Yoga at The Redding Senior Citizens Center

Seems Osteoporosis has been a concern for many members lately. I found this Physical Therapist online who specializes in Osteoporosis and Osteopenia. Check it our it you're interested.
I will also repost Ganesh Mohan recommendations from an Ayurvedic perspective.

Brick House Bones® Method – Level 1 for Beginners Brick House Bones® Method Level 1 for Beginners An 8-Week Structured Exercise Program for Osteoporosis & Osteopenia Created by Dr. Lisa Moore, DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy ⟡ Osteoporosis & Bone Health Exercise Specialist ⟡ Creator of Brick House Bones® If you want a clear plan instead ...

Natural breathing isn't random. It is governed by one of the most sophisticated control systems in the human body.

With every breath, your nervous system continuously integrates information about oxygen needs, carbon dioxide levels, energy demand, heart rate, and countless other physiological signals. Based on this, it subtly adjusts the depth, timing, and rhythm of each breath—without any conscious effort.

This is why natural breathing isn't perfectly regular. One breath may be deeper, the next shallower; there may even be brief pauses. What appears to be "instability" is actually remarkable responsiveness. Your respiratory system is constantly adapting to your body's changing needs.

The practice of observing the natural breath isn't about making it deeper, slower, or more controlled. It's about learning to stop interfering with a system that has evolved over millions of years to regulate itself with extraordinary precision.

Trust the intelligence of your natural breath.

Our course Breathe Well offers a comprehensive, structured approach to understanding and working with the breath — for your own practice and for those you teach or support.

Learn more - see the link in the first comment below.

Changes to July's yoga class schedule:
Bruce and I will be traveling a bit this month.

I need to cancel 2 classes:
Wednesday July 15th both floor and chair classes
and Friday July 24th

Heather will be leading the floor class next Wednesday July 8th. If anyone wants or needs help with their yoga practice I will be available. This is the intended purpose so please don't hesitate to ask.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!

We've talked about this in class before...where it feels like you need to stretch, but most of the time we need to mobilize and strengthen. Another great message from Remy Tortosa

This week, I want to bring something simple back into focus.
Mobility is not stretching.
Stretching can open a door, but mobility is what allows you to walk through that door, control your body inside the room, breathe there, and come back out with confidence.
A lot of people think they are stiff because they do not stretch enough.
But often, the real problem is not a lack of flexibility.
It is a lack of control, strength, coordination, and trust in the range they already have.
Passive flexibility is when your body can be placed somewhere.
Mobility is when your body can move there with awareness, stability, and intention.
That difference matters.
Because your nervous system does not care how far you can force a position.
It cares whether you can own that position.
When your body feels safe, it gives you access.
When it feels weak or uncontrolled, it protects you with tension.
This is why the goal is not to chase bigger ranges.
The goal is to build a body that knows what to do with the space it has.
Stretching may create space.
Mobility teaches you how to use it.
Please tell me where you feel you lack the most control right now.
Have a wonderful day,
Rémy

Ganesh Mohan has written a new book...If you are interested in learning more about the Yoga Sutras this may be a book for you!

The Essential Translation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Authentic, Clear, Consistent, Focused The provides an accessible path to understanding one of yoga’s most important texts with depth, precision, and insight. This translation is guided by four principles: : Grounded in Vyasa's canonical explanation of the Yoga Sutras and the major Sanskrit commentaries that expand upon it. It is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTrOcmkwXE4

Many of our members have asked about sitting on the floor. Encouraging a neutral spine vs collapsing in the low back and chest. This is an Iyengar teacher who shares a tutorial. To change any habit requires time, patience with oneself, and the willingness to be consistent with the practice.🤗

How to Lift the Spine in Seated Poses | Iyengar Yoga A steady, upright spine is one of the foundations of seated practic...

I love this guy! (Doesn't hurt that he's an adorable Frenchman!) What he writes is inline with what Ganesh Mohan teaches. If we make our practice pleasant, Remy uses joy, but if we have a pleasant breath, pleasant movement in the body, and pleasant mind that motivates us to continue because it's creating a positive samskara; a practice you look forward to!

Hey,
If you struggle to stay consistent with your practice, that's okay.
It's normal.
You do not need to blame yourself.
You do not need another motivational speech.
Before we talk about consistency, we should probably ask a more important question.
Why are you practicing in the first place?
What are you actually trying to achieve?
Most people give the obvious answer, but rarely the specific one.
"I want to be more mobile." "I want to get stronger."
"I want to fix this and that."
But what does that really mean?
What changes in your life if you succeed?
What will you be able to do that you cannot do today?
The more specific the vision, the stronger the foundation.
Then comes another challenge.
What should you actually do?
This is where many people get lost.
A few videos on YouTube, a few tips on Instagram.
Hundreds of coaches and thousands of exercises.
Endless opinions.
Most of them were not designed for you.
So you try. You stop.
You start again.
Maybe you buy a program.
Maybe you finish it. Maybe you don't.
And eventually you tell yourself that the problem is your lack of consistency.
But consistency is hard.
20 or 30 minutes per day is a real challenge.
The truth is that motivation is not enough.
Discipline helps. But discipline alone is not enough either.
The real question is this:
What makes you want to come back tomorrow?
For me, the answer is joy.
The traditional approach is goal-driven.
You practice because something is broken and you want to fix yourself.
There is always a gap between where you are and where you want to be.
And that gap creates pressure.
But what if joy became the reason you practice?
What is joyful is attractive.
What is playful is nourishing.
Joy should not be the cherry on top of the cake.
Joy should be the cake.
The goal is the cherry.
This is why I often encourage my students to move away from goal-led practice and toward something else.
Purpose-less practice.
Moving because it feels good. We simply take what’s there and move with it, no matter what that may be.
Practicing because it brings you back to yourself.
Taking care of yourself without pressure.
No performance. No guilt.
Maybe that sounds unrealistic.
Maybe even a little naive.
But from the bottom of my heart, I believe there is a much easier path there.
And a much more sustainable one.
What do you think?
Have a wonderful day,
Remy Tortosa