With regards to the previous post where a student is unhappy with the time shift in the class schedule: this change was because of an overcrowed locker room with too many students at the same time changing classes. There were problems with not having enough lockers or even space available to all YogaWorks members. In an attempt to accommodate membership the class was moved 15 minutes later. Isn’t yoga supposed to help with making it easier to accept and allow change to happen?
Paul
Many of us do not agree with the summer time change of theYogaWorks Flow 1/2 class with Denise on the West Wide, Tues & Thurs evenings. Leave your suggestions in the box outside studio’s 1 & 2 and let the management know. Fifteen minutes later is impossible for many of us with kids. Let’s go back to 7:30 pm please.
Thanks,
Sarah P
When it comes to asana class I like doing twists. Twisting postures more than other poses get into those deep places in the body. They are good for digestion, breathing, flushing pelvic organs and aligning the spinal column. They also support and prepare you for other poses like back bends. After a yoga class concentrating mostly on twisting I feel renewed and refreshed, almost like I had more than a chiropractic visit. Twists are my favorite.
Joanne
Denise in Headstand
I want to add to the Inversions Post Below by including this photo-
by Photo Yogi
I enjoyed the inversions class we did recently. I need more work on mine, but I like executing headstands, handstands and shoulder stands. There’s something about them… Turning my world upside down is tons of fun. Hope we do more classes like this one in the future.
Mike
I am a new student in Denise’s YogaWorks Midtown Class, and I want to take the opportunity to say this is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. I love the class. I love the teacher. I love the results. Attending only a few sessions so far I already see results in my body and with my stress level. I’m so glad I found this class and this teacher.
Deborah
Ever since returning from Canada last week and speaking of her work with Rodney Yee at the Toronto Yoga Conference, Denise has been working on Mula Bandha in class, and I told her I was going to do a post here regarding the nature of the work. I can admit I am one student who used to think in order to lift and align the floor of the pelvis I had to engage or contract muscles between the pubis and rectum. In the yogic tradition there are a number of bandhas to consider when attempting to bring the body into balance. Mula bandha is one of them. The word “bandha” translates from Sanskrit into meaning “to lock,” so naturally I assumed muscle contraction was part of the equation. But yoga poses work with the subtle body and the energetic body as well as the anatomical body in ways much different from what I’m used to in our Eastern tradition of so-called working out. It turns out there’s an ongoing interplay between “softening the groins,” which sticks the behind out, and “hooking the tailbone under,’” which pushes the pelvis forward that brings the root of the pelvic floor into alignment, thus aligning the rest of the body with ease. It’s really much more gentle (but not easily mastered) than “locking muscles” into place. I am reminded again that in the asana portion of learning yoga every action has a dual action, and also that the word “yoga” itself means “union of opposites.” How’s that, Denise? I think I’m getting it now.
Tom
In India Sai Baba spoke these words and I liked them, so I’m adding them here for Denise because I know she makes reference to Sai Baba’s words too through her spiritual work with Derek O’Neill:
“Why are you so troubled? Let the Divine Spirit take care of all your concerns. Surrender means the capacity to distance one’s thoughts from worries, from the various difficulties you have to face, from all your different problems. Hand over all these matters to divinity and the Great Spirit, and thy will be done. Know that all will work out for the highest good. Surrender means not having expectations, not being upset if the outcome of events is different than antiscipated. When you worry, you show that you do not believe that you are loved and cherished. Trust in the highest good. Life will suppport you. Trust the Divine Spirit. Surrender…”
Yoga Friend
A Big Genuine Thank You to all my incredible yoga students for making my birthday yesterday so special, fabulous and fun! I am a very lucky teacher, and you all are the best!!! Many, many sincere thanks. It was a day & night to remember forever. I love you all a lot, and I am humbled by your gestures and graciousness. What great yogis & yoginis you are!
Namaste,
Denise
It has been fantastic having Denise return from her surgery to teach us yoga again. The substitute yoga teachers were good; however she was missed a lot. Denise is one of a kind, especially her lightness and sense of humor. I glide through her classes, get a full mind-body-spirit workout, and it’s over before I blink an eye. I’m not surprised she’s recovered well, but I am surprised at how fast she’s healing. She’s been teaching for weeks since the hip operation and now practicing yoga full out. It’s been stated the new medical technology is excellent, and as said, her doctor pointed out she would recover much faster because of her healthy lifestyle and yoga practice, but Denise says ‘it’s her yoga mindset making the difference and not directly the yoga poses’. I agree; the mind has a lot to do with the body, as well as the spirit. She’s become a role model for me. I am inspired to continue coming to class through these cold, snowy winter months.
From a dedicated student
