Yoga and Posture written by Nancy Weshkoff
Yoga and Posture
By Nancy Weshkoff
Did you know that your head can weigh approximately 8 lbs? Your head is like a heavy bowling ball. At the end of a long day, you may find yourself slumping over rather than standing up straight. Plus, if you are sitting at a desk working on a computer, you may be leaning forward to view the computer screen. And in these days of handheld devices, your head may be bent down from reading or sending messages on your handheld device. All of these can lead to bad posture.
So what is the consequence of all of this? You can suffer from back, neck, and other muscle or joint problems from bad posture. It can also contribute to problems such as headaches. And when you are slumped over you are less likely to bring good amounts of oxygen to your lungs, heart, and other organs which can contribute to other health problems.
How does yoga help? Yoga is great for helping to correct posture issues. We emphasize standing tall rather than slumping. Standing postures such as Mountain Pose (Tadasana) teach you how to stabilize your core and properly align your shoulders. In our yoga classes at Moonflower Yoga, we incorporate several great poses to help with your posture, including Mountain Pose. Mountain Pose can also be a meditative pose where you take several deep breaths while standing tall which helps bring oxygen to your organs, as well as calming your nervous system. Mountain Pose is just one of the fabulous yoga poses, when done properly under the guidance of one of our great yoga teachers, which can help you feel better and can work towards correcting muscle strain and bad posture.
If you would like to learn more about how to improve your posture, come and try one of the great yoga classes that we offer at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, on Long Island’s Nassau County. You’ll feel and look better!
Yoga and the Nassau County Health and Wellness Fair by Nancy Weshkoff
Yoga and the Nassau County Health and Wellness Fair
By Nancy Weshkoff
It is amazing how quickly time flies by. The next month brings several happenings for Moonflower Yoga. There is the upcoming Moonflower Yoga one-year anniversary celebration and the annual Bellmore Family Street Festival. But first let’s concentrate on this week.
This Sunday, August 18, 2013, from 10 AM – 4 PM Nassau County is holding its Health and Wellness Fair in the Mitchell Field Athletic Complex at One Charles Lindbergh Blvd. across from the Cradle of Aviation Museum. This will be a great opportunity for people on Long Island to learn about healthy options to make you feel better. I am pleased to advise that Moonflower Yoga will be participating at this Fair, and will be the yoga studio selected to provide a one-hour yoga class / demo from 3 – 4 PM at this informative event.
I am expecting that there will be some people at the Nassau County Health and Wellness Fair who have never tried yoga before. I am excited to meet them and introduce them to some of the great health benefits that yoga can provide. At the Moonflower Yoga studio in Bellmore, we welcome new students of all ages. I love working with beginners. It is inspiring for me to see the progress these students have made in just a few short months with increased strength, flexibility, and balance. Yoga has also made them feel calmer and less stressed. Several students have indicated that they sleep more soundly and are coping better with life’s pressures since they began their yoga practice.
If you are on Long Island, New York, this Sunday, August 18th, I hope you will stop by and say hello to us at the Nassau County Health and Wellness Fair and come to the Moonflower Yoga class / demo from 3-4 PM. If you can’t see us this weekend, you can always stop by the Moonflower Yoga studio in Bellmore. For those who are new, your first class is free, and it is a fabulous opportunity to learn more about the health benefits of a regular yoga practice with one of our great yoga teachers.
And stay tuned for future postings about our one-year anniversary celebration and the annual Bellmore Family Street Festival.
Yoga and Friendship written by Nancy Weshkoff
Yoga and Friendship
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
Y
oga has many wonderful health benefits from a physical standpoint. You will gain strength, build better flexibility, and improve your balance. But it also has another wonderful benefit: friendship.
When I first started practicing yoga many years ago, I met some amazing people who were also attending the same yoga class as me. What started on the first day as a hello then developed into something much deeper. As we practiced together, we became friends. Over the years, that friendship became stronger, and my best friends today are those same amazing women that I met at a yoga class years earlier. One of them moved out of state but came back to Long Island to attend a family event this week. And, of course, we had a yoga session together. Later in the evening, all the “yoginis” got together and we shared a wonderful dinner laughing and loving each other’s company. It is because of yoga that I met these incredible women who became my dear friends.
In creating Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, New York, in Long Island’s Nassau County, I wanted to have a studio which made this type of friendship possible. Moonflower Yoga has small-sized yoga classes that provide a more intimate experience. And with that experience, comes the opportunity of getting to know the fellow students who are attending the yoga class with you. I am so pleased when I see friendships forming and the laughter and joy that comes from sharing a yoga practice with new friends – people that never met each other before walking into the doors of Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore.
I have heard people say they practice yoga by watching a yoga DVD. And, yes, you can learn a bit about yoga from watching a yoga DVD. But when you come to Moonflower Yoga, you will have a great yoga teacher who will pay close attention to you and help make sure you are doing the pose correctly and you will have a variety of great yoga classes from which you can choose. And you also gain something else when you practice at Moonflower Yoga as opposed to being alone in your living room. You will meet new people and create new friendships. And, like me, some of these new people that you meet at your yoga class can become your best friends in life. How wonderful is that!
If you are in Bellmore, in Long Island’s Nassau County, come try a yoga class at Moonflower Yoga. Your first class is free. You can have a great yoga experience, become physically stronger, and meet someone new. Is there a new friendship in your future?
Healthier You written by Nancy Weshkoff
“Healthier You”
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
When I made the decision about a year ago to create Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, on Long Island, New York’s Nassau County, I wanted to have a wonderful yoga studio with personal attention and great yoga teachers where people of all ages and fitness levels could practice yoga in a loving environment. But I also wanted Moonflower Yoga to offer something else: an opportunity to learn something new, meet interesting people, and learn tips to help you move towards a healthier lifestyle. The Moonflower Yoga workshop program was then formed, and we have recently introduced our new “Healthier You” series.
The first of these “Healthier You” workshops was “Healthier You: Moving Towards a Plant-Based Diet”, taught by Moonflower Yoga’s Laura Lipari, who has a degree in nutrition and a passion for healthy eating. I, too, have a love for a plant-based diet. About 35 years ago, my husband and I decided to become vegetarians. It was a bit comical back then to try and find vegetarian options when eating out. We laughed when we saw the scene from the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” when it was discovered that the groom was a vegetarian and didn’t eat meat. Not eat meat? No worries was the thought – the groom could have lamb instead. Things have definitely changed since then.
Laura’s workshop was very informative, and even for me as a seasoned vegetarian I learned something new. The participants also were able to eat some delicious foods including the very yummy cold melon soup which tastes soothing and comforting on a hot July day. I received positive feedback from those that attended, and the participants are trying some of the great ideas they learned in the “Healthier You” workshop.
We have two other “Healthier You” workshops in the immediate future. There is “Healthier You: Learn ‘Tapping’ (EFT)”. Tapping is a wonderful way to reduce stress and anxiety and help release negative emotions. It is a safe, easy, self-administered technique that stimulates acupressure points while focusing on the issue that is causing your stress, fear, etc. It has been used by returning members of our armed services to help them cope with the emotional aftermath of combat duty. And on September 27th, Moonflower Yoga is pleased to have author, wellness expert and nutrition coach Jovanka Ciares speak on the topic “Supercharge Your Health: Self-Care Practices to Look Your Best, Lose Weight, and Feel Great from the Inside Out”. Jovanka also has regular spots on Fox News, NPR, CBS Radio, Telemundo, The Huffington Post, and MindBodyGreen. Stay tuned as there are additional “Healthier You” workshops being planned for the fall.
If you would like to try something new, have fun, meet new people, and learn some tips on how to live a healthier lifestyle, come try one of our “Healthier You” workshops at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, Long Island (New York). You will be happy that you did. And, of course, a great yoga class is also part of a healthier lifestyle, and if you have not yet tried at yoga class at Moonflower Yoga, you can do so for free, as your first yoga class at Moonflower Yoga is always free.
Hope to see you soon at a “Healthier You” workshop or a great yoga class!
The New Journey written by Nancy Weshkoff
THE NEW JOURNEY
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
The wonderful poet, Robert Frost, wrote one of my favorite poems: “The Road Not Taken”. In this poem, he writes:
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
This poem resonates deeply with me. It was just a year ago that I reached a crossroad in my life and chose the road (for me) that was less traveled. I made a decision to leave behind my past and open a yoga studio that was a bit different than the other studios I had encountered. Moonflower Yoga was then born. It was one year ago in July that I began the steps of locating studio space in Bellmore, New York, in Long Island’s Nassau County, finding great yoga teachers to join me at Moonflower Yoga, and all the million other things that need to be done to launch a new adventure. And although the doors of Moonflower Yoga officially opened in September, 2012, it was in July, 2012, that the adventure began.
I cannot believe how quickly that year has flown by! I feel truly blessed to have many wonderful students walk through the doors of Moonflower Yoga every day to practice yoga at the studio. The transformation that I have seen in these students where they have gotten stronger and more flexible, gained confidence, and feel more relaxed from their yoga classes at Moonflower Yoga have been inspiring. I very much appreciate the support that I receive from them and the great yoga teachers at Moonflower Yoga who have made the studio a success.
As the one-year anniversary of the opening of the studio doors comes in September, I will write more on this subject. For now, I wanted to mark this important one-year anniversary of having the courage to take the road less traveled. Perhaps you have experienced the same thing in your life: reaching an important crossroad and having to make a decision about which road to take. Did you have the courage to take the road less traveled?
The Health Benefits of Yoga, Part 1, written by Nancy Weshkoff
The Health Benefits of Yoga, Part 1
By Nancy Weshkoff
About a year ago, I had the pleasure of spending time at the fabulous Kripalu Institute where I studied “Yoga as Medicine” as taught by Dr. Timothy McCall, a wonderful doctor and devote practicing yogi. Dr. McCall teaches worldwide, and has written a very informative book entitled “Yoga as Medicine”, which outlines the many health benefits of yoga. Dr. McCall has recently expanded his research, and has outlined 75 health conditions benefitted by yoga as demonstrated in scientific studies. From teaching multiple yoga classes daily at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, in Nassau County on Long Island, New York, I have also personally witnessed health improvements from my students as a result of a regular yoga practice at Moonflower Yoga.
Listed below are a couple of the health benefits outlined by Dr. McCall. I will write on some of the other health benefits in future blogs.
Anxiety:
Let’s face it. We live in a fast-paced world where multiple demands are placed on us each day. We often worry about things that haven’t happened yet, regardless of our age. Students worry about upcoming tests and their future careers, people of middle age worry about their work life, children, and finances, while the elderly may worry about health issues. All of this anxiety can cause stress which leads to a wide variety of medical problems.
So how does yoga help with this? Yoga teaches us how to better cope. In our classes at Moonflower Yoga, we emphasize living in the present moment. Don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet. Yoga helps you to refocus your attention through movement, meditation, and deep breathing. Spending an hour calming your mind and body has huge positive effects, reducing stress and anxiety.
High blood pressure and heart disease:
High blood pressure leads to many serious medical problems including heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US.
Yoga has been found to help with this in many ways. It reduces stress levels. A regular yoga practice also helps to thin the blood, and blood clotting is a major factor in heart attacks and strokes. Yoga has also been found to reduce the levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol).
There are so many wonderful ways that yoga can help you feel better! Come try a great yoga class at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, in Nassau County’s Long Island, and discover some of these for yourself.
Crystals written by Nancy Weshkoff
Crystals
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
About a year ago, I attended a crystals workshop and have been hooked on crystals ever since then. You will find yourself drawn to these wonderful gifts from the earth. Many crystals have been used for centuries for their healing powers.
But what exactly are these crystals? Simply put, a crystal is a solid stone that was created when the earth was formed, and crystals have continued to change and develop as the earth changes and develops. Some crystals developed in deep underground chambers or from the fiery gases of the earth. They come in different geometric formations and a beautiful variety of colors. Crystals can be shaped and polished and make excellent jewelry. But they should also be appreciated in their rawer, non-polished state. Amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, amber, and jasper are just a few examples of crystals.
Each crystal can help you in a different way. Clear quartz, for example, has many wonderful properties including the ability to aid concentration and help with problem solving. One of my dear friends was having difficulty with an elaborate Excel formula. After spending a few minutes with a clear quartz crystal, he was able to return to the formula and determine what was causing the issue. When I feel stressed or high strung, I use my favorite black tourmaline to help ground me. During meditation and in restorative classes, I often bring crystals into the room to facilitate good energy.
It is because of the ways that crystals can help you that I wanted to make more people aware of crystals. Moonflower Yoga is proud to be hosting its own Crystals Workshop this Friday evening, June 14th, from 7-9 PM. During this workshop, participants will learn more about the history of crystals, and each person will be given for free a basic crystal stone to keep for their personal use. The workshop will also include a meditation using crystals.
If you are in the area of Bellmore, in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, please join us at the Moonflower Yoga studio for this wonderful Crystals workshop. You will be amazed at the history of crystals, and you will receive your own crystal stone to bring you positive energy.
And stay tuned for more information on future workshops at Moonflower Yoga, as well as information on our great yoga classes!
Community written by Nancy Weshkoff
Community
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
As Moonflower Yoga i
s a local business, the community around us is very important. I am proud to be a resident and business owner in Bellmore, in Long Island’s Nassau County. Moonflower Yoga is also a member of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, and as a Chamber of Commerce member we support our local community and activities. Bellmore hosts the Bellmore Family Street Festival, the largest street festival in the area, with over 100,000 visitors coming to Bellmore in September, and Moonflower Yoga will be represented once again at this fun festival.
But most of all, we are a community of people. When things are tough, as they were last year with the devastation from Hurricane Sandy, we came together and helped each other. When the winter snow comes, you will see people shoveling snow for elderly neighbors who need assistance. And at Moonflower Yoga we also collected food for those who are struggling as well as holiday toys for those less fortunate.
Yoga is such a wonderful practice, and it helps you build confidence, strength, flexibility, balance, and reduces stress levels. Sadly there are families in our community who are experiencing difficult times financially and cannot afford to pay the full price of a regular yoga class. At Moonflower Yoga we want to offer yoga to this community of people, and we have therefore started a new “Community Yoga” class on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM for adults and teens. In this new “Community Yoga” class, participants can pay whatever amount they can comfortably afford, even if that amount is less than a dollar. Students will have an opportunity to attend a great yoga class in a beautiful yoga studio with props for support as you learn the poses that can help you feel better. If you would like to attend a Community Yoga class at Moonflower Yoga, you can do so by registering online on our website, www.moonfloweryoga.com.
It so important that we support our community and the local businesses in that community. While it can be convenient to have the giant super store chain nearby, it is the local business that is owned by our neighbors who work hard to keep the local community alive. Come try “Community Yoga” or any of the other great yoga classes at Moonflower Yoga and help support our local community!
Heroes written by Nancy Weshkoff
HEROES
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
As we start the Memorial Day weekend, I have been thinking a lot about heroes. This weekend we are paying tribute to the brave men and women who have fought for our country and defended freedom with their lives. We all need to give thanks to these courageous men and women who left behind their family and friends to valiantly become part of our armed forces and to try and make the world a little bit safer. May they rest in peace.
I also think about other heroes. The terrible tragedy from the tornado in Oklahoma this week brought with it a story of a teacher who covered her students with her own body to protect them from the monstrous tornado descending on their school. When Hurricane Sandy left its devastation on Long Island several months ago, heroes emerged to help those in need. Every day there are first responders who react immediately to dangerous situations risking their own lives in order to save others. Volunteers in organizations such as the Red Cross travel throughout the world to places where people are in dire need.
These are just a few examples of heroes in our times. There are many others who are unsung. To our brave men and women in the military, and to heroes everywhere, we at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore, Long Island, salute you. Thank you for your bravery and service.
Improving Your Balance (Part 2) by Nancy Weshkoff
IMPROVING YOUR BALANCE (Part 2)
Written by Nancy Weshkoff
In my previous blog, “Improving Your Balance (Part 1)”,
https://www.moonfloweryoga.com/blog/improving-your-balance-part-1-by-nancy-weshkoff.html I wrote about the need to develop better balance and how practicing certain asana poses in your yoga practice can help prevent serious injuries in life.
Today I am writing about another type of balance: the juggling act of the many responsibilities in our lives. Many would state that life has become busier than for previous generations. We are rushing from one place to the next. Technology has enabled us to be better connected but that better connection also means that we are checking emails after we leave the office or dealing with work-related problems from our homes rather than spending quality time with our families and friends. Businesses are trimming their budgets by hiring less people and giving more tasks to the current workforce, and we often feel overwhelmed from all the tasks that have now been handed to us. You may find yourself juggling pre-arranged “play dates” or extracurricular activities for your child.
So how does yoga fit into all of this? Yoga teaches us the opposite of rushing around. It teaches us to be in the present moment and be mindful. Let your day go and enjoy this little bit of time you have given to yourself. Every person needs some time for themselves. You may find that as the stress accumulates in your day, you are breathing in a shallow way which can cause muscle tension and anxiety. In our yoga classes at Moonflower Yoga, we practice taking deep, cleansing breaths that ignite the “prana” or energy in our bodies and make us feel better. As you move into various yoga postures, you are stretching your muscles and relieving tension. At the same time, you are also building better strength, flexibility, and of course balance. It is amazing how much better you can feel from taking just ONE HOUR for yourself in a yoga class.
If you are in the Long Island, New York area (in Nassau County), try one of the great yoga classes at Moonflower Yoga in Bellmore that we have designed to make you feel much better and return some balance to your life. Classes such as “Candlelight Restorative” and “Unwind and Relax” melt away the stress and you leave you feeling refreshed at the end of your day. Energetic classes such as “Tension Busting Flow” and “Stretch and Flow” provide a fabulous outlet to release tension from your day. Or trying starting your day in a positive way with “Awaken with Power”, “Sunday Flow”, “Level One” or “Easy Flow”, and you will be better able to cope with your day.
Having better balance in our lives – physically as well as emotionally – can do wonders. Let yoga help you reach these goals. Hope to see you soon at Moonflower Yoga!
