The five Faces of Westner Yoga

Yoga pertains to an entire group of spiritual and physical practices that date back as far as 3300 BC in India, an era in which anthropologists have uncovered statues depicting figures in yoga-like postures. as you can imagine, yoga’s influence on the Western world in general and here in the United States in particular, has taken place in a veritable blink-of-an-eye when you look at the whole history of yoga.

Nevertheless, there are a number of people from the past and present who have had a profound influence on the spread of yoga in the West, and probably few of greater significance than the five people listed below…

Rodney’s Yoga: gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/rodney-yee.do

Rodney Yee was once a gymnast, a ballet dancer, and a philosophy major. What do all of these things have in common? the helped him satisfy a deep hunger for knowledge and understanding of the human mind and body. This curiosity is what led him to begin learning, and eventually teaching, his own form of yoga. Rodney has appeared on several national morning shows, and daytime television talk shows like Oprah. He owns a major yoga studio in LA, and is probably THE most well known yoga personality in America, next to Bikram.

Bikram’s Yoga: bikramyoga.com

Although he was born in India, Bikram began teaching his “hot yoga” classes in the California during the 1970s. This form of yoga, in which students perform mostly Hatha yoga poses in a heated room, may be the most popular type of yoga in the United States today.

Shiva Rea’s Yoga: shivarea.com/about

Her name sounds Indian, but Shiva is actually an American-born yoga instructor, daughter of an artist/surfer. Shiva has released several award-winning yoga videos, and has traveled the world to appear at yoga retreats and international studios. now a regular contributor for the Yoga Journal, Shiva has built a name for herself as one of the best yoga teachers in the Western world. she is widely known for her cultivation of Vinyasa yoga techniques into her own style called Prana Flow.

Patricia’s Yoga: gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/patricia-walden.do

While many Western yoga teachers are drawn to the temptation of creating their own, unique style of yoga, branding it and watching it flourish, Patricia has remained dedicated to her Iyengar yoga roots for over 25 years. she has co-authored the Women’s Book of Yoga and Health and starred in several award-winning yoga DVDs, including the best-selling Yoga for Beginners series.

Seane’s Yoga: gaiam.com/category/yoga-studio/yoga-instructors/seane-corn.do

The extremely beautiful, talented and charismatic Seane Corn teaches Vinyasa yoga, and is the star of the hugely popular Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD series. she has been featured on the cover of the Yoga Journal three times, and has also appeared on the covers of Natural Health, Fit yoga, Yoga Life and Healing Retreat and Spa Magazine. Many are drawn to Seane Corn’s charisma and authentic messages of change and progress. she has worked with several political and social programs to bring changes to local and global communities, including a shelter that houses and educates adolescent prostitutes, and YouthAIDS. Born in New Jersey, Seane had her first yoga experience at the Life Cafe in the East Village area of New York.

Have we left out your favorite yoga teacher? Opinions differ widely as to who has had the most influence over modern yoga. But there is no denying that the five yoga instructors above, whether you agree with their teachings or not, are have had a major impact on the way yoga is practiced and taught here in the U.S. and around the western world.

The Five Faces Of Westner Yoga

Published: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 6:06 AM ALEXANDRIA TWP. — A 59-year-old chemist and “lifetime motorcyclist” took a 10,800-mile trip around the United States and parts of Canada to advertise his new cleaning product.

“it was grueling,” said John Clarke, a resident here since 1992. “I wouldn’t say it was enjoyable. but it was very interesting.”

When his business as a freelance consultant dried up in 2007, Clarke, originally from England, needed to find a new source of income. two years earlier, he had concocted an organic cleaning solution for his step-daughter Jessie Thompson, owner and director of The Yoga Loft in Bethlehem, Pa.

“if something doesn’t exist on the market that I need or that someone else needs, I try and make it,” Clarke said. “and occasionally there’s a business opportunity.”

The yoga-mat cleaner he invented is a non-soap, anti-microbial, anti-static cleaner with aromatherapy oil among other “fairly unique” ingredients, and meets USDA organic standards.

It isn’t just for yoga mats — Clarke thinks it would also benefit martial arts uniforms, dance floors, pilates equipment and home gyms. “The whole exercise industry could use it,” he said.

He tried to sell his cleaning solution online, but with little success. at Thompson’s suggestion, he sent samples to a dozen producers of yoga mats and pilates equipment, and “they were very keen on it,” he said.

“we realized we had a good product and we’d better do something about it quick. So I jumped on my bike,” he explained.

He was on the road visiting companies from July 19 to Aug. 18, covering between 200 and 550 miles every day on his 12-year-old Triumph Spirit. Clarke’s wife, Carol, and Thompson scheduled appointments with companies for him from home.

“to go and see these people by conventional methods… would have cost a fortune,” he said.

The trip’s expenses totaled about $2,000, as he camped about one-third of the time, often staying with friends or other members of the International Brotherhood of Motorcycle Campers.Alexandria Township resident John Clarke got special permission to camp next to a giant cactus in the Saguaro National Park in Arizona. Clarke often camped during his month-long motorcycle trip around the United States and Canada to sell his new cleaning product.

He rode to Toronto, British Columbia, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah and Seattle. From Seattle he took the Coastal Highway — “about a thousand miles of hair-pin bends” — down the West Coast.

After San Diego, he headed to Austin, Texas and then home.

Clarke said companies were quite interested in his product.

“it was the face-to-face contact that was very important,” he said. “It’s very easy to blow someone off when it’s in an e-mail.”

Though he’s only making samples at the moment, he plans to contract with a local manufacturer and a packaging company, and expects to sell the cleaner in bulk for about $20 per gallon.

“I need to get some more feedback from customers,” he said, but he plans to put it on the market later this year.

He and Thompson plan to sell samples for $6 a bottle on Labor Day weekend at the Frenchtown River Fest.

Clarke’s trip gave him another idea. Years ago, wool clothing he purchased was no longer waterproof after it was dry-cleaned. So he invented a solution that would re-condition it.

While driving through Washougal (Wash.), he stopped to talk to the Pendleton Woolen Mills shirt company. “I might have another new business, who knows,” he said.

Alexandria Twp. man rides 10,800 miles to sell cleaning product

Custom Search

i need a yoga bag to hold my mat and clothes and other things at the gym, but the ones i have found have either been terribly expensive or terribly ugly. can anyone help?

i really like this style
gaiam.com/product/gift-guide/…

I have this one in red:

cgi.ebay.com/Best-WET-DRY-Exercis…

It's actually pretty large and I can fit tons of stuff in there including towel, shoes, extra clothes, books and CDs for yoga class. It's not as pretty as the Gaiam tote, but it is very practical. I must add that any bag with the mat strapped to the bottom will fall over when the mat is attached.

ebay or amazon

Where can i find an affordable yoga gym bag?

We had a bit of funniness going on at our house after my 9 year old (the photographer) thought I said these were “Yoda Pants”.

These pants have nothing to do with Yoda and, if I’m being strictly honest, they don’t have anything to do with yoga either. but they are extremely comfortable, so they’re living up to their intended purpose. I don’t know why in the world I hemmed them so long. it must have seemed like a good length at the time.

the pattern is a download from BurdaStyle: Corrine Yoga Pants #6021. I used a medium weight cotton lycra from Mill end Textiles (1.5 yards at $1.60/yd (with coupon) = $2.40).

There’s a drawstring, but it’s not really necessary. Well…maybe if you’re doing yoga….

21 Wale: Yoga Pants

Are you frustrated with searching for diet answers? Are there really any Yoga secrets for losing weight? How could low impact Hatha Yoga and a Sattvic diet really make a difference? Why has Yoga been successful in weight loss studies?

It should be understood that Yoga was never designed to be a weight loss system. when Yoga was first developed, approximately five thousand years ago, obesity was not the problem it is today.

On average, people did not live as long as we do. at the same time, people were much more physically active. We rely on machines, use computers, and sit much more than our ancestors did five thousand years ago.

So, where do we get this idea about Yoga and weight loss? The most common form of Yoga, outside of India, is Hatha and its many sub-styles. Hatha Yoga’s approach to physical exercise is usually low impact movement, holding postures, or Yogic breathing techniques (pranayama).

From the outside looking in, Hatha Yoga doesn’t seem to place much demand on the body – in comparison to running, cycling, or jumping rope. However, Yoga is not an exercise system. Yoga is a complete health maintenance system, which improves your mind, body, and emotional state.

Practitioners of Yoga tend to practice for decades without injuries. much like anything else, it is possible to hurt yourself if you push too hard or force a pre-existing injury. Finding competent Yoga instruction is also important.

Yet, in comparison to any other physical activity, students of Yoga will practice for longevity. The reason is – Yoga becomes a lifestyle and it is fun to practice. it is not a dreaded chore to practice Yoga. in comparison, if you ask most people about standard forms of exercise, they will tell you they see exercise as torture.

This is the main reason why most people are physically inactive; they do not enjoy exercise or they find it boring. this is where Hatha Yoga has a big advantage over exercise systems. On top of that, there is a Yogic diet, which is also known as the Sattvic diet.

In a nutshell, the Sattvic diet is vegetarian and consists of natural or whole foods. sometimes, people will find this eating boring, but let’s try a different strategy. The next time you go shopping – do not try to make a big change all at once.

Introduce a few natural or whole foods for weekly meals. Reduce take-out meals and lower the consumption of meat – especially processed meat. By making a few small changes at a time, you will improve your life and the lives of your family members.

Giving family members the choice of processed food, beside natural or whole foods, will open their minds to new tastes. Gradual change is a natural part of life, while drastic change is something we sometimes accept.

There is no need to make your dinner table a source of conflict. Natural food is just another choice. this is one reason why researchers, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, saw positive dieting results from Yoga. A lifestyle you are comfortable with has less stress, anxiety, and frustration.

Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Category: Yoga

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