PS) Breathe!

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

General information about PS)Breathe!

PS) Breathe!

• is an anatomically safe and grace-filled class

• improves balance, flexibility, and strength

• is Christ centered

Here is an outline of the class:

1) BEGIN in PRAYER MOVEMENT

Divine Mercy Chaplet while breathing deeply to warm up the body

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Q3wuNck1I#action=share 18min 15seconds

1st Decade: First through fifth position port de bras slowly

2nd Decade: Cambré port de bras
3rd Decade: Tendu, Releve, plié combination
4th Decade: Tendue combination (DP)
5th Decade: Sitting cambré port de bras w/ augmented straddle

2) SUPINE strength, flexibility

3) ADAGIO grace, strength, stamina, balance

4) MAJOR MUSCLE GROUP  (targeted areas)  strength, flexibility, stamina

5) STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

  SENDING FORTH

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhbXsoIScy8 4min. 38seconds

All classes are multi-level and self-paced.

Bring:

a pilates or exercise mat

a sweat shirt (in case the AC is super cool)

bottle of water (for during and after exercise)

PS)Breathe! was created by Peggy Cortez over 15 years ago.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Is Yoga Right for You?

Yoga is an integral part of the Hindu religion. Most Hindus worship one "being" of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through infinite representations of gods and goddesses. There is a common saying:

“There is no Yoga without Hinduism and no Hinduism without Yoga."

Here are some points to take into consideration when deciding if yoga is right for you.

---> The "Ohm" gesture is an invitation for Brahman to enter the soul according to "The Sivinanda to Yoga."

---> Yoga is done to honor and invoke the goddess, Shiva the Destroyer.

---> The salutations to the sun poses are a greeting & homage* to the sun god.

---> The "Namaste" salutation literally means "from the god in me to the god in you."

The "Namaste" salutation is an acknowledgment of divinity in a person -- not Christ in their hearts or recognition of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit but recognizing each person as a god or deity Hindus strive to be one with their "god" and do not recognize the Holy Trinity (or any part thereof - God the Father, Jesus our Savior or the Holy Spirit)

---> God is characterized as an impersonal "universal spirit" having many names.

---> Yoga supports the teaching that eternal life is achieved by gaining good karma in as many lifetimes as it takes to achieve the level of perfection necessary.

---> Yoga supports the teaching that there are many different paths that lead to eternal life that do not include Jesus.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Need any more reasons to steer clear of yoga?

---> Yoga can actually be harmful . . . . Over 4,500 people ended up in the emergency room after yoga injuries in 2006 (according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) and the incidence is rising.

---> Often common sense and anatomical basics are overlooked because a class is called ‘yoga.’

For example, full ‘Lotus,’ ‘Locust’ and ‘Plough’ are contraindicated for the general public, according to the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. And, it’s not just beginners who are injured in yoga classes. It is the foundational nature of yoga that is being questioned.

---> Yoga is built on ancient religious worship as its primary focus, not modern fitness guidelines. Jeffrey Halbrecht, M.D., medical director for the Institute for Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine in San Francisco says. It’s not only newbies who are getting hurt. “I’ve treated more experienced yogis than rookies.”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
LAGNIAPPE!

---> *Homage: Done to honor, show respect or in celebration of someone or something

---> The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra (yogajournal.com)

". . . in the West, intelligent people (deny Hinduism is an integral part of yoga) . . . why do they talk like this?

Of course, it is clear. (It is) pure MARKETING, money, and power. If they say that Yoga is Hindu, no Christian, no atheist, no person belonging to any other dogmatic religion will practice Yoga . . . . I (would tell) everybody who wants to practice Yoga that they are the ones who have to pay the price. I would tell them that Yoga is undoubtedly Hindu, and (there are beliefs) that your religion . . . rejects. Are you ready for that?

If the answer is yes, then you are absolutely welcome.

https://durgadharma.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/41-there-is-no-yoga-without-hinduism/

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

SOURCES:

http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Yoga_and_Hindu_Philosophy.htm

Jeffrey Halbrecht, M.D., medical director for the Institute for Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine in San Francisco

American College of Sports Medicine
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
American Council on Exercise
YogaJournal.com

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Prayers for Class

Leader: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.

All: And enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Leader: Send forth your spirit and they shall be created.

All: And you will renew the face of the earth.

Leader: Lord by the light of your Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In that same spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

A prayer taken from part of the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick

Christ behind me and before me,
Christ beside me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me and above me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Ballet Dictionary

Arabesque: One of the basic poses in ballet. Arabesque takes its name from a form of Moorish ornament. In ballet it is a position of the body, in profile, supported on one leg, which can be straight or demi-plié, with the other leg extended behind and at right angles to it, and the arms held in various harmonious positions creating the longest possible line from the fingertips to the toes. The shoulders must be held square to the line of direction. The forms of arabesque are varied to infinity.

Barre:

The horizontal wooden bar fastened to the walls of the ballet classroom or rehearsal hall which the dancer holds for support. Every ballet class begins with exercises at the bar. Common exercises at the barre include: plies, tendus, jetes and rond de jambe.

Battement: Beating

A beating action of the extended or bent leg. There are two types of battements, grands battements and petits battements. The petis battements are: Battements tendus, dégagés, frappés and tendus relevés: stretched, disengaged, struck and stretched-and- lifted .

Battement dégagé: Disengaged battement.

Battement fondu développé: Sinking down, developed.

This is an important part of barre work exercises and a preparation for jumps. The supporting leg plies whilst the other is in cou de pied, then both legs co ordinate together to stretch and the leg is brought back to cou de pied. The plie and stretch action is like the landing and take off for a jump.

Petit Battement sur le coy-de-pied: Small battement originating and finishing at the ankle (AKA: "neck of the foot")

Battement tendu: Battement stretched

A battement tendu is the commencing portion and ending portion of a grand battement and is an exercise to force the insteps well outward. The working foot slides from the first or fifth position to the second or fourth position without lifting the toe from the ground. Both knees must be kept straight. When the foot reaches the position pointe tendue, it then returns to the first or fifth position. Battements tendus may also be done with a demi-plié in the first or fifth position. They should be practiced en croix.

Bras: Arms.

Bras bas: Arms low or down

Example: Port de bras en bas

Center:

The portion of class when dancers move from the barre into the center. Without the support of the barre, they continue to work on their balance and coordination through a series of combinations and sustained poses.

Combinations:

Sequences of steps in a ballet class, or a modern dance class, or choreography.

Croix, en:

In the shape of a cross. Indicates that an exercise is to be executed to the front, side, back, and side. As, for example, in battements tendus en croix.

Sur de Cou-de-pied: On the "neck" of the foot

The working foot is placed on the part of the leg between the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle.

En Avant: Forward

If a step is travelling forward, it is described as "En Avant"

Example: Glissade En Avant.

Jambe: Leg

Plié: Bent, bending

They are both a movement and position in ballet. Pliés warm the muscles and are done at the beginning of class at the barre and during center work. Pliés provide stability for poses. Pliés prep and/or end jumps and steps.

Port de bras: Carriage of the arms

The movement of arms take to pass through each position. In a typical ballet class, the dancers have a set port de bras exercise designed specifically to work on the back and arm muscles.

Supporting leg: A term used by dancers and teachers for the leg which supports the body, so that the working leg is free to carry the movement.

Relive: Raised

A raise either on pointe or demi-pointe and your foot rises off the floor, either with a small spring or softer motion.

Retire: Withdrawn.

The position for pirouettes where the thigh raised and the toe is placed in front, behind or at the side of the knee. The supported leg in straight, on demi-pointe for pirouettes and balances.

Rond de jambe: Round of the leg, a circular movement of the leg.

Rond de jambe can be done clockwise (en dehors) and counterclockwise (en dedans).

Turn-out:

The turn out is initiated from hip joints and continues through the feet, so that the whole leg is engaged.

Working leg:

The leg that is carrying out the movement, while other leg is supporting the balance of the body.