•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
LIFE YOGA is happy to present you with our SPRING YOGA CLASS SPECIAL of $10 for all Yoga Classes and $5 Community Classes, all in an effort to have YOGA classes for EVERYONE!
AND DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE CLASS SCHEDULE!
1. How did you get started with aromatherapy?
I was always into healing arts. I started to practice Yoga very young, then started to explore other practices for natural health and wellbeing. And discovered Aromatherapy - the art of using essential oils delivered from plants for physical and emotional health. The other factor that contributed into my passion is the fact that I am from Russia. alternative medicine and natural remedies are widely used and known there. So When i was growing up I knew which herb to take to get better, to heal. This custom just developed with time and knowledge.
2. Why is it important to incorporate aromatherapy with you travel + what are some tips?
Aromatherapy is all about your senses, emotions and mood. Simply by inhaling a particular scent you may feel relaxed, energized or focused. When you travel you put yourself into new situations, you visit unknown places and sometimes might feel out of balance. Certain scents can bring the comfort back, release the stress, fatigue, restore the Balance and wholeness.
Grab a bottle of your favorite oil with you, inhale it at the airport, on the plane, in the car, spray in the hotel room, whenever you want to bring peace into your new surroundings.
3. We noticed that in your class you spritzed some custom scents in your class, what is the blend and why is it good in a yoga class/practice?
I use a blend that I created specifically for Life Yoga studio and it’s called Life. It’s one of the scents that I make called YogiMood. The whole point of using Aromatherapy in class is to deepen your practice, your Yoga experience by breathing deeper and allow essential oils to treat your senses.
We interviewed Life Yoga instructor and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist Abigail Brown about her love of travel and how it influences her yoga practice…we found it absolutely inspiring and hope you do too!
1. Of all the places you’ve traveled, where were you most inspired?
“I have been inspired by culture everywhere I’ve traveled. I absolutely love Asia, and Thailand in particular. I traveled to Thailand to teach English as a second language. While living there, I became part of the culture; studying the language, the religion, the Thai way of life. It’s a colorful country with many smiles and positive energy.”
2. What inspired you about Thailand?
”Thai culture centers it’s energy around healing and maintaining well-being. Traditional Thai Yoga Massage is a daily practice in Thai culture. I was inspired by the practice of Thai Yoga Massage as a way of life, not as a treatment or luxury. I began receiving Thai Yoga Massage on a regular basis because it made me feel so good. It was as if I were having an assisted yoga practice and massage all in one. In Thailand, Thai Yoga Massage is also known as, ‘Lazy Man’s Yoga.’ After each session, I felt centered and at peace. It slowly began to become a way of life for me as well. After a year of teaching English, I decided to focus my attention on this healing aspect of life I had been living. I decided to study Thai Yoga Massage and deepen my understanding of healing the mind and body. I studied traditional Nuad Bo-Rarn (northern style) Thai Massage at ITM (international training massage) school in Chiang Mai.”
3. How did Thailand inspire your yoga practice?
“As a traveler, I had a sparatic yoga practice. After moving to Thailand, my yoga practice grew as I was introduced to various styles of yoga, practicing with teachers traveling from all over the world. I was living in Chaing Mai, where there were workshops in abundance and classes all day, everyday. Having the opportunity to take a yoga class then walk next door for a Thai Yoga Massage or to meditate at the temple near by, opened me to my spiritual side.”
4. When you travel do you still practice your yoga and massage?
“Absolutely. I will always maintain a devoted yoga practice. I love to find a local class as I enjoy learning from other teachers. Also, I seek out massage everywhere I go; learning different forms of healing. I often barter Thai Massage with other massage therapists while I’m traveling.”
“My yoga practice in Thailand took me to India to further my practice and deepen my knowledge of Yoga. I continued my education in Baja where I completed my RYT-200 teacher training in Hatha Flow Yoga. I brought my knowledge and training of Thai Yoga Massage back to the states where I furthered my education in massage. I have been practicing since!”
Some of the most rewarding things in life are the things you have to work the hardest for…
I’ve been practicing yoga since January of 2010 and my biggest challenge has been making it to class regularly. It’s not that I don’t plan to go - it’s always on my calendar at least three times a week, but I tend to make excuses not to go. Excuses like having too much work to finish, having a long day and being too tired, wanting to go have a drink with my friends instead, etc.
Which leads me to the question: why am I making excuses to NOT do the one thing that has proven to make me happier, healthier and more centered - not to mention looking GREAT in my favorite jeans when I practice regularly.
Yoga has helped me overcome a slew of both medical and emotional issues, including a severe anxiety disorder. It’s not magic, but if you dedicate time to quieting your mind, really stretching out your body and just letting go of all of those unwanted emotions you’ve accumulated throughout the day - you will feel better.
So what’s my point here? I need to get to practice more often and maybe you do too. So here are some ideas for making this happen:
1. Schedule yoga just as you would any other event or appointment. Aim for three times per week and schedule a “back up day” at the end of the week for if you weren’t able to make one of those. Bonus points if you just go anyway.
2. Participate in an upcoming 30-day challenge. There’s one starting in June - stop by or call LIFE to get the details. Practicing for 30 days straight creates a habit and will make it soooo much easier for you to stick to your three classes per week.
3. Find a mentor. Do you have a favorite yoga instructor? Someone who’s style you like the best and who you feel you connect to? Ask them questions. LIFE instructors are some of the kindest and most knowledgeable in the city and I’ve found they are more than happy to spend time after class helping with postures you are having trouble with, suggesting modifications or additional postures for specific injuries or illnesses, talking about yoga on a more spiritual level or suggesting books to help guide you.
-Megan Hargroder, LIFE Yoga Student
