Let's Take it Outside - June 12th at Historic London Town and Gardens

Join me as I lead a Vinyasa Flow Practice Saturday, June 12th at 8:30am in the beautiful Historic London Town and Gardens.  This will be a Fitness and Fun Event sponsored by Teresa Giordano owner of Power of Fitness.  This event will have a variety of exercise classes including yoga, Kukuwa dance, Zumba, Strength and Conditioning (Glutes and Abs).  You will also be able to sample healthy foods and other services from local small businesses such as chair massage, chiropractic wellness, acupuncture and so much more.  Advanced registration required, call Teresa for ticket information 410-573-9393

See you on your mat outside or at the studio!

First we breathe and now we move....

Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) is a series of 12 postures performed in a single graceful flow.  Each movement is coordinated with the breath.  Inhale as you extend or stretch, and exhale as you fold or contract.  The Sun Salutation builds strength and increases flexibility.  Different styles of yoga perform the Sun Salutations with their own variations.  

On days when you think you have no time for yoga, try and do at least one or two rounds of Sun Salutations.  You will feel a difference.

See you on your mat soon.

Sorry It Has Been So Long.... Let's Start with our Breath....

I am not certain why I stepped away, but now I am back and I suspect it is probably a good idea to start from scratch.  Yoga is about fusing the mind, body and spirit through physical asanas and pranayama (breathwork).  So let us start with a Breath Exercise that will help cool your body down (generally, I am speaking about the internal inflammation from stress or food), relax your body, and find some focus.

1.  Lie down on the floor, flat on your back, arms at your sides, palms facing up.

2.  Take your right hand and place it over your belly button.  Relax completely.

3.  Inhale completely but don't breathe into your chest.  Instead let your abdomen fill up as much as possible (yes, this will be difficult at first; but soon you will get the hang of it).

4.  Now exhale, allowing your belly to hollow out completely.

5.  Once you are comfortable with this motion (chest stays still, belly fills up like a balloon, then empties completely); then you start counting the breaths.

6.  Inhale to the count of 4 (nice and slow) - then pause at the top of this breath.  Now exhale for for the count of 8 (slower).  Again inhale to 4 pause and Exhale to 8.

7.  Do this for 8 more rounds.  Let me know how you feel.

See you on your mat soon.

Daily Practice...

Many yoga students struggle to find adequate time to practice in their busy lives.  For others, yoga often becomes an obsession with which they replace their other obsessions.  These students become very attached to their yoga.  Notice if you can commit to a daily practice without over-identifying with, or becoming dependent on it.

See you on your mat soon.

Prana Studio has just received the Capital Gazette's Reader's Choice Award as the Best Yoga Studio

Thank you everyone who voted Prana Studio as the Best Yoga Studio.  Don't forget the 30 Day Challenge.  It is not too late to join us.  See you on your mat soon.

The Prana Studio Family

Ahimsa non-harming)

A guiding core principle of yoga, ahimsa (non-harming) is vital to our practice.  This attitude of non-violence that we strive for brings us face to face with desire, anger and memory.  Practice ahimsa in all aspects of life:  in thought, speech and action.

See you on your mat soon.

Why I Do Yoga...

The space between my thoughts is as narrow as a mouse whisker and as tiny as a pin hole.  Or there is no space at all - mind hijacked by overlapping monkey banter, whooping in my ear.  In yoga, that same space is as wide as the ocean and silent as the deepest sea.

Commitment is Yoga

Some days we don't feel up to it.  We tire of our regular practice, and we feel exhausted, sick, hungry or depressed.  Maybe we are too busy, too stressed, or preoccupied.  Remember that committing to a daily practice, as well as the struggle around this commitment, is yoga!

See you on your mat soon.

Pre Natal Seminar - Free

Free Pre Natal Seminar to outline the upcoming Pre Natal workshop.  Sunday, April 25th 6:00pm - 7:15pm

See you and yours on your mat soon.

Pre Natal Workshop will begin on May 2 - June 27

This workshop will be appropriate for any trimester with any level of experience in yoga, this class is designed to increase your energy and stamina while building strength, flexibility, and balance.  Breath exercises and postures will help reduce fatigue and tension while improving circulation and keep you comfortable and feeling fit throughout your pregnancy.  Special  sequencing of postures, breath exercises and visualization are designed to aid you in labor.  Connect with other moms-to-be in a supportive and healthy environment.

Cost is $150.00

Yoga Asana Without Meditation?

Meditation is your intrinsic nature - it is you.  It has nothing to do with your doings; you can neither have or not have it, it simply can not be possessed, it is not a thing, it is you.

New to Meditation?  Simply find a quiet spot in a quiet space of your home.  Turn off all electronic devices.  Now, find a seated posture where you can remain for at least 5 minutes (you must remain upright, so as not to fall asleep).  Think of something (i.e. a few simple words like LET GO).  Try to make your breath consistent in both inhalation and exhalation.  Practice breathing your Mantra (i.e. LET GO); part on the inhale; part on the exhale (LET as you inhale and GO as you exhale).  Stay as long as you can.  Each time will get a little easier and you will be able to stay longer.

See you on your mat soon.

The Soul

Selfishness kills the soul; destroys it.  But take care that your altruism does not kill the souls of others.

See you on your mat soon.

There's no Judgment in Yoga

Navigating difficulty without judgment is yoga.  Understanding that all practice efforts are worthwhile (even the ones which do not flow) will lead to self-acceptance.

See you on your mat soon.  Kathleen

Day 30 Last Day of the Challenge - We Are Only Human

For the wonderful thing is that the body is not and never will be a machine, no matter how much we treat it as such, and, therefore, body movement is not and never will be mechanical - it is always and forever expressive, simply because it is human.  M. Whitehouse.

See you on your mat soon.  Kathleen

Day 29 - Be Grateful -- Your World Will Change

Everyday is a blessing, and in each moment there are many things that we can be grateful for.  The world opens up to us when we live in a space of gratitude.  In essence, gratitude has a snowball effect.  When we are appreciative and express that gratitude, the universe glows a bit brighter and showers us with even more blessings.

There is always something to be grateful for, even when life seems hard.  When times are tough, whether we are having a bad day or stuck in what may feel like an endless rut, it can be difficult to take the time to feel grateful.  Yet, that is when gratitude can be most important.  If we can look at our lives, during periods of challenge, and fine something to be grateful for, then we can transform our realities in an instant.  There are blessings to be found everywhere.  When we are focusing on what is negative, our abundance can be easy to miss.  Instead, choosing to find what already exists in our lives that we can appreciate can change what we see in our world.  We start to notice one blessing, then another.

When we constantly choose to be grateful, we notice that every breath is a miracle and each smile becomes a gift.  We begin to understand the difficulties are also invaluable lessons.  The sun is always shining for us when we are grateful, even if it is hidden behind clouds on a rainy day.  A simple sandwich becomes a feast, and a trinket is transformed into a treasure.  Living in a state of gratitude allows us to spread our abundance because that is the energy that we emanate from our beings.  Because the world reflects back to us and what we embody, the additional blessings that inevitably flow our way give us even more to be grateful for.  The universe wants to shower us with the blessings.  The more we appreciate life, the more life appreciates and bestows us with more goodness.

See you on your mat soon

Namaste

Day 27 of the 30 Day Challenge - Perserverence

Perservering through yoga practice will support you more then a thousand hours of armchair philosophy.

See you on your mat soon.

Day 23 - Awareness in our Bodies

It is the concrete, specific awareness of one's own act of moving which is so satisfying.  Something more is needed than simply body mechanics, that the feelings hidden in the body, the source of all its movement, must be involved.

-Mary Starks Whitehouse

See you on your mat soon,

Kathleen

Day 22 - Should I stay or should I go?

Physical postures are potent tools for both stasis and change and working with pleasure, pain and fear.  Finding the place between moving forward more deeply into a pose, or backing off is the work of yoga, and the perfect metaphor for negotiating intimacy with ourselves and with others.

See you on your mat soon,

Kathleen

Day 21 - A Change is Gonna Come...

By choosing to see change as an opportunity to welcome growth and progress in our relationships, we are able to relax and enjoy the connections that we share with others. Our resistance to change often stems from the fear of losing our cherished connections, when in fact predictability in relationships often leads to stagnation. Rather than allowing our relationships to become stale, we can choose to see change as a positive part of growth. As we release our expectations and open up to the possibilities, we can better relax and enjoy our relationships as they are. Your feelings of uncertainty and disconnection will vanish today as you embrace the changes that happen in your relationships. 


See you on your mat soon,


Kathleen

Day 20 - Breathe In; Breathe Out

When the mind is not turned outward it reflects consciousness itself... Yoga Sutra of Patanjali


See you on your mat soon,


Kathleen

Day 19 - Amazing What Your Body Can Do, If You Just Allow it to Breathe and Move!!!

In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there as in me and invincible summer.....

Albert Camus

Day 17 Feeling Great....

Heightened state of consciousness may arise from our experiments with yoga, but if we chase after these states they become one more spoke on the wheel of samsara (Many people think of it as the Buddhist name for the place where we currently live — the place we leave when we go).  


Let them come and go without attachment and you will avoid disappointment.

Author is unknown to me at this moment...  But I love it.

See you on your mat soon,

Kathleen

Day 8 - Covering Tapas - Persistence; Discipline and Self-Control

Today's Intention is to develop a strong resolve for our yoga practice and our life's work.

I am sorry about the hiccup yesterday with posting to the blog and practicing.  But, my husband and I woke up yesterday morning to a flood in our basement (the water heater literally burst at the seams).

For some reason my house has a love of water.  Let me just say,  this is not the first time my house has experienced a large amount of water on the inside....

So, I did not actually get to practice yoga yesterday, I just thought about it a lot as I was breathing in deep and moving boxes; breathing in deep and drying the floor; breathing in deep and trying not to get too emotional; breathing in deep and getting emotional.  Hey wait a minute...  Isn't that yoga?

Well, today I had the opportunity to take 2 classes this morning.  A wonderful Hot Vinyasa Flow with Beth Cory and a well needed All Levels Class with a beautiful instructor, Joan Livingston.

Joan is only new to the schedule.  She has been very well known to me for years.  I am glad to finally have her on my schedule.  Look for her on the Sunday 10am rotation along with Beth Cory, Erin Lytle, and Mary Jayne Raleigh.

See you on your mat soon.

Kathleen

Day 6 of the Personal Challenge - "Show Up and Do Your Best... Then, Let Your Best Be Good Enough"

I could not have said it any better.  So, I thought I would share that saying from Rolf Gates with you.

I have to say it is getting hard.  I feel tired in the morning; but I keep moving and doing what I need to do.  A boost of energy from the Wonji Juice Bar helps in the afternoons.  Then, I am ready for the rest of the day.

Join me with your mat.  Hope to see you soon.

Kathleen

Day 5 - Reviewing Niyamas Tapas - Burning Enthusiasm

The self-control to live with right action; good habits in all things including work; food; drink; spirituality; thoughts and wishes.  For some, tapas may involve purificatory practices like periodic fasting or regularly observing silence.

Let's sit and mediate for a few minutes today.  Just sit in a comfortable position on the floor, a pillow or chair.  Close your eyes; it is best not to do this lying down.  Just breathe and create a mantra.  This can be as simple as a few words (i.e. be still; peace; thank you ...; let go; or, anything positive you can think of and is not too long to repeat).

Share your thoughts.

See you on your mat soon

Kathleen

Day 4 - Gotta Feeling - Today is Gonna Be a Good Day

I took the 9:30am All  Levels Class.  I have to say that practicing that time of morning feels great.  Let me know if you have made any changes in your regular practice (time of day, type of class)

See you on your mat soon (syoyms)
Kathleen

Day 3 of the 30 Day Challenge- Living in the World

If I know how to have a proper relationship with everything, everything is fine. It's my improper relationships that bring me problems, bring me enemies, likes and dislikes. but if I am neutral, no problem. And that lessons you learn only by living in the world -- getting tossed, fried, roasted. You have to be fried well to become eatable. You have to be properly matured, ripened. Nobody wants to eat unripe fruit. Maturity comes only in the field. There you face challenges. Facing challenges brings you inner strength. Life is a challenge. Take a seed, put it on your altar, worship it daily, and pray, "Seed, please grow." Will it grow? No, dig a hole, put it in there, and it gets a challenge. Then it begins to sprout.
-Swami Satchidananda

It is not too late. Join us for our 30 Day Yoga Challenge. Let's watch each other sprout.

Day 3 of the 30 Day Challenge

Wow, thank you to everyone taking a chance on themselves.  I would like you to use this forum as a place to express your thoughts, ideas, transformations, blocks.  Anything you would like to ask, just ask.  Anything you would like to share, please share.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Peace and Love,

Kathleen

Prana Studio 30 Day Challenge begins tomorrow

30 days can change your world....  I will keep you posted to let you know what changes happen in my world.

Journey with me for the next 30 days as I begin my 30 days of a consecutive physical practice.

I will begin my 30 Day Challenge at the 8am Hot Vinyasa Flow Class.  My goal is to take 30 classes within the next 30 days.  I will practice at different times of the day and blog about the effects on my taking a morning class or waiting until the end of the day to take a class.

I would love to hear what happens in your world.  The path is wide, we can journey together....

See you on your mat soon (SYOYMS),
Kathleen

Allison is Back - Powerful Vinyasa Flow on Thursdays at 6pm!!!

Join Alison beginning March 4th as she leads you through a Powerful Vinyasa Flow in our All Levels Yoga Classes on Thursdays at 6pm. 

Prana Studio is Selling Prima Water!

Purified Water enriched with minerals for taste and the bottle is made 100% from plants.  This bottle can be recycled again into another bottle; incinerated into thermal energy; or 30 days in a compost pile...  Finally, we can go back to bottled water!!!

30 Day Challenge begins Sunday!!!

Now is the time to focus on yourself.  Open your mind and body of the changes a 30 day physical practice can do for you...  Remember practice 3 days a week and it will change your body; practice 5 times a week and it can change your life.  Let's see what 30 days will do for us!  Join me on this fabulous journey.

See you on your mat soon.

Peace and Love,  Kathleen

AM Classes at Prana!!!

Regardless of the 2-Hour Delay for schools.  Prana Studio will be open for all morning classes.  That includes the 6:30 am Hot Yoga Class.  So sneak out of the house; let your kids and spouse sleep in and take a Hot Yoga class Thursday morning...

Hope to se you on your mat...  Kathleen

Schools Are Closed; But Prana is OPEN!!!

Come in from the cold; Get off those icy roads; Walk through our doors and relax, renew; and restore your energy, your health, your body....  Hope to see you on your mat (or ours) soon.

Peace, Kathleen

Challenge Yourself - The 30 Day Challenge has been postponed until 2/21/10

Due to the weather related challenges we have all faced these past few weeks.  Prana has postponed it's 30 Day Challenge.  We will begin the challenge this coming Sunday, February 21st.  So, sign up or inquire at the front desk.  This challenge can change your life!

Peace, Kathleen

This Valentine's Day, Show Yourself Some Love

Whatever your body needs, we have a class for it.  If you haven't done yoga before, try it.  If it has been a while since you have done yoga; come back to it.  If you have been doing yoga, try something different.  There is so much to choose from at Prana.  Take a chance on yourself; you will be happy you did.

Peace, Kathleen

Wrists, Shoulder, Knees and Hips; Knees and Hips...

If you can not get to the studio; try this little exercise.  Let me know how you feel and if this helps:

On all 4's (hands under wrists; knees under hips)

Finger tips forward - Lift heel of hand slowly 10 times

Finger tips outward - Lift heels of hands 10 times 

Finger tips inward - Lift heels of hands 10 times

Make a fist and Roll over top of both hands and bend elbows out while lowering your head to ground.  The more flexible you are in your shoulders the easier it is to lower down.  Heat will help this, so maybe you should just come to class :))

Step into forward bend; then bend your knees generously and lift your toes to slide your hands underneath your feet.  Try to keep your spine long (the hamstring stretch is just a bonus)

See you on your mat soon; but if you don't have a mat you can borrow one  of ours.

Peace,  Kathleen

It's getting HOT in Here and Prana Studio is Open

All Levels Vinyasa Flow with Mary Jayne at 9:30am is all you need.  Maybe you want to turn up the HEAT?  Then, come to either the 4:30pm or 6:00pm Hot Vinyasa Flow with Kathleen. 

Prana Studio is Open!!

Prana will be holding the 4:30pm & 6:00pm All Levels Yoga Classes.  Prana has decided to cancel this evening's 7:30pm All Levels Yoga Class due to the chance of icy road conditions.  Your patience is always appreciated and our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.  We hope to see you on your mat soon.  Peace and Love, Prana Studio

Morning Classes cancelled for Thurs 2/11/10

All morning classes have been cancelled for Thursday, Feb 11,2010.  Please call the studio to check the status of the afternoon and evening classes.  Be safe and we hope to see you on your mat soon.  Very soon.

Peace and Love, Kathleen

Prana is Closed.... Again :(

The studio will be closed for the entire day.  Please call the studio to check on tomorrow's classes.  Be safe.

Thank you to everyone that braved the roads and came to class yesterday.  See you soon.

We are doing yoga at Prana... The only class cancelled at this moment is the 7:30pm class

Wow!!!  A great turnout for the early am Hot Vinyasa Class with Shannon.  We had a tremendous turnout for the 9:30am with Kim McCaig.

We are getting ready for snow; but we are still hoping to be open for the 4:30pm All Levels class with Beth Surgenor and tentatively the 6:00pm with Kathy Pincoffs.

I have decided to take cancel the 7:30pm All Levels with Allison.

See you on your mat, Kathleen

Back from my trip and what do I hear... More snow???

Well, I made it home from my trip.  I guess there are some special angels up there watching over me (thank you m & d).  I have to say the Cayman Islands are a beautiful place to vacation.  I did yoga on the roof top (once for sunset, the other for sunrise) with a beautiful instructor named Chantall who was just amazing.  Then, off to Bliss Yoga for an intense and sweaty Vinyasa Flow with Mark.  The sweat was pouring from my brows before I did my first Down Dog!!  The class was inspirational and the studio was beautiful.  I wished I could have made it back for more classes...  Maybe next time, definitely next time.

But, it is great to be back home and back to Prana.  I just finished Shannon's 6:30 am Hot Vinyasa Hour.  It was great to see so many people up and about and doing yoga this morning.  


Stay tuned for our daily snow postings....  Not certain what is going to happen with this storm.  So, I am going to play it by ear.  Please check the studio's voice mail for my announcements regarding today's classes.

Hope to see you son your mat real soon...

Peace and Love,

Kathleen

2+ Feet of Snow and Counting....

Prana Studio will be closed all day Sunday thru and including Monday Morning Classes.  Please call the studio to check the status of the Monday evening classes.  Will try to keep you updated as best as possible.  Be safe and enjoy the snow.  Kathleen

Studio is Open for Afternoon and Evening Classes 2/3/10

Take a break from the snow and enjoy the heat.  Hot Vinyasa Classes at 4:30 & 6pm today.

Perfect time for Reflection

Take time for yourself and enjoy the view outside your window.  Close your eyes and breathe.  Perhaps a meditation is calling you; close your eyes for the next few moments and just review the things and people your are thankful for.  Then open your eyes, look at the snow, take a deep breath in and smile.

Peace and Love, Kathleen

It is snowing again.... Studio is closed for 2.3.10 morning classes

Prana Studio is cancelling all morning classes for today, feb 3, 2010.  please call the studio for an update on evening classes.  drive safely, kathleen

6pm and 7:30pm All levels Classes cancelled

Due to inclement weather I will be cancelling the 6:00pm and 7:30pm All Levels classes this evening (02/02/2010). Drive safely and see you on your mat real soon.

Peace and Love, Kathleen

Prana Studio in Annapolis is live!!!!

Welcome to Prana Studio. My name is Kathleen and I am here if you have any questions or concerns. I would love feedback (positive would be great!!!)

So, Prana will be hosting a 30 day yoga challenge beginning Feb 14th. I would love it if you would join us. For those of you who cannot make it to Annapolis, why not try this at home or at a studio near you.... Share your thoughts, ideas, concerns with me.

Peace and Love, Kathleen