Archive for November, 2009
Yoga Fun in Pittsburgh
I have an ongoing dialogue with another yoga teacher around the fact that I am always so busy and overwhelmed with work that includes her questioning when it is that I have “fun.” Depending on my mood, I either sulk away from the conversation wondering, “Yeah, when exactly is it that I’M GOING TO HAVE FUN?” or I contemplate why it is that she can’t see how much fun I’m having ALL THE TIME.
It’s hard to reconcile sometimes, but I think that the answer, as usual, lies in my yoga. The more I teach and practice yoga, the easier it is for me to write, process information and feel calm under stress at school. The more calm I can remain at school, the easier it is for me to relax when I spend time with my son and get down there on the floor with him and imagine and build. The more time I spend playing with my son, the more I realise how magical the whole thing is—-people, our life experience, every moment of the day! In essence, the more I have to do, as long as I am always doing some yoga each and every day, then there is fun in it all.
I also feel like I may define “fun” in a radically different way from most people. For example, I just started knitting something for a friend who had a baby recently. Picking the pattern, going to get supplies, and starting these projects. Well, I’m in heaven! I love the process and the whole time I’m thinking about my friends that I love and how happy I am for them and looking forward to meeting this new baby. It’s just a meditation on wonderful from start to finish. Another example is that the times when I feel most grounded are when I’m in a library. There’s something so soothing about the fact that I am surrounded by thoughts and ideas that have been recorded on paper and the books seem to vibrate heavy. It’s quiet in the library and I love to read and think and write. The fact that I spend a considerable amount of time in libraries these days is a great source of joy for me and one that resonates with me in a physical, spiritual and emotional way.
Then, there is the yoga. If you’ve never done yoga before, then perhaps all you think about is that you can’t touch your toes or that you aren’t very flexible or that you like to be more active or that you are a big strong person who doesn’t need wimpy stuff like that———and there is no way for me to use words to convince you that yoga is bliss. My yoga practice brings me more than fun, it brings me here and I feel 10-pounds lighter and I love everyone and I feel taller, stronger and WONDERFUL.
I have come to the conclusion that perhaps I am the most lucky person on earth—-to have work that grounds me in ideas and in my body and provides me with an outlet for my cerebral and spiritual energies while engaging with such wonderful, creative and intelligent people. So the real answer to the question, “When do you have fun?” is a resounding—RIGHT NOW!
Join me at Yoga Matrika in Pittsburgh, http://www.yogamatrika.com/ and experience yourself as lighter, taller and full of bliss!
Posted by Sharon Fennimore Rudyk
Owner, Yoga Matrika
http://www.yogamatrika.com/
http://www.prenatalyogapittsburgh.com
http://www.sharonrudykyoga.info
Chatta-Wrong-A
You have to start somewhere………..
Maybe you’ve been wanting to learn more about yoga, try yoga or just find out what it is that everyone is so excited about? Or, maybe, you’ve been going to group classes for a couple of weeks, months, years and you don’t know the difference between a trikonasana or a paschimattanasana and you are sure that if there was such a thing as a Chatta-Wrong-A that you are definitely doing it?
Regardless of your motivation, we have a great yoga series being offered by Anna Gilbert in January!
Beginner’s Series
Absolute Beginner’s Series with Anna Gilbert
Fridays from 6:00 to 7:15pm
January 8, 15, 22, 29
$40 for series of 4-classes
This series is for adults who have either never done yoga before or took one or two classes long enough ago that you can’t really quite remember if you actually took those classes or just imagined it! Anna will provide an overview of what you can expect in a yoga class from the terms that are used, breathing patterns, physical postures and movements to ways to dress comfortably for class and common studio etiquette. Instructions will be basic, clear and organized in a way that you can build confidence through the series. After you ”graduate” you’ll be confident and ready to drop-in on any class at Yoga Matrika or any other studio and enjoy your class!
Holiday Season @ Yoga Matrika
Hello Matrikas! If you are in Pittsburgh, or visiting Pittsburgh this holiday season, please check out these fabulous holiday events at Yoga Matrika:
FIRST: Elsie Escobar is facilitating a workshop on December 6th (Sunday) in the afternoon called SEASON of LIGHT, BODY of PEACE. This is a wonderful way to find peace and tranquility in these darkest of days that start to get longer and brighter on the 22nd of December! Elsie will guide the group in yoga techniques for finding your center, even in the midst of holiday pressures. She will also help you find an intention for the season and the new year that will guide you into the light of 2010. There are only a few places left, so please pre-register soon. http://www.yogamatrika.com//workshops/
SECOND—please come and find lots of handmade, natural and organic gifts for this season’s expressions of generosity at Yoga Matrika’s open house and craft sales. Many of the items are under $10 and there are also discounted gift certificates and class cards available online and during these sales at the studio.
YOGA MATRIKA
Hand Made Holidays &
Celebrations
* Children welcome—they play & you shop!
*Holiday refreshments to sweeten your day!
*Special offers at each open house.
Come to them all!
Sat. Nov. 21
Open House from 2:00-7:00pm
Make any purchase today and get a coupon for a FREE class with Sharon Rudyk in 2010!
Sat.Dec.5th
Open House from 2:00-7:00pm
Sat. Dec.12th
Open House from 2:00-7:00pm
Make any purchase today and get a coupon for $5 off the registration fee for select workshops in 2010.
Sun. Dec. 13th
Open House from 12:00-3:30pm
Make any purchase today and get a coupon for a FREE class with Maria Graziani!
Holiday Class By Donation
December 18th at 6:00pm
Sharon Rudyk is teaching a honey flow yoga class for all levels and anyone over the age of 12 by donation.
Holiday Party
December 18th at 7:30pm
Enjoy some birthday cake & other sweet treats in honor of Sharon’s 36th birthday, the season of light and the potential fabulousness of the new year! Everyone is welcome to the party!
We have many gift ideas for $10 or less and ALL handmade by Pittsburgh artists. Find great office gifts, hostess presents and stocking stuffers and know that you are supporting small businesses, art and ingenuity in Pittsburgh!
www.yogamatrika.com
6520 Wilkins Avenue/Squirrel Hill
(412) 855-5692
A Great Healing
About 2-weeks ago now, I went to the emergency room in some of the worst pain I have ever been in. The back of my throat was blistered and I had a deep pain in my upper chest. For three-nights I had been up with this terrible pain that did not respond to Ibuprofen or any of the over the counter treatments I had to try. In the emergency room, I was told that I had acid reflux and was given some very powerful medications—-including one that has irreversable neurological problems as one of the common side effects.
I had a suspicion that I actually had a viral infection and made an appointment with acupuncturist Melissa Sokulski at the Birch Center. In addition to the viral infection, I suspected that recent headaches and some of my complaints were related to stress and grief. I had responded well to acupuncture before, so I had high hopes for this treatment and my recovery.
To my absolute amazement, the morning following my treatment, the blisters in the back of my throat were almost completely gone and I had a good sleep. There was obviously a profound shift in my health and well being. The Birch Center is a very comfortable and warm place and does not feel clinical. Melissa provided a unique treatment that was adapted during the treatment based on my response and changes in pulse. There was a great kindness in the entire experience and I highly recommend the Birch Center both for the sweet environment and the obvious technical skill of Melissa Sokulski.
I have a great admiration for healers in all forms—-biomedical doctors, acupuncturists, therapists of body and mind, shamans, nurses—all kinds. There is a certain kind of release that happens when we get the sense that we are in good hands and this peace and trust opens the gate to the healing experience. Part of our yoga practice is being present with both the energetic and the physical body. Disturbances in the energetic body manifest themselves as dis-ease in the physical body and we should actively use our intuition to seek out healing from people that we relate to with a sense of peace.
Pittsburgh is home to many types of healers and we can open to the experience of being healed when we remain open to our intuition and seek healing experieces that are in alignment with our personal truth. While not every healer is the best healer for every person or every problem, I can honestly make this referral to the Birch Center for anyone seeking acupuncture or other alternative treatments. It’s also great to get on the Birch Center newsletter list! The last newsletter had some great information on acupuncture and alternative treatments for H1N1 and for recovery from the flu.
Melissa and David Sokulski, Licensed Acupuncturists
The Birch Center for Health, LLC
1931 East Carson Street, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 381-0116
www.BirchCenter.com
www.FoodUnderFoot.com ~ Wild Edible Plants