Charleston Yogi

A team of mothers,writers and artists have put together the very first kid yoga application for the iPad. Based on the original yoga lesson plan written by Rachel Glowacki (M-HYI), children can learn and practice yoga at their own pace. In this fast growing tech world, it’s an engaging tool that helps guide children toward making healthy physical choices as they grow older. If you have children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren or any relationship with a child, download and try out this app.  Various studies around the world have shown us that exercise not only improves our physical health, but our mental health too.  If we can help children form positive exercise habits at a young age, when they become adults it won’t be necessary to fall into harmful damage control diets and fads. Talk with children about the importance of being healthy as they grow, and how yoga can benefit them at all ages. Visit www.kidsyogajourney.com to read more about the creators of this fun pocket yoga app available on Apple’s iPad and iPhone/iPod, the Android, and now Barnes & Noble’s NOOK color Reader’s Tablet.

The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents Yoga at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park! Join us for a yoga experience at one of Charleston’s bestviews of the waterfront with instructor Carolyn Gunn Strickler. Suggesteddonation of $5, and yoga mats available upon request. Classes will be held July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, August 25, and every Thursday in September, from 6:00pm-7:00pm. (Blog intro from http://www.charlestonarts.sc/2011/06/the-city-of-charleston-office-of-cultural-affairs-presents-yoga-at-the-city-gallery-at-waterfront-park-5/)

“When I practice yoga I feel whole, I feel nothing is beyond my reach. I feelbeautiful, strong and perfect, and fortunate that I am me. My love for yogabegan during a hard time in my life. Yoga trained me how to navigate throughlife’s obstacles with grace. When yoga entered my life, I finally becamecontent with who I am, and realized that I already have everything I need. Mymind and body felt connected, and I felt more connected to all living things on earth.

Art heals us. Yoga is art. It gives us the opportunity to use creative expression and freedomthrough movement to nourish our body and mind. When we practice yoga on and offthe mat, we are practicing the art of love: self-love, love for all beings, and love for the earth. Yoga enables us to unlock our true creative potential, and live a happy and healthy life. It encourages us to show up to life. Through yoga, we can discover and create the masterpiece of ourselves. Yoga hasgiven me the strength to live the life I dreamed of living, a life full of happiness and love. I want to help you live a life full of compassion, self-acceptance and inner peace. With love and commitment, yoga can helpyou transform, transcend and become yourself. No matter where you are in yourlives, yoga will bring you back toward balance and peace. Let the poses open your heart and the flow uplift your soul.” – Carolyn Gunn Strickler

About the City Gallery at Waterfront Park: The City Gallery at Waterfront Park,owned by the City of Charleston and operated by the City of Charleston Officeof Cultural Affairs, is a venue for contemporary artwork that is new, vital and innovative, with a focus on broadening Charleston’s arts outlook.  The City Gallery provides access to the visual arts foreveryone in Charleston, S.C., visitors and residents alike, by offering exhibits that are all admission-free. The City Gallery is located at 34 Prioleau St. in downtown Charleston, S.C.,and gallery hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.  For more information, please call ore-mail the City Gallery at (843)958-6484 or CityGallery@charleston-sc.gov.

The City of Charleston recently opened a new facility in downtown Charleston. Arthur Christopher Community Center is located at 265 Fishburne Street, across from the Citadel Stadium and Burke High School.

Yoga classes are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:15 PM and 4:00 PM. Drop-In rate is $5 per person and $30 for a monthly pass! Come on out and check out this new and eco-friendly center!

CHARLESTON, SC – Want to join hundreds of other devoted yogi’s for an afternoon of
down dogs, headstands and mountain poses to raise money for a children’s charity?
Louie’s Kids and COPE are readying for the first Yoga Marathon in historic Forsyth Park
in Savannah, Georgia, the 9th yoga marathon for Louie’s Kids.

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, participants will fill the  park from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
as some of Savannah’s most popular yoga instructors lead the way in Forsyth Park, rain
or shine.

“This is so amazing for us as an organization and for me personally,” explains Louis
Yuhasz, founder of The Yoga Marathon and Louie’s Kids. “To date, Louie’s Kids has
raised over $75,000.00 for programs that benefit overweight and obese children in
Charleston, SC, our home base; to take this event on the road to benefit other areas
with our programs is such a blessing. We recorded donations from 37 states in the 8th
annual Yoga Marathon this past October in Charleston, SC. I am so indebted to the
yoga community and am certain this inaugural Savannah marathon will be an
extraordinary event for the Savannah community as it has been in Charleston for the
past eight years.”

This Louie’s Kids’ yoga marathon in Savannah will benefit Savannah-based COPE
(Childhood Obesity Prevention and Education). COPE will be funding a Louie’s Kids’ Fit
Club for 25 kids through a Title 1 school in Savannah this fall.

Participants can register a personal fundraising page by logging on to
www.louieskids.org/yoga. Friends and family can support efforts to complete 108 Sun
Salutations, a yoga sequence combining 12 postures. Sponsors also can donate money
for each Sun Salutation or minute of yoga completed.

To find out more about participating or becoming a sponsor of the Savannah Yoga
Marathon visit www.louieskids.org/yoga or call Ashley Gunnin at 843-901-0431.

About Louie’s Kids:

Louie’s Kids is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that raises funds to help treat
childhood obesity, which afflicts 25 million American children today. Louie’s Kids works
to find the best treatment options to meet the needs of each child. We find the fix that
fits, one kid at a time. Founded in 2001 in Alexandria, VA and now operating from
Charleston, SC, Louie’s Kids serves economically disadvantaged kids nationwide. To
learn more, visit www.louieskids.org.

About COPE:

COPE is a local non-profit devoted to combating childhood obesity with a threefold
approach – fitness, nutrition, and behavioral health. COPE, a qualified 501 (c) 3
organization, brings already existing successful programs to Savannah to benefit our
children struggling with overweight and obesity. For more information, contact
sbaker@copeforchange.org.

One of the biggest difficulties people face when going to a yoga class is balance. We often spend a lot of the time trying not to topple over, which takes away from our ability to be present and really enjoy the full benefit of the class. A helpful tip for staying sure on your feet is using the force of opposite directions. Let’s look at a couple different poses to see how this works.

Warrior I

Keep your right foot planted and step the left foot back, turning it to a forty-five degree angle while bending into the front knee. Square the hips and lift the arms up above the head, setting your gaze forward. Your central opposites are the left foot behind you and the right foot in front of you. Bend deeply into the right knee while grounding through the outer edge of the left foot into the floor. The force of going forward and also backward is what sets the balance and keeps the stance strong.

Tree Pose

Keep your left foot planted and lift the right, setting the sole of the foot on either the side of the left calf or inner thigh above the knee. Press the palms together at heart center. Your central opposites are the left foot on the floor and the crown of your head. Ground down through your left foot. You can better feel the sensation if you temporarily lift your toes off the floor. Reach the crown of the head up toward the ceiling, lengthening the spine and lifting your torso from sitting heavy on your hips. The force of pressing down and lifting up sets your balance and reduces instability.

All poses have upward and downward directions and most have a forward and backward directions or right to left. Whether you are at a yoga class or practicing at home, explore the opposites of various poses. Instead of fighting them, use their momentum to further your practice and increase the integrity of the poses.