Joe Taft at Mountain Yoga

This past Sunday, we hosted a workshop starring Joe Taft.  Joe is an instructor at Asheville Yoga Center and helps with the teacher training program there.  We had 20 students, and everyone worked up a great sweat.  His theme for the class was "Let Love Rule", and he challenged us with some great heart-opening techniques.  To see more about Joe, check out his website at http://www.joetaftyoga.com/.  Awesome workshop, Joe!  We hope to have him back again soon.  And keep an eye out for other workshops, coming soon!

One Year already??



Mountcastle Center

Wow.  May 1st is sneaking up on me.  That's the one-year anniversary of Mountain Yoga's move to the Mountcastle Center.  What a ride!  It seems like yesterday.
In case you don't know, Mountain Yoga was founded in November, 2008.  For several months, we had just a few classes a week and met at Mullins Shaolin-Kung Fu.  That was a different atmosphere for yoga classes, as it is a HUGE space, with weapons on the wall.  :-)  But we were so thankful to Garry Mullins for allowing us to get our start there.  In April of 2009, we found the studio at the King Center in downtown Johnson City, and Mountain Yoga Studio was born.  This small, beautiful space was a leap of faith for us.  Could we make rent each month?  But we did.  And quickly, we outgrew the space and were looking for a new place.  Which brings us to May, 2010.  With butterflies in my stomach, I signed a lease for the old Cat's music space, behind Target.  Rent was much higher, but so was the visibility.  Could this new studio survive?  What was I getting into?
But, here we are, one year later.  And Mountain Yoga is more than I dreamed.  Our students are amazing, happy, dedicated & loving.  I wake up each morning, grateful for what God has given me.  And we're looking forward to more years of sharing yoga & loving each other.
So, Monday, May 2nd, we're celebrating!  Join us for a class, and get snacks & coffee from The Coffee & Tea Haven.
Most of all, THANK YOU to all our wonderful students and dear friends.  You're the greatest!

The Beauty of Backbending!

This past weekend, my adorable friend, Sami Te, joined us from Asheville to lead a backbending workshop.  Sami Te is a yoga instructor, a fire dancer, an aerialist, and a physical therapy student.  She's great at what she does, and you can check out more at http://www.samiterocks.com/.    But on Saturday, she led an awesome workshop, here at Mountain Yoga.  She began with a brief introduction of the musculature involved in backbending, and a discussion of agonist & antagonist muscles (actor & reactor), to make our practice safer & more effective.  Then we had a beautiful practice, with almost all the backbending poses I know, plus some Q & A time at the end.  We had a nice crowd here, and the atmosphere was light & fun.  Sami Te's energy made it such an enjoyable experience.  After class, many of the students enjoyed asking about & seeing several of her tattoos.  Overall, it was a great workshop, and we're hoping to have her teach here again sometime.  Personally, I got an excellent workout, and achieved some of my best backbends ever.   Thanks so much, Sami Te!

Cranio-Sacral Therapy

Last week, I had the greatest therapy experience!  I went to Barbara Dray at East Tennessee Medical Massage, just up the hill from the yoga studio.  Despite (or maybe because of) the many classes I teach, my hips have been rotated for months, which causes some pain to my low back.  Barb, who also does a great massage, tried CranioSacral therapy on me. 
I was not very familiar with CST, so she sent me some info from the Upledger Institute.  In the late seventies, Dr. John E. Upledger, an osteopathic physician, developed a system where the practitioner uses a gentle hand pressure to help release restrictions in the craniosacral system, and thereby improving the function of the central nervous system.  CST is used in many applications, and to treat many diseases.
As for my experience:  Barbara used a very gentle touch, primarily on my left hip.  My job was to relax and breathe.  The first time she did CST on me, I felt, very clearly, one of my hip adductor muscles release.  Amazing.  The second time, I believe the treatment allowed my hips to come out of their rotation.  They aren't perfect, but much, much better than before.
If you are interested in CranioSacral therapy, you can contact Barbara Dray at http://www.dreamweaverha.com/
Have a great week!
Jennifer

Daytime Mountain Yoga

Me, on TV!
Last Friday, Mountain Yoga was blessed to be featured on Daytime Tricities, a local talk show.  I was able to take just a few minutes and show the hostess, Amy Lynn, how to do Vir 1 & 2 (warriors).  It was awesome.  Spread the yoga...spread the love!

Check it out here:
http://www.daytimetricities.com/tri/lifestyles/article/mountain_yoga_strikes_a_pose/50508

Yoga for patience

I need patience.  Daily.  The weather here has been SO nice, and despite the fact that it's just February, I have spring fever.  And many people around me do, too.  I just want to plant my garden and take my dog to the lake.  Is that too much to ask?  Apparently, it is, because the temps are dropping again.
So, how does one go about getting more patience?
First, breathe.  Take long, slow, deep breaths, really feeling the air all the way in your lungs.  Notice the expansion of your lungs.  See if you can feel all those little sacks of air.
Second, be grateful.  Look around you and find reasons to be grateful for what is.  What can you enjoy this moment that might be fleeting?  (So, I'm enjoying the few minutes of sunshine & the fact that my life is not rushing by too quickly)
Third, do yoga, of course!  Yin Yoga is a great reminder for patience.  In Yin, we hold the pose as much as 5 minutes.  This is a great teacher of patience.  We breathe, we bring the monkey mind back to the present, and we wait.  With practice, it becomes less "waiting", and more "being".  Count your breaths, if the mind really wanders, but keep trying to be right here, in the moment.
If you would like to practice patience at home, simply try a supported child's pose, or breathe through a long pigeon pose.  At the studio, we incorporate Yin poses into all of our Restorative classes (check out http://www.mountainyogatn.com/ for the schedule).  For more online info, look up Paul Grilley.  He's the Yin guru.
So, take a breath.  Be patient.  All you need is already here.
Namaste

Lavender Essential Oil

At Mountain Yoga, we employ many forms of aromatherapy, from candles & incense, to pure essential oils.  According to Web MD, Aromatherapy is defined as "the use of essential oils from plants as therapy to improve physical, emotional & spiritual well-being".
Lavender essential oil is a favorite at our studio. We mix a few drops in some water & use as a calming spray that helps deepen sivasana.  Lavender has some hormone-like effects, but with few bad side effects.  It may improve the quality of life for cancer patients by relieving their stress & anxiety.  Lavender has been proven to enhance relaxation, relieve anxiety and help with depression.  The scent of it has even been proven to enhance sleep.
I like lavender essential oil, especially during these cold winter months.  It helps my mood, and calms my monkey-mind.
For more information, check out WebMD, aromatherapy.
My favorite lavender oil is here:  www.youngliving.com/essential-oils/Lavender, but you can find it at any health food store.  If you go to young living, you can use my distributer number:  1064064.
Happy sleeping!