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Catch your breath at these yoga retreats
Posted: March 19, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Ron Levine / Getty Images
Relax body, mind and soul with a yoga vacation.
By Jordan Kisner, Departures.com
Few forms of escapism are as wholesome as yoga. As its millions of acolytes attest, regular yoga practice not only alleviates stress and improves strength and flexibility (recent reports even credit it for enhanced sexual health), its also an activity that can be done just about anywhere. Just taking a smartphone-free hour to practice sun salutations can feel like a mini-vacation.
Slideshow: See these and more top yoga retreats
But even for the yogically inclined, more than an hourlong getaway is sometimes necessary. Its certainly alluring, especially since there are so many options for rolling up your sticky mat and dashing off to an exotic locale.
These days, there are yoga retreats that cater to every ability level and goal. Some, such as the Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Retreat at Shreyas Resort in Bangalore, emphasize the traditional holistic benefits of yoga (participants receive health and dietary consultations, plus personalized ayurvedic spa treatments, along with their classes). Others, like Yada Yada Yogas Bespoke Yoga Retreat at the St. Regis Bahia Beach, offers guests the opportunity to combine yoga with other activities like paddleboarding, kayaking and hiking, while others offer it as a double bill with music, photography and cultural study.
Whether the goal is serenity or invigoration, ancient traditions or innovative approaches, here are five places to make your escape.
Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Retreat, Shreyas Resort, Bangalore, India
At this ashram-style retreat in India, guests receive personalized ayurvedic therapies (likeabhyanga, a traditional Indian massage) with one-on-onepranayama(guided breathing) and meditation sessions. The retreat is designed to help guests take their practices with them when they leave, incorporating vegetarian cooking classes and consultations on integrating yoga practice into daily life. Shreyas practices karma yoga, the yoga of giving back; guests can do service by working in a community garden, volunteering in the local school or planting trees.Seven-night stay, from $3,340; shreyasretreat.com.
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Yoga can help caregivers cope
Posted: at 2:02 am
Published: March. 18, 2012 at 2:08 AM
LOS ANGELES, March 18 (UPI) -- For every victim of Alzheimer's -- about 5.4 million U.S. seniors -- there is an exhausted, lonely caregiver, but researchers say yoga may help.
Dr. Helen Lavretsky, professor of psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and colleagues said the study involved 49 family caregivers who cared for a relative with dementia ages 45-91 -- including 36 adult children and 13 spouses.
The participants were randomized into two groups. A meditation group was taught a brief, 12-minute yogic practice that included an ancient chanting meditation, Kirtan Kriya, which was performed every day at the same time for eight weeks. The other group was asked to relax in a quiet place with their eyes closed while listening to instrumental music on a relaxation CD, also for 12 minutes every day at the same time for eight weeks.
After eight weeks, the researchers found the meditation group showed significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater improvement in mental health and cognitive functioning, compared with the relaxation group. The meditation group showed a 43 percent improvement in telomerase activity -- slower aging and improved immune cell longevity -- compared with 3.7 percent in the relaxation group.
"We know that chronic stress places caregivers at a higher risk for developing depression. On average, the incidence and prevalence of clinical depression in family dementia caregivers approaches 50 percent," Lavretsky said in a statement. "Caregivers are also twice as likely to report high levels of emotional distress and have an increased rate of cardiovascular disease and mortality."
The findings were published in online edition of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
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Heron Pose or Krounchasana, Yoga – Video
Posted: March 16, 2012 at 6:13 pm
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Yoga stretches the benefits of exercise
Posted: at 6:13 pm
Everybody's doing it. Celebrities, seniors, young adults, teens and young children. Even cats and dogs. People of every race and religious group are catching on to the benefits of yoga.
The 5,000-year-old practice has gone from an obscure Eastern-oriented discipline to somehow, almost overnight, the hottest exercise trend.
In 2007, Americans spent $5.7 billion on yoga classes and products, including equipment, clothing, vacations and media, according to the Yoga in America study released by Yoga Journal. The 2008 study indicates that 15.8 million Americans practice yoga. Fitness studios and gyms have seen class sizes swell to capacity as students pour through the doors with rolled-up mats tucked under their arms.
Yoga is a mind-body form of exercise and the benefits are extensive. Not only does it affect the physical aspect of the body, it addresses the mind and spirit as well. Students focus on what they are feeling in their mind and body as they stretch, breathe and place their bodies in various poses.
"It puts you in a good place," said Kay Silk, of Sylvania, Ohio. "The relaxation leaves you with a good feeling to go into the rest of your day."
Pop stars such as Madonna and Sting swear by yoga as the key to a great physique. The various stretches and poses require extensive muscle use and promote increased strength, which leads to toning, all while burning calories and increasing flexibility.
The slow pace and low impact of yoga appeal to people looking
Silk first started the practice when she was in her 30s, but dropped out because the class was too "slow." Now at 75, it's exactly what she wants.
"At some point, you have to slow down," said Silk, a museum volunteer who has been practicing yoga consistently for about six years. "This is slow. You can hold the positions. You move at your own pace. You only do what you're comfortable doing."
While many yoga poses look difficult and intimidating, simple movements such as smiling and reaching for the sky during that morning stretch are forms of yoga, said Mike Zerner, a yoga instructor in Toledo, Ohio.
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Yoga, gardening, offered as part of Roseland Environmental Center March programs
Posted: at 10:22 am
Posted: Friday, March 16, 2012 3:00 am | Updated: 10:50 am, Thu Mar 15, 2012.
ROSELAND A variety of programs, from yoga to gardening to geology, are offered during March at the Essex County Environmental Center, 621B Eagle Rock Avenue.
Events are as follows
Thursday Evening Yoga Series
Geared for adults. Meets 6:15 p.m. March 22 & 29.
This all-levels yoga series will focus on alignment, flow and warmth followed by a restorative pose to unwind the body and mind for bed. Dress comfortably and bring your own mat. Cost is $50 for the series. Advance registration and monthly payment is required. For information, call 973-228-8776. No refunds will be given for missed classes. Thursday Evening Yoga is scheduled as follows:
Friday Morning Yoga
Geared for adults. Meets at 9:30 a.m. Fridays, March 23 & 30. This class will introduce adult beginners to the many joys of yoga. Breathing synchronized with movement will warm the body and relax the mind. Participants will focus on joint mobility and healing stillness. All levels are welcome. Join for the series or just one class. Dress comfortably and bring your own mat. Cost is $10 per class. Advance registration is required. For information, call 973-228-8776
Little Explorers Spring Nature Program
This child-caregiver class uses stories, walks and crafts to develop an awareness and appreciation for science and nature for the child as well as the caregiver. Meets alternate Fridays at 9:30 a.m., March 9 through May 18, for 2-year-olds; 11 a.m. Wednesdays through May 16 or 11 a.m. Fridays through May 18 for 3-year-olds; 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 7 through May 16 or 1:30 p.m. Fridays, March 9 through May 18, for 4-year-olds.
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Yoga, gardening, offered as part of Roseland Environmental Center March programs
San Fran airport yoga! – Video
Posted: March 15, 2012 at 9:08 pm
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NYC men's yoga class meets in the nude
Posted: at 9:08 pm
A New York man who teaches a weekly men-only nude yoga class said performing the exercises in the nude allows students to shed their "costumes and armor." File photo. UPI/David Silpa
Published: March. 15, 2012 at 1:11 PM
NEW YORK, March 15 (UPI) -- A New York man who teaches a weekly men-only nude yoga class said performing the exercises in the nude allows students to shed their "costumes and armor."
Michael Gates, 44, said he has been leading the nude yoga classes since 2006 and usually about six men will pay $20 for the weekly 90-minute session, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.
"Our clothes are costumes and armor," Gates said. "Naked yoga is an interesting metaphor for letting go of the B.S."
"I understand that women don't want to get undressed in front of strange men," he said. "When I offered co-ed sessions, I found they were attended 98 percent by men."
However, Gates said he still keeps the exact location of the classes a secret to keep away the "creeps."
"I was getting too many people that were more interested in being in a room with naked men than practicing yoga," Gates said.
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Garnet Hill Launches Exclusive Yoga Collection
Posted: at 9:08 pm
FRANCONIA, N.H., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Garnet Hill, a leading multichannel purveyor of quality apparel and home decor, announced today the launch of the zinni yoga collection for women. Working closely with the renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Garnet Hill gained insight from yoga instructors to create a truly authentic line of yoga clothing.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110214/NE47685LOGO )
The zinni collection features a palette of beautiful colors and original prints in incredibly soft, moisture-wicking fabrics, with the precise fit demanded by yoginis. Garnet Hill will offer customers a complete assortment of tops, pants, dresses, versatile layers, and essential accessories including a PVC-free yoga mat.
"The collection was inspired by our favorite iconic flower, the zinnia. We've featured it over and over on our sweaters and pajamas. Our customer loves it -- it has become our signature print," says Garnet Hill product manager Sarah S.
Garnet Hill chose highly technical fabrics and constructions to ensure the zinni collection would be a truly functional yoga line. Adds Sarah, "The Kripalu Center was a wonderful collaborator; yoginis at the center tested the clothing, and their feedback helped us develop a line with great design and authentic functionality."
"We pride ourselves on our ability to curate products our customers love, and we're thrilled to launch this exclusive collection," says VP of Merchandising Joanne M. "We know our customers are increasingly interested in practicing yoga and holistic living; the zinni collection helps them feel confident and beautiful while doing so."
Zinni by Garnet Hill launches with the Summer 2012 collection in catalogs and online beginning March 14, 2012.
About Garnet HillRenowned for superior quality, fine fibers and original design, Garnet Hill has offered distinctive merchandise and services of the highest caliber since 1976. The company began as an importer of English flannel sheets and has grown into a distinguished brand and multichannel marketer, offering unique bedding and home furnishings, women's apparel and children's clothing online and in its catalogs. Garnet Hill searches the world for exceptional items and inspiration for its extensive line of exclusive products. For more information, visit garnethill.com.
About Kripalu Center for Yoga & HealthLocated in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, Kripalu Center is the largest retreat center for yoga and holistic living in the United States, offering more than 900 experiential programs in yoga, self-discovery, holistic health, and spirituality. For more than 30 years, Kripalu's educational programs have been providing participants with tools that present ancient yogic principles in a contemporary yet profound way that can be applied in their daily lives. For more information, visit kripalu.org.
For additional information, please contact 603.823.5545 or pr@garnethill.com
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Sex scandal has yoga industry tied in knots
Posted: at 9:08 pm
Robert Browman / for msnbc.com
Jessica Lurie, a yoga instructor and General Operations Manager for Green Monkey yoga studios in Miami, Fla., demonstrates poses at the company's Midtown Miami location.
By Bill Briggs, msnbc.com contributor
Leave it to American business to twist a 5,000-year-old Hindu philosophy of gentle poses into an emotional knot.
In a matter of weeks, a steamy sex scandal has prompted the resignation of a yoga world superstar, roiled the disciplines trendiest branch, sparked a mass exodus of teachers and transformed part of the $5.7 billion industry from namaste to nasty.
The tumult rooted in the popular form called Anusara isnt entirely surprising, according to some yoga disciples, although its undeniably ironic given the ancient regimens tenets of tranquility and self-restraint.
If you can put your feet behind your head, it doesnt mean youre enlightened or that youre not going to make mistakes, said Annie Prasad Freedom, owner of the Samadhi Center for Yoga & Meditation in Denver. The studio offers classes in Anusara and other types of yoga.
The eye of this yoga storm swirls around John Friend, a charismatic entrepreneur who earned a finance degree then went into the yoga field a juxtaposition of the usual path: a yogi who goes into business. Friend founded Anusara yoga in 1997 and ultimately Anusara Inc. draping his version on a life-affirming Tantric ideology of intrinsic goodness, selling a celebration of the heart that looks for the good in all people and all things, according to his former companys website. As the primary investor in Anusara, Friend prospered while his venture boomed and he charmed yoga conference audiences around the nation. In 15 years, his enterprise licensed 1,000 Anusara teachers and gained more than a half million followers in 70 countries.
Then the tight-knit Anusara family unraveled. Last month YogaDork.com republished anonymous accusations that Friend had engaged in sexual affairs with several married Anusara employees and teachers. On Feb. 16, Friend resigned as CEO of Anusara Inc. saying the company would become a non-profit run by one of his Anusara teachers.
Now, as dozens of licensed Anusara teachers rush to distance themselves from Friend and rebrand their businesses (calling themselves the Yoga Coalition,) the scandal has shed fresh light on the fads that so often drive business in the yoga world. Interviews with yoga industry experts including studio owners, teachers and trade journalists - found some concerned that the fiasco could taing the industry although turn away casual consumers.
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Male bonding! Naked yoga class for men
Posted: at 9:08 pm
A Brooklyn yoga instructor is taking his male students in a nude direction.
Every Tuesday night, Michael Gates teaches naked yoga to a small men-only class class in a secret South Park Slope location.
"Our clothes are costumes and armor," said Gates, 44. "Naked yoga is an interesting metaphor for letting go of the B.S."
Since opening his "Naked Space" studio in 2006, Gates has seen it all: From men who strip out of their cloths in an instant, to guys who wouldn't dare tell their wives their weekly yoga class is with nude dudes.
"There are guys who are afraid to tell their wives because they think she'll leave him," said Gates. "I mean, she knows he's taking yoga classes with a group of guys, but suddenly he's naked and it's a big deal."
For just $20, about six guys usually show up to shed their worries, anxieties, and clothing for a 90-minute intermediate yoga session in Gates simple studio. Private sessions cost $100.
Gates said having his clients naked allows him to better study students' form and alignment.
The technique works well for the regulars.
"I like being naked," said Tom B., 49, who treks all the way from the Upper West Side every week for the naked yoga class.
"By being naked without the rest of your clothes, it allows you to experience the body in all the poses."
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