Yoga at Home with Laura, Self-taught Yogi!

Yoga at Home: Motivations Differ-It's Daily Practice that Counts

I love what yogi Peg Mulqueen says in the column, "Om" in the March 2012 issue of Yoga Journal:  
"So don't let anyone tell you what your yoga should or shouldn't be.  It doesn' matter what you seek when you come to the mat-a cure for back pain, a quiet mind, Madonna's arm muscles.  The important thing is that you're there every day."

I began yoga at age 15 because I was a hopeless and hapless non-athlete!  I saw my future as a couch potato looming on the horizon and I simply could not accept that!  I always had an innate interest in maximizing my good health.  And, it happened that yoga was just starting to spread across the United States. My original motivation was to get and stay in shape-pure and simple.  I was already fairly calm and serene so I wasn't motivated to do yoga to get into a calm zone.  (Although, nowadays as the single mother of a challenging 15-year old son, getting into a calm zone has become one of the curent motivations for my daily practice!) Yet, because yoga is such a holistic practice with benefits to the mind, body, and spirit, over time I could not help but appreciate what I was gaining in addition to staying in shape by toning my body and increasing my flexibility.

Some people may be drawn to yoga to increase their flexibility or strength. Others may want to regain youthful vitality or get the proverbial "yoga butt." And, there are people who just want to increase their patience and discipline.  It doesn't matter if your motivation is mundane and seemingly frivolous (like chiseled arms or a "yoga butt") or if it's more sublime - such as gaining oneness in your mind, body, and spirit.  What happens is that daily practice will reward you with what you seek and much more.  

Mulqueen clearly states, "The important thing is that you're there every day."  I could not agree more. Attending 60 or 90-minute classes two or more times a week can be wonderful.  But, a 20-30 minute practice each day makes yoga part of your lifestyle and outlook toward life.  It's not a class that you attend - it's an empowering, comprehensive perspective that you incorporate into your life.  Therein lies the true power and benefit of a daily yoga practice.

Yours for doing yoga daily for reaping maximum benefits,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga Coach

 

Yoga at Home: More Thoughts on Yoga for Youthful Vitality...

I like what internationally recognized cancer expert, Dr. Bernie Siegel, says about "youth" and living fully:

    "Finally, never forget that the source of the fountain of youth is you.  You are in charge.  You have the power to activate the life and death mechanisms in your own body...Don't wait until you are near death before you awaken to life.  Begin now to live fully, and set the youthing process in motion."

I could not agree more!  And that's what a regular yoga practice done at home can do for you - it sets the youthing process in motion because of the energy, flexibility, and serenity that you gain.  And, the better you feel in your mind, body, and spirit, the more carefree you will become.  You're not going to concern yourself with the passing years - you will be too busy enjoying each day as it comes.

People will comment on the sparkle in your eyes, the bounce in your step, and the radiant glow of your complexion. They will barely notice the few so-called wrinkles (or "crinkles" as the the Evil Queen played by Julia Roberts in the new movie, "Mirror, Mirror" calls  them) that you may think are so painfully obvious.

A person's zest for life(which yoga can help restore if you have lost it!) is what makes them youthful isn't it? Just consider actress Betty White - she's a real hoot and turned 90 years young a few months ago. I don't know if she does yoga but at 90 years of age she  maintains one of the most enviable youthful spirits and attitudes I have ever witnessed!

As Dr. Siegel says, "the fountain of you is you" and a daily yoga practice can help you maintain your personal fountain of youthful vitality in the years and decades to come! 

Yours for maintaining a youthful attitude with yoga at home,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach

 

Yoga at Home: Yoga -Fountain of Youth or Youthful Vitality?

Last year, during a talk I gave about the spiritual beliefs of the peoples of the Caribbean while on an Eastern Caribbean cruise, I touched on the travels of Ponce de Leon and his quest to find the legendary "Fountain of Youth."  De Leon supposedly heard about the fountain of youth from the Caribe Indians who claimed the fountain was located in an area north of present-day Cuba and in a place called BeeMeeNee.

Alas, despite his long search, de Leon never found the fountain of youth.  Instead, he discovered Florida which he claimed for Spain and named it La Florida. At least his search wasn't totally fruitless!

In the centuries that have elapsed between de Leon's travels and now, there have always been people searching for a fountain of youth to stay young forever.  Arguably, Baby Boomers have a particularly avid interest in remaining youthful and avoiding aging. That's why cosmetic surgery is a booming business and wrinkle creams no matter how expensive have a huge market.  And, boomers have taken up various exercise programs including yoga in an effort to stave off the aging progress.

Can yoga be your fountain of youth (whether you are a baby boomer or younger)? Well, I would qualify that...  A few years ago I bought a book called Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth" by Peter Kelder. The book teaches 5 exercises, the Tibetan rites, which are a bit similar to yoga in their execution and in how they boost your energy, flexibility, and serenity in a short time.  I added a set of the Tibetan rites to my yoga routine and they work quite well together.

The only dispute I have with the Tibetan rites is as that I am skeptical of the reported claims of restored youth touted by the author Peter Kelder and by some practitioners of these poses. The claims aren't limited to feeling more energetic and vital.  Instead, they assert that gray hair can revert to its original color and that some individuals 65 and older start having the appearance of someone 40 or even younger. I have heard similar, exagerrated claims made by practitioners of yoga.

Can yoga restore your youthful vitality?  Yes, indeed.  In fact, in my book, Yoga at Home:  Gain Energy, Flexibility, and Serenity in 20-30 Minutes a Day, I state that the "Y" in yoga stands for the "youthing" you gain from the practice.  And, by "youthing" I mean a feeling of rejuvenation and youthful energy regardless of your chronological age.  A regular yoga practice enhances your flexibility and energy.  And, when you stand tall with an improved posture and walk with grace, you will feel younger and possibly appear younger than your chronological age.  However, if you're 55, it's VERY unlikely that you will look 25 or even 35.

In my opinion, however, the principal aim of a yoga practice is in how you FEEL. Hopefully, you will sizzle with zeal and delight as you go through your day and embrace life with everything you've got! Such qualities are usually associated with people's younger years.  Do I still look 25 decades later...?  Aah - not at all.  But, do I feel 25- yes I can still vouch for that - I honestly do.  And yoga has made this possible. So whereas it's silly to claim that yoga will be a fountain of "youth" for you,  it can definitely be a fountain of youthful vitality!

Yours for youthful vitality with yoga,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach

 

 

Yoga at Home: Avoid Feeling Older than You Are! - Dahn Yoga Guest Post

Today, I received a guest post from a representative of Dahn Yoga, a group that teaches a Korean form of yoga. I agree with her advice.  I would only say that instead of "avoiding feeling older than you are," yoga enables you to feel eternally youthful!  I know I don't look 25, that would be a miracle-slightly more than three decades later! But, I certainly DO feel 25 - no joke!  And yoga, has been a major contributing factor.

Here is the article verbatim, contributed from Dahn Yoga and its accompanying photo:

"How to avoid feeling older than you are 

Growing old can make a person feel down. No one likes to feel like their time has passed them by. Yet the more you dwell on these kinds of ideas, the older and more decrepit you feel. As soon as you start recognizing your age you truly are old.

However, there are many ways to get around these problems and make yourself feel young again. Age doesn't have to be a drag. In fact, individuals who take steps to preserve their physical health may find that growing old doesn't have to mean physical disability. Meanwhile, the experience gained throughout the years may come to seem like a benefit.

Exercise is one of the most important things a person can do to maintain their youthful enthusiasm. You don't have to start going out and running marathons or anything like that, but finding ways to get some physical activity into every day is one of the best ways to keep the muscles tight and the blood flowing.

Even simple things like going for a walk with your partner or spending some time in the garden count toward daily exercise. Furthermore, activities like these are low-impact, and therefore are less like to take a toll on the joints, which is a common problem that makes people feel older than they really are.

Yoga may be another way to keep the body moving and feeling young as you start to get older. This exercise involves stretching and mindfulness, two activities that can preserve the body and the mind at the same time. Again, as with moderate everyday activities, yoga is low-impact, so individuals with joint pain don't have to worry about it aggravating their condition.

So exercise is the best way to keep the body in a youthful state, but what about the mind? Even people who are in good physical health can experience cognitive impairments as they age. Few things make a person feel old quite like forgetfulness. Fortunately, there are many ways a person can keep their mind sharp.

One way may be to start a hobby. This is a part of growing old that many people overlook. However, few things quicken the pace of cognitive decline quite like sitting around in front of the TV. People who have things to do and interests to develop are much more likely to maintain good mental function.

A hobby can include painting, picking up a new instrument, learning a new language or even something simple like doing the daily crossword puzzle. The important thing is to have something do every day. Ideally, it should be something you enjoy and look forward to.

Meditation is another great way to avoid cognitive impairments with age. The practice helps individuals practice clearing their mind and paying attention to specific thoughts. This can lead to better control of ideas over time.

No one wants to get old, but unfortunately, it will happen even to the best of us. The key is to age gracefully and with dignity. By paying attention to your physical and mental health and taking steps to improve yourself every day, you can accomplish this." 

Dahn Yoga is one of the largest yoga and tai chi companies in the world with its own unique style and brand of yoga.  <a href=”http://www.dahnyogaor.com”>Dahn Yoga</a> is rooted in the rich history of an ancient Asian mind-body practice, Sun Do, and in the wisdom of the Chun Bu Kyung."

 

Thank you Dahn Yoga for your guest post.  I intend to stay youthful with yoga!

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach

 

 

 

Yoga at Home for Beginners: Yoga and Musing on Madonna's Moves at the Superbowl

As I mentioned in my blog post yesterday, I'm really not a football watcher and I have to admit that what draws most of my attention to the Superbowl is the half-time music show.  I look forward to it every single year.  And, I was curious to see what Madonna was going to come up with in her performance.

Dramatic and dynamic as ever, Madonna had dozens of dancers dressed in Roman/Egyptian (?) costumes kick off the show and accompany her as she sang and moved to some of her classic songs.  Granted, Madonna has been not only a singer but a professional dancer for decades.  Because of her fame and fortune, no doubt she can afford the best personal dance coaches and athletic trainers. However, just as the Giants have included yoga in their training for the past 11 years, Madonna has been practicing yoga for years...and it shows!  She maintains an enviable youthful vigor and physique.

As one writer pointed out, though, Madonna did not start practicing yoga to just stay fit and to get a "cute butt." Her yoga practice has brought benefits far beyond that.  In her words, Madonna has said,  "I want to be liberated from my ego, less concerned about what other people think of me." She also said,"I remember that I couldn't sit still for a second. I was always on the move. I was often pretty aggressive, wild and unpredictable, but all that's changed."

Does Madonna's practice of yoga mean her performance was perfect?  No- I saw her briefly lose her footing. But, it does seem that she was having a good time performing - she was totally in the moment and in her element.  In my opinion, that is something that yoga helps to enhance. And, it's a benefit that not only celebrities can enjoy, but one that you can enjoy as well.

Yours for enjoying innumerable benefits from yoga,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, The Beginners' Home Yoga Coach

Yoga at Home for Beginners: Yoga's Role in the Superbowl and for You?

Well, I must admit, I am not an avid football fan.  The only game I watch (sort of) is the Superbowl so I don't appear un-American!  In all candor, the half-time music show attracts most of my attention during this annual event.  I do not favor either team this year -although I guess since my college alma mater is in Massachussetts, I lean a tad more toward the New England Patriots!  But, on the other hand, maybe I should support the Giants for reasons you'll see below.

But, to be fair to both sides, in the above photos you see pink (?) yoga mats for each team.  Yes, you can buy such mats - they're easy to find on Google or Amazon. No, I haven't bought one - they don't appeal to me.  But, these mats may motivate you!  But what most intrigues me is the behind the scene, supportive role that yoga may play at the Superbowl!  

In June 2011, New England Patriots player Devin McCourty stated that "If you think it’s hot outdoors, you should try spending 90 minutes inside a 105-degree studio performing yoga exercises. That’s what I’ve been doing twice a week as part of my offseason workout regimen," McCourty writes. "Talk about an intense workout. You sweat from the time you walk in the door to the time you leave. A few players I know said they had tried hot yoga and that it helped improve their flexibility while flushing out their systems, so I thought I would try it. I can do most of the poses, but I’m not as flexible in my upper body because I’m so muscular. Sometimes I just have to stand there and watch everyone else." 

The Giants as a team are even more involved in yoga - they've had yoga instructor Gwen Lawrence helping them enhance their pre-and in-season workouts for the past 11 years!  Lawrence  specializes in various forms of yoga including Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hatha, and Iyengar.  She says, 

photo via flickr

“My philosophy is, strength plus flexibility equals power on the field.  Doing these moves not only keeps players less injury prone – because a tight, rigid body is more likely to crack and break – but they also translate into power.

“We’re working on mental toughness, too,” she said.  “Sometimes you have players with pre-game anxiety, and the breathing techniques they learn in yoga can help them cope.

 

Hmm - will their yoga practice as a team give the Giants and additional edge this evening?  It's food for thought.

I don't usually talk about athletes and yoga because I am all about motivating "regular" people to practice yoga.  But, here's what we can recognize from football players' practice of yoga - if it can help them become more flexible, less injury prone, and able to cope with anxiety, can't it help you do the same? 

Yours for energy, flexibility, and serenity through yoga,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners Home Yoga Coach

 

Yoga at Home: Yoga Tip for Maintaining Your Motivation

The shoulder stand pose, shown above, is one of the more challenging yoga poses that I do daily.  It takes some focus and caution to enter, hold in place, and exit this pose.  Plus, I always make sure that if I switch my yoga practice to the afternoon or evening (which I sometimes do on weekends), that I don't do this pose until at least 3 hours after a meal to avoid interfering with digestion.

Some people tell me that they find it difficult to keep themselves motivated to do a regular yoga pracitce. One technique or tip that I have found helpful when on occasion, my motivation starts to lag is to go back and re-read the benefits of the different poses I do. I included key details on the benefits of each yoga pose presented in my book, Yoga at Home:  Gain Energy, Flexibility, and Serenity in 20-30 Minutes a Day, not only to explain what the poses do but also as inspiration and motivation. Just a few minutes of perusing the details of a pose are enough to inspire me to re-ignite my motivation.

Spend a few minutes reading the following 13 key benefits that you gain from doing the shoulder stand. Aren't they amazing!  Do you really want to miss out on them?  Especially the last one?!! I bet it will prompt you to don your yoga attire, roll out your mat, and begin a yoga pose right now!

Key benefits from the Shoulder Stand:

1. Benefits and energizes the entire body.
2. Massages and stimulates the spinal column.
3. Increases blood supply to brain to increase energy, tones the nervous system, and can improve mental faculties such as the memory.
4. Stimulates the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and enriches the pituitary gland.
5. This inversion repositions organs and glands into their proper place by countering the downward pull that gravity puts on the body.
6. Enhances circulation and helps to relieve strain placed on blood vessels when the body is upright for long periods. May alleviate varicose veins.
7. Can help regulate weight because the pose helps stimulate the thyroid gland.
8. Strengthens back and can build up chest.
9. Can eliminate headaches.
10. Stretches and strengthens shoulder and back muscles.
11. Stretches muscles and ligaments of the cervical region (the top part of the spine that consists of the seven vertebrae of the neck and the disks that separate them).
12. Strengthens entire nervous system.
13. Stimulates sexual glands and organs and boosts the libido. 

 Yours for enjoying daily yoga practice at home,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, The Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach

 

 

 

Yoga at Home for Beginners: Why Yoga is so Fantastic & Sage Wisdom from the Sixties!

Photo printed with permission by Marci Zaroff, www.fasethefuture.com

Eco-fashion trailblazer, Marci Zaroff, shown above beaming in a meditative pose, epitomizes, in my opinion on showing how fantastic you feel if you engage in a regular yoga practice. In the 1969 edition of "Yoga-28 Day Exercise Plan," yoga instructor and author Richard Hittleman shared the following viewpoint:

"Interest in yoga is at an all time high-and with good reason.  During the past decade millions of Americans have come to recognize that the benefits of physical yoga are very great. (Note from Laura:  I didn't think "millions of Americans were doing yoga back then!)  Not only do they far surpass those of any system of self-improvement for the body (calisthenics, salon programs, jogging, isometrics, competitive sports), but they extend also to the emotional and mental aspects of the individual. Yoga is concerned with the health and beauty of the organism as a unified whole."

Yes, indeed, I have experienced an enhanced sense of wholeness in my mind, body, and spirit through my daily practice of yoga. And, this has occurred when I have practiced yoga focusing on oneness and really being present every moment of my practice with how I felt in my limbs, muscles, ligaments, and joints.  

A few weeks ago, the media reported the results of recent research done on a number of people with back pain.  Three groups were tested over a 12-week period - a control group that did nothing, a group of people who did yoga, and a group of people who did some other kind of stretching.  Reportedly, the results of the research revealed that the group of people practicing yoga and other kinds of stretching had similar results in alleviating their back pain.  However, what seemed to be ommitted from the study, I believe, was a comparison of the overall well-being of all the participants who did yoga versus those who did some other form of stretching.  I strongly suspect that those who did yoga would have not only alleviated their back pain, but have also felt more blissful, energized, and serene. But, I'd like to know from those of you who read this blog, what's your opinion on this?

Maybe I am biased (well at least slightly), but I think at least that the gentle form of yoga I practice and that Richard Hittlma taught is especially fantastic for you because it works you from the inside out and the intense focus on your movements results in amazing energy, flexibility, and serenity!

Yours for feeling fantastically whole with yoga, 

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach

Yoga at Home for Beginners: Stay Relaxed During Hectic Holidays-Do Yoga!

You CAN Stay Relaxed & Serene This Holiday Season! - Press Release-November 2011

“Real, regular” people can de-stress during the holidays by practicing gentle but powerful yoga in the privacy and convenience of their own home! 

As we enter the busy holiday season, many people experience considerable stress because of the lack of time and money to get “it” all done and the pressures to produce a perfect, idyllic experience with family and friends. The extra shopping, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining we do can lead to depression, sleep disturbances, and lethargy. But, a gentle yoga practice done in the privacy, convenience, and low expense of your own home can enable you to stay relaxed, serene, and full of energy in the midst of all the holiday activities. 

Self-taught yogi Laura Venecia Rodriguez, who has been practicing yoga for 40 years, recently released her first book, Yoga at Home: Gain Energy, Flexibility, and Serenity in 20-30 Minutes a Day. Half-instructional, half-motivational, Yoga at Home includes easy yoga breathing techniques such as the alternate nostril breath and dreamlike, slow-motion poses like neck rolls and the backward bend that take only a few minutes and enable you to stay relaxed and serene no matter how hectic your life is over the holidays.

Furthermore, “yoga is NOT just for the elite corps of supermodels, celebrities, athletes, or super-flexible instructors,whom many of us could never match in ability,” asserts Laura. Gentle, slow yoga can be practiced at home by virtually ANYONE who wants to feel wonderful and stay calm and relaxed during the upcoming busy holiday season.

Although yoga books abound, Yoga at Home is likely the only one you will find authored by a real, regular person who considers herself the ultimate klutz! Written in a simple, easy-to-follow format, and laid-back style, Laura’s book makes yoga accessible to the absolute beginner who may have felt that yoga was beyond his/her reach.

Yoga at Home gives the reader step-by-step instructions for 20+ yoga poses, tips on how to keep yogafun and avoid injuries, as well as creative techniques to gain maximum benefits from a yoga practice. Laura proves you don’t have to do the complex, pretzel-like poses you find in magazines, or the super-intense forms of yoga often taught in yoga studios, to gain tremendous benefits from this 4,000-5,000 year-old practice.

Check out - Yoga At Home: Gain Energy, Flexibility, and Serenity in 20-30 minutes a Day

Laura Venecia Rodriguez

190+ pages; $12.95

Published May 2011 by Awaken the Wisdom Within Communications, LLC

ISBN # 9781453898369

Available from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1453898360 or at https://www.createspace.com/3493692

Yours for staying relaxed and serene in the holidays ahead,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, The Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach 

 

 

Yoga at Home for Beginners: Yoga Practice can Lead to a Decrease in Medication!

Just the other day I was talking to the mother of one of my son's friends who dates back to pre-school years. We hadn't spoken in a couple of years.  She told me that she had been thinking of me the past few weeks because last August she bought my book, Yoga at Home, and had recently begun her yoga practice.  She shared her delight with her home practice saying she had set up a special yoga space in her home.  And, to her great joy, because of her yoga practice, she was no longer suffering from migraine headaches and that the quality of her sleep had greatly improved.

What a welcome testimonial about the power of a gentle yoga practice! I personally have been fortunate in that the number of times I have had to use medications in my life has been almost nil.  So, I cannot personally attest to yoga's benefits in helping to lower one's dependence on medication.  However, physician Timothy McCall says in his book Yoga as Medicine that "it is not uncommon when people begin to practice yoga regularly that their need for medication decreases."

This is NOT to say that you have the green light to just any medication at any time. However, I do believe that as you practice yoga consistently over time, your ability to read your body and be attuned to its messages increases. As McCall also says, "The more you do yoga, the more you'll have access to that intuitive senses of what's good for you and what isn't."  And, I would add, "you discover what you need and what you don't require to feel your best and remain healthy." You may well find that you can decrease or even eliminate your use of medications.  Of course, always check first with your licensed medical practitioner before making any major changes in your medical regime to be safe.

Yours for reaping untold benefits from practicing yoga,

Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the beginner's yoga at home coach