Yoga Blog for Denver area including Morrison, Evergreen, Lakewood, Conifer and Golden, CO

Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor

2010-10-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

I recently received my teaching certification from the Iyengar National Association of the U.S. The assessment is a two part process taking over five years to complete. A successful candidate must have taught yoga in the Iyengar tradition for a minimum of two years before assessment. I had taught for seven years when I began.

For the first set of tests, one must read and study a variety of ancient and modern texts for an understanding of philosophy, theory, and anatomy. Then teach, practice, and thoroughly understand over thirty asanas (poses) and a variety of pranayama practices (breath control techniques). The assessment itself is before a panel of certified instructors who watch as you perform the asanas and pranayamas and then watch you teach a given sequence of six poses in 40 minutes to a group of students you don't know. There is also a written exam. I passed this portion in 2008.

The second set of exams is similar but with new material, greater detail, and more difficult poses and pranayamas. It also covers how to deal with issues like pregnancy, high blood pressure, pain, etc. I successfully completed this portion in Houston in August. I am now a certified Iyengar yoga instructor.

In many styles of yoga, one can be "certified" by merely attending a weekend workshop and since there are no State or Federal regulations for certification of yoga instructors, it is up to the student to ask questions and seek out a trained instructor with good qualifications.

Rest assured that when you attend a class taught by a certified Iyengar yoga instructor, your teacher will have a firm foundation in asana, pranayama, philosophy, sutra study, and anatomy, as well as, an ability to deal with various real life issues like injuries and common illnesses.

To find a certified Iyengar yoga instructor in your area visit www.iynaus.com

Make My Day

2010-02-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

The power of our actions should never be underestimated. Yesterday my daughter gave me a persuasive essay she wrote for her high school honors English class. It was titled My Mother, and presented a heart-felt description of why she admired me! A delight for any parent. A simple acknowledgment of appreciation and love. Later that day, I received a beautiful scarf in the mail from an old friend. The friend had been a yoga student of mine years ago and the scarf had a lovely OM pattern. There was no reason for the gift other than an act of kindness and love. These simple acts reminded me that I am loved and appreciated. It sounds simple, and it is.

In each moment we possess the power to connect with others. These connections can be as simple as a smile or as complex as a beautifully written essay. I often recall a reading by Thich Nhat Hahn on impermanence. In it he reminds us of some brutal facts. That everything and everyone you love and cherish will one day disappear. That you will one day grow old and die. That everything you value will one day be gone. There is no way to change these facts. The only thing that you can control are your actions. Your actions are the foundation of everything you do. Make them count.

Yoga and Art

2010-02-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I took a wonderful yoga class with Senior Iyengar teacher Elise Miller at the Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver. It was beauty in opposites- soft, hard, moving, still, tense, relaxed, exhausting, refreshing. She gave a splendid example of good teaching skills by systematically weaving us through a variety of poses, while maintaining a consistent thread of knowledge. I began to see teaching yoga as an art form. In this case a very functional one. And speaking of art forms, I have yoga student who is creating uniquely expressive pieces from everyday experiences. Check out her website http://www.jessierodriguez.wordpress.com.

Be well!

Snowshoeing in the moonlight

2010-01-30T11:25:00.001-08:00

at Echo Lake last night was delightful. Our group met at the warming hut to gear up and set out around 10pm toward Chicago Lakes. At one vantage point, we paused to witness the beauty of the snow-sprinkled granite mountain off in the distance. The night was clear and calm under the "wolf" moon which is a native American name for the closest full moon to the earth in the year. The ascent was steep at times and we worked up moisture even in the 15 degree night. At the summit we stood in the cold quiet air and took in the beauty of a rugged world softened and glowing in the moonlight. Then we dropped to the ground and slid back down to the lake!

Bra Art

2009-10-04T19:45:00.001-07:00

If you grew up in the last century like me, you probably thought a bra was a private thing. Well, not anymore. Last Friday night I went to an art exhibit called Bra Art at a local art gallery on Santa Fe in Denver. The idea was the brain child of Joni Goheen who has several young nieces with breast cancer. Joni was looking for a way to raise money for breast cancer research and to support her nieces when she had the idea to have people design "theme" bras and sell them at a silent auction. I saw a number of cleaver and cute bras. The first bra I saw was festooned with transistor parts including precisely placed little red lights (nipples) that was called the "Boob Tube". My favorite was actually designed by Ms. Goheen and was titled "Twin Peaks". It was a white bra lying flat with textured cups to look like snow. On the cups were tiny little skiers complete with poles!! Some of them were falling down and some were skiing down. It was very cute. Outside the street was hopping as people walked from gallery to gallery in what was called First Friday Open Galleries. There were street musicians and african dancers and lots of reveling. If you would like to make a contribution to support breast cancer research go to the local Susan G. Koman foundation website. Namaste, Diane

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Voluntary Simplicity

2009-09-28T11:53:00.001-07:00

This coming Saturday, October 3, Peaceful Hills Yoga will host our first Voluntary Simplicity discussion group led by a facilitator from the Northwest Earth Institute. Voluntary Simplicity is a five-session course that addresses the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and our environment. The topics covered include: living more with less, taking the busyness out of your lifestyle, making conscious choices about food, work, and purchases, and living a sustainable lifestyle. The workshop is from 9-11:30 a.m. The discussion group will be followed by a free yoga class. There is no cost for this workshop. If you would like to attend call Diane at 303.669.8106 or go to the contacts page and email. For more information on Voluntary Simplicity go to http://www.nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/voluntary-simplicity Be well. Namaste.

Diane Goldstein
Peaceful Hills Yoga
303.669.8106

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Iyengar Yoga for Back Pain

2009-09-13T19:41:00.000-07:00

One of the most common reasons people come to yoga is to address chronic back pain. Those of us who practice yoga regularly know from our own experience that yoga is effective in easing back pain. A recent study in the journal Spine now backs those observations with facts. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Iyengar Yoga therapy on chronic low back pain. Iyengar yoga focuses on correct musculoskeletal alignment in poses and uses props when necessary to achieve alignment. The subjects in the study participated in 24 weeks of bi-weekly yoga classes and were evaluated for pain intensity, depression, and use of pain medication. The yoga group "had statistically significant reductions in functional disability, pain intensity, and depression...and tended to reduce pain medication usage." It's always nice when science adds objective proof to your subjective experience.

Yoga For Stress Relief

2009-06-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

A common reason students give for doing yoga is stress relief. And rightly so. Yoga is transformative by its very nature- you aren't the same after class as you were when you walked in. Just ask any student as they leave class and most, if not all, will say they feel better. Of course, for many it's an improvement in the physical body they notice first. You might hear "my neck feels better" or "my back isn't so sore." Ultimately, what students notice is that they feel calm, peaceful, and at ease after practicing yoga.

I remember feeling elated after leaving my first Iyengar yoga class at the Colorado School of Yoga in Denver in 1988. The class for pregnant women was taught by Leslie Bradley who is still my teacher, and now my mentor and dear friend. As I drove home I had an overwhelming feeling of joyful peace. I felt at ease. It was a wonderful feeling. After many years of practice and teaching I can sum up the sensation I get from yoga as being comfortable in my own skin. It makes me feel comfortable in my body, in my mind, and in my spirit.

Namaste.

Diane

Private Yoga Parties

2009-04-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

I recently hosted a yoga party for singles at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Littleton. The party was part of their on-going singles group activities. Most of the participants had never done yoga before though a few had some experience.

At 7:30pm I arrived with mats and blankets and we practiced yoga for a little over an hour. Our practice included standing and seated poses, restoratives, and relaxation. As we practiced the poses I gave background information about Iyengar yoga, Sanscrit, and yoga philosophy. Freelance photographer, Nate Isaksen, was there and snapped this shot.

If you would like to have a Denver area yoga party with your group let me know. Call Diane Goldstein at 303.669.8106 for more information and prices. Namaste.

"Challenge The Blues" Yoga Workshop

2009-03-19T13:28:00.000-07:00

The yoga workshop Challenge The Blues is this Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 9-11am at Peaceful Hills Yoga. From winter blues to hormonal shifts, to clinical depression, yoga can help to alleviate debilitating symptoms. This workshop will provide practical information and poses to use in your yoga practice to lift the spirit. Contact Diane Goldstein to register. The workshop is $20.

A study by researchers at UCLA offers scientific evidence of Iyengar Yoga's therapeutic effects as a complementary treatment for major depression. For a free download of the text, "Yoga as a Complementary Treatment of Depression: Effects of Traits and Moods on Treatment Outcome", by Dr. David Shapiro, go to http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/nel114v2.

Be well.

Iyengar Yoga in the Denver area

2009-03-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

With all the yoga classes out there you might wonder "How do I choose the one that's right for me"? When choosing a yoga class there are a number of things to consider from the mundane to the sublime.

On the mundane/practical side, you need a class that's convenient to home or work, offered at a time that fits your schedule, and is affordable. There are a variety of venues that offer yoga classes from your local recreation center or fitness club to a yoga studio. Yoga classes offered at Rec. centers and fitness clubs tend to be of a garden variety. In other words, the instructor may be trained in a particular type of yoga or not trained in yoga at all, but simply an employee who is interested and available to teach the class. These classes are usually offered as part of a larger fitness program and are often included in the price of membership. Yoga classes offered at yoga studios usually specialize in a particular style of yoga, such as Iyengar, or Anusara, and will have teachers who are specially trained in teaching that form of yoga. Although some yoga studios offer a variety of styles. Class availability and price will vary depending on the size of the studio. Larger studios in urban areas, such as Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver, tend to have more classes and charge slightly more than smaller rural or mountain studios, such as Peaceful Hills Yoga in Morrison.

On the sublime side, you want a class that gives you the direct experience of yoga. In other words, a class that brings your body, mind, and spirit into one awareness during the time you are practicing yoga. It is this complete absorption in the class that gives students the calm, even euphoric, feeling many experience after class. To find this you may need to experiment with several styles of yoga or even several teachers within your chosen style. To find the right teacher consider their training. Are they competent? Are they certified to teach by a reputable organization? Keep in mind there are no licensing requirements for yoga teachers so do your homework. When you find the right teacher who can help you practice to your fullest potential while remaining calm, relaxed, and supportive, you will be blessed. And remember, you may have to kiss a few toads before you find prince charming!

Here is a recent article from the Denver Post about Iyengar Yoga in the Denver area.

Schedule Change for 2/27 and 3/6

2009-02-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

There is no 4pm class Friday, February 27 or March 6, 2009. I will be attending teacher's classes. The Friday 4pm class will resume on March 13. All other normally scheduled classes are unaffected. Thanks!

Our Busy, Busy Lives

2009-01-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

"The days are long and the years are short," a wise friend once told me. It was 9pm on a Tuesday and stifled yawns as we watched our daughters practice basketball. Later, I drove home and we ate, plowed through the homework, checked email, made lunches, and fell into bed exhausted.

Everyday we build a mountain and then climb it step-by-step diligently checking off each tedious accomplishment. With eyes constantly focused on the summit you might wonder "what is the goal here?"

The goal is control. We mistakenly believe that if we just work long enough and hard enough, putting one clumsy foot in front of the other on the loose path of life- that one day we will reach the top.

At the top we create our own utopian narrative. For me, it's a clean house, a happy, well-adjusted family with athletic children who love school. A beautiful husband who adores me, healthy friends and family who I see often, a blooming garden, time to hike, bike, read, and travel in a peaceful world. Ahhh...the illusion of control.

Yoga is a powerful tool for cutting through illusion. Only through practice can we begin to see the narrative for what it is- an illusive tapestry loosely woven of our desires. By its very nature, the fabric is frayed. My house can't stay clean forever even if I don't live in it!

Yoga means determined effort and it is with this effort we begin to glimpse our grasping for control. When I finish practicing yoga, I never feel like I can check it off my 'to do' list, nor would I want to. Instead, I see the list for what it is a feeble attempt to control my life when all I really need to do is sink one sturdy boot into the loose soil and look over my shoulder at the view.