Sadaya Yoga and Massage

Sadaya Yoga is pleased to offer the following classes coming up in April 2010:

Monday:

Beginner Hatha at SFU through Trine Yoga

Suitable for all, this is a classic Hatha class. Integrating movement with breath, variations of asana will be tailored to meet your prevailing needs & levels of practice. Classes progress each week with a different focus \ to increase your overall health & vitality. This practice improves the health of the organs, targets the spine/core, and all major joints in the body.

Quiet precise movements focus your mind & enhance balance. Alignment, inner peace & a strong focused mind are cultivated.

Date: Jan. 25 – April 12, 2010
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: VIP Room 191
Fee: $68.25 – SFU Student Rate: $63.00
More info: http://students.sfu.ca/recreation/programs_spring/yoga_taichi.html or http://www.trineyoga.ca

Tuesday:

Hatha Hour at Yoga Spirit

Breathe, relax and smile. Whether you are looking for a way to rest and rejuvenate, to release tension or to stretch your sore muscles, Hatha yoga will benefit you. A classical form of yoga that focuses on postures and breathing to bring the body and mind into greater alignment. An uplifting practice to help stretch and tone muscles, calm the mind and detoxify internal organs to bring about a state of relaxation.

A great introduction to yoga and for those who like a slower, more meditative practice.

Date: March 2 – onward
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: 5681 Goring Street, Burnaby BC, one block south of Holdom Skytrain station
More info: http://myyogaspirit.ca/
Power / Core at Yoga Spirit

For all levels! Challenge yourself with this perfect blend of flowing movements to create detoxifying heat in the body and core work to build strength and support.

Date: March 2 – onward
Time: 6:15pm – 7:15pm
Location: 5681 Goring Street, Burnaby BC, one block south of Holdom Skytrain station
More info: http://myyogaspirit.ca/

Wednesday:

Hatha at On Side Restoration Training Centre

Date: March 3 – onward
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: 3157 Grandview Hwy, Vancouver BC
More info: Call Jes at Sadaya Yoga 778 968.7827

Saturday:

Power / Vinyasa at Yoga Spirit

Vinyasa means “to link movement with breath.” With a variety of options in each pose, this class is suitable for most students after they have taken a few hatha and/or gentle vinyasa classes. Postures are linked together to making a energetic and flowing sequence that will allow your worries to melt away. Be uplifted and inspired!

Date: April 10 & 24
Time: 9:30am – 10:45am
Location: 5681 Goring Street, Burnaby BC, one block south of Holdom Skytrain station
More info: http://myyogaspirit.ca/

Yin at Yoga Spirit

A wonderful yoga practice to relax and to work deeper into the body. Holding asanas for a longer period of time will encourage lengthening and deep release in the connective tissue, cultivating a peaceful and meditative mind.

Date: April 10 & 24
Time: 11:00am – 12:15pm
Location: 5681 Goring Street, Burnaby BC, one block south of Holdom Skytrain station
More info: http://myyogaspirit.ca/

Please call 778 968.7827 or email sadayayogamassage@gmail.com for more details. See you on the mat!!

Visuddha – Throat Chakra

Color: blue

Element: ether /sound

Demon: lies

Governs bronchials, vocal cords, lungs, ears, throat and neck, shoulders, thyroid, parathyroid, cervical spine.

The center of sound, speech, communication, verbal ability, inspiration, truthfulness, intelligence, creativity, musical talent.  Self-Expression.

To achieve balance practice: listening, singing, chanting, meditation, take in music and nature sounds, writing, drawing, share ideas.

It’s coming up on my week-aversary having this blasted cold. It started out as a ripping sore throat, along with the typical strep-associated loveliness. I suffered through Sunday, went to the Doctor on Monday, and was informed that it was “too early to tell if it was strep”. Given that I’ve had strep throat at least 4 times in the past year, I told her to just do the swab and give me the antibiotics now to catch it before it got too bad. My history with this is to wait until I can take it no more, then head to the Doctor after day 5 of suffering to be asked why I waited so long. Never works well. That being said, I got the meds, headed home and laid on the couch for four days, only venturing out of the house to pick up my step-son from school. Needless to say, when Friday comes along I’m antsy to get out of the house. After four days of anti’s, my throat is feeling much better, but this horrid sickness has moved into my lungs and sinuses. So, I head to work hoping for a day of semi-normalcy. Four hours into my Day-Quil induced zombified state while at work, my cold-sweats have gotten to me. I raise the white flag, close up shop and head back home.

So here I sit, trying to find the root of this problem. There must be a reason that everytime I get sick, it turns into strep throat. It’s a no fail recipe for me. So what is the cause?

From my studies with Yoga and it’s associated wonders, I have come to learn about the chakras and their affects on the way our bodies function. An introductory class with energy-healing supported the fact that we do indeed have energy spinning throughout our bodies constantly. If these whirling centers of light are somewhat stifled in anyway, there is a direct affect on the way the rest of our bodies function.

During my Yoga teacher training, I had a sore throat much of the time. I felt like there was a lump in my throat, I was on the verge of tears or meltdown at all times. But I didn’t get sick so much as exhausted. I couldn’t speak, my neck was tight, I had frequent anxiety attacks that would require a large dose of Rescue Remedy to overcome and I panicked at the thought of having to be singled out amongst a group of people, not a good combo for someone who wanted to instruct people! After an energy reading by a fellow classmate, I was inspired to find some help. I visited a little hippie shop down the road and walked the store, waiting for something to catch my attention. Near the end of my lap, I came across a blue beauty in the shape of an eye that pulled me in. After trying it on and discovering it was a perfect fit, I ended up buying myself a lovely little ring made out of silver and Lapis Lazuli. Along with the ring was a little slip of paper which read:

Lapis Lazuli – Royalty

brings truthfulness, openness, inner power, intuition, creativity, virility and manifestation. It strengthens the mind and body as well as increasing awareness and spiritual connection /evolution. it can help organize daily life as welll as organizing and quieting a busy or restless mind. Lapis is also used to contact guardian spirits. it helps build self-confidence, and is a stone traditionally for royalty. Lapis is also said to help one overcome shyness. It is associated with the throat and brow chakras and can help one say just the right thing, as if by magic.

I was skeptical to say the least, but I figured that it definitely couldn’t hurt to keep this ring on my finger. A couple days went by with me willing this thing to work, to no avail. A watched pot never boils, as they say. School work got the better of me, and I had to divert my attention elsewhere. Delving deeper into my physical and mental exhaustion that comes from a compacted teacher training, I started divulging more to myself and to others. I began to trust the people surrounding me, as though they were family. When you’re in a group of 18 people that are all interested in the same self-exploration as you, no matter what their backgrounds, things start to happen. Wounds start to heal. Confidence returns. A higher plane of understanding is achieved. You start to let go. Your compassion builds.Your heart opens. You learn to use your voice.

A couple weeks after my purchase, I was still wearing my ring when it dawned on me…my throat didn’t hurt.

I don’t know if it had anything to do with the ring. Maybe remembering the words on that little slip of paper every time I looked my ring was a form of mantra. Every glance at the little flecks of gold within that deep blue was nurturing my inner power, and reminding me of my strength. Maybe there was an energy spinning within that ring that was comforting my hurt throat chakra, and helping it heal. Creating a balance within.

Pain starts from the outside and works it’s way in. Healing must begin on the inside and work it’s way out.

Your body has a way of sending you messages, and if you don’t listen, if you wipe them away and write them off as trivial, it’ll make them stronger until you listen. It will manifest them into physical illnesses and dis-ease until you take a hint. Open your heart and your mind to the subtleties in life and take note of the unbalances that are within.

Ask yourself questions:

~ Am I comfortable with my voice?

~ Do I shy away from being heard?

~ Do I talk excessively or stutter when I’m nervous or scared?

~ Do I feel like no matter how much I talk, I’m not being heard?

~ How can I express myself creatively?

~ Do I feel confident enough with myself to communicate openly and honestly with others?

~ Do I speak the truth?

And with that, I’ll excuse myself. It seems I have a little self-exploration to do…

Peace.

Photo by Wayne Stadler