As we continue to follow the upward movement of energy from the core roots and heart compassion, we come to the fifth chakra, vishuddha, in the throat. Here we express the truth of who we are in our voice. Willpower is a key issue of this chakra. As a practice off the mat, a suggestion is to see if you can only speak, shout out or sing what is true for you this month. Just bring awareness to your speech and notice how often you do or do not speak what is true for you! On the mat, some asanas that focus on vishuddha are fish, camel, shoulderstand and modifications. We look forward to another month of practice with you! Om….

In May, we are also excited to announce the launch of a new Sunday-morning class. Lindsey Bale will offer a 9 a.m. Sunday class we are calling “Sunergy” (Sunday + energy). Sunergy is an energetic practice incorporating classic poses designed to invigorate your Sunday morning. It is not any particular style of yoga, but a name we created to indicate that it is somewhere between flow and basics. The practice is suitable for students at all levels except complete beginners (we welcome beginners at any of our basics or gentle classes). Lindsey has been a part of the yoga community in Bowling Green and completed the teacher training with Angie and Kim in April 2011. She has recently returned from Africa for her work and is ready to join us with her enthusiastic approach to yoga.

In addition to adding the Sunday class at 9 a.m., we have moved Saturday basics class to 9 a.m. to make the weekend morning schedule consistent and easy to remember. Although we are discontinuing the 8 a.m. Saturday class, we hope to see those of you who attended that class at one of our other weekend offerings.

Here on the website, there are two ways to access the May schedule:  a PDF to provide an easily printable version and the online calendar.  Both are available at the Class Calendar tab above–or via this link: https://4yoga.me/calendar/ .  And hard copies are, of course, always available at class.  We also invite those of you on Facebook to “like” 4yoga there for regular brief updates throughout the month.

May guest teachers and special events:

• Friday, 5/4: 6:45 p.m. yoga talk and meditation with Erica (no charge, everyone welcome)
• Friday, 5/18: 5:30 p.m. class will be restorative with Lindsey Bale
• Monday, 5/28 (Memorial Day): 9 a.m. mixed-level class with Lindsey Bale (all levels welcome)
• Tuesday, 5/29: 9:30 a.m. gentle class with Kathie Downs

All classes meet at Dance Images, 1803 Creason Street, and the class fee is $5. If you have any questions or feedback for us, please ask one of us at class or send an email to this address: 4yoga@gmail.com

Kim spotted this article in the Saturday, 4/21/12 New York Times.  Here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/nyregion/in-new-york-meditation-makes-its-way-back-to-the-yoga-mat.html?_r=2&src=twrhp

Research: Chanting Om Shown to Deactivate the Limbic System—a Known Treatment for Depression
In a study conducted at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience in India, chanting Om was found to have a similar effect as the implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS). The VNS, which requires invasive surgery and affects the vocal chords, has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of both epilepsy and depression. But the same areas of the brain are affected with the chanting of “Om.” Both implantation of the VNS and ‘OM’ chanting produce limbic deactivation, the opposite of what happens when we are depressed or fearful or traumatized.
The researchers compared 15 seconds of “OM” (5 – O; 10 – m) to 15 seconds of the sound “Ssssss…” and to 15 seconds of rest. Using fMRI, as well as other measuring methods, the researchers found significant deactivation in the amygdala, anterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, insula, orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus and thalamus during ‘OM’ chanting. The “ssss” task did not produce any significant activation/deactivation in any of these brain regions. It is theorized that like the VNS, ‘Om’ chanting creates a vibration sensation around the ears that is transmitted through the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. This transmission would then deactivate the limbic system.
Bangalore G Kalyani, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Rashmi Arasappa, Naren P Rao, Sunil V Kalmady, Rishikesh V Behere, Hariprasad Rao, Mandapati K Vasudev, and Bangalore N Gangadhar “Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study” International Journal of Yoga. 2011 Jan-Jun; 4(1): 3–6.

I would like to share a quote from Erich Schiffmann:

“Think of it like this: The farther you are from knowing your truth and experiencing the love that you are, the unhappier you will be; the closer you are, the happier you will be.  Keep it simple. It works like this because goodness is at your core and happiness is the feeling tone of your original nature. It is not elusive.  It is not someplace other than where you are, nor is it something you evolve or transform into or earn.  It’s right here, yours already. Feel you. Bask in the exquisite experience of being alive, of conflict-free high energy peace, and become thoroughly familiar with the core tone of who you are.”