May’s Master Class

May’s Master Class

"Inversions"

“I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls.” Jeremiah

31:25 (MSG)

Come Experience a Practice of Inverted Poses

Saturday, May 21 from 9:00 10:30 a.m.

See HIS Magnificence be magnified….even if you are

UPSIDE DOWN!

Inverted Postures reverse the effects of gravity, stimulating the

entire system. Inversions are the ultimate in Holy Yoga poses.

They refresh, rejuvenate, and make our bodies come alive with

increased energy and vitality. We will explore Plow, Shoulder

Stand series, Handstands and The 7 Headstands from Ashtanga

Yoga’s Intermediate Series.

$25 for YMCA members; $30 for Non-Members

Space is limited so register at the Cool Springs YMCA

Welcome Center today!

Childcare provided

Backbending Workshop

April’s Weekend Workshop

“Root Down and RISE Up”

“He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.” Matthew 28:6

Come Experience the “Rising Up” Within You on Saturday,

April 16th 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Back Bending Postures are rejuvenating and awakening.

They are effective at opening up the upper back, chest,

neck, shoulders, and front groin. A few examples: Cobra,

Locust, Camel, Bridge, Bow and Fish. Join us as the Cool

Springs YMCA offers a Workshop style Master Class

that will dive deeply into back bending. We will warm-up with a

creative flow and then explore backbends, backbend

transitions, and 2nd Series Ashtanga backbend sequencing.

$25 for YMCA members; $30 for Non-Members

Space is limited so register at the Cool Springs YMCA

Welcome Center today!

Childcare is provided.

What is the best way to register for Tuesday's Ashtanga Class?

E-mail Shellie McMillen @ smcmillen@ymcamidtn.org

Shellie will email you back a confirmation by 5:00 pm on Monday.  We want to assure spots and space for hands on, wall use, etc.  Help us make this class the best we can for you. 

Thanks!  See all Ashtanga Lovers tomorrow morning.

*Look for a Second Series class offering soon :-)....stay tuned.

"March Madness" Yoga Weekend

Come Master the Madness!

 

     Have you ever wanted to slow down and really walk through the steps to get into some of those “maddening” yoga poses? A few examples: Crane or Crow, Headstand & Handstand...Astravrakasana, Pincha Mayurasana, Tittibhasana, Bhujapidasana...and the list goes on. Join us as the Cool Springs YMCA offers a Workshop style Master Class to do just that. We will warm-up with a creative flow and then explore as many Crazy Poses as we can fit into an hour and a half. You will learn progression as well modifications for some of the poses you have felt like “I will NEVER be able to do.” Here is your chance to explore, to ask questions, to simply break the flow and learn. “Never say Never”...we think you will be pleasantly surprised.  This master class will be full of “yoga moments” guaranteed to deepen your practice.

Come Master the Madness on Saturday, March 26th 9:00-10:30 a.m.

$25 for YMCA members; $30 for Non-Members

Space is limited so register at the Cool Springs YMCA Welcome Center today!

Childcare provided

For more information contact

Shellie McMillen @

smcmillen@ymcamidtn.org

My Mess....My Message

Philippians 2:1-11 "Imitating Christ's Humility"  -  That was my pastor's message last Sunday as well as our Small Group discussion topic in Bible Study.  I left church feeling very hurried, unfocused and rather unchanged.  I have learned many lessons of humility over the years and although I knew deep down I could stand a few more, quite honestly my week was full!  My husband was leaving on an afternoon flight to Hong Kong (for 8 days!).  My throat was a bit sore and head was pounding.  Avery had ANOTHER indoor soccer game we had to rush to.  I was "lead room mom" for the Valentines Party which needed attention.  Oh and I am taking Holy Yoga training right now that SHOULD require 10-15 hours of preparation for Thursday night online lectures (which btw, I hadn't cracked a book this week AT ALL).  Soooooooooo..........Please allow me to share how God used this week to teach me his message of "Humility" first hand. 

Philippians 2 in my Bible is entitled "Joy in Serving / Imitating Christ's Humility".....hum?  joy in serving? children alone with me for a week while Mitch is in beautiful 70 degree Hong Kong.  Now, I know the flight is long but I'm thinking I'd jump at the chance to read a book uninterrupted, watch a movie, sleep, NOT change diapers, wipe noses or tears for a week.  Sign me up!  (Bet I could find some rockin' Yoga classes over there too!)  This is where God laughs at me I am sure.....my sweet, kind neighbor Franklin Moss says to me after class Sunday, "if you need anything let us know."  I reply, "well sometimes it's easier without him.....we eat PB&J and cereal for dinner....he really doesn't help me that much."  YIKES - did I get a full dose of how much help my hubby really is!  I got sick.....and all 3 kids sick too....in full swing Wednesday...by Thursday night I was in tears on the phone with Mitch saying I was sorry for saying I didn't REALLY need help.  I have been humbled!  Flat on face in need of my partner in raising these kiddos, caring for self.....etc.  etc.   I truly believe God has a sense of humor.   By Friday, Presley and I tested positive for Strep and The Flu BOTH!  I am  convinced if Strep is in a 10 mile radius of us we will get it.  Hank, Avery and Mitch never get it BUT Pres and I always!  weak genes maybe?

Mitch took an earlier flight home - arrived Friday night to Hank and Avery partying on the Wii and Valentine's treats (for Presley's class party, btw).  Pres and I sleeping in his germ infested bedroom.  After 2 days of sleep and antibiotic, we're slowly getting back on track.  And really, thank God for Avery stepping up - a 10 year old becomes a 20 yr. old real fast when Mommy goes down.  She kept the house standing and Hank unharmed for 2 days.  She'll be a great mom some day.  With Hank as her practice, she'll be ready to handle just about anything!

My new friend Krystal said in class Sunday that her grandmama use to tell her "Chiiillllld make your mess, your message!"  I thought about this all week.  I could almost hear her grandmama.  This is just one of my many messes......and for this week "it's my message."

February's Weekend Workshop

Heavenly Hip Openers

Cool Springs YMCA

Saturday, February 19^th, 12-3pm

This is an instructor's training workshop sponsored by the Middle Tennessee YMCA.  Instructors will receive 3 credit hours for this $30 workshop. *Non-teaching Yoga practitioners are also invited to attend.  Come enjoy 1 hour of lecture and 2 hours of practice. 

To register go to www.ymcalearning.org

Course Objectives:

·  Learn to develop a yoga flow that deepens layer by layer and is hip specific.

·  Cover Anusara principles of alignment that deepen hip opening.

·  Discuss Organic Energy Lines:  Crown-to-Tail, Skull Draw, Shoulder Draw and Heart Center

·  Apply “Primary Line” of Muscular Energy to all poses: Engagement, Alignment and Gaze

·  Explore where yoga and physical therapy meet and learn how to use yoga as therapy.

·  Gain practical experience creating choreography that builds and deepens as you teach it

 

Pose of the Week - Warrior II

Virabhadrasana II

1.  Start with feet wide.  Inhale extend arms to side.

2.  Turn your left foot in slightly (almost parallel with back edge of mat); turn right leg out directly to the side (front of mat).

3.  Keeping your legs engaged, exhale and bend your right knee to 90 degrees

4.  Hold for several breaths. To release pull legs to one another to engage the muscles, inhale and come out.

The "Big 3" Directives:

1.  Engagement - Engage leg muscles to the bone.  Draw muscular energy from the floor up into the pelvis.

2.  Alignment - Align right heel with left foot.  Keep torso vertical (meaning hips square to side of mat)  Outer spiral both thighs = Left thigh back and lifting away from floor.  Right thigh parallel to floor.  Right knee toward pinky toe = outer spiral of right thigh.

3. Gaze - Out past right fingertips.

Organic line of Energy - Heart to fingertips

Muscular line of energy - Hip to blade, knee to hip, knee to heel

"Crown-to-tail" is your Primary Line in EVERY pose.  Crown-to-tail means root your tailbone towards the Lord's foundation and lengthen your crown towards heaven and HIS wisdom.

"By wisdom the LORD laid the Earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place."  Proverbs 3:19.

In class you often hear me say "action over form" - this also means "honor the primary line"- or I also often say "maintain integrity of the spine".  They all mean, come out of the pose if needed to honor the Primary Line. In this pose, for example, if one were leaning into the front leg or knee or taking the knee past the foot they would need to shorten their stance to maintain the Primary line.  Make sense?

*Final tips:

As you root down through the outer edge of your "back" foot, energetically lift the inner thigh toward your pelvis ("outer spiral").  It is the practice of giving and receiving.  It teaches us to exert but also be conscious enough (soft/supple enough)  to receive Him (Jesus)  in every thing we do.  It calls us to be intentional and present.