Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to help to promote clean, clear, and youthful skin.  The nutrients and proteins in essential oils help to maintain the “mattress-like” bounce and stimulate growth of new, healthy cells. Essential oils can also help to stimulate blood circulation of blood, which helps to oxygenate the cells, thus allowing for regeneration.  Additionally, some essential oils contain hormonal-like qualities which encourage a firm and youthful appearance.

As you read through the following tips on using essential oils for the skin, remember the following:

• You can use any one of these oils or you can combine them to make your own custom blend.
• Use essential oils in a bath or as a face & body oil.
• Allow at least thirty days to see a difference in the condition of your skin.

Method:

• Mix 10 to 15 drops of the essential oil or essential oil combination of your choice with a Tablespoon of carrier oil.
• Apply the oil mixture sparingly to the face and allow it to penetrate overnight.
• For the body, massage the essential oil blend into skin, then soak in a warm bath while massaging the skin with a soft bath mitt.

Base Oils:

• Nut oils such as almond oil, hazelnut oil
• Pitted Fruit oils such as apricot kernel oil, avocado oil

Essential Oils for All Skin Types:

• Evening primrose
• Borage seed
• Carrot
• Jojoba

To Promote Youthful Looking Skin:

• Skin Over 20 – Neroli, lavender, fennel, chamomile, geranium, carrot.
• Skin Over 30 – Patchouli, palma rosa, clary-sage, fennel, rose hydrosol, carrot, borage seed, jojoba.
• Skin Over 40 – Neroli, lavender, Frankincense, rosemary, fennel, lemon, carrot, evening primrose.
• Skin over 50 – Rose hydrosol, neroli, lavender, myrrh, carrot, boise de rose, borage seed, evening primrose.

To Balance Skin:

• Chamomile, geranium, lavender, rose hydrosol, neroli, Palma rose, lemon, fennel,  jasmine hydrosol, Bois de rose, frankincense, benzoic.

For Normal Skin :

• Chamomile, sandalwood, Boise de rose, patchouli, rose hydrosol, lavender, hyssop, benzoic, calendula, geranium, Palma rosa, rosemary, neroli.

For Oily Skin:

• Chamomile, juniper, Palma rosa, lemon, lime, orange, Frankincense, lavender, geranium, cypress, marjoram, rosemary, Ylang-ylang, rose hydrosol.

For the Lips:

• Mix 6 to 8 drops of any of these essential oils in your hand and dab onto lips.
• Geranium, lavender, chamomile, palma rosa, carrot, lemon, rose hydrosol.

These oils are mild enough to be used without a base oil, especially if used with carrot oil and/or Palma rosa oil.

To Make Your Own Astringent:

1 oz witch hazel
1 oz rose hydrosol or orange flower hydrosol
1 tsp cider vinegar
2 drops juniper oil
1 drop lime oil
1 drop grapefruit oil

Combine all ingredients in a clean jar or bottle and apply to the face using a cotton round.

Please note: Some of the suggested oils are photo-sensitizers. Angelica and cold pressed citrus oils should not be used on the skin within 12 hours of exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light. If you choose to use one of these oils on your face, please use it only at night.

Before using essential oils for skin care, always test the oils on a small patch of skin to be sure there will be no reaction or irritation.  Always check with your doctor before using essential oils on skin with a chronic condition such as eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.

“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.” -Margaret Thatcher

My 5 year old nephew was visiting from New Jersey last week, and we were chatting one evening while I made dinner. At one point, he looked at a big bowl of lemons I had sitting on the counter, and said to me in his wise little kindergarten voice, “You could make lemonade out of those lemons.”

Wow! At five years old, my little buddha nephew has already figured out one of the keys to a happy life.

Turning lemons into lemonade is a life lesson we’ve all used to navigate the chronic stress and anxiety that often greets us in the morning when the alarm clock sounds. But I’ve made homemade lemonade before, and I know that it doesn’t taste good if it’s overly sweet. Add too much sugar, and you end up with a syrupy slurry minus that zing of great citrus flavor. Fresh squeezed lemonade tastes best when it has some POP! That tart edginess that makes you smack your lips when you reach the bottom of the glass.

Most of us would agree that a life well lived is like that. Sure, we love to cast stress as the villain. If only things would run more smoothly with no big surprises, we’d be happier and more content.

But let’s be honest. We really aren’t happy unless we’re living slightly on the edge–just a tad bit out of our comfort zone. Tackling big projects at work, challenging ourselves with new experiences, or overcoming unforeseen obstacles are things that motivate us and give us an opportunity to become our best selves.

Stress, for better or worse, gives life the zest! pop! and ping! that makes us feel alive and engaged in the world.

The problem is, stress can also kill. Managed poorly, it can follow us through our days zapping our energy, robbing us of sleep, and leaving us feeling anxious and overwhelmed. It is one of the biggest reasons why we turn to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, skipping the gym, or zoning out in front of bad reality TV (yes, that last one is me).

So, let’s get back to the lemonade.

We don’t always have a choice about how much “sour” creeps into our lives. But countless studies suggest that making healthy choices in the way we eat, breathe and move our way through adversity can help us not only manage, but truly embrace this unpredictable, imperfect life of ours. It’s like stocking the pantry shelves with plenty of sugar, so that we’re ready for the big day when the lemon tree out back comes into bloom.

Here are my favorite strategies for striking just the right balance between “sweet” and “sour:”

Eat: We all know that this is our “go to” coping strategy when things get a little out of hand. Eating gives us something to do and can be comforting when we are feeling overwhelmed. But eating the wrong things, or eating too much, never turns out good. Recently, I heard an intuitive eating expert share the importance of making all foods “equally accessible.” She suggested making stress busting foods like calming teas and cut up fruits and veggies just as easy grab as the cookies and caffeine sitting around the house. Make these foods your first stop, and then if you need something more, allow yourself a small indulgence.

Breathe: Breathing and meditation are proven ways to ease the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that accompany stress. But many people, myself included, are not natural meditators. Start by choosing an activity you do often throughout the day–for me it’s driving the car or working on the computer. Each time you do this activity, take three or four deep cleansing breaths. This simple practice encourages the breath to be the calming influence you turn to when you feel your anxiety level rising.

Move: Make time to move. Even a brisk walk can ease anxious feelings or boost your energy when you’re feeling down. And while 10 minutes of light activity is a valid prescription for stress reduction, a workout that pushes you to sweat and challenge your limits can get the feel good hormones flowing and give you a powerful sense of accomplishment at the end.

As Margaret Thatcher says, we feel most satisfied with life when our head hits the pillow at the end of a busy day, and we have a story or two to tell about how we got through it. But like those fresh lemons sitting in the bowl on my counter, that crazy busy life of yours needs balance. Taking care of yourself by making healthy food choices, learning to breathe through stress, and moving your body on a regular basis will all help to make your life–lemons and all–that much sweeter.

Meg Root is an ACE certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist with over 25 years in the fitness and spa industry.

As a parent and chief of the Glen Ivy Gardens I want to express the importance of clear communication. My children behave better when I clearly state my expectations of them and so do my plants. You only get one shot at raising them so providing them with a loving and well-defined foundation is very important. With this in mind, here are my expert tips for a few conversations you should absolutely have with your plants:

Don’t drink too much - Water is so important and it’s a drought year.
Choose your friends wisely - That cactus is gonna get you into trouble!
What’s that noise your listening to? – Country builds character so turn down that punk rock.
You can’t be seen in that! - Terra cotta is classic and suits you much better; that plastic pot isn’t fit for a plant as beautiful as you.
Eat your vegetables - There are carrots in your compost and they are good for your eyes.
Get plenty of exercise - You don’t want to grow up with weak limbs, do you?
Respect your elders - That’s an old growth forest, you know.
Do your homework - You will be tested on biology.
Cleanliness is next to godliness - Stay out of the mud!
Are you feeling okay? You’re looking a little green. - Good for you!

-Patrick Mitchell
Director of Landscapes & Sustainability

With fun new aqua fitness classes headed your way, (read, “New Aqua Classes Coming Soon”), Meg Root gives you a few good reasons why you should join the fitness party in the Lap Pool during your next visit to Glen Ivy.

Two Guys and A Swimming Pool: A Few Good Reasons to Mix Exercise With Water

I was standing on the deck of the lap pool as two buff guys walked down the steps into the water and started paddling around. These were not just your run-of-the-mill, in shape kinda guys. Maybe they were professional athletes, I don’t know. But they had four perfectly sculpted shoulders between them, two sets of bulging biceps, at least a twelve pack for abs–and maybe 3% body fat. You do the math. These guys were perfect specimens of male . . .

No, this is not a blog about guy watching at Glen Ivy.

I was setting up poolside, for my 11am AquaFit class, and these hard bodies were about to be two of my students.

Meet the new face of aquatic fitness! As we say in the business, “It’s not just for ladies in swimming caps anymore.”

Worn out stereotypes about aqua fitness and the people who participate are finally disappearing, as word gets out that these workouts are great for all fitness levels. The inherent properties of water–things like buoyancy, viscosity, and drag–mean that working out in this liquid environment can be enjoyable and forgiving on the joints, or challenging and punishing on the body–depending on your reasons for taking the plunge.

With the warm sunny weather headed our way, and 16 pools of all shapes and sizes spread out over the Glen Ivy property, we have one pool that will be rocking the house with a variety of aqua fitness classes this summer.  If your usual trip to the hot springs has always been about kicking back with a cold drink and a good book, I’m here to give you five compelling reasons to leave your floaty in the Lounge Pool behind–at least for a little while–and come join the fitness pool party in the central pool:

Reason #1: It’s fun! Music you can sing to, movements that are easy to follow, and a group of people ready to have a good time means that you will have no option but to leave the pool with a big smile on your face.

Reason #2: It feels good! If you have low back pain, joint issues, or have not always felt light on your feet, exercising can be, well–miserable. Submerge yourself in a few thousand gallons of warm, buoyant water though, and you will begin to feel like you’ve come down with a curious case of the “Benjamin Buttons.”

Reason #3: It’s great for cross training! Are you into high intensity workouts like running, bootcamp, or PX90? While these amped up workouts can help you see quick results, put yourself through that every day and you’ll risk burnout or injury. Aqua fitness classes give you the opportunity to push yourself just as hard without the impact on your joints.

Reason #4: It’s a time saver! Head to your local gym and you’ll need a separate exercise for each muscle group–by my count, 10-12, not including core work. Jump in a pool with 360º  resistance, and you get two exercises for the price of one. Biceps on the way up, triceps on the way down. Best of all, maintaining good posture in the water means ALL core, ALL the time.

Reason #5: It works! I know what you’re thinking: “This workout better deliver or I may as well head back to my floaty with a drink in my hand.” Aqua fitness classes are at the top of the calorie burning list, not to mention they hit every muscle group in your body including the heart muscle keeping you alive.

Amazing things happen when you mix exercise with water. It’s a foolproof recipe for wellness that can last you a lifetime. But just in case my five reasons are not convincing enough for you, I’ll give you a couple more. Those two guys I told you about earlier–they were not the only two good looking guys I’ve seen in class before. It could be that your prince charming is waiting for you in an aqua aerobics class. Now that could be good for your health!

Meg Root is an ACE certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist with over 25 years in the fitness and spa industry.

Try this very simple but powerful exercise of writing a love letter to yourself.

Many of us tend to be critical of on our own selves. Give your self esteem a well deserved boost, reconnect with your inner self, and acknowledge all your great qualities. Treat yourself with the kindness, respect and support you would offer a good friend. You deserve it!

To start, find a place you won’t be disturbed, and sit down with a piece of paper and a pen. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and begin thinking of all the good and wonderful things about yourself. If any critical thoughts arise, you must push them aside, because there is no place for them in this letter.

Where to begin? Try answering some of these questions:
- What do you like most about yourself?
- What are you good at, what are some of your achievements?
- What do your friends like about you?
- What makes you happy? What do you dream of?

Make it gushy, make it sentimental, make it straightforward. Just make sure to remind yourself that you are wonderful regardless of any circumstance. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day to write yourself a love letter, whenever you feel like you need a reminder of the goodness that is you, take the time to do it.

Now that you are done, put it in an envelope, seal it with a kiss, and mail it to yourself. When it arrives, be sure to set aside a moment to enjoy properly and cherish the loving words. You will have a treasure in your hands that you can open and read whenever you need reminding of how special and wonderful you are. The bonus: when we love and feel good about ourselves, others notice and love us more too!

“Go ahead! Eat whatever you want on Thanksgiving Day! Forget sticking to your diet. Pull up to the table and savor the delicious turkey feast with your family and friends.”

I know, this is not the typical holiday eating advice you might expect to hear from a certified wellness professional like myself. It may even border on being irresponsible–even reprehensible! But this month’s Glen Ivy Challenge, “Practicing Gratitude,” got me thinking: If people who practice gratitude on a regular basis are happier as studies suggest they are, does that mean they are healthier too? And if that’s the case, maybe the practice of gratitude during the upcoming holiday season is a better wellness strategy than depriving yourself of your favorite foods or counting the calories in a slice of pumpkin pie.

As it turns out, the answer to my question is, “Yes!”  According to Dr. Robert Emmonds, a psychology professor at University of California Davis and author of Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, practicing gratitude or “a felt sense of wonder, thankfulness, and appreciation for life,” is not only good for your mental health, but also improves your physical health as well.  Participants in his gratitude studies showed improvements in their health status like sleeping longer hours and experiencing a better quality of sleep. They also had fewer symptoms of malaise such as headaches, nausea, and pain. The most exciting aspect of his research though, showed that these individuals also made better lifestyle choices. Emmonds explains, “Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet, and regular physical examinations.”  In other words, people who recognize and feel appreciation for life’s gifts choose to take better care of themselves.

Finding the motivation to choose healthier behaviors is at the heart of lasting lifestyle change. That’s why the “gratitude approach” to better health makes sense to me. Many people I talk to about beginning an exercise program or eating a healthier diet say, “I know what I need to do, I just don’t do it!” They feel at a loss as to why they repeatedly sabotage their diets or can’t stick to their program. Moreover, their confusion is frequently laced with negative self talk that eventually becomes a barrier to their success.

By its very nature, gratitude practice requires you to perform an about face away from focusing on what isn’t working, to an appreciation for what is.  Feeling bad about not going to the gym because you were held up at work, turns into feeling good about the twenty minute walk you took when you got home. And as Emmonds points out, this mental shift gives you a positive framework for living life where you are able to take control over your happiness levels.

So, with the busy holiday season upon us, and those pesky New Years resolutions following close behind, why not take a different approach this year. Lay the foundation for a year of better choices by trying my gratitude practice with a “healthy twist” during the month ahead:

• Connect with the good in your day. Start a simple gratitude journal today with the tips we provided in our recent blog post, Creating a Gratitude Journal. Try including a few entries that recognize the healthy choices you have made during your day–no matter how small.
• Connect with a sense of appreciation and thankfulness for your health and your ability to move about and do all the things you love to do. Begin to think about the healthy choices you can make in the New Year to improve your health status.
• Connect with your support system. Who are the people around you–family, friends and co-workers–who can become part of your wellness team next year? Just think, if they are on your team, you are on their team. Two healthy people for the price of one!

OK, gratitude practice won’t eliminate all the calories on your Thanksgiving plate. But approaching life with a positive outlook and a spirit of thanksgiving could mean that taking better care of yourself in the New Year comes more naturally to you. So, while I did’t really mean “Eat whatever you what this Thanksgiving,” go ahead and enjoy the turkey dressing and sweet potato pie. Just make sure there is a healthy dose of gratitude served up in between.

Meg Root is an ACE certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist with over 25 years in the fitness and spa industry.

Last week you, our wonderful fans, submitted questions for “What Would You Ask a Skin Care Professional?” during our MASK-erade Week.  Our own Glen Ivy Estheticians sat down and answered your skin care questions. Here’s what they had to say:

Are there any products that you would recommend to help lighten dark spots on the face?
With any hyper-pigmentation, you want to be extremely consistent with SPF (at least 30) regardless of the weather. You also want to stay away from tanning and excessive sun exposure. As far as products go, those that are high in Vitamin C as well a brightening or lightening serum will help with the dark spots. As always, seeing a skin therapist or dermatologist is beneficial to ensure results.

How do you keep the skin clear and what are the best products to help minimize breakouts?
Be sure to cleanse and hydrate skin in the morning and at night. Products with a Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid base would be the most beneficial for problem skin. Over the counter acne products aren’t recommended because they are high in alcohol and strip your skin of it’s natural moisture. If you continue to have excessive breakouts or acne, contact a dermatologist.

What else can I do to fend off the wrinkles?
Using products high in antioxidants is crucial in preventing signs of aging. You want to make sure you are extremely consistent with a proper skin care regimen and always incorporate sun block and moisturizer. Drinking plenty of water and limiting alcohol, smoking and sun exposure will help.

Are the makeup remover/cleansing wipes made for your face really okay for my skin?
The make up remover pads have a high percentage of alcohol and perfume. We suggest a more gentle oil based or cream cleanser that won’t dry out the sensitive eye area or hurt your eye lashes.

How often should I receive a facial?
Receiving a facial every 4-6 weeks is a wonderful routine to help maintain beautiful, healthy skin.

Which is better for maintaining your eyebrows: waxing or threading?
What it comes to waxing or threading, threading is less damaging to the skin tissue but if your skin is not sensitive and you are not using exfoliating acids such as Retin-A or acne medication, than either way is effective to remove the hair follicle properly.

Have any other skin care questions? Post them here and we’ll have our skin care professionals answer them!

Each month as part of our practice of living a Spa Lifestyle, we look for ways to open our minds to new ideas and challenge ourselves. While gratitude is not a new idea, “practicing gratitude” may be for some of us. We invite you to join us in the Glen Ivy November Challenge, and it’s easy to get started with a gratitude journal.

What do you put in the journal? Each day, write down five things you are grateful for. You might start with obvious things like: your job, your health, your family, friends, being alive, shelter, food. Now it may be a little trickier as it’s often the everyday subtleties that we may be taking for granted. Looking for and seeing the good in every situation creates a shift in thinking to the positive, and a chance to learn from mistakes, see the good in everything, even obstacles or misfortune.

Getting Started

All you need is a journal you use to capture gratitude. It can be smart and stylish or as plain and simple as you want it to be. You can use a notebook, your daytimer, some white paper or a diary.

Now you will write 5 things that you are grateful for each day.  The only 2 rules with the gratitude journal are:

1. Your journal entries must all be positive.
2. You can only list something you’re grateful for once – no repeating entries.

The idea is that by looking for things that you are grateful for each day, you automatically start seeing the positive side of everything. You also begin to focus on what you have rather than what you don’t.

It is important to try to not to write the same 5 things each day, every entry should be unique. Your entries don’t have to be big earth shattering revelations, it is often the small things that define our days and relationships. You should journal what matters to you and what you are grateful for. This is a very personal venture.

Tips for a Successful Challenge

1. Commit. Leave a comment here or on Facebook letting us and your friends know you are going to give it a try, and you will be more likely to follow through. Also, LIKE Glen Ivy on Facebook and we will be giving suggestions each week on how to identify and connect with what we are grateful for.

2. Get a journal. You can choose something that you will look forward to writing in, the convenience of your daytimer, or even a simple stack of note paper. A good pen is also part of this equation.

3. Choose a place and time. It will be easier to stay on track if you write in your journal each day at the same place and time, whether with your morning coffee or just before you drift off to sleep each night. Keep your journal nearby to remind you.

We really want to hear how it is going, and hope you will share your discoveries along the way. We also welcome you to post what you are grateful to our Facebook wall and let your gratitude be inspiration to others to do the same.

Thank you from your friends at Glen Ivy.

The Glen Ivy Monthly Challenge is celebrating National Yoga Month in September. Check back every Tuesday & Thursday for a new Yoga Pose.

Warrior 1 Pose

This yoga posture strengthens the legs but also stretches the hip flexor muscle, which becomes tight after sitting in a chair for a long period of time. It also encourages a sense of strength and focus, something that can come in handy late in the afternoon.

• Stand behind your chair, holding onto the back.
• Step your left foot back and turn it out slightly.
• Make sure your heel is touching the floor.
• Bend your right knee until it is directly over your ankle. Keep your hip bones facing directly forward and continue to keep the back heel reaching back toward the floor.
• You may also extend your arms up over your head, releasing your shoulder blades down your back.
• Stay in the pose for 3-5 breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Download this Yoga Pose and tips as a printable PDF.

Meg Root Glen Ivy Fitness Expert says…
DID YOU KNOW? By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.

Well, we’re half way through Yoga Month and I’m wondering how many of you have given it a try? There is a popular saying in yoga, “Practice with a beginner’s mind.” So if fear or uncertainty are holding you back, then don’t worry. You are guaranteed success your first time out!

Surprisingly, I can still recall the first yoga class I took over twenty years ago. Though I initially felt intimidated by the skillfulness of the other students in class (and somewhat by the strictness of the teacher!), I remember leaving the class with a sense that I had stumbled upon something that would transform not just the way I worked “out,” but the way I worked “in.” Turns out, I was right. The positive feelings I felt, but could not pinpoint back then, are now being validated by real science. More and more studies are revealing the health and wellness benefits of yoga.

So, don’t let yoga month slip by without using our handy Beginner’s Guide to yoga to help get your started. In addition to a brief overview of yoga, I have linked you up with Seraphina’s glossary of yoga terminology and guide to yoga styles. We hope these tools will help you navigate your first yoga experience with confidence.

What is Yoga?

Yoga’s history can be traced back thousands of years to India, where it originated as a philosophy and spiritual practice that permeated India culture and life. In Sanskrit, the word yoga, means “union” or “yoke,”  or to join or bring together. Simply put, the practice of yoga aims to bring together the body, mind and spirit in order to gain a deeper understanding and connection with oneself. Unlike a typical fitness based class where you may find yourself doing bicep curls and making your grocery list at the same time, yoga practice strives for the opposite. It asks you to bring your full attention and awareness to the experience (leave the grocery list for later), and be fully present in your practice. With practice, that’s why it is called “a practice”, the benefits then reach beyond the physical or cosmetic, and have a positive effect on your life as a whole.

While many original writings on yoga contained very little about the physical postures or poses (asanas), here in the Western part of the world, we probably recognize yoga most for the physical practice of the postures and the health and wellness benefits that can be enjoyed from regular practice.  As a beginner, you will soon realize that there are a variety of yoga styles that can be explored and practiced.  Finding a comfortable fit for yourself is an important first step in your yoga journey. While some styles focus more on the physical postures and improving aspects of fitness such as strength and flexibility, others may place more emphasis on breath work or meditation.

Why Has Yoga Become some Popular?

Maybe it is one of those, “right place at the right time,” kinda things, but it seems yoga’s time has come.  Feeling overwhelmed by the pace and pressures of life these days, people are seeking remedies to the stress or anxiety they may be feeling. Individuals facing chronic health challenges are also searching for alternatives to conventional treatments. Even health researchers and health care professionals are becoming more open to the possible role yoga may play in treating lifestyle related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The health and wellness benefits of yoga are no longer just anecdotal, but instead are being validated through science and research.

Get beyond the science though, and yoga can be just plain fun. As Timothy McCall, M.D. says in his book, Yoga As Medicine, “Most people who do it (yoga) regularly discover that yoga gets more interesting over time. I don’t know anybody who feels that way about stomach crunches.” Read further in his book and he will give you “40 Ways Yoga Heals,” including improving joint health, brain function, bone health, blood sugar levels, and psychological health to name just a few.

But perhaps one of the biggest reasons why the yoga population is growing these days, is that many are beginning to see it as an opportunity to be a participant in their own health and wellbeing. There is a sense of empowerment that comes from deepening your practice over time and knowing that you are playing an active role in your own health outcomes.

How To Get Started

Convinced enough to give it a try? Southern California is a mecca for yoga studios, so a quick web search should point you in the right direction. A visit to Glen Ivy during the remainder of Yoga Month is also a great opportunity to experience yoga in a beginner friendly environment. Not only that, we teach our yoga classes on the beautiful sprawling front lawn. How often do you get the opportunity to blend yoga with the great outdoors and then enjoy soaking your muscles in a warm hot springs! We also have a few exciting specialty yoga presenters lined up, if you would like to add some variety to your practice:

• Saturday,  September 17th: Theta Yoga, a gentle blend of Hatha Yoga and Theta Healing with Anke Banderski.
• Tuesday, September 20th: Aqua Yoga, a buoyant and lighthearted approach to yoga in the water.
• Friday, September 23rd: Inner Yoga, Holly Holliday Hill helps you learn how to connect with your own best teacher in this fun and transformational class.

Though yoga will be around long after Yoga Month 2011 is over, there is no better time to get your “beginners mind” to class. As always, we’d love to hear your yoga stories. We always find that your experiences in our monthly challenges are the one’s that are most inspiring to other readers. Let us know how you are doing. Namaste!

Meg Root

Meg Root is an ACE Certified Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist who works as a wellness educator and personal trainer in Corona, California. She has enjoyed the benefits of a personal yoga practice for over twenty years, with her primary focus on the Iyengar style of yoga, which puts specific emphasis on proper alignment in the yoga postures.  She has completed yoga teacher training workshops through UC Riverside Extension, and has also attended Iyengar Yoga training workshops with Senior Iyengar Yoga Teachers,  Manouso Manos and Dean Lerner.