Special Valentines Day Gift For “Him”

Give the Gift of Health to the special man in your life this Valentines Day and earn $25 on your YBD account*.  (*Recipient must use 5 classes within 30 days.) Scroll down for more information and then click here to purchase a Gift of Health Certificate Online for that someone special! 

January Pose of the month.

Now that the new year has arrived we wanted to showcase a pose to begin the year with an open heart. Ustrasana aka Camel pose is our pose of the month.  Here is Lara in a variation of that pose.  Benefits of this pose includes.

Strengthening of  the arms and shoulders

• Relieves mild pain in the back
• Expands the rib cage
• Improves blood circulation to brain
• Respiratory ailments
• Mild pain in the back
• Anxiety and fatigue
• Menstrual discomfort

Precautions

This pose is not for those suffering from high blood pressure or migraines.

• Patients suffering from insomnia should also avoid this yoga pose.
• This pose can cause serious back and neck injuries, so guidance from an experienced instructor is recommended.

One thing to keep in mind in this pose is as you reach back avoid dumping into the lumbar spine by lifting up your chest as you reach back.  Be sure to keep your hips in line with your knees.  If you have trouble with this place your hips up against the wall to keep them in line with your knees.

Meet Brandon, Teacher of the Month!

Get to know our Teacher of the Month, Brandon! Brandon is a 200 hour certified instructor who teaches vinyasa and sculpt at our Wheaton and Downers Grove locations permanently, and he could be found subbing all around town. Brandon’s classes are lead with his powerful voice, intelligent sequencing, and thorough cueing. See below for more details!

Check out his current teaching schedule:

Mondays, 9:30am YBD2 Wheaton

Tuesdays, 12:00pm YBD2 105 Downers Grove

Saturdays, 2:00pm Yoga Sculpt Wheaton

When and how did you come to yoga?

Yoga came to me, in my living room, on VHS tape. I started out a little over fifteen years ago with my mother.

Why did you start teaching yoga?

I was just going with the flow; fresh out of university and in need of fulfillment, I found myself signing up for a 200hr training. It was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made.
What is your favorite pose?

Peacock! Whenever I go out and get to talking with people they always ask me if I can do anything cool. I say, “Oh, you wanna see me Peacock?” That usually gets ’em.

I am currently working on my one handed!

Who inspires your teaching?

I can draw inspiration from almost anything, but the reason I keep coming to my mat; the reason I speak to others who will listen is in hopes that maybe they too will hear, see, feel how beautiful the place we reside is. It’s a shame that we live on a planet where so many people take life for granted, but if I can help one person be reminded that this spinning rock is all there is to it, well, then that makes it worth it. There’s so much to be happy about when pain and suffering are removed. That love for being allowed to live in comfort is what inspires me; I listen intently to and try to share with whoever feels the same or wants the same.

Tips for beginners

There’s no reason to ever be hard on yourself. This life is a growing one and to go without an error is to expect the impossible. Fall down! Be stiff on one day and more open the next. It’s all part of a full understanding. You have to know weakness before strength. Embrace it, every challenge, every step of the way is all something to look back upon and say, “Wow, I came a long way”

 

What’s your favorite quote?

“Dude, suckin’ at somethin’ is the first step towards being sorta good at something” -Jake the dog