tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42251116680590237552011-08-29T12:21:27.389-04:00This blog reviews and discusses my yoga classes. It also gives suggestions for a personal daily practice. Your responses are requested and encouraged.Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-70446645365357383592010-12-05T17:38:00.000-05:002010-12-05T17:38:06.939-05:00

Being on the road gives me stiff joints and tight muscles. Is it the hours of sitting or the hotel beds? No matter what the cause, yoga helps! I don't carry a mat, nor do I expect to find a yoga class in the hotel fitness center (unlikely), all I need is a piece of floor in the room and a towel or two. Lying on the towel(s) on the floor, begin with legs up the wall pose (Viparita Karani) for a

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-76910962401197647662010-11-24T11:35:00.000-05:002010-11-24T11:35:45.539-05:00

Restorative yoga is the best yoga for a family and food-filled day like Thanksgiving Day. Hopefully before the "Big Meal," find a quiet space, stretch out on your back, with a blanket or towel running the length of your spine, in a passive chest opener, for a few minutes. This opens your chest and fills your heart (the 4th Chakra) with grace and gratitude. Next, rolling onto your belly, push up

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-83631261521729479622010-04-21T08:56:00.002-04:002010-04-21T08:57:51.805-04:00

Half Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) is a challenging pose (asana) even when it is supported. This photo shows how a rope wall, in this case my "Great Yoga Wall" can assist in positioning and holding this pose. Upper body and core strength are required for handstands, but even more than strength, confidence in your ability to get into and hold the pose is paramount. Half handstand, although more

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-13372976580500552212010-04-06T09:06:00.001-04:002010-04-06T09:08:23.285-04:00

1. After the preparation for class described in the previous entry, asanas begin: the teacher will follow the Demonstrate/Observe/Correct methodology, that means: a. he/she will state the name of the pose in Sanskrit (and if you’re lucky in English) and demonstrate the pose. Watch them do it, do NOT try to follow along with them,b. he/she will then suggest you try the pose, do it according to the

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-4807914175264946712010-03-31T15:47:00.000-04:002010-03-31T15:47:10.934-04:00

Preparation for the class: 1. Arrive early, dress, place valuables in safe place. No water bottles in class. If you have a chance, speak with the teacher about physical impairments before class. Classes are at least 1 ¼ hours long, most are 1 ½ hours. The upper level classes are 2 hours. Pace yourself. The teacher may sit on a raised platform, it may seem strange at first but it’s a good idea.

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-62672048205385572242010-02-27T16:48:00.000-05:002010-02-27T16:48:14.675-05:00

Yoga is an excellent addition to any exercise or fitness program. Most sports and fitness activities focus on a specific set of muscles and use that set repetitively. Yoga is a balancing activity which requires many areas of the body. Many poses are practiced in both directions, to ensure equal stretch and strengthening on both sides of the body. Other poses are balanced by their very nature

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-75366266372427610722010-02-17T22:04:00.001-05:002010-02-17T22:14:09.437-05:00

Preparing for backbends is an incremental process. First, an adequate warmup is essential for a backbend practice, ensuring supple muscles and a flexible torso. Next, when you are warmed up, set up your backbend practice so your spine flexes in small increments, either moving up or down the spine. For example, lying on your back on your mat, position a block or firm blankets under your back to

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-52433778403302547862010-01-27T11:04:00.000-05:002010-01-27T11:04:09.439-05:00

Yoga while seated on a chair is a good way to have a gentle practice. The chair is a support that  allows modifications of many poses. Start with a sturdy metal folding chair. Open the chair and place it on a yoga mat. This will prevent the chair from slipping during your practice. A simple seated twist while sitting on the chair is a good start. Crossing your leg, so your ankle is on your

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-26722790044362941952010-01-09T11:10:00.001-05:002010-01-09T11:11:09.147-05:00

Meditation time is all the time. While finding 15 minutes to do another worthwhile activity seems challenging, we can take the approach that meditation is now, each moment. Every second of living is a meditation. The concentration, focus and attention we call mindfulness is meditation. Through mindfulness we live neither in the memories (good and bad) of the past, nor in the anticipation or

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-17131384612379366612009-12-19T12:32:00.000-05:002009-12-19T12:32:55.115-05:00

Prana is frequently translated from Sanskrit as "vital force" or "breath". It is the breath of life and the energy of consciousness in yogic teachings. Dr. David Frawley, in Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization, describes prana as "the master form of all energy working on the levels of mind, life and body." Pranayama (yogic breathwork) couples the poses (asanas) of the physical body

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-52955941076940191522009-11-19T09:59:00.001-05:002009-11-23T08:55:38.238-05:00

Backbends are the ultimate opening for hunched-over bodies. Our daily activities encourage rounded shoulders and collapsed chests. Backbend poses help counter habitual body positions such as sitting at computers and desks, and driving a car. One very good preparation for backbends is ball work. The giant ball used in many bodywork activities can support our vertebrates from the base of the spine

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-90893150264294462192009-11-06T09:28:00.002-05:002010-01-09T12:21:21.820-05:00

A yoga practice takes 15 minutes a day. Thats all! It isn't a commitment to an hour in the gym (along with the travel time), or an hour run (add shower time, too). Your yoga routine can be just 15 minutes. To make the most of the practice, do it every day. That usually means doing a practice about the same time each day. It makes scheduling easier, and your body will get into the habit and be

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-27110913009349460422009-10-25T19:30:00.004-04:002009-10-25T20:09:05.933-04:00

Without the breath yoga is just exercise. While many times we do our poses and think about using the breath later, awareness of the breath can give much more depth to a yoga asana practice. To introduce breath-work into a practice, I think of three things: the quality of the breath, the quantity of the breath, and the frequency of the breath. The "quality" of the breath means the conscious

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-43519132287737699262009-10-17T09:28:00.004-04:002009-10-17T09:52:10.056-04:00

I have been teaching only private sessions for three months and I am enjoying the experience very much. Sharing yoga with individuals, one on one, or with just two students, is by far the most effective way I have found to teach yoga. And from the comments I have from my students, they also feel the private experience is valuable. The process of learning the poses and understanding the

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-85568174562019002142009-07-21T11:25:00.005-04:002010-01-09T12:17:51.657-05:00

My new studio has a Great Yoga Wall. It is a rope wall fairly common in Iyengar studios, but a very special one. The Great Yoga Wall, has specially designed straps for hanging and holding various body parts. It is a great way to do supported poses, such as inversions. And it also allows for extension and traction. Some of the straps are padded so it is much more comfortable than most rope walls

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-49754264480088426932009-07-16T19:59:00.005-04:002010-01-09T12:19:38.357-05:00

Great News! My new studio complete. I started having private sessions this week and it is wonderful! Please contact me if you are interested in seeing my studio, and if you are interested in a private session.

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-47675686201299145342008-11-08T11:13:00.005-05:002008-11-08T11:29:19.116-05:00

We begin this class with seated centering and gentle breathing practice. This is a fine opportunity to set an intention for your practice, ie. dedicating your practice to yourself, or others; expanding your sense of awareness of the present moment and living from that moment. After a few warmup poses we learn about inner and outer shoulder rotation. This is essential for chest opening poses such

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-42793855306648526542008-10-30T12:04:00.006-04:002010-01-09T12:14:06.919-05:00

This class is designed around Parsvakonasana, Extended Lateral Side Angle Pose with a block, utilizing three aspects of this pose, shoulder release, torso twists and hip opening. It is a restorative class, meaning the poses are done with support to allow for resting in the pose instead of holding (using your muscles to hold your body up.) Start with a passive chest opener using a blanket roll

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-79193933152505134732008-10-25T21:32:00.001-04:002008-10-25T21:34:12.833-04:00

Karen Stolz's Facebook profile

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-89986285469586127842008-10-06T09:59:00.007-04:002008-10-06T10:37:42.653-04:00

I am teaching a Private Session today, and I spoke with someone recently about private lessons, so decided I would write down some of their benefits for this blog.Several simple and compelling reasons come to mind:a. These lessons take place at your convenience, both at a convenient time and place. While it is an advantage to be in a studio, it is possible to have a lesson at your home or work

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-22661689305547748532008-10-01T21:39:00.014-04:002008-10-02T08:14:59.314-04:00

This class was designed around Utthita Trikonasana, Extended Triangle Pose. It is generally considered one of the most important standing poses.We started with Utthita Trikonasana using a block to assist in alignment of the torso. Using strong feet, with lifted and engaged thighs, we moved to include a revolved torso and fully extended arms. We moved then to Utthita Parsvakonasana, Extended

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-26413322346708339032008-09-30T09:04:00.000-04:002008-09-30T10:59:03.436-04:00

Yoga for Skiers and Riders will be offered on four consecutive Thursdays: Oct 30, Nov 6, 13, and 20, 2008. This class is for fit skiers and riders wishing to prepare for the upcoming ski season. Topics to be included: targeting sport specific muscles groups, stretching and strengthening, improving joint health, developing better balance, moving more efficiently, preparing for peak performance and

Karen Stolzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976688717815607524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225111668059023755.post-41285490201631307912008-09-29T13:55:00.000-04:002008-09-29T14:31:05.741-04:00

This class was designed around Tadasana, Mountain Pose. We started with standing and becoming aware of our feet and pressing down on the four points of the feet, under the big toe joint, under the pinky toe joint, the inner heel where it meets the instep and the outer heel opposite. Lifting up on the top of the foot, lifting the instep of the foot.We moved to the wall, using it to check our

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