All posts tagged: gentle yoga

Wisdom Body Yoga & Meditation

Published by Sharon

Have you ever witnessed a friend, family member or colleague at work create suffering or patterns of suffering for themself?  It’s so hard to watch.  It’s so easy to identify the pattern, the problem, the mistakes.  It’s equally simple to see an obvious solution.  On the other hand, you know that communicating your clarity and the obvious solution is unlikely to have the desired effect for the sufferer.  Your suffering friend will likely defend their actions, their pattern and even fight to maintain their problem (or that there isn’t a problem at all) until their last breath.  What you would witness, if you ever got the courage to approach your suffering person knowing that the friendship or relationship might be forever damaged, is the power of the ego.  Your ego knows that suffering and the commitment to that pattern is comfortable and complete.  The ego will jump in to defend itself and hear everything as a criticism.  The ego will not be defeated.  And, even worse, the truth for all of us is that we …

Yoga and Meditation Class Schedule

Published by Sharon

Here is Sharon Fennimore’s current group yoga and meditation class schedule WEEKLY CLASSES MONDAYS 7:00 to 8:15 pm RESTORATIVE YOGA @ Mookshi Wellness Center RESTORATIVE YOGA is a nourishing practice for all experience levels and physical abilities.  A combination of mindful movements, supported asana, breathing and meditation practices that are designed to bring you into a deep state of relaxation.  The movements bring your spine through a full range of motion in the most gentle way possible allowing you to release tension and access a state of well-being.  Mookshi Wellness Center provides ALL the equipment you need (blankets, yoga mat, bolsters, and blocks).  Just wear comfortable clothes and get prepared to be really, really relaxed. WEDNESDAYS 10:00 to 11:00 am WISDOM BODY YOGA and MEDITATION @Mookshi Wellness Center WISDOM BODY YOGA and MEDITATION is a combination of secular Tibetan Buddhist practices for movement, breathing and sounding.  We practice some floor poses, a sequence of nine cleansing breaths and then groups of exercises to calm the mind, release tension in the body and create a state of …

Ode to Miss Joyce

Published by Sharon

Miss Joyce is the name that I gave, as a young child, to my teacher-ego.  It was clear to me at a very young age that one of the greatest values of knowing anything was to be able to share that knowledge with as many people as possible.  I forced my younger sister to take my reading classes.  Having just learned to read myself, I was quite a passionate teacher.  Whatever I lacked in experience, I made up for in my soul’s dedication to sharing. The journey continues as I am spilling over with renewed passion for sharing everything I know about yoga and meditation with you.  Even as the news reports of savage pain, increasing violence, poverty and grief beyond measure, I know that we have the ability to gather as a community to embody and disperse healing energy and light.  It is not selfish to make time for your practice.  It is, perhaps, the most powerful thing you can do to make change in the world–one cell at a time.  Yoga and meditation …

Matrika on the Go

Published by Sharon

  I’m taking matrika style on the go and you can find me offering yoga and meditation classes on Sundays and Mondays at mookshi wellness center!  Save your space in a series today.  I’m also offering a workshop for women and one for meditators.  I hope to see you at mookshi soon! GROUP CLASSES Mindful Flow Join me for this esoteric bliss mission!  In this yoga series open to all levels, we move with the breath creating joy in open awareness.  As our practice is a moving meditation, we use a variety of poses, breathing exercises and visualization techniques from Chinese, Tibetan and Indian yoga traditions to create flexibility and strength in body, mind and spirit.  This healing practice will help you feel centered, relaxed and inspired.  Enjoy a stronger and more flexible body as you build a foundation for profound happiness and tranquility. SERIES I: Mondays, March 4, 11, 18 and April 1 from 10:00-11:15 am SERIES II: Mondays, April 8, 15, 22, 29  from 10:00-11:15 am Tuition: $60 for each series of 4-classes …

Yoga for Women

Published by Sharon

I am so delighted and honored to have been invited by The Yoga Room in Warren, Ohio to facilitate a workshop on the lunar cycle and womens’ health. In this workshop for women we will explore various cultural, physical and emotional beliefs around transitions in the menstrual cycle. For this experience, we will focus on the moon cycle that brings women through a variety of energetic wisdom cycles that are separate from the menstrual cycle.  Through visualization and meditation, we will learn a specific technique to tune into this energetic moon cycle and to use this cycle to support our creativity, decision making and intuitive trust.  Next, we will explore yoga poses, energy practices and aromatherapy that supports hormone balance, cardiovascular and reproductive organ health and sexual energy through pre-menopause and menopause.  Although this session will be about the cessation of menstruation, the techniques and yoga tools provided will be useful to women in all phases of menstrual cycle and experience. Participants will explore the anatomy of menstruation and the cessation of menstruation from the …

Private Yoga Therapy

Published by Sharon

Private sessions are the ideal format for learning the therapeutic application of yoga. Many yoga practitioners in America see yoga as a way to “work out.” This is great and yoga IS a wonderful way to gain strength, improve endurance, balance and flexibility. You most certainly can lose weight practicing yoga and the way we practice in “classes” makes it seem just like pilates, aerobics or a stretching class. But, the truth is, there is just SO MUCH MORE.There are yoga practices that can help support optimum health in every area of your life. It is cost-effective, efficient and safe. More than just a “class” or a “workout,” yoga is a holistic method for improving your well being and quality of life regardless of your diagnosis or how chronic or permanent your problems, pain or disabilities may seem. It’s not magic, but the incredible benefits of yoga are well documented. Whatever your issue, please call me for a confidential and no-obligation phone consultation: 412-855-5692. Here are some of the reasons why people come to Sharon …

Summer Yoga Deals

Published by Sharon

Summer tends to be a season of relaxed schedules, road trips, camping and special time spent outside—-walks in the evening after supper, playing out on the lawn late into the night because it is still light out and it is easy to fall out of the routine of your yoga practice. This summer, we want to help you keep your commitment to your practice by offering awesome deals on unlimited yoga. Our studio is kept to a comfortable temperature with air conditioning and you will enjoy taking an hour out of the sun to refresh mind, body and spirit. Our discounted unlimited yoga packages are valid for ALL classes on the drop-in schedule as space permits. As space is limited in classes, we suggest that you enroll in classes online. This will also help you make and keep your commitment to yoga. Please note that the schedule is not, in any way, guaranteed. Individual instructors will take vacation time and may miss one or more weeks of a class. Some classes currently on the schedule …

The New Yoga Happy Hour

Published by Sharon

Yoga Matrika now offers two classes each week at 4:30pm: Mondays 4:30 to 5:30pm Hatha Yoga with Angela Scardina Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:30 pm Yoga I with Sharon Rudyk This is a real gem of a time to do yoga if you can make it.  First, these classes are a sweet one-hour in length.  Second, as they start before 6pm, our discount package for daytime classes (4-pack for $32) applies.  Third, you can have your day, get in a quick yoga practice and then have a relaxed dinner and a walk on a fine spring or summer evening rather than rush through dinner and force yourself to run back out the door for a night class.  We know that not everyone has the option to take a class at 4:30pm, but if you do, then give one or both of these classes a try.  It’ll be a treat! Oh, and, it is my great joy to introduce the Yoga Matrika community to one of our newest instructors, Angela Scardina.  Angela is originally from the rural …

Duh? Breathing is Important!

Published by Sharon

Apparently, new research has shown that breathing is important.  While this may seem ridiculously obvious, the health implications of a breathing practice (aka. pranayama) may not be.  What yogis have known for thousands of years is just being discovered again and revealed in this NPR article. To make a long story short: Breathing is good for you You can use your breath to calm down Breathing is so powerful that it can change your gene expression If you already have a yoga practice, then you know the profound effects of learning to take deeper breaths.  If you don’t, then there is no time like the present.  Place your feet on the floor, relax your shoulders and take a deep breath and release it.

Holiday Weekend Home Practice

Published by Sharon

One of the main foundational texts on the Buddha’s teachings on meditation, written by Upatissa in the first century after Christ, is called The Path of Freedom (Vimuttimagga).  It is interesting to me that a path that requires dedication and practice, things that we tend to see as un-liberating, would be seen as producing a sense of freedom.  In addition, this work that we do in yoga and meditation helps us to promote compassion for all living beings.  In our American culture, there is significant value placed on being “independent.” When I was in the last few weeks of my pregnancy with my son, I visited with my future child’s pediatrician and he gave me a little booklet put together by the pediatric practice on how to prepare to care for a newborn.  This booklet informed me that it was of the utmost importance that I obtain a crib and that my newborn sleep by itself.  The booklet did inform me that this was the safest way for baby to sleep, but it also made …

Movement & Memoir

Published by Sharon

Yoga Matrika is delighted to host local author and yogini, Dana Killmeyer in this workshop that allows us to to release memories with gentle movements and combine creative writing, yoga and journaling to explore our experience and life in an entirely new and fabulous way! You can register here Movement & Memoir Facilitated by Dana Killmeyer January 30, 2010 Saturday afternoon, 2:00 to 4:30 pm $25 pre-registration, $35 at the door (space allowing) Movement and Memoir is a hybrid class blending elements of yoga and somatics with creative expression, primarily autobiographical writing or journaling.  We will focus on observing our environments, both internal and external, as a catalyst for releasing tension and broadening our awareness.  Finding inspiration in our senses and perceptions, anatomy, literature, performance, music, art, meditation,and social critique, we will explore various aspects of observation and expression, stillness and animation.  Expect a gentler, more introspective yoga practice with an emphasis on breathing, as well as wrists, shoulders, and lower back–areas that tend to get overused and neglected after long periods of sitting.  Please …

Walking on Earth

Published by Sharon

There is a Chinese proverb that says that: The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth. This is the same with a yoga practice.  Over time and with intelligent stretching practices, the body will open and become more flexible.  With practice, beginning yoga students advance in their alignment and ability to do a greater variety of poses.  It is truly beautiful to see an experienced yogi express the spirit of a pose with a deep and profound expression of grace.  Advanced students create a flowing meditation through soft and easy breath and the control of balance and energy through bandha work and reflection on the philosophy and science of yoga.  While these are all beautiful reflections on the potential of yoga to create balance, ease and strength and grace, I see the miracle in the beginners.  It starts with the honesty of effort and the realisation when new students see that even by drawing their awareness to the breath, without changing anything …