The Show Me Yoga Center Student Spot

A student speaks

2008-02-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

Have you all seen Jake? He's the tall, quiet, 20 year-old, who comes to class at least 30 minutes early to meditate, stretch, or pursue the elusive free-standing-hand-stand. He's in the teens class AND adult classes. He's dedicated. He's relentless. He's whole-heartedly passionate about Yoga. Yoga has reached this young man.

Jake is a student at Linn Tech, and, in a public-speaking class, chose to speak of his practice. I asked him to share his speech with us.

And this phrase really hit me:

If you have mastered a particular pose physically, there is always progress to be made mentally. The experiences you have spiritually can be far more fascinating than what you feel physically.

Isn't this why we all keep practicing? Because of the bottom-less well of our minds and hearts? Because we learn something new, physically, emotionally, spiritually, every single time we hit the mat? Because we can always go deeper?

Thanks, Jake, for being such an amazing member of our community. And for sharing your wise speech.
~Megan

Jake's speech:

The best workout I’ve ever had wasn’t while playing football, wrestling, or basketball, but in a yoga class.

Every exercise in yoga is designed to work on a specific part of the body. This includes muscles, ligaments, organs, and tendons. When you activate areas of the body, you increase circulation, which increases health. Health is what yoga is all about.

I’ve learned that yoga has many opportunities for psychological advancement as well. If you have mastered a particular pose physically, there is always progress to be made mentally. The experiences you have spiritually can be far more fascinating than what you feel physically.

When I practice yoga, I focus on alignment, weight distribution, and being mindful of my whole body. When you get into a pose, your focus and mental aspect becomes energy. This happens when you get past the effort of whatever you’re doing, and there are no more agreements to what you think you can do. This is where complete mindfulness of the body takes place.

Yoga is also a great way to progress in sports. It is like the spirit of all sports because you’re using strength, flexibility, balance, and concentration. Yoga has been a great way for me to keep myself healthy, and progress mentally also.

~Jake Parris

...Maybe??...

2007-11-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

"I feel like I died."

A healthy, strong, red-head teen boy said this to me and his classmates after coming up out of Savasana (corpse pose) Friday at Simonsen.

I asked him to clarify what he meant, and he said this:

"I don't feel dead, I feel really alive, but it's like I had to die."

This young man unintentionally, and without ANY training, understood with absolute clarity the purpose of Savasana (corpse pose). To die a little death, to practice stillness, in order to feel life. To feel alive.

"We know too much, and feel too little." Bertrand Russell

I am consistently amazed by the teens I work with. They are universally open and ready to receive new experiences without the *adult* filter that seems to manifest during these transitional years.
Incidentally this isn't the first time I've been floored by the natural understanding of yoga by teens....last year, a tall African-American teen stopped me after class...he asked me about non-dualistic theory. But not in those *adult* terms.
This is what he asked:
"Ms. Megan, you said that we are all unique...that we are all works of art..that we will never be repeated again...but what about the fact that we are all the same? That there is no difference between any body, or anything? What about the idea that we all exist here together and that there is no separation?"

This beautiful young man had inadvertently hit upon a theory called non-dualism. It's originally a Buddhist concept, but folks like Ken Wilbur have taken it to new levels in Integral Theories. It's the notion that the concept of *you* and *I* are the misguidance of the ego. As Ram Dass says, "The *I* that you speak of when you say *I*, only you can see."

I was so floored by this young man. All I could muster was a lame "Please Google non-dualistic theory when you get home..."
If he did, I'll never know...the next time I saw him was during a break between blocks. He was being yelled at because he was listening to his I-Pod. Apparently a no-no at Simonsen....I gave him a knowing nod and walked on. He then surrendered his I-Pod, and went onto class.

I also teach the teens at JCAC, the alternative High School. These teens are absolutely beautiful. Either they've hit a wall or society has given up on them, but yet they are still trying, still kicking, still trudging forward. And STILL open to new ideas...like Yoga...
And just like their fellow students at Simonsen and JC, they get yoga. They recognize the power of this practice, they recognize the power they hold. They recognize the power of their mind, body, and spirit.

I don't pretend to understand the depth of this practice. And I'm not going to pretend that I fully get what is happening in the hearts and minds of teens that are introduced to it.
All I know is this:
1. Teens love yoga.
2. They get it.
3. I love it when they get it.
4. They love it when they get it.

The teens at Simonsen have recently been applauding after *Namaste*. Is this a sign that, maybe?...just maybe...we can change our future? Maybe we are reaching young adults, and teaching them to *die a little death* in order to know bliss? Perhaps even paving a path to peace, knowing we are all indeed inextricably linked together.

Let's not ration our compassion...let's give and give and give until we take our last breath! I firmly believe that if we keep giving and giving, then, and only then, will the giant grinding wheels of change begin to move! THEN we, or perhaps our children, or grand-children, will see the path to living in love...living without anger and violence and terror. Living in a world where love permeates everything, and compassion for all is our focus!

Teaching yoga to teens is one path to this goal. The one path I am on....and I'm so optimistic.

Shanti...
Megan Sappington

One student's story

2007-07-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Megan asked me to write about the challenge of continuing my yoga practice while dealing with/healing from frozen shoulder. At least that's what I think she meant when she said, "Please write a blog entry about it."

This time last year, I was a pretty functional yogini. I could do downdogs, headstands and handstands, all with good range and no discomfort. But by the end of the year, I was doing downdog with one hand (looks hard, but isn't) and other inverted poses not at all. My left shoulder had frozen.

Adhesive capsulitis is a spontaneous tightening of the shoulder joint. The soft capsule that holds the bones together inflames and binds the connective tissues, making it impossible to raise your arm above chest level. And it really hurts.

Eventually the pain subsides and the shoulder loosens, even becomes nearly normal again--but the whole process can take from 6-36 months. Doctors don't know what causes it, but it seems to strike fine-boned women in their 40s more than any other group.

If any classmate thinks she might be facing frozen shoulder, please talk to me. It can be very scary if you're dealing with it for the first time.I had it on the right side from 2002 until early 2005. Just when I thought it was finally gone, my left side started tightening up. I was horrified--"It's not fair!" I ranted.

Fortunately, my joint-care team was able to help me stall the process for about 18 months. Treatment included daily physical therapy to keep the shoulder mobile. Somehow daily PT became a daily yoga practice, which led me to SMYC last spring. Imagine my disappointment when I felt my left shoulder tightening again last fall.

I scrambled to "outsmart" the condition again. My care team proposed various alternative treatments--prolotherapy, hormone-replacement therapy. None of them worked. The pain and restriction overtook the left shoulder, and it followed the same freezing/frozen/thawing schedule that my right shoulder had followed in 2002. It was locked from December until early May, then gradually started to release.

Now it's July, and my left shoulder is getting looser and stronger every day. I've just started doing downdog on two hands again (still can't sink into my armpits, but that's coming), and I can sort of stand on my head again. I feel like my yoga practice is helping me regain my strength and range of motion faster this time. Last time it took years for the pain to completely fade and full range of motion to return.

I'm grateful for yoga in general and SMYC (my teachers and fellow yogis/yoginis) in particular. There were days when I didn't feel well/strong enough to get on the mat or come to class. But on the days when I could do even one brief, one-handed downdog, the power of the practice--and our community--helped me stay focused and hopeful.

Thanks--Megan and everyone--for asking about my shoulder and cheering me through the dark, painful months and back into the light. It feels good to put both hands on the mat again!

Namaste--Bonnie

Living Boldly and Laughing Hard!

2007-07-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the teen yogis asked "Are we going to do something exciting??!!" They know that their class is not a typical yoga class. They know we usually jump off a lot of bridges, and they know that I will push them beyond their boundaries.

But yesterday, all I had planned were balancing poses.

Yawn....Boring.....(optional eye-rolling here..)

Little did they know that THESE balancing poses were far from "typical." We made a table out of bodies, a triangle of down-dogs, and a 7 person pyramid of inversions.

NOW, who's yawning?!

"As we grow up, we put away our laughter and our silliness and our childish noises, the great sensory hilariousness of our young lives. We pick up a few notions about proper behavior, like what books to read and how to go about getting married and buying a home and being polite and having cocktail parties....and the next thing you know, the little child--who was also an enormously alive sensory apparatus--is just another boring adult going to work in a seersucker suit with a briefcase."

John Rosenthal, "Amazing Conversations"

When was the last time YOU played? Would you like to? Why not join us for another fantastically hilarious and riotous 108 Sun Salutes on Saturday, July 28th, starting at 9:00 am. I guarantee a great time! (And, no, you don't have to do all 108. Do as many as you feel like, or just hang out with good friends!) Our last gathering for 108 Sun Salutes was an absolute blast, and this time we will have food too...Bring a favorite dish, and come share laughter and silliness with your yoga community....

Come Play for a while! Come Dance and Sing! For all we are, It's Beautiful...
One Giant Leap

See you there! I think I'll go play hide-n-seek now...

Grinningly,
Megan Sappington

40-Day Yoga Challenge

2007-07-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

Our yoga community started a 40-Day Yoga Challenge on June 18. At least 22 people have publicly stated their goals or intentions for this time. And the excitement and energy at the center has been quite noticeable! We had more students attend class in June than any other time in the last year!

Here is a sampling of what our teachers and students are intending to do to deepen their yoga practice during this time:

1. To work toward fully respecting myself in all arenas of my life, through fasting, meditation, and restraint.

2. Add meditation to my practice.

3. Attend teen yoga class regularly.

4. Attend two classes per week and maintain clean eating program.

5. Work toward feeling compassionately connected to the world around me.

6. Attend yoga classes regularly and meditate and practice mindfulness.

7. Fasting with the group for clarity and consecration. Obtain 15 benefactors for South Africa Orphanage Mission.

8. Be a student in two yoga classes per week, more to be added later.

9. Fasting for at least 3 days, suffer with those who hunger year-round and enhance self-discipline to a new level.

10. Continue my yoga practice at home during the week at least 3-4 times per week.

11. Come to every teen yoga class while I'm still in town and to start swimming again!

12. Relax a little, loosen up and regain ROM weekly.

13. Feel cleansed (mind,body, spirit) fired up, empowered, self-esteem, and motivated.

14. Come to class Tuesday and Thursday or twice/week.

15. Get to bed early, early morning yoga practice, 2 classes per week, and juice fast.

16. Add a second yoga class per week and meditation. Find ease in all my business.

17. Take class 2 times/week and study yoga teacher training daily. Eat mindfully.

18. Attend class 3 times/week and at the end of 40 days be able to do Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana.

19. Attend 3 classes per week.

29. Practice the 5 Tibetans 2 times weekly.

21. Yoga 2 times per week and mindful eating.

22. One extra yoga class, home yoga 4 times/week, and eat healthy.

What I have Learned from Fasting

2007-06-17T19:47:00.001-07:00

1. I'm not really hungry, ever. I've not experienced the raw hunger feelings that I thought I would...however...

2. I crave the sensory experience of food. Not so much food itself, but the textures and smells. This is what I miss. Crunch. Chewy. Sizzling.

3. I feel energized, extremely energized. Even after consuming a juice, I literally feel the vitamins being absorbed into me. I'm not tired. I hung out with my friends late Saturday night, and wasn't able to sleep at 1 am.

4. I need to clean. I have done laundry, repotted plants, cleaned my walls of kids' art, cleaned out kitchen cabinets, cleaned my refrigerator. I've thrown a lot away.

5. This cleaning made room for the *new*. I hung up my kids' art projects from this past camp, I filled my frig with veggies, I boxed up old memories. I cried, a lot.

6. My dishwasher is empty.

7. It takes A LOT of fruits/veggies to make a 12 oz. drink.

8. The folks at Hy-Vee think I'm a nut. I've purchased every single fruit/vegetable they offer. And found out that I still *like what I like*. Venturing out is fun, but I will always hate turnips.

9. Too much ginger in a juice makes me ill.

10. Due to Fasting, my meditation practice has afforded me some very wild visions. And those visions have stuck with me.

11. I am a good person. But I can be better.

12. As Grandma Lucille says, *Everything in moderation*. I will continue to use juice-fasting as part of my daily regimen. But I will balance this against my need for the sensory experience of solid food.

If you are fasting this week, what have you learned? If you're not fasting, please join us. Even if it's for one day, you will learn so much.

Share with your community if you feel comfortable....Let us know what you've discovered about YOU.

After all, the only person you will spend the rest of your life with is....well....YOU.

Namaste,
Megan

More 40-Day Yoga Challenge Ideas

2007-06-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

This summer at Show Me Yoga Center we are challenging our students and teachers to do a 40-day practice that will change a habit (or make a new one). This Wednesday during the class I taught I explained the Yoga Challenge and made some suggestions for the students to consider as they develop their plan for the challenge. I thought back to my first yoga classes, and what I learned then. Good posture was a big thing that I brought into my life after starting yoga. It is really amazing to me how much better you look and feel with simply rolling your shoulders back and making the front side of the body as long as the back (eliminating the slouch). So in class we practiced mountain pose with a brick balancing on the top of our heads. I suggested that a focus on good posture throughout the day could be a great habit to create during the challenge.

I also suggested to my students that they consider adding a practice of mindfulness meditation during the challenge. In class we did a walking meditation. That was simple enough; we just walked SLOWLY in a large circle and noticed what our senses told us. We discussed what we noticed, and most of us discovered that it's hard to make yourself slow down!

For my challenge (40 days and 40 nights--wait does this have anything to do with water?), I want to learn more about meditation, so I am really excited to come to Dr. Colleen Loehr's meditation and relaxation class that starts on Friday, June 15 at 5:30. (Yes, that's a plug--do come!)

The biggest thing for me is making the time each day--sound familiar? There are many other things that I have been thinking about doing. Such as letting go of self judgement, focusing on positive thinking, slowing down and enjoying the journey, learning more about breathwork, and, give me long enough, and I'll be sure to come up with more. So pick one of my suggestions or come up with your own, and challenge yourself--for yourself! I’d be happy to help anyone with his or her challenge in any way that I can. And if you have any ideas for our celebration on the last day of the challenge, give any of the teachers your ideas and we'll see what we can do!!

Judi

The Fasting Club

2007-06-12T20:22:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited! We have approximately 25 yogis and yoginis that are ready and willing to try a juice-fast for three or more days! This includes 6 yogis from California MO, and 4 teachers!

What a fantastic way to begin our 40-Day Yoga Challenge....

To enable our community to stand with us, I am posting our agreed upon guidelines. Feel free to join us at any time!

1. We intend to juice-fast partially or fully for the week of Saturday June 16th through Saturday June 23rd.

2. We intend to set aside time every day to meditate and journal on our experience.

3. We intend to consume at least 32-64 ounces per day of vegetable/fruit juices, teas, and broths. Water as well should be consumed.

4. We intend to clarify our personal 40-Day Yoga Challenge goal, and align our fast with this goal.

5. We intend to meditate on our desire to consume solid food, and, if a decision is made to break the fast, it will be done through mindful eating practices. No Guilt Allowed!

6. We intend to be mindful of our time on the mat, honoring our body’s need for perhaps a different type of practice.

7. We intend to fully support each other during this week of detoxification, through meetings, phone calls, and positive energy.

Look for our names and goals on the board at Show Me Yoga, and lend your support by joining us in these transformative 40 days. Join your community at whatever level feels appropriate to you, cuz it's ALL GOOD!!!

*For those participating in the fast: If you would like to be included in a phone-calling support team, email me your phone number and I will create a Master-List for all of us. (m.sappington@mchsi.com)

Namaste, and Happy Fasting!!

Megan Sappington

Fasting for mind, body, & spirit

2007-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Fasting...such an interesting word, but so literal. It's a method of detoxifying the body...FAST. It's also a way to detoxify the mind....

Huh?

When we clear up energy used to digest foods, the mind and spirit have space to clarify and focus. Remember how you feel after lunch?...you know what I'm talking about...YAWN!...I personally have no link to reality. I'm dazed, tired, foggy, and searching for the nearest couch...meditation? not so much.

Fasting sounds pretty yogic, eh? It is. It allows us to develop mental will power and increased control over the senses. Not only is fasting yogic, but it's powers are recognized in every philosophical methodology on the planet. It is universally recognized as a way to clarify and purify. Body and Soul.

I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency---Plato.

Interested?

During our 40 day yoga challenge, I invite you to join me in a three day juice fast. We will first meet to educate each other on fasting, exchange ideas, offer prior experiences, and commune with our indivdual intentions. Then we will invite clarity through detoxification by drinking 32-64 ounces per day of vegetable/ fruit juices in replacement of solid foods for three days.

Sound scary? Well...Let me offer this:

YOU will ultimately be in control of solid food intake. This is not intended to be Boot-Camp. I offer up this opportunity for all of us to explore the idea of detoxifcation in a rapid manner. But with a healthy dose of Ahimsa (non-violence). After all, it's really just about the journey, right?

Let's explore another path, and see what happens....together.

Our intial Fasting-Group-Meditation will meet June 12th, 7pm at Show Me Yoga Center. I'll discuss the methods of Juice-Fasting, explain medical concerns, explore options and guidelines, and establish a community support team. I hope to see you there.

Summer Yoga Challenge 2007 is an exciting time. Allow yourself to transform. (and rest easy knowing we'll all be right along with you...)

Namaste,
Megan Sappington

Teens practice giving AND receiving

2007-05-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday in Teen Yoga Class, we shifted our paradigm. We moved from a mindset of individual to one of community. And it was humbling.

We practiced Thai Yoga Massage on each other, trying to listen wholly and completely to our partner. We did back massages as a team, trying to coordinate what we felt to what we did. As a group, we moved slowly through Surya Namaskar, breathing and flowing as one entity. We ended class with Yoga Nidra, incorporating our individual experience with the group experience. We practiced stilling the waters, so truth could be heard.

So often our time on the mat is spent in a solitary way. Yes, we may be in a class setting, but as a teacher, I often encourage moving inward, allowing the student to be inside the mind/body experience during asana. And this is important.

But how often do we get the chance to practice with the intention of giving? With the intention, too, of fully receiving? It can be a tremendous experience. It bonds folks together, and allows us to also learn where we may be denying our natural state: bliss.

We practice asana to learn where we are gripping, mentally as well as physically. We practice asana to learn how we individually respond to stresses on the mind/body. We practice to learn about ourselves.

And when we can take this knowledge and apply it to community, the information received is invaluable. I've personally learned that I “grip” when asked to fully receive. I think to myself "What will be expected in return for this?" I find it difficult to fully relax.

Some teens had this experience as well. Some found it difficult to fully give, wondering if the recipient of their gifts might misconstrue their intent. Some found difficulties with both ends of the spectrum. Others were able to participate fully, floating in the bliss of community love.

Where do you grip? Is it hard for you to give, without expectation? Do you find it difficult to fully receive, without doubt? Wherever you may land on the full spectrum of giving/receiving, have no judgment about it. Simply take this new awareness off the mat, and into your life. And let the bliss roll in.

I know the teens and I felt it yesterday. And it felt gooooooood.....

Peace,
Megan Sappington

The King of Poses

2007-02-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

"I don't know WHY it works..it just DOES!!"

I'm not one to ask "why" yoga helps me feel so great in all areas of my life. I tend to ride the wave, peaceful in the knowledge that I feel good after I hit the mat.

BUT, I discovered an article in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy that blew my mind. It is a study connecting Sirsasana (headstand) and Rotator Cuff injury (that area at the very front of your shoulder)....but not in the way you may first believe....

This study claims that headstand can relieve the pain of rotator cuff rips, and actually increase arm mobility!!! (Arm mobility increased 75%, and pain decreased from 4.8/10 to 1.2/10) In fact, the participants in this study were so affected by headstand that NONE went onto have surgery!! NONE!

What? Yoga can replace SURGERY???!!!

Here's what they speculate may happen: Through the practice of headstand, the central nervous system establishes a new, painless, and unconscious, sequence of muscle contractions to replace another, painful and still unconscious, set of muscle contractions. In other words, your mind/body LEARNS a new habit! BUT YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF IT!

whoa....

Without going into the technical terminology here (which I find difficult to muddle through anyway, unless I'm heavily sedated...), after headstand, your mind/body replaces the supraspinatus-deltoid contraction (rotator cuff PAIN!) with a rhomboid-subscapularis-deltoid contraction (NO PAIN!). And your mind/body adopts this new pain-free combination unconsciously and with stunning speed. Nuerologically, noone can explain it....but there it is.

Is there any wonder that this pose is called the "King Of Asana"?!

And it's not like these folks did full-sirsasana for hours every day....they in fact practiced a version with their legs supported by a chair, and for only 30 seconds daily! That's right! THIRTY SECONDS!

Apparently that's plenty of time for the ol' noggin to correct a bad habit. A kind of nuero-muscular training session...that may perhaps save you from painful and debilitating surgery.

What blows me away are the implications from this study...what else is happening on the mat subconsciously that monumentally affects different aspects of our lives? What else has changed? .....I don't know....

But I do know yoga works. Overtime.

Our time spent on the mat has far-reaching and astounding affects on our physical/mental/spiritual well-being, in ways we can't begin to quantify or explain. And precisely for this reason, it keeps us coming back....and makes it difficult to fully explain to non-yogi's why we love it so much!

Yoga's like chocolate...you've got to try it to fully get it. And once you do, you'll understand why it's been around for over 7000 years, never once needing a quantifying study to validate it.

But it's still awesome to see studies like this....it reaffirms what we all know. And re-ignites our passion for this amazing and humbling practice.

See you on the mat....I think I'll go do a headstand....!

Namaste,
Megan Sappington

All we need is love

2007-02-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

I felt so full of love Saturday!

So full that I'm still feeling it, oozing out of my pores.

What created this feeling? Our sangha, our yoga community, held an open house and fundraiser for the Teen Yoga Outreach Program....a program that provides free yoga for our teens in Jefferson City.

Saturday was an amazing day for me, for all of us. We bonded through movement, through the intention to challenge our bodies and minds by completing as many Sun-Salutes as possible. Some of our community actually did 108! and that's ALOT of sun-salutes.... And yes we are all sore....but a sore that summons a satisfied feeling. We set a goal, we opened our hearts and minds, and we stepped out on the path together.

We are so blessed to have each other. I see so many folks that are alone, that have no community, no family. I see the empty eyes, the aching, angry heart, the flailing to connect to something, anything. In particular, a teen with no support needed my help this week, and because of my own tether to all of you, I was strong enough to help her. It hurts to see the emptiness, yet it reminds me of the blessings I have with our sangha. And it reminds me to practice gratitude.

We Have Each Other.

On the mat, we can learn to be fully ourselves and yet fully supportive of humanity! We can learn how strong, and how vulnerable, we all truly are! And we can own it, and reach out to those who need support. We learn to walk the path together. We remember that no man is an island, that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience! Pithy as these sayings are, they indeed echo a truth.

I heard shouts of encouragement this Saturday to yogis who felt like caving in. I watched teachers work from their hearts, alleviating the physical strain with bouts of gut-busting humor, and deep much-needed rest. I watched teenagers rally around their own sangha, looking deeply into each other's eyes, to keep connection during a very difficult demonstration. I watched everyone hug and kiss. I met Pete, the man behind the bulk of our teen-outreach financing, and was witness to a soul so caring and humble that I bowed in reverence. I felt loved, and I loved. I felt validated. I felt CONNECTED. Isn't this what every fellow human craves?

Have no doubt we are blessed. And with this love for our community, we have blessed our planet.

God (Buddha, Krishna, whatever name you subscribe to, because it's ALL good!) Bless You All. And thank you for, yet again, reaffirming my faith in the power of this practice. In the power of connection. In the power of that flicker behind lighted eyes. I bow in reverence to what WE ALL have created. A community that reaches inward, and thusly, outward, to accept all fellow humans. A community that has changed so many lives. A community that IS changing our world.

In little ol' Jefferson City, Missouri.... *Be the change you wish to see*.

Ghandi would be proud.
Om Mane Padme Hum.

Megan Sappington

PS To see photographs of 108 Sun Salutations visit our website's Photo Gallery.

Students talk about yoga

2007-01-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like hearing about yoga from those who have experienced it's benefits. Read on to hear what Show Me Yoga Center students have said recently. Or drop by on Saturday, January 27 between 9:30 and 12:30 am for our free Yoga Day USA Open House. Visit with teachers, students, watch yoga demonstrations, and enjoy refreshments. You can even join in on the "108 Sun Salutations" workshop to be held throughout the event. Join in for a few minutes or for as long as you like. Donations for the workshop will benefit our Teen Yoga Outreach Program.

I have seen improvement in my flexibility and pain relief after only 2-3 classes. J.E.R., retired

Thank you for changing my life. I’m learning so much about relaxation, posture, flexibility, and strength. Yoga is the best way to feel good. B.P., retired teacher

I feel so much better over all. I’m amazed at how flexible I can be, how much strength I have gained, and how I have fewer headaches. Christie Thompson, teacher

I appreciate the expert instruction, the clean atmosphere, the attention to proper form, and the encouragement. It (yoga) certainly works for better posture, flexibility, and pain relief. I have found it extremely therapeutic for lower back disc problems. Connie Murray, Public Service Commissioner

You would be amazed how much better you feel after using/stretching muscles, areas of your body that we neglect/or forget throughout the day! I have told many people how much better I feel after dong yoga for the short time I have. I miss yoga when I don’t get here (Show Me Yoga Center) 2-3 times per week. I feel it has helped how I feel about myself immensely. K.R., program developer

Yoga has helped me strengthen and stretch. I have much less back pain since I’ve taken yoga. Linda Hobratschk, violin teacher

You can’t imagine how much it (yoga) can affect many different aspects: physical, mental, etc. and it’s fun! Michelle Horn, homemaker

Yoga helps me relieve stress, relax, and feel mentally and physically strong. Karen Jenkins, RN

Yoga is good for every body, no matter what shapes it’s in. Bonnie, writer/editor

I have been impressed with the classes. It’s good exercise with spiritual and mental benefits. John Jaeger, counselor, musician, and cabinetmaker

Yoga is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. It keeps both flexible. Ann Peery, Environmental Scientist

Yoga helps me stay in the present. What a gift! Rene’ Harden, mommy

Yoga helps me balance out my other physical/exercise pursuits. Not only do I feel stretched and flexible when I leave, I also feel more centered and calm. If I miss several weeks of yoga, I can always tell…it’s time to get back on the mat! Sharon Hibdon, teacher

What will you say after you experience yoga? We invite you to join us for a class. You can start any time and set your own price with donation yoga.

Holiday Open House

2006-12-10T18:51:00.000-08:00

Great party! We would like to say "thanks" to all our students, friends, and family who joined us for our Holiday Open House. It was great to spend some time outside of class together, just visiting and enjoying each other's company. All the staff at SMYC truly appreciate our yoga family!

We would also like to thank everyone who brought food: Bonnie for your great treats from locally grown foods and Dell for his famous shortbread (an annual tradition for how many years now?) Anne, those "fig" bars were great. And Jen, next time I'll be quicker and get some of those vanishing butter cookies! And thanks to Pierette for those amazing brownies! If I forgot a chef please let me know.

If you have a recipe you'd like to share, you can post it here. Just click on the comment link below and add it there.

To see more open house photos visit our website Photo Gallery.

Merry Christmas!
Jan

Holiday Open House rescheduled

2006-11-27T20:08:00.000-08:00

We hope that you are staying safe and warm indoors today and enjoying the winter view out your windows! Due to the winter storm we have postponed our Holiday Open House. Please plan to join us next week for our annual Holiday Open House, which has been rescheduled for Friday, December 8. Drop by Show Me Yoga Center anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 pm for holiday cheer, including cookies and hot cider, wine and cheese, and, best of all, good company! We MIGHT also have live music provided by John Jaeger, a solo acoustic guitarist who is also a yoga student. We're still waiting to hear if John can make it for the new night.

Dress warmly and after the Open House you can also wander downtown for the annual Living Windows festivities, which has also been rescheduled for December 8, from 6:00-9:00 pm.

Please RSVP by calling (573) 636-5656 or by email at info@showmeyoga.com. Show Me Yoga Center is located at 101A West High Street, at the corner of High and Jefferson, in downtown Jefferson City. You can easily find our door near Cafe via Roma and follow the stairs to the third floor. We look forward to seeing you there!

To see more photos of last year's Holiday Open House visit our Photo Gallery.

PS If you wish you may add to the celebration by bringing your favorite Christmas cookies or other holiday treat. We will also be accepting donations all this holiday season for two worthwhile causes: The Yoga for Teens Project and the SMYC Non-Profit Organization Fund.

On the air

2006-11-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

Listen to CJ and KC from Jeff 104.1, the new country music station, talking about their first experience with yoga! Thanks CJ and KC!

King Teens!!

2006-11-17T07:21:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!

Check out the amazing teen yogi's in King Pigeon pose!...Rajakapotasana in Sanscrit.
These teens are dedicated, committed, and inspiring....they all are an incredible blessing to our community!
ROCK ON YOUNG YOGI'S!!

You can do astavakrasana!

2006-10-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

Just look at that picture of Rodney Yee, yoga superstar. It's beautiful. It's amazing.

He's beautiful! He's amazing! Right?

You really gotta be something to do that pose.

Wrong. You don't.

It's called astavakrasana. It means the 'crooked in eight places pose.'

It's a pose dedicated to a great sage who was born crooked in eight places. He was, as we used to say, crippled.

But his physical handicaps left him one day when his father blessed him.

That's what comes to mind when I think about how I learned to do this pose.

I struggled with this pose for a long time. And then I threw it on the scrap heap of yoga poses I'll never do.

You know that scrap heap, don't you?

Then, one day, as if receving a simple blessing, my teacher taught me three simple things I could do.

When I did them my mental and physical limits dropped away and I was up in the pose. And I was very happy.

When you join us for the Teach Me Astavakrasana (pronounced: OSH tuh vuh KRA sun) workshop you'll be blessed with the three simple steps that will get you up and going in this pose, too.

And, Sallie and I will give you the whole story about Astavakra. You'll learn why he was born with his crooked limbs and what he did to receive his father's blessing. It will make the pose and the pose name unforgettable for you.

Join us, won't you?

It's by donation only. So you can't be overcharged. It only lasts an hour. So we won't waste your time. You'll love it.

Meet us at Show Me Yoga Center on Wednesday, November 1 at 6:45 pm. We'll finish up at 8 pm.

Please call ahead to let us know you're coming: (573) 636-5656. Or sign up at the front desk when you come to your next yoga class.

By the way, when you do your astavakrasana, it'll look more like this.

We can't wait to see you there.

Kevin Perry & Sallie Keeney

Surrendering Teens

2006-10-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

Last Friday at the Simonsen 9th Grade Center, it was quiet.

Imagine 60 14 year olds, sprawled on their backs in Savasana, as I whisper...*Become aware of your breath....just breathe...*
*Feel your feet. Feel your legs. Feel your belly. Feel your heart.....*

I could hear a pin drop.

Magic? No...
Yoga? Yes.

After 6 weeks of classes, these teens had learned to surrender. I could actually whisper in the gymnasium. And they heard and received.
And they blossomed.

We had just learned Handstands, and their trust in the process of yoga had reached the tipping point....they understood it was safe to let go...Nobody had gotten hurt learning handstands....Noone had been shamed.....most had been able to kick up...so why not relax??...It was safe for them to surrender, and listen to the small quiet voice of their own inner truth.

And they did.
I have never felt such compassion and joy as when they slowly arose from rest, to greet me with smiles and bowed heads and yes...More Silence.

I teach teens at Simonsen from all socioeconomic levels, all colors, all creeds, all ethnicities...and yes I teach the physically challenged. These teens have proven again that what matters the most is our human-ness.

Perhaps, because of Yoga, they will leave their 9th grade years with more empathy, with more validation, with more belief in the beauty of our world.....Maybe even changing our *Adult* world-view of scarcity...to one of abundance....there IS enough for everyone.There IS enough to allow surrender to Grace.

I pray that we support the teens in Missouri....please donate so that this project can continue...these teens WANT mats! They WANT props! They WANT a boom box!

THEY WANT YOGA.

Om Mane Padme Hum.......bless this world with peace.
It begins with our Youth.
Namaste,
Megan Sappington

A gift of Namaste.

2006-10-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Namaste.
"The inner light in me honors and respects the inner light in you."
As Teachers and Students, we say this word constantly, and sometimes with little or no awareness of it's true meaning. What does it mean to honor another's light? How do we make that part of our every day experience?

How do I let you know how much you mean to ME??

I received a gift last Thursday from Elaine Proctor. She had sewn a quilt for me, embroidered with a poem about Gratitude that I had read in class a long time ago. I remember that she asked for a copy of it after class....but never expected that request to blossom into such a beautiful gift. A gift of honoring our inner lights. A gift of Namaste.
See for yourself.

GRATITUDE
thank you for the breath of life.
thank you for those who gave us life.
thank you for our faithful bodies.
thank you for our loving friends.
thank you for our generous hearts and our creative minds.
thank you for warm and tender memories.
thank you for this sacred earth.
thank you for the divine nature of existence.
thank you for every precious moment.

And on the front is this:
Megan
My Yoga Teacher
Namaste
Elaine
Oct. 5, 2006

What has me blown away is the embodiment of Gratitude that Elaine has demonstrated....
It's really easy as a teacher to stand in front of a class and read a poem...
It's an entirely different level of Living Yoga to turn this poem into a work of art.
Elaine is Yoga. She is one of my most dedicated students, she lives the Yamas and Niyamas, she is consistent, loyal, passionate, and devoted. She embodies Namaste.
I am humbled.
I am amazed.
But most importantly...I am Inspired by her.....

Thank you Elaine.
NAMASTE.

Your Teacher, and Student.
Megan Sappington

P.S. Please stop by the studio to see this amazing quilt. And be prepared to be humbled. As humbled as all the teachers are at Show Me Yoga by all of our students....you all have no idea how much YOU teach US.

The Middle

2006-10-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

Last night after class I sat on my deck and watched the harvest moon. The stars were beautiful. It was quiet. Peaceful. Tranquil.
And I was overcome by a sense of *middleness*.......huh?
Let me explain.
I envisioned a long-line of people who have come before me....and the long-line of people to come after me....I am now the *middle*. Right here. Right now.
I am the Middle.
I will be attending a family reunion this weekend in the middle (!) of Kansas. My grandmother is turning 90. Family in abundance...history that is rich with stories I may never know....
I come from a long line of beautiful women who have lived their moments...women who have given birth, endured heartache, fell in love and out, lived, loved and laughed....and what's amazing is that another long line of women will come after me....
after I have had my moment.

This moment, now, is the hyphen in our tombstones...the time between birth and death.

Allow your practice to be about the hyphen....we come from a long line of yogic masters...we share this amazing practice with each other, passing the lineage, so that we can become more aware...so that our own hyphen is rich and abundant.
aware...
aware of our middle-ness....
so much behind us.
so much ahead of us.
yet more than we realize is right here...
Now.
We are the middles of our lineages....make it count...make it beautiful...
Open to this grace of being in the middle. And our awareness will spread like dye in water....into the next long line of family...when it's their time to be in the middle.

Om Mane Padme Hum.
Peace.
Megan Sappington

That peaceful, easy feeling

2006-09-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

If you practice yoga you know that peaceful, easy feeling. It's the one that you get at the end of your yoga class. Ahhhhhhh..... At the end of my yoga classes lately I've been asking my students to take a moment to feel what it's like to be in a whole room full of people who are all experiencing that feeling.

So much of our interaction with other people involves sharing a state of agitation. We get together with friends and acquaintences and get caught up in our stories of the latest disasters in our lives. We get sucked in to the media frenzy over the latest big news story. Even the email that gets forwarded has a tendency to focus on creating states of fear: spiders lurking under toilets, etc.

One of my teachers call this kind of sharing "Trauma Bonding." We bond with others when we share the same internal state. When we are feeling agitated, this is a sign that our fight/flight/freeze response is triggered. When this happens there's an urgency and intensity to telling the story and the body is actually, to a greater or lesser extent, reliving a past upsetting event. Others can get caught up in this intensity and feel compelled to tell their stories, reliving their own events. Together we spin out into greater amounts of agitation, which over time begins to cause all kinds of unpleasant symptoms. It's not the state in which we're meant to live our lives.

Practicing yoga produces just the opposite internal state: a state of calm, contentment, relaxation, and well-being. When we practice in a group we can start to feel what it's like to bond with others in a more healthy way. We can "catch" this feeling from those around us just like we can "catch" agitation. Practicing in a group helps reinforce our feeling of well-being. What would our communities be like if everyone had this experience?

Since we started offering Donation Yoga, over 150 new students have had their first taste of yoga with us at Show Me Yoga Center. We invite you to join us! Pick your class and catch that peaceful, easy feeling for yourself!

Powerful karma yoga

2006-09-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

We were thrilled and honored to receive our first donation in support of our Yoga for Teens project. And it came from St. Louis! Along with his generous donation Pete wrote, "What powerful karma yoga! You go yogi, go!" He thanked Megan for the work she has been doing, recognizing the great impact that yoga can have on teens' lives.

Show Me Yoga Center instructor Megan Sappington has been volunteering every Friday at the Simonsen 9th Grade Center. There, during their regular Physical Education classes, she inspires and uplifts these teens with the magic of yoga. This year somewhere around 600 of our stressed out, over-stimulated, insecure, and wonderful teenagers will experience the increased self-acceptance, greater calm, and sense of well-being that yoga can bring.

And these kids need this! According to the Surgeon General between 10 and 15% of adolescents have symptoms of depression and 13% have some kind of anxiety disorder. Some studies show that full-fledged depression is more prevalent in adolescents than in adults. Clearly, these kids have lots of stress and challenges in their lives.

All of us at Show Me Yoga Center would like to honor "Miss Megan" for her dedication and commitment to working with teens. "You go, yogi, go!"

If you would like to join Peter in making a donation to support the Yoga for Teens project you can reach us at Show Me Yoga Center, 101A W. High St, Jefferson City, MO, 65101 or by calling us at (573) 636-5656. Donations can be taken over the phone with MasterCard or Visa. You may also donate online using the link below.

India comes to Show Me Yoga Center!

2006-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

The food was spicy, the company good, and the night beautiful.

Last Friday night around 25 members of the Show Me Yoga Center community enjoyed an evening together experiencing some of the best that India has to offer (besides yoga, of course!) Teachers, students, and their friends and family meet for Indian food at the yoga center and then crossed the street for the Soorya concert on the Capitol lawn. The food was from the Taj Mahal restaurant in Columbia (highly recommended!) and the concert was sponsored by the Missouri River Regional Library, part of their great Cultural Concert series, all presented against the beautiful backdrop of the State Capitol building.

Here's a few photos (courtesy of James Harcourt).

Yoga teens at Simonsen

2006-09-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

Here's some shots of the awesome teen yogis at the Simonsen 9th Grade Center last spring. Our hats off to SMYC instructor Megan Sappington, who has already donated countless hours to introducing teens to the magic of yoga! Megan started the 9th graders yoga project last spring and has expanded it to include more classes this fall. She's teaching every Friday during the students' regular PE class time. And next semester she'll be teaching the older high school students as well! We appreciate the great cooperation we're getting from the Jefferson City public schools.

For more about the challenging and rewarding experience of teaching yoga to teens, read Megan's "Yoga is Stoopid" post below. If you would like to make a donation to help support this huge and wonderful project give us a call at (573) 636-5656 or email us at info@showmeyoga.com