Posted by Lisa Rosenthal on Fri, Jan 08, 2010 @ 01:46 AM
Part of my weekend plans, every weekend, include teaching Fertile Yoga. On Saturdays, class meets from 9:30 until 11:00 in Norwalk, (20 Glover Avenue, Norwalk, CT); 4:15 until 5:30 in Brookfield (777 Federal Road, Brookfield, CT.) It's a part of my week that I truly look forward to. It's not part of the true "business week and so feels different than the Monday through Friday routine. It doesn't have the same feel as Sunday, with even less responsibilities. My teaching on Saturday gives structure to the day, my time and my energy.
Teaching Fertile Yoga is my opportunity to speak to our patients, hear how they are doing, and answer questions. Otherwise, I would have very little contact with them. The classes are very gentle, in the style of restorative yoga. There is absolutely no creating pretzel like poses, or balancing on one hand while the other three limbs are up in the air. One of my students describe the class as a mini-vacation that she treats herself to each week; a way to take a formal break from the rest of her routine. Classes focus on very gentle movement (often not getting off the mat at all), guided meditation, focused breath and relaxation.
My intention is to teach different mechanisms of releasing stress that we learn in class to take and use out of class. Each class is different, with a focus on new tools. One major tool that we use is a Mantra to keep you focused in the moment. Ariel Joseph Towne , of the Outrageous Mantra Experiment (OME) says, "Repeating the mantra silently throughout the day also brought clarity to other areas of her life." (From Yoga Journal.)
There is a lot of information about mantra's and how they are used in life, in spiritual practice in religion and in yoga. Perhaps I should not even use the term mantra. My personal way of using and teaching a mantra is to emphasize the moment. Inhale the word inhale, exhale the word exhale. Block everything else out by bringing those two words into focus. The focus prevents you from both rushing forward into the future anxiously and also from stumbling backwards into the past that does not exist in that moment. A mantra can be as simple as inhale and exhale or as personal as one makes it. I have one student and friend who uses the mantra, "peanut butter" on the inhale, "jelly" on the exhale. (I have permission to tell you this.) She finds great comfort in this; I love the sense of humor that she allows to peek in. This is what comes into her head and makes sense to her.
I will be there this Saturday. If you have not joined me yet, maybe this will be the week?
I'd love to have you
Classes will be led by Lisa Rosenthal RYT200 (Registered Yoga Teacher).
Lisa is a former fertility patient, who also worked for over 17 years as a national patient advocate for couples and individuals going through infertility. Lisa trained with Lotus Garden for her 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher certificate, through Yoga Alliance. Lisa is uniquely qualified to understand the specific stresses and challenges that men and women trying to conceive encounter. The class is designed for those with all different diagnoses, being mindful that stress reduction is a major component to these classes. BEGINNERS WELCOME!