Strength in the breath…

Hi Everyone,

September ends & we enter the first few days of October with its crisp autumn air. As we slowly settle into the change in season, sometimes the body and mind may need extra time to adjust. The shift from warm to cold and transition into shorter days and longer nights can cause tension in our bodies shortening the breath, doing a number on our nervous system. When this happens, I am reminded of how important it is to work on the breath to calm the body. One breathing technique in particular is the 2 :1 ratio breath. As I mentioned in the past, this is a breathing practice which involves lengthening your exhales until it is twice as long as you inhales that not only allows the body to release carbon dioxide & toxins from the body, it also releases tension to the body bringing a restorative response to calm the nervous system. This technique can help reduce insomnia, sleep disturbance and release anxiety.

However, it is also important to keep the body strong during times of transition. So not only will be concentrating on elongating the breath but also strengthening the body with powerful poses. This past month, I have been incorporating different ways to work on balance combining lunges with elements from warrior postures. As we transition into October, what better way to continue to strengthen the body then honoring the warrior poses and all its forms? So this week, expect Virabhadrasana I or Warrior I & its many variations to make its appearance. This is a powerful pose that not only strengthens but also stretches the shoulders, arms, legs, ankles & back while opening the chest & lungs, hips & psoas muscles. It also encourages good circulation & respiration while improving focus, balance & stability resulting in the entire body to be energized. So join me this week as we continue to find ways to bring calmness to the mind while we strengthen the body & find ease in the breath.

This week’s class schedule:

Tuesday:

Mind Body Soul Yoga

350 Fort Washington Ave., NY, NY 10033

6:45am – 7:45 am: Hatha

Stretch’n Flow Yoga

Keystone Dance Studio @ 252 W. 30th St., #4B, NY, NY 10001

6:30 pm – 7:30pm: Hatha/Vinyasa ($12/cash or PayPal)

Wednesday:

Studio in the Heights

500 Fort Washington Ave., NY, NY 10033

6:15am – 7am: Yoga Express