WHAT IS YOGA?*

BECAUSE YOGA HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE HINDU CULTURE IN INDIA, THERE IS A POPULAR MISCONCEPTION THAT YOGA IS A RELIGION. JUST AS THE PRACTICE OF JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS OF KARATE AND AIKIDO DOES NOT REQUIRE BECOMING A BUDDHIST, THE PRACTICE OF YOGA DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT YOU ADOPT HINDUISM. RATHER, YOGA IS NONSECTARIAN, PROMOTING HEALTH AND HARMONIOUS LIVING.

IN HATHA YOGA, AS TAUGHT BY B.K.S. IYENGAR, STUDENTS DEVELOP STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE WHILE OBSERVING BIOMECHANICALLY SOUND PRINCIPLES OF ALIGNMENT AND CORRECT MOVEMENT. THE YOGA POSES ARE CAREFULLY MODIFIED FOR EACH STUDENTS NEEDS AND ABILITIES. THE EXERCISES TAKE EACH JOINT THROUGH ITS FULL RANGE OF MOTION-STRENGTHENING, STRETCHING AND BALANCING EACH PART. WHEN PRACTICED REGULARLY, THE YOGA POSES AND BREATHING TECHNIQUES PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THE YOGA-BASED RELAXATION TECHNIQUES AND STRETCHING AND STRENGTHENING POSTURES ARE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE MIND IS FOCUSED IN A MEDITATIVE WAY ON YOUR BODY MOVEMENT, SKIN AND MUSCLE SENSATIONS AND RELAXED BREATHING. MIND AND BODY WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A HARMONIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT.

WHAT IS ALIGNMENT?

ALIGNMENT IS GENERALLY DEFINED AS A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE JOINTS, MUSCLES AND ORGANS OF THE BODY AND THE GROUND. BUT IT GOES MUCH DEEPER. A WELL- ALIGNED BODY HAS LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CARTILAGE, WHICH LINES THE JOINT CAVITIES. THERE IS UNINTERRUPTED CIRCULATION OF BLOOD, LYMPH AND FIBROUS TISSUE FLUIDS THAT HELP MAINTAIN THE CORRECT BALANCE IN MUSCLE FIBERS. MANY OF US HAVE NOT DEVELOPED AWARENESS OF HEALTHY BODY ALIGNMENT. WE'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO MOVING IN HABITUAL PATTERNS, EVEN AS WE EXERCISE, AND OVER TIME THIS MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR JOINTS, MUSCLES AND ORGANS.

WHY IS ALL THIS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR HEALTH?

INJURIES AND CHRONIC PAIN MAY BE A RESULT OF HABITUAL MISALIGNMENTS. THESE AREAS MAY HAVE BEEN WEAK LONG BEFORE THE INJURY EVER HAPPENED. MISALIGNMENTS BIND UP THE NATURAL ENERGY, WHICH NEEDS TO CIRCULATE FREELY THROUGHOUT THE BODY. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM SUFFERS GREATLY AND WE FEEL PERPETUALLY TIRED OR EVEN SORE. THIS STRAIN AND PRESSURE CAN OVER TIME AFFECT THE SUPPORT OF OUR INTERNAL ORGANS. SO MOVING BACK INTO HEALTHY STRUCTURAL ALIGNMENT IS IMPORTANT IF WE ARE TO AGE WELL AND PRESERVE OUR VITAL ENERGY.

THROUGH YOGA, YOU WILL LEARN FLEXIBILITY, INNER STRENGTH AND SELF- AWARENESS. AFTER ONLY A FEW PRACTICE SESSIONS, YOU'LL FEEL THE POSITIVE CHANGES IN YOUR BODY AND MIND. AS YOUR BODY BECOMES MORE FLEXIBLE, SO WILL YOUR THINKING. AS YOUR MUSCLES BECOME STRONGER, SO WILL YOUR INNER POWER. IN LEARNING YOGA, YOU WILL LEARN TO CARE FOR YOURSELF BETTER IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE.

*EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK "BACK CARE BASICS BY MARY PULIG SCHATZ M.D. (WITH PERMISSION FROM RODMELL PRESS, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA)

D I R E C T I O N S:

PAMELA'S CEDAR CREEK STUDIO 26432 W. 110th Terrace (913) 397-9642 Here are maps to my studio at Cedar Creek courtesy of www.mapquest.com. Exit at Cedar Creek Parkway from K-10. Please visit mapquest or call me if you need addition directions to my Cedar Creek Studio.

SYLVESTER POWELL COMMUNITY CENTER 6200 MARTWAY (In Mission) (913) 722-8200 *REGISTER BY PHONE OR IN PERSON EXCELLENT HIGHLY SKILLED C H I L D C A R E $2 FOR 2 HOURS PER CHILD. From Overland Park: Take I-35 North and exit Shawnee Mission Parkway. Turn right and go east on S.M. Pkwy and turn left on Lamar. Go to the corner of Lamar and Martway. (Martway is 1 block South of Johnson Drive) The center will be on the N.E. corner of that intersection. The center is in a new large salmon colored building w/ arched glass windows. Go to front desk and purchase a punch card for Pam Miller Shults yoga class.