ROBYN ENGEL.
  • Movement.
  • Paintings.

Summer News.  New classes, private lessons, home practice, connect and more.

8/12/2014

 
Read on for photos, news, and yogi inspiration.
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Hello Yogis and Friends!

I am really excited to be connecting with you through email!


Please reach out with questions, stories, comments. You can send an email to yoginirobina@gmail.com

If you haven't been to my website in a while please visit. I add photos and content all the time. You can also see my weekly schedule, upcoming workshops, and a blog.
www.robynengel.com/yoga

MY PRACTICE

In my own home practice I am working on inviting curiosity, present moment awareness, awakeness, and gratitude in to every pose, every movement, and every breath. It is simple to say but a challenge to practice consistently. It is a cycle of forgetting and remembering. As I return again and again to my sankalpa the remembering happens more and the forgetting less.
New classes!

In addition to my classes at Yoga Tree and Yoga Flow SF, I am now a regular teacher at Ocean Yoga in Pacifica:

Thursdays 5-6pm Hatha Flow
Saturdays 7:30-9am Hot Vinyasa Flow

I am loving teaching at this studio. Hope to see you there. Please send an email if you would like your first class with me free!
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Private Lessons perfect if you are:

  • new to yoga, and want help to get started?
  • interested in individual attention in order to deepen your practice?
  • curious about alignment for YOUR body?
  • confused about things like Ujjaya Pranayama and Uddiyana Banhda
  • recovering from an injury or illness?
  • busy and can't find a class at the right time?

SUMMER TRAVELING

       This summer I am out of the country all of August. I am going to visit France and Switzerland. My son gets to spend time with his omama, uncles, aunts and cousins. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to travel and spend time out in the big wide world. . . but I also feel sad to miss you all in my classes. 

       I have some really great subs lined up. I know they will also provide a great practice for you while I am away. You can see who they are on the schedule for each studio:
 
www.yogatreesf.com - www.yogaflowsf.com - www.oceanyoga.com

May we find daily gratitude for this abundant life. 

 
Namaste.

Most photos in this email by Alli Novak.
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Alignment

3/22/2014

 
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Did you know that my mom is a yoga teacher too?! 

She wrote these nice paragraphs about alignment:

Dear Yoga Students and Friends,

Have you often wondered why there is so much focus on proper alignment in our Hatha yoga classes?  Proper alignment can  prevent injury, find the optimal position of bones and joints in relation to gravity, and open energy channels within the body. Focusing on alignment requires attention. It strengthens the body mind connection and cultivates mindfulness.

Over the years all of us develop less than optimal posture, movement  patterns and  habitual muscle tension. This is partly due to the pull of gravity and partly because of both physical and emotional injuries.  When bones are lined up with the gravitational pull rather than against it, they provide maximum support. The muscles don't have to work as hard which minimizes stiff, sore muscles, joint problems and fatigue. When aligned with gravity, the body then also finds alignment with the flow of prana allowing it to move freely through the body.  Prana is the force of life. It refreshes, rejuvenates and revitalizes. 
 
Overcoming old patterns to rediscover proper alignment takes effort. It takes retraining our muscles. At first it seems unnatural and awkward. However, as self awareness of our habitual patterns grows, we begin to make adjustments more and more often.  As we work to find  optimal alignment in yoga poses, we can also take that learning off the mat into our daily lives.

Robyn Engel at Yoga Flow SF {video}

12/12/2013

 

  Yoga for a Healthy Immune System

12/11/2013

 
    Although we often think the benefits of yoga have to do with developing flexibility and strength, yoga practice can also help us fight off disease.  Yoga strengthens the immune system by reducing stress and by stimulating the lymphatic system.

    Stress weakens immune system. When we are stressed our bodies release a variety of hormones that inhibit the effectiveness of the immune system. When psychologically stressed we respond the same as if physically threatened. “Fight or flight” hormones are released into the blood stream which cause heart rate to increase, digestion to slow down, breathing to increase - all so that we are ready to face whatever perceived danger is present. These stress hormones also slow the production of germ fighting cells.  When we are chronically stressed, we are in the alert mode all the time and our immune systems are compromised. 

    The lymphatic system is a main player in our immune systems. Lymphatic fluid moves through the body collecting the toxins, invading bacteria and viruses and eventually deposits the waste into the blood stream.  The lymph system does not have a pumping mechanism to move the fluid through the body. An efficient lymph system depends on muscle contraction and gravity to do its job. 

    Where does yoga fit in? First, Yoga offers us a way to relax the nervous system, slow the heart rate and breathing rate, and allow the “fight or flight” response to calm down. Production of germ fighting cells increases as our hormone production becomes balanced. Second, the muscle actions we use to move into and out of poses contract and release our muscles and provide the needed pumping action to move lymphatic fluid through our bodies. Inversions put us in positions where gravity also enhances the flow of lymphatic fluid.
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    Stay healthy, fight disease, be flexible, be strong, be relaxed.  Come to class!

Another flyer for new prenatal classes starting in December.

11/20/2013

 
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New classes, new flyer.

10/16/2013

 
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Reverse Warrior

9/23/2013

 
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I find that the most satisfying and safe way to practice Reverse Warrior is to focus on the side bend, only allowing slight extension in the upper spine. With a few conscious and powerful breaths directed to that side body opening can be a great experience of liberation.

Pay attention and listen to your body, move slowly and with intention.




Come to Virahabdrasana II [Warrior Two]. Step your feet wide apart. Front foot pointing forward, back foot pointing out. Bend the front knee so that is is directly over the ankle or just behind. Open the hips and shoulders to left. Lift arms parallel to the floor. Actively press down through both feet.


With an inhale lengthen your spine, exhale reach your left hand back to your hip or thigh. Gazing at your right hand, spin the palm to face the sky, reach the right arm up and over your head. Your fingertips reaching toward the wall behind you.

Pull your low ribs into your body and let your sacrum have some weight. Even as you reach the front hand back try to lift the front ribs up diagonally. 


Take a few deep breaths here. Finding gratitude for the body and breath.

Inhale your torso back up, exhale lower your arms.

Now try the other side.

Urdhva Dhanurasana.

9/16/2013

0 Comments

 
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When a practice takes me to Urdhva Dhanurasana it feels like a few breaths of celebration. This is the pose that most often brings to to a place or emotional release and a deeper connection with myself and the moment. I have often come down from a third round of Urdhva Dhanurasana and felt so very full of life and bliss that there in a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. Urdhva Dhanurasana makes me feel open hearted, strong, awake, and full of energy.

Every movement is a choice. Chose that movement which best serves you in this moment.

Prepatory Pose: Bridge Pose.

Lay face up on the floor. Bend your knees and bring your feet to the ground, close enough to touch your heels with your finger tips. Bend your elbows and bring the palms of your hands to the floor very near to your shoulders, fingers pointing toward you. --> Exhale press your feet firmly into the ground, pull your belly to your spine.


Inhale press into your hands and begin straighten your elbows. Come first to the crown of your head before pressing all the way up. 

B R E A T H E . . .Feel your spine lengthen as you press into inner feet and inner palms.

Keep your thighs parallel, knees moving towards each other. Shoulder blades against the back. 

Relax your neck, point and move the tail bone away from your heart, 
B R E A T H E. . .

 
To come down, tuck your chin to your chest, bend your elbows, back of the head and shoulders come first, then slowly let the rest of the spine come to the floor with control. Let the knees fall toward one another or out to Supta Baddha Konasana (reclined cobbler). Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. Smile and Breathe. Repeat 2 or more times. 

Release the spine with a twist before coming to a forward fold.

When to not do this pose:
Injured, recovering from injury in major joints or muscles. Recent surgery, especially abdominal. Pre/ post natal.
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  • Movement.
  • Paintings.