A Black Ugg Boot Affair

Whoever thinks the ladies (and Gavin!) at the front desk don't have fun at work is entirely mistaken.

Proven by one long email chain and a size 8 Ugg boot.

December 11, 2013 From: Lilly

Subject: A Black Ugg Boot Affair Ladies and Gavin,

If anyone comes into the York studio returning a size 8 black Ugg boot - our dear client Diana will be so very happy.

Someone left class with one Size 8 Ugg and left her with one Size 9 Ugg so now she walks down the street with one shoe too big.

I don't know if this Size 8 boot will resurface, but if it does please call Diana and deliver the good news.

If anyone can turn this into a Shel Silverstein poem I'll make you cookies.

Regards,
Lilly 

From: Jaida
Subject: Re: A Black Ugg Boot Affair 

It's like I read children's books for my job or something....

On the eleventh of December, of 2013,
Diana took class at York.
She took off her boots and hung up her coat,
then practiced her Down Dog, Cobra, and Stork.

Her class concluded in an hour or so,
And she floated out of the room in bliss.
But when Diana went to put her boots back on,
She noticed that something was terribly amiss.

Her favorite Ugg boots were of two different sizes -
One a size nine and the other size eight!
And when she searched the hallway for the missing boot,
she could not locate its orphaned mate.

She spoke with Lilly, working hard at the desk,
And together they looked high and low,
But sadly, the boot did not appear,
And Diana trudged away in sleet and the snow.

So now the front desk staff is left with a mystery!
Riddled with questions and doubt.
Will Diana ever locate the missing boot?
We will just have to wait to find out.

From: Chloe
Subject: Re: Re: A Black Ugg Boot Affair
How can ANYONE compete with that?!?! Not even going there.

From: Nicole
Subject: Re: Re: Re: A Black Ugg Boot Affair


Jaida, you're amazing.
The following is BASED on a true event...I like happy endings ;)


Twas the morning of the eleventh in December this year,
When little Miss. W awoke,
She thought to herself "I'm stressed as can be!
I think I'll take yoga at York!"
She scurried and hurried and ran straight to class,
Her size eight Ugg boots on her feet,
Once at York she slipped off those boots right away,
And laid them to rest on a seat.
What little Miss. W didn't know at the time,
As she ran in the room with a haste,
Was to the left of her boots was a seat just the same,
Where size NINE Ugg boots had been placed!
As their people took yoga, the boots stared in awe,
They had never seen something like them.
They played and they laughed and they shouted at once,
"We must see each other again!!!"
Time quickly passed and the class came to close,
And little Miss W appeared,
With peace in her heart, she slipped on her boots,
All her stress and worries had cleared.
But as little Miss W walked away down the street,
The toes on each foot felt quite strange,
Confused, she ran back and asked the front desk,
"My boots aren't the same! Who's to blame?!"
A giddy Miss Lilly at the desk there at York, said
"Oh my, I'm glad you came back!
For the woman with the other mismatched pair of boots
Will return again tomorrow, in fact!"
And there you have it--as the Ugg boots had intended,
Their brilliant plan firmly stay,
They will indeed meet again, their friendship still strong,
So till then, Happy Holidays, Namaste!!

Happy Holidays from the creative staff at New York Yoga! 

Yes, "Universal Practice" Does Include the Men!

Men, we understand the feeling of walking into a room filled with women and yoga mats can be daunting. Sure, you may have never come to practice yoga before because you believed that is was just about stretching and being in touch with your feelings. But, now that you're in the classroom and surrounded by female yogi's... you can't help but to feel out of place and uncomfortable. Halfway through the practice, you have most likely realized: this yoga thing it's exactly what you had imagined.

Here is what Stephen Walkiewicz at Men's Fitness has to say:

Going into my first-ever yoga session, I can see that I had this yoga thing completely misunderstood no matter how much credit I tried to give it. To me, it was just a silly stretch workout that vaguely had something to do with meditation-granola munching fluff. I couldn't have been more wrong. It's an intense workout that is physically and emotionally demanding.

More and more, we are seeing men taking the leap to join their first class and then coming back for more every day following. In Western culture, yoga marketing has been very faithful to female yogis by featuring women in clothing advertisements and yoga blogs. We believe yoga to be a universal practice, meaning all can profoundly benefit from being on the mat. Men, if you haven't made the jump to beginning your first class, don't be fooled by the view from outside looking in. Some of our most dedicated students and teachers are strong male yogis who have found the practice to be emotionally and physically challenging... so much so we see them every day of the week!

Don't be intimated, it's your practice too. Here's to the man on the mat!

A few related articles of interest:

• A First-Time Yoga Experience
• How Adam Levine Finds Strength, Focus and Balance

At the front of the Room: Cara Cooley

Students come to her class to groove to the knockout playlists, to be moved by her magnetic personality and to be reminded that laughter is just as essential to yoga as any asana. Cara Cooley, is just one of our multi-talented, creative teachers at New York Yoga. In case you have never found the time to chat with her after class or hang with her after a performance, here's a few things Cara has to share with you.  

Why did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

Cara: I started doing yoga a lot on the road when I was touring with a musical. I started doing podcasts in my hotel room. I found I was able to stay grounded and healthy even in the extreme lifestyle being on the road creates. I came back to NYC and decided to get my teacher training so I could share what I had learned with others. 

Did you ever imagine doing something else? 

- I actually never really thought I would be a yoga teacher! I'm so glad I did though. I've been continually amazed how I've been pushed and challenged as a person in the process of teaching. 

What is the most challenging aspect of teaching?

- The most challenging part of teaching is learning that you really have nothing you can teach to anyone. I just try to create a safe, inspirational environment where I hope students can learn and grow. 

What is your favorite pose?

- My favorite pose always changes! Right now I'm into backbends so I love king pigeon. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned through your practice?

- The most important thing I've probably learned is still evolving and it's the ability to walk towards challenges in life without fear. To persevere and never give up. 

What inspires you most?

- I'm so inspired by music.

Do you have any talents your students may not know about?

- I play in a band! 

What is one thing you would like your students to know?

- I'd like all my students to know I'm so honored for the opportunity to lead them through their practice. 

You can catch a class with Cara at New York Yoga HOT:

Sundays: 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Mondays: 5:15 p.m.

Fridays: 6:35 p.m.

Is Hot Yoga Safe?

A lot of people have hesitations about trying out Hot Yoga for the first time, and skeptics have probably been waiting for the medical study that backs up the spiritual benefits of a Hot class.

Click this link to see the article that has just that.

With proper hydration, according to the experts, Hot Yoga is perfectly safe. But, you know, we've been saying that for years!

Yogitales: Dayton Haigney

Yogitales are your stories. At New York Yoga, we are continually inspired by what we hear from our students, about how yoga has had a transformative effect on their bodies and spirits. We wanted to share those stories with our community of yogis, and Yogitales was born.

I started practicing yoga approximately five years ago.  The York studio is located in my neighborhood.  One day, I decided to take a class for no particular reason.  That night, I could not believe how open my shoulders and chest area felt- I was sold.

Like many, I initially thought that yoga was all about bending and flexibility.  However, I soon learned that yoga is more about strength building (in particular the core and lower back).  I'm an avid skier- the yoga has immeasurably improved my performance on the hill.  Skiing is mostly about a strong core (the balance and lunges also help), which yoga practice builds.

More importantly, yoga has a strong spiritual component.  I've always had a spiritual life.  When I started practicing, I did not grasp the yoga/spiritual connection.  I was especially weary of the references to ethereal energy.  That changed through a profound experience.  My wife, Alexandra (Ali), practiced yoga for many years.  I think she was one of the original members at NYY.  She battled stage four cancer for many years.  After a long battle, the disease started to approach the end stages.  At this time, she was living in California.  I mentioned to my favorite instructor, Rachel Page, that Ali had gone into hospice.  Rachel took an interest in her progress.  Ali passed on a Wednesday.  I was beside myself and went to Rachel's class in an attempt to inject some normalcy into the day.  At that point, I was still a relatively new practitioner and struggled to make it through classes.  At the beginning of class, Rachel stated that I had suffered a loss and asked that the fellow students send energy my way.  During the class, I felt like superman.  I mentioned this to Rachel following class.  She pointed out that it was because the other students had sent their energy to me.  I left the shadows of doubt and became a believer in the super natural powers of yoga.

Thank you New York Yoga for transforming my life.

Five Great Reasons to do Hot Yoga in the Summer!

Now that New York has finally decided to get the temperature on the same page as the calendar, and it's heating up out there, you may be skeptical about continuing your Hot Yoga practice through the summer months. It's easy to get into the hot room in the winter, when it's cold outside, and New York Yoga provides a respite from the winter chill.

But here are five reasons why you should continue working in the hot room in the summer, too, even though you are being tempted by the gods of central air conditioning!

1. Hot Yoga can help acclimate you to the season’s heat. Your body cools itself more efficiently and effectively through sweat. So when you leave the yoga room, the outside feels cooler than inside! It works the other way around also—when the hot room feels cooler than the outdoors, practicing becomes a delight!
2. Your muscles, joints and ligaments will already be nice and warm when you enter the studio, so you will likely find you’re more flexible and can go deeper into the postures during the summer. Stretching and strengthening your body with hot yoga is the best way to increase joint flexibility, core strength and spinal mobility.
3. The summer heat can leave you feeling sluggish—Yoga is a great way to fill your tank with energy by increasing your oxygen intake and balancing the various systems of the body. Hot Yoga encourages you to stay well hydrated and to replenish your electrolytes regularly. This can be a great benefit during the hot summer months.
4. Practicing Yoga will give you an advantage in any summer athletic endeavor you choose—swimming, hiking, sailing, biking, jogging, beach volleyball-ing…No matter what outdoor activity you choose, Yoga will increase your strength, stamina, balance and coordination. Not to mention, burning 800 calories or more per class will get you buff in all the right places.  You will look great and feel more comfortable and confident all summer long.
5. Activate the immune system and lower your risk for illness by detoxifying your body in a healthy air quality exercise environment. High quality air exchange helps protect the body against infection. Get re-energized. Rejuvenate your body and clear your mind by practicing in a heated environment, spend quality ‘me’ time focusing on your own health needs.

Pose of the Month: Kurmasana

Pose of the Month

Kurmasana – Tortoise Pose

by April Evans

If you’re anything like me, you have seriously had enough of this Vata spring season.  Vata is the Ayurvedic dosha of air and ether.  It is associated with change and creativity, and is highly present in the transitory seasons of Spring and Autumn.  When we have a particularly Vata spring, where it goes back and forth from and rain to sun and hot to cold, we can get to feeling like the winds of change are dealing us some hard knocks.  We get to feeling too airy, too spaced out, too much like our feet aren’t on the ground.  It can be hard to make decisions, and for those of us who are naturally airy to begin with, we might experience anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings.

This month’s Pose of the Month is Kurmasana – tortoise pose.  For me, this pose is the ultimate grounding posture.  Just like a tortoise retreating to his shell, this posture always makes me feel safe and reminds me that no matter what is going on around me, I am always at home in my own skin.

Benefits

*Balances Vata Dosha

*Calms the Mind

*Opens the entire back body

*Opens inner and outer hips

*Tones abdominal organs

How to do this Pose

There are lots of stops on the way to the full expression of Kurmasana – stay and breathe once you’ve reached your edge.  Remember, you don’t have to be able to hook your ankles behind your head to embody a calming inward gaze.  Also, this is not a pose to do cold.  Warm up the hips, hamstrings, and space between the shoulder blades before trying this pose.

1.  Come to sit on the mat.  Bend the knees a lot and place the heels on the ground about as wide as the mat.  Drape the torso down in between the legs.  For some, this will be plenty.

2.  Reach from the insides of the legs and take the hands to grab the backs of the ankles.  Begin to work the shoulders underneath the knees.  Squeeze the knees into the shoulders to feel the shoulder blades open up, continue to let the head drop and breathe deeply.

3.  Start to reach the arms out in a V shape behind you, and begin to extend the legs long into a V shape in front of you.  The forehead may come to the floor, or maybe the chest can extend forward and the breast bone and chin will come to the floor.  This is another great place to stay and breathe.

4. If this feels good, start to reach the hands toward the center of the back, and begin to wiggle the feet toward each other.

5. For the full expression, you may be able to find a clasp with the hands near the small of the back, and hook the ankles behind the head.

6.  Breathe deeply into the safety of your own little shell.