Yoga 101: Table, Cow and Cat Postures

Nourish the body and spine with Cat and Cow postures.

Let’s cover three postures that frequently are used together, creating a body vinyasa (synchronization of breath and movement).  In Yoga 101: The Body Vinyasa, we discussed how to connect breath and movement, and in Yoga 101: The Sunbird we introduced the table foundation.  Because they create stability and grace, Table, Cat and Cow postures are found in many vinyasa yoga classes, and also work well together with Child’s pose.  Table, Cat and Cow mirror the basic flexion and extension movement of the spine. When you create the right balance of effort and ease, this sequence has great potential to nourish your body and spine.  Like lots of other asana, Cat and Cow are inspired by animals, and table mimics an everyday object. In Table, the …

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The Balanced Life

Yoga 101: Balasana, Child's Posture

In honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, it seems appropriate to cover Balasana, or child’s posture.

Whether or not we are close to our mothers, bringing our bodies down to Mother Earth helps reminds us that we are a tribe of humans and children of the universe.  I remind my students every time we meet on the mat that Balasana posture is a great posture to practice when we need a rest. It also can give us an intermission to recapture our consistency of breath (samavritti), while helping us connect with ourselves. In the yoga classroom  across the world, child’s posture sends a universal message.  Without saying a word, child’s posture tells the teacher that you are listening to your body and taking it easy today. Child’s posture not only helps us reconnect with ourselves, but it also will help with flexibility in the knees, the hips and …

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Yoga 101: Chakravakasana, Sun Bird

Chakravakasana is such a pretty name, and when done with grace and breath will provide many benefits, too.

Yogis were bird lovers. There are lots of postures named after birds, such as pigeon, eagle, crow, and heron. One of the great things about Sun Bird and its modifications is that it is for beginners and advanced students.  With regular practice it will help with balance and build strength in the belly, back, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and mind. It’s a full-body stabilizer, like down dog, plank and staff postures. Sun Bird will teach you how to engage and build strength in the pelvic floor (mulabandha) and the abdominals (uddiyanabandha). It also has the potential to massage and strengthen our kidneys, adrenal glands and all of the abdominal organs.  However, if you suffer from any wrist, knee, back, shoulder or elbow injuries, I …

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Win $500 for Mom on Patch

New Tampa Patch is giving away $500 gift cards in time for Mother's Day!

Update: Tell Everyone About Your Amazing Mom

We want to highlight some of the awesome Mom's in our community.

Editor's note: Thank you all for taking the time to share such incredible stories about the amazing women in your lives. You made us laugh, cry and cheer right along with you! We have selected the winners, but are in the process of contacting each one so we can share more about them and their special Moms with you. Check back with Patch in a few days for a listing of who's who. Just to be clear: You're all winners in our book! Earlier: Your mom was there to kiss your boo-boos when you were little and to help you wrestle with life’s tough questions as you grew older. She’s special and you want her to know it. Affording a gift worthy of Mom’s awesomeness can be tough in this economy though. Don’t worry; Patch has got your back! Just tell us …

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Would You Want Your Child to Have Your Job?

This week, companies across the U.S. invited employees to bring their children to work. But would you want your child to follow in your career footsteps?

This week, as Americans observed the annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, came news that almost half of doctors would choose a different career if they had it to do over again. Couple that with reports that job satisfaction in the U.S. isn't great and isn't improving, and we aren't looking at a very optimistic picture for our children's occupational future.  Would you want your child to go into the same industry you chose? What advice would you give students trying to pick a career? Share your thoughts in the comments below. But there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. The Washington Post questioned the negative results of some recent job satisfaction surveys, pointing to other polls that indicate job satisfaction has …

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Be Careful With Your Private Investment

Ponzi schemes are still prevalent.

  Contest update: Our winner last week is Melanie P. who has asked us to donate to Upper Pinellas Pregnancy Support Services. CONTEST ON/JTS (official rules here).  JT Simons, P.A., is holding a contest for you to figure out the hidden trivia question in this article. If you win, JT Simons, P.A., will donate $25 to charity. In short, figure out the hidden trivia question, send an email with the answer to JT Simons, and make sure your nonprofit is legitimate. Remember, send the answer to jts@simonslawfirm.com, subject line CONTEST ENTRY, and give me as much information as you can about the nonprofit you want the donation to go to. I need to verify it. I need your first name and the first letter of your last name. This week’s article is …

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Tampa vs. Miami: Which City has the Best Cuban Sandwich?

The battle is on and we want to hear your opinion about who has the best.

The gauntlet’s been thrown. It’s a battle between two cities and their Cuban culinary masters. Who threw down first is hard to discern, but one thing is clear: pride is on the line. The shots started flying as the Tampa City Council explored the possibility of naming the Cuban the city’s official sandwich. As plans came together for Tampa to honor the sandwich, Miami fired back with a declaration that its version of the sandwich is the best. “Tampa has some serious pedigree when it comes to Cuban history — but no culinary chops,” wrote The Miami Herald’s Fabiola Santiago just days before the council’s April 19 vote on a resolution to name its official sandwich. The issue: Tampa’s use of salami in its Cuban. Santiago’s solution: “Pull it …

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Sherri Lonon

11:29 am on Monday, April 23, 2012

That looks like a vote for Tampa. Thanks for commenting Terese (and for the recommendation on where to get my next Cuban sandwich!)   more ›

It’s 4/20: Do You Think Marijuana Should be Legal?

As counterculture supporters around the country rally for legalization, we want to hear your thoughts on the subject.

  While the origins of the 420 movement are murky, its message is clear: supporters want to see the legalization of marijuana. In recognition of today’s observations that are taking place from California and Colorado to New York and in many points in between, we’d like to hear from you New Tampa. Do you think pot use should be legal in America? About 420 The 420 observation, which takes place on April 20 each year, is one that’s been going on for decades, according to the Huffington Post. Even so, its origins are largely unknown. “Its use as code for marijuana spread among California pot users in the 1960s and spread nationwide among followers of the Grateful Dead. Like most counterculture slang, theories abound on its origin. Some say it …

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