InsightsfromtheMat

We spent time over the last weekend thinking about Mothers. Now it is time to connect to the Mother Within by experiencing Yoga surrounded by Mother Earth. Yoga in nature can be a powerful experience, regardless of the frequency of the type or frequency of your typical practice. Exercise by water increases the calming effect of Yoga. In a Huffington Post interview with Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist and author of the Blue Mind he explains that while near water individuals experience “a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment.”  Exercise near water helps you to relax, which is why we always feel better by the beach. Did you know that being around marine life and water, alone, also have a powerful impact? Staring at the water helps with focus and internal awareness. It also decreases your heart rate by 7% and blood pressure by 4% according to a recent...

A National Survey of Americans reports 14.2% of adults practice some form of meditation (2017). Meditation is a mind-body practice that helps to focus the mind which increases calm, physical relaxation, coping mechanisms, and overall health & well-being. How to get started? Meditation is easy to start and hard to master. Like Yoga, Meditation is a practice . You need to let go of expectations and embrace the process. Many types of meditation exist, below we will describe one of the most common. Seated, Quiet, Meditation Step 1- Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down.  Step 2- Close your eyes. Step 3- Release. Your first meditation will not be perfect. Focus on a mantra (phrase) or word. Repeat the Mantra as a means to focus your mind on the present, not on the list of things you have to do. If your mind wanders, bring it back to the word, or mantra. An Earth Day Mantra suggestion:   om shanti shanti (om= universal sound, shanti=...

  On April 28th, I will be running The Canaan Valley 1/2 Marathon . Today, I finished my first long run, 8.1 miles.   The Crazy I live on the Beach in Florida. My house is, legally, 5ft above sea water, Canaan Valley is 3,100ft above sea water. I am, also, 48 years old, haven't run more than a 10k in over 20 years, and my life of late has been anything but smooth. The smart, not crazy , person, decides to sign up for a 1/2 Marathon at elevation, with 2.5 months to train. My justification: we have to close down the ski house, we get to spend time, and say goodbye for the summer to our ski family.  Totally sane, and not even a little bit crazy. The Gratitude My life has been a little topsy-turvy as of late. I have been focusing on Gratitude as a means to focus on the positive.  First , for the ability to run a 1/2 marathon. Not everyone has that ability to run a 1/2 marathon. Even though it will probably take me as long to run this 1/2 Ma...

So you have decided you want to try a Yoga Class, Congratulations on the first step of your Yoga Journey.   In Yoga, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money to get started; fancy clothes and mats are not required.   Wear comfortable clothes that allow for free movement and for a small fee, most yoga studios, have mats you can rent.   But if you really want your own mat, or are practicing at home, these are the things to keep in mind. Yoga Mats of Various Thicknesses First, yoga mats are thinner and stickier that typical exercise mats.   The stickiness prevents you from sliding and allows for a better grip, especially during balance during poses.   Mats, typically, rage from 1/16 inch to ¼ inch.   A 1/16 inch mat is very thin and is most often used as a travel mat.   The thickest mat, ¼”, is best for restorative yoga and can make balancing poses challenging in a typical class.   Most mats are 1/8” thick and ar...

You may wonder why I am talking about Scuba Diving & Yoga?  Simply, without my yoga practice I would not have made it through the weekend.  Pranayama, or yoga breathing, helps us to focus our mind during our practice.  Research has shown that it is also effective in calming the central nervous system and clarifying our thoughts.  I, like many, have struggled with anxiety, especially with some of the activities that we enjoy.  Scuba Diving is no different.  What follows is how I have used my yoga practice to control my anxiety, the side effect has been an increased confidence in my scuba skills and in myself. PADI Open Water 2017 In November 2017,  I jumped back into the water to get my PADI Open Water (OW) Diver Certification.  This was something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but FEAR , had stopped me from achieving it.  By sorting through my fear, and taking baby steps, I was back under the water.  SUCCESS!...

I love yoga, but as an Exercise Physiologist I understand the importance of cross training.  At the FMB Yoga Project we are excited to offer Pilates on Tuesdays & Thursdays @8:30am at Newton Park.  New to Pilates?  for $5 come at 8:00am for a short Demo Class. Now I wouldn't tell you to take a class that I haven't done.  Marti is an amazing instructor with a passion for horse back riding and animals big and small.  I, however, am awful at Pilates.  I have to modify everything, and often can't finish all of the exercises.  But you know what, that is OK.  Everyone has to start someplace, and Pilates works complementary, but not the same, muscles as Yoga, so it is good for me. You remember my Runaway Ornament, right? ( Runaway Ornament on FMB Yoga Project Facebook Page ) If you want to learn more about the Yoga Pilates Connection check out this article by Yoga Journal So what should you expect at your first Pilates Class?...

The story behind the FMB Yoga Project is simple.  I am a Yogi. I live on Fort Myers Beach (FMB) & have for the last 5 years. I have been "complaining" that I can't find enough classes on our 7 mile stretch of sand. So . . .  I decided to put up or shut up!    I met with some fabulous supporters & like minded folks on FMB.  Anchor Mind & Body ,  We Choose Yoga , IslandFit Physical Therapy  and most importantly, Kristen Strain of  ParadiseRAW   the result . . . The FMB Yoga Project was born.  This is a Passion Project that has 3 simple goals: 1.  To Support ALL efforts to raise the level of Wellness Programing on FMB. 2.  Create a common calendar to share classes, dates, times, and prices. 3.  Provide a set of common classes taught by qualified, insured, passionate instructors to anyone who desires one.  (We refer to these as our Punch Card Classes) . It is that simple.  Sinc...