Sunday, December 30, 2012

Laughter Yoga ラフターヨガ!in Nagoya

There is no better way to start the year off than with laughter!
For those of you who haven't tried it, laughter yoga is a fun way to get your heart rate up and relieve stress.  Recent research from the US has shown that laughter, real belly laughter, affects your body in the same way as an aerobic workout.
Check out the October article from the New York Times:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/laughter-as-a-form-of-exercise/

Anyway, if you are around Nagoya on January 3rd, 3~4:30pm, come to Shonan Shyz Yoga Studio for some serious laughter to ring in the New Year. I will be there!
日本語による情報は下のリンクで(湘南シャイズのブログ)
http://blog.shounan-shyz.com/?eid=1419288
Ardha Chandrasana, Half Moon Pose

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Yoga Workshop by the Sea 

Sunday, April 29th, I spent the morning on the sea in Gamagori, Aichi, practicing yoga with my teacher's training instructor, Okada Sensei. As always, it was a great pleasure to bathe in his presence, and learn some helpful tips regarding yoga practice and teaching. We discussed being aware of our bones, of the joints in particular, and how this awareness can make our practice better. Imagining your bones in their sockets can help us open up wider and grow longer. 

Our potential is greater than we realize, but only as great as we can imagine. We are capable of doing most things, as long as we can imagine and then follow up the thought with the steady, continued work. 

Okada Sensei also demonstrated his feats of balance and flexibility, standing on one leg, while bringing the other leg up to his head - a complete, upright standing split! But even he started somewhere. So I will keep working at my yoga practice. 
My current challenge pose: 
the scorpion, Vrischikasana. 

He also taught us this cool pose, the Twisted Pigeon.

Friday, April 6, 2012

チャリティヨガの感想

先週の木曜日、3月29日、に名古屋の栄にあるVi Auraヨガスタジオでチャリティのレッスンを担当させていただきました。このチャリティプロジェクトは、2011年4月に始まり、ずっと東日本大震災の支援のために続いてきました。継続は力ですね。私も担当させて、本当にうれしく思います。
私のレッスンでは、5人の参加者で3500円を集めました。大きい金額ではなかったですが、毎回の重ねで大きな義援金になります。
参加者の皆さん、Vi Auraの皆さん、本当にありがとうございます。今後も、このプロジェクトが続ければ幸いです。 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012


チャリティヨガレッスン ・ Charity Yoga Lesson
日時:3/29 (木) 13:00-14:00
場所:栄にある Viauraヨガスタジオ
予約、詳しいことは http://www.viaura.jp/index.php またはali@midorischool.jpまでお問い合わせください。
参加費はすべて寄付となります。日本赤十字を通して東北の震災へ送られます。
500円からおねがいします。



ありがとう。サンキュー。ナマステ。ほとんどのヨガクラスは感謝のことばで終わります。先生への感謝はもちろん、そして自分の健康な体へ、またそのときに幸せや安心感を感じさせる周りのものに対しての感謝だと思います。ヨガを練習するほど、感謝の気持ちが強く感じてきます。

単純ですけど、世界の皆さんがヨガを練習するようになったら、世界が平和であるように変わることを強く信じています。ヨガを続くと何が大切かを気づいてきますからね。

一年前の震災で生き残った方はきっと命があることだけで感謝のきもちでいっぱいです。人間の魂で前進し、生活を作り直そうとしています。

しかし、一年後は元の生活に戻れなくまだまだ苦労し抜いている方が多くいます。そのために、チャリティ活動は続きます。小さくても、同じ国民からのポジティブな思いや行動がずっと継続できるようにがんばろう!

私は3/29 ()のチャリティーヨガを担当させていただきます。
感心や時間のある方のご参加をお待ちしております。
クラスのテーマは、「アウィクン」 春に向かって内蔵と五感を覚めるポーズや呼吸法を行います。日本語と英語で行います。よろしくお願いします!




Arigato. Thank you. Namaste. Nearly all yoga classes end with a word and usually a bow of appreciation. We are showing our appreciation to the teacher, for sharing her wisdom, but also to the longer practice of yoga, to our bodies for being able to practice yoga, and to all the forces that allow us to be healthy and happy, at that moment. The longer I practice yoga, the more grateful I feel towards yoga and all people and things in this world that keep me happy, healthy, and safe. For this reason, I truly believe the world would be a more peaceful place if all people practiced yoga. It just helps you realize what is important.

The people who experienced the earthquake-tsunami disaster first hand are surely grateful that their lives were spared. Because of their spirit, they can try to move forward and rebuild. But one year later, most survivors still struggle, hardly able to return to their previous lives. They continue to need OUR support, in the form of positive thoughts and actions, however small they may be. 


I welcome you to Viaura’s Charity Yoga Class on Thursday, March 29 from 1pm to 2pm, to come and do some small positive action. The class theme will be “awakening”- stimulating the organs and the senses in preparation for spring. I look forward to practicing with you!
Location: Viaura Yoga Studio in Sakae
For more information or to make a reservation please contact me at
ali@midorischool.jp
All are welcome to join this class. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross for the people of Tohoku. Give anything you like, but a minimum donation of 500 yen is requested.






Charity Yoga at Jonetsu!


On Sunday, March 11th, exactly one year after the tragic earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck northeastern Japan, I participated in a charity yoga class. The 3 lovely and engaging teachers prepared poses and non-traditional yoga exercises to awaken our senses and help us become aware of those around us. It was a heart and body warming afternoon. Just another small positive action in a world that needs many many more.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

The Cleansing Power of Natto

Most people either love it or hate it. Many adults feel uncomfortable eating it in front of co-workers at lunch time because of the strings that are created between your mouth and the natto. But anyone who has spent any time in Japan knows about natto, fermented soybeans. This unique Japanese food has long been a staple of the Japanese diet, often served with breakfast. Its cheap, full of low- calorie protein, and a rich source of probiotics, healthy bacteria which help strengthen your immune system and generally keep your body running smoothly.  The probiotics in natto help to replenish the body, removing impurities, like free radicals.
http://bodyecology.com/articles/natto-benefits-for-heart-and-skin.php

The health benefits of natto are well documented in Japan and abroad. But in the past few years,  a Japanese construction company, hit by a lull in state-sponsored construction projects started to experiment with natto for the purpose of water purification. Here we can witness the true greatness of natto, and its ability to cleanse.
The Koyoh Company experimented with live natto bacteria and cement. Not only was the bacteria in natto the only kind that survived contact with cement, but by putting polluted water into contact with the natto bacteria, the polluted water became clear and clean in a few days.  The mixture is used to create blocks, which can be used to construct  river walls and other structures that come into contact with water. They have already started selling their purifying blocks in countries like Vietnam, where poor sewage systems and manufacturing have polluted water sources.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Muscles for Yoga

As many of you have experienced, regular yoga practice can transform your body and mind. I myself spent 2011 only practicing yoga, with a little light strength training (leg lifts, 1 kilo weight curls for the arms etc) 3 times a week, and I was able to lose 6 kilograms and keep them off. That is because yoga quickens your metabolism while also developing your inner muscles.

Those who have been practicing yoga for a while might find that they come to a standstill in their practice. They feel that they cannot do certain poses, like headstand or arm balances, usually because they do not have enough strength. You might want to try adding another aspect to your workout routine. Pilates is a great way to strengthen core muscles (those around the waist and lower back). A friend gave me exercise rubber bands, and I have found a variety of exercises to do with them. The video below, and others from Yo dona, show how to use a rubber band for a variety of exercises. Her videos are in Spanish, but even if you can't understand the language I assure that you can learn a lot from the video.



Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy 2012!!!

To all the yogis, yoginis, and friends who made 2011 a very fulfilling year, I want to say thank you!
And I wish you a very happy and healthy 2012.

The new year a wonderful time to start new projects, change behavioral patterns, and do something new. 

This year I resolve to reduce waste, wasting time, wasting emotions, and wasting food ^v^ In my yoga practice,  I hope to focus on pranayama, meditation, and reading about yoga. I also want to stick to my daily practice routine. No matter how short, I must be able to find some time to practice every single day.

I hope that 2012 brings you much clarity, happiness, and prosperity!

Peace and Light, 
Ali