keep looking back and pulling the arms back. Breathe 80-20 here and stay like a statue for a few counts. Come up slowly to center position and keep the arms up and fingers interlocked.
Tips:
Learn to RELAX and breathe 80 -20 here. 80-20 is a breathing technique in which you take a deep breath (100 percent), you hold most of the breath (80 percent) and you slowly, steadily breath little breaths (20 percent).
Focus the attention on the base of the neck and let the head go in that spot.
Relax and un-tense the surrounding muscles around the neck and shoulders.
Relax and un-tense the surrounding muscles of the hips and lower back.
Abdomen stays soft, not hard.
While it is a backward bend, try to keep the mental image of stretching over bending.
Hands to Feet Pose:
Directions:
Make sure your arms are still over the head and your fingers still interlocked so that your index fingers still are pointing upwards. Lift the torso up, and bend your knees and put the hands on the floor in front of you. Walk out the hips here a couple of times to relax the low back. Bend from the hip joints and grab the heels from behind. The grip should be five fingers together, step on the tips of your fingers, little fingers touch behind you, with your elbows on the calf muscles. Press the insides of your forearms completely against your calves.
PULL on the heels with your tight grip and let the spine stretch down out of the hips towards the floor. Every vertibrae should be stretching downward. Your stomach, chest and face should all touch the legs here, bending your legs if necessary to keep the contact of upper body and legs.
Keep pulling the heels, keep the body glued to the legs and try to straighten your legs as best as you can and lock your knees. Your goal is to touch the top of your head to the top of your feet. Hold the posture ten or so honest counts. Come up exactly as you went down, with your arms and head together and your fingers still pointing up toward the ceiling, then gently lower the arms to your sides.
Tips:
Lift the hips rather than trying to jam the knees back to straighten the legs, this will help you relax the muscles in the hips allowing for a deeper stretch.
Exhale as you lift up your hips and straighten your knees.
Although it sounds ridiculous, keep a happy smiling face, it will help you deal with the pain of the stretch on the backs of the legs.
Benefits:
Gives you quick energy and vitality. Increases the flexibility and strength of the spine and sciatic nerves.
Increases the flexibility of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the legs and hips.
Strengthens the muscles of the legs, the trapezius, latisimus dorsi, and deltoids.
Trims waistline, abdomen, buttocks and the thighs. Improves blood circulation to the legs and brain.
Backbends stimulate the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and thymus glands which promote a plethora of internal benefits such as increasing white blood cell production, raising blood calcium levels, increasing cell metabolism, and improving overall organ function.
|
)