Time passes.

I'm still here.   I'm still making sense of my heart surgery and now I'm facing a total hip replacement.   I've talked to some people about my experiences flatlining but have basically kept it as a skeleton in my closet to avoid having my ego think I am too special.   Get this.   We all cast off our bodies at some point and all have some kind of experience when we do that.   There is nothing special about it.  

Now if I'd come back with some kind of super power...

So the inflammation in my body after heart surgery seemed to turn on arthritis in my hip and basically ate away all my cartilage there. Adjusting to the pain, I've distorted my posture and messed up my walk.

I was reluctant to accept the surgery because I believe that given enough time, my body could heal.   Time is the question.   I've elected to get my hip fixed now in order to move forward, straighten out my body, and get mobile again.  

The cool thing is that throughout the deterioration of my hip joint I've had to rethink my yoga, my body image, and who I will become.   Now I get to be a beginner again and start that process all over.   I've been given the gift of the "do over".  

Remember when you first discovered yoga and how damn good it felt?   I get to do that again.


Namaste,


Dean

2012 Yoga Predictions

Here are my predictions for the state of yoga for 2012!

1. MRT, Metabolic Resistance Training, will hit yoga. MRT is anytime you use supersets or circuits and train with an elevated heart rate and insufficient recovery---think fast Sun Salutations and lots of them---Ashtanga!

2. Arial/hammock/trapeze/swing/hanging yoga will be showing up in more studios and draw a whole new crowd in the doors.

3. Hot classes will continue become the norm and get hotter.

4. More and more mainstream products will be marketed directly to yoga practitioners----remember coconut water?

5. Yoga teacher trainings and the certification money machines will dry up. You are your own guru.

6. The go to diet will be raw, gluten free, and vegan.

7. More yoga classes will be shorter, 30-40 minutes.

8. There will be Personal Trainers that advertise and exclusively use yoga for training.

9. High School sports teams will require yoga classes like they used to require time in the weight room.

10. Yogis, including me, will have better intentions because the road to hell is paved with good ones.

Have the happiest year ever!

Namaste,

Dean

End of Summer Quarter at WVC

August 24 is the last class for the Summer Quarter at WVC. You can go to their website and sign up for Fall Quarter now!

Last week both classes were held outside. It was incredible. Balance takes on a whole new meaning standing on uneven ground. What a great lesson! It is easy to work on balance when things are stable and the same. When they are uneven and fluctuating it gets a little harder. Hopefully your breath and the intention to practice are constant.

I take a weight-lifting class from Tammi Flynn, who, after having three kids, took third in bodybuilding nationals and one of many things I've learned from her is that if you do the same thing you get the same results. You need to challenge yourself to grow!

I was out-of-town and took a Bikram class. Oddly you do the same poses in every class but the heat is so overwhelming. Let's just say, I was challenged by the change in temperature.

What could you do today to change things up and increase your growth?

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Namaste,


Dean

Chaturanga Dandasana Variation

Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training calls this move Spiderman Push-ups. We're going to call it FUN!

Start in Plank position and then lower yourself down to 2 inches off the floor in Chaturanga Dandasana---keep those elbows in tight. Lift your left leg, bend your knee turning it out slightly, and then draw it up toward your left elbow. As you push yourself back up to plank, return your left foot back to its original position. Repeat with the right leg.

Now do it again...and again.

Keep breathing!

Here is a video link: http://www.livestrong.com/video/5245-spiderman-pushups-/


Namaste,

Dean

DVD Recommendation

When people ask me for a DVD for home practice, Eoin Finn's PURE AND SIMPLE YOGA is the first thing out of my mouth. It is a great practice and Eoin is a wonderful teacher. His cues are clear and his enthusiasm and love of his own practice is evident. It is available on Amazon.com for $22.

Namaste,

Dean

WRAC Open House Tomorrow

Come check out the WRAC Tomorrow, December 5 and take a free 2 hour class from 12:30-2:30 pm. It will be a half hour each of Zumba, Cycling, Group Power, and then Power Yoga.

The WRAC is located at 1913 Skyline Dr., Wenatchee. The phone number is 509-662-3544.

Namaste,


Dean

Get on your mat

Home Practice 2

1. On your back, feet flat on the floor knees up---breathing in and then pressing the lower back into the floor on the exhale 8x
2. Same position, three part breath 5x (Dirgha Pranayama)
3. Roll over onto all fours coming into Child’s Pose
4. From here come to Down Dog/Adho Mukha Svanasana
5. Uttanasana---standing bent over and grabbing elbows releasing the back
6. Slowly come up into Tadasana.
7. Surya Namaskara A---take it slow for 2x
8. Surya Namaskara B---2x ending in Down Dog
9. Come to standing and Side Bend on both sides
10. Simple Balancing pose---Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana/peace fingers grab your big toe and extend
11. Vinyasa into Warrior I, Warrior II, Reverse Warrior, Triangle and Reverse Triangle,
12. Repeat other side---Warrior I, Warrior II, Triangle, Reverse Triangle
13. Lunge to Prayer Twist and then to Eka Pada Raja Kapotanasana/Pigeon---then repeat on the other side
14. Come to standing and then Vinyasa down to a seated position
15. Paschimottanasana/Seated Forward Fold
16. Navasana/Boat Pose----work those abs
17. Roll onto your back for Lying Twist
18. Savasana
19. NAMASTE!

August Practice #1

Dean’s Practice #1 for August/September 2009

1. Three-Part Breath---do 5

2. Valasana/Cat Flow

3. Side Arm Balance/Vishistasana---keeping your forearm on the floor to work your core

4. Balasana/Child's Pose to Adho Mukha Svanasana/Down Dog

5. Surya Namaskara A---do at least 2

6. Surya Namskara B---do 2 of these also

7. Garudasana---Eagle Pose, right leg over, right arm under, repeat left leg over, left arm under

8. Malasana---squat, hands in prayer position, elbows inside knees, drop your tailbone

9. Vinyasa to Warrior I, Warrior II, Triangle Pose, Twisting Triangle, come forward both hands to your leg or floor and then back up to Warrior I. Vinyasa and repeat on the other side

10. Vinyasa to Down Dog and take your leg through to Pigeon Pose. Come back to Down Dog and then come up to standing

11. Vinyasa to Ardha Dhanurasana/Bow Pose, return to Down Dog and come to standing

12. Vinyasa to Navasana/Boat Pose

13. Janu Sirsasana/Seated with one foot against the opposite leg, then bend forward

14. Upavistha Konasana/Seated Spread Leg Pose, bend forward

15. Purvottanasana/Reverse Table Pose

16. Lying Twist

17. Savasana---relax for at least 5 minutes

Om Shanti

Namaste!