Movement is life.

Big aside: I am in the process of typing and printing my Yoga notes from previous workshops over the years. While attending various workshops, I would overhear other teachers discussing the fact that they never looked at their notes afterwards. I secretly knew I was different. 

And while I do look through my notes periodically, right now they are next to me in a big pile and not well organized. I am in the process of organizing them, which takes time.

(So to procrastinate even further, I am writing this blog post.)

Let the procrastination begin:

I really enjoy teaching. I have been a teacher for a long time. When I was 15 years old, I was lucky enough to be given a job as a camp counselor at the West Branch YMCA in Omaha. It wasn't my first opportunity to teach, but it was a big step for me. 

Fast forward to today. I have been teaching Yoga for almost 18 years. Wow! And if you would have told me back then that I would be doing something that I love for this long....I wouldn't have believed it. Life really can surprise and amaze, if we are paying attention. 

And while on the topic of teaching and teachers, I am currently in the middle of a wonderful little book by Katy Bowman entitled, Movement Matters. For those that think you have a short attention span, this might be your book. Katy has put together many very thoughtful, well researched short essays that encapsulate the decades of research towards healthy movement and healthy lifestyles. Katy cares and you can read it in her essays, in her many books, her podcasts, and videos that she has put together over the years. If you want to learn how to move well and be a better person by making informed choices in this world, she is a living example. Yay, Katy!

I am a firm believer in the idea that we are all teachers and students simultaneously. Like when I am teaching a new asana (Yoga posture) in class, I must observe and adapt so that the student receives the info at their level. If the instruction isn't translating safely in the student's body, I need to approach the asana differently so that the student is successful within their own body. Learning is a life-long pursuit and I am so thankful for all my teachers and the knowledge that they have passed on over the years.

Sometimes learning for me takes on more of a contemplate and observe level. I love to take a concept or word and carry it with me for a year or so.....observing how it shows up in my life. Some of my past words were: community, God, forgiveness, and empowerment. Right now I am focusing on the statement,

Movement is life.

It isn't an original concept, and I don't need it to be. It is just an idea that I carry with me throughout the day. I watch how its truth manifests when I observe the world around me. Of course, there is always a balance that we need to address when someone is discussing movement and health. Too much in one direction or the other is just that...too much.

When someone is sick with the flu, we can agree that bed rest is essential. If a person isn't healthy, their body needs time to recuperate. The problem seems to be these days when we are healthy and have the ability to move but we choose to move less. Moving less could represent wealth in our minds because we don't need to move to collect our food and carry our water. Our society has been conditioned to think that all we need to do is pop something in the microwave and sit down (after sitting down all day at work) to watch t.v. A sedentary lifestyle is becoming not only the norm but something that is desired. When we do choose to move we exercise, not realizing that we are outsourcing our natural movements with each convenience we perceive as necessary (and desired) in our lives. Because we are no longer are hunter/gatherers, we need to schedule in some form of exercise to replace the loss of daily natural movement. 

Now I don't want to delve into the pros and cons of various exercises vs. the natural movements that were the basis of daily existence in the not-so-distant past. What I want us to just ponder for a moment is just the word "movement." And while you are carrying that word around with you throughout your day, maybe think about your movements.

When I teach my Yoga classes these days, I think more along the lines of incorporating lots of healthy movements and easy stretches that can be performed anywhere by anyone. I also make an effort to get my students seated on the floor (with blankets or a bolster so their lumbar spine keeps its natural curve). Even before I was introduced to Katy Bowman's work, I knew most people had a hard time getting up and down off the floor as they got older. Why is that? Well, in our culture we sit in chairs which are at a certain height, and go from one seated position to another seated position (of that same aforementioned height). Do you see where I am going with this?

All I want to do is plant a seed, an idea. The idea is how do we incorporate more varied movements throughout our busy days? I have some suggestions but for now, I just want you to observe yourself and your environment. Observe what movements you make and the variety of shapes (seated on the floor or chair, standing, squatting, etc.) you make with your body. That is all.

In about a week, I will check in with you. I will probably give a suggestion or two. But for now just observe. Of course, once you start to pay attention you will change your habits. Good luck and feel free to email me with any results or questions.

Now that I have finished my entry for this blog, I am going to get off of my bolster (yes, I type seated on the floor with my computer on a low coffee table) and go outside. It is time for a my walk. 

Namaste`

Cat

yoginiofoz@gmail.com

   

  

Shoe choices do matter!

Recently I purchased a pair of minimalist shoes (see photo above) for working in my garden, since my older pair of slip on garden clogs (see photo below) were hurting my feet. My new moccasins have a very flexible sole that essentially protects my feet from nails and rough terrain while allowing a variety of articulations that weren't available with a rigid sole. (Also, if your shoe or flip-flop isn't attached to your foot, your toes will curl in to attempt to hold onto your shoe....which could result in bunions over time.)

Of course, the caveat is now when I wear my old shoes with a rigid sole, I can feel the way my ankles are forced to receive the brunt of impact while I am walking.  Your feet really do need a diversity of movements with each step, and that does not happen when they are constrained all the time by our footwear choices.

The 26 bones and 33 joints in the foot really do work well to receive and distribute the impact of the ground with each step. When our shoes have a rigid sole (which now feels like someone strapped a block of wood to each of my feet) then the outcome is your ankle works structurally in a way that potentially may hurt it due to the fact that your foot's natural movements have been removed from the equation. If your feet cannot articulate properly then your ankles will receive more force with each step which may cause undue and unnatural stress. Overuse syndromes do not need to be the norm if we consider and practice more the natural movements of the body. 

Think of all the movements that your hand can perform. Now imagine you have strapped your hand to a block of wood. You have limited the movement in your hand, which then translates to loss of muscle over time. Since your body economizes energy efficiently, it will decide that those muscles in your hand (and, in reality, your foot in constraining footwear) aren't as important since they aren't being used. 

Shoe choices DO matter!

Does this info spark your interest? If so, I teach a class called "Healthy Feet for a Healthier You" that gives the student tools and exercises that improve overall foot health. 

Please email with any questions: yoginiofoz@gmail.com

Since the feet are our foundation, I think this is a great start to a healthier lifestyle and a healthier YOU!!

 

A new class on the horizon!

An Important Topic: Foot Health

There are so many ailments that stem from the limitations that we have placed on our bodies, either structural (as those provided by shoes), or from our habits. These habits include either a lack of total body movement, or an over-dependence on limited muscular patterns.

~ Katy Bowman

Why does foot health matter? You put your feet into shoes that are comfortable to you and go on your merry way. What is the problem?

Well, there might not be an obvious problem with your feet. And then as you think about it, you remember that you have either knee pain and/or back pain. But what does that have to do with my shoes? Plenty.

There are a multitude of variables that you might not be aware of when choosing a shoe that is right for you. For starters, most shoes have some sort of raised heel, and this may be less obvious than you think. Also, how many hours a day do you spend in shoes? If your shoes are too tight, what is that pressure doing to the intrinsic muscles of your feet, and more specifically your toes? If you have any sort of balance issues,this would be important information to know.

Just like a house needs a strong foundation, our body's foundation, our feet, must be strong, as well. If our feet turn out when we stand and walk that will have impact on everything up this closed chain. And then just the act of foot turn-out places unnecessary strain on the 'great toe' which may cause bunions to form. If that wasn't enough, weight placement on the foot effects the pelvis which in turn effects the back.......you see where I am going with this?

So, yes, what you do with your feet, including what you put your feet into, effects your body. A simple statement with profound consequences.  

Wow! That is a lot to ponder. Good, that's the first step towards a healthier lifestyle.

The 'foot alignment and health' class I am going to teach will focus on the foot because I believe it is one of the easier variable to change and the benefits are many. Once you understand the basic biomechanics of your foot in relation to your whole body's health, you can make educated decisions that have a ripple effect. I have been studying Katy Bowman's work on "Nutritious Movement" and I would love to share her information plus my 21-year study of Yoga, Ayurvedic Medicine, and anatomy.

Interested in learning more?  I will be teaching in Rossville and Lawrence, a 2-hour class that will present easy-to-follow information on foot anatomy and biomechanics and its direction relation to health, daily stretches that you can do almost anywhere, and advice on what shoes are best for your overall health and well-being.

I truly believe that this information is vital and everyone should have it. If you want me to teach at your library, fitness center, shoe store, or community center than email me. 

Our bodies want to heal. Come learn how to be proactive in this process.

~ Namaste`

Cat

 yoginiofoz@gmail.com 

 

Wanted: Serious (or soon to be serious) Yoga students to become Yoga teachers

I receive requests to teach Yoga classes in small surrounding towns in rural Kansas on a regular basis. What I would love, love, love to do is work with folks who want to become Yoga teachers. Of course with any sort of teaching, you must love the subject matter and have a regular practice.

So, if you have always wanted to teach Yoga and live close to Delia and Rossville, Kansas, then you should email me your questions.

ardhachandrasana@yahoo.com

This is not a fast-track, teacher training in a weekend type of scenario. I have been practicing for 20 years and teaching for 16 years and I still feel like a beginner. There is always something new to learn or work on perfecting in this life-changing subject. Everything depends on how quickly you integrate this subject matter into your practice and then are able to teach it to others.

Just so you know, this will be a very practical and direct course work. Attending Yoga classes with me on a regular basis is paramount. I will also strongly recommend visiting other teacher's classes to view various techniques and methods. If this interests you, contact me.

ardhachandrasana@yahoo.com

If there is a good response, I will consider renting a space for monthly meetings in Rossville (or somewhere else if necessary). If only 1-4 students respond, I have a small studio where I live with MANY props available along with a rope wall for yoga karunta.

I hope to hear from you soon!

See you on the mat.

Namaste`

~ Cat