out with the old, in with the new

blog that is! check out our beautiful new blog site...

bliss blog

please visit us frequently on the new site as all future updates will be posted there.

namaste!

Gentle Thai Yoga Bodywork Special for November and December

As a counterbalance to the hectic Holiday season, BlissBlissBliss is introducing Gentle Thai Yoga Bodywork at a special rate of $40 for 1 hour.

This is a gentler form of Thai Yoga Bodywork mainly focusing on energy line work. In the Thai Yoga Tradition, the energy lines of the body are called Sen - similar to Meridians in Chinese medicine, Nadis in yoga; and they roughly line up with the nerves of the nervous system. All 4 systems believe there are about 72,000 energy lines/nerves in the body. We work the main pathways that also line up with other major systems in the body (arteries, veins, lymph).

Gentle Thai Yoga uses palming and thumbing to clear any blockages in these pathways, allowing the free flow of prana (life force) to both the physical and energetic bodies. We complement Sen Line work on legs, arms and back with massage of the feet, hands, abdomen, head, marma points - customizing each session as needed. Leave feeling refreshed, invigorated, energized, open and balanced!

This rate is open to all, and is good for gift certificates - for others and for yourself if you’d like to experience the benefits of multiple sessions. All Gift Certificates are good for one year from date of purchase. And it’s your last chance to get a Gift Certificate for anyone who has never experienced a regular Thai Yoga Bodywork session at the special rate of $45/1.5 hour – it will fall in line with our regular rate of $49 in 2012(this is good for first timer’s only).

There’s so much to love at BlissBlissBliss – why let the holidays get you stressed, come take a bodywork break!!

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yoga eases back pain in largest US study to date

article from medicalxpress.com

Yoga classes were linked to better back-related function and diminished symptoms from chronic low back pain in the largest U.S. randomized controlled trial of yoga to date, published by the Archives of Internal Medicine as an "Online First" article on October 24. But so were intensive stretching classes.


"We found yoga classes more effective than a self-care book—but no more effective than stretching classes," said study leader Karen J. Sherman, PhD, MPH, a senior investigator at Group Health Research Institute. Back-related function was better and symptoms were diminished with yoga at 12 weeks; and clinically important benefits, including less use of pain medications, lasted at least six months for both yoga and stretching, with thorough follow-up of more than nine in 10 participants.

In the trial, 228 adults in six cities in western Washington state were randomly assigned to 12 weekly 75-minute classes of either yoga or stretching exercises or a comprehensive self-care book called The Back Pain Helpbook. Nine in 10 of them were primary-care patients at Group Health Cooperative. Participants in the trial typically had moderate—not severe—back pain and relatively good mental health, and most had been at least somewhat active before the trial started.

The class participants received instructional videos and were encouraged to practice at home for 20 minutes a day between their weekly classes. Interviewers who didn't know the patients' treatment assignments assessed their back-related function and pain symptoms at six weeks, 12 weeks, and six months.

In 2005, Dr. Sherman and her colleagues conducted a smaller study that found yoga effective for easing chronic low back pain. "In our new trial," she said, "we wanted both to confirm those results in a larger group and to see how yoga compared to a different form of exercise of comparable physical exertion: stretching.

Both the yoga and stretching classes emphasized the torso and legs:

• The type of yoga used in the trial, called viniyoga, adapts the principles of yoga for each individual and physical condition, with modifications for people with physical limitations. The yoga classes also used breathing exercises, with a deep relaxation at the end.
• The stretching classes used 15 different stretching exercises, including stretches of the hamstrings and hip flexors and rotators. Each was held for a minute and repeated once, for a total of 52 minutes of stretching. Strengthening exercises were also included.

"We expected back pain to ease more with yoga than with stretching, so our findings surprised us," Dr. Sherman said. "The most straightforward interpretation of our findings would be that yoga's benefits on back function and symptoms were largely physical, due to the stretching and strengthening of muscles."

But the stretching classes included a lot more stretching than in most such classes, with each stretch held for a relatively long time. "People may have actually begun to relax more in the stretching classes than they would in a typical exercise class," she added. "In retrospect, we realized that these stretching classes were a bit more like yoga than a more typical exercise program would be." So the trial might have compared rather similar programs with each other.

"Our results suggest that both yoga and stretching can be good, safe options for people who are willing to try physical activity to relieve their moderate low back pain," Dr. Sherman concluded. "But it's important for the classes to be therapeutically oriented, geared for beginners, and taught by instructors who can modify postures for participants' individual physical limitations."

In an invited commentary, Timothy S. Carey, MD, MPH, of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, called Dr. Sherman's study "an excellent example of a pragmatic comparative effectiveness trial," noting that the Institute of Medicine has identified chronic back pain as a priority condition for such studies.

More information: Arch Intern Med. Published online, October 24, 2011. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.524

Provided by Group Health Research Institute

image credit gabe dewitt

vata season

in ayurveda it's vata season. leaves are falling off the trees, the wind is kicking up and it's getting chillier! fall is the time to wrap up in snuggly sweaters with a warm mug of hot tea or cider in hand. if you find yourself starting to feel more airy then it's a great time to find a moment to just sit and be. grab a mug of your favorite hot drink sit down with your journal and let your thoughts (whatever they might be) starting streaming on paper.

here are a few questions to get your journaling started:

* how am i feeling today?
* what's currently working/not working for me?
* is there something that i can let go of that is no longer serving my higher purpose?
* write down goals that help you find some more *me* time.

don't fret when it comes time to transition from the warmer days into the chillier days. here is a great resource (and beautifully done i might add) all about vata season and how to transition with grace and ease. (click on the link above and you will be taken to hey monica b's website. click the DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY HERE link to get a free copy of her "seasonal bloom" that you can enjoy and share with your loved ones.)

enjoy & namaste,
melita

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weekend warrior

Spend part of your weekend progressing through a blissful blend of Vinyasa, Yin and Restorative Yoga.

9:30-10:30am Get started with a dynamic Vinyasa practice. This flow will challenge and heat the body and burn away anything you no longer need.

10:40-11:40am Melt into a Yin practice. Yin is a series of poses, held for a longer period, while one sends their intention, breath and consciousness to the bodily sensations. This draws the life force (prana or chi) into the deeper meridians which stimulates the immune system and rejuvenates the whole body.

11:50am-12:50pm Completely let go with a Restorative practice. Indulge in an hour of held, supported postures to facilitate deep relaxation and bring the body back into balance. This is the antidote to stress!

12:50-1pm End your time on the mat in a meditative state with a FREE 10 minute guided meditation.

Weekend Warrior is a dynamic balance of both yin and yang: action and repose, activity and receptivity, movement and stillness. And since these classes are separate you can mix and match (or stay for all 3) and choose what kind of Warrior you want to be!

Class dates are November 6th & 27th.

(Please note that all 3 classes will end in Savasana so if you are only able to get in one class you will have a complete practice. Use your yoga pass - one punch per class.)

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An Exploration of the Yoga Sutras

An Exploration of the Yoga Sutras

Continuing Education Units for Registered Yoga Teachers
At the Folded Leaf Yoga Studio, Charleston, WV

Yoga is more than just a series of postures and breathing techniques. Understood and practiced in it's entirety. It can heal the body and mind, deepen our understanding of life and our connection to our chosen spiritual path. In this two part series, we will explore the fullness of yoga as taught from the 2,500 year old text, the Yoga Sutras. This ancient tradition can be relevant to your modern lifestyle. The goal of this course is to provide a solid experiential framework for your own Yogic lifestyle of authentic peace and well-being.

Part 1 The Fundemamentals of Yogic Lifestyle and Meditation

November 19th & 20th 9 AM - 6 PM

Part 2 Accessing Your Full Potential Through Yoga Meditation
January 21st & 22nd 9 AM - 6 PM

To Register Contact:
The Folded Leaf 304-344-9642 or by email at April@thefoldedleaf.com.

Tuition: $280 or $240 if paid before November 11, 2011.

Led by Ryan Kurczak. A daily meditator since 2000. Ordained Kriya Yoga teacher. Inspired by Zen teachings, Ramana Maharshi, Eckhart Tolle, Alan Watts, and Vasistha's Yoga. Public speaker on meditation and natural wellness since 2005. See www.ryankurczak.com for more information.

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

At BlissBlissBliss we advertise that Shirodara calms the mind and sedates the senses. Our clients report feeling happy and joyful after their shirodara sessions.

This clip on the Today Show with Deepak Chopra talks about how each of us has a inner healing system that can be turned on.

Neurologists report that the soothing effect of Shirodara does calm anxiety, insomnia, migraine, high blood pressure because during a shirodara treatment the client produces more melatonin, dopamine, and serotonin.

What a perfect time to come in and enjoy a relaxing Shirodara session than during autumn?! For questions or to schedule a session, contact us at theblissblissbliss@gmail.com.

Namaste!!