It’s hard to believe I’m already sitting down to write the February newsletter. January passed in a flurry of activity. Thanks in part to all of you who have sung the praises of Yoga Fix Studio we welcomed over 200 new students this January. This has made for quite an exciting and busy start to the New Year. As class sizes increase remember to come early if you like a certain spot in the room. Everyone has been so good about making space for others. With 40 people plus in a room we all have to make sure we are lining up and making room for others to join the class. And let’s remember during final savasana to be as quiet as we can when gathering up mats, towels and water to leave the room. We want to give our fellow students 15 minutes of peace and quiet to relax without the interruption of talking voices or loud noise. I encourage all of you to do your best to schedule those 15 minutes at the conclusion of class for savasana as this is the time and space in which everything you worked so hard for 90 minutes to accomplish really settles into the body, helping to let go of those final remnants of stress.
For those of you who have not tried our new Get Healthy Series on Saturday afternoons from 3 pm to 4 pm; I encourage you to try the February session on Hams and Groin. I just completed all 4 weeks of the Neck and Shoulders and have to say what a great experience it has been. To take an hour a week and just focus postures on a particular problem area in the body was quite restorative. The classes left me feeling energized, refreshed and more relaxed. The hams and groin can be quite a trouble spot for most people. You will really notice a difference in your separate leg stretching postures if you do more ham and groin work. It’s tight hamstrings that keep a lot of us from going deeper into eagle, warrior, and separate leg stretches, etc. So, I truly hope you take a Saturday or all 4 Saturdays to experience this workshop for yourself.
Again, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support in getting 2010 off to a great start. If we can continue to grow the studio this year it will allow me to look at new ways to grow what we do here at Yoga Fix Studio. March 1, 2010 will mark the 2 year anniversary of my ownership. The first year was a rebuilding year that had me pretty nervous as a new owner. Thanks to the hard work of my staff and the support of customers we grew the business in year 2 allowing me to turn my attention to expanding classes and teaching staff. In 2010, our 3rd year of Yoga Fix Studio, I will turn my attention to training, workshops and opportunities to increase attendance. While my priority will always be Hot Yoga as that is the core of this studio – I will also actively pursue classes that round out your practice by focusing on specific health issues and restorative practice, as well as stress relief. I believe these are issues we all deal with and could use more opportunities to address. Keep an eye out for new workshops and classes and feel free as always to give me feedback. This is your studio and your opinions and thoughts are always welcome. If you like what is happening at Yoga Fix please pass the word along. It has always been a challenge that we have been tucked away in the bottom of a building that is unmarked with our name, so it is loyal students who I credit so much with passing along the praises of Yoga Fix and helping us grow. Thanks for letting me do what I love to do, running a business in which I feel good about the “product” and people with whom I get to work and serve. For those of you who have been asking about Fred, my dog, he says he can’t wait to be back in the studio more this spring when he can take walks outside and meet and greet all those friendly Yoga Fix students.
If you are ever in doubt about whether we are open for class please call ahead before getting on the road. I will post cancelled classes on the voice mail at the studio. Closings will NOT be on the Web site. My general policy is this: snow is not as big of a deal as ice. Snow we can drive in (as long as crews have cleared the roads and the snow is not too deep) – ice on the roads is a hazard and I want my students and staff to be safe. So, snow on the ground, most likely we are open. Ice making the roads too hazardous and we will most likely close for the day or part of the day. So again, call ahead if in doubt and check the voice mail message – this is your line to information. Thanks.
Now that the stickers are mounting up on the board it is so much fun to see and hear the buzz as students mill around the board checking their progress. New students often ask how many times a week they should be coming to yoga. When you first sign-up, especially for Hot Yoga it would be ideal if you came everyday for the first 30 days and then 3 days a week after that. If you’re thinking to yourself that’s a huge time commitment – you’re absolutely right! With all the debate about Health Care and healthy living – this is one thing that you could do for yourself that has such long lasting benefits. There is a saying that if we are not whole and healthy than we can not take care of those around us and all of the challenges that life sends our way everyday. A regular routine of yoga can really clear out the cobwebs of the brain, strengthen us physically creating more energy and heal our spirit. So, I can’t think of anything else that would be such a worth while commitment.
Stepping down from the soapbox, I want to congratulate all of you who signed up for the Yoga Challenge this year and wish you the best in sticking to your commitment as it is a commitment to yourself for peace of mind and body. I love seeing the board fill with shiny stickers knowing that Yoga Fix Studio plays a part in keeping you happy and healthy!
Once again we are blessed with wonderful art on our walls. Kathy Disney’s display of Missouri Tour, the bike race and Water Fire are colorful and artful feasts for the eyes. Be sure to slow down and look at this beautiful art. And remember, if you see a piece that calls to your soul – the art is for sale.
So please come support these artists, both established and new up-and-coming. Bring your friends by the studio. This is such a great opportunity and gift for these artists to hang their work in our studio. I have artists set through February and am looking for more artists. So your suggestions are welcome.
Women’s Self-Defense Class –
Begins April 11th through May 16th, 2010
Sundays from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Optional Practice Time from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Why Take a Self Defense Class:
While this may not seem very yogi, I actually believe it is and I think it is a very important thing to learn. This is a personal class to me as I was attacked outside, in front of my home one morning on my way to work. While I was lucky because I fended off my attackers and got away with ten stitches in my forehead; it makes one realize there are skills in this world we may not relish learning but would be well served to know. Now this was at least 5 years ago and I have always thought “gee I should take a class,” in fact many of my friends said they would take a class if I’d organize one. Well, I never seemed to get around to it. Now I have the facility and the resources to organize such a class. So I ask you to join me in this non-threatening environment where we can learn together the mind set and the techniques we need to know to “get away.”
I have always been a little shy about learning self defense and that is why it has taken me so long to do this. I really wish that morning when facing two men running at me, one with a club in his hand that I had taken just such a class; because I am keenly aware that that morning could have turned out far worse had the door to my house been unlocked, or I hadn’t had a “sense” to turn around right before they got close enough to grab me from behind. Many women are not so lucky in these situations and a few stitches won’t be enough. So as much as we don’t feel comfortable (many women I know) talking about these things or being aggressive, I invite you to come learn the skills you need and bring your friends and your daughters because we all need to be strong and know what to do if we are ever faced with a potentially threatening situation.
What You will Get From this Class:
The class is divided into six sessions. Hopefully this will be enough time to develop the kind of muscle memory and coordination needed for these techniques, as well as a habit of regular practice.
By the end of the 6 weeks you will learn three basic things:
1) You will develop an arsenal of reasonably easy-to-learn techniques which can be used in a wide variety of common confrontational situations.
2) You will learn practical psychological techniques for recognizing and preventing most dangerous situations.
3) You will take with you the tools to continue your learning on your own through consistent practice and outside resources. This class will be most effective if the student practices the physical and psychological techniques for a few minutes daily throughout the course.
About the Instructor:
Elizabeth has studied martial arts for the last 19 years. Her training has included hard martial arts, such as Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Jiu-Jitsu, and Chinese Wushu, as well as the soft meditative/martial arts of Taijiquan and Qigong. All of these martial arts influence her style of self-defense teaching, with the greatest influence coming from Tang Soo Do. Elizabeth spent two years in China as an English teacher, during which time she was able to deepen her martial arts studies and glean some information about Chinese medicine and philosophy. Drawing on this extensive experience, Elizabeth has developed a self-defense course that she has been teaching for the past year.
Fee: 6 week session: $45
This is a workshop is for women only. Sorry Men.
Please Pre-Register for this class: 6 week session $45.00.
Call: 913-384-3200
Or Drop-in: Yoga Fix Studio
2000 Shawnee Mission Parkway at the Corner of Stateline Road
in the bottom of the Reece & Nichols Building.
Still time to enroll in Stretch Thoes Hams & Groin – attend all 3 remaining sessions for $45 when you pay in advance or take a single class for $20. Or sign-up for an upcoming workshop series!
Get Healthy
Workshop Series
Announcing 4-Week Yoga Workshops
created to restore and maintain health
to specific areas of the body.
February - March
Stretch those Hams & Groin
Having trouble with those separate leg stretches and forward bending head to toe postures because of tight hams, hips and groin? Feeling pain behind your knees or in the back of you legs when you’re stretching? Learn the postures you need to open up these tight areas. You’ll be amazed at how much deeper you’ll take your separate leg stretches. Take your practice to the next level – enroll today!
Dates: Saturdays 3 pm to 4 pm
February 13, February 20, February 27 & March 6
About These Workshops
This series of 4-week long workshops has been designed to address specific problem areas of the body. You’ll open each class with breathing to warm you up and get you ready for practice, next you’ll move into postures focused on specific areas of the body, close with some relaxation breath and get 2-3 postures to practice at home during the week. Stick with this practice all 4 weeks and begin to feel a noticeable difference in the way you look and feel. While Yoga is not a quick fix, it is a lasting fix when practiced regularly. Chronic issues do not come on overnight and they take time to work out. These 4-week workshops are designed to build habits that will overcome imbalance in the body and restore your natural healthy state.
Many of us suffer from tight neck and shoulders, bad backs, knee issues, week ankles and tight groin and ham strings. These can be the result of acute injuries, chronic stress or over-use and repetitive motion. Whatever the reason, it often results in on-going pain and discomfort. In addition these injuries can limit our ability to deepen our practice. Yoga Fix created this series of workshops to address the most common problem areas of the body. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking these focused workshops. Sign-up for 1 session or sign-up for multiple sessions – you’ll be glad you did!
All Workshops: Saturdays 3 pm – 4 pm
Benefits to You:
Work out Chronic Pain
Deepen Your Postures
Release Stress
Feel & Look Better
Gain Flexibility
Build Strength
Balance Your Body
Sleep Better
And so much more
Give Us an Hour a Week and We’ll Give You
More Flexibility – Less Pain and Better Health!
February - March Stretch those Hams & Groins
Dates: Saturdays 3 pm to 4 pm
February 13, February 20, February 27 & March 6
April Healthy Spine – Healthy Back
Dates: Saturdays 3 pm to 4 pm
April 10, April 17, April 24 & May 1
May Juicy Knees and Ankles
Dates: Saturdays 3 pm to 4 pm
May 8, May 15, May 22 & May 29
How to Enroll Today!
Sign-up at the front desk or pay as you go! To get the most out of these classes, sign up for a 4-week session. These workshops are designed to attend all 4 sessions to see the best results. Plus, buy all 4 sessions in advance and save $20. Sign-up for multiple sessions and save even more! If you just want to come and see what it’s all about drop-in and buy a single session the day of the class. Sign-up in advance for multiple sessions and save money or sign-up the day of the workshop, either way remember to make this a must-do on you to-do list!
Enroll Today!
Time: Saturdays 3 pm – 4 pm
Cost: 4-Week Session: $60
Buy 2 or More 4-Week Sessions for Only $50 each
Drop-In Rate: $20 per class
About Your Instructor – Drew Corrigan
Drew has a passion for yoga bringing a gentle, healing energy to his teaching. He teaches a blend of flowing Vinyasa with alignment-based classical or Inyenger style. Drew lexplores the alignment and flow of energy in a pose so that he may then integrate that into the “flowing” form of Vinyasa yoga to structure the series of postures he uses in his classes.
Drew completed 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Certification with highly regarded yoga teacher and author in July 2008, having previously completed numerous shorter teacher training workshops with respected national teachers such as , , , Paula Tortolano, , Renee DeTar, and , plus many hundreds of hours of practice and instruction under wonderful yoga teachers local to Kansas City. Drew is also a certified and licensed YTU (Yoga Tune-Up) instructor.
In addition Drew is a body worker who is trained in a variety of healing techniques. It is this blend of knowledge in yoga and body work that Drew will bring to each class as he focuses on specific areas of the body to restore and maintain health.
Beet and Walnut Salad
Serves 8
1 small bunch beets, or enough canned beets (no salt added) to make 3 cups, drained
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped apple
1/4 cup chopped celery
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon water
8 cups fresh salad greens
Freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1/4 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
Directions:
Steam raw beets in water in saucepan until tender. Slip off skins. Rinse to cool. Slice in 1/2-inch rounds. In a medium bowl, toss with red wine vinegar. Add apples and celery. Toss together. In a large bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil and water. Add salad greens and toss. Put greens onto individual salad plates. Top with sliced beet mixture. Sprinkle with pepper, walnuts and cheese. Serve immediately.
Calories 80
Cholesterol 5 mg
Protein 3 g
Sodium 115 mg
Carbohydrate 8 g
Fiber 2.5 g
Total Fat 5 g
Potassium 291 mg
Saturated Fat 1.6 g
Calcium 53 mg
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Source: This recipe is one of 400 recipes collected in the "Fix-It and Enjoy-It! Healthy Cookbook" published by Good Books and available at the MayoClinic.com Bookstore.
One for the Pooches!
Peanut Butter Goodness Dog Treats
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup peanut butter (all-natural or organic)
1 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Combine oil, peanut butter and water. Add flour, one cup at a time, forming a dough. Knead dough into firm ball and roll to 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut into 3 to 4 inch pieces. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.
Prep time is about 20 minutes on these dog treats. And you'll feel rewarded when your dog thumps his tail in appreciation! Dogs do love peanut butter!
