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THE CULTURE

GILBERT YOGA CULTURE
Code of Ethics

Mindfulness and Meditation

7/20/2022

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The Average american adult spends 47% of their waking life not paying attention to what they're doing😳!
We’re all distracted by phones, attempting to “multi-task”, etc. 🤯🤪

Our ability to focus on specific thoughts, feelings, and sensations with our midd is often lost when we get distracted by emotions & external stimuli. 

In Sanskrit, the word ‘Dhyan’ is often used as synonymous to ‘meditation’ which asks us to remain aware of whatever we think, contemplate, devise, and ponder.

Dhyana essence is the equanimous awareness of meditation. 

French author and Tibetan monk Dr. Matthieu Ricard, says the word ‘meditation’ comes from Tibetan and means “familiarization”. The process of becoming familiar with your mind.

“If you want to understand your mind, simply sit down and observe it.” -Joseph Goldstein

Mindfulness is a state of mind one arrives at through mindfulness practices. Translated from Sanskrit it means “remembering”, “awareness”, or “knowing”. It is both remembering the object of our practice (like the breath), and knowing what’s happening in our mind. It is a non-judgemental awareness of the present moment.

Meditation improves the function of the Prefrontal Cortex which controls attention, behavior, choices and our capacity to focus 🧠

Increase your attention by focusing on 1 object *a Drishti.
Specifically, try focusing on your breath or try a body scan 👁

A Blog post on on how to conduct Shavayatra, “Traveling through the Corpse” a body scan technique taught in GY Advanced YTT Programs is posted online at www.GilbertYoga.com/culture ⚡️ 🍄

These tools will give you power to:
Choose your thoughts
Complete your Tasks
Feel Good! ✨

Shift out of boredom, fear, and feelings of overwhelm and into centeredness🙏

Practice Meditation with us on Wednesdays
30 min at 12p w @divine.love.yoga
Energy Conscious Meditation w @brennanlagman at 730p

#prana #yogateachertrainingarizona #selfawareness #meditation #focus #love #wellbeing #health #resilience #pranayama #yoga #practice #mindfulness #gilbertyogastudio #gilbertyoga #shavayatra


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Shavayatra Meditation

7/20/2022

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Shavayatra, “Traveling through the Corpse” 
A body scan technique taught in the Gilbert Yoga Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Program
This technique travels through the “61 Points of Light” in the human body. This is referenced in the ayurvedic text, The Sushruta Samhita, the origin of this technique is ancient. 
It has many benefits: 
  • Balances energy field
  • Relaxes marma points
  • Increases mental harmony
  • Increases capacity to focus
  • Trains the mind to turn inward
  • Increases self-awareness
  • Increases sensitivity to internal states

How to conduct a Shavayatra body scan: 
Relax the body, observe the natural rhythm of your breath.
Sense your body as it breathes, as you are being breathed. 
Now focus on the point between the eyebrows. Breathe there. Imagine a pinprick of light here. Allow the light to travel as your awareness journeys through the relaxing body...
Hollow of the Throat Center.
Right shoulder. 
Right elbow joint. 
Wrist joint.
Tip of all fingers on the right hand
The right wrist joint
Right Elbow joint
Right Shoulder joint
Hollow of Throat center
Left shoulder joint
Left Elbow joint
Left Wrist  joint
Tips of all five fingers on the Left hand 
Left Wrist joint
Left Elbow joint
Left Shoulder joint
Heart’s Center, Center of the Chest
Travel down to the heart center, more of the chest. Breathe into this kind of light energy there.
Right side of the chest
Heart’s Center, Center of the Chest
Left side of the chest
Heart’s Center, Center of the Chest
Travel from the heart to the naval center
Pelvic center
Right hip joint
Right Knee joint
Right Ankle joint
Right big toe
Right Second toe
Right Middletoe
Right Fourth toe
Right Pinky toe
Right Ankle joint
Right Knee joint
Right Hip joint
Pelvic center
Left hip joint
Left knee joint
Left ankle joint
Left big toe, second toe, Middle toe, third toe, fourth toe, pinky toe
Left Ankle joint
Left Knee joint
Left hip joint
Pelvic center
Naval center
Heart center
Throat center
Eye Center, Space between the Brows
 
Now sense your body in space as these points of light 
The breath, carrying prana -divine light- upon it
The body breathes, is breathed
You are a field of awareness, occupying the whole space
The space within this body
And all of the space outside of the body.
Divine Light. All Love.
Begin to breathe more deeply as you bring life and movement back into your body.

*Shavayatra technique sourced from the Gilbert Yoga AYTT Manual. All rights reserved. 



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Well Being

7/20/2022

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How would you describe your well-being? Are you mindful? 🤔

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Harvard Psychologist & Neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson investigate the brains 🧠 & emotions of individuals practicing mindfulness and meditation…
Participants in their studies experienced more kindness and compassion in life, and felt less stress, anxiety, depression, sadness, and anger among many other perks ✨

In order to develop both emotional and physical resilience, one MUST expand upon their commitment to personal well-being 💪🏻 😊

Gilbert Yoga School Teaches many methods of increasing *well-being, *vital life-force energy, or *prana.

We do this to experience more moments of feeling good and connected to Love!💗

How?
We use Asana to unblock energy channels in the gross and subtle energy bodies⚡️
We use Pranayama to move prana through the body and initiate change & transformation⚡️
We use Yoga Nidra to teach focus, surrender, and relax😌
We use Visualization and the imagination to produce “images in action”, a great alternative to asana 👁

Well-Being is a skill to be expanded upon throughout life!
Just as a person can pick-up exercising or playing a musical instrument... Habits of well-being are extremely powerful when employed both on the individual level, and even more potent when engaged on a large scale.

Please, come practice with us at the studio 🙏

🌈Develop Resilience
🌈Improve your outlook on Life
🌈Tap your Intuition
🌈Increase Self-Awareness
🌈Learn to Focus
🌈Experience less suffering
🌈Increase your capacity to Love!

📸Jen Berg, one of our beloved instructors!
Maybe you’re just beginning; if so - Jen teaches Beginner Yoga Weds at 1030a!
@divine.love.yoga also offers:
30 Min Meditation Mon at 12p
Gentle Yoga w/Yoga Nidra Meditation Thurs at 7p
Beginner Yoga at 1030a and Yoga Nidra at 430p on Sun

Looking for more?
GY 200hr YTT begins July 30
GY Advanced 300hr YTT begins Module 3 Aug 6
GY Prenatal YTT and Doula Cert begins Sept 10
Learn More Here! 

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Coming hOMe to Gilbert Yoga

5/9/2022

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Attending a class at Gilbert Yoga is like coming hOMe to a sacred space that elicits a sense of belonging; a sense of returning hOMe🕉

Where Yoga is made accessible to all ages, sizes, and shapes. Everybody is honored; you are welcome to come Be, simply as you Are.

Gilbert Yoga helps their students reconnect to Love and appreciation for this miraculous Now moment.The large variety of offerings G.Y. brings to the commUNITY, allows for ample opportunity to practice alignment with your Highest Self!

The wide spectrum of weekly classes at Gilbert Yoga accommodates for All Levels and Abilities.

Teachers provide a safe and nurturing environment while sharing in the joys of yoga with the commUNITY.

Gilbert Yoga also offers the finest Yoga Teacher Training education in the greater Southwest, including 200hr, 300hr, and Prenatal teacher programs. Registered with @yogaalliance , these comprehensive programs are an immersion into the rich traditions of yoga 🧘

Simply put, whether you are attending a weekly class, dropping-in on a special Workshop, participating in a Teacher Training, or enjoying a Yoga Retreat…Gilbert Yoga is holding the space for You to gently come back to yourSelf, in a safe, supportive, and all-inclusive environment 🙏

Discover for yourSelf why so many call Gilbert Yoga their hOMe… Enjoy! 🦋

www.GilbertYoga.com
4804207297

#arizonayoga #gilbertyoga #yogaaz #yogaarizona #gilbertyogastudio #yogaculture #cominghome
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The Gilbert Yoga Code of Ethics

5/6/2022

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The Gilbert Yoga Code of Ethics
​

I Am
Responsible for cultivating Self-Reliance, Self-Respect and Self-Understanding.
I recognize that this Life and world are beautiful and
I Am
an extension of that beauty.
As a student first, I use all experiences to develop Trust, determination and adamantine willpower.
As a teacher of Yoga,
I Am
a living model to mySelf and others.
​​My Life is a reflection of my Highest Ideals.
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Gilbert Yoga is a Registered Yoga School (RYS) with Yoga Alliance. This is an Ethical Commitment fostered through the foundations provided by Yoga Alliance. From the article “Yoga Alliance Standards” (2021) on the Yoga Alliance Website,
Yoga Alliance Standards set the ethical and educational framework for yoga teachers and schools in order to ensure high quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching in communities around the world.
As a RYS with Yoga Alliance, Gilbert Yoga commits to the three elements of YA’s Registered Yoga School Standards:
  1. The Ethical Commitment, including:
    1. The Code of Conduct 
    2. The Scope of Practice
    3. Responsibility to Equity in Yoga 
  2. RYS Online Teacher Training Requirements
  3. Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs)
  4. Community Conversations
The integrative nature of Yoga– combined with the rich, diverse history of Yoga and its many lineages– is bolstered through these commitments. At Gilbert Yoga, we are proud to align with the Ethical Commitments of Being a Registered Yoga School. 
​

Namaste, 
​GY
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Cycling To Gilbert Yoga

4/29/2022

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 As gas prices rise and we find ourselves enjoying the sweetness of spring before the sizzling Arizona summer, envision yourself biking to your next class at Gilbert Yoga.  
The Town of Gilbert’s Central Trail System features 54 miles of marked bike trails that run along canals. Three trails—Heritage Trail, Santan Vista Trail, and Marathon Trail--run north-south in the overarching system along with one east-west trail (Western Powerline Trail). The trails run adjacent to parks, with each their own oasis; shade under ramadas, drinking fountains, and a myriad of recreational features are found at each pit stop. 

Each trail is multi-use so be aware of trail etiquette. The largest, slowest, and least-predictable creatures have the right of way; bikers yield to walking pedestrians who all yield to horses. The concrete slab paths are ten feet wide, and traffic lights control oncoming cars where you must cross major streets. 

In front of the studio, you will find bike racks where we encourage you to lock your bikes while you practice. 
​

Arizona summer heat can be a danger for susceptible individuals. Please, please, please acclimate yourself slowly and with awareness. We each experience temperature differently depending on several factors that contribute to overall thermal comfort: clothing insulation, metabolism, and acclimation to name a few. Drink plenty of water and eat your water in the form of structured water (cucumber, melon, and more). Plan your route (see the map and resources below). Try a morning yoga class to beat the hot temperatures later in the day while simultaneously ushering in peace to the powerful early hours of a new day:

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Heather Promise holds Sunrise Yoga from 6-7:10 A.M.
On Wednesdays, Victoria Minnick holds Power Vinyasa Flow from 7-8:10 A.M.

And finally, enjoy the ride….🚴
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For more resources to map your path please visit the tools below:
https://www.discovergilbert.com/interactive-bicycle-trail-map/
​https://www.gilbertaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=2304

#gilbertyoga #gilbertyogastudio #biking #cycling #gilbert #gilbertcanal #sustainability 

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Gilbert Yoga Culture

4/22/2022

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GILBERT YOGA CULTURE 🍄

cul-ture (n.) : the *Gilbert Yoga* way of life

Gilbert Yoga is a way of life to support Life. The culture of Gilbert Yoga is culture—it is a space to expand from the heart-center and to return again and again to the heart-center. Through movement and breath we experience the miracle of Now!

💗

The Kula–the community arising out of and within Gilbert Yoga– is a canopy of interwoven branches of many diverse lineages and teachers with a myriad of experiences in asana (postures), meditation, and breathwork.

We can accommodate all ages and abilities for all beings to grow, learn, and enjoy life. The wide spectrum of classes and workshops touch on all aspects of supporting a WHOLE life.

🦋starter culture: Katie Corning 🗣@beadmaize 🦋

Gilbert Yoga, a sacred space that elicits a sense of belonging; a sense of returning hOMe🕉

Where yoga is made accessible to all ages, sizes, and shapes. Everybody is honored; you are welcome to come Be, simply as you Are.

Gilbert Yoga helps their students reconnect to Love and appreciation for this miraculous Now moment.The large variety of offerings G.Y. brings to the commUNITY, allows for ample opportunity to practice alignment with your Highest Self!

The wide spectrum of weekly classes at Gilbert Yoga accommodates for All Levels and Abilities.

Teachers provide a safe and nurturing environment while sharing in the joys of yoga with the community.

Gilbert Yoga also offers the finest Yoga Teacher Training education in the greater Southwest, including 200hr, 300hr, and Prenatal teacher programs. Registered with @yogaalliance , these comprehensive programs are an immersion into the rich traditions of yoga 🧘

Simply put, whether you are attending a weekly class, dropping-in on a special Workshop, participating in a Teacher Training, or enjoying a Yoga Retreat…Gilbert Yoga is holding the space for You to gently come back to yourSelf, in a safe, supportive, and all-inclusive environment 🙏

Discover for yourSelf why Gilbert Yoga is unique… Enjoy! 🦋

www.GilbertYoga.com
4804207297

#arizonayoga #gilbertyoga #yogaaz #yogaarizona #gilbertyogastudio #yogaculture
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Tantra Yoga

4/19/2022

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Tantra is That is.

"Tantra is for someone who practices all the paths because all the paths encompass Tantra."  - Frederick Lenz

In Sanskrit, Tantra means "to weave.” Tantra allows us to braid threads of movement (dynamic postures), mantra (sound expression), pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation (relaxed, single-pointed focus) to explore the inner U-niverse. Self-study, or “svādhyāya” in Sanskrit, is a central theme of the practice.

The practice arose in the first century out of a need to craft a yoga for all ways of Being. Early practitioners directly opposed the notion that a certain caste of people were entirely cast out from a spiritual path (Yoga Journal). Turning focus inward allows us to discover the world as We are, and empowers each individual to discover and re-discover the multidimensional Being that Is. 

This path of yoga is a powerful way to cultivate whole body health and radical awareness. The lasting results of your Presence in individual classes will have a cumulative effect, and consistent practice will automatically expand abundance, attractiveness and concentration.

The Tantra class offered at Gilbert Yoga with Heather Promise is accessible and fun for all levels of humanness.


Come One, Come All. 

Are you IN-TRANCED and ready to practice with us?
Every Thursday at 10:30-11:40 a.m. you can practice tantra with Heather Promise, owner of Gilbert Yoga. 


Looking to expand, implode, or deepen your practice outside of the studio? 

Try Eye/I Gazing!

-Find a willing participant (a friend, coworker, elder, stranger, etc.) and sit across from each other.
-With a relaxed gaze, maintain eye contact for as long as thirty seconds to infinity.
*If there is no One around, try it with yourself in a mirror….same difference! :)


Listen to what wells up from within You during this practice.
Eye gazing cultivates a practice of intimacy, trust, and well-being. 


Source:
https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/truth-tantra/
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Kapalabhati Breath, Breath of Fire, Skull Shining Breath

3/24/2022

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 Breathe with me!

Kapalabhati Breath
aka Breath of Fire
aka Skull Shining breath


is an amazing pranayama practice with so many benefits.

This is a vigorous breath practice that helps to cleanse the body & mind of toxins.

Kapalabhati breath emphasizes the active exhale and a passive inhale.

It’s a great way to expel that Fight energy when noticing yourself becoming activated.

To begin:
Sit in a simple cross legged position or on your knees if that’s comfortable.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, and exhale
On your next breath breath in 3/4 of the lungs capacity
Begin the forceful exhale out the nose - your naval will draw in and up
As you forceful exhale imagine releasing what has contributed to your fight energy activating.
Repeat this process for 2-4 rounds. start small with forceful exhales for 20-30 seconds & add on as you become comfortable.

In addition to supporting the release of Fight energy activation this pranayama is also great for focus, cleansing the lungs & respiratory system, increasing oxygen to the body, building energy & strengthens & tones the abdominal muscles.

Give it a try and drop a comment about how you feel after below!

Love, Light+Body Wisdom,
Carah 

Written by Carah Elizabeth

@carah.elizabeth

ARIZONA YOGIS

You can practice with Carah Mondays 6 - 710pm: Yin Yoga & Reiki 

#bodywisdom #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealth #nervoussystemhealing #energyhealingpractitioner #healingtrauma #healingpatterns #somatictools #somatictherapy #somaticpractitioner #somatichealing #somaticexperiencing #pranayama #energyhealing #gilbertyoga #gilbertyogastudio


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Restorative Yoga

3/10/2022

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Why Restorative Yoga? 
By Amber Renae 

One of the most powerful ways to find ease and flow in your life is by adopting a practice rooted in relaxation. The goal can simply be to breathe easier, feel lighter and slow the mind down. 
In our busy day to day lives, it can be a challenge to find time to unwind. Many people struggle with falling asleep at night because their nervous system is wound up from their daily tasks.  More so in the Western culture, we find that we always need to be “doing” something and dismiss the act to simply “be”. We are human BEings after all!
Adopting a practice to increase balance and harmony doesn’t have to be difficult. A beautiful and powerful tool for relaxing the mind, body and soul is through restorative yoga. Restorative yoga is a gentle, therapeutic and passive style of yoga that activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system responsible for the “rest and digest” phase of the body. Activating the parasympathetic nervous system allows for a deeper sense of relaxation, healing and (you guessed it) restoration. The poses in restorative yoga are held for a minimum of 5 minutes to allow the parasympathetic nervous system to turn on. Due to its passive and gentle poses, restorative yoga is accessible to all bodies and all levels. When we allow ample time, space and stillness for the body to hum into its natural rhythm, we allow in healing and harmony. 
Some of the benefits can include: 

  • Relaxes your mind and body
  • Soothes the nervous system 
  • Reduces stress and anxiety 
  • Improves sleep
  • Aides in healing on the emotional and physical levels
  • Boosts the immune system 
  • Allows for stillness of the mind 
Some Postures Include: 
Supta baddha konasana 
Materials: 3 pillows or 1 bolster and 2 blocks 

  1. Sitting on the mat or floor, place a pillow behind you with the short end at the base of your spine. 
  2. Bring the soles of your feet together and knees out to the sides, this is called supta baddha konasana (otherwise known as butterfly) 
  3. Place  2 pillows or 2 blocks underneath each knee for support 
  4. Lay back onto the pillow behind you 
  5. Rest here for at least 5 minutes while you allow the body to soften while focusing on belly breathing 

Supported Child’s pose 
Materials:1 pillow or 1 bolster 
  1. Sitting with you knees on the mat, bring your knees a little wider than hips width distance apart, the toes can be touching if this is available 
  2. Bring the pillow in between the legs so the short end is placed against the pelvis 
  3. Fold forward, bringin the chest onto the pillow and allow the hands to rest on the side of the body. The forehead can be placed on the pillow or resting one cheek on the side (ensuring you switch halfway through for balance) 
  4. Rest here for at least 5 minutes and allow the heart to melt into the pillow and the hips to become heavy as you welcome in restoration 
Supported Supine Twist 
Materials: 2 pillows 
  1. Lay with your back on the floor or mat and place 2 pillows stacked upon each other on one side of the body 
  2. Bring one leg into the chest, bending the knee and squeezing it into the chest 
  3. Use the opposite arm to place the hand on the thigh or knee (if your left knee if up then use you right hand and vise versa) and gently guide the knee to the opposite side of the mat until it lands on the stacked pillows 
*If two pillows is not enough then stack more on top to provide support for the leg 
  1. Allow the outside arm to come out long and wide 
  2. Rest here for at least 3 minutes as you allow the body to detox and release with the support of a twist, remember to continue deep breathing


Restorative Classes DAILY at Gilbert Yoga (Spring 2022):
Tuesday 730-840pm Heather Lynn
Wednesday 6-710pm Amber Jaworski
Friday 12-110pm Gulsim Temirbolatova
Saturday 9-1010am Amber Renae
Sunday 430-540pm Jen Berg


Sources: 
  1. https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/yoga-by-benefit/stress/yoga-poses-for-stress-relief/?utm_campaign=YOG%20-%20NL&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=203465702&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--rVNtJV8k6zNzOuyGEtldGbovVXlIVacZwyJ10mZJrLUgj3wV37SwodK08_zwPwR7rX89O49Ezi2W0sKuVaw2_hRstYA&utm_content=203465702&utm_source=hs_emai
  2. https://www.simplypsychology.org/parasympathetic-nervous-system.html
  3. https://www.healthline.com/health/restorative-yoga-poses#about-restorative-yoga


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(480) 420-7297
655 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 162, Gilbert, AZ 85234
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  • Home
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    • Policies
  • Culture