Akasha Yoga Center Blog

2012-02-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

Akasha’s Anniversary is Tuesday, February 21st.

For the entire week we will celebrating!

2/19 Sunday: Chocolate

2/20 Monday: Fruit Platter

2/21 Tuesday: Sweet Pea Cupcakes

2/22 Wednesday: La Petite Pastries

2/23 Thursday: Cookies

2/24 Friday: Biscotti
2/25 Saturday: Chili

In celebration of this milestone we will be offering A 2 for 1 Membership. Bring in a guest during this week and both the guest and you will receive half off your next/first month of membership!

Akasha Teacher Training launches in Chicago!!

2012-01-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

Akasha's accredited Teacher Training program (ATT) and Infuse Yoga Spa, join energy to bring this comprehensive program to Chicago! Infuse Yoga Spa is located at 713 W. Wrightwood Ave. and is planning on being the host site for the 200 hour program starting in March 2012.
Whether you are interested in a fuller understanding of yoga theory and practice, history and philosophy, or how yoga relates to and enriches your own life, this comprehensive program encourages you to explore your potential. It is not necessary that teaching be your ultimate goal. Many use this program to deepen their yoga practice and gain a better understanding of self.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be 200-hour certified yoga instructors. They will also be eligible to become Registered Yoga Teachers with Yoga AllianceTM for an additional fee.

To find out more about this program please attend the informational lecture:

Friday, February 3rd at 7-8pm at Infuse Yoga Spa, 713 W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago, IL
Meet Jennifer Ewert, ATT Founder and Director of Akasha Yoga Center in Crystal Lake IL
Meet Andrea Klunder, Director of Infuse Yoga Spa who will also be a guest instructor during the ATT program.

For detailed information and an application click here

Give the Gift of Yoga

2011-11-21T04:47:00.000-08:00

At Akasha we understand how busy the holidays can be, that's why we're offering gift giving with ease. Give the gift of peace and well-being with a a one-month membership to Akasha Yoga, plus an eye-pillow for deep relaxation. Your recipient receives their eye-pillow when they come in to redeem their month of membership which includes:

Unlimited Yoga

$10 Off Wellness Service (Massage, Body Talk, Reflexology)

$10 Off Tai Chi Sessions

Bring Two Guests

20% Off Retail

Discounted Events & Retreats

Truly, a gift that keeps on giving. Happy Holidays! Click "Buy Now" to purchase and a gift certificate will be mailed to your home or sent to your email.

Purchase A Printable Gift Certificate for $75.00. All major credit cards are accepted.
Certificate must be used within one year of purchase date. Eye-Pillow is received upon redemption.

Shanti,

Everyone at Akasha

Ayurveda & Wellness Services

2011-09-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

The flurry of modern day life and healthcare concerns it raises have many turning to alternative healthcare for answers. When Ayurveda is mentioned, many wonder what in the world it is.

Ayurveda orignates from the Sanskrit words, Ayus and Veda. Ayus means life or longevity, and Veda meaning knowledge or science. Over 3000 years old, The Science of Life artfully weaves Earth, mind, body, spirit and all the senses together. (Pronuciation help.) A great movie for understanding Ayurveda and how the practice can help you is Ayurveda: The Art of Being.

How Ayurveda can not only help, but heal and prevent a myriad of illnesses, is not a mystery. The healing capabilities of The Science of Life are available to all. You could learn from books, through Gurus/teachers and some information is also online. However, experience often proves the best tool for learning. And for those interested in experiencing Ayurveda, we offer several services in our wellness center. Our practitioners are friendly and knowledgeable. We invite you to experience the art or Ayurveda at Akasha.

The art of being present, mindful and healthy is something that's available to all-and we'd like to invite all to enjoy!

New Membership Options

2011-08-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

At Akasha, we know how important your wellness is. Our goal is to partner with you to achieve your best. In the interest of providing added value, we've simplified our pricing with our new membership-which includes an array of benefits to support your total wellness. While September 15th marks the official start date of our new program, you can sign-up today to begin enjoying all Akasha Membership has to offer. Also added are new classes to the schedule, providing more opportunities to explore Akasha East, our space right around the corner on Beardsley Street. Be sure to keep checking our events page as we continue to add more workshops, classes and opportunities to connect with others in the community.

Akasha Membership Includes

Unlimited Yoga
Wellness-$10 off any service

Events-free or discounted*

Retreats-discounted*

Retail Items-20% off

Tai Chi-$10 off every session

Two free guest passes/month

*See flyers for discounts

Auto-Pay Membership is: $75/month and $70/month for Students and 55+

Punch cards are still available for those who are interested. Akasha continues to offer private yoga, classes every day of the week, teacher training and continuing education, free parking, yoga equipment, experienced instructors and our convenient wellness center within Akasha.

Punch Cards

5 class - $80

10 class - $150

20 class - $280

Punch cards expire 6 months from date of purchase. 10% discount for students and 55+

Classes in bold and events are held at Akasha East: 135 Beardsley Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

What's Your Dosha?

2011-08-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

image source: heymonicab.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/vpk_lotus.jpg

Skinny, muscular, soft. These words are commonly associated with the three doshas, but these physical characteristics barely scratch the surface of the ancient practice of Ayurveda and are even a little misleading.

Don't know what a dosha is? The short version of it is your "type," and what we mean by type here is body types and tendencies of the mind. Sure the spirit is associated with the dosha, but today let's just focus on the things often on our agendas, the body and mind.

Better words for describing the doshas, from the TriHealth website are:

Vata=dry, light, cold, rough, subtle and agitated in qualities

Pitta=a little oily, is sharp, hot, light, unpleasant in odor, mobile and liquid

Kapha=wet, cold, heavy, dull, sticky, soft and firm

The seasons are often referred to by dosha. For example, Summertime is Pitta time, Wintertime is Kapha time and the Spring and Fall are often associated as Vata times. Pretty cool stuff, huh? So maybe you're wondering what your dosha is? You and your Ayurvedic
practitioner are truly the people who can determine this for sure, but a fun quiz can help get you started. Here are a few to choose from:

Once you know your dosha, you can uncover all kinds of ways to understand your own body better, mental tendencies and the best way for you to heal. (Dig a little deeper with the doshas here: Learn more about your dosha) We all know by now that what we put in our bodies significantly affects our health. We also know what we do with our bodies affects our body and mind. But have you considered what you put on your body?

TriHealth massage oils are great for every body, and we can help you find the right one. Take a sniffing tour next time you visit Akasha. The massage oils are up in the shop and smell divine. Remember, if you take a whiff of one of these oils that doesn't smell good to you, it's probably not the best one for you-but could be for someone else. These oils are for you to enjoy 20 minutes before a shower. They nourish your skin, your mind and your whole body.

For those of you concerned about using Organic products, please view the statement from the TriHealth Website: "While our products are not certified organic, there are reasons for this. Our supplier states that 50% of the herbs and ingredients used in their products are grown at their facility without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. They have not had their farm land certified organic, and currently there is no agency doing so in their region. The next 30% are wildcrafted by the “tribals”, the people of the land, who make their living by harvesting plants in the wild. We assume they are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. Because they are wildharvested, they cannot be certified organic, even if there was a certifying agency. The final 20% have been contracted out to herb growers in the area. While they are not certified organic, the manufacturer assures us that they are also grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides."

Enjoy the skin you are in!
Shanti

Newsletter: Autumn at Akasha

2011-08-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Jennifer's Corner
Welcome fall! It's a beautiful time of year because the temperatures get a little cooler and Akasha's schedule heats up again! Our yoga teacher training program begins in the autumn, and offers a wonderful opportunity for you to explore more deeply all that yoga has to offer.

It's not only about the yoga, though. We have recently had a shift in consciousness about wellness, wholeness and spirituality. We believe that taking care of ourselves through yoga, tai chi, body talk, massage and ayurveda should be standard operating procedure instead of something to do when all else has failed. We know that all of these systems can help when things go wrong but we also recognize that if we routinely maintain every aspect of ourselves through these practices, we will feel better and find more time for joy in life.

This is what we want to share with every one of you. To encourage every member of the Akasha community to integrate these activities into her regular routine, we are changing our membership program. We think you will be pleased! Our goal is to provide you opportunities to increase your wellness knowledge, reduce stress and save money through wonderful events like wellness excursions, relaxation techniques, gong baths, movie nights, yoga immersions and more.

Alison Kruger, one of our massage therapists, has learned some ancient Ayurvedic treatments to bring you into harmony. Her article explains one of the techniques and there are more to explore if you are interested. This is one more facet of wellness to enjoy when you come to Akasha.

And finally, did you know that some employers are beginning to realize the benefits of these practices and offer discounts or pay for their employees' wellness? Ask your employer if your company has or is considering such a benefit.

The next email we send out will have our new membership program laid out for you. Please feel free to write or call with any questions or concerns that you may have.

We want you to live the most fulfilling life imaginable.

Shanti,

Jennifer

Wellness Matters: Ayurveda
A Whole New Way of Thinking

When I began to explore the world of healing through massage therapy, I had never heard of Ayurveda, much less knew what it meant. In talking with others, it became clear to me that more than half of those I spoke with had never heard of it either.

image source: shaktihealing.com/

Ayurveda is Sanskrit word from "ayur" (life) and "veda" (knowledge), meaning "the science of life." Dating back 5,000+ years, it is widely regarded as the oldest form of healthcare in the world - much older than Western contemporary medicine. The Ayurvedic system of healing is a holistic approach, treating an individual with the whole being in mind: body, emotion, and spirit. It is said that when you combine a balanced Ayurvedic lifestyle and routine your health and vitality are enhanced.

Panchakarma is an ancient Ayurvedic detox cleanse, a gentle yet powerful way to jump-start a healthier regime. The therapies I have learned while studying to become a Panchakarma Technician provide many great benefits.

One such therapy, "Abhyanga," the most classical Ayurvedic massage, is the basis for all other bodywork techniques. Abyhanga, meaning "loving hands" in Sanskrit, is performed using hot oil along with rhythmical and systematic techniques. Touch is known to be a form of communication - any form of touch sends a message. With skin being the largest organ of the body, Abhyanga conveys a powerful therapeutic message. An Abyhanga massage is an excellent antidote for stress and a great way to bring one's body into balance. It is a great way to loosen up toxins in the body, nourish the skin, relieve fatigue, provide stamina, pleasure the senses and improve sleep. The effect is nourishing one's mind-body, emotion, and spirit. The benefits increase when receiving regular applications of this exquisite massage.

If you are interested in knowing more about Abyhanga and other holistic therapies, please contact me to embark on this journey together. To your health and happiness!

Alison Kruger, Licensed Massage Therapist

Yoga Spotlight: Standing Forward Fold
Uttanasana

Forward folds create a quiet, calm mind, relieve stress and combat depression. They cultivate a sense of inner awareness both during asana practice and beyond. But what to do when a pose that is supposed to relieve your anxiety is the cause of it? For those with tight hamstrings or low back pain, forward folding can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. Setting yourself up for success in this pose requires mindfulness and a little bit of preparation. With practice, you will find your forward folds unfolding into a relaxing, centering place to be.

Most students come into a forward fold assuming the objective is to bend at the waist and touch the fingers to the toes. While this is somewhat true, it does not take into account the movement of the spine. To move into forward fold safely, you must first properly stretch out the spine to avoid putting pressure on the disks:

Stand with feet hips distance apart. Inhale and lengthen through the spine, ground the feet into the floor, extend the crown of the head towards the ceiling and relax the shoulders away from the ears. Bring your hands to your hips.
Exhale, bend the knees as if you were sitting into a chair, reach the sit bones back.
Inhale, lengthen through the spine, pulling the sit bones and crown in opposite directions. With knees still bent, tip the torso forward over the thighs as you exhale. As you exhale, draw the navel in and up toward the lower ribcage making space in the abdomen to fold forward. The spine remains straight and long; the belly should now touch the tops of the thighs.
Tip forward slightly at the hips to allow the crown of the head to relax towards the floor. Bring the hands to the floor (or to blocks) on either side of the feet and relax the shoulders.
Inhale and lengthen through the spine by picking your belly up off the thighs slightly and lengthening through the torso and head. Exhale and relax the belly back towards the thighs.
Stay here or inhale and press the feet into the floor to begin to straighten the legs. If the belly lifts off the thighs as you straighten the legs, stop and slightly bend the knees until the belly again touches the thighs and the crown presses towards the floor. Move slowly, straightening the legs one inch at a time.
Work with the breath to lengthen the spine and deepen into the pose. If you experience low back pain, come out of the pose and rest in shavasana (Corpse Pose) with a bolster under your knees.

To come out of Uttanasana, again bend the knees deeply. Bring the hands to the hips, release the shoulders away from the ears and straighten the spine reaching the crown of the head forward. Inhale and press firmly into the feet to slowly lift the body up, keeping the head and neck in line with the spine. Take three breathes in Tadasana (Mountain Pose).

Kelly Pokharel, Certified Yoga Instructor

Yoga In a Bottle

2011-08-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Prolonging the ahhhmazing experience of practicing yoga is something many seek out. Bach's Rescue Remedy is like taking your blissful state everywhere with you, in a bottle. We invite you to ask any questions you might have about the beautiful simplicity of these sprays at your next visit. Be well and we shall see you soon. Shanti!

Take a Little Tour

2011-08-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

Step inside for a look around. The space at Akasha is simple, relaxed and here to support your yoga practice and centering needs.