SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) -

There is a new fitness craze that has taken over Yoga studios everywhere. If you combine traditional yoga with the physical training of an aerialist, you have Aerial Yoga.

Susie Stevens of Aerial Flow Yoga in Shreveport says the moves are similar to Yoga because it is breathe based and the poses stem from traditional yoga poses. Stevens has taught floor mat yoga for some time, but felt she and others needed more.

"I still was having back and neck issues. Being an ex-gymnast and dancer, I started exploring and found the chutes, said Stevens."

Yoga is often used to calm the nervous system through stretches, deep breathing and releasing yourself of daily emotional stress. With Aerial Yoga, you achieve the same thing, but chutes and silk are used to help work the upper body and strengthen the core.

"We've had mom and daughter, we've had dads, we've had husbands and wives, we've had a date, says Stevens."

The moves also help improve flexibility, strength and alignment in both children and adults.

I'm a dental hygienist and it's so hard on your back," says Ashley Shaul, a student at Aerial Flow Yoga,"It helps my back andmy neck and releasesall the tensions."

The acrobatic stress reliever does come with some warnings.

"Inverting or going upside down if you have high blood pressure or certain back surgeries.If they have a rod in their back there are certain things we cannot do. It depends on pregnancy, we're not going to do anything upside down but they can do sitting or lying work, says Stevens."

Read this article:
Family First: High Flying with Aerial Yoga

The City of Palaces is well known as a heritage destination. Tourists flock to Mysore to see these historic structures as well as other landmarks such as Chamundi Hills and the Mysore zoo. But, the city has also become famous as a yoga destination, both among Indians and foreigners.

This Dasara, the Yoga Sub-committee has decided to hold a variety of programmes to take yoga to peoples doorstep. Experts in yoga have been conducting classes and holding yoga dance competitions for children.

As part of the festivities, the sub-committee has organised more than 25 programmes in Mysore. The sub-committee plans to involve various groups from teachers, senior citizens and special-needs children to journalists, doctors, jail inmates and the traffic police. And this year, for the first time, yoga classes were held for transgenders.

However, the sub-committee faces a problem of sorts as many venues are being fixed up only now.

Yoga centres

There are more than 150 yoga centres in Mysore, including more than 35 branches of the Patanjala Yoga Shikshana Kendra. Yoga assumes significance during Dasara because it was patronised by the Wadiyars.

According to yoga guru K. Raghavendra R. Pai, who runs the Vedavyasa Yoga Foundation, Mysore has become a popular yoga destination.

Coordinator of the sub-committee Yogaprakash said on Sunday, a mass Suryanamaskar would be held at the palace at 6 a.m. followed by a State-level open yoga competition for men and women.

Honour for nine

The sub-committee planned to honour nine yoga gurus on different days, he said. They are: V. Sheshadri on October 5, Bharat Shetty on October 6, P.R. Vishwanath Shetty and Nanda Kumar on October 7, Jamuna Rani V. Mirle on October 8, Vinay Kumar on October 9, A.R. Seetaram on October 10, Raghavendra Rao on October 11 and Swami Varadananda Saraswati on October 12.

Go here to see the original:
Taking yoga to the people

Marianne Williamson, author of "A Return to Love" and "The Law of Divine Compensation," will speak of the role of the body in a persons spiritual journey. (Courtesy / July 27, 2010)

6:43 p.m. EDT, October 3, 2013

The Yoga Journal Florida Conference hits Hollywood this month, bringing with it the likes of Marianne Williamson, Rodney Yee and wife Colleen Saidman Yee.

The conference, Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, will feature more than 100 classes in all styles of yoga for all levels. Other highlights include a business of yoga workshop and a course on kayaking and yoga.

A panel discussion about yoga and injuries a frequent topic in the media this year is set for 2 p.m. Nov. 2 and is open to the public for free. Those attending other parts of the conference will pay from $185 to $770, depending on the package.

"An Evening with Marianne Williamson: The Divine Alignment of Body and Soul" will be 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1. Cost for this event is $30 in advance, $40 at the door and $25 for those attending the conference.

Williamson, author of "A Return to Love" and "The Law of Divine Compensation," will speak of the role of the body in a person's spiritual journey, and how an "inner yoga" advances souls and bodies to a more enlightened place.

Info: yjevents.com, 800-561-9398

Nick Sortal

Read the original post:
Yoga Journal conference returns to Hollywood