Issue No.11 - May 2009

As the weather gets warmer, we are drawn more and more to the great outdoors. Sticking to a regular yoga routine during the warmer months can be a bit of a challenge when there are mountains to be climbed, lakes to be kayaked and courses to be golfed! Keep your joints mobile and stay ache and pain free this summer by maintaining a consistent practice. Come Fall, you'll be glad that you did. We've got a great summer sale that will keep you going through the entire summer.

HUGE SUMMER SALE
30 DAY CHALLENGERS
HEALTH TIP
YOUR FEMININE HEART

HUGE SUMMER SALE:

One low price for the entire summer: save $100 and get 3 months of UNLIMITED yoga for the price of 2! Sale ends June 15th - call or visit the studio for more information.

30 DAY CHALLENGERS:

Big congratulations are in order for all of our 30 Day Challengers who dug deep and used their British Bulldog Determination to complete our Spring Challenge:

Terri G, Jen D, Tara S, Kathy D, Tricia B, David B, Larry L, Nar P and Jason L (the lean machine who started late but was determined to complete the challenge on time by doing doubles, triples and yes... even quadruples!)

Your Spring Challenge tanks will be ready soon, wear them with pride!

BYCV HEALTH TIP: 80/20 Breathing:

You may have heard the instructors mention something called "80/20 Breathing". 80/20 is a breathing technique used in the yoga room that, when done correctly, will allow you to maintain proper strength while performing a posture.

How: (try this right now, practice whenever you can) Inhale fully (by your nose) - whatever 100% full lung capacity is to you - but then allow only roughly 20% of the air to escape as you exhale (by your nose). Then, inhale only that same small percentage of your lung capacity back in, to complete the cycle. When you come out of the posture, return to normal breathing.

When: Mostly in backward bends when you are unsupported in space, for example Halfmoon backward bend and Floor Bow. In Camel Pose, you are relatively supported, kneeling on the floor and with your hands on your heels, so we don't need to use the 80/20 technique.

Why: Retaining 80% of the breath creates pneumatic pressure inside your lungs. This internal compression helps to stabilize your torso - specifically the whole spinal area - as you bend, so the body doesn't completely relax. At the same time, you are creating hydraulic pressure in the abdomen (where there are liquids instead of air). With these pneumatic and hydraulic forces, your muscles don't have to sustain the body in these positions entirely on their own.

YOUR FEMININE HEART:

Now available for sale at the studio: "Your Feminine Heart" by Jenica Ashlie (one of our practitioners).

Author and inspirational teacher Jenica Ashlie is a former professional matchmaker and corporate management consultant. In "Your Feminine Heart", she offers the gift of transformation to both men and women who are ready to open their hearts and make authentic connections with others. Her motto is "start with heart, live inside out".

Well Yogi's, you've been practicing for a while now, how great do you feel? Can you even remember how your body felt before you starting your practice? Keep up the hard work and don't stop feeling great!