Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
LIFE Contact: Michelle FongTelephone: (937) 225-2271E-mail: [email protected]
Dayton Daily News | Monday, Feb. 7, 2011B12
Practicing yoga has many physical benetsBy Robin [email protected]
As Monica Hasek begins her class at Yoga Springs Studio in Yellow Springs, she quotes writer-philosopher Albert Camus to help students nd inspiration during a particularly dreary January morning: “In the midst of winter, I sud-denly discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.”
The words help set a warm and inviting mood for an one-and-a-half-hour yoga class that takes participants through downward-facing dog poses, sun salutations, comforting child poses and, for the especially pliable partici-pants, graceful back bends.
Votive candles icker behind Hasek, who owns the studio with her hus-band, Robert. Yoga Springs seems to ooze Zen bliss, with its wood oor studios tucked inside a 100-year-old brick building. Hasek, who is a certi-ed Hatha yoga teacher with training in Iyengar and Anusara yoga, thorough-ly explains each move and encourages her students to build tapas — an inner re or essential energy — throughout their practice.
According to co-directors Kim Cart-er and Kathi Kizirnis of Practice Yoga on 5th in Dayton’s Oregon District, yoga is not a form of trendy exercise —
although such celebrities as Madonna and Sting have given it a certain rock-star status —but a collection of ancient disciplines or practices with a few main branches and many younger off-shoots. Yoga may encompass postures (asanas), energy and breath control (pranayama), meditation, music, phi-losophy and other approaches.
Its mainstream appeal is evident in the number of area classes and stu-dios. Most area athletic gyms offer some kind of yoga class, and there are sessions available for pregnant wom-en, teens, baby boomers, runners and, with Valentine’s Day just around the
corner, even couples.Yoga Journal’s “Yoga in America”
study indicates that 6.9 percent of U.S. adults, or 15.8 million people, practice yoga.
“The great thing about yoga is it meets you at your level,” said Kizir-nis, who practices Ashtanga and Pow-er Vinyasa yoga. “It is a way to safe-ly to build strength and exibility, and it also offers spiritual and meditative aspects.”
Hasek said more and more peo-ple are drawn to the many benets of yoga: Muscle toning and stretching, exibility, weight loss, balance and pain management.
“Its overall benets also include alle-viating stress and calming the mind,” said Hasek. “When our body is aching, our whole being feels awful. When we are in pain or discomfort, we forget who we really are. Through the prac-tice of yoga, there are so many tools, including asana and pranayama, to help us focus the mind.”
Debbie Stirsman, owner and teach-er at Inner Dance Yoga Center in Oak-wood, agrees. “It’s one-stop shopping for all your health needs. It teaches people to elicit their own relaxation techniques.”
Do you have to say “om” and engage in the chanting part of yoga?
Of course not, say the experts, but
they encourage people to at least give it a try. “It’s very grounding and very calming,” said Stirsman, who teaches different levels of Vinyasa yoga.
“It’s not a religion. It’s not a cult,” stressed Katie Nardecchia, who teaches Vinyasa-style classes at tness facilities in Dayton, Tipp City, Piqua and Vanda-lia. “It is a beautiful, ancient practice and it is a spiritual process. We do say namaste, which means nothing more than I honor the light that shines in you as I honor the light that shines in me.”
As with any exercise program, the teachers urge people to start slowly, listen to their bodies and get medical clearance, if necessary. They also rec-ommend nding a instructor who is certied through the national Yoga Alli-ance.
Stirsman said she has had clients with such chronic illnesses as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis nd pain relief and management through yoga.
“One of my best students is 80 years old,” Nardecchia added, illustrating how accessible yoga can be. She adds people wrongly assume they must pos-sess amazing dexterity (“they have that pretzel thing in their mind”) in order to do yoga. “Just show up and be there,” she said. “When if comes to yoga, you want to have the mindset of an explor-er. You have to begin somewhere.”
Monica Hasek (standing at right) teaches a Hatha yoga class at Yoga Springs Studio, where she is the director. Pictured in foreground are students Kim Gillie Krier (left) and Erin Wolf, both of Yellow Springs. Staff photos by Jan Underwood
By Debbie JuniewiczContributing Writer
COLUMBUS — Stroll through unique shops, sample exotic chocolates or scrumptious pastries, create your own personal
vintage and then relax in a private hideaway nestled in a charming Victorian neighborhood.
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or a birthday cel-ebration, there’s no plane tick-et required for this romantic get-away. Two Columbus neighbor-hoods are packed with romance. With unique urban accommoda-tions, dining options from around the globe and distinctive shops, visitors can nd a variety of activi-ties to ll their weekend with relax-ation and romance in Columbus’ Short North and German Village neighborhoods.
Relax and rechargeTucked away behind an impec-
cably renovated 1895 Queen Anne style home is the Victorian Vil-lage Guest House. The private and spacious guesthouse suite, with a soaring 17-foot great room ceiling, offers all of the comforts of home and then some. From the spa robes and French bath amenities to the wireless Internet access and iPod dock, no detail is overlooked by owners Jeff and Lisa Morton.
“Privacy is one of our biggest selling points, and it’s what distin-guishes us from bed and break-
fasts in the neighborhood because you really have your own place,” Lisa Morton said. “You really get to experience life in an urban neigh-borhood, more like a native, and that is very attractive.”
The Guest House location is within walking distance of the eclectic Short North Arts District with its wide array of restaurants, galleries and boutiques. Just blocks from downtown Columbus, Victo-rian Village also borders Goodale Park, one of the areas most storied parks established in 1851.
“We’re very passionate about this community and the Guest House is a neat way for us to share the neighborhood with our guests,” Morton said.
Those guests have traveled from as far as France and England and as close as Columbus itself since the Mortons opened the Guest House doors in 2008.
“After 30 years in banking, I was ready for a change,” she said. “And this is a blast.”
Rates at the Victorian Village Guest House are $185 a night and guests are able to enjoy the patios and garden, weather permitting, of course, in addition to their private carriage house accommodations.
Just beyond the Short North, in the Arena District, is another unique alternative urban accom-modation. The Lofts are 44 unique rooms housed in the Carr Building, one of the area’s last remaining original warehouse buildings, com-pleted in 1882.
While the building has a strong history, the accommodations and amenities are thoroughly modern.
Floor-to-ceiling windows highlight the unique design and décor of the rooms and suites, which have all recently been refreshed with new bedding and furnishings.
Guests can take advantage of the private workout facility and concierge service or rejuvenate in one of the garden tub suites. A king loft can be reserved for less than $120 a night with a AAA or Entertainment Book discount. A wine tasting package, with a king loft, room service breakfast and wine tasting for two at Camelot Cellars is $235.
Snack and shopWith one-of-a-kind nds — from
jewelry to dishes or, even, a pia-no — at Funky & Functional to delectable and unique chocolates at Le Chocoholique, the Short North has it all. From exquisite ne art galleries to the Three Dog Bakery that specializes in dog treats that look almost good enough to snatch away from man’s best friend, there is some-thing for every taste and budget.
Sure, you could play it safe with a traditional chocolate cov-ered pretzel but the dizzying array of chocolate treats at Le Chocoholique warrants some experimentation. How about a Naked Hottie Truffle, a fudge-lled chocolate truffle with Mex-ican cinnamon, or Love Potion #10, dark chocolate fudge infused with deep earthy cinnamon and organic strawberry. May-be a Chambord Truffle or a Mak-ers Mark Cocktail Cup would be more to your liking.
Just beyond the Short North, in the Arena District, is another unique alternative urban accommodation. The Lofts are 44 unique rooms housed in the Carr Building, one of the area’s last remaining original warehouse buildings, completed in 1882. Contributed photos
Your romantic escape is only a short drive away
By Christine KlingerContributing Writer and Photographer
Traditional winter activities such as ice skat-ing, sledding, skiing (with the possible exception of cross-country) are not really about enjoying nature per se. They’re more about exercise and fun, with a nature bonus if you’re paying atten-tion. But if you’re truly after an exploration and appreciation of nature for nature’s sake, here are six activities you may wish to try.
HIKINGUpcoming Hike for the Health of It events: Sat-
urday, Feb. 5, at Cox Arboretum and Saturday, Feb. 12, at Huffman MetroPark, Saturday, Feb. 19 at Sugarcreek MetroPark and Saturday, Feb. 26 at Eastwood MetroPark. For more information, call (937) 567-1413 on weekdays.
More information about MetroParks hik-ing programs: For a complete list of parks, with detailed descriptions and handy maps, visit www.metroparks.org. Trails are open all winter long in most MetroParks. Some trails are plowed, some are snow-packed. To view all parks, with links to interactive, directional maps and hik-ing trails, visit www.metroparks.org/GetOutside/FindPark.aspx. To learn about MetroParks’ hiking/walking programs, visit www.metroparks.org/GetOutside/tness_health.aspx. For other ques-tions, call MetroParks at (937) 278-2623.
BIRDING Birding can include bird watching, feeding,
counting or photographing. If birds are your inter-est, then Glen Helen can be a valuable resource, even in winter.
“We have a monthly bird walk in the Glen,” said Glen Helen Ecology Institute director and self-described birder Nick Boutis. “The next walk is on Feb. 26, starting at 9 a.m. from Grinnell Mill at the intersection of Grinnell Road and Bryan Park Road” in Yellow Springs, he said. The goal of the upcoming Winter Birding Walk is to “search for ducks on the Little Miami and woodpeckers every-where.”
SKYGAZINGFull Moon Hike, Feb. 16, 7-8:30 p.m. departs
from the Trailside Museum, down the hill from the Glen building at 405 Corry St., Yellow Springs.
Stargazing, Feb. 18, 7-8 p.m. at the lawn by the Antioch College Amphitheater. Meet at 920 Corry St. in Yellow Springs.
Bob and Judy Hawkins of Franklin love nature walks. “We like to get away on the weekend,” Judy said. “Just drive and park, get out of your car and move around. You’ll see that nature is wonderful,” Bob said.
Make the most of those frosty days
