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Okay friends. It's January. A whole new year lies ahead. What are your fitness goals? What can we do together to reach them? Holidays are behind us now. Time to get back into a healthy routine of good nutrition and exercise. 2017 is a fresh start. Let's be persistent and consistent together. 
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A thoughtful student sent this article to me this week and it led to some great conversation in my classes yesterday. One of my favorite facts to share with my students is that of the almost 200 yoga sutras, there is just one sentence about asana (postures). The rest are about yoga philosophy.
To me, this article really speaks to the first of the yamas, ahimsa....non-violence (or in a positive light...kindness...to self and others). When we practice asanas in class, my hope and intention as an instructor is for everyone to practice with their health, safety and well-being in mind....physical, mental, emotional. If you are in my class, you are going to hear me say at least 20 times "listening to our bodies....letting go of anything that is not serving us.....choosing rest when needed." Having said that, I totally understand In a class full of yogis, this is sometimes very hard to practice because ego and competition can get in the way. When I get to be a student, it is my responsibility to listen to my body, hear the feedback it gives me and look for/ask for guidance when I need modifications and alternatives to suggested poses. I remember a time when I didn't advocate for my body. I was taking a class from a popular instructor many years ago. She used to call me "furniture" because she would lay across me, push down on me, use much of her body weight to guide me deeper into poses. Admittedly I was flattered but also apprehensive when she would approach me. I am/was fairly flexible and I didn't, to my knowledge, suffer injuries at the time. Looking back though, those were some very intense "adjustments" that my body probably didn't need. I could already put my belly on my thighs in seated forward fold (Paschimottanasana)....did I really need her to lay across my back and push me further? No. No I didn't. I would love to hear your thoughts if you have a few minutes to read the article. Definitely thought-provoking. Namaste. :-)  One thing that I firmly believe in is that exercise and movement can happen anywhere. I love being in the gym but I also love being outside those walls, and I am constantly searching for new spots to exercise whether it’s by myself or with clients and students. This summer we will be outside on standup paddleboards, in parking lots and driveways, in pools and in a brewery! Yes...fitness can happen anywhere, even in a place where they make beer!  On Friday, May 13, I teamed up with Erik, Paul and Amanda at Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough to offer our first of many “Poses and Pints” yoga classes in the brewery. This was our inaugural class and we had a fantastic time.   After a one-hour slow flow yoga practice in the brewery, we rolled up our mats and went over to the tasting side of the brewery for a pint of any of their fantastic beers. I happily enjoyed the Baton Francais! Yum.   So this is going to be a “regular thing” and we have three more dates lined up to get the summer going. Mark your calendars for:
We will post more dates as the summer progresses!
If you are going to join us...here are the details: Where: Mystery Brewing Co, 437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 41 (note that this is around the corner from the pub...we practice IN the brewery...remember...unusual spaces!) What to bring: A yoga mat if you have one. I have a limited number of mats to share. Cost: $15.00, which includes the cost of the class and a pint of beer. |
Maria FinneganWelcome and thank you for visiting this site. I'm happy and grateful to have a place where I can write about fitness and wellness. In addition to blogging about exercise and sharing workouts, I also use this space to tell 200-word stories about the inspiring and amazing people I encounter in this career. I look forward to sharing as many of these journeys as possible, and would love to hear from you if you would like me to tell your story. You can contact me anytime. Thank you so much for your interest and your effort. Think fit...be fit...stay fit! You are stronger than you think. #STYT Archives
February 2018
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