About the Instructor
Julie Byrd, ERYT, began learning yoga in 1989 from Robert Boustany and began teaching yoga classes in 1990. Further influences include a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, experience as a Chiropractor, studies of Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Chu meridian balance, and life. The classes she teaches are a blend of modern and ancient techniques - mixed together with a good dose of light-hearted fun.
A Basic Philosophy
The word yoga translates to union
Yoga is the union of the mind to the body. It invites us to explore our limitations and strengths. A yoga practice changes more than the physical self. It changes our consciousness of our self. We become more aware of our body as we seek to achieve control of our muscle actions.
It is my belief that yoga serves us best when we use it to optimize our body’s performance. Slight differences in joint structures and development of bone lengths produces variations of ability. Our bodies are unique in their development and history. We should strive to do our personal best without comparison to another’s ability.
A pose should be modified to fit the person
It is more important to achieve proper alignment in a pose than to sacrifice the alignment for the look of the pose. This also means that we will be constantly adapting our poses to fit with our current strength and ability as it increases through practice, as well as modifying for injury, fatigue or lack of practice. Approach all poses in a systematic way that concentrates on proper alignment.
Pain is wrong
It is nature’s way of telling us we need to modify what we are doing. Strong sensations in a stretch leads to muscle resistance which reduces the muscle’s ability to relax and be properly stretched. To ignore pain or strong sensations is to invite injury. Less is truly more when it comes to sensation in stretching. A proper stretch sensation feels pleasant.
Breath is as important as the posture
To hold our breath when making effort is to increase blood pressure and reduce oxygen to the muscles. Breathe in deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through the nose or mouth. Breath can be used to time the duration of our poses. It can also be used to create a smooth flowing movement when changing from one position to the next. It is best to exhale when creating effort.
Proper practice of yoga produces a reduction in stress
We devote much of our consciousness to anticipating the future or remembering the past. This leads us to living our lives in a blur around where we actually are. Living a life constantly anticipating what happens next, means the only way we find out what is happening now is when we look back on it after is has already happened. In order to develop control of our bodies in yoga, we learn to be in the here and now. Our bodies are designed to deal with the stress of the moment. Our nervous systems are designed to fight or flee from perceived danger. When we anticipate the future, we are imagining only one of many possibilities. If our anticipation involves worry about a future possibility, we cause our bodies to release stress hormones designed to help us fight or flee. Since the moment we are anticipating isn’t here and now, these hormones don’t do us any good, because we are not currently fighting or fleeing. In the same way, if we remember stressful events, we also cause the release of stress hormones. Keeping our focus on the here and now means we only release stress hormones when they can do us good, in the present moment. This doesn’t mean we don’t plan ahead or learn from our past. It means we learn to dwell in the present, the only time where we can truly take action.
Laughter is important
So is a positive outlook. Find the humor in things. Some of the stranger yoga poses can help. Don’t dwell on what you can’t do - look at all you can do. Be patient with yourself; be kind to yourself. Live in the now. And laugh.