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01
May 12

Cypress Body + Brain Center Forms Meditation Circle Book Club, and Community Outreach Yoga Classes

The Cypress Body + Brain Center has been very active in sharing the benefits of meditation with the surrounding community.  Center Manager, Pam Rasch, along with other Instructors and Members, have built up several beneficial classes to get the word out about the benefits of practicing yoga, meditation, and breathing, as well as reading and studying books related to the practice of meditation.  So many people have already taken part in these classes, and are experiencing health and healing benefits because of this center’s efforts to reach out to help the community.  Other Houston metro and surrounding centers are also developing many helpful meditation groups, to spread breathing, meditation, and healing to the greater Houston area.

Below is the information on the Cypress Body + Brain local Meditation and Outreach Activities:

1. Dream of Mago Meditation Circle – Coordinated by Pam Rasch and held bi-monthly on Saturdays at the Body + Brain Center in Cypress Texas.  The group explores static and dynamic meditations based on Ilchi Lee’s The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart book.  The group has been meeting since mid-January and information can be found on Meetup.com:

http://www.meetup.com/Cypress-Dream-of-Mago-Meditation-Group.

2. The Power of Choice Book Club – Hosted by Katy Budget Books on Fry Rd. and led by PamRasch, the club meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month.  The club focuses on the concepts of Love for the Earth and Love for Humanity, the Pursuit of Enlightenment and the Concept of Spiritual Civilization, and The Power of Choice and Action to create the lives we intend.  The first book was The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart, by Ilchi Lee.  The second book is by the same author, called Healing Society, A Prescription for Enlightenment.  Other books under consideration are The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin, Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins, and Conversations with God by Neale Donalde Walsch.

3. Children’s Outreach at St. Tower Academy for Exceptional Children – Classes twice weekly to children with a wide range on learning disabilities, i.e. Cerebral Palsy, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral/social problems.  These classes follow a simplified Brain Education format that focuses on balance, strength, flexibility,  and emotional intelligence.  The Main Trainer is Pam Rasch, and the assistant trainer is Constance Stegent.

4. Senior’s Outreach – Gentle Dahn Yoga class for seniors residing at Copperfield Estates Assisted Living.  They have been teaching at this location for almost 2 years now and the oldest student is over 90 years old.  The class is taught by Instructor, Susan LeJune, who has  grown the class from 3-4 participants to 8-10 participants.

5. Addiction Medicine Outreach – Dahn Yoga style classes taught at The Right Step, an inpatient facility for people who are overcoming addiction.  Classes are delivered to clients and staff in 2 separate classes.  These classes are taught by Patrick Edwards, and he has been teaching them for over 2 years now.

For more information, please contact:

Pam Rasch, Center Manager

Cypress Body + Brain

281-213-8484

www.bodynbrain.com

cypress@bodynbrain.com

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30
Apr 12

Relaxation techniques for stress could support diabetes management

Relaxation techniques for stress could support diabetes management.

Relaxation techniques for stress could support diabetes management.

It may be easy for people who have diabetes to become emotionally burned out. The constant blood sugar testing, insulin injecting and carb counting may cause stress over time, which in and of itself can lead to problems. Fortunately, yoga's relaxation techniques for stress may help manage these problems.

You see, when a person becomes stressed out, the body releases epinephrine and cortisol. Because these hormones can increase blood sugar and energy levels, they can come in handy in case you need to run for your life or wrestle a bear. But if they're released all the time, even when it's not appropriate, there can be negative consequences for your health – particularly if a person has diabetes, according to metabolic care expert Barbara Martin.

This is where stress management comes in handy.

"Consider trying out de-stressing techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing or progressive relaxation (the tensing and relaxing of major muscle groups)," Martin wrote in the Daily Progress. "These skills may require some training, and definitely require practice."

If yoga sounds like a good idea, consider checking out Dahn Yoga classes.

Other useful stress relief tips include eating a balanced diet and having a reliable support group of family and friends.

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13
Apr 12

University students learn valuable stress management techniques

University students learn valuable stress management techniques.

University students learn valuable stress management techniques.

As summer approaches, university students may feel themselves getting anxious about a lot of things: finals, tuition payments, emotional, physical burnout and so on. Fortunately for students at the University of Texas at Austin, there's a yearly event that teaches them a variety of stress management techniques.

At the 15th annual StressFest, hosted by the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center, students learned about different ways they can help calm themselves, including Texas yoga classes.

"I feel like this event is a great way to get our minds off of school for a bit and to learn new ways to take care of your body when you get stressed," freshman Alexandra Arzuaga told The Daily Texan. She opted to check out acupuncture.

Also present at StressFest were cognitive therapy, multicultural resources and therapy dogs.

But if students are looking for something that is more holistic – providing benefits for both the mind and physical fitness – yoga is probably their best bet. A class full of enthusiasts blissing out may not be as cuddly as a furry canine, but it can be just as fun and supportive!

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02
Apr 12

Relaxation techniques for stress may help temper chronic inflammation

Relaxation techniques for stress may help temper chronic inflammation.

Relaxation techniques for stress may help temper chronic inflammation.

The inflammatory response of the body can serve several purposes, including the promotion of healing and destruction of pathogens or injured tissues. However, anything that causes chronic inflammation, such as traumatic events that threaten one's life and safety, can have negative effects on the body, including heart health. This suggests that relaxation techniques for stress may help individuals who experience such difficulties.

In order to understand the relationship between trauma and inflammation, a team of researchers recently evaluated 979 individuals between the ages of 45 and 90, and collected information about the number of traumatic experiences they had had in life. Results showed that those who endured the most trauma also had the highest levels of markers of inflammation in their blood. This was true even five years after the initial evaluation.

"If we could intervene with young people…using techniques that we know help fight stress, such as exercise, yoga and other integrative health techniques, it would be interesting to know if we might be able to prevent some of this," researcher Beth Cohen told Psych Central.

While further research is needed on inflammation, it doesn't take a scientist to know that yoga can be beneficial for anyone looking to reduce stress. Dahn yoga classes are great places to learn these skills!

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30
Mar 12

People who lose a spouse should look for stress management activities

People who lose a spouse should look for stress management activities.

People who lose a spouse should look for stress management activities.

The end of a marriage is always difficult, whether it is through divorce or because of the death of a spouse. However, newly single individuals need to find a way to move on. Fortunately, stress management activities may help them along the journey.

"They should be exercising, they should be doing yoga and meditation, they should be activating their social supports," Linda Waite of the University of Chicago told U.S. News & World Report. "They should be playing ball with their buddies, they should be having lunch with their girlfriends, they should be talking with their mother. And they very deliberately can try to rebuild [their social connections]."

This is valuable advice in light of the fact that people who are newly single tend to fall into unhealthy lifestyles, such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.

Social networking is important, too, because it provides an opportunity to meet new people in a comfortable setting and channel one's energy into something positive. This can be a volunteer group, church or exercise class, Waite said.

Dahn Yoga classes make an excellent option. Not only will people find a welcoming community, but they will also learn valuable ways to manage their stress.

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20
Mar 12

Texas yoga classes inspire fits of laughter

Texas yoga classes inspire fits of laughter.

Texas yoga classes inspire fits of laughter.

Most practitioners of Texas yoga classes are familiar with the basic tenets of the mind-body regimen: posing, meditation and deep breathing. However, a couple of classes in San Antonio are taking deep breathing to a rather joyous extreme: laughter.

"I practice this with my son," Dawn Thurmond, a Laughter Yoga instructor, told KSAT. "He is severely disabled. He's in a wheelchair, and that's why it's so important for me – because I have so much stress. I need to be the best that I can so I can help him."

Like most typical yoga classes, Thurmond's course teaches both breathing and stretching exercises. However, it also includes a portion where enthusiasts make each other laugh.

These stress management strategies may even be supported by science. Research conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center has suggested that laughter can cause healthy changes in the lining of the body's blood vessels, thus increasing blood flow and boosting heart function. One scientist went so far as to suggest that people not only get 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, but also squeeze in 15 minutes of laughter a day.

This last part should be easy because, as Thurmond points out, laughter yoga exercises can be practiced anywhere, any time!

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14
Mar 12

Yoga classes teach relaxation techniques for children with special needs

Yoga classes teach relaxation techniques for children with special needs.

Yoga classes teach relaxation techniques for children with special needs.

One hospital in Norman, Oklahoma, is teaching relaxation techniques for children with special needs such as autism, sensory problems or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While some of these kids may be resistant to other forms of therapy, it is harder for them to turn down yoga.

"[Yoga] is about improving oneself, rather than competing with others, which makes it a fabulous type of class for developing self-esteem," instructor Ann Robideaux explained to NewsOK.

Furthermore, children learn to develop strength and flexibility.

Compared to the classes that are held among adults, these yoga exercises for special needs children encourage more use of the imagination, turning to pictures and books for inspiration as they practice deep-breathing and other forms of calming meditation. The classes give these kids a chance to relax and have fun, speech-language pathologist Angela Moorad told the news source.

All youngsters can reap the benefits of yoga, regardless of their abilities. As of 2007, more than 1.5 million children around the U.S. were practicing yoga, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health. If any parents are interested in how yoga can help their kids, they should feel free to check out their local Texas yoga classes. They'll be sure to find a community that is both supportive and fun-loving!

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07
Mar 12

Scientists have theory on how yoga provides relaxation techniques for stress

Scientists have theory on how yoga provides relaxation techniques for stress.

Scientists have theory on how yoga provides relaxation techniques for stress.

Between the grind of work and the trials and tribulations of raising a family, Americans are under a lot of stress, which can cause chronic conditions such as heart disease. In fact, 22 percent of people surveyed reported experiencing extreme levels of stress, according to a 2011 report from the American Psychological Association. The same survey found that only 29 percent of people felt they were handling the pressure well. Fortunately, yoga provides easily accessible relaxation techniques for stress.

But how exactly does the holistic healing system work? One team of scientists believes that it has to deal with the correction of imbalances in the nervous system.

The researchers reviewed past studies on the subject. One study compared the therapeutic value of yoga to that of walking exercises. Participants who practiced yoga experienced greater increases in GABA. Low levels of this neurotransmitter are associated with anxiety disorders, depression and chronic pain.

Another study found that yoga also increased GABA among individuals who had chronic low back pain, compared to patients who only had standard care.

"Western and Eastern medicine complement one another. Yoga is known to improve stress-related nervous system imbalances," said researcher Chris Streeter, M.D., whose study is published in the journal Medical Hypotheses.

So if you find yourself in dire need of rest and relaxation, check out some Texas yoga classes!

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29
Feb 12

Cardiac program uses stress management tips from yoga

Cardiac program uses stress management tips from yoga.

Cardiac program uses stress management tips from yoga.

Heart disease is a major public health concern in the U.S. For people who have endured heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems, rehabilitation may focus on exercise and little else. But according to CNN, one cardiac rehab regimen, known as the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, is taking a more holistic approach, including physical fitness, meatless food and meditation, including the stress management tips of yoga.

One patient of the program is Kathy Korona, whose family has a long history with heart disease. After her own heart attack, it wasn't hard for Korona to find motivation to get healthy.

"If I was going to be able to participate as a grandparent…that gave me another incentive, that really did," she told the news source. "But in order to do that, I needed to feel good about myself first."

Ornish himself advocated hard for Medicare to cover the cost of his program, and eventually got his wish. Patients are eligible for 72 one hour-long sessions, which cost Medicare $70 each. Compared to the long-term costs associated with heart disease, that's a bargain! In 2010, heart disease cost the U.S. nearly $109 billion in medical costs and productivity loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For people who want to learn more about how yoga can help relieve stress, Texas yoga classes are great places to learn about the holistic healing technique.

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21
Feb 12

Champion Dahn Yoga Hosts Texas’ First Student Leadership Camp in December, 2011

In December of 2011, Champion Dahn Yoga Center hosted the Student Leadership Camp, the first of its kind in Texas.  Students came from all over the Houston area to participate in this great opportunity to learn, share, and grow together.  Instructors Nora and Ginny guided the children through a wonderful 2-day Kids Camp experience.

“The program offered 31 children a special opportunity for TX students to develop their character, focus and leadership skills.  Over the course of 2 days, students participated in advanced Brain Education training, including physical exercise, social/emotional regulation activities and cognitive exercises designed to improve confidence, focus, memory and imagination with an emphasis on leadership skills.  This transformative camp provides a nurturing, challenging atmosphere which empowers participants to overcome their limitations and develop their truest potential. ” – Nora, Program Trainer

Family Member/Dahn Yoga Practitioner, Cheryl, shares: ”I was so happy to have my grandchild attend the Power Brain Student Leadership camp at Champion Dahn Yoga in December of 2011.  I enjoyed watching the children’s joy at the camp, as they overcame many issues.  Also, through the experience of seeing how the children improved their creativity through simple games and exerises, I wondered, what kind of person I would be today if I had had the opportunity to attend a similar program when I was younger?  After participating with family in this program, I feel confident that if I had had such a wonderful opportunity, perhaps I would not have carried the as much of the baggage that I carried into adulthood.  It was wonderful to see these children grow brighter, stronger, and more confident!  Thank you Champion Dahn Yoga for helping our children, who are the future!”

Parent and Dahn Yoga Practicioner, Pablo, compliments the goals of the program: ”The most precious gift we can give to those we love the most is the opportunity of following their dreams, trusting themselves, and loving themselves.  At the end, that is what life is all about.  The Student Leadership Camp provides that opportunity.   Their success in life is going to be your success too.”

Mary Jensen, one of the camp’s Staff Members/Dahn Yoga Instructor, says, “The children’s camp affirmed my desire to teach Brain Education, to children and to families.  The energy, trust and hope that filled our Center was such FUN!  I can not imagine a greater honor than a parent entrusting their precious child to us to learn.  I was humbled and grateful for the opportunity.”
The first Student Leadership Camp in Texas was a great joy and success for all who participated, and so many parents and children shared about how much the camp helped to develop valuable life and leadership skills.  The children’s artwork (below) filled the halls of the Champion Dahn Yoga center with inspiring creativity.
Slideshow of Kid’s Camp Events/Activities:


Below, Staff Member/Dahn Yoga Instructor Maria Schmelter shares about watching the outcome of the camp, and Participant Valeria also shares about her Kid’s Camp experience.

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