A documentary about the science of yoga will be filmed in Cleveland! Producers are looking for 9 people to dedicate themselves to an intense yogic lifestyle for 108 days.  Participants will adhere to a strict schedule of yoga practice, service, and study.  Yogis will be provided food and housing, but there is no pay.  You must be able to commit to all 108 days.


For more information, or to audition, visit 216 Om.

I just received notice of an upcoming FREE telesummit that will take place September 12-17, 2011.  The telesummit will feature 14 of the world's leading experts in yoga for women.  I'm signed up.

For more information, or to enroll, visit http://www.divinefeminineyogatelesummit.com/

Here's an article from the Sun Sentinel on the benefits of yoga on children with autism:

Yoga Creates Calm for Children with Autism

Below is the link to an interview with Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression.  The founder of LifeForce Yoga, Amy teaches how yoga can help alleviate depression and anxiety.  

"Don't Worry, Be Happy:  How Yoga Helps Combat Depression."

I'm a HUGE fan of restorative yoga, and I really wish more people knew about the practice.  In the U.S., yoga has gotten this reputation as an extremely athletic pursuit, and the softer side of  yoga is often overlooked.  If you get the chance, treat yourself to a restorative class, especially if you tend toward more energetic activities.  It may not be what you're used to, but I bet you'll find it's exactly what you need.

Here's an article on the benefits of restorative yoga, particularly if you're a runner:
"Yoga Minus All that Pesky Effort," from The Vancouver Sun

also see:
"Restorative Yoga," by Claudia Cummins from Yoga Journal

"When his mind, intellect, and self (ahamkara) are under control, free from restless desire, so that they rest in the spirit within, a man becomes a Yukta -- one in communion with God.  A lamp does not flicker in a place where no winds blow; so it is with a yogi, who controls his mind, intellect and self, being absorbed in the spirit within him.  When the restlessness of the mind, intellect and self is stilled through the practice of Yoga, the yogi by the grace of the Spirit within himself finds fulfillment.  Then he knows the joy eternal which is beyond the pale of the senses which his reason cannot grasp.  He abides in this reality and moves not therefrom.  He has found the treasure above all others.  There is nothing higher than this.  He who has achieved it, shall not be moved by the greatest sorrow.  This is the real meaning of Yoga -- a deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow."
                        --from the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita as quoted in Light on Yoga, p. 19


By Jennifer Clawson, RYT

In Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar titles his introduction, "What is Yoga?"  One of the hardest things about teaching yoga is explaining exactly what it is.  Every answer I've ever given always seems inadequate.  It's easier for me to explain what it is not (an exercise program; a religion) than to explain what it truly is.  The idea that yoga is "a deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow" resonates with me.  Most yoga practitioners come to yoga seeking relief from mental stress or physical pain and discomfort.  We seek to soothe something within us that is broken.  We seek to be delivered from pain and sorrow through our practice.

By Jennifer Clawson, RYT
Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar is a classic yoga text.  Now over 90 years old, Iyengar is a living legend in the yoga world.  Light on Yoga is THE text that every serious yogi should have.

I've had this book for years, and have turned to it often for Iyengar's demonstration of and insight on just about every asana known to man.  I can't believe that after all of these years, I'm just now reading Iyengar's introduction to the book.

In a way, this speaks to how we tend to practice yoga in the west.  It's all about asana.  Everyone wants to master the physical postures, while halfway acknowledging that yoga is not about the body.  It's one thing to say that yoga isn't about the body, but another thing to practice that belief consistently.  We still focus an inordinate amount of attention on the body.  

So, tonight, settling into a bout of insomnia, I took my copy of Light on Yoga from the shelf, originally intending to find some nugget I hadn't learned yet on how to fall asleep.  Instead, I found the introduction, which fills in so many of the holes I've been missing all of these years.  Since there is SO much to talk about, I will not even attempt to put it into one post.  So, watch for a series of posts on the subject here.

MP3 players have made it even easier to follow a guided yoga practice at home or on the road.  However, it's hard to do a yoga practice without getting tangled up in your earbuds!  The Audio Yoga Mat from Gaiam promises to solve that problem.  Plug your player into the built-in speaker, and practice with your favorite audio  teaching.  

What will they think of next? 

By Jennifer Clawson, RYT 

My new favorite thing is My Yoga Online.  For $9.95 per month (or $89.95 per year), you get unlimited access to yoga practice videos.  The videos are streamed directly from the website, so you can do your practice right at your computer.  I love this because I don't out to take classes very often.  If I'm not teaching, I'm taking care of kids and other family responsibilities.  So, it's hard for me to schedule time to attend a class regularly.  My Yoga Online is a welcome addition to my personal home practice.

When selecting a video, you can browse by type of yoga, teacher, level, and length.  I appreciate the fact that there are so many different kinds of practices to choose from.  Here's the list of categories:  

Anatomy
Anusara
Ashtanga
Beginner
Destress
Fusion
Gentle
Hatha
Kundalini
Meditation
Power
Pranayama
Prenatal
Relaxation
Restorative
Vinyasa
Yin
Yoga at Work
(Pilates classes are also available.)

You can fit your practice into whatever time you have available.  Choose 15 minutes or less, 15-30 minutes, 31-60 minutes, or 1 hour plus.  So far, my favorite teachers are Bernie Clark and Clara Roberts-Oss.  Recently, my dog kept me awake for weeks after his surgery.  During the wee hours of the night, Bernie Clark kept me rested with his yin yoga classes.  Clara Roberts-Oss has inspired my own teaching lately with her flowing movements and creative sequencing.  In addition to movement classes, you can view workshops on pranayama, chakras, anatomy, and more.  There's also a Healthy Living section with information on nutrition, healthy recipes, green living, health and wellness, and natural beauty.