The sacrum, often overlooked, plays a vital role in both spinal health and overall movement. It's not just a single bone but a fusion of five vertebrae that occurs as we age, usually completing the process in our 20s. Despite this fusion, the sacrum is part of a dynamic system that requires awareness and movement to stay healthy.
The Convergence of Yoga and Creativity
Yoga and creativity share a special connection. Both require us to move beyond the confines of the familiar, to explore the unknown, and to embrace the perspective of a beginner—a fresh lens through which we see the world. This convergence of yoga and creativity is a catalyst for inspiration, opening doors to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of being.
NEW Studio Announcements: Introducing our Newest Intern and Updates to our Class Schedule!
iRest: Active Resting That Heals
iRest Yoga Nidra can be perceived as resting, especially since rest is in the name, and we all are not people who rest. Resting can even be a bit scary. It is easy to wonder: Will everything be OK if I slow down and rest? What if I told you that iRest Yoga Nidra is active resting? You are doing something. You are actively listening to a voice, following the prompts, re-wiring your brain, and improving your health.
Welcome, Gretchen Clore! Dogwood Studio’s New Summer Intern (2024)
We welcome our 2024 summer intern, Gretchen. “I am excited to intern with Dogwood Studio.” Teaching yoga is a lifelong learning and Gretchen looks forward to deepening her therapeutic and functional approach to yoga. She enjoys working with beginners and seniors. “This is an incredible opportunity to deepen my personal yoga practice and to strengthen my yoga instruction,” says Gretchen. “At the age of 57, I’m much more concerned with how I feel in a pose and how my students feel in a pose—not how the pose looks.”
Accepting Change
Yoga invites an exploration of positions and movements you don’t always do. This opportunity to experience something different allows you to embrace the discomfort of change. You learn to notice when your mental imprints, known as samskaras, shape your perceptions, reactions, and understanding of the world. Exploring new thoughts, habits or routines cultivates mental resilience and openness.
Yoga Supports Lifelong Learning
Engaging in a regular yoga practice invites us to embark on an inward journey creating an environment conducive to lifelong learning. Through mindful movement and self-inquiry, we develop a deeper understanding of how our thoughts (mind), emotions (heart), and physiology (body) are interconnected. This heightened awareness helps us tune into our authentic selves, recognizing patterns, behaviors, and feelings that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The Components of Functional Movement - Stability, Mobility, and Flexibility
Functional movement is the integration of stability, mobility and flexibility to support natural movement patterns and adapt to the physical demands of daily life. This approach takes into account individual differences, including skeletal variation and medical history. It's not just about being strong but being able to feel good and move well on and off the mat.
The Importance of Spiraling
Heart of Wonder
We look forward to our 3rd Art and Yoga Retreat: Heart of Wonder at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. June 15, 2024 will be a day filled with a creative playfulness, exploration, and connection. Experiences of awe and wonder reduce activation of our sympathetic nervous system, increase vagal nerve tone, and reduce inflammation and physical stress in our bodies.