Yoga of Recovery

Adaptive Yoga

Are you suffering from a particular  disease (dis-ease) or disorder that causes you some pain?  Yoga can help lessen the pain especially when combined with other modalities.  Yoga Instructors often work with chiropractors, accupunture, accupressure, massage therapist, physical therapy and the medical field.

Grand Canyon 2011

Do you have arthritis?  I believe 1 out of every three people has arthritis.  so chances are you do have some somewhere in that body of yours.  What about weight issues, osteoporosis, fibermyaligia, or simply recovering from some addition, injury or illness. 
Yoga helps
Yoga heals
Yoga helps you become part of the healing process.
Yoga brings awareness to your mind and body guiding you to better  health.

let's take a few examples so you get the picture.
Cancer
     While cancer continues to rise, so does the survival rate.    Yoga simply reduces stress and helps manage side effects while rebuilding your body.  Restorative, gentle, breath work styles of yoga is the best practice because most people do not have the strength to do a vigorous.
Multiple Sclerosis
     MS is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause in which the immune system attacks the fatty tissue.  The nerve cells are inefficient at passing their message down the line.  The common complains that people discuss when diagnosed with MS are fatigue, spastisity, balance, muscle tone.  Adaptive yoga is the best practice for those who have MS.  In adaptive yoga each person, each day is different.  The practice is individualized and specialized for each person.  Yoga builds the body, mind and spirit lessening the symptoms and enhancing a feeling of well being.
Arthritis
     There is two most common types of arthritis that I will write about are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid.  Osteoarthritis is the kind that is caused by the wear and tear affecting the joints.  Cartilage that is worn down allows bone to bone to rub against each other causing pain.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune inflammatory disease.
     Yoga is wonderful for arthritis because what this practice does is lubricate the joints.  Yoga also brings into the practice: posture, sitting up straight, body awareness and de-stressing.  A home practice would be ideal.  Practicing 10 to 15 minutes each day could keep your joints lubricated and in less pain than an hour class at a studio every so often.

These three examples are examples of life styles that would benefit from adaptive yoga.  There are so many more that I could have listed.  Adaptive yoga is about meeting you where you are.  No matter what your current abilities are, each pose can be yours.  It will not look like your neighbors, and why would you want that.  It is about finding your comfort, what you need to feel benefits.  Adaptive Yoga provides safe and appropriate yoga poses to increase flexibility, strength and movement without pain. 

Let your own guided awareness develop through understanding and balancing your needs right now as you travel through life. 

Janine Robichaud, Yoga Instructor and Life Coach

She has been practicing yoga since 2003, became certified in 2008 and now has her own yoga business, traveling to people's homes providing yoga and coaching to small groups, 1-1, as well as in some local studios.  She specializes in guiding people towards their own body, mind and spirit awareness.  Yoga, to Janine, means:  Your Own Guided Awareness.

The aches and pains of Yoga

Yoga is not suppose to hurt.  Yet, at times, I heard someone say that after a class their neck, shoulders, core or lower back was sore.  Why is this?  There are several reasons that yoga can actually make you feel uncomfortable or even down right hurt.  This of course is not what we, as instructors, want for our students.  So take these precautions and enjoy each one of your classes whether they are at home or in a studio.
a.  be sure you are with a qualified instructor.
b. listen to your body..the entire class.  stay present.  bring your mind back to the practice.
b.  stretching before you begin is important.  warm up your ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
c. drink a small amount of water before hand, eat a very small snack or nothing right before class, and after class be sure to drink lots of water.  If you have ever been to a massage therapist, they always recommend water to detox your body.  Same idea.  Detox after your yoga practice. 
d.  if you are not comfortable in the pose, stop.  Ask questions, and re-align yourself.
e. go at your own pace
f.  always give the instructor your injury history, when appropriate
g.  listen to your body.  when it says stop, stop
h. rest when necessary.  know your limitations, go to your edge.  No one else's edge
i. stay present and breathe.  the breathe moves you from pose to pose. 

Yoga is about your own awareness.  It is using the breathe as you move from pose to pose in a rhythmic manner.  When it no longer feels like this is happening back off, come into child's pose and bring your mind to the present.  Scan your body. 

I enjoy teaching small groups of people for this very reason, people are comfortable and can ask questions with no fear.  I can continuously help people get into poses that are right for them. 

And if by chance you are sore after, contact the instructor, and find some relief through breath, poses and stretching that will release the area that is painful. 

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Janine is a yoga instructor and Life Coach practicing from her home studio.  She invites students to her studio for 1-1 personal sessions, as well as traveling to the home for small groups. She leads educational coaching series along with personal 1-1 life coaching using the Co-Active Coaching techniques.  You can reach her at 207-251-9577

Hey, what are you reading?

Have you ever been asked, "What are you reading?", of course you have. 
Everyone reads.  Well, everyone may not read books, but we read other media.  I am talking about hard cover, almost old fashion, paper in hand, books.  At least we, as a society, are recycling, renewing, and reusing more and more.  We are constantly sharing books with others.  When we read a good book we want to share it with others. 

So, how many books can you read at the same time?  Are you a serial reader, one who reads cover to cover and then on to the next book?  Are you a person who can read three books in one weekend (like say, Pete for instance).  Or are you, the kind that reads many books at once.  I mean, alternating between several books at once.   Hmmm, let's see I am reading..(and this is only books, right?), 6 books right now.  I keep my 6 books in different rooms, so that means I have my morning books, my bathroom books, my night time books, my study books and my read anytime, anywhere books.  

My morning books are all about meditation, daily reflections and meaning.  The book I am currently reading right now is, Meditations from the Mat, by Rolf Gates and Katrian Kenison.  This book is daily reflections on the Path of Yoga.  I talk about this eight-limbed path in the yoga practices that I teach.  A wonderful review of the eight limbs reminding us that our journey is so very important.

Another morning book that I am reading is The Artist Way, by Julia Cameron.  This is the ever so famous book of a "spiritual path to higher creativity".  I am working on this book with a friend.  We are reading one chapter weekly, writing our morning pages and going on artist dates with ourselves as we discover, discuss and create confidence as we move forward in life.  Group work is always so powerful.

I have a book that I keep with me in the car.  Since I travel from house to house teaching private and small group yoga sessions, I have periods of down time.  I use this time for self study (one of the eight limbs!).  This book happens to be, Glynis Has Your Number, by Glynis McCants.  I was given this book by a friend, fellow yogis, and Feng Shui Consultant, Priscilla Simpson.  This book is about "discovering what your life has in store for you through the power of numerology"  The power in numbers is incredible.  I bring this knowledge into my YOGA education series. 

My reading from cover-to-cover book is, The Vision Board Book, by John Assaraf.  "How to use the power of intention and visualization to manifest the life of your dreams".  I use this notion in the last two weeks of the YOGA education series.  I am putting it to work.  I have my vision board in my yoga studio here at the house. 

OK, so I do have a fiction that I am reading.  My sister-in-law, Tina recycled her book, by Jodi Picoult, Sing You Home.  A novel.  I read this whenever and wherever.  fun and entertaining.

Lastly, my favorite, I read and re-read and analyze and think and wonder and believe in the power of, Callings.  "Finding and following an authentic life.  I love, love, love this book.  It's by Gregg Levoy.  I read it at night, talk to Rick about it.  (I wonder if he listens)..who cares.  He doesn't tell me to be quiet. 

So, have you read anything good lately???

Janine Robichaud, Yoga Instructor 1-1 and small group & Life Coach

Setting your intention and moving forward



We are all looking to move forward in life.  I recently listened in on a conference call about getting unstuck, and read through a book that many of you know called, The Vision Board Book.  Both of these medias state we can achieve whatever we envision.  Staying focused is key.  How do we stay focused in times that are challenging to so many of us.  Here is what I know. 

You set an intention with attention.  You pay attention to that thought or idea with intense focus using methods like meditation, journal writing, vision boards, affirmations,or surrounding yourself with like minded people.  You look for opportunities and when they arise, take action.  Make a decision with confident and determination.  Move forward with clarity, confidence, connections and continued support. 

Meditations can vary from sitting with your breath, to moving meditations like yoga or walking in nature to visualizations. 

Journal writing can be dream writing, diary-like, morning pages, gratitude writing, and the list goes on and on.

Vision boards are all about, yes..., getting pictures from magazines, self drawings or clip art to represent you thoughts, idea, goals and dreams.

Affirmations are positive words that you repeat to yourself,  believing that it is true.  Affirmations change your thoughts, your behavior and perspective on life.

and finally  surrounding yourself with positive energy leads to a better place.

So set that intention with complete and focused attention!

Janine Robichaud, Yoga Instructor 1-1 and small group & Life Coach