Though earth and man were gone
And suns
and universes
ceased to be
And thou were
left alone
Every existence
would exist in thee.
–Emily Bronte

Definitions:

Pranayama: Breath that we inhale which brings oxygen and life force to every cell in our bodies.


Asanas: These are postures which combine breathing with movement. The asanas invite greater flexibility, stimulate pituitary, pineal, and thyroid glands, strengthens muscles, massages internal organs, hydrates the spinal discs and ligaments, aids digestion and elimination, helps the body maintain balance, increases circulation, and encourages the blood and body energy to bathe the related muscles and organs with vitality and life.


Savasana: Final Relaxation. Usually done at the end of a yoga class. This is a simple and effective deep relaxation technique. It promotes increased circulation, spinal alignment, better posture, and overall balance. It quiets the mind, reduces fatigue, and rejuvenates the body and mind.

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Welcome

Welcome to updowndog108.com.

My name is Thea.  I am a yoga teacher, an intuitive energy healer, and a massage therapist.  My unique history has led me to a deep commitment to yoga, which in turn brought me physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. My journey began after suffering many physical injuries, surviving cancer, and a general roller coaster of a life. These challenges brought me to a balanced lifestyle, which combined holistic health:  massage therapy, art, and yoga.  I believe in an integrated system of wellness that uses massage, breathing techniques, postures and meditation to bring about total health. Throughout every turn in life, though, it always comes back to yoga. For me, yoga brings a sense of self, well being, peace, center, and balance.  Paradoxically, practicing yoga also connects me to something bigger than myself.  And, with yoga, I’ve found a community. What is yoga?  Yoga is a scientific discipline that offers practical and definitive results while addressing tension in both the body and the mind. In recent years, yoga has become very popular at the workplace because of the stress reduction benefits and the low cost of implementation. 
Unlike other exercise routines yoga is low impact, improves strength and flexibility, builds concentration, and reduces mental and physical stress and tension. In addition, yoga is known to eradicate fatigue and generate energy, all of which lead to increased productivity and morale. Yoga exercises are simple and can be modified for different skill levels and abilities! For these reasons, I am committed to bringing yoga to as many people as I can and sharing the benefits I have received.  Besides teaching and lecturing, I offer this website as a hub of information and inspiration.


What is updowndog108?

The name derives from two separate but connected ideas.  Updowndog references two postures—upward dog and downward dog—which can be practiced individually or as part of the traditional Sun Salutation sequence. The sacred number 108 has deep roots in many believe systems.  The Hindu maalaa (rosary) holds 108 beads.  In Hinduism, there are 108 Gopis of Lord Krishna; 108 Upanishads; 108 divine or sacred Tirtha—sacred sites of pilgrimage— throughout India and Nepal.  The heart chakra is said to be the convergence of 108 energy lines.  Buddha’s footprint shows 108 Auspicious Illustrations.  There are many more examples.  But for me, 108 is a mystical number offering insight and inspiration. I am happy that you have found your way to updowndog108 and hope that this is an auspicious experience for you.  I hope that you will find insight and inspiration here, that yoga will bring to your life the peace it has brought mine.
Nameste.


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10

Reasons to

Try Yoga…

The health and fitness benefits of yoga have long been reported by practitioners and are now being confirmed by scientific research.
 
1. STRESS RELIEF:  Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.
 
2. PAIN RELIEF:  Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing
yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people.
 
3. BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths.
This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body.
 
4. FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains.
 
5. INCREASED STRENGTH: Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength literally from head to toe.
 
6. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga can aid weight control efforts by reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga also encourages healthy eating habits.
 
7. IMPROVED CIRCULATION: Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.
 
8. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING:  Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardio vascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.
 
9. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT: Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind body health.
 
10. INNER PEACE: The meditative aspects of yoga help many to reach a deeper, more spiritual and more satisfying place in their lives.

Give yoga a try and discover what it can do for your body, your mind, and your soul.
We would love to hear how yoga has made a difference in your life.