Vivekan

This is a weekly post from Bodhisattva Yoga’s founder/co-director offering weekly bits of research findings, suggestions, and musings on all things directly & indirectly related to the broad Path of Yoga.

Yoga and Pregnancy

Many practitioners ask me about yoga and pregnancy, specifically, about practicing yoga while trying to become pregnant, and practicing yoga after having become pregnant. This subject merits a much bigger forum than this post can afford; so, I will attempt to keep this concise and related to a Science Daily article that supports the notion of exercising before and after conception.

A study led by Dr. Jeffrey Gilbert, currently of the University of Oregon’s Department of Human Physiology, used rats to determine what effects exercise has on pregnancy, pre-and post-conception. (Yes, despite our conditioning to fear and loathe rats, these creatures share a whole lot with us humans, and ought to be afforded some gratitude with what we’ve learned about our human physiology via studying them.)

Averting Preeclampsia & Taking Stress Off the Heart

The scientists found that the study subjects “in the exercise group had higher levels of a circulating protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than those in the control group [the non-exercising rats]. VEGF and a pregnancy specific version of the protein called placental growth factor (PlGF) are important because not only do they stimulate the development of new blood vessels, they also maintain normal vessel function which in turn promotes good cardiovascular health.” The researchers noted that this finding of increased VEGF can offer opportunities to understand, and maybe even prevent preeclampsia. Further, the rise in VEGF can take stress off of the heart as it improves circulation.

Protection Against Placental Cell Damage

As if that was not enough reason to include exercise/yoga in your pregnancy regime, the researchers also found that the studied rats had a higher amount of heat shock proteins (HSPs) compared to those that did not exercise. The “increased expression of HSPs as a result of exercise could provide a preconditioning effect that may help protect against cellular damage in the placenta during pregnancies complicated by high blood pressure.”

Therefore, whether or not you wish to become pregnant, this study furthers the value of what we here at BY offer, a presentation of yoga that helps you meet all of your desired fitness markers — including the improvement of blood circulation, which is important for women and men alike.

Enroll now and enjoy your birthrights of health, peace and bliss. …And, as a result of your practice, making your already wonderful body even healthier and better prepared for pregnancy, and the awesome responsibility of raising a child with consistent love, attention and life-long guidance — free of prejudice and taboo. Bless you good Mommas, for that’s a tall order!

In health,
Vivekan

Note: Despite its increasing en vogue-ness, valid reasons abound for not wanting to become pregnant; please don’t feel peer-pressured ladies. :)

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Are you a yoga newbie looking for accessible, quality instruction? Or a seasoned yogin aspiring to grow in your practice career– and receive a good challenge while at it? Or anywhere in between, ready to rock a unique approach to challenging Vinyasa alongside our troop of friendly, non-competitive, bad-ass practitioners?

You’ll definitely want to try Bodhisattva Yoga. Each of our classes are designed to develop and strengthen the body with awareness to form and breath, while also offering the opportunity to transform the mind with yogic/Buddhist philosophy and altruism.

Our 1-Month Unlimited Pass for Newcomers, allows you to attend all the classes you wish (with the exception of the Advanced Invitational class) within 30 days from purchase.

Purchase securely online by following these quick and easy instructions (or by calling (718) 499-9642 (YOGA)):

1. Create a quick online account clicking the Sign up! button in the upper-right corner of our Class Scheduler page.
2. Click on the Online Store tab
3. Click on Series and Memberships
4. Select Classes from the drop-down menu
5. Select the 1 Month Unlimited Pass for Newcomers
6. Follow the payment instructions. Payment is secure and you will receive an e-mail receipt.
7. The pass activates the day it is purchased; so you are now able to enroll for as many classes as you would like within 30 days from the sale date.

To stellar health & happiness this Fall season!

:) Jess & Vivekan

Here is Vivekan’s most recent share… It captures his Warrior 3 Series as he developed in his practice. It will form the theme for his classes this weekend through next Thursday. (Depending on the class level, Jess has also been sharing these Virabhadrasana Cycles — as composed by Vivekan.) Feel free to Like/Share/Fave. Most importantly, enroll now into any of our classes to take part in the yogic bounty we love to share.

Vivekan

This is a weekly post from Bodhisattva Yoga’s founder/co-director offering weekly bits of research findings, suggestions, and musings on all things directly & indirectly related to the broad Path of Yoga.

Been There, Done That Mistakes

The yogic path is a path that commands continued renewal. It is not a discipline whereby you try it a few times and then you get it. Many times, I’ve heard, “I’ve done yoga. I know what it is.” When in reality they tried it, at best, a handful of times.

Nor, is the yogic path one where you say something like, “Oh, I’ve done yoga for eleven years.” When in reality, you can count on two hands, and two feet, the amount of practice you’ve actually carried out in those eleven years.

Neither is yoga something experienced for, say, a three-month immersion, after which there is no longer any ongoing study or practice. Instead, Yoga, in the ideal, is a practice and experience that continues without interruption – even if we do lapse here and there.

Yoga, a Journey and an Experience

Yoga is both a journey, and an experience. As soon as it becomes something you can wear on your sleeve, you need to start all over again. So, Yoga ideally becomes a lifestyle (open to many interpretations, ranging from practical to foolish to downright extreme), and not something you merely do after a stressful day.

At its highest, it is a personal series of revelations that grow with your practice. It is this very truth that merits recalling that you, and your practice, deserve continued renewal.

So, enroll now into any of our classes to continue renewing your practice – even if you’ve lapsed from it. Just dust yourself off and renew again.

In health,
Vivekan

Check out our newest “Flow” video. It depicts Vivekan’s Virabhadrasana II Cycle. Although not specifically intended to be an “instruction” video it acts as a great “reference” video — for it captures yet another of V’s original flows. While at it, check out our other videos on the Bodhisattva Yoga Channel. Feel free to Share, Like, &/or Fave.

We are pleased to announce the raging success of 2011′s Semi-Annual Assessments – in March and this month, September!

Not only did participating practitioners walk away with useful feedback from us on their current Intermediate-level practice, most of them gained invitation to our future Advanced Flow class by demonstrating their yogic accomplishments (Sanskrit, siddhis).

Handstands, headstands, spring highs, jump-thrus and meditative seats lit the space on fire. The two of us as proud as parents at a little league game, only rooting for the practice we know can transform the hearts, minds, and bodies of the people we’ve come to adore and champion.

Here are their names in alphabetical order. When you see them in class give them a congratulatory shout! They deserve it!

Carrie Schulz
Geoff Vidal
Georges Piette
Josh Malbin
Julie Regina
Katie Costello
Kay Ch’ien
Lauren Hakala
Morgan Meinel
Silas Munro
Sonia De Beaufort
Stefanie Vesely (Twice!)
Zack Yorke

Wasn’t all the sweating, tumbling, dusting it off and starting over again worth it?

Our best advice as you continue climbing the ranks for continued growth and evolution: show up without arriving. Fall, laugh, dust if off and start again. Rinse, wash, repeat. The siddhi trees will continue to bear fruit and sometimes even throw it at you when you least expect it!

You ROCK.

Your proud fans,
Jess & Vivekan

Check out our new video. It depicts Vivekan’s Virabhadrasana Cycle . While at it, check out our other videos on the Bodhisattva Yoga Channel. Feel free to Share, Like, &/or Fave.

Enjoy!

Vivekan

This is a weekly post from Bodhisattva Yoga’s founder/co-director offering weekly bits of research findings, suggestions, and musings on all things directly & indirectly related to the broad Path of Yoga.

For some time now, scientists have known that a lot of the positive physical effects of exercise regimes, e.g., increased stamina and greater strength, result from an increase in the amount of mitochondria in muscle cells. (Mitochondria are organelles in the cells, and they are responsible for developing energy.)

However, what is new is that researchers have recently discovered that consistent exercise, like our presentation of vinyasa (flow) yoga, increases the amount of mitochondria in the brain’s cells as well. It is suspected that this elevation in brain cell mitochondria plays a role in providing the positive mental effects that exercise offers.

Give Your Brain a Boost

The authors of the study noted that the augmenting of brain mitochondria might contribute to boosting exercise fortitude by enabling the brain to become more resistant to exhaustion, which can adversely affect physical performance.

The South Carolina University researchers are quoted in Science Daily as stating:

These findings could lead to the enhancement of athletic performance through reduced mental and physical fatigue, as well as to the expanded use of exercise as a therapeutic option to attenuate the negative effects of aging, and the treatment and/or prevention of neurological diseases.

How This Finding Benefits You

What does this mean for us yoga practitioners? Well, for one, this post hopefully gives you a deeper appreciation of the body – the microcosm of the Universe – and how it functions. Two, the post reminds us of the myriad benefits of regular yoga practice. Lastly, if you feel too tired mentally, or physically, to come out to practice, this post reminds you of why you always feel better after class.

So, before you’re too tired to think clearly, enroll now into any of our upcoming classes. You deserve to feel better…mentally and physically.

In Health,
Vivekan

Vivekan

This is a weekly post from Bodhisattva Yoga’s founder/co-director offering weekly bits of research findings, suggestions, and musings on all things directly & indirectly related to the broad Path of Yoga.

Recently, a dear practitioner asked why is it worthwhile to visualize doing something – like a yoga pose – even if one cannot yet fully accomplish the pose, or activity in question. Contextually, the query arises from my suggesting, in my yoga classes, to visualize doing a pose (or transitional movement) even if one does not yet feel able to. There are benefits in mentally doing so.

Studies have demonstrated that when an individual visualizes doing an activity, the regions of the brain involved with the action become stimulated. This activity of the brain is largely the same as if one undertook the action itself, physically. Many athletes have stated that their success lies, in part, in visualizing themselves undergoing what they train for – that doing so makes them better prepared for competitions.

These accounts probably have a lot to do with their visualizations stimulating the very regions of the brain involved with the actual activity. I myself can attest to the benefits visualizations can provide, especially when preparing myself for what I may not yet be able to accomplish – let alone in my asana practice.

That’s why here at Bodhisattva Yoga, Jess & I often encourage our practitioners to take breaks when needed. This is not only to avoid strain, and/or avoid practice intimidation, but to offer the opportunity to utilize the power of visualization for its ability to further prepare us for what will one day become easier, like a pose. The caveat is that you cannot give up on yourself, or your practice, because then we are unable to manifest what we are capable of.

So, enroll now into any of our classes, this will help you stimulate your brain and body, and, if appropriate, visualize yourself accomplishing greatness.

In health,
Vivekan

Vivekan

This is a weekly post from Bodhisattva Yoga’s founder/co-director offering weekly bits of research findings, suggestions, and musings on all things directly & indirectly related to the broad Path of Yoga.

Despite our modern conveniences and artificially created environments there is something special about how Mother Nature can get everyone to stay in and observe Her majesty – even if it is tinged with a little bit of fearful foreboding.

Here in Park Slope, you’ve got a wide variety of people; and, it takes something of the magnitude of a 9/11 or a citywide black-out to get everyone on the same page. Yet, that’s exactly what Hurricane Irene did — or, at least the expectation of it. It got everyone on the same page.

As a result, there was a small window between late last night (Saturday, 8/27/2011) and early this morning (Sunday, 8/28/11), whereby all was quiet; not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; or, so it seemed. Mother Nature got everyone in line, and kept everyone indoors.

I did some practice — both late last night and early this morning — during this window of quiet. What a wonderful thing to live in an area as developed as Park Slope and not hear a plane, a helicopter, a truck, a car, a dog, or even a pedestrian. Yes, I was observing Her majesty, in quiet stillness and reflection. What wonder! What majesty!

Perhaps, our society can use more opportunities to stay in and reconnect; if not with ourselves, at least with those we care for.

In awe of the elemental forces!
Vivekan