Wednesday, March 4, 2015

To help you defrost... 2 sessions for $100

March 4, 2015

As we "march forth" through winter, I'm delighted to offer this special combo deal...

two 90-minute sessions for $100

-- that's 180 minutes of bliss, for less than a dollar a minute! ;)

First session: 90min "Yogic Stretching" - like passive yoga, I'll stretch and compress you and help get your energy moving.

Second session: 90min Energy-Balance* - Reiki combined with Chakra-balancing techniques.
*Option to substitute a 90min Ayurvedic Nutrition Consultation for the Energy-Balance session.

Click here or read below to learn more about what you might experience in these two sessions.

Sign up here or email me to book your first session now! <3


You know you want to - treat yourself !

Thursday, February 19, 2015

What is "Prana / Chakra Yoga"?

Prana Yoga is the name of the yoga teacher training I graduated from in 2011, led by Dr Jeff Migdow and Priti Robyn Ross at the New York Open Center. These two teachers had been involved with Kripalu's yoga teacher training in the past, which is evident in their focus on moving energy, and the Hatha-like style of their "Prana Yoga" teachings -- including longer holds in each asana (yoga pose or posture) as well as soft pauses between poses. (As opposed to the Vinyasa style, which is more prevalent in many studios these days, characterized by a continuously moving, sequenced flow from one pose to the next.) An intriguingly unique feature of the Prana Yoga practice is the chanting of the seven bija mantram, or "seed sounds" associated with the seven major chakram ("wheels" of energy in the body's subtle layer). Chanting and breathing into our chakras helps bring focus and balance to these energy centers, which are each associated with one of our endocrine glands and with different aspects of our psyche.

What I find most fascinating - and beneficial - about Prana Yoga is this focus on the chakra system, and on cultivating awareness of our own inner workings and experiences as we practice, or, as one student put it, "marinate in" each pose. Every Prana Yoga asana has its own unique effect on our body, mind, and spirit, as each helps us access a different chakra. For example, certain postures help us feel more grounded and stable, which signifies a connection to our Muladhara or Root chakra; some poses help open our chests, which in turn helps to open the Anahata or Heart chakra; many poses can "work" several chakras at once. Different constitutions and circumstances require different 'tools' to help maintain balance in the system -- sometimes we need to open a chakra more to release specific emotions or holding patterns, while other times we need to rein in a chakra's energy; this is part of the awareness we must develop in order to fully grow as healthy human beings. Learning how to combine asanam with breathing techniques and bija mantram helps us to re-align ourselves as needed, and to help support overall well-being in the many layers of our selves.

I really enjoy the Prana Yoga style of practice and meditation, and I continue to call it Prana Yoga in recognition of, and in deference to, my teachers and their wisdom. But when I teach it, I often refer to it as Chakra Yoga - partly because I tend to incorporate other yoga schools' techniques, which alters the practice a bit, and also because I think that including "chakra" in the name helps people understand what makes it so special and different. Please contact me to get on my mailing list and find out about my Prana/Chakra Yoga class schedule, or to inquire about private or semi-private classes - or to ask me anything about yoga, the chakras, or Ayurveda!


Be Well,

Katie

Katherine D. Rosenthal, Holistic Wellness Practitioner
www.KratuWellness.com

February 19, 2015

P.S. Check back soon for a post that explains the Chakra System in greater depth...