Vietnams No.1 tennis player Do Minh Quan lost 6-3, 6-7, 6-7 to Thai player Wachiramanowong in the second round of the Vietnam Futures F2 tournament in Ho Chi Minh City Wednesday.

Quan missed several chances to beat the young Thai player.

After winning the first set 6-3, Quan continued to play very well in the second and had a chance of a match point when he was leading 5-4 and 40/15. However, the only Vietnamese hopeful at the event let the Thai player level the score and eventually win the set 7-6.

In the decider, Quan had a great start again and led 4-1 for a time, but then lost the set 7-6 and bowed out of the competition.

Vietnams former No.1 player Tran Duc Quynh said Quans efforts were a good example for other young Vietnamese players to follow, but he was not determined enough at important moments. It was partly because Minh has not had many chances to compete at international contests, said Quynh.

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Tennis ace suffers home defeat

Yoga enthusiasts are invited to the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd., to learn the art of stretching.

The museum is taking reservations now for a May 19 yoga class in the museums Farha Great Hall under Dale Chihulys Confetti chandelier.

The class, open to all ages and all levels of yoga, will be lead by registered Vinyasa yoga teacher Amanda Assaf. She will use positions inspired by artwork in the museums collection. Participants will need to bring their own mat. Doors will open at 8:15 a.m., with the class from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.

Its another way to get people who wouldnt normally come into the museum, said Debbie Deuser, museum membership manager. We have a great space for yoga with lots of room.

Museums nationwide, including those in Baltimore, Cincinnati and New York, are hosting yoga classes among their artwork. This is the first time the Wichita Art Museum has offered such a class.

If the class is popular, we will continue offering it, Deuser said. Organizers will consider offering monthly sessions, possibly themed around exhibitions.

Cost for the class is $10. Space is limited, and registration is required. Call 316-268-4985.

Reach Olivia Burress at oburress@wichitaeagle.com.

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Wichita Art Museum stretches out into yoga

Here's how these yoga practices will help you keep your cool this summer.

Interestingly, extreme seasons like the summer and monsoons are not a good time to launch into yoga sadhana, if you are new to the whole experience. Yoga also appreciates that the body reacts to extreme seasons with a flush of fever which can get aggravated when it is stressed with anything new, even if it is a healing science like yoga.

If you are already doing an intermediate level or advanced practice, seasonal shifts will not affect you. But if you are indifferent practitioner or a beginner level person, you may wish to contain your enthusiasm on the mat and do practices which will keep you cool.

Some advice along the way for a summer practice: schedule your practice for early morning since it is the coolest time of the day. Use calming pranayamas like anulom vilom, bhramari and ujjayi as the main breathing practices. Even if you wish your practice to be intense, do it meditatively: this will have a cooling, calming effect.

Hold poses long, even if it makes you sweat more, because the end result is that you will be cooler mentally and physically. Importantly, have a longer final meditation or relaxation to cool down properly.

Shameem Akthar, yogacharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, takes you through five yoga practices that will help you keep your cool this summer.

For more of Shameem's yoga writings visit http://jaisivananda.blogspot.com. Shameem's second book Yoga in the workplace, with photographs by ace photographer Fawzan Husain, is now available at online shops and bookshops across the country. It is also available as e-book, with Kindle, Amazon.

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5 yoga poses to keep you cool this summer

Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Mental Health Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine;Pediatrics / Children's Health Article Date: 30 Apr 2012 - 0:00 PDT

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The study involved 51 students from the 11th- and 12th-grade who were registered for physical education (PE) at a Massachusetts high school. Two thirds of the students were randomly assigned to Kripalu yoga classes that consisted of physical yoga postures as well as breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation, whilst the remaining third was assigned to regular PE classes.

Before and after the 10-week course, all 51 students completed a range of psychosocial tests, including tests to measure their mood and tension and/or anxiety.

The authors also assessed the students' development of self-regulatory skills, including their resilience, control of anger expression, and mindfulness, which are believed to protect against developing mental health problems.

The results showed that students in the yoga group scored better in several of the psychological tests. The authors noted in particular that students in the control group were more likely to have higher scores for mood problems and anxiety, as compared with those in the yoga group whose scores remained unchanged or improved.

Yoga appears to have preventative benefits for adolescent mental health

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Yoga May Help Prevent Adolescent Mental Problems

WHEN physiotherapist Lee Ajzenman quit her job at 28 and struck out on her own, it was a leap of faith.

Using most of her and husband Steves first-home savings establishing her new physio and pilates centre, the beginning was tough.

She held her nerve and three years later 600 patients a week go through Core Physio and Pilates in Elsternwick.

I really wanted to go out on my own and offer a service that didnt just treat injuries but the whole person, Ms Ajzenman said.

Core Physio and Pilates runs a physio clinic and pilates classes for all age groups from babies to octogenarians.

Ms Ajzenman, who lives in nearby McKinnon, has son Jamie, 13 months and a baby due in August.

Being a working mum was an adjustment.

I used to bring Jamie with me to the studio but he has just started in daycare.

It was hard (dropping him off) at the beginning when he cried.

But I have a lot of support.

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Exercise in trust at Elsternwick physio and pilates centre

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27-04-2012 11:37 This is my first video guys, don't make fun. On my next video I will have more stuff in my video and explain a little more, but hopefully anyone thats going through what im going through can see that they are not the only ones.

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Positivity Excercise 1 - Video

As they have every spring since 1979, a year after Affirmed became the 11th horse to win the Triple Crown, oddsmakers and horsemen throughout the country have scoured this year's crop of 3-year-olds for the next truly great thoroughbred.

The field has been narrowed to 20 set to run in the 138th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5 at Churchill Downs.

One of the deepest fields in years 10 to 12 horses are believed to have a legitimate shot at winning shows why the Derby remains such a beloved event: A longtime favorite enters the race shrouded in doubt, while the ultimate newcomer has everyone swooning.

With 18 other horses some enigmatic, others workmanlike in the chase, there's sure to be intrigue.

Here are five story lines to watch:

Can Bodemeister continue his rise?

There hasn't been a Kentucky Derby winner who didn't race as a 2-year-old since 1882. Only 17 horses even have attempted it in the last 20 years, with Strodes Creek (second in 1994) and Curlin (third in 2007) coming the closest. But Bodemeister, named after trainer Bob Baffert's son, is the likely favorite heading into just his fifth race.

He ran past the Arkansas Derby field, winning by 91/2 lengths. Though there's concern about his maturity and conditioning as would be the case for any lightly raced colt Bodemeister has captured the imagination of those seeking the next Triple Crown winner. He's that fast. Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby three times, most recently with War Emblem in 2002, and won the Preakness in each of those years. Owned by Zayat Stables, Bodemeister has been working at Churchill Downs since his win in Arkansas.

"He likes this track," Baffert said. "He just skipped over it. He is very fluid when he just picks it up and floats over the ground."

Will Union Rags recover from a Florida Derby letdown?

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Bodemeister's rise tops Kentucky Derby storylines

I wrote a book titled Myths of the Asanas. This was before I found out about the real myth of the asanas... that most all of the ones practiced these days are less than 100 years old. Not kidding. I've spent nearly half of my entire life studying yoga, and until just a few weeks ago, even I was under the impression that at least some of our beloved asana practice had its roots in at least a centuries-old tradition that used physical practices to incite profound internal transformation.

There is, of course, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which was written around the 15th century, that outlines a scant 15 postures. Fifteen. A friend recently pointed out the shocking point that asana practice is a relatively new development, particularly as it has exploded in Western culture in recent decades. This claim incited a crazy inquisition, which led me to Mark Singleton's book, Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice, as well as Krishnamacharya's Yoga Makaranda.

Singleton does a thorough job of researching the history, modernization and rising prominence of asana practice. He even reveals the mystery behind the obscure yogic text, The Yoga Korunta, which is said to have been the origin of the Ashtanga Series taught by revelatory 20th century master, Krishnamacharya, to Pattabhi Jois and other prominent students. Though many (including me) would like to believe the story that Krishnamacharya learned the text from his guru and passed it on to his own students, we must make room for the very real possibility that even luminaries like Krishnamacharya were responding to changing times and creating asanas to meet the demand of a more physical culture -- which was developing in India in the early 20th century, and of course remains strong here in the West.

Even if the Yoga Korunta existed, it is rumored to be a 14th century text (not that old), and it is well known that postures have been added, modified and evolved to the supposed structure it presented. For example, the first edition of Yoga Mala, by Pattabhi Jois, didn't include revolved side angle. That posture wasn't introduced until later. In fact, when the first western students learned the primary series from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the 1970s, there were no vinyasa transitions between the Janu Sirsasana variations and the Marichyasana variations. This reveals that there has been a very live, real-time, evolution of even the most venerated yoga practices.

Basically, we're all just making this shit up. Even in the decade that I've been teaching yoga, I've seen postures "appear." Most recently, additions like "falling star," "reverse warrior," and "flip the dog," weren't around even 10 short years ago. Actually, it feels like they've appeared over the past few weeks! We can even take a look at modern yoga schools and realize that most every type of practice we enjoy here in America has a fairly recent history. Beryl Bender Birch was a practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga, who boldly took it into the realm of innovation by creating power yoga, and from there we have most every branch of vinyasa evolving from this singular root. Thank you, Beryl, and Baron, and Brian and other fearless innovators of vinyasa yoga!

Despite the fact that our beloved asana has a relatively new existence, it still remains a powerful practice for about 16 million Americans. None of this news of newness of the tradition of asana is supposed to diminish it's importance or relevance in our world, but rather to create an awareness that it's up to us to verify it's validity. Many (myself included!) regard asana as a deeply spiritual practice, though the traditions of meditation and bhakti (devotional) yoga have far more historical precedent. If we, as Westerners, have developed and placed in prominence the practice of asana, then dammit, it's up to us to prove that it really works.

Yes, it works as a physical practice, sure. Cirque Du Soleil has done a good job of proving that, as it has gymnastics and aerobics that also feature many of the same shapes. We garner flexibility and strength through asana. Even studies can corroborate asana's healthful effect on the physical body (though, the infamous recent New York Times article also recounts it's detrimental effects). Either way, if we are reading more deeply into the traditions of yoga and reflecting on it's inherent philosophy, then we are revealing the opportunity to show that the way we have revolutionized the practice of asana can actually contribute to the goal of the practice.

It's no secret that yoga means union. Nearly every yoga book starts with that definition. A little inquiry into the type of union yoga indicates reveals that yoga is an awareness of one's intimate and inherent connection to a higher power, and practices of yoga help to create the condition for this realization to arise. That's pretty much it. If we don't automatically have a sustained experience of yoga -- the awareness of ourselves as inherently whole and complete -- then, we do certain practices to reveal that experience more readily and in a more sustained way. There are many proven practices that help to create this condition, meditation probably being the most tried-and-true method.

But, let's be honest. How many Americans are ready to sit their asses down and meditate? For, like, a long time? We are not even a culture who can sit on the floor in relative comfort. However, we love working hard on our bodies. Sometimes to the point that it becomes an obsession. Given these proclivities, it seems natural to develop a means of practice that utilizes and initially emphasizes the body as an entry point into the deeper awareness of yoga. Hail asana. Honestly, let's not knock it or diminish it, even though it is the baby of the modern yoga culture and the brainchild of yoga innovators of recent decades. Why wouldn't it work?

There's no proof it can't... but the onus is on us to prove that it can, that yoga asana practice is a valid and effective means for aligning the energetic body in such a way to allow for a sustained experience of the natural state of yoga. Otherwise, it will remain in the realm of gymnastics and aerobics. Gymnastics and aerobics are great forms of physical exercise, but what makes them different from a true yogic practice is that their focus is only on the body. What makes a true yogic practice unique is that it's focus is on a sustained feeling of freedom and wholeness. This sustained feeling has the very exciting potential to be brought about by new shapes like "airplane pose."

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Alanna Kaivalya: How We Got Here: Where Yoga Poses Come From

Yoga in an excellent workout to perform indoors on a mat, but practicing yoga poses (asanas) on the beach is also appealing and has many benefits. So, why try yoga on the beach? I will offer five good reasons to give it a try if you live near any type of beach.

#1 Performing yoga in the sand strengthens secondary muscles

Sara Ivanhoe says, "Practicing on an uneven surface like sand builds the secondary muscles in your feet, hips, knees and shoulder joints." Ivanhoe is a yoga instructor in Santa Monica, California.

#2 It is relaxing to perform yoga on the beach

What better way to get the ultimate mind, body experience than by performing yoga on the beach? Imagine listening to the sound of waves, smelling saltwater (for those near the ocean) and feeling the gentle touch of sand. No music is necessary because nature provides it own unique sounds, allowing one to relax while practicing asanas.

#3 Fresh air helps the body

The body needs fresh air to receive a stable supply of oxygen. Negative ions are found in fresh air that is near plants and trees, around flowing water and after thunderstorms. Crisp air has many benefits such as building the immune system, improving metabolism and giving one a sense of satisfaction by changing the serotonin levels in the brain.

#4 Sunlight is beneficial to the body

Being in the sunlight is beneficial to the body. Sunlight helps decrease the chances of one obtaining cancer because it helps the body make vitamin D. The light from the sun is also helpful to those with SAD (seasonal affective disorder). There are also studies that prove high levels of vitamin D can decrease the risk of one getting multiple sclerosis (MS).

#5 Matthew McConaughey and Russell Simmons practices yoga on the beach

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Five Reasons to Perform Yoga on the Beach

Bruce Felix Cucchiara passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2012. He was born in 1954 in New Orleans.

Bruce was a dedicated Christian, a respected community leader and businessman. He will always be missed. A graduate of St. Paul's School with the class of 1972, he remained active in the Alumni Association and St. Paul's Foundation Board. He received his undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and began his career in the banking and financial industry. He was the first President of Resource Bank based in St. Tammany Parish and was the CFO of SECO, a real estate development company in Covington. An avid sports fan, he dedicated decades of his life to Covington's youth as a volunteer baseball and basketball coach.

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Bruce Felix Cucchiara, 57, banker, financial officer loved sports, coaching: Obituaries today