Ropes Class with Cindy Dollar
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Come hang, fly, fold, unwind, invert, stretch, bend, turn upside down, and defy gravity!
In this exciting 8-week class, you'll learn how to safely enhance your yoga practice using the ropes at the wall. And it's fun! All levels, including students new to yoga, are welcome.
Class starts Thursday, June 12, 5:30 - 7 pm
Cost: $108. To hold your place, you need to register and pay in advance for the 8-week series. Class is limited to 16 students.
Click here to preregister.
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Happy Back, Too
with Jason Scholder
Sunday, June 22, 1-3 pm
Discover how to practice yoga AND keep your back safe and happy! In many of the poses, you will use Jason's Three Minute Egg, a unique prop that helps make the poses accessible for anyone. You do not have to have taken Jason's Happy Back One class to enjoy this follow up. The class is great for students of all levels.
Click here to register. $30 if paid in advance, $35 on day of class.
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A Weekend Workshop with Matthew Sanford
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 Be Inspired. August 1 - 3Explore yoga from an unprecedented perspective.
In asana, a yoga practitioner must learn to combine what can and cannot be felt and controlled. This is essential, not only for a deeper realization of strength, balance, and flexibility, but also for the unification of the individual with the Universal Self. Through a variety of poses, some strenuous, some subtle, you will explore asana as a practical vehicle for self-realization.
Matthew leads people of all physical abilities and levels of yoga practice to experience yoga in a profound and unique way. Don't miss this opportunity to study with a remarkable man!
Total cost for entire workshop $275. Early bird discount $250, if paid by July 15th
For complete details about the content of each session and prices for individual sessions, click here.
Friday
12:30 - 3 pm Opening Yoga to Everyone
3:30 - 5 pm All Humanity
6 - 7:30 pm Five Sensations
8 - 10 pm Faithful Living
Saturday
9:30 am - 12 pm Alignment, Precision & Effortless Sensation 2 - 5 pm Moving Inward, Deepening Outward
Sunday
9 - 11:30 am Inner Body/Outer Movement
1 - 3:30 pm Back Bending from the Inside Out
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Asana of the Month:
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Extended hand to big toe pose)
with support
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Long before I became a yoga teacher, Lillah showed us this pose in a class one day. This seemingly easy asana was challenging to me in many ways. I was struggling with balancing, tight hamstrings, uneven hips, and weak legs. Over the years, this asana has become an indicator for me as to what areas to focus on to keep my legs balanced and strong, and helps me see how far I have progressed.
Instructions
- Stand in Tadasana about 1 foot in front of a window ledge or chair.
- Inhale and stretch your left leg straight and keep it vertical.
- Exhale, bend the right knee, and set your right foot on the chair. Place your hands on your hips for balance.
- Press down through the left foot firmly, pull the kneecap up to the groin, and continue to push the inner thigh back strongly.
- Straighten your right knee and press the right outer hip down to level the hips.
- Inhale and raise your arms overhead.
- Exhale, pull the belly in and up, and keep your spine straight, with the whole body lifted up.
- Steady the breath and gaze, and hold the pose for 20-30 seconds.
- Repeat with the other leg.
Benefits
- Makes leg muscles powerful
- Stretches hamstrings
- Strengthens back and relieves back pain
- Through balance, one gains steadiness and poise
- Improves posture
- Excellent for all three Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
What to emphasize/variations
- The standing leg, pelvis, and torso should be in Tadasana, with the standing leg stable, hips level, and the pelvis neutral--front to back and side to side.
- Rotate upper inner thigh of the standing leg back strongly.
- Keep your chest lifted and square to the front.
- Don’t let your low back overarch.
- Bring the belly in and up, and pull down the outer hip of the raised leg.
- Draw both shoulder blades down and expand your chest.
- Spread your toes.
- Depending on your flexibility, while standing on one leg, you may either place the other foot on a wall with a belt around the foot, or hold the big toe with two fingers and stretch the leg forward.
Presented by Grace Kandl
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Cindy's Thoughts: Love is in the Air
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Love Is in the Air
I’m high as I write this. I’m on a wedding high from my niece’s marriage celebration last Saturday, June 7th. I had a blast! My mind is whirling with memories of Sarah and Andrew’s sweet relationship that began when they met in the library at ASU six years ago. At least, that’s where they say they met. That sounds like something you would tell your parents, right?
They made their commitment “official” in Jacksonville, Florida, surrounded by family and friends from all over the world. One of the bride’s elementary school friends and her new husband arrived from London. Another friend traveled from Portland, Oregon, and another from Colorado. I chaperoned these girls (with a good friend of mine) to Sunset Beach when they were in high school. My, how we’ve all changed! How fabulous it was to catch up with them!
 The three groomsmen also were childhood friends (including the older brother) of the groom. I heard wild stories from the parents about the four active boys roaming the neighborhood. The father of one of these kids piloted the boat that took the newlyweds away from the reception amid a flurry of fireworks over Jacksonville. Who knew the entire city would celebrate?
The bridesmaids’ entire families drove down from Greensboro, NC. Fathers, mothers, siblings, boyfriends—all were included. Everyone is family at a wedding.
I can’t decide what I enjoyed the most. Yet, as I consider all the activities—lying on towels on Jacksonville Beach with the bridesmaids, chatting by the pool, relishing a pedicure, tasting beers at Aardwolf Brewery, doing yoga in a room with my other niece, Kathryn, dancing with my three sisters at the reception—I recognize that the overall weekend mood was one of love, joy celebration, and gratitude.
We all put aside our personal dramas and had a grand time. Yes, some people arrived late, some drank too much, some got cranky, and some kept stepping out to smoke where I couldn’t find them. (Not that I was herding cats to get everyone together. Not that I’m bossy.) Oh, and some folks wanted to boss some others around.
One of the sweetest things happened at the reception. The first couple up to dance after the bride and groom,
was Uncle Jules and Aunt Bonnie, who are in their 70s. Later in the evening, young elementary-aged cousins of the groom danced inside a circle of encouraging, dancing adults. Weddings bring all ages together.
 A few toasts were made, one by the sister of the bride, which reminded Andrew, the groom, that in the Dollar/Pekarne family popcorn is a meal and nachos are comfort food. The welcoming speech by the Father of the Bride mentioned our mother, MaMary. My sisters and I looked tearfully at each other. Mom would have loved being there, we said.
Here’s a toast that wasn’t made, but could have been:
“May it never be any worse than this. May we always set aside the drama and come together to celebrate in love, joy, laughter, and gratitude.”
Namaste, Cindy
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Book Club - Sunday June 15
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For our June book club, we are continuing to discuss The Bhagavad Gita, the most famous poem in Hindu literature. This beautiful 700-verse poem is a conversation between Lord Krishna and his cousin and friend Prince Arjuna on the morning of a climactic battle. Krishna provides the Prince with the spiritual means to take action under difficult circumstances. The poem is a metaphor for the moral universe of Hinduism and is considered a handbook for self-realization. Thousands of years later, it is still meaningful for our lives today.
If you were unable to attend the book club in May, please join us on Sunday, June 15, from 5:45-7 pm. You can buy one of the many translations of the Bhagavad Gita at the One Center Yoga bookstore.
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Healing Our Backs with Yoga
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A layperson’s guide to pain relief with
Lillah Schwartz
August 22 - 24
Friday, 6:30-9:00 pm
Saturday, 10:30 am-6:00 pm
Sunday 9 am-12:30 pm
22% of the proceeds from this workshop benefit
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Co-sponsored by WNC Woman and Ashevillage Institute
Click below to register and to learn more about the workshop, or call Lillah at 828-273-9401.
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2014 Workshops: Save the Dates!
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