2 NEW yoga classes! ATL Ballet at Powers Ferry/Windy Hill

New yoga classes at the Atlanta Ballet (at the corner of Powers Ferry & Windy Hill)! Join me for lunch on Mondays to start off your work week with a sense of balance and calm. Or - Get grounded on Thursday afternoons before the weekend begins. $12 yoga class - You can't beat it!



When:
Mondays 12:15-1:15 PM
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM (cancelled Thanksgiving, Dec. 23, 27, 30 & Jan. 3 for school holidays)

Where:
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, the Cobb Centre: 2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suite G4, Marietta, GA 30067, Phone: 678-213-5000

Who:
Anyone who wants to connect his/her breath and body. All levels welcome. Ages 16 and up, please. -- Caroline Gebhardt, registered yoga teacher, will be leading the class providing an opportunity for you to listen to your body and discover the joy of connecting the body and breath!

How:
Through a combination of gentle and heat-building poses and movement, centering breath work, and a non-competitive atmosphere, students of any level are welcome to connect their body, breath and spirit. Join on a drop-in basis, or purchase a class card.

Cost:
$12 drop-in regular rate; $8 for students with I.D.
Or, see http://www.atlantaballet.com/centre/adult_rates.php for class card rates

Contact:
Questions? Let me know - caroline@mybodyflow.com or 404.210.6752





~ Namaste

Think Strong and Happy, not Sculpted and Stressed

Good morning.

I received an enlightening reminder today from yogajournal.com. Since I teach fitness classes, I try to constantly remind my participants to listen to their bodies. It's so easy to join a class and try to compete with a neighbor, or the instructor, or one's self! And, there's nothing wrong with wanting to improve yourself or sweat hard during your workout session. Yet, aiming for cutthroat standards can #1) get old and boring, and #2) be harmful to your inner peace and physical strength.

Since the message I received arrives via email in newsletter format, I searched for a link of archives on the yogajournal website but no such luck. Therefore, I am sourcing this next passage in pink as yogajournal.com material, not mine:

"Seek Strong, Not Sculpted, Abs"
In the American way of thinking, hard, flat abdomnal muscles are the embodiment of a healthy physique. But while strong, toned core muscles support good health, they may not be as important as Western culture would lead us to believe.

Too much belly fat is unhealthy. However, working too hard to eliminate fat can also cause serious problems. For the 10 percent of us who are actually capable of acquiring them, six-pack abs come at a price: reduced flexibility and freedom of movement. Women who work the abs too much can suffer estrogen depletion, bone weakness, and fractures. Overdoing abs exercises can also lead to a flattening of the lumbar curve, creating a weakened spinal structure.

So if you've been striving to tone your abs so you look like an underwear model, maybe now is a good time to shift your focus. The next time you practice Navasana (Boat Pose) think about how much better you'll feel when you've gained core strength, not how much better you'll look the next time swimsuit season rolls around.

You can relate this idea to any sort of exercise -- matter of fact, you can relate it to life. Try not to overextend yourself. There's always a middle road to walk on -- to balance, to breathe, to trust, to go with the flow in the mind and heart -- it doesn't always have to be the edge.