Guest guest Posted July 11, 2003 Report Share Posted July 11, 2003 Islander: Marco residents gather for yoga classes SW Florida Paper on Yoga http://www.naplesnews.com/03/07/marco/d948510a.htm Friday, July 11, 2003 By DEBORAH WIGHT, Special to the Islander "Western science has evidence proving numerous physical and psychological benefits from the deep and rich-rooted discipline." A "yogi" has nothing to do with the lovable cartoon character known as Yogi Bear. Rather, a yogi is someone who practices yoga, a discipline that involves physical positions and mental concentration. Yoga is no passing fad. According to a recent special on CNN, yoga is a Hindu discipline that was developed in India some 5,000 years ago. Today, 20 million Americans practice yoga. And, according to a June 27 Associated Press article, even dogs are getting into the act: The Marco Island YMCA offers Yoga classes three times a week taught by instructor Joyce Taylor, who recently moved to the area from Boxborough, Mass. Hatha Yoga is taught on Wednesdays and Saturdays and power yoga on Fridays. Gary Coronado/Staff "New York City dog owners who worry that their furry friends need some stress management have a new option: yoga for dogs. Ruff yoga — a so-called doga class aimed at relaxing the canine denizens of this often un-Zen city — is being offered once a month in a downtown city park." The article also claimed yoga for dogs, sometimes called doga, has taken hold with pet lovers beyond New York. Well, yoga for dogs hasn't spread to Marco yet. But on a recent Saturday morning, nine of those 20 million real-live human yogis who reside on Marco gathered for a class with certified yoga instructor Joyce Taylor, who teaches two hatha yoga classes and one astranga (power) yoga class each week at the Marco Island YMCA. Sitting cross-legged — known as the lotus position in yoga — on individual mats strewn across the floor, class members listened to Taylor's instructions, which were softly uttered in a monotone voice, backdropped by the methodic music marked with chant-like sounds and the steady, rhythmic pounding of waves onto shore. "Get comfortable. Bring your focus inward to your breath," said Taylor. "Close your eyes. Follow your inhale and then the exhale. Invite your breath to deepen and lengthen. If you find your mind wandering, gently bring it back to your breath." Yes, yoga means solitude, peacefulness, stillness. And no, it "doesn't mean tying yourself up like a pretzel," said CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, host of the July 6 special. The word "yoga" means union. Traditionally, the goal of yoga was union with "the true self," according to the yogasite.com Web site. Today, the emphasis is on yoga's "down-to-earth" benefits that include improved physical fitness, mental clarity, self- understanding, stress control and overall well-being. To some practices spirituality is also a strong component. Ronnie Poffenberger of Marco Island works on hatha yoga movements during a class taught by Joyce Taylor at the Marco Island YMCA on July 5. Hatha yoga is taught on Wednesdays and Saturdays and power yoga on Fridays. Gary Coronado/Staff Taylor, who started teaching at the YMCA in June, moved to Marco from Boxborough, Mass., in September 2002 after retiring from Hewlett- Packard, where she was a multimedia producer. A yoga practitioner for more than 10 years, she began as a result of a pinched nerve in her neck. "It moved down my arm and was caused in part by the stress of corporate work," said Taylor. "Yoga helped me to go inside and listen to my body." Yoga connects mind to body, movement to breathing, mental focus to relaxation, awareness to activity. It brings all aspects of lives into balance and harmony by working the body and mind together. When something in your life goes awry, throwing off your equilibrium, yogis assure a few yoga breaths or stretches will restore your balance. Today, most yoga focuses on physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation. Movements are slow and synchronized with the breath. Assuming the lotus position enables yogis to relax, and quiet the mind and body. That is when all the mental and physical benefits of the postures are derived. According to a yoga Web site, yoga, in its versatility, lets practitioners focus on physical, psychological or spiritual — or a combination of all three — levels. Whereas traditional exercise is typically goal-oriented, yoga is a process in which the idea is to focus your awareness on what you are doing and how you feel as you're doing the postures. In exercise, you believe you failed if you missed your goal. In yoga, trying is considered success. Yoga can make you look and feel better, regardless of your weight. But it can also lead to weight loss because it helps burn calories. In addition, yoga helps tone muscles and improve posture. Yoga also increases the efficiency of the heart and slows the respiratory rate, improves fitness, lowers blood pressure, promotes relaxation, reduces stress and allays anxiety. It also improves coordination, posture, flexibility, range of motion, concentration, sleep and digestion. In addition, yoga can be used as supplemental therapy for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, migraine headaches, asthma and AIDS. AT A GLANCE For more information, call the Marco Island YMCA at 394-3144. While the American Heritage Dictionary defines yoga as "a Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility, a system of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind," Western science has evidence proving numerous physical and psychological benefits from the deep and rich-rooted discipline. But Marco Island yogis have reaped their own benefits. Sheila Hicks, 60, absolutely loves yoga. "I've been taking yoga for about four years and there's been a huge difference. It's been a life-changing experience for me," she said. "I even went to the doctor and was taller. I used to see a chiropractor and now I don't need to. Yoga is just me inside my body, doing the best I can. It isn't competitive or high-powered." For Hicks, yoga is also spiritual. "Not only has yoga increased my strength and flexibility, but it's an inner experience," she said. "Yoga and walking the beach make me whole." Sara and Rennie Poffenberger have been taking yoga for the past two years at the YMCA, and "off and on" for the past five years in England, their former primary residence. "Yes, Rennie is the token man in class today," said Mrs. Poffenberger. "But he's a runner, too, so he comes to the classes slightly less often than me. But we think it's great, very calming and also wonderful exercise." She enjoys most the stretching and feels stronger, more supple. "Oh, I go to all three classes at the Y, including the astranga yoga, which is the same power yoga that Madonna does," said Mrs. Poffenberger. According to Taylor, more and more men are "coming into it." So, if a yogi is someone who practices yoga, what's a "yogin" and a "yogini?" Male and female yoga students, respectively. Taylor plans to start a yoga and meditation class if enough interest is generated. For more information, call the Marco Island YMCA at 394-3144. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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