yoga is meditation with joyce appell

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Raining is a great time to cozy down and get back to the updates

05/27/09 6:45 AM

This past weekend, I studied with the postural alignment expert, Jean Couch, at Yoga on High yoga studio in Columbus, Ohio.  Jean’s  long time study with B.K. S. Iyengar led her to Paris to study with one of his star students, Noelle Perez Christiaens of Institute d’Aplomb.(i.e. Balance).

The study of a Balanced body is to exert inner movement to ascend the whole of the torso no matter whether you are doing yoga, teaching yoga or driving your car.  Noelle studied populations around the world who have little or no back pain, headaches, or hip and knee misalignmnets.  These studies supported and expanded specific aspects of inner muscular adjustments (exerted inner movemnts) to strengthen full and correct skeletal and muscular stance.

My testimonial, is that this has been 6 weeks since I have not had bad frequent headaches.  Come find out for yourself.  My classes are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday 10 a.m. and  12 p.m.♡

BACK AT LAST!

I have been in England for much of the past month so it is time to get back with practice, teaching and letting you know what is going on!!  The trip to England included the wedding reception for my son, Scott and his new bride, Kate.

CLASSES   SUMMER   2009

MONDAY    10-11:15 am, Yoga for Diabetes, June 8-29

1:30-2:30 pm, Yoga Flow at CURVES, June 1-July 6

TUESDAY       7:30-9 pm, Yoga is Meditation, ongoing

WEDNESDAY        10-11:15 am Yoga with Weights, ongoing

12-1 pm Chair Yoga, June 3-24

Good Morning, A little cold but the tiny leaves and flowers BELIEVE so I do too. This mindful awareness I will call as my meditation this morning, I have learned that this 10 or 15 minute focus on simple rhythms of nature are spurring me on as a meditator.

03/30/09 8:26 AM

03/18/09 12:43 PM

Translating the value of “sitting” (meditatng) works in different ways for different people.  As we sit,  what are we waiting for?  Most of us have had the feeling that there is “more” to our lives and feel thwarted at not being able to access this “more”.

I  seriously tried to find my answer to this question in the 80′s.  I had the good fortune of a friend, Robert, who had taken the leap to study meditation for awhile.  He encouraged me to go on a meditation retreat.  The steps were: 1. buy airfare (in the 80′s residential retreats were on the east or west coast) 2. week before when you’ve caught the flu, still go.   Well, that’s exactly what happened and I went and I’ve been going since.  The residential retreat provided  a teaching format including: honoring silence, 45 minutes of seated meditation sessions, walking meditation, great meals, considerate roomates, Dharma talks, personal interviews and what seemed like, at times, too much information about you from the repetitive themes streaming through your mind.  That was the very beginning of learning to build a different relationship with the contents of my mind.

When I read Jon Kabat-Zinn’s books and mindfulness meditation, I loved the idea that teaching deep body awareness (relaxation), yoga asanas, walking meditation and breathing exercises are bridges to becoming a meditator, in fact, each of them is a form of informal meditation.  I might have practiced more as a beginner had I known I could count on these bridges are a form of meditation.

This is the approach I take when I teach beginner’s meditation at Yoga Springs Studio or the Yellow Springs Dharma Center, come find out what your practice is.

Daily Musings

02/12/09 11:16 AM

Before I am off to my “day job” I will sit with my coffee and gaze at the trees outside.  I do this just to remind myself how I want to practice watching my reactions today.  In the book, Mindfulness in Plain English by Gunaratana, he says,’ “watch the feelings that arise and the mental activities that follow……that is a universal phenomena. occurring in the minds of others just as it does in our own, and we should see that clearly.”   With this is mind (so to speak) I can be a ittle more compassionate to my inner stirrings.  Knowing others rangle with the same struggle.

I am back from our annual Vipassana Meditation Retreat with Rebecca Bradshaw at Grailville in Loveland, Ohio.  Our dates fell on April 17-20 giving us a beautiful  weekend with good weather.  With periods of instruction morning and afternoon and a Dharma talk in the evening our meditation instruction was helpful on a daily basis.  This  retreat builds new self knowledge and acesses an important inner skill: ability to use the chamber of breath in the chest as a calming, renewing resource.  We, at the Yellow Springs Dharma Center, will be offering one or half day retreats to help beginner and regular meditators to deepen their practice.  Contact me at Joyce@yogaismeditation.net or 937 767 5671.

CardioYoga

02/12/09 8:59 AM

Keep checking this sight to see when I plan the next 6 weeks of Cardio Yoga at Curves in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  Let me know what days or evenings work best for you.  So far, I am leaning to a 1:30 p.m. day slot for teaching the class.

CardioYoga

02/2/09 9:58 AM

I will be teaching a heart warming yoga c lass at Curves, CardioYoga on Feb. 11, Wednesday from 1:30 p.m.-3:oo p.m. designed especially for cardiovascular health.  Join us for great music and movement.  Cost is $3.00 for the class, pay at the desk. Please call Curves to register because space is limited. Contact Curves at 937 767 3700.

Upcoming Retreat!

01/19/09 2:24 PM

I will be leading a Half Day Beginner’s Meditation Retreat, Friday, Feb. 6.2009 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Silence is honoured. The retreat includes guided meditation, yoga stretches, breathing exercises and walking meditation. Please bring your own lunch. Our retreats are donation based.

Please contact me at 937 767 5671 for more information. You can register for the Retreat by phone or email.

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