Posts In: relaxation

Dear Yoga,

As I am writing thank you notes to other loved ones in honor of a new year and new beginnings, I wanted to reach out and let you know how grateful I am for you in my life. 

Your presence over these many years has been so loving, powerful, educational and supportive.  You have taught me how to glimpse and connect to the wisdom within my own heart.  I aspire to honor that wisdom in the hearts of all. 

Through your example, Yoga, I see that love is more powerful than fear. Presence must be practiced. Relaxation is a skill. Intentional change is possible. 

Your timeless teachings of non-harming, a vision of sameness and loving kindness to all are deeply needed in this world. 

Thank you for being there through thick and thin. I have always known that if I’m having a challenging day or time, you are there. You hold me accountable and at the same time, continuously inspire me to wake up, to connect to the love within myself and all things. 

Yoga, you are a true friend and you have enriched my life beyond measure. 

With immense gratitude, 

Amy 

This monthly workshop led by Missy DiDonato fills up fast! While you’re supported in restorative yoga poses, you’ll receive Reiki and a concert of vibrations from crystal bowls, Koshi chimes, rain sticks and more. This meditative experience will leave you feeling centered, balanced and focused.

Join us Monday, November 15th at 7pm

But don’t take our word for it, here’s what past participants have to say –

“The first Reiki & Sound session I went to was amazing. I left feeling rested, peaceful, and full of positive energy.” – Lydia B.

“As a busy mom of two young kids, Reiki & Sound has given me the time and space to truly relax, unwind, and take care of myself. I look forward to having the dedicated time to connect with myself.” – Dain M.

“A few weeks ago at Yoga One, I attended the Reiki & Sound Bath workshop. It was a completely new experience for me and I had no idea what to expect. After settling in and quieting my mind, I was able to completely relax. The sensations I felt during the session were both warm and calming. For me though, it wasn’t until I went to sleep that night and woke up the next morning that complete inner peace ran through me. It was magical.”- Dana H.

 “My Reiki & Sound Bath experience at Yoga One was both relaxing and transforming. My body released all tension as my heart/mind was transported by the cosmic sound vibrations! Awesome!” – Dawn F.

“Basking in the Reiki & Sound Bath is like absorbing the warmth of the sun in winter or the divine cool of the moon in summer. I leave serene, as if I’ve just had a beautiful massage!” – Chris F.

Take a few minutes out of your day to enjoy this healing sound bath offered by Yoga One teacher Amy Freeman and her son. They play chakra tuned crystal bowls, hand pan and tongue drums, and a rainstick in the beautiful San Diego, California sunshine. Please also enjoy the unscripted bird calls. 🙂

by Laura McCorry

Ever find yourself at the end of the work day wishing the yoga studio was just a little bit closer to your office? What about having yoga classes available in your office?

Yoga One proudly offers high-quality yoga instruction on-site for local businesses. We’ve helped establish corporate yoga programs since 2002 for companies such as SDG&E, SEMPRA, and Cox Communications.

Establishing an onsite class is easier than you might think! There are many different models of cost sharing available between employee and employer. All you need is an open space (often a conference room!) and you and your team can experience the joys and benefits of yoga:

Benefits to Employee

• Decreased stress
• Promotes a healthy lifestyle
• Improved strength and flexibility
• Sense of peace and relaxation
• Improved listening and communication skills
• Increased energy
• Better emotional balance
• Leave class feeling refreshed and renewed!

Benefits to Employer

• Increased productivity
• Increased workplace satisfaction
• Fewer employee sick days
• Promotes a positive office environment
• Excellent team-building experience
• Your office will love it!

Contact Michael Caldwell to set up yoga at your workplace today! Phone: 619-544-0587 or email: info@yogaonesandiego.com

Sparkling, shiny, sensitive, steely, steadfast, seaworthy, smiling, super…and these are just the adjectives that begin with “s” that can be used to describe the sensational and interesting, Robin Doten. She loves to explore and experience life and brings those receptive and friendly qualities to her teaching. You’ll have to wake up early for her 6:30am Flow class on Tuesdays, but you’ll be glad you did! Check out our full class schedule here.

1. What is your favorite style of yoga?

I really enjoy Vinyasa Flow. I love the heat and energy it creates in my body and I find the linking of my breath with the movements helps me to focus my mind, de-stress and feel balanced. Vinyasa feels like a smooth flowing dance which guides me through a moving meditation.

2. What first attracted you to yoga when you began your practice?

I was invited by a close friend to attend some of her yoga classes she was taking regularly and I loved how I felt after class. My fascination with yoga really grew as I was seeking an activity that could strengthen my body yet not cause damage to my joints. I realized yoga was a low impact exercise that I could do for the rest of my life.

As I started doing more yoga, I heard about Yoga One’s Teacher Training and decided to learn all I could by attending the training! Soon I was diving into a much deeper practice and a better understanding of Yogic teachings and principles. Yoga became an all-encompassing life perspective and I was hooked on its ability to bring me peace and happiness.

3. What is your favorite yoga pose right now?

Savasana (corpse pose) or final relaxation, is my favorite pose right now. It may sound like a joke, because I didn’t take it seriously or see its full benefits before, but now it means so much to me. I find it to be my reset button. After practicing yoga or taking a class, savasana is my time to fully surrender and be still. I feel the support of the Earth and an immense gratitude for my body and its ability to carry me through my yoga practice! While in corpse pose I am completely at ease and feel balanced, this makes me feel so clear, connected and open to the present moment.

4. What pose is still the most challenging?

Bakasana or crow pose is the most challenging for me. I can do it, but it doesn’t feel good in my body. It bruises the back of my arms and I tend to avoid it. I have been telling myself that if I practice crow pose it will start to feel better and in time I will be doing a jump back to chaturanga dandasana (which looks so cool!) but for now, it’s just a goal.

5. If you were an animal, you would be:

There are so many animals that I identify with but the characteristics of a dog seem the most suitable. They are loyal, intelligent companions, who can offer assistance, and are always excited to see the people they love. Dogs are easy to please and happiness moves through their entire body from the tip of their nose to their wagging tail. I love how dogs make people so happy, too!

6. Describe what yoga means in your life using just 6 words: Peacefulness, Openness, Balance, Connection, Unity and Joy

7. What might your students be surprised to learn about you?

That I’ve been bitten by the travel bug and have visited over 30 countries. I once wanted to live abroad and travel so much, I went to Europe in search of work. The only job I could get as a foreigner that would allow me to see more of the world was as a “yachtie” and crew on mega yachts all over the Mediterranean.

The Med was so beautiful, but soon the yachting season ended in that region, so I followed it over to the Bahamas where I continued to crew. Once, I was hired for a two week stay on a private island called Indigo Island with Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis and their children! Of all the people I encountered while on this adventure, they were the most gracious.

8. Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for new students?

The best advice I can give is something I remind myself of daily – to create a habit or practice of my own. Be open to learning and trying new poses. Let go of your ego, it will always hold you back and creates judgment of yourself and others. Be a positive influence for yourself and those around you and most of all, just have fun!

Erin is such a delight! Her smile begins with her eyes. In addition to being a super yogi, she is also (spoiler alert, see question #7) the designer/creator of the Yoga One website. We’ve know Erin a long time and are better off for having her in our lives. Come to her relaxing Thursday evening Candlelight Flow at 7:30pm. See our full schedule here.

1. What is your favorite style of yoga?

A Vinyasa alignment-based flow is the style I practice most often, but I also really enjoy Restorative Yoga.

2. What first attracted you to yoga when you began your practice?

I remember doing animal yoga poses with my brothers growing up that we learned from a big orange kids yoga book. About 10 years ago, I was working in an office all day and looking for a way to live a more active lifestyle. I started taking yoga classes at Yoga One and immediately fell in love with the practice.

3. What is your favorite yoga pose right now?

Adho Mukha Vrksasana or Handstand, I love the feeling of strength and power, as well as the change in perspective 🙂

4. What pose is still the most challenging?

Recently, I have been focusing on the transition between poses, specifically developing the strength and control to jump back/forward or through from one pose to the next.

5. If you were an animal, you would be: my first reaction would be a cat, but it would be pretty fun to be a monkey too… tough choice!

6. Describe what yoga means in your life using just 6 words: helps me discover my truest self.

7. What might your students be surprised to learn about you?

I am also a web designer.

8. Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for new students?

Stay with your practice. You may not notice any change from day to day, but over time yoga will make amazing transformations in both your body and mind!

That first stretch of the day sitting on the edge of my bed

Meet Olivia, a yogi with a gorgeous smile and infectious energy! She teaches the Level 2 Flow on Thursday nights at 6pm, be sure to drop by for a challenging workout and the perfect savasana to end the day. Go here for our complete schedule.

1. What is your favorite style of yoga?

My favorite kind of yoga is Vinyasa but throwing in a weekly Restorative class is a must as well!

2. What first attracted you to yoga when you began your practice?

I immediately loved corpse pose (savasana) at the end of class! I was exhausted after my first class. The fact that lying on my mat for three minutes doing absolutely nothing except letting my body restore and relax was part of the class, I was sold. It felt different then anything I had ever done before and I loved it.

3. What is your favorite yoga pose right now?

My favorite yoga pose right now is navasana, or boat pose. I practice finding my center and tapping into that inner fire. Boat pose reminds me of that and keeps me feeling strong and connected to my core.

4. What pose is still the most challenging?

Many poses are still challenging for me but one that I am working on right now is bird of paradise. Straightening the lifted leg takes time and practice – and that’s half the fun of it, every try feels different.

5. If you were an animal, you would be: a deer. I once had a dream I was a deer and surprisingly it resonated with me. It was the first and last animal dream I’ve ever had but experiencing that kind of freedom was amazing.

6. Describe what yoga means in your life using just 6 words: Yoga is peace, love, breath, connection.

7. What might your students be surprised to learn about you?

I had the mouth of a sailor before I started teaching but yoga keeps me aware and conscious of what I say and I appreciate that.

8. Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for new students?

“Enjoy the ride, it’s the journey not the destination.” I love that quote for all aspects of life but with yoga especially. I believe that if you could master every pose on the first try you would miss out on the good stuff, the things you can’t see, like learning to be humble, having patience, and letting go.

Hope to see you in class! Come introduce yourself and say hello, or grab a hug, I love connecting with students and sharing the journey.

~ Olivia

Ever try convincing your friends to come to yoga only to hear one of these myths? Check out Part One of the list here.

5. MYTH: Yoga is not for men.

FACT: Yoga in the western hemisphere may be dominated by women, but historically, yoga was only practiced by men. Both men and women can benefit from strength-building, flexibility, balance, mindfulness, stress-reduction and all the other benefits of yoga. Take a buddy or go to a class led by a male instructor if you’re feeling hesitant about being the only dude.

4. MYTH: Yoga is too expensive.

FACT: Yoga One has many competitive membership and class package options that reduce the price per class. For example, the 10 class package breaks down to $12/class. Compare that to $14 at the movies or $15-20 for lunch downtown. Come to class more often with our unlimited membership and save even more! An investment in your health and wellbeing is never something you should put off for later.

3. MYTH: A $100 mat is better than a $20 mat (a close relative of #4).

FACT: You don’t need expensive equipment or clothes to do yoga – that’s part of its charm! Ask yourself this simple question: do your hands slip in downward facing dog? If the answer is no, chances are your mat is working just fine. The best yoga accessory is the willingness to come to class and give it your best effort.

2. MYTH: A true yogi eats a vegetarian/vegan diet, drinks kombucha, won’t eat processed sugar, etc.

FACT: Practicing yoga will increase your awareness. You become more conscious of how the body and mind interact and react to each other. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself approaching other areas of your life with more mindfulness and compassion. Yoga doesn’t tell you what to do but it might change your mind!

1. MYTH: You must be calm and relaxed all the time because you do yoga.

FACT: Life can be hectic – many people do yoga because it helps them relax. Yoga can help you gain perspective by encouraging you to slow down and pay attention to the present moment. A regular meditation practice has been proven to reduce stress and feelings of anxiety.

BONUS: Watch this awesome instructional video – how to meditate in a minute!

by Laura McCorry

Did you know there’s more than one way to practice savasana? Often labeled the most difficult pose to master, savasana (or final relaxation), means you have to let go. When it comes to meditation and letting go with your mind, how you position the body can actually have a profound effect.

Try them all out and let us know in the comments which is your favorite!

1. The Cadillac

A favorite of anyone who has ever secretly wanted to use yoga as an excuse to take a nap and pregnant moms-to-be (your head stays above baby’s heart). Ever wanted to feel completely supported, loved and cared for? Welcome home.

2. Rock Me Easy

Similar to The Cadillac but requires less assembly: two blankets, two blocks. Gentle heart-opening and fully supported goodness. Especially calming if you’re tight in the shoulders or upper back.

3. The Minimalist

You love the security of having a blanket (and you’re probably damn good at snuggling) but don’t like to make a big fuss. This is simple and effective, especially for relieving lower back pain.

4. The Recliner

You’re the type of person always asking for the cherry on top. You love savasana, but what about a little cushion for your head? And your legs are restless, so how about some love for the knees? Yeah, that’s better. Mmm.

5. No Frills

Let’s face it, you’re a traditionalist. You don’t like nuts in your chocolate and you don’t want to waste any time getting your savasana bliss on. Props required: none. Mat: optional.

6. The Rebel

Maybe it was the extra shift your manager asked you to take or the email from your boss at 5pm. You’re ready to get off your feet and lying down won’t cut it – raise ’em up! Bonus: legs up the wall is also known as the anti-aging pose.

Special thanks to Missy DiDonato for modeling all of these difficult poses. I know it was a tough job, but someone had to do it.

Yoga and Laura had an on-again-off-again relationship from 2004 until 2009 when they decided to move in together and there’s been no looking back since. Passionate about both yoga and writing, Laura loves to introduce others to the joys and benefits of yoga and healthy living.

Contact: laura@yogaonesandiego.com

Yoga One offers acupuncture! Award-winning Yoga One has been honored to enhance the well-being of individuals since 2002.

Our goal is to help as many people as possible live happier and healthier lives. To this end, Yoga One provides traditional group yoga classes, semi-private yoga experiences, corporate yoga classes, yoga teacher trainings, private instruction, meditation, massage therapy and acupuncture all in a positive, non-competitive environment.

 Click here to schedule an appointment.

This is Part 2 in the series, Acupuncture: Frequently Asked Questions, answered by expert licensed Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist, Jacintha “Jaz” Roemer. Read Part 1 here.

Often new acupuncture patients inquire about the needles used during treatment. Acupuncture needles are sterile, disposable and used only once and the risk of complications is very low. We at Yoga One Wellness will always work within your comfort zone and do our best to alleviate any stress you may have about acupuncture.

What if I am afraid of needles?

A reservation regarding needles is understandable, but rest assured, even people with needle phobias can receive acupuncture! The needles used in the treatment are very small. They are not the hollow hypodermic needles most of us are familiar with from Doctor visits. In addition, Yoga One Wellness therapists are trained in a variety of methods that can be used to help clients relax prior to treatment. Another option is not to get needled but to receive acupressure, or moxa, only.

Do the needles hurt?

As mentioned above: acupuncture needles are extremely thin, often about the thickness of a hair. While some people feel nothing at all, others experience a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin that can be followed by a mild sensation of cramping, tingling, numbness, traveling warmth, or heaviness. These are typically pleasant sensations, and most people find the experience extremely relaxing and even fall asleep for the duration of the treatment.

The needles can often bring relief to symptoms within minutes, a few hours or a few days, depending on the state of your body. It is not uncommon to experience some soreness post-treatment. This usually indicates that the body is healing through the movement of qi that occurs during an acupuncture treatment.

Have a question about acupuncture, massage or bodywork you want answered by an expert? Submit it toinfo@yogaonesandiego.com with “Blog Question” in the subject line.

Jacintha ‘Jaz’ Roemer L.Ac. is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Licensed Massage Therapist. She is a graduate of the Master of Science and Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) program from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Jaz is the Head Coordinator for the Yoga One Wellness Center. She has been a bodyworker since 2005 and has traveled to both Thailand and China to further her studies in Asian medicine.

Check out this awesome review of Missy’s Friday afternoon Restorative Yoga class at 4:30pm! Click here to read Jessica’s full review or scroll down for an excerpt. 

My restorative yoga experience was led by Missy, a kind teacher with a calming voice who was so attentive from the moment I walked in the room, helping me first to gather the many props that I would need to really make the most of my practice. On the list for the class- two yoga blocks, one yoga strap, one rolled up yoga mat (in addition to my mat that I brought) and six blankets. With the sound of calming ocean waves playing in the background, Missy provided great instruction through the hour and 15 minute experience, and also helped everyone to get comfortably settled into each pose to truly surrender and let go as we spent anywhere from 10-15 minutes releasing into each pose.

…

The “rest” you experience in a restorative yoga class is true relaxation—it’s where the body becomes still, the mind becomes quiet and in the effortless ease of each pose you truly begin to rejuvenate from the inside out.

A regular yoga practice provides many wonderful benefits, but yoga has something special to offer disciples of other forms of athleticism. No matter what your sport, yoga increases flexibility, range of motion and strength via body weight resistance. (Ever done Michael’s two minute hold in plank pose?) Yoga One student Jason Monger tells us why yoga is the perfect complement for his power lifting routine.

While some people lift weights competitively, the majority of people lift in order to maintain strength for everyday life. “You hear about people who throw out their back lifting a basket of laundry,” Jason explains, “It’s because they never developed the muscles along their spinal column and never learned how to properly use the body when picking up a heavy object. The strain builds up until one day injury happens.”

What exactly is savasana or shavasana? One translation for this posture is corpse pose, but I prefer the more technical that-lying-down-thing-we-do-at-the-end-of-class.

At first glance, it seems pretty straightforward: at the end of an hour spent stretching and moving (strenuously or not) through different poses, lie down for a final pose of relaxation. But the one pose found in every yoga class is cause for all manner of contentions among teachers: how long one should stay in savasana, when to practice savasana during class, whether or not the teacher may leave the room, how students are instructed to practice savasana, even the reasons given for why savasana should be practiced are all matters of debate.

To the uninitiated, savasana often seems like time for a glorified group nap. Like kindergartners, we grab our blankets, lie down on our sticky mat cots and close our eyes in the middle of the day while the teacher keeps watch. But that’s where the similarities end. During savasana, we’re instructed to relax the body and the mind, to let go of the constant stream of thoughts in search of a quiet place within, and to resist falling asleep.

For a pose purported to bring rest to your body and deep peace to your mind, there’s something fundamentally uncomfortable about savasana. Even from a linguistic standpoint, there’s no simple approach. Most teachers prefer the foreign Sanskrit word over the English translation, corpse pose, which feels macabre amongst all the animal poses. However, for those who delve beyond the initial discomfort of trying to still the body and mind, there are great benefits to enjoy.

According to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, savasana occupies the middle ground of consciousness, “not waking, not sleeping.” That middle ground, between waking and sleeping, is a place of mystery for most people. Through the practice of asana, the physical movements of yoga, we move beyond the demands of the body to better explore savasana’s largely uncharted territory of passive, heightened consciousness. The purpose of savasana can be anything from deep relaxation to meditation to a spiritual experience. People have used savasana to relieve stress, reduce headaches and fatigue, lower blood pressure, and even probe the limits of consciousness to connect to the spiritual world. Often used as an introductory guide to meditation, savasana is not so much a pose of the body but rather of the mind. The goal is to quiet the thoughts until there are none, not even the thought of having no thoughts.

If you’re anything like me, though, the minute you lie down and close your eyes is the same minute everything on your to-do list flickers through your mind like a movie reel!

Practicing savasana in class with a teacher makes all the difference in the world. Their presence allows you to fully relax, confident that they will guide you out of your meditation after a certain period of time. Without having to worry about how much time has gone by, you can delve more deeply into your awareness of the present moment and remind yourself again and again to let go of intrusive thoughts or worries. As adults, there are very few things that we must rely on others to do for us, such as cutting our hair. Sure, you could do it yourself, but it’s better to trust a professional. The same goes for savasana. By all means, take the time at home to relax and seek out your inner peace, but the voyage is easier when you have a guide you trust lead you there and back, without having to worry about how long it’s been or getting lost along the way.

Whether savasana is just another yoga word you’re not quite sure how to pronounce or an old friend whose company you relish, time spent in this pose is often powerful and transformative. When so many good things in life offer only delayed gratification, savasana is a shining beacon of immediacy that continues to unravel benefits for those who return time and time again. That lying down thing we do? It’s pretty awesome. Come to class and let us guide you today.