Chair Yoga for Sparkling Seniors

Its that time again. We just completed another wonderful 5-week session of Chair Yoga @ Frank Bailey Senior Center, Riverdale, GA. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my senior yogis (age 55 and up)!!! I have yogis up to age 90!!!!

If Riverdale doesn't work I also have a class at New Beginnings Neighborhood Senior Center Fairburn, GA. The Chair Yoga sessions there are ongoing.

So, for those of you looking for healthy & fun activities for your senior dudes and divas send them my way. But before you do that read a little bit about chair yoga and how it can help the sparkling seniors in your life.


What is Chair Yoga?

Chair yoga is the term generally used to describe a gentle form of yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, or standing using a chair for support. It is not recognized formally as a type of yoga distinct from other types, such as Iyengar Yoga or Ashtanga yoga. However the poses, or Asanas, are often adaptations of Hatha yoga poses.

Frequently the chair yoga student is unable to participate in a traditional yoga class due to the effects of aging or disabilities. Chair yoga classes are sometimes made available at senior fitness centers, retirement facilities, and adult daycare centers.

Most people in chair yoga classes have health issues, and many are there because a health care professional that knows about their problems recommended it. A good chair yoga teacher will ask about, and be aware of any limitations the student might have. Chair yoga has helped people with the symptoms of many health issues including: hypertension (high blood pressure), anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, vertigo (medical), multiple sclerosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, clinical depression, and chronic pain.

Chair Yoga is one of the gentlest forms of yoga available. Complicated maneuvers and complex movements are not present in a chair yoga class. Within this type of yoga class, you can cover standing, seated, and prone postures. Most of these classes use the chair only, due to the difficulty of getting down or up off the floor.

Frank Bailey Senior Center is located in Riverdale, GA. New Beginnings Neighborhood Senior Center is located in Fairburn, GA.

"I Love My Temple" Tees turned Right!!!

To all the Graphic Designers and Type A types who were so bothered by the reversed image I have uploaded the new photos. LOL!!!! Thanks to Kris @ www.vozvisual.com
for taking the time to make the change.

Get your "I Love My Temple" tees. They are so fly thanks to Molly Jones @ Ventige Soul and Rodney Clancy the Graphic Designer of my lovely logo. Shirts are $20. I have sizes S,M,L, XL. Email ilovemytemple@gmail.com to place your order.

Select your SIZE and COLOR (Red or Yellow).

PEACE.

Tiffany Campbell: My, She's Fly!

Tiffany Campbell: My, She's Fly!

I Love My Temple Tees in New Colors

Get your I Love My Temple tees. They are so fly thanks to Molly Jones @ Ventige Soul and Rodney Clancy @ Visual Communications. Shirts are $20. I have sizes S,M,L, XL. Email ilovemytemple@gmail.com to place your order.

Select your SIZE and COLOR (Red or Yellow).

PEACE.

"I Love My Temple" Tees

Get your I Love My Temple tees. They are so fly thanks to Molly @ Ventige Soul. Shirts are $20. I have sizes M,L, XL. Email ilovemytemple@gmail.com to place your order. Peace.

Fooditude-Banana Walnut Yogurt Muffins

Here are some delicious muffins to jump start your day or grab for a filling snack.


Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 C oatmeal
• 1/2 C rice flour
• 1/4 C ground flaxseed
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 C plain yogurt
• 3 medium, ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 C agave syrup
• 1/3 C grapeseed oil
• 1/4 C walnut pieces

Directions

1.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.

In a large bowl, whisk together oatmeal, flour, flaxseed, baking powder, and baking soda.

3.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, yogurt, bananas, syrup, and oil. Add flour mixture and fold in walnuts.

4.

Divide batter into paper-lined muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack.

5.

Makes 18.

Nutritional Facts per serving

CALORIES

146.8 CAL

FAT

7 G

SATURATED FAT

0.9 G

CHOLESTEROL

23.7 MG

SODIUM

103.2 MG

CARBOHYDRATES

19.9 G

TOTAL SUGARS

10 G

DIETARY FIBER

1.7 G

PROTEIN

2.7 G

Tuning In with Yoga

Every week, I teach a corporate power yoga class at Coca-Cola. This class is in an open studio with bright lights and lots of noises from the walking track above to the racket ball court next door. Now, I know that there are lots of distractions that make it challenging to tune in to practice, but I also see the lesson in it. Seriously, that's life! There are always distractions and noises that will give many people the opportunity to not tune in, but you have to choose whether you will or will not allow this to happen.

After class, one of the yoga students came up to me and stated, "My yoga Nazi teacher would never teach a class here because it is too loud and too bright." Now, I really did get stuck on the fact that she would put yoga and Nazi together in a sentence, but without judgement I simply replied, "Life is not going to stop for anyone. You have to learn to tune in to your body and your breath regardless of any and all life's distractions." For example, I had to learn how to practice yoga with children swinging off my legs and sliding down my back. My choice was to continue my practice even with two small active children who were home until they started school. So instead of letting years go by without yoga, I incorporated it into my day whenever I could. Sometimes it would work at nap time or before they woke in the morning, but many times it did not.

According to Yoga Journal's "Count on Yoga" article peace of mind is yet another benefit of yoga practice. Yoga quells the fluctuations of the mind, according to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. In other words, it slows down the mental loops of frustrations, regret, anger, fear, and desire that can cause stress. And since stress is implicated in so many health problems--from migraines and insomnia to MS, eczema, high blood pressure, lupus, and heart attacks--if you learn to quiet the mind, you'll be likely to live longer and healthier.

Truthfully many people can tune in a dimly lit room with soft music and yet many people can not. Even in my classes where I have temperature control, lighting control and wonderful yoga conditions, I still see people struggle to find their inner peace. I think the one challenge that plagues us all is to find piece of mind no matter what level of noise and distraction life brings. However, I know that continued yoga practice makes all the difference in the volume of that noise.