The Irish Times - Tuesday, May 29, 2012

THE HIGH Court has granted a school of yoga an injunction against a former franchisee who, it claims, has been poaching its students.

The Irish School of Yoga, trading as Yoga Therapy and Training Centre Ltd and with centres in Cork, Galway and Dublin, sought the orders against Nicole Henkel Murphy, who it alleged is in breach of a March 2008 franchise agreement it has with her for the training of yoga teachers in the Munster area.

She denied the claims and opposed the application for an injunction against her.

In her ruling yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said she was satisfied to grant Yoga Therapy and Training Centre an injunction pending the hearing of the action against Ms Henkel Murphy, who, the court heard, terminated the franchise agreement with yoga centre last October.

Under the order, Ms Henkel Murphy is prohibited from operating yoga teacher training courses in respect of students enrolled by her during the operation of the franchise agreement.

The judge invited both parties to enter a mediation process in an attempt to settle the dispute and said the legal costs of this action were totally disproportionate to what was at stake.

Yoga Therapy and Training Centre claimed Ms Henkel Murphy was bound by a non-compete clause and that she has used confidential information for unfair competitive advantage, which was damaging its business. She was using this information to poach its students, it was claimed.

It also claimed Ms Henkel Murphy was using source material belonging to the yoga centre to teach her students.

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Injunction granted over alleged breach of yoga franchise deal

Some people think that Christians shouldn't practice yoga. One article tells of how dangerous it is to participate in the following:

yoga

hypnosis

astrology

Native American dream catchers

They article tells of how participating in these things opens doors to spirits and puts the participant in danger. While I agree that Christians should not engage in hypnosis and astrology, I highly disagree with yoga being harmful to Christians. I will highlight four reasons why I believe yoga to be safe for everyone, including Christians.

#1 Many Christians participate in yoga

In two of my previous articles I wrote about Holy Yoga for Christians and yoga raves, both of which are centered around Christianity. Not all Christians believe it is wrong to enjoy yoga, myself included.

#2 Yoga is only a spiritual or religious act if you choose to make one

One does not have to engage in the religion in which yoga originated in order to enjoy the poses (asanas). Meditation is not even necessary when practicing yoga. Asanas are an excellent way to relax the mind and body, become more flexible and build muscle. Nothing about that invites evil spirits into ones life. The author of the article that says yoga shouldn't be practiced by Christians states, "A person may enter into a seance or hypnosis or yoga with innocent motives. That doesn't solve the problem. When you open a door to spirits, you place yourself in harm's way....unless you are turning to the Holy Spirit. No born again believer should utilize yoga or hypnosis because of the spiritual dangers associated with these practices." I highly disagree with this mindset and feel that is very narrow minded. Yoga doesn't invite evil spirits into a person's life or home, playing with a Ouija board does.

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Fan Reaction: Is it Dangerous for Christians to Practice Yoga?

I'm inverted in separate leg stretch at Yoga 101, pulling on my heels, reaching the crown of my head to my yoga mat, when a huge drop of sweat falls from my stomach into my eye. Or was it from my thigh? I can't really tell because my entire body is dripping with sweat. My arms. My legs. My chin. My eyelids.

At this moment, I'm not looking very pretty. But I'm feeling pretty tough. Sweating through 90 minutes of stretching, pulling, bending, flexing and cardiovascular activity has made me a new woman and turned numerous other Tri-Staters into hot yoga converts. Hot yoga is yoga practiced in a hot room with high humidity.

"Hot yoga is very challenging," said Mick Conati, 42, from Evansville. "I've lost close to 40 (now it's up to 60) pounds since I started practicing regularly and next week I expect to get off my blood pressure medicine."

Photo by Jason Clark, 2012 Jason Clark

photos by JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Below: Tara Logel of Henderson, Ky., watches herself in the mirror as she participates with others in a hot yoga class led by instructor Nicole Tibbs at Yoga 101 in Evansville Wednesday.

Photo by Jason Clark, 2012 Jason Clark

Right: Mick Conati participates in a hot yoga class led by instructor Nicole Tibbs at Yoga 101. Conati has lost about 60 pounds since he started practicing in the classes regularly.

Photo by Jason Clark, 2012 Jason Clark

Hot yoga participants follow instructor Nicole Tibbs. More Tri-Staters are taking up the practice of yoga in a hot, humid room.

Conati said he's dabbled with hot yoga off and on for the past couple of years, but a few months ago began practicing about five times a week. Coupled with a diet that includes no preservatives or prepared foods, the results have been great.

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Hot for Bikram yoga

Even the French baguettes got into it assuming the up dog position as a flash mob of 20 yogis struck the farmers market at Wooster Square.

Peg Oliveira leads the new non-profit 108 Monkeys (explanation to follow) that seeks to make yogas gospel of mindfulness more accessible to kids in the schools and other under-stress populations, including shoppers deeply focused on their errands.

At 12:40 p.m. Saturday, Oliveira gave the yoga troops these orders from a staging area near the Christopher Columbus statue in Wooster Square Park: Do stand up, stand down, then break into your personal positions: warrior one, warrior two. When I go into the tree pose, all follow. At the ringing of the bell, come to mountain.

In the crowded single aisle of the market, shopping co-existed nicely even with this dramatic dancers move, and the shoppers shopped on.

However, when Oliveira began a chant of seven deep oms, which she characterized as the sound of the universe, the yoga mobsters picked it up and the sound grew into a quiet crescendo. From Chapel Street to Wooster the commercial air in the market appeared to shift. Attention was being paid.

The yoga routine, which lasted no more than four minutes, culminated in all the participants bowing deeply and saying namaste, whose meaning is I share my inner light with your inner light, according to OIiveira.

For years Oliveira provided yoga classes for kids often in after-school programs, for which there was not opportunity for sustained follow-up. Suddenly staff at the after-school program and parents wanted it [too], she said.

So she founded 108 Monkeys. The number embraces infinity and nothingness, Buddha described the chattering mind as a monkey. The organization seeks to spread the word and increase the opportunity for people to participate in yoga. Its not a studio but an outreach vehicle for existing studios like Fresh Yoga, Balanced Yoga, and the many others in town reach more people and people who may not be able to pay fees. Next year a prime focus of 108 Monkeys is going to be the schools, especially at-risk kids.

At its core, the ability to engage in a violent act is a disconnect to your own feelings and to others. If you understand we are all connected and your act comes back, then you would have the empathy that would not allow you to act violently against another, she said.

Eight city yoga studios were represented in the flash mob. Through 108 Monkeys, they will be offering free yoga every Saturday night at College Woods Park in East Rock and 6 p.m. and every Friday at noon a the Hill farmers market. Click here for the groups activities that includes this fall bringing yoga to the New Haven Boys and Girls Club, The Connecticut Mental Health Center, and the Clifford Beers Clinic.

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Yoga Monkeys Strike

Yoga has already turned competitive, and the National Yoga Asana Championship was held on March 2-4. Still, many want yoga to turn into an Olympic sport, such as USA Yoga and the Yoga Federation. The Yoga Federation is requesting that the International Olympic committee think about adding yoga to the Olympic games.

Many don't like the idea of yoga being competitive since it originally was meant to be relaxing and noncompetitive.

I feel that yoga would make a great addition to the Olympic sports for the following reasons:

Judging is done on the yoga poses (asanas) alone

Those who chose to compete will be judged on the postures rather than any spiritual aspect of yoga. In this sense, yoga is no different than competing for points in gymnastics, figure skating or any other sport.

Yoga would make a great Olympic sport to watch

Just as it is appealing to watch those who have mastered swimming, basketball and other such sports, it is intriguing to view those who have perfected the art of yoga with grace, flexibility and strength.

Yoga will be recognized as a sport rather than a form of exercise

Many people do not view yoga as a sport but rather as a form of exercise. Yoga can be very relaxing, but certain poses can be very challenging as well. It would be great for it to be recognized as an actual sport since it requires strength, flexibility, concentration and discipline. Mastering poses can be just as challenging as mastering any other sport.

It would break the stigma that yoga is only for women

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Fan Reaction: Should Yoga Be an Olympic Sport?

Some yogis want their "warrior two" to do actual battle, saying they should be able to get their Zen on - in Olympic competition.

It's more than just mind body and spirit, now, a downward dog could one day lead to an Olympic gold.

For Jared McCann, and Amanda Baisinger, their poses aren't just for practice, they're for points.

Both are competitive yoga athletes, two of the best in the country.

"Well basically what it is, you pick a routine that's 7 postures, a 3 minute routine and there's a panel of judges and they judge you on strength, flexibility balance, and grace, McCann said.

"Practicing yoga asana requires athletic ability, concentration, determination, agility, all of the things that are required athletes, Baisinger said.

But making the exercise competitive may seem to go against everything yoga stands for.

"It's just a new concept in the west because yoga and competition are two conflicting ideas, most people don't ... they do their yoga to get away from competing other people, McCann said.

But competitions are gaining more acceptance. There's a big push to make the sport competitive internationally.

"I think it would be awesome to have yoga in the Olympics. I think it would be really fun to watch because some of the yoga postures are really beautiful and difficult to do, Baisinger said.

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Yoga as an Olympic sport?

"YOGA FOR MEDIATORS," by Charlotte Bell, Rodmell Press, $14.95, 128 pages (nf)

Charlotte Bells most recent book, Yoga for Meditators, focuses specifically on the physical aspects of practicing meditation.

Asana practice, by its very nature, is about preparing the body for meditation, Bell says in the books introduction. So a book on yoga for meditators may seem redundant.

However, the book offers a collection of poses (asanas) that Bell says I have found to be optimal in addressing the specific physical challenges that arise during meditation.

The 128-page book is packed with useful information. Bells writing style is straightforward and easy to follow.

A brief introduction gives some background on yoga and shares the reasons for writing the book.

In the first of four main sections, Taking a Seat: Steady and Comfortable, Bell describes the physical requirements for practicing effective meditation, ending with a few paragraphs on how intention and action affect the meditators experience.

Section two, Yoga Poses for Sitting Meditation, offers a detailed description of how to assume each pose. Bell summarizes the benefits of each and points out cautions and suggestions for helpful props to get the most benefit from the poses. The illustrations of each pose are helpful.

Some yoga FAQ and sequences for specific purposes, such as for calming agitation, comprise section three, Practicing Yoga.

The last section, Alternate Meditation Postures, shares ideas for meditating while walking, standing or lying down. A list of resources and an index are included.

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Book about yoga by Charlotte Bell supports meditation

DUNEDIN Laughter echoed down the hall of the Dunedin Community Center, luring the ears of visitors. In one room stood a dozen casually clad adults, mostly women, who looked into each other's eyes, clapped their hands and roared with laughter.

"Ho ho ha ha ha ho ho ha ha ha," the group chanted in a mantra-like fashion.

This is the laughter yoga class, which was brought to the center last year by Sparky Lovejoy, a 46-year-old single mom.

"Eye contact makes laughter contagious," she said. "It feels good, and it's healthy."

How healthy? The former Hatha yoga instructor from California touts numerous health benefits such as relieving stress, improving the immune system and connecting to others purely on the basis of a good laugh.

Participants in Lovejoy's class, whose ages span six decades, attest to the benefits they have received since letting loose with some hearty laughter.

Nicole Kennedy, at 32 the youngest member of the class, is expecting her first child in August. Laughing with others relieves her anxiety.

"I have a sense of confidence that nothing can knock me down right now," she said.

Lovejoy has mapped out a number of ways to induce laughter during the 45-minute sessions.

"You want to laugh and feel silly?" she asked. "Take out your cell phone and laugh into it!"

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Laughter yoga class in Dunedin has students in stitches

SALT LAKE CITY Some people at Westminster College are seeing the world upside down and flying through the air, all while getting a good workout.

Thats because they are practicing AntiGravity Yoga.

Its a fusion fitness technique derived from aerial arts, Pilates, calisthenics and dance. Students use silk hammocks, suspended from the ceiling like a swing or trapeze, to perform zero-compression inversions and stretches.

This suspension fitness program was created by Broadway aerial choreographer Christopher Harrison in 2008, and Westminster College is the only school in the world to launch an AntiGravity Yoga program.

Tamer Begum, Harrisons nephew and a Westminster senior, brought the program to the school last fall after discovering it a year ago when his uncle was in town for teacher training. After taking the class and studying with several yoga instructors, he was hooked and felt he had to bring it back to Westminster. Within three months, Begum said they had 150 students come into the studio.

Begum said the classes can help those who suffer from back and neck pain.

The majority of the students that come to class find that by hanging upside down, utilizing the hammocks to do zero-compression inversions, it actually helps decrease their acute and chronic back pain much more significantly than they would find in a regular yoga class, he said.

A lot of people think yoga classes are only for those who are young and in good shape, he said. But thats not the case with AntiGravity Yoga. Begum wants people who are not currently active or maybe a little overweight or a little uncomfortable to come to the group classes.

I love those people because after every single class the students feel like they are successful with their practice, he said. They leave (saying), Oh, you know, that was fun, actually.' 'I did a flip my first practice,' or, 'That was a great leg stretch.

He also found people who are older can benefit from the class as well. He said they like it because they are able to hold onto an apparatus for support when they are doing more challenging yoga poses, and they dont need a block or strap like in regular yoga.

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AntiGravity Yoga at Westminster College brings new dimension to yoga practice

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As a former Marine, Anu Bhagwati was trained to survive. But her toughest fights weren't always physical.

She also battled the emotional and psychological challenges of being a woman in the military.

"I could have been anywhere," she said. "It didnt matter. For many women, gender is the biggest challenge."

"That daily discrimination and harassment really eats away at you," she added. "When I left, I didnt realize the pain that I was experiencing. It kind of unfolded on its own. I kind of felt like an alien in my own body and an alien in my community."

She found a community in the city willing to help her heal through yoga. And Bhagwati wanted to bring this healing power to other veterans suffering with physical and emotional wounds.

"I had left the Marines expecting to do something different and leave my marine career behind," she said. "I suddenly woke up one day and decided I want to teach yoga to veterans. This was actually a way that I could connect in a safe way back with the military community."

Four years ago, she founded Yoga for Vets NYC, offering free yoga classes twice a week at the Integral Yoga Institute in Manhattan. Classes are taught by veterans and for veterans

"Yoga teaches you to really witness your feelings and not constantly fight against them," she said. "We are trained to resist and reject things that will make us feel weaker, so its very counter-intuitive to be trained in yoga and meditation. Learning to co-exist with your own rage and learning to co-exist with post-traumatic stress and depression, these things cant be taught. It has to be experienced."

"It's like a B-12 shot for me," said veteran Garrett Phillips. "I have all this energy. And just the physical sensation. My knee is a little bit more supple, my back is a little bit better."

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NYer Of The Week : Former Military Woman Uses Yoga To Help Veterans Cope