We live in a world where uncertainty and change abound, while rapid technological advancement ironically both expands and inhibits human connection. While several of these advancements have improved the state of the world to some degree, the negative consequences have humans facing an increasing lack of community, isolation from nature and one another, rootlessness, and disconnection from self. Mental health issues are at an all-time high, loneliness has been called a world epidemic, distraction reigns, and stress is an unwelcome frequent visitor for an increasingly disillusioned population.

In response to many of the challenges posed in modern society, which are often at odds with both human nature and the natural world (see: sitting stationary at ones desk working at a computer screen for 8 hours), a new generation is looking to ancient wisdom to provide an antidote. The past several years have seen a hopeful movement looking to indigenous practices to help solve some of the worlds biggest environmental and social problems. Described by research agency Wunderman Thompson as the Indigenous Innovation trend, this revival of ancient practices draws upon the ability of indigenous cultures to maintain balance with nature and instill a sense of community, purpose, rootedness, physical strength, and mental equilibrium to individuals.

Kinam a physical practice based on ancient prehispanic Toltec wisdom has recently gained popularity in Mexico, illuminating a path towards a more balanced and mindful existence. While Toltec mental and spiritual philosophy has previously been popularized through the teachings of authors like Don Miguel Ruiz, the physical practice of Kinam allows for a comprehensive, movement-based system that integrates bodily, emotional, and spiritual development. Kinam has drawn in individuals around the world seeking personal growth, mindfulness, physical embodiment, and deeper connection.

The Toltecs were an advanced Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico between the 10th and 12th centuries AD, before the Mayans and Aztecs. Predating Yoga, the practice of power postures now referred to as Kinam was based on psychophysical techniques created by the Toltec shamans of ancient Mexico.

These techniques emerged based on the shamans unique perspective on the world, space, and time, centered on the belief that the world was not a set of objects in space-time as we understand it, but rather a perceptual effect. The shamans believed that to understand this reality in greater depth, it was necessary to balance four factors: body, mind, emotions and vital energy. The balance between these allows practitioners to gain access to the extraordinary capabilities to live in a higher state of consciousness. In response, the shamans created power postures and the arts of meditation, recapitulation, dreaming, and self-vigilance.

The renaissance of these practices is attributed to over 20 years of research by anthropologist Frank Diaz, and is the result of an amalgamation of Diazs archaeological study of thousands of Toltec sculptures, codices, and murals, indicating different postures, along with oral traditions gathered from indigenous communities who have passed down knowledge & variations of the practice. More recently, additional documentation of the Toltec practices was gathered from 16th and 17th-century archives found in Sevilla, Spain, gathered from Spanish conquistadors.

Despite the fascinating breadth of academic research, the Toltec teachings are ultimately understood best through practice. Recognizing the positive impact of applying these academic findings to physical practice, former principal dancer Alejandra Cobo and Pilates expert Ana Delia Benito, together with Frank Diaz, with the support of Fundacin Dond, established the Kinam Institute to bring this ancient knowledge to the world. The Kinam practice, based on Toltec balance and power postures, incorporates modern techniques of functional movement and dance, and uses psychophysical exercises to help practitioners find center, balance, and fluidity.

The positive impact of power postures on mental states has been widely researched and documented in recent years. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy suggests that adopting power poses can influence not only how others perceive us but also how we perceive ourselves. According to her research, assuming high-power poses for just a few minutes can lead to increased feelings of power and confidence, as well as changes in hormone levels associated with dominance and stress reduction.

Through the practice of postures, physical movements, manual exercises, meditation, sleep training, and breathing techniques inspired by pre-Hispanic sources, Kinam seeks to promote integral harmony and a deeper rootedness. Kinam emphasizes the importance of transitioning between postures, organizing practices into challenges, series, and sequences, and providing variations based on individual capabilities.

The physical Kinam practice begins by acknowledging the cardinal directions, a nod to the Toltecs deep reverence for the natural world. From there, practitioners move through a series of postures and exercises designed to cultivate a sense of centeredness, balance, and fluidity both physically and energetically.

Each posture represents a stage of life, explains co-founder Ana Delia Benito. This is represented through their symbolism and meaning. For example, Sprout Pose, with its depiction of a sprouting seed, symbolizes rebirth and enlightenment, which can be associated with growth and development in a persons life. The Root Posture, with its connection to the practitioners own experience and congruence, reflects the ability to incorporate achievements and learning into daily life. The Arrow Pose, with its symbolism of attention and perception, could represent a stage of focus and mental clarity. By exercising these postures, practitioners exercise their abilities to call upon these states in real life.

A key aspect of the Kinam practice is its incorporation of sleep and dreaming techniques. In Kinams symbolic framework, conscious dreaming, known as ensueo, plays a central role in training the practitioners nahual their capacity for empowered action represented as vital energy. By applying willpower and intention to the dream state, Kinam teaches practitioners to command their dreams, develop focus, and the ability to plant seeds of transformation from the realm of the subconscious.

Through these conscious/awakened dreaming practices, or ensoar as Kinam calls them, individuals can project their nahual, renew their vitality, and actively utilize the time spent sleeping, rather than passively accepting it. The texts emphasize that ensueo is not merely another dream, but a transformative state of consciousness that can lead to ecstatic experiences and a profound reconnection with the creative essence of existence. By mastering techniques like controlled dreaming, hand symbolism, and the management of emotional challenges, Kinam practitioners seek to unlock deeper layers of awareness and spiritual growth through the practice of conscious, intentional dreaming.

While the practice of Kinam offers a practical psychophysical way of interacting with the world and oneself, it also incorporates an exploration of energy work. With principles similar to chakra centers, Kinam implements practices to shift energy within the body, such as transforming or moving stagnant energy to revitalize and motivate. Furthermore, by engaging in static positions that compress certain glands to induce specific, focused perceptual states, Kinam allows practitioners to access states of consciousness outside of our normal purview. Through these techniques, we can expand other faculties of humanity, including perception of the often hidden or unseen aspects of reality says Benito.

Toltec is a way of being, says Ana Delia Benito. We can all be Toltec.

Whether youre seeking to deepen your own physical, emotional, and spiritual practice, or are a teacher looking to expand your offerings, Kinam presents an intriguing opportunity to reconnect with ancient Toltec wisdom in a modern context.

Kinam is for anyone interested in reconnecting with their physical body, vital energy, and internal wisdom, the Kinam Institute states, as well as teachers of practices such as Yoga, Chik kung, and functional training, who wish to complement their teaching.

While Kinam has enjoyed a spread throughout world cities from Mexico City to Los Angeles, in Mexico, classes are offered at Agoralucis in Polanco, Mexico City, as well as online through the studio. The Instituto Kinam also offers a six-module certification program, enabling you to become a Kinam practitioner and train others.

In a world that often feels disconnected and out of balance, the revival of Toltec practices like Kinam offers a powerful antidote. By reconnecting with ancient wisdom, Kinam provides a holistic path toward greater harmony, embodiment, spiritual growth, and awakened capabilities. As we navigate the challenges of modern life, the Toltec way of Kinam stands as a beacon, guiding us back to a more balanced and mindful existence.

Monica Belot is a writer, researcher, strategist and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she teaches in the Strategic Design & Management Program. Splitting her time between NYC and Mexico City, where she resides with her naughty silver labrador puppy Atlas, Monica writes about topics spanning everything from the human experience to travel and design research. Follow her varied scribbles on Medium at https://medium.com/@monicabelot.

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Kinam: The Toltec 'yoga' taking Mexico by storm - Mexico News Daily

By Deborah Burke Henderson, Contributing Writer

MILFORD For the average person, it might seem a stretch to move from educational training and professional work as a biomedical engineer onto the yoga mat, but Mary Greens lifelong interest in health and wellness has brought her right here, albeit through a circuitous route.

Its been a kind of dot-to-dot experience, Green quipped with a smile.

Green recalls an introduction to yoga when she was just eight years old. Although she refused to attend a class with her mother, she and her younger brother did try to copy the contorted postures pictured in The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, a 1960 how-to book that was kept on the coffee table. Some of the postures made such an impression that Green has been practicing yoga, on and off for decades, but most seriously engaging in the work in her mid-twenties.

As the fifth of six kids growing up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Green was fascinated with the creative process and building things, starting with her brothers LEGO blocks. She credits her mothers artistic nature and supportiveness as key influences in allowing her to develop this innate passion of making thingseven when things got messywhich has also carried throughout her life.

I was always drawing, painting and creating silly cartoons, Green recalled. I loved being funny and making my siblings and friends laugh.

Green credits her older brother, an engineering student at the time, with engaging her interest in math and problem-solving skills while she was in middle and high school. Later, when facing decisions about college, she felt drawn to both art and engineering and wondered how she might combine the two.

Classes in biology, anatomy, and physiology intrigued me and stimulated my passion for the workings of the human body and health and how technology might support that in terms of wellness, Green stated.

After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering from Syracuse University, Green established herself in the health industry. Green worked initially as a medical research assistant in an eye-care unit at a Boston hospital and then as an engineer for a medical device company where she worked on innovative optical technology creating devices for lab instrumentation.

The company I worked for had a terrific fitness center and provided offerings in yoga, tai chi, and aerobics, Green noted. At the time, I was more interested in fast-paced exercise, but I kept coming back to yoga.

It was there that she met her future husband, a fellow engineer. They started a family and after the twins were born, Green chose to become a stay-at-home mom. As their children grew, she discovered the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass., and took workshops and trainings in yoga and mindfulness.

I had an aha moment there, realizing these teachings could be the perfect segue to maintain my passions and continue helping others, Green stated.

She went on to receive certification from Kripalu as a yoga instructor. Additionally, in an eight-week curriculum at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, she experienced Jon Kabat-Zinns Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MSBR) technique which she found to be transformational.

For the past 16 years as a mat-based yoga instructor in workplace, educational, and community settings, Green has encouraged people to take care of themselves through mindfulness and mindful movement.

Movement implies you are in your body, Green stated. I offer guidance and instruction about making different shapes with our bodies, and always doing so with awareness of ones own experience, noticing the sensations each movement brings.

Ten years ago, the Community Center in Ashland hired Green to sub for a chair yoga instructor, and shortly thereafter, she took the position over. A typical class has 25-30 participants, ranging in age from 60 to more than 90 years old.

I sing Marys praises, Bea Riordan said. She is very welcoming and makes you feel good, no matter what your ability. I have been coming for nearly two years and find relief from my chronic back pain while I am here.

Fellow chair yoga enthusiast John Palmer, in his mid-eighties, admits he spends an inordinate amount of time sitting at his computer but finds this class a great relief.

Marys got a playful personality and keeps us smiling, said Palmer who started attending in mid-December. After completing just five consecutive classes, I noticed improvement both in my flexibility and balance.

Beyond the crucial benefits of dynamic stretching and strengthening ones overall muscles and joints during her hour-long class, Green sees great value in the community and friendship these seniors experience.

It warms my heart to see these folks care for one another, Green said. They are warm and welcoming with each other. It is a community of like-minded people who are discovering new ways to care for their bodies, find stillness, and experience life-affirming attitudes.

Green notes that the benefits of chair yoga are the same as a traditional practice: people physically get stronger, become aware of the breath and their bodies, and experience the psychological benefits of discovering a calmness in moments of stillness and gentle movement.

Recently, she was asked to teach a class in mindfulness and meditation at the center, and ten chair yoga students immediately signed up.

Even in the first session, I realized this practice will help still my racing mind and help me pay better attention to my body, Steve McCormick said. I thank my wife, Carol, for getting me here, but Im here to stay.

How does Green do it all? She credits her own daily practice.

My favorite time of day is early morning when I engage in some stretching movements and find stillness in a short meditation. I also make time to do a quick sketch, all of which sets my compass for the day. That and a good cup of coffee gets me going.

Greens advice to her students: Open and grounded, thats how we should walk in the world.

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Milford engineer turns to the yoga mat for encore career - fiftyplusadvocate

Blessing Nurses Alumni Association hosts goat yoga event for community wellness

by KHQA Staff

Blessing Nurses Alumni Association hosts goat yoga event for community wellness (Blessing Health).

Quincy, Ill. (KHQA)

A Blessing nurses' group is offering goat yoga sessions this spring.

The public is invited to register for a session of goat yoga at Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Quincy on Saturday, May 4 at 2:00 p.m.

The goat yoga session is sponsored by the Blessing Nurses Alumni Association as part of its observance of 2024 National Nurses Week.

Goat yoga is similar to traditional yoga, during which participants follow the lead of a teacher, performing different poses designed to enhance flexibility and strength.

During a goat yoga session, baby goats, known as kids, join the human participants. Goat yoga has been proven to improve mental and physical health.

Scientific studies have confirmed the positive effects of human-animal interaction on well-being. Research has shown that spending time with animals can reduce stress levels, and even alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The college is located at 3609 N. Marx Drive in Quincy. The fee to participate in the goat yoga session is $30 for adults and $14 for children 12 and under.

Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Each participant will sign a liability waiver at the start of the goat yoga session.

Participants need to bring their own yoga mat to the session if they dont want to be directly on the grass, but it is not required to participate in the class.

To register and pay the session fee, go here.

Payment may be brought the day of the goat yoga session but must be paid before the start of the class.

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Blessing Nurses Alumni Association hosts goat yoga event for community wellness - khqa.com

Twist into warrior, chair and cobra pose inside the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts' historic rotunda for a special yoga program.

PAFA will extend its normal museum hours for three nights as part of its upcoming Yoga in the Rotunda series. The Tuesday classes will be held in the middle of an immersive art installation, which involves looping color videos with sound, to give attendees an experience they won't find in a traditional yoga studio. PAFA's landmark building, considered one of the best surviving examples of Victorian Gothic architecture in America, will also help in that department.

A different teacher will lead each class and lend its own theme. Eunmi Chang will host "Flow & Harmonic Vibrations" on April 30, followed by Lori McAlister with "From the Outside In" on May 7. Dave Hem closes the series out with his "3rd Eye Max" on May 14. All classes will begin at 6 p.m. and last 45 minutes though participants are welcome to explore the museum before and after their flows. It will be open 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to registered guests.

While Yoga in the Rotunda welcomes all experience levels, participants must be 18 years or older and bring their own mats. Advance registration is required.

April 30, May 7, May 14 6-6:45 p.m. | $25 adult admission Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 118-128 N. Broad St., Philadelphia

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PAFA will host yoga classes in its rotunda - PhillyVoice.com

Previous studies in correctional facilities have shown positive effects of yoga on inmates. They experience increased impulse control and improved mental health. Are the same positive results seen in detained individuals with severe psychiatric disorders? Now, the first results from a large national and globally unique research study in forensic psychiatry from the University West are presented.

It is the first scientific study of its kind to describe the effect and feasibility of trauma-adapted yoga in forensic psychiatry.

It is a breakthrough that we can now demonstrate the possibility of using yoga as a complementary care intervention in psychiatry and the positive effects it brings."

Nra Kerekes, Professor in Medical Sciences (Psychiatry) at the University West, and research leader of the study

The results of the study are now published in the prestigious scientific journal, Psychiatry Research.

"We wanted to explore whether previous positive results with the use of yoga in correctional facilities could be transferred to detained individuals suffering from severe psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we evaluated trauma-adapted yoga as a support within forensic psychiatry," says Nra Kerekes.

Forensic psychiatry deals with the complex challenges that arise at the intersection of psychiatric illness, legal issues, and security concerns.

"There are few high-quality clinical studies on individuals who have committed crimes and who have a serious mental disorder. What exists are either studies on inmates separately or studies of individuals suffering from various psychiatric disorders. For both of these groups, yoga has shown positive effects," says Nra Kerekes.

Self-choice was a central component in the study design, where 56 patients at various forensic psychiatric clinics chose to participate. Over 10 weeks, they either participated in specially developed yoga classes or chose to engage in other forms of physical activity. Throughout the study, changes in their mental health, emotional states, antisocial and aggressive behaviors, pain perception, substance cravings, and ability to control their behavior and emotional reactions were observed.

In the current study, the yoga group showed remarkable reductions in negative emotional states, anxiety, paranoid ideation, hostility, and overall psychological distress. These reductions were not observed in the group performing other forms of physical activities. Additionally, the yoga group exhibited a significant reduction in pain frequency, and showed strengthened self-control and accountability.

"We can conclude that trauma-iadapted yoga implemented in a forensic psychiatric setting demonstrates feasibility and results in several positive changes in patients' mental health, emotional states, pain, and self-control," says Nra Kerekes.

She continues:

"A structured program of trauma-adapted yoga for patients and training for healthcare personnel has been developed and has now been confirmed to be feasible and beneficial within forensic psychiatry."

Source:

Journal reference:

Kerekes, N. (2024). Exploring the Impact of Trauma-Adapted Yoga in Forensic Psychiatry: Midterm Findings and Insights.Psychiatry Research. doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115879.

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Study shows yoga's positive impact on emotional health in forensic psychiatry - News-Medical.Net

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

Blame it on Jennifer Aniston. Ever since she lit up the screen as Rachel in the 90s, shes been a beacon of wellness inspiration for me. Jen and I are about the same age, although unlike me, she has remained sculpted with an enviable aura of serenity. Her secret, echoed repeatedly in interviews, includes the practice of yoga.

For many years, my idea of wellness meant going to the gyms spin class and getting my heart rate dangerously high while someone barked at me to tackle the mountain with ACDC blasting at unhealthy decibels. The music, the dark room, and the manic exercise delivered an incredible workout while drowning out whatever troubles I carried, at least for the duration of the class.

As I pedaled furiously, Id watch the yoga students saunter by, mats in hand, with a quiet calm that piqued my interest. They seemed to operate on a different wavelength.

Then four years ago, a fellow spinner and spry woman in her 60s coaxed me into attending my first yoga class. With no darkness or blaring tunes to hide behind, the room felt painfully quiet. We sat cross-legged in Sukhasana, focused on our breathing, and then brought our palms together in anjali mudra. I thought, This is easy enough.

Then we were instructed to come into a Low Lunge. Everyone around me appeared to effortlessly manifest their foot forward whereas I needed to take several lurches. From there, the seemingly simple act of lifting my hands, leaning back slightly, and taking a deep breath caused me to fall into a wobbly panic. My grounded knee ached from its tte--tte with the mat and a serious bout of imposter syndrome kicked in.

Although I felt clumsy and stiff in yoga, I am a competitor at heart. (That alone shows you why I need yoga.) So I made it a point to come to class twice a week. Each time it was hard. The poses I awkwardly practiced began shifting my bodyconditioned to move fast and hardto spaces that were quiet and slow.

At the end of one of those early Savasanas, I found myself engulfed in loud, uncontrollable sobs. The instructor approached and placed a hand on my shoulder while my body heaved and snot splattered on my mat. It happens more often than youd think, she whispered. My embarrassment gave way to a lighter sense of calm.

Six months later, when the world shut down, I no longer had access to a bike and wasnt willing to use my rainy day fund to buy a Peloton. My exercise regimen disappeared.

Remembering the surprising spiritual weightlessness those earlier sessions had provided, I had several transient flings with yoga. Id follow the encouraging instructions from a YouTube yoga instructor, knowing my movements looked nothing like hers. Id attempt Tree Pose, congratulating myself when I didnt knock over the living room lamp while my golden retriever watched with grave concern. A Childs Pose-induced peacefulness would sometimes make a cameo appearance, confirming that Jen and all other yoga enthusiasts had gotten something right.

But with life moving at full throttle again, Ive largely returned to my pre-yoga ways. That post-yoga serenity is still tempting, although Im more inclined to go to a hard spin class than roll out my yoga mat.

As an active participant in our rush-through-life culture, I find it easier to think wistfully about the positive effects of a regular yoga practice than to fully commit to being present with it. Yoga demands an alignment of mind and body whereas spinning lets me zone out and sweat it out. I can pedal through pain like a maniac, without a thought in the world. Spinning is less about accepting and more about escaping.

Still, I never stash my mat out of sight. Even if its just gathering dust, its present and available, a simple reminder that even amid the hectic pace of life, my 53-year-old self sometimes needs a dose of balance, and the ability to channel Jens seeming serenity, one pose at a time.

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I'm a Longtime Student of Spin and I Swear Yoga is More Challenging. Here's Why. - Yoga Journal

QUINCY The public is invited to enjoy goat yoga hosted bythe Blessing Nurses Alumni Association in observation of 2024 National Nurses Week.

Goat Yoga will take place atBlessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences,3609 N. Marx Dr.,in Quincy on Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m.

Similar to traditional yoga, participants will follow a teacher and perform different poses designed to enhance flexibility and strength. However, during goat yoga baby goats join in on the fun.

Goat yoga has proven to improve mental and physical health. According to scientific studies there are positive effects on our well-beings during human-animal interactions. Research shows spending time with animals can reduce stress and even alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

It will cost $30 for adults to participate and $14 for children 12 and under. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Each participant must sign a liability waiver at the start of the session. Participants need to bring their own yoga mat if they dont want to be directly on the grass, but it's not required to participate in the class.

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Blessing Nurses Alumni Association hosting goat yoga | Health | whig.com - Herald-Whig

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What's new at the Town Center at Boca Raton? Aritzia, Alo Yoga and other first-to-market brands - Palm Beach Post

(NBC News) The 2019 Xtreme Eating Awards are out, highlighting what the Center for Science in the Public Interest describes as nutritional nightmares.

Most of our award winners had a least an entire days calories, says CSPI senior nutritionist Lindsay Moyer.

Most people wouldnt consume four double cheeseburgers from Burger King, and a large Coke all at once, but its the caloric equivalent of one order of Top Golfs Injectible Donut Holes.

The Cheesecake Factorys Cinnamon Roll Pancakes clock in a 2,000 calories and 33 teaspoons of sugar.

Thats like eating 11 Krispy Kreme glazed donuts, Moyer notes.

And its not just sweets.

Jimmy Johns 16-inch Gargantuan sub has more than 7,000 milligrams of sodium.

The big problem is over time, consuming a steady diet of these meals, or even typical restaurant food, raises the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart diseases, Moyer warns.

The Cheesecake Factory issued a statement saying in part that many guests want to celebrate and not be concerned with calories. Others want to share their dish.

Read more: http://bit.ly/2YtdAOF

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WNKY Events - Kids Yoga IN the Salt Cave - wnky.com

UNMC students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in UNMCs De-Stress Week celebration, which runs April 22-26. De-Stress Week will include free breakfast, therapy dogs, yoga and more.

The following is a list of De-Stress Week events on the Omaha campus:

Monday, April 22:

Tuesday, April 23:

Wednesday, April 24:

Thursday, April 25:

Friday, April 26:

A list of activities taking place on the other UNMC campuses can be found at this link.

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Snacks, dogs, yoga: De-Stress Week is April 22-26 - University of Nebraska Medical Center