Workshop THIS WEEKEND

In the spirit of Thanksgiving,

"Open Your Heart to Grace and Gratitude"

Come join a practice of shoulder & upper back openers!

THIS Sunday, November 21st  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Hosted by:  LightHouse Yoga Studio

120 Seaboard Lane

in Cool Springs

*615.377.YOGA (9642)

http://www.lighthouseyogastudio.com/

Workshop Fee:  $20 (Cash or Check only please)

Yoga & Christianity - Keleah, what do you think?

WOW! If I had a nickel for every question I have had about the recent comments in the media about yoga being evil & non-Christian, I could retire from teaching it. OF COURSE, I would never do that! Regardless of comments from the president of the Southern Baptist convention or any other well intentioned pastor's views, I weigh all things (including Yoga) by THE Bible- the word of God. I firmly believe all things were created by him, for him and for his glory (including Yoga). Yoga is simply a vehicle, a tool, a method, a system....call it whatever you want.... to experience a deeper walk with God (for some!) Of course, not all people experience God in the same way. Example, some are not musical - thus hymns or praise and worship isn't the way they choose to experience him the deepest. Some read. Some have an elaborate prayer life. And, some, YES some, mediate....during Yoga or even without the Yoga. I think I am making my point. How I really feel is SAD for those who cannot / will not ever experience this healing gift from our father. They are truly missing out!  I am doing a new certification in the new year and this post I have copied and pasted below is from a peer within this program. I could not have said it better myself. Her views so closely parallel mine, I just had to share it. I feel like she wrote from MY heart....particularly with:

"I've wrongly used exercise in my past. But Jesus- my Savior, Redeemer, and lover of my soul - is allowing me to worship Him in HolyYoga.  He meets me on my mat, in my chair or during my runs TO HIM and For Him.  I am no better than that prostitute woman... but I am grateful for the Freedom to Love Him with my whole heart soul mind and strength. 

It is and always has been about the focus of the heart.  So, as for me and my house - my body - I will worship the Lord God Almighty with HolyYoga as a tool for worship because Christ has set me free."

JeanneAnne Copleston R-HYT, CPT- NASM

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TO READ THE ENTIRE POST:

Does Yoga open you up to the demonic?

A well respected pastor attempted to answer the question: Does yoga open us up to the demonic.  We are called to test/check everything with Scripture.  Here is what the HolySpirit revealed to me.
Ps 22:3 " But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. "
If I am praising God, He welcomes and receives this praise so intimately that He inhabits me - makes a home in my heart.  Where ever and when ever we are praising Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength I am opening myself up DIRECTLY TO my KING... not the Prince of Darkness.
1 John 1:5    God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
Is 61:3 "  that beauty should be given unto them instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness"
Putting on the garment of praise 'repels' the spirit of heaviness... oppression and darkness.
Is there the possibility? Sure.  Anything we do with out inviting God to be in the midst is dangerous. Adam and Eve got in fatal trouble when they didn't invite the Lord to their first snack.   God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of Life... He didn't say 'dont eat of the tree of life or attempt Tree Pose.  '

John 8: 31  "The Truth Will Set You Free" So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples"

  We are called to worship in Spirit and Truth.  Holy Yoga weaves the Truth in this 'mind body, HolySpirit ' workout.  Did we not leave our Mother Country England to worship our Savior freely? 

CAN YOGA BE USED AS A TOOL FOR WORSHIP?

          Yoga indeed has been wrongly used.  Alcohol, and Food have been wrongly    used/abused.  Children and women have been abused... do we get rid of them? The stars have been wrongly worshipped.  Martin Luther said" do we then pluck them out of the sky?"

  Luke 7:38 "and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them."

I've wrongly used exercise in my past. But Jesus- my Savior, Redeemer, and lover of my soul - is allowing me to worship Him in HolyYoga.  He meets me on my mat, in my chair or during my runs TO HIM and For Him.  I am no better than that prostitute woman... but I am grateful for the Freedom to Love Him with my whole heart soul mind and strength. 

It is and always has been about the focus of the heart.  So, as for me and my house - my body - I will worship the Lord God Almighty with HolyYoga as a tool for worship because Christ has set me free.

JeanneAnne Copleston R-HYT, CPT- NASM

November's Weekend Workshops

In case you missed it in October, here is one more opportunity

to attend (or even repeat)

 “Heavenly Hip-Openers”

Come explore 360 degrees of hip opening!

                  

Sunday, November 14^th  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Hosted by:  Seren Motus Fitness Studios

in Cool Springs across from D1

Workshop Fee:  $20

*To Pre-Register email http://www.serenmotus.com/

 

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In the spirit of Thanksgiving,

"Open Your Heart to Grace and Gratitude"

Come join a practice of shoulder & upper back openers!

 

Sunday, November 21st  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Hosted by:  LightHouse Yoga Studio

120 Seaboard Lane

in Cool Springs

*615.377.YOGA (9642)

http://www.lighthouseyogastudio.com/

Workshop Fee:  $20 (Cash or Check only please)

*To Pre-Register Call LightHouse Yoga @ 377-YOGA

 

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SAVE THE DATE

 

"Tis the Season for Stress...Find Simplicity in your Practice"

Friday, Dec. 3rd,  7:00-8:30 p.m.  

Hosted by:  LightHouse Yoga Studio

 

This Week's Yoga Challenge

1.  Look up the verses listed in the Pose of the Week.  Psalms 77:12, 1 Corinthians 6:17-20, 1 Thessalonians 3:12 write them down on a note card or sticky note (something easy to have with you on your mat)
2.  Meditate on 1 verse daily.  Take a few minutes to breath deep, read the verse aloud several times and then sit and quietly repeat the verse.  Listen.
3.  Practice Tree daily.  Choose an amount to start with on Day 1 - say 10 seconds and then add 5 seconds daily for 7 days. 
4.  See if you can close your eyes.  Can you hold the pose?  What happens?  Do you feel your ankles?

After the meditation, let this pose be your overflow,

your outpouring, your offering! 

Watch yourself transform from the inside out :-)

Pose of the Week - TREE / "Vrksasana"

Obviously "Vrksasana" is a balance pose but more than just balance it is a praise and worship pose.  With two hands extended and one foot grounded the 3 physical components of the pose go hand in hand with the 3 components of any pose - mind, body and spirit.  With my mind I meditate on you father....on your greatness, mercy and strength. (Ps. 77:12)  With my arms extended overhead, I praise you through your temple, my body. (1 Cor. 6:17 / 6:19-20)  With my heart open, your holy spirit soars through me flowing freely as grace, acceptance and love fills me so full, I overflow (1 Thes. 3:12)  For me, Tree pose is just this....an outpouring, an overflow, an offering.  Furthermore, it is a wonderful transition pose.  I often use it to flow into Virabhadrasana III /Warrior III or Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana / Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose.

1.  Spread toes and root down into 4 corners of your foot.

2.  Draw foot inward to the core and pelvis. Place above the knee - never on or against the knee cap.

3.  *Biggest Tip:  Hug the foot and the thigh together.  Use the foot against the flesh of the standing leg upper inner thigh to create deeper inner spiral.  At the socket of the standing leg's femur bone into hip - inner spiral (your bottom will stick out), then lengthen / scoop the tailbone downward.  This is not really a pelvic tilt but rather a lengthening of the tailbone down.  This will take the sway out of the back and create length.  Remember - "action over form"....Anusara inspiration.

4.  Place hands together at your heart.  Extend hands overhead into any variation as your feel comfortable.

5.  Lengthen the side body from hips to shoulders and bring shoulder blades on to back.

Modification:  Bring foot only as high as ankle / below knee.

Drishti:  Forward or upward.

Physical benefits:  Remedies flat feet, strengthens arches, ankles, calves and thighs

improves balance and circulation

Mental benefits:  Clears the mind, cultivates poise and focus

*Additional tip:  Great for runners or any athletes to strengthen ankles - close eyes as you hold the pose!



Ashtanga Lovers Listen Up

ASHTANGA PRIMARY SERIES MASTER CLASS

What:  Full form - no mix or short form
When:  Tuesday, October 26th from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where:  LightHouse Yoga Studio, 120 Seaboard Lane, Franklin
             www.lighthouseyogastudio.com,  377.YOGA(9642)
Fee:  $10
*PLEASE pre-register

Heavenly Hip Openers - REPEATED

In case you missed the first one, here is another opportunity

to attend this month's Weekend Workshop!

“Heavenly Hip-Openers”

with Keleah Anderson, RYT, ACSM-HFI

Have tight hips haunted you for years? 

Join October’s Weekend Workshop

and explore 360 degrees of hip opening. 

The focus of this practice will be to:

• Open areas that are chronically tight
• Perfect for athletes
• Learn post workout poses for quicker recovery & injury prevention                           

Sunday, October 24^th  1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Hosted by:  LightHouse Yoga

120 Seaboard Lane

in Cool Springs

*615.377.YOGA (9642)

http://www.lighthouseyogastudio.com/

Workshop Fee:  $20 (Cash or Check only please)

*To Pre-Register Call LightHouse Yoga @ 377-YOGA

Pose of the Week - "Paschimottanasana"

What is it about seated forward folds that feels so yummy?  Especially, when used as a counter stretch.  Forward bends are calming and soothing to the nervous system.  They bring deeper internal awareness.  They release tension by opening up the entire backside of the body: hamstrings, buttocks and lower back.  They also improve digestion and increase circulation to lower extremities, to name just a few yummy benefits. The KEY to this pose *lead with your heart rather than your head.  Maybe we should also make this the key to life in general.  In fact, I think I'll try it tomorrow.  What does my heart want to do?  Dance in a field of flowers with my husband (whose been away for 4 days!), eat strawberries dipped in chocolate and laugh at his jokes until my belly hurts......

Okay, sorry back on track!

1.  Sit tall, press hands down into floor, draw lower back inward and upward

2.  Inhale bring arms over head lengthen spine

3.  Exhale grab big toes with index and middle fingers.  Press big toes forward while resisting back.

4.  Inhale and extend lower belly thru top of head. Slide hands to outside of feet, widen elbows and draw sternum toward toes.  Keep legs straight and active.  *Lead with heart not head.

Modification for tight hamstrings / lower back:  Sit on folded blanket to elevate hips.  Use strap around feet.

Variation:  For deeper lower back release, bend knees taking the hamstrings out of the equation and puff kidneys to back of mat, rock gently side to side.

Dristi ("gazing point"):  Toes (or shins)

FALL into your FORWARD FOLDS like never before.....enjoy the yummy!

Environmental Distractions

If you have ever taken one of my yoga classes, it didn't take you long to figure out that the environment I teach in is huge to me.  Little distractions, such as someone snapping their Yoga mat when they come in late vs. quietly rolling it out, or the air/heat kicking on or off, people talking (yelling) in the hall, etc. etc....  make me crazy!  The past few weeks as I have ventured into some new teaching environments, I have truly been bombarded with "environmental distractions" I will call them.  First in my church Yoga class, the space is limited and the kick off night we had 48 women!  We overflowed (like that I used that word?) into the foyer and every person on campus decided to walk by.  I want bore you with every detail of every class....but let's just say every environment I taught in offered new challenges....cold rooms, groups talking next door and then the new Zumba class next door at the Y took the Cake.  How do you breath to Zumba beats?   Cold & loud are my Yoga pet peeves and it seemed everywhere I went to teach was just that.....Cold & Loud!  I was about to throw in my Yoga towel, when God gave me a new perspective. 

One of my quiet time readings last week was entitled "In ME..... peace." John 16:33
Paganini, the great Italian violinist, once stepped onstage only to discover there was something wrong with his violin, just as the audience was ending their applause.  He looked at the instrument for a moment and suddenly realized it was not his best and most valuable one.  Momentarily, he felt paralyzed, but he quickly turned to his audience telling them their had been some kind of mistake and he did not have his own violin.  He stepped back behind the curtain, and discovered someone had stolen his and left an inferior one in it's place.  After remaining behind the curtain for a moment, Paganini stepped on stage again to speak to the audience.  He said, "Ladies and gentlemen I will now demonstrate to you that music is not in the instrument but in the soul."  Then he played as never before, and beautiful music flowed from that inferior instrument until the audience was so enraptured that their enthusiastic applause nearly lifted the ceiling off the concert hall.  He had indeed demonstrated that his music was in his soul.  (by: Charles Francis Richardson)

My reading continued saying:  Dear tested and tried believer, it is your mission to walk onto your stage of this world in order to reveal to all of heaven and earth that "your music" of  life lies not in your circumstances or external things but in your own soul.   I hear you Father......Yoga IS an expression of my soul.  And, when I teach....I express not the external circumstances but the internal.  He said to me loud and clear, "teach from your soul....tune into the spirit within you as you teach not the environmental distractions that Satan sends.  He'd like nothing more then for you to throw in your towel.   Don't let him win!"

And so, For Today...."I teach from my soul, NOT my circumstances."

Caught the Bug - Ashtanga Yoga

I have one week left subbing Primary Series at the Cool Springs Y.  I have to admit, this has rekindled my passion for Ashtanga.  This summer prior to my starting this 6 weeks commitment, I challenged myself to practice Primary Series every day for 30 days.  I was reminded how a daily practice of Ashtanga strengthens ALL your yoga.  The consistency not only grew me as a teacher, it grew me as a student.  I find myself wanting to teach it and practice it more......it's contagious.  (Thank God for Beryl Bender's DVD!)

I just wonder, if I did a master class of FULL Primary Series (I mean ALL the vinyasas & all the poses, NO Short Form or Mix!) would I have students???????  Has anyone else caught the bug????????  I would love to know.

Heavenly Hip Openers

“Heavenly Hip-Openers”

with Keleah Anderson, RYT, ACSM-HFI

Have tight hips haunted you for years? 

Join October’s Weekend Workshop

and explore 360 degrees of hip opening. 

The focus of this practice will be to:

• Open areas that are chronically tight
• Perfect for athletes
• Learn post workout poses for quicker recovery & injury prevention                           

Saturday, October 9^th  2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Hosted by:  LightHouse Yoga

120 Seaboard Lane

in Cool Springs

*615.377.YOGA (9642)

http://www.lighthouseyogastudio.com/

Workshop Fee:  $20 (Cash or Check only please)

*To Pre-Register Call LightHouse Yoga @ 377-YOGA



Week 4 of Flow Yoga @ A-game in Cool Springs

I am settling into The Flow at A-game.  Classes were warm & yummy Thursday.  What can I say,  I love it!  :-)  God has been so faithful to show me "just teach" and I'll take care of the rest (more about that in a later blog).

Hope to see you join The Flow very soon!

*Practice Reminders:

Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. upstairs in "The Overlook" Room

5-class pass = $60
10-class pass = $110
20-class pass= $200

Be Blessed Today & Be a Blessing!

I DID IT!

I FINALLY did it!  I created my blog.  Here we go...........