Saturday, October 3, 2015

Meet Insight Timer


Meet Insight Timer! This amazing little app for my Iphone that has helped me to be more consistent with my meditation practice. It's fun to use and helps me to feel more connected to the meditation community. Even though it has only been a short time I think it's helping.

The icon on my phone is a pretty little brass bowl. It invites you to mediate just by looking at it. When you press the icon the screen below appears. It allows you to choose a meditation and it tells you how many people are meditating with you using this app at that very moment. A world map shows you where they are. It's really very cool.




The next screen helps you to choose and start your meditation.


One of the things I like the best about this app is that it counts for you. Just enter the length of the meditation you want to do (remember that even 2 to 3 minutes is beneficial), press start and the app minds the time for you. See screen below

Another bell sound tells you that your meditation is over. Of course if you choose to continue just keep going. Yay!

I really enjoy using this app for my meditatiosn and I hope you will download it and give it a try. I'm hoping that it will help to be more consistant with my meditation practice. Maybe it will help you too. BTW (by the way) IT'S FREE!!!!!!!!!!.

Namaste!!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Meet My Favorite Paschimottanasanas-Both The Posture and My Cat


So who names her cat Paschimottanasana? I do. In the past I have named most of my pets with a Paul McCartney/Beatles reference. There was Mac the dog whose AKC name was James Paul McCartney Regan, Then there was Jude the Cat. I had Paulie the turtle and Paulie the fish and of course I now have Rigby my beloved Lhasa Apso who is my yogi dog. He enjoys and is a fixture in my H'Om studio Yoga classes.

Meet Paschimottanasana! She is a beautiful cat but she sure is independent. I guess you need to be with a name like that. LOL I decided to veer away from the Beatles theme and named her after my very favorite yoga posture. Paschimottanasana is a full seated forward bend. I have always been able to find my peace in this posture.

Like other forward bends, Paschimottanasana provides many physical benefits such as the stretching of the lower spine, pelvis and hamstring muscles. In addition it helps to stretch the lower back, kidneys and adrenal glands. This makes Paschimottanasana a full body stretch of the back body and compression of the front body. I have found that it has a profound calming effect on my mind when I do this posture. This is the reason I love it so much

I sit with my spine straight and legs out in front of me. I flex my feet with my toes pointing towards the sky. I like to roll to one side to remove the flesh under my seating bones and then roll to the other side and do the same. I like to feel my seating bones on the ground beneath me.I reach my arms straight up by my ears and lift though the spine on an inhalation. On an exhalation I hinge at the hips reaching towards my toes. I allow my hands to touch the ground or on my legs in a place where I can bend my elbows. This allows some space between my shoulders and my ears. I hold this posture for 5-10 breaths and even more if I am feeling like it. Please feel free to bend you knees if you have tight hamstring muscles should you decide to give this posture a try. 


So meet my two favorite Paschimottanasanas. The Posture and my cat! Much love!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Leaving On A Jet Plane


I am so looking forward to visiting Kerry on Thursday. I miss her so much and this is going to be the first time I've been to Kansas to see her since she moved there. We will be spending a little time there and then we are taking off to what Kerry calls "the promised land". That would be Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. I love our road trips and I can't wait to hike and spend time with my awesome daughter. I'm sure we will be taking lots of pictures and I will post some when I get back. Until then......Namaste!!! 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Passive Aggressive Hippie



LOL I totally love this. You want a peace of me? If so join me for a gentle yoga class. You may not get a piece of me but you may find some peace. Much love from your yoga teacher hippie. 

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Yoga Can Cure a Lot Of What Ails The 50-year-old Body

I don't know about you but I'm not in my 20's anymore. I'm not even in my 40's anymore. As we go down the road of life we are all are going in the same direction. We are all getting older. As we age into our 50's, 60's and more we need to be careful about the type of exercise we choose for our wellness plans. Our mind may feel like we are 3o years old but our bodies? Not so much. As the article below shows us yoga can be the answer to some of the stresses of aging such as arthritis, stiffness of the joints and osteoporosis and this is not even mentioning the mental benefits which are many. Click on the link below, read this amazing piece and then call me. :)

Yoga can cure a lot of what ails the 50-year-old body - The Anniston Star: Life & Arts

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Posting My Scheudle

I know that sometimes people might not see the schedule that is posted on the other page so I will post it here.

MONDAY- Gentle yoga 7:30 AM Juliana's Art of Yoga.
                    Gentle yoga 6:30 PM H'Om Studio (This is the studio I have in my home)

TUESDAY-Gentle yoga 11:00 AM Yoga Source

WEDNESDAY-Gentle flow 7:30 AM Juliana's Art of Yoga
                            Hatha yoga 10:00 AM H'Om Studio

FRIDAY-Hatha yoga 10:00 AM H'Om Studio

SUNDAY-Gentle Yoga 9:00 AM H'Om Studio

I teach private sessions for students that are either beginners, injured or want hands on assistance in most postures. The hands on adjustments allow the student to go deeper into the poses or help to modify postures specific to the student. 

If you have any questions or would like further information about my H'Om studio contact me via email, cell phone or text. 
email-claudiasyoga@gmail.com
cell-954-815-8727

Much love! 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Trying Something New


This week I took my very first paddle board yoga class. I was nervous to begin with and it took me a little time to be comfortable on the board. After a while I was doing postures that I never thought I would ever be able to do on the water. 

Here I am in Camel pose


This is boat pose. Very appropriate 

I did my best in modified Warrior 1


I love backbending so I was happy to be in bow pose.


We all welcomed Savasana


My BFF Ruth and I were so happy we went together. 

Yes, I fell in the water a few times but had a fantastic time. Don't let your life pass you by. Live big and try something new. Much love to all.





Sunday, May 31, 2015

Want To Age Gracefully? Yoga Is The Way!

Yoga is for everybody. Old and young, male and female, thin and curvy. It's never too late to start a rejuvenating yoga practice. Click on the link below to read about how aging gracefully can be achieved by practicing yoga. Please check my schedule page and see if there is a class that would work for your schedule and start with my gentle yoga classes. You won't be sorry. You will be graceful. Much love to all!

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17816/8-ways-yoga-helps-mature-adults-age-more-gracefully.html

Friday, May 22, 2015

Trikonasana aka Triangle Pose



This posture is called Trikonasana or Triangle pose. Start with your feet about 3-4 feet apart with your legs straight but not locked. Turn your right toes towards the right wall and the left toes slightly inward. Lift your arms to shoulder height parallel to the floor with the palms facing down. Reach your upper body to the right as your hips move slightly to the left. Do not over do this movement. Cartwheel your right arm down to your shin or block. Please keep in mind that most people who reach to the floor are moving their bodies out of correct alignment. Lift your left arm towards the sky in line with your right arm. The arms are stretching away from each other and the head turns up if your balance allows. If not, look down. Hold for 4-5 breaths. Repeat on the other side.

This pose helps the flexibility of the spine. It can also stretch the shoulders, help with neck pain, lower back pain. It also strengthens your legs, ankles and abdominals.

If you are just beginning your practice or have issues with balance do this posture against a wall for support and proper alignment.

Happy triangling. Much love!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Are You Too Old For Yoga?

You are never too old to start a yoga practice. In fact it makes aging easier and less painful. The link below features 6 postures that I include in most of my classes. Please click on the link and enjoy these postures. If you have any questions, please contact me through this website or using the contact me information. Much love and light!

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/yoga-for-seniors

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Gentle Yoga Can Help You Lose Weight...Seriously

Gentle Yoga can help you lose weight not only by moving your body but it can also help you to be more aware of your food choices. Yoga teaches us to be more mindful about making healthier choices in general throughout our day. Click on the link below to learn more about how gentle yoga can help you every day. It's awesome stuff. Check my schedule for class times.

http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/surprising-way-gentle-yoga-can-help-you-lose-serious-weight

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Get Happier As You Grow Older

Below is a link to an article that offers a few tips on becoming happier as you grow older. We are all traveling down the same road (I don't know anyone getting younger) so consider some of these things to increase your peace of mind as each day passes. Much love to you all.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18111/how-to-get-happier-as-you-get-older-infographic.html

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Yoga Helps Older Adults Battle Depression and Anxiety

We all have bouts of depression and/or anxiety at one point or another in our lives. As we age these feelings can become more intense. Yoga and meditation are slow and gentle ways of helping us to get through these tough times.

Click on the link below to find out more about how this ancient practice can help us through the aging process. Please feel free to share this link with anyone you know that might be in need of some relief from mental stress. Much love from me to you and yours.

http://time.com/3834499/yoga-elderly-depression/?xid=fbshare

Friday, April 24, 2015

Chair Yoga Or Not


Did you know that yoga can be done sitting in a chair? This is a wonderful thing for people who are stuck behind a desk all day or are unable to find their way down to the floor for mat yoga. The benefits of this ancient practice are the same whether you are sitting, standing or lying down. You can gain strength, you can get a wonderful stretch, you can gain flexibility and these are just the physical aspects of the practice. The mental benefits are amazing as well. Yoga can teach you focus and mindfulness. It can help with concentration and it also teaches us to quiet the constant chatter of the mind. For seniors, yoga can assist with some of the stresses of aging and can help us to grow older with grace and gratitude. Yoga is for EVERYONE!!! :)



Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Benefits of Yoga

Here are just a few benefits of practicing yoga. Not only are there physical benefits but there are many mental benefits as well. Come and practice gentle yoga with me. You will love it. Namaste!

Friday, February 6, 2015

FRIDAYS ARE BACK, BABY!!!!

Hi Everyone,

I have put Friday morning classes back on the schedule. This Gentle Yoga class will begin at 10:00 AM and will be held at my H'Om Studio. I am very excited to be teaching this class again and I look forward to seeing you soon. If you need the address or more information please contact me at claudiasyoga@gmail.com. Namaste, Baby!!