Set an intention and start your new year off right! Join me New Year’s Day for a special Yin Practice from 10-11:15 am at Suit UR Karma Yoga Studio in Oak Lawn.
You’ll leave feeling refreshed and ready to take on 2014! Hope to see you all there!
Where Oh Where Have I Been?
August 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Hi all!
As it turns out, I’m finding that having my own website and keeping it updated is a bit more challenging then expected! Forgive me for these long gaps in my posts and please feel free to supplement by visiting (and “Liking”) my Joy Peace and Health Facebook page, which is a little easier for me to update, however, no excuses, I really do need to understand and use this website a lot more often! Stay tuned! My long term goal is to figure this whole website thing out and make it something enjoyable for you all!
To be honest, one of my major hurdles (aside from struggling with how the heck to maneuver a website) has been getting back on the computer to do “work”. I’ve worked in an office environment for well over half of my adult life (thus far anyway), most of it spent staring at computer screens, composing emails, creating excel spreadsheets, yada yada…These days, my computer time is limited to catching up on Facebook, checking my personal emails, and googling anything from Yoga and Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease (it’s a thing, look it up!), to Hummingbird Bee Moth images (they’re cute, believe!), and entertainingly enough…the Sasquatchit (see the Bigfoot Lunch Club website for that gem!). I needed a break from my computer screen, and this past year has been all about taking a little time away from it, focusing more on building my yoga classes, getting off my butt and taking care of some things that I’d been slacking on, and enjoying life away from a desk.
I’ve got some updates to my class schedules and a lot of thoughts/info/etc I’d like to share soon, so stay tuned!
Update to the teaching schedule!
June 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Exciting news! If you’re in the Oakbrook area on Monday mornings and in need of a yoga class…I’ve got you covered!
WHEN: Monday’s from 6:15-7 am AND 9-9:45 am
WHERE: Midtown Health Spa & Fitness (part of the Hyatt Lodge)
2815 Jorie Blvd, Oakbrook, Il 60523
STYLE: All level Hatha yoga, however, these classes lean towards “gentle” yoga, GREAT for beginners!
COST: $8 daily guest fee. Take advantage of the gym while your there!
*ALSO, as a reminder, I’m still teaching an ALL level Hatha yoga class on Wednesday nights from 7-8 (ish) at SoderWorld Healing Arts Center & Spa, located at 16 W. 501 Nielson Lane, Willowbrook, IL 60527 (2 miles south of I-55). Look for the A-frame log cabin on the west side of Route 83/Kingery Highway!
Hope to see you at one of my classes!
Diaphragmatic Breathing, Like Chicken Soup or…Why I Love Pranayama!
February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
When the Breath wanders, the mind is unsteady, but when the Breath is still, so is the mind still.” – Hatha Yoga Pradipika
This is going to sound weird but seriously, I love breathing (always), (but) especially in my yoga practice! As both a yoga student and yoga instructor, I’ve grown to appreciate the benefits of a solid pranayama (aka: yoga breathing exercises) practice.
The quality of our breath affects us on almost every level from our nervous system and body chemistry, to our mental and emotional state. This means that every other aspect of our lives is affected by the quality of our breath. Pranayama can reduce mental tension, help us to focus, increase the body’s energy level, and calm and strengthen the mind. I don’t know about you, but personally, I need help help in all those areas! And while it might seem like a no brainer to simply inhale and exhale, there are definitely ways for us to consciously improve how we breathe both on and off the mat.
One of the most common breathing exercises is Diaphragmatic Breathing (breathing in and out of the diaphragm as opposed to your chest). It’s a simple practice and helps slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure, clear the mind, relax the muscles and reduce stress. Naturally it’s one of the first techniques I like to teach to a new class, and is also a great exercise to practice on your own at any time.
Exciting News!
February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I’ve been very fortunate to teach at corporate locations/member clubs over the last six months or so, but I’m excited to announce that I have my very first official studio class, open to everyone! Come check it out, I’d love to see you there! Information below:
All Level Hatha Yoga
When: Wednesday Nights from 7-8 pm
Where: SoderWorld Healing Arts Center & Spa
16 W. 501 Nielson Lane
Willowbrook, IL 60527
(Located about 2 miles south of I-55 on Route 83 Kingery Highway, just past the McDonald’s on the west side. Look for the log cabin with the light up globe that says “SoderWorld”)
Cost: $15 walk in (packages available)
Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend with a Twist – Prasarita Padottanasana (with a twist)
December 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
- Stand with your legs wrist distance apart (approx 4-5 feet). A good way to measure this is by raising your arms shoulder height and bending your wrists so your fingers point down towards the floor. The outsides of your feet should be in line with the tips of your fingers.
- Place your hands on your hips, inhale and lengthen the sides of your body. Roll the heads of your arm bones back.
- Exhale and bend forward until your torso is parallel with the floor.
- Lower your hands to the mat, directly below your shoulders. Spread the fingers wide apart, middle fingers parallel.
- Create length in your legs by rooting the tail bone down and lifting and spreading your toes, shins and thighs towards the sky.
- Relax your neck and head down towards the mat and bring your chest in closer to your thighs. Draw your shoulder blades down your back.
- Move your right hand to the center of the mat
- Inhale, raise your left arm up towards the sky, twist your torso to the left and turn your head to follow your arm.
- Hold the pose and take a few steady breaths.
- Exhale and lower your left arm to the center of the mat
- Inhale, raise your right arm up towards the sky, twist your torso to the right and turn your head to follow your arm.
- Hold the pose and take a few steady breaths.
- Exhale and lower your right arm back to the mat
- Bring your hands to your hips, and tuck your chin in towards your chest.
- Inhale and slowly rise up to standing allowing your head to come up last.
Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend – Prasarita Padottanasana
December 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
- Stand with your legs wrist distance apart (approx 4-5 feet). A good way to measure this is by raising your arms shoulder height and bending your wrists so your fingers point down towards the floor. The outsides of your feet should be in line with the tips of your fingers.
- Place your hands on your hips, inhale and lengthen the sides of your body. Roll the heads of your arm bones back.
- Exhale and bend forward until your torso is parallel with the floor.
- Lower your hands to the mat, directly below your shoulders. Spread the fingers wide apart, middle fingers parallel.
- Create length in your legs by rooting the tail bone down and lifting and spreading your toes, shins and thighs towards the sky.
- Relax your neck and head down towards the mat and bring your chest in closer to your thighs. Draw your shoulder blades down your back.
- Hold the pose and take a few steady breaths.
- Bring your hands to your hips, and tuck your chin in towards your chest.
- Inhale and slowly rise up to standing allowing your head to come up last.
Low Lunge – Anjanayasana
November 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
- Inhale, step your right foot back as far as you can comfortably, bend your left knee so that it comes directly over your ankle and lower your hands down to the mat on either side of your left foot (adjust your left foot so that its centered between your hands).
- Exhale, gently lower your right knee to the mat and point your right toes back, press the top of your right foot into the ground
- Inhale and raise your torso up, roll the heads of your arm bones back and take the crown of your head directly up towards the sky, almost as if there’s an invisible line pulling you up straight.
- From here you have several options for what you do with your arms. You can move your arms so that they come directly under your shoulders, and keep your fingertips to the mat, OR inhale and bring your hands to rest on your left knee OR on that inhale you can raise your arms overhead, keeping them shoulder width apart.
- You can continue to look straight ahead, keeping your neck long and in line with your spine, or turn your head to look up towards your outstretched arms.
- Exhale and bend the left knee further forward over your ankle, but no further than the tips of your toes (*be sure as you bend the knee that your knee cap moves toward your middle toes, so that it doesn’t veer to to far to the right or left as this can cause discomfort.)
- Take a breath or two in the full pose
- Bring your hands back to the mat on either side of left foot
- Exhale step your right foot forward coming into Forward Fold.
- Repeat on the other side
Eight Limbed Bow – Ashtanga Pranamasana
November 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This pose typically follows Plank pose in Sun Salutation C.
- Coming from Plank pose, simultaneously lower knees, chest and chin down to the mat.
- Tops of thighs and butt are up off the ground. Toes remain curled, heels up toward the sky as they were in plank, crown of head also points skyward. Palms are flat alongside the ribcage. Elbows are in towards the ribs.
- Take a breath and come into next position.