Tag: yoga

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Get Fresh!

By Rebecca Johnson

When I went through my yoga teacher training, one of the homework assignments was a 30-day diet experiment. It was meant to be a food sadhana, teaching us to be more mindful of how we eat. Some classmates chose vegetarianism; some gave up sugar. I was eating a lot of microwave meals at the time — ones that claimed healthiness on the box but listed many ingredients I couldn’t pronounce — so my husband suggested ditching our microwave. Busy evenings were initially challenging, but we’re now microwave-free for five years. We purchase mainly whole ingredients and the food prep takes time, but I like knowing exactly what’s going into my mouth.

Sometimes we cave and get takeout, though. We’re not entirely virtuous. That’s why I’m a little jealous of the Mitchell community. Billy Mawhiney opened Get Fresh! Table and Market on Mitchell’s Main Street this month. It’s a partnership with his other venture, Time at the Table, that offers pre-made meals for delivery or pickup using fresh, local and organic ingredients. There is even a self-serve kitchen where you can prep ingredients according to their recipes.

Mawhiney wants people to connect with food and use food to connect with others by getting to know their local farmers and butchers. He also hopes families will use family dinner as a way to slow down in our crazy and sometimes frazzled lives.”It’s time we reclaim the dinner table to be the center of the home,” Mawhiney says.

He got the idea for Get Fresh! while living in Brooklyn, N.Y.”I could not afford to eat much, but the access to local, organic and fresh food was literally just a few blocks away.” Mawhiney keeps his 6-serving meals affordable by using similar ingredients in the weekly menus. They even accept SNAP (formerly known as food stamps).

The business is very new, but the gluten-free meals have already been very popular. Get Fresh! offers vegetarian and dairy free options, as well, and they hope to add some vegan dishes this summer. Mawhiney gives oven or slow cooker instructions for each dish.”Everything is one-step and I left out the microwave on purpose. We do not have one at Get Fresh!” he proclaims.

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Get Your Yoga On!

By Rebecca Johnson

I don’t know about you, but I find January a little boring. The holiday sparkle has faded and I shiver at the thought of my usual outdoor activities. Oh sure, I’m glad to have the time to work on my Scrabble skills and my dog loves our extra couch time, but I’ve been dreaming about skipping town this weekend.

Along with my duties at the magazine, I teach yoga part-time. Winter weekends are a great opportunity for me to be a student again and explore local classes. Luckily it’s the third annual Sioux Falls Yoga Day this Saturday.

Yoga Day USA used to be an annual event sponsored by Yoga Alliance. Registered yoga teachers hosted free or low cost workshops the third Saturday in January to share the benefits of yoga with their communities. The last official Yoga Day USA was held in 2011, but a group of instructors have continued holding free classes at the Siouxland Libraries Main Library each winter.

Deb Yoder and Jill Johnson organize the event. Yoder teaches yoga at the Avera McKennan Fitness Center and the Prairie Center and Johnson is co-owner of The Dharma Room. Their goal is to introduce yoga to the community in a fun, neutral way that encourages people to find yoga in their neighborhood.”We offer a wide range of mind/body classes throughout the day so people can explore different modalities to find what works for them,” Johnson says

Along with teaching yoga, Yoder works for Siouxland Libraries as a Collection Development Librarian. The organization is helping to sponsor the event this year to demonstrate the Siouxland Libraries’ resources for planning healthy lifestyles. The event is free, but donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for the Sioux Falls food pantry. Beginners and experienced practitioners are invited to drop in for a class or spend the whole day.”Some of the instructors will bake breads. We have tea and usually some fresh fruit so there’s something you can snack on,” Yoder says. Yoga mats are available to borrow, but those who have one are encouraged to bring their own.

The day’s schedule is as follows:

Beginning Yoga 9:15 – 10 a.m.
Learn basic moves that help you connect the mind, body, and breath. Taught by Alison Larson and Amanda Hahn, who recently completed their yoga teacher training with the Organic Yoga Company.

Family Yoga 10:15 – 11 a.m.
Kids and parents practice fun yoga moves and activities. Taught by Maria Travers from East Bank Yoga.

Qi Gong 11:15 a.m. – 12 Noon
Experience gentle movement that helps heal your body in this ancient Chinese health care practice referred to as “Chinese Yoga.” Taught by Kim Kersbergen from The Dharma Room.

Crystal Singing Bowls 12:15 – 1 p.m.
Relax and enjoy the singing bowls’ sound vibrations that have a positive effect on your body’s well-being. Presented by Veronika Ludewig from The Dharma Room.

Yin Yoga 1:15 – 2 p.m.
Relax into seated or reclining yoga poses held for two to three minutes, allowing a gentle stretch for the joints and tissues of your body. Taught by Deb Yoder from Avera McKennan Fitness Center and the Prairie Center.

Intermediate Yoga 2:15 – 3 p.m.
Use the yoga basics to build strength and find balance in more challenging poses. Taught by Jean Slattery from Om Yoga Fitness.

Laughter Yoga 3:15 – 4 p.m.
Laughter exercises and gentle yoga breathing beat stress and invigorate the body. Taught by Jill and Dan Johnson from The Dharma Room.

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Art of Healing

By Rebecca Johnson

Sixteen people begin teaching new fine arts classes in Yankton this month. They’re all volunteers with the Art of Healing program started by Amy Miner, executive director of the Yankton Area Arts Association.

Art of Healing is in partnership with the Avera Sacred Heart Cancer Center and is offered free for cancer survivors or those undergoing treatment. Students may choose from classes like ballroom dancing, drawing, calligraphy, wine making, poetry and sculpture. I’ll be teaching a six-week session on yoga for beginners starting next week. Each class is small and personal. Participants can bring a relative, co-survivor, or caregiver for support. And this is not a time to worry about talent or ability. The classes are for exploration, discovery and having fun.

The initial response to the program has been slow, but Miner is optimistic. She is also a breast cancer survivor and taught guitar lessons for a similar program while living in Hawaii.”The Hawaiians celebrate this wonderful concept called kahi’au, which simply means to give what goodness and talent you have freely with no expectation of any return,” says Miner. It’s a beautiful concept. I look forward to teaching with this program and watching it grow. Besides, Miner says it will be good for my karma. So I guess it’s not entirely without compensation.

If you would like to take part in the Art of Healing Program as a student or volunteer, call or email Amy at 665-9754 and yaa@iw.net. Participants can sign up for as many or few classes as they would like. Please pass this information along if you know of anyone who could benefit!

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Yoga’s Hot in South Dakota

By Rebecca Johnson

South Dakota may not be the yoga mecca of the U.S., but there are classes galore at fitness centers and studios throughout the state. Yankton alone has at least seven yoga teachers, and two of them work right here at South Dakota Magazine. I personally teach a basic, flowing style of yoga — linking poses with the breath then ending class with a guided relaxation. And it’s not just an exercise class — yoga is a 4,000-year-old tradition originating in India that helps to strengthen the body, improve flexibility, and calm the mind. An added benefit for us in the Western world is that it helps to manage stress.

One thing South Dakota has lacked is a hot yoga studio. Hot yoga classes typically take place in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit with 30% humidity. I tried a workshop once at the Dharma Room in Sioux Falls. I expected it to be a vigorous, powerful class, but was surprised by the slowness and gentleness of the practice. The class consisted of 26 poses and two breathing exercises. The heat allowed me to feel more flexible in poses that normally would have been out of my reach. But, since it was a one-time workshop, I hadn’t been able to have a go at it again.

Now I am in luck. Two hot yoga studios have popped up in South Dakota in the last few months and both have events this weekend. Deena Rushton opened Yogaversity in November. It’s located in the new Old Market Galleria in downtown Brookings. The studio is hosting their first workshop tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the cost is only $20.

Also new to South Dakota is Santosha Hot Yoga at 5003 S. Bur Oak Place in Sioux Falls. Their grand opening is tomorrow with the first class starting at 10:00 am. According to instructor Jennifer Long’s blog, Saturday’s class has a waiting list, but you may still be able to get in on Sunday’s class at 4:30 p.m. I recommend calling 275-YOGA to sign up. All December classes are only $5.

Yoga in a 105 degree setting is not for you? Then try a different type of class in your community. It’s a fantastic way to improve your overall health and you will be glad that you did.