Yoga Chicago
140 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsHomepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Doing Something
July 02, 2020 23:08“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”—Maya Angelou During these times of profound national turmoil and focus on racial inequities, it is common to feel confused about what we can do. Not knowing what to do does not have to prevent us from actually doing something. […]
Meditation Makes You Happier
July 02, 2020 23:05[Excerpted from his book, Meditation for Life; How Mind Training Improves Relationships, Career, Health and Happiness.] In 1997 my meditation teacher encouraged students with an interest to start teaching. Teaching is a great way to improve your own practice. Teaching is also rewarding in its own right, and teaching meditation is particularly so because people […]
The Transportable Spirit of Yoga; A Deeper Look into Our Grief and a Message of Hope
June 13, 2020 03:16Businesses around the globe are closing down—especially small businesses—reven those that existed for many decades. It is so sad. And it is unprecedented. Another one bites the dust and we feel a pang in our hearts, knowing that our fellow humans are suffering and that this wave of change is so difficult for so many. […]
Wellness and Peace for this Moment
May 28, 2020 00:03 - 8.19 MBAs we continue to cope with the impact of COVID-19, Sylvia offers comforting reminders from not letting technology become your master to polishing the mirror of your self-awareness. Plus a guided meditation you can use at any time.
Do the Time; Don’t Let the Time Do You
May 22, 2020 22:02For most, the past few weeks have been filled with a whirlwind of emotion: fear, anxiety, worry, confusion. Covid-19 has changed so many things in each and everyone of our lives, but social distancing, isolation, and the not-so-simple task of staying home, have been some of the hardest to come to terms with. For me, […]
Educating Mindfully conference draws international participation
April 30, 2020 07:40The 2nd annual Educating Mindfully conference (EMCON) held in Itasca, Illinois, February 27–March 1, luckily took place right before large gatherings started being canceled. The conference was sponsored by the Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully (COSEM), an educator-led nonprofit that empowers educators to explore, personally practice, and then incorporate mindfulness and yoga in their classrooms. […]
Akasha Yoga celebrates 15 years!
April 30, 2020 07:33On February 21st, Akasha Yoga in Crystal celebrated it’s 15th anniversary. Director, Jennifer Ewert, thanks the amazing staff, fabulous members, and supporters who believe in what they do. She says, “We have always strived to be welcoming to newbies, create a warm environment that is peaceful, as well as educate ourselves continually so that we […]
Tips for Menopause
April 30, 2020 07:15Women experience many stages throughout their lives, hormonal being one of them. Between puberty, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause, all of these stages come with their own set of bodily changes. And while the human body is a wonderful system, there are external things we can do to help the body through these stages. Especially as […]
Doing Nothing is Something
April 30, 2020 07:07“When you can do nothing, what can you do?” — Zen koan New age has been kind to meditation, opening doors for the idea of self-realization and the power of the mind and the mind-body connection. We recognize that inner peace and calm, spiritual and personal growth, and awareness are only a breath away. During […]
Ayurveda’s Light on the Grieving Process
April 30, 2020 06:37My ayurveda teacher, the late Vaidya Ramakant Mishra, used to tell the following story to his patients who had experienced deep loss: A young woman who lived in a small South Indian village was grief stricken by the sudden loss of her husband. She began to tell herself that God was out to punish her and […]
Beyond the Mat: Yoga to Boost Immunity and Mood
April 30, 2020 06:35Yogis have long known that a healthy colon can help ward off disease, and many of the postures are designed to help move waste out of the body. Indeed, scientists claim that 60 to 75 percent of immunity is related to gut health. Studies show that yoga stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (the calming, “rest-and-digest” function), which […]
“Get Your Mind Right”: High School Students Meditate Before Tests
April 30, 2020 06:33Taft High School student Laura K. used classroom meditation techniques as preparation before an important test. “The relaxation meditation made a big difference because it calmed me down,” she said. “It gave me enough patience to read the passage and answer the questions carefully.” With such heavy focus on data and student assessments in the […]
How Not to Lose Your Mind During a Pandemic
April 30, 2020 06:30On April 7, 2020 ABC news reported calls to mental health distress lines have increased by 895% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s true. These are unprecedented times. The future is impossible to predict. It’s also true that you’ve experienced hardship, loss, death, financial uncertainty, separation, confinement, illness, hunger, isolation and confusion before. […]
Supported Supta Baddha Konasana (supported reclined bound angle pose)
April 30, 2020 06:29Props: Bolster and two blocks. (You may substitute with bed pillows and rolled up blankets.) Getting into the pose: Lie down on the bolster in such a way that it supports the lower curve of the spine. The tailbone and hips are resting on the floor. Bring the soles of the feet together with the knees […]
OK. Begin Again.
April 30, 2020 06:26Daughter Erika is driving me up the mountain road north of Boulder to Shoshoni, a yoga ashram tucked into the Rocky Mountains. As we turn onto the rugged country lane marked “Shoshoni,” I air my concerns: “How can I meditate twice a day for 20 minutes? I don’t even know how.” We take a sharp […]
Cool Down Kids—Balancing for Summer Season
April 30, 2020 06:15Does your child love warmer weather? At the same time, do you find them ducking into the nearest air-conditioned place whenever they can? As temperatures rise, does your child’s temper rise along with it? Is this child a natural born leader, competitive, and prone to indigestion or rashes? If so, it’s likely you have a […]
Embrace Your Scars and Imperfections
April 30, 2020 06:06“Let everything happen to you, beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” —Rainer Maria Rilke I was in the midst of writing this article when the COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a “stay-at-home” order for all nonessential service employees. Much of my work halted and, […]
The Realm of Perfection
April 30, 2020 05:56As I’m writing this, I’ve been “sheltering in place” in my home for a couple of weeks. Known cases of the COVID-19 virus are multiplying exponentially here in the US and other countries. Toilet paper seems to be worth its weight in gold. Healthcare practitioners and supply chain workers are putting their lives at risk. […]
We Are a Part of Life
April 28, 2020 07:34In this podcast Sylvia takes a few minutes to reflect on being a part of the world and not apart from it. She invites you to meditate on how we can use faith and forgiveness to evolve and to help the world at this fragile time of physical separation.
Life During Coronavirus: How You Think About It Matters
April 23, 2020 06:04When you ran across this article, did you think: “I doubt this advice can help me.” “I’m pretty sure I know what he’ll say.” “If I don’t agree, I’m going to stop reading.” Here’s the thing about beliefs: they massively shape your actions and, therefore, what plays out in your life—even how you cope with […]
Coro-nation
April 13, 2020 19:18“Happy virus!” said the older Chicagoan, gallantly scooting himself and his dog away to give me a wide berth on our shared sidewalk. “Happy virus to YOU!” I replied, amused and heartened. That was yesterday. Today, everything could be different. While I’ve never had LESS security in my life than I have during (and because of) […]
Planting the Seeds for the Future
April 02, 2020 01:09Sylvia says while we live in a precarious moment we should still plant seeds for the future because this too shall pass. Sylvia shares a guided meditation to decrease negativity and increase contentment.
Five Therapies Beginning with “S”
April 01, 2020 19:45As we prepare for the next phase of our battle with Covid-19, author Kay Hutchison shares a few thoughts from the UK …. Here in the UK we are probably a bit ahead of the US in terms of the scale of the pandemic. Over the weekend in the UK, all but the essential shops […]
Why Pandemics Occur
April 01, 2020 19:41According to ancient Vedic philosophy, when the stress level in the collective consciousness becomes so high, it breaks out into pandemics and other disasters. It’s also an expression of the collective not acting in harmony with the laws of nature. The famous ayurvedic physician Dr. Brihaspati, said, “The quality that gives rise to the prevalence […]
Resources for Challenging Times
March 31, 2020 00:45A MESSAGE FROM ELLEN S KATZ: MESSAGES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOGA THERAPISTS: https://yogatherapy.health/yt-blog/ ONLINE CLASS: Yoga at Home with Kali Om. Classical Multi-Level Yoga in the Tradition of Sri Dharma Mittra. 10am Sundays, 6pm Tuesdays and Thursdays on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/yogikaliom/ ****You do NOT need to log on to Facebook to take these classes**** […]
Equinox and COVID-19
March 21, 2020 23:31The Spring Equinox came earlier than in over a century and at a time of great concern caused by COVID-19. Sylvia offers comfort and hope in this podcast.
Discovering Yoga at Age 50: A Life-changer
February 29, 2020 02:40My yoga experience started a few years ago, at age 50, when my daughter, a senior in high school, came home from her first yoga class and said, “Dad, you need to try this.” Well, I did. And over the course of the past three years, yoga has become my tool to help me be […]
Supported Fish (Matsyasana)
February 29, 2020 02:30I am particularly drawn to this pose in winter, when we tend to curl in against the elements. Use any props in your house you can find. A regular throw blanket or pillow should work fine. To begin, place a folded blanket on the floor and lie back so the blanket is supporting the middle […]
The Time for a Spiritual Revolution is Now
February 29, 2020 02:27As I sat on the floor in my closet, unpacking boxes of dusty journals and notebooks I’d collected over the past 20+ years, the task at hand seemed overwhelming. How do I organize all of these life experiences into a coherent story? How do I put these events into a clear, chronological order for my […]
Upcoming Symposium for Yoga Therapy & Research to Be Held in Lincolnshire
February 29, 2020 02:25Chicago yogis and yoga therapists look forward to welcoming the Symposium for Yoga Therapy & Research (SYTAR), the annual conference of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), June 11–14. Its first time in the Midwest, SYTAR will be held at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire. What’s new this year […]
Mindfulness Education in Schools: the Power to Create a More Compassionate World
February 29, 2020 02:20Like many others, I learned about mindfulness during a time of challenge. Starting a family was the first goal I had ever set that I couldn’t accomplish, and after six years of trying different medical interventions, a book by Thich Nhat Hahn caught my eye at the library. Every word in Peace is Every Step […]
Annual Babaji Festival
February 29, 2020 01:47The annual Babaji Festival, sponsored by the Temple of Kriya Yoga, will be held April 19, 11:30 to 1:30 at Moksha Yoga Center, 2528 W. Armitage, Chicago. The purpose of the festival is to honor Babaji, the head of the lineage of Paramahansa Yogananda, and to celebrate life’s blessings. The theme is “Bring Love, Laughter, […]
Chicago School of Yoga Celebrates 10 Years
February 29, 2020 01:46Congratulations to The Chicago School of Yoga on their 10th anniversary. Mark B Weiss, Executive Director, opened the school at 2442 N. Lincoln in the Lincoln Park/DePaul neighborhood in 2010. CSOY is a private school, exclusively for yoga teacher certification, with a faculty that includes an MD who is a graduate of the training and […]
Yoga for Recovery
February 29, 2020 01:45Yoga for Recovery is an inclusive, donation-based practice for anyone interested in creating space between thought and action. It’s designed for those working to break limiting habits or are in recovery from addiction. Class begins with a check-in and inspirational reading, followed by a brief period of meditation, and a yoga practice adjusted to the […]
Yoga for ALAS Wings
February 29, 2020 01:45Last Thanksgiving weekend, Liz Vitell led a special yoga class in Spanish that focused on gratitude for Latina women. The class was held at Om on the Range in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. Liz is a volunteer yoga teacher for ALAS Wings, whose mission to enhance the quality of life for the Latino community by providing […]
Peace School Partners with Ruiz Elementary to Build World Peace
February 29, 2020 01:44The Peace School and Ruiz Elementary School have been combining efforts to promote peace in the world. On Peace Day last September, seventh graders showed their commitment to a better world by joining the Peace School’s “Call to Peace,” bringing handmade posters with messages such as “Be Happy – Be You – You Matter!” and, […]
Don’t Miss out on Local Yoga Events!
February 29, 2020 01:42Find out what’s going on in the yoga community by subscribing to the Yoga Chicago newsletter, which is emailed on most Wednesdays. Sign up to receive it on the home page at yogachicago.com. In addition, you can list your own yoga events in the newsletter for $20 (up to 60 words each), or purchase a […]
Jane Musgrave: Teaching Yoga Where Everyone Feels Welcome
February 29, 2020 00:57Jane Musgrave took her first yoga class in 2000 when she was training with the Chicago Area Runners Association for the Chicago Marathon. When several runners in the group began experiencing tightness and discomfort in their legs, someone suggested going to a yoga class together. They ended up attending a class taught by Lee Gregory […]
Do It Differently
February 29, 2020 00:17We humans are creatures of habit—and for good reason. Habits help us live efficiently and do important things each day, like brushing our teeth. Our habits are formed by trial and error. As babies we learn to push ourselves up, roll over, and eventually pull ourselves up to stand. And we receive loads of accolades […]
The Lightning Rod of Loss and How It Compels Us to Be Kind
February 29, 2020 00:10I remember the first time I met the incomparable Palestinian American poet Naomi Shihab Naomi. She was doing a reading at the Harwood Museum, in Taos, New Mexico, where I was teaching. Taos is like no other place on earth. Home to the oldest Native American pueblo, it evokes Spirit. And like the sun, the […]