Shariyoga

New Three Week Sessions starting this week

Shari Gass — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:01:49 +0000

Hi Yogi Pals,

Happy Spring!

I will be offering three - week yoga sessions beginning next week. Please go to my schedule page to view specifics.

Flow: Morton Center Thursday @ 12:00-1:15pm (May 6-20)

** This class has been added, it is not in the brochure!

Please share this information with anyone who might be interested!

Peace and Joy,

Shari

P.S. Minimum participants are required for each class.

Spring is here!

Shari Gass — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:16:04 +0000

Welcome Spring! What does spring mean to you? – No more coats, buying Blossom Tickets, cleaning out the closets, just getting outside….. Maybe you can think of this fresh new season as a time for change. We think of New Years as the time to make resolutions but spring can be a time of renewal as well. How will you ring in spring?

Half The Sky Event Thursday, March 4th at 7:30pm East Side 9

Shari Gass — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:07:05 +0000

I recently read the book, Half the Sky, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It follows the stories of extraordinary women around the world as they struggle to overcome oppression. Kristof and WuDunn focus on three major problems facing women: sex trafficking, maternal mortality and violence against women. They argue that empowering women is the key to alleviating poverty and uplifting communities in developing countries. Half The Sky has been featured on Oprah, CNN and Dateline NBC. It is an amazing book that will inspire you to join in the plight of our sisters around the world. We are truly all connected and can reach out and help from right here in West Lafayette, IN.

Please pass the word about this event.

Half the Sky Event: Thurs. March 4th at 7:30 pm. EastSide 9.

http://www.gqti.com/halfsky.aspx

Peace and Joy,

Shari

Half the Sky Event

NCM Fathom and CARE are partnering again for a one night event inspired Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times bestseller, “Half The Sky.” The Event will feature a musical performance by Michael Franti, the debut of Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone’s new short feature “Woineshet” and will conclude with a panel discussion about various topics and issues facing women around the world. The panel would include Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone. Also with appearances by Michael Franti, India Arie Maria Bello, Diane Birch, Dr. Helene Gayle, Nicholas Kristof, Sarah, Duchess of York and Angelique Kidjo. The event is being captured Live on February 11^th out of the Skirball Center in New York and will be played back on March 4^th 7:30pm (local time) at the theatres (fully pre-recorded) to celebrate International Women’s Day. Talent subject to change.

Tickets are on sale NOW for “Half the Sky” on March 4 th at 7:30 pm (local time).

Event details:

The event would be the world premiere of ‘Woineshet,” a short feature by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone, followed by a panel discussion and appearances that would include by Michael Franti, India Arie Maria Bello, Diane Birch, Dr. Helene Gayle, Nicholas Kristof, Sarah, Duchess of York and Angelique Kidjo.

“Woineshet” tells the story of a brave teenager from a small village in Ethiopia who, along with her family, fought back against a brutal local tradition of rape and forced marriage. Woineshet Zebene was just 13 when four men hacked down the front door of her home, kidnapped her and took her to a nearby shack where she was raped and beaten. The leader of the group was arrested and then promptly set free - only to attack Woineshet again. He tried to force her to marry him, since at the time Ethiopian law stated that a man could not be prosecuted for violating a woman or girl whom he later married. Instead of giving in to such a marriage, Woineshet took a huge risk and vowed to prosecute her rapist. Although her case has not yet been settled, Woineshet’s extraordinary courage and resolve is an inspiration to human rights advocates in Ethiopia and around the world.

Shari Gass — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:39:40 +0000

Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. -Sheng-Yen

Dare to do Nothing!

Shari Gass — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:48:34 +0000

I’ve been teaching a Restorative Yoga Class this winter. I decided to take my own advice and include restorative poses in my practice on a more regular basis. It really is a challenge to turn everything off and do nothing for ten or twenty minutes. But, I’m discovering this truly is yoga dessert! When I’m finished I feel refreshed, ready to go, and more open. We can all use a break from our busy lives so give the Floating Body Rest a try: Recline over rolled blankets placed under your neck, upper back and behind your knees. Make sure you are comfortable before you settle in. If needed, readjust the blankets to just the right size. Bring your arms out at a T, shoulders on floor between the top and middle blanket rolls. Stay as long as you like! I dare you to do nothing. Enjoy!

Thank You to our Generous Yoga Community!

Shari Gass — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:43:49 +0000

I’ve always thought that there’s something special about the people who are drawn to yoga. On the spur of the moment, I decided to offer a class to raise money for Haiti Relief. I announced this Tuesday in my McAllister classes and sent a few e-mails to some private students. Saturday morning at McAllister, we had a room filled with very generous yogis. We set an intention of compassion and we raised a nice sum of money which will all be donated for Haiti relief. We are indeed blessed to have such a giving yoga community. Namaste! Shari

Teen Yoga Classes

Bill — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:25:13 +0000

When you think of your yoga practice do you wish you would have discovered it years ago? As I continue to discover the gifts of my practice, I think about how yoga helps me feel grounded in my life, and increases the awareness about my body and breath. I have learned to accept the performance and appearance of my body each time I come to the mat, and sincerely enjoy the peace I am able to create. I know how powerful these gifts can be off the mat as well.

I think how wonderful it would have been to have some of this peace, awareness, and acceptance during my teen years. This has inspired me to offer classes just for teens (age 15 and up) where they can explore yoga with their peers. This has been a wonderful experience for me, I love their enthusiasm and energy.

This class is great for teens looking for an alternative to traditional sports or as a way to enhance their performance and stay injury free. The mental benefits that yoga offers – managing stressful situations, learning to stay present, and experiencing healthy body awareness – can help them to navigate through life.

Hopefully, in addition to having more flexible bodies, they will have a mantra that says, stay with thoughts that serve you.

This session has begun but new students are welcome to join at a pro-rated fee.

Find Your Mountain

Shari Gass — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:54:27 +0000

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)- Standing tall and strong. We can practice this pose just about anywhere, while standing in line at the grocery store, while chatting on the phone, and of course as a part of any yoga pose. This pose represents both physical and inner strength. When you practice this pose you can feel your firm connection to the earth and feel grounded.

Right now I’m drawing on my inner strength, my inner mountain, as my daughter goes off to Prague for a semester. Just as the old adage goes, “As the foundation is laid, so the walls of the house will rise”, we’ve given her a solid base and she is rising.

Namaste, Shari

Upside of Winter

Shari Gass — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:33:41 +0000

Last week I taught a class focusing on countering the winter blues. After the class my daughter pointed out that not everyone hates winter like I do. She’s right! So I decided to teach a class focused on the positive things about winter. Here is my heartfelt effort on winter’s upside.

It’s a good time to explore slower paced styles of yoga; yin and restorative. Because outside activities are limited, it gives you more inside time to devote to your yoga practice, catch up on the books and movies you’ve been meaning to read, call the old friend you haven’t talked to in awhile, try a new recipe, clean out the cluttered closets… Some of these may sound more fun than others. Such is the cycle of life. Soon spring will be here and you might be wishing for a slower pace. So be in the moment and enjoy what you have right now.

Yoga for Winter Wellness

Bill — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:42:33 +0000

Is your “Winter Cup” half full or half empty? Whatever your opinion of winter, it’s here. For many people, the lack of sunlight and the cold can lead to the blues. This would be a good time to go into the “yoga toolbox” and bring out the backbends and inversions. These types of asanas can help to keep feelings of sadness at bay. Try Supported Bridge pose or Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose, or a more active practice with sun salutations that include backbends and additional inversions.

Another negative about winter is that along with less daylight there are increased numbers of colds and flu. The yoga remedy – incorporate more heart-opening poses, like cobra, fish, and bridge, into your practice. According to Dr. Hema Sundarman, and integrative physician, backbends stimulate blood flow to the thymus, an organ nestled behind the breastbone that is instrumental in the growth of T-cells, the immune systems’ front line. Her recommendation is to do all three poses once daily for prevention, or twice daily if you feel a cold or flue creeping on. Doing these poses will only take you a few minutes and in addition to fighting off sickness you’ll also keep your spine healthy. For more information go to winter wellness. And stay tuned for the good news on winter!