Terre Pruitt's Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘Yin and Yang’

Pop-Up Vs Pop-In And A Little Yin Yoga

Posted by terrepruitt on November 19, 2020

Sometimes the day escapes me. I am not going out, but with all of the stuff happening online I am doing a lot of exploring of additional tools to use to make class registration automated, I am doing tests on Zoom for different ways to bring classes to students, I am having to move and rearrange our furniture on a daily basis . . . so a lot of time-consuming stuff. Not complaining, but explaining . . . explaining why I can’t keep up with my own self-imposed posting schedule. I should have posted this yesterday since I am offering a Pop-Up Class tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 20, 2020). This post has a dual purpose, to explain the difference between a Pop-UP and Pop-IN and to expound a bit on Yin Yoga.

POP-UP VS POP-IN

What is a Pop-Up Class? For me, it is a class that is not on my regular schedule. In many cases with many different things a Pop-Up can happen rather quickly – it pops up – but for me, I am usually talking about it a couple days in advance so it is not a quick spur of the moment thing, but it is not a regularly scheduled thing.

Now, the Pop-UP is different than the Pop-In. The pop-in is quick (under 30 minute). So far we have had three pop-ins where we reviewed katas in a song from a Nia routine and then danced the song. It isn’t something where there is the structure of a regular Nia class (or yoga class or stretch class). It is quick – you can just pop-in. I have ideas to do other type of pop-ins maybe a quick stretch or a yoga pose or two, but we will see. A Pop-UP is a class . . . with the actual class structure so popping in and out is not advised.

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Yin Yoga has long holds in order to affect the tissue involved. It is not about the muscle but about the connective tissue. Since the connective tissue is not as elastic as muscles it take a bit longer to effect, AT LEAST a minute. When introducing people to Yin Yoga I generally will not hold most poses but for a few seconds over a minute.

In addition to the four Tattvas of Yin Yoga another very important thing to remember is to get out of the poses SLOWLY. In some cases if you feel the pose is too much, it could be just a simple matter of backing off, not getting out of the pose . . . if that doesn’t work and you feel you need to get out of the pose you must do it slowly. When instructing I allow for a transitional period and that could be just as long as the hold. Think of it like when you sit for a long time and how it might not work to jump up, ya gotta ease into standing or repositioning yourself. That is the same with Yin . . . you are in a pose for a long time so it requires a long time to get out of it. If you need to get out of a pose before the instructors instructs the class to do so, do it slowly just as if the instructor is walking you through the transition.

Some of the poses we do in Yin Yoga are similar to the poses in yang yoga. I have probably mentioned how I used to be so frustrated that the Yin Yoga poses had different names then the Hatha yoga poses even though they are “the same” . . . but then I learned they are not the same. Yin Yoga instructors may even use the other name (non Yin) to help you get into the pose, but the intent is different. In yang yoga the focus is stretching and strengthening muscle but in Yin the intent is to affect the connective tissue and move the Qi. But so many people ask about Yin Poses I am going to say here – just to give people an idea – that we do poses similar to pigeon, sphinx, bound angle, and extended child’s pose, to name a few.  Most Yin poses are done on the floor, so it is not as if you are going to be holding a Warrior II for five minutes.

Additionally, as a reminder Yin Yoga is not Restorative Yoga.  Yin may be restorative like all yoga can be restorative, but it is not Restorative Yoga.  Restorative Yoga is about relaxing and involves a lot of lying around.  Yin is not about relaxing although it does require the muscles to relax.

Well, a really good way to see what Yin Yoga is like is to try it.  For details regarding the Pop-Up Yin Yoga Class on Friday, November 20, 2020 please go to my website.  Maybe I will see you there!  (Update 11.28.20:  This class has already occurred, but do check my site because we plan on doing more because they are so FUN!)

Posted in Misc, Yin Yoga | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

More On Yin And Yang

Posted by terrepruitt on June 18, 2018

I posted a little bit about Yin and Yang for a Friday Photo because I received Yin And Yang Himalayan Salt candle holders. The candle holders are not black and white, but in many depictions of yin and yang it is in black and white. The black is the yin and the white is the yang. The candle holders do have circles in each section, but again it is not colored. With the black and white versions there is usually a white circle or dot in the black side and a black circle or dot in the white side. The circle or dot is the representation that there is always yang in yin and yin in yang.

In that post I quoted the Ancient History Encyclopedia, stating the information it had for both Yin and Yang. I am just adding to that. I am adding some of the additional adjectives I have learned that can be attributed to each. Some of the words are repeats of what is in the quote.

YIN:

“Yin is feminine, black, dark, north, water (transformation), passive, moon (weakness and the goddess Changxi), earth, cold, old, even numbers, valleys, poor, soft, and provides spirit to all things.”

Earth, water, cold, dense, moist, heavy, constricting, negative, soft, yielding, slow, female

In regards to Qi:

moves downward, passive, cooling, relates to bodily fluids, relates to the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), runs the inner side of body

In regards to organs:

Liver, pericardium, spleen, lungs, kidneys, heart

YANG:

“Yang is masculine, white, light, south, fire (creativity), active, sun (strength and the god Xihe), heaven, warm, young, odd numbers, mountains, rich, hard, and provides form to all things.”

Heaven, fire, warmth, space, dry, light, expansive, gaseous, gripping, contracting, positive, hard, aggressive, fast, male

In regards to Qi:

Moves upward, active, warming, protective, alert, relates to the muscles, relates to the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), rises in the morning, runs the outer side of body

In regards to organs:

Gallbladder, small intestine, triple heater, stomach, large intestine, bladder

Interesting as the idea is that one cannot exist without the other.  Do you have any to add?

Posted in Misc, Yin Yoga | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Henna Cattoos

Posted by terrepruitt on April 23, 2018

You may know from reading my blog that my husband and I adopted two cats from a place called The Dancing Cat. It is a “cat lounge”. It is not a cat CAFE because they don’t sell food, or coffee, or tea, but it is like one, in that you can visit with cats. You can bring your own food and drink and pay a small fee to visit with the cats for an hour.  Also, unlike some cat cafes ALL of the cats are up for adoption.  The Dancing Cat also hosts events like Mewsic Nights, Learning How To Paint Your Cat or take pictures of your cat. They also have a Henna Cattoo Night. There is a local artist, Shannon Balco, who comes in and does henna tattoos.

They have been doing it for a while but I was always away when they did it, but this last time I was home. Yipeee! Shannon has a book of pictures of tattoos she can do. Not all of them are cats.  She is even so talented as to do one that someone showed her a picture of. The one that looks like Yin and Yang cats! She did that right there after just seeing it. Cool, huh?

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitHenna is drawn on like a thick paste. The recommendation is for you to leave it on AT LEAST 30 minutes then you can scratch it off (not wash it off). The longer you leave it on the better.  When I first got a henna tattoo I was told to leave it on AT LEAST 4 hours and no longer than 12 hours.

The pictures are pictures of the “Cattoos” she did when I was there.  The last two show my tattoo.  The first one is after I scraped all the dried paste off. Since it is on the back of my hand and very thin delicate lines a large portion of it had just flaked off. I was concerned with it flaking off and me not noticing and then one of my cats eating a henna flake. So I just scratched it all off. It had probably been about five or so hours. I did not wait 24 hours without water because it is on my hands. In the past I had the henna put on my feet. I could easily not wet my feet for 24 hours, but not my hands. I was at a cat place. I had to wash my hands when I came home. I HAVE cats, I am constantly washing my hands. It didn’t seem to affect it adversely.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitThe very last shot is the next day. Henna darkens at first then it starts to fade. The length of time the tattoo lasts depends on where it is and what it sustains. If it is on your hands and you wash your hands often, it will probably come off sooner. If it is on your leg and doesn’t come into contact with water that much it might last longer. It does help to put oil on it. When I first got a henna tattoo that artist recommended just tiger balm. The second time I put oil on it. I think the oil helps.

I can’t wait for The Dancing Cat to do this again. I am going to go again. I am going to ask her if she will do my foot instead of my hand. Since I dance Nia I like to have my feet decorated.

What do you think? Have you gotten a henna tattoo?

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit
Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Yin And Yang In Himalayan Salt

Posted by terrepruitt on January 6, 2017

According to Ancient History Encyclopedia,

“Yin is feminine, black, dark, north, water (transformation), passive, moon (weakness and the goddess Changxi), earth, cold, old, even numbers, valleys, poor, soft, and provides spirit to all things.

Yang is masculine, white, light, south, fire (creativity), active, sun (strength and the god Xihe), heaven, warm, young, odd numbers, mountains, rich, hard, and provides form to all things.”

These are awesome because, well, Yin and Yang AND they are Himalayan Salt Candle Holders.  Sometimes our cats sleep in the shape of the Yin and Yang.  It is a cool gift.  Very thoughtful.  Thank you, Hubby!  Also makes a good 13th Friday Photo, I think.  What do you think?

 

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit

Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Yin Yang

Posted by terrepruitt on April 28, 2011

I have written before about how we set a focus and intent for every Nia class.  With each Nia routine there is a set focus and intent, one that was used at the recording of the training DVD, but with Nia we are invited to use different focuses and different intents.  Using different focuses and intents allows for different sensations to be experienced with the Nia routines.  This week I am teaching the original focus and intent with the routine.  The focus is yin and yang.

I like this information I found regarding Yin and Yang, it states:  “Yin yang are complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, but either of these aspects may manifest more strongly in particular objects, and may ebb or flow over time. ”

With yin yang as a focus when we move our upper extremities in a manner akin to yin and our base in a yang manner we have complementary opposites moving the body which is the greater whole.  Additional yin yang sensations are hard and soft, rough and smooth, straight and curved, up and down, stable and wobbly, loud and quiet, silly and serious . . . . .ooooooh the list goes on and on.

Yin Yang is amazing.  It allows for many different movements, ideas, sensations, and feelings.  We move our bodies slow, then we move hips fast as our arms float slowly in the air, then its our whole body fast.  We hop reminding our legs of the sensation of agility, then we spend time with hands in a flutter so they can experience the fast start and stop of agility.  We invite our neurons to stretch and grow having one hand flutter and the other one move slowly through the air.  There are moments when the whole body is moving in unison in a yin way then it moves in unison in a yang way.  There are points where upper body is move in either yin or yang while the body is moving in yang or yin then there is a switch.  Yin yang is an exercise in coordination.  Also great balance practice.  As an example stand on one leg, then still standing on one leg move your arms around you in a quiet manner, then make them loud.  That yin yang really trains the intrinsic muscles for greater stability.

What made me think about sharing this was today while I was doing something at home I thought, “Do in yin and yang!”  So I did it fast then I did it slow, then I did it on two legs and then I did it on one leg.  Whatever I was doing I realized that I could bring the focus from my Nia class this week into my everyday household chores.  Yes, I know I have actually put this in a post before  . . . in Nia we do “Dance Through Life“.  This is dancing through life.  I just love when I am dancing through life and I can share it in a post easily.

I invite you to move through your day experiencing yin and yang.  So things fast then slow, move one arm fast and the other slow, move big, move little, move big and little at the same time . . . you understand.  Go.  Dance through life . . . be yin . . . be yang . . . be yin and yang!

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

Balance of Acid and Alkaline

Posted by terrepruitt on August 12, 2010

Nia emphasizes balance.  Balance between yin and yang.  Balance between feminine and masculine.  Balance between strength and flexibility.  Our bodies systems work to keep balance.  I found this video extreme enlightening.  Even though the title makes it sound like it is all about how diet soda causes weight gain, it is not.

The video says our bodies have to have the right pH level, which is the acid/alkaline balance.  It explains that the body will keep the balance with several mechanism.  The body must be in balance or we will die.  What it goes on to explain is that the typical American Diet and life style has a tendency to make our bodies work really hard to keep that balance.  We eat too many acid producing foods and beverages and have fast pace lives that cause unhealthy stress.

It points out some of the foods that are acid forming and the ones that are not.  There are also examples of beverages given.  It goes onto explain that what happens to the body when it becomes to acidic is that is uses minerals to put the body back in balance.  The minerals are taken away from the other functions that the body needs them for. The video points out that while the United States has a high consumption of calcium rich foods, we have the worst bone health, because one of the minerals used to balance the body when it becomes to acidic is calcium.  Hmmm?  I wonder if that is why a lot of antacids have calcium in them.

The last minute or so is where they explain how diet soda causes weight gain.

In my next post I will share with you how this video came to me at the perfect time.  In the meantime leave a comment telling me what you think of this video.  I learned a lot from it.  Did you learn anything?  Did you find it interesting?

If you would like, check out the food target he mentions in the video.

Posted in Food | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

The Five Basic Principles of the Body’s Way

Posted by terrepruitt on August 5, 2010

In Nia there are five basic principles of the body’s way that we like to keep in mind. Listed here are just the highlights, for the details on each point you can visit the page on my website.

1—The Body Thrives on Dynamic Ease. Dynamic ease is somewhat comparable to muscle memory. When you are first learning a movement the challenge of doing so generally keeps you from being creative.

2—The Body Demands Balance. The body was built with balance in mind with body parts on each side.

3—The Body is Balanced in Yin and Yang. Both have a place in the body.

4—The Body’s Way Demands Simultaneous Mobility and Stability. The body’s joints allow for mobility and the muscles for stability.

5—The Body Itself Reveals the Body’s Way. Its very design instructs us on its use.

Also our bodies give us feedback both negative and positive. Both can be used to help guide our movements. Which ever is necessary Nia can help achieve the balance. Nia respects the body’s way and can successful assist in achieve balance in the body.

 The Five Basic Principles of the Body’s Way on Help You Well’s website.

Posted in Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »