Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Archive for February, 2021

Camera Off

Posted by terrepruitt on February 22, 2021

As you may know I teach a small variety of movement classes online. I am so fortunate that some of the students I taught in person wanted to keep moving and they were willing to do it online via Zoom. For me, part of the draw of doing it live via Zoom is that I get to see the students. I feel more connected to them when we are all online together and I am doing a live class. When I teach I have Zoom set to “gallery” so I can see all the students. But I feel I need to emphasize that having the camera on when you attend a class is not necessary. There are days when having the camera on may not work. I want to make sure that people know that they have that option.

I know there were some days when I just got up in enough time to take a class (when I am attending someone else’s class) and I don’t want to have the camera on. Sometimes when I am taking a class I don’t want to set up the computer at just the right angle in just the right spot. Sometimes it is easier for me to just have it where I can see the monitor and I don’t want to be concerned with what the instructor – and everyone in the class – is seeing. There are a million reasons why you may not want the camera on and that is ok. It is actually really great that we can “show up to an exercise class” and we don’t have to be concerned with what we look like or how bad the traffic is.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via ZoomHaving the camera transmit the video is optional and it can change every time you take a class. In my classes I want to make sure no one is feeling pressured into having the camera on. I know sometimes when I am taking a class with hundreds of people I am confident no one is really going to be focused on me. I have small classes so chances are if someone has it set to gallery they are going to see you so it is completely up to you at the time of the class.

There are a lot of reasons why a student might sign on and say hello, then once we start moving turn the camera off . . . again, it is all up to you and how you want to do it that day – that class.

And, if you want to ensure the camera is not able to see what you don’t want it to see you can always buy something cover it with something like the little covers I bought. I really like those because even if you don’t have your camera on transmitting . . . it is still on.

Having a camera transmit during class is a person choice and there is no pressure to have it on. Check my website for my class schedule.

Cheers!

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Hiding In Plain Sight

Posted by terrepruitt on February 19, 2021

Great Camouflage. I love this because if you just glance you might think it is all shadow.

He was just hanging upside down enjoying the sun and allowing me a Friday Photo opportunity.

Did you have to look twice?

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Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , | 7 Comments »

A Few Ways To Use Yoga Blocks

Posted by terrepruitt on February 15, 2021

When I taught yoga in person, I taught at places that did not have props. I feel it is perfectly fine to not use props while doing Hatha Yoga, in fact, I think sometimes it is better not to have them, but sometimes it is nice to use them. Whether you use them or not could depend on what you want to get out of your practice or in our case we didn’t have them. What we used as a prop was a chair. There are a lot things that can be used as substitutes for yoga props. But wait, what is a yoga prop? There are several common yoga props and now-a-days with yoga being a multi-million dollar business there are hundreds of yoga props you can purchase. The ones I think of as “common” yoga props besides a yoga mat itself are yoga blankets, yoga blocks, a bolster, a strap, and an eye pillow. In this post I am doing to show you some ways you can use a yoga block.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, San Jose Virtual classes, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exercise, live classes via ZoomOne way you can think of the block is as something to “bring up the floor” and/or something to help support you. There are various types of yoga blocks and I am aware of two sizes, but there may be more. When you go shop for a set of yoga blocks (yes, you usually will want to have two) you will want to think about what you are going to use them for, this will help you decide the size and the material.

Once you decide on which ones to get you will notice that they have three “levels”; high, medium, and low. In some of the photos I am demonstrating two of the levels in one picture. You may also notice that my hand it not always in the correct position – if I were actually doing yoga – because I am using a remote to take pictures. And in some, yes, I cut off my head because it is about the blocks.

 

 

In a lunge, a triangle. and extended side angle you can see how it can be used to “bring up the floor”.https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50947969378_643da99045_b.jpg

A block can be used to rest your head in a wide angle forward fold or a child’s pose.

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A block can help with alignment of the hips in a pigeon by supporting the hip/butt of the bent leg from underneath or help with a stretch by support the hips in a bridge.

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Blocks can be used (remember there are different levels) to help support knees in a bound angle. In this pose you can not only change the levels of the blocks but the placement . . . they can be closer to the hips to allow the knees to be higher, closer to the knees allowing for a more intense stretch in the inner thighs, or anywhere along the leg. A block can also support your knees in a supine twist. This helps when the knees can’t reach the floor and allows the shoulders to stay connected with the earth.

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Blocks can help raise the shoulders in a Downward Facing Dog. They can also bring up the floor and sometimes be higher than your heels in a camel. Again . . . remember blocks have three different levels that can be used.

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Some people like to sit on them to raise the hips in sukhasana or maybe even straddle a block for Thunderbolt (not pictured). And there is always something like a supported fish or shavasana.

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There are many, many, many ways to use blocks, this is just a small sample, and with many of these a bolster can be substitute. If you don’t have blocks sometimes a pillow or a towel can be used. A small sturdy box might work too, it really depends on what pose it is being used for.  With teaching classes online many people have the opportunity to use their own yoga props or things around the house.

I like to teach and practice the idea that yoga is not really done to get into a pose in a specific way, it is practiced to sense the body.  The body may never get into the pose as it was supposedly “supposed” to be, but we can practice with intent and gain many benefits along the way.

Do you use yoga blocks in your practice?

Posted in Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Looking From The Tower

Posted by terrepruitt on February 5, 2021

Wow, Friday are already.  The first Friday in February.  As a reminder Teagan means beautiful and that is why she is named so.  Here is my beautiful Teagan (beautiful Beautiful) for today’s Friday Photo.

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Coloring Daily – It’s A Log

Posted by terrepruitt on February 3, 2021

Seems like many of us are doing new things. I know when we were originally told to stay home last March many people started new things, many of us started “wearing many hats“.  But this new month seems to have us at it again.  I thought I would do a Daily Log check in.  I really am happy being able to color it in daily.  In the original post I had made a key for the colors I would use for a specific thing in January, but then — as you can see — it somewhat ended up being primarily one color.  So I have switched to just using any color when I have gotten my exercise/movement in for the day.

The set of gel pens I received for Christmas has different types (glitters, pastels, metal, etc.) so what I decided to do is use one group for a month . . . at least for February.  I am using the metal set of eight.  We will see how that goes.

I am wondering how the poor paper will look in a few months.  I am trying to be gentle with it, but it is paper after all.

How about you?  Anyone joining me with this color in daily log?

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February 2021

Posted by terrepruitt on February 1, 2021

So, it is February . . . already.  Time is so weird.  In some respects it flies and in some respects it drags.  So, I am having to do some things – business-wise and I am trying some new things personal-wise.  What is up with you?  What do you have planned for February 2021?  Or what do you think is in store?  What are you looking forward to?

While I don’t think anything HAS to be “up”, nor do I think one has to have plans, I just thought I would ask because I seemed to be busy and I see a few things brewing so some people and there seems to be some excitement in the air.  So . . .tell me . . .

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »