Fasly-Kam

I just had to link to this woman's website - she embodies all that is truly yoga. https://www.facebook.com/biggalyoga http://www.biggalyoga.com/ Self love through yoga. Valerie aka Big Gal Yoga is a yoga practitioner, installation artist, ceramicist, radical self love enthusiast, and body positive encourager based in the SF Bay Area. She started her yoga practice at her university with yogi Lawrence Caughlan who gave her a positive view on practicing yoga, and believing that as long as you have the determination, motivation, and patience anyone can do yoga. Valerie's yoga practice is about learning to love yourself physically and mentally through yoga. Learning to listen to your body, to know when to push it and when to protect it. Now that Valerie has finished her undergraduate studies in a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Spatial Arts, she will be focusing more on her yoga practice and connecting to the yoga community. As well she is announcing that she will be doing Yoga Teacher Tra...

A sign at the gym where I was teaching read "Your body is a reflection of your physical standards." That message alone would discourage most people I know from going to the gym. Is the gym implying that someone with a prosthetic or in a wheelchair or who had a congential problem or is trying to get fit but is overweight has low standards? Now I'm sure it was just someone's attempt at being pithy and trying to garner memberships and they didnt' think about it too much. But really, that was pretty shallow and callous. In a cheerful demeanor I suggested they change it to be less insenstive, less judgemental, less superficial. I didn't state this but I would prefer (at least in the context of a "fitness gym"): "Your state of mind has a direct relationship with the health of your body. Elevate the fitness of both!"

I take a small departure from the purely yogic world to talk about something that came up for me at my son's 6th birthday party yesterday. Instead of a traditional candy filled pinata, we filled one with 720 ping pong balls, and told the kids that when the goodies fell out of the pinata, they were to collect whatever they wanted, and then put them in any of six boxes around the party site - 2 each for charities that Eli picked out. Ever ball was worth five cents toward that chartiy. Children were welcome to take some home as well. Though Eli thought the kids would be upset there was no candy, then scramble to shove ping pong balls into pockets and shirts and hands and pants seemed to entertain them well enough, as well as playing "basketball" tossing the balls into the boxes. I was pleased with my cool new idea, saving quite a bit of money by not buying candy, and sparing parents and kids the sugar hang-over as well as reducing the "gimme more candy" scramble th...

(forward splits)

SUPER POWERS YOGA ® is my commitment to yoga, and the life-changing force that is created when we connect mind, body and breath. Nothing compares to the stillness of Hatha yoga postures (asanas) for creating core strength, flexibility, endurance, focus, patience, pain reduction and self-awareness. As a student, I find the challenges of yoga endless and ever-changing, even if the routine does not change. You are here for the yoga to change YOU. As a teacher, I simply want all students to be their best. See what my students say, toward the bottom of this page. My students are my inspiration. I'm honored to help guide my fellow yogis, and to carry on the traditions of Hatha yoga.   Namaste. (The best in me acknowledges the best in you.) © 2018 Robert D. Powers

(triangle pose)

SUPER POWERS YOGA ® by Robert Powers is built on traditional Hatha yoga postures (class is 55 minutes). The series is comprehensive but not repetitive. It is safe but challenging, with endless opportunity to transform yourself. After hundreds of classes and thousands of students, I believe this routine does the most good for the greatest number of people. It is an original and proprietary series, but yoga belongs to all yogis. SUPERPOWERSYOGA® SERIES Sequence & Story I developed the SUPERPOWERSYOGA® SERIES largely based on 3 events. 1. Teaching 1,200+ Bikram yoga classes. The Bikram yoga series is sometimes called “26 and 2” because it is the same 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises every time. I started yoga with this series and have always appreciated its completeness, challenge and intelligence. Bikram yoga is 90 minutes in intense heat, which turns many people off. (We got up to 115° a few times.) But the Hatha yoga lessons are solid, and the consistency of the routi...

SUPER POWERS YOGA ® Series by Robert Powers Hatha yoga routine (options in red) © 2018 Robert Powers SUPERPOWERSYOGA 1. Seated Karate Breath (mouth exhale) 2. Seated Sunshine Breath (mouth exhale) FACE-UP (LYING) SERIES 3. Knee-Ups/Knee Hug 4. Lying Spine Twist 5. Lying Half Moon 6. Fish 7. Bridge (or Wheel) 8. Yoga Crunch 9. Energetic Pike Sit-Up   HANDS & KNEES 10. Cat & Cow (mouth exhale) 11. Crossover Superhuman (or Plank, Side Plank) (balance on opposite limbs; reach out) 12. Child's Pose   STANDING SERIES 13. Half Moon (4 parts)   Bent Legs 14. Awkward (Fierce) (3 parts) 15. Eagle (insert Crow, Headstand Crow, or Forearm Plank)   One-Leg Kneel 16. Back Bend 17. Frontside Compression 18. Extended Leg Stretch One-Leg Balance: YOGAEROBICS (TM) 19. Standing Head to Knee 20. Standing Bow 21. Balancing Stick (Warrior 3) Straight Legs 22. Standing Separate Leg Stretch 23. Revolved Triangle 24. Tree 25. Cross-Legged Stretch 26. Savasana/Corpse Pose 27. Energet...

The BENEFITS of SUPER POWERS YOGA ® by Robert Powers “What is yoga good for?” While “everything” sounds too good to be true, my experience is that yoga addresses a person’s weaknesses and builds complete physical and mental health like nothing else. The biggest advantage of yoga practice is transformation and healing: the ability to change your “normal.” In yoga, we say the postures do not change, but you do. While many think they must get in shape for yoga, yoga is how we get in shape. The key is to start. Yoga (to yoke, unite, join, connect) and meditation require practice. Pitfalls and setbacks are part of learning and growth. Yoga delivers unique results, especially for pain relief and mental relaxation; both are achieved through breath control. Yoga is essentially the practice of breathing. Breath is our life force. Breath is the physical doorway into the yoga mind. Yoga teaches to prioritize breath above everything else as the most wise and healthy thing we can do. Asanas, ...

I have wanted to avoid this article, but confusion has created a need. This has nothing to do with people liking my class. I don’t want to be the world’s last Hatha yoga teacher. I don’t want so many yoga students to miss out on the full benefits of yoga. ( Update August 2018: Attended a vinyasa class last night. Same old story. Ego-driven teacher and sycophantic students trying to stay the same despite years of yoga together. I've heard students say "Our teacher really cares, because she asks us how we're doing before class." That's your standard for a teacher's attention? (It was last night.) What about the hour of class? The teacher did not lay one eyeball or word on us (5 students) purposely or as individuals. She was giving a PRESENTATION, vinyasa style. Next time, just play the DVD! They just don't teach in vinyasa. The potential for growth is so limited. Here's the kicker: some students love to be ignored. They want to come in, not be instructe...

( wheel pose)

We keep attempting to record video and/or audio to help your practice. A full-class DVD is our goal. Full-class audio (enough for most) also a goal. Stay tuned... YouTube videos: SUPER POWERS YOGA Face-Up & Standing DEMO by Robert Powers. Filmed with creativity by yogi Magdalena. All rights reserved. July 29, 2018. SUPERPOWERSYOGA part 1 (Face-Up and Standing) SUPER POWERS YOGA  Floor & Spine DEMO by Robert Powers, Filmed with creativity by yogi Magdalena. All rights reserved. July 29, 2018. SUPERPOWERSYOGA part 2 (Floor and Spine Series) Guru Robert as a student, representing Washington at USA Yoga nationals in Austin, TX. I had to go first, and I proudly avoided last place. Required: standing head to knee, standing bow, floor bow, rabbit, forward stretch. Optional: peacock, upward stretch. (Mountain pose, or standing up straight, is still difficult for me.) March 20, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtpICnA-Bqg

What Students Say I am blessed to have met hundreds of students. Thank you for your kind and memorable words. "You have a great cadence." "You speak gently. I appreciate that." "I like listening to you. You're very reassuring." "Nothing has made me feel as good as this class."   "I always learn something new in this class." "I forgot how hard I work for you." "I'm so relaxed. My feet are relaxed!" "It was a diverse group and you reached all of us." "I always feel challenged but successful." "I like the focus on breathing."   "At first I was like, what is this guy doing?" - new "I didn't like yoga before this." - new "You've helped a lot of people." - new "The real deal."  "Hard core."  "So positive." "Transformative." "You must have been teaching for a long time." - many yogis "Thank yo...

( standing head to knee)

Robert Powers Yoga Bio Classes Taught: 1,787 classes in 4 years, 0 months Yoga Teacher, LA Fitness, West Seattle  (January 2017 - August 2018) (356 classes) • Class size 12-45+. Average: 26. Yoga Teacher, 24 Hour Fitness, West Seattle  (May 2017 - June 2018) (155 classes) Yoga Teacher, Highland Park Improvement Club  (August 2017 - August 2018, weekly)  Yoga Teacher, Breathe Hot Yoga (August 2014 - December 2016)  • 60- or 90-minute Bikram style or expanded house Hatha series • 1,211 classes taught in 28 months   Three locations. Class size ranged from 1-20. Also taught 3 workshops.   (Sole employee for most of my classes, frequently opening/closing studio for the day.) • 2014 in-house Hatha yoga teacher training (300 hours) • Guru: Amber Borgomainerio. In the tradition of Master Bishnu Ghosh. • personal study of classic yoga texts and dev. of teaching voice, incl. Sanskrit • experienced...

(separate leg [straddle] stretch)

I receive a lot of queries concerning how to utilize yoga to relieve certains pains/tensions, specifically sciatica nerve pain, and neck tension/stiffness. I am not a doctor, nor a chiropractor nor a PT (but I have visited them all many many many many many times). That being said, below is a selection of links that I have found useful for my own self-care practice and perhaps they can benefit you. Know that here is a plethoria of (good and bad) information out there, but first and foremost you have to see a doctor if the pain is chronic OR severe (indicating injury or damage). There are yoga poses to strengthen muscles to help with joint problems like arthritis and stenosis, but remember that range of motion may be limited so you have to be VERY aware of your own body and not push (but also know WHEN to give a little more effort). There are yoga poses to stretch the muscles around the sore area (if there is an issue with tight and/or overused muscles). And there are poses that do a l...

SUPER POWERS YOGA ® Authentic Hatha Yoga in the New Millennium (TM)   Robert Powers superpowersa2z@hotmail.com www.superpowersyoga.blogspot.com I want yoga to GROW , not stagnate. Solo lessons begin at $40/hour. Group lessons $10 per yogi ($40 minimum). Our  ASHRAM (revered house of yoga) is out there. Old church or school is ideal. Free is better! To add or remove yourself from our  E-MAIL LIST , please e-mail us. Thank you.   © 2018 Robert D. Powers Professional photography by: GreenCityPix.com To buy or sell a house, talk to: Phoebe Underwood To get food, visit: West Seattle Food Bank To move, store, haul, hitch, fill: U-Haul West Seattle