How is it going for you this winter? If you are on the east coast you most likely are a winter warrior, figuring out your Winter Wellness Plan. It has been no joke - truly a challenging winter wonderland outside! For most of us it really has an affect on our mind, body and spirit and can result in "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (SAD).
I confess that under the covers has become more appealing than getting on my Yoga Mat. With Spring starting next Month (Thursday, March 20, 2014) let's get ready to spring it on!
Yoga is not a cure for SAD, which is a medical and chemical condition, but
it can alleviate many of the physical and mental symptoms, making
seasonal depression more manageable. Proper breathing (pranayama)
followed by restorative postures may help people with SAD. Yoga helps
you to be positive and motivated during winter. It increases your energy
levels, releases endorphins and serotonin, and can decrease melatonin
(which causes tiredness and mental sluggishness). Yoga eases sleeping
problems, stress, anxiety and depression, as it incorporates the main
drug-free treatments for these – exercise, deep breathing and relaxation
techniques.
Yoga is good for both the mind and the body, being a holistic approach
to SAD, anxiety or depression. It involves no drugs or medicines, and
yogis can feel the physical and mental impact of yoga after just one
class. Check out this episode of Yoga Flava TV and SUBSCRIBE:
New York, Sept.10, 2012 Yoga Flava, the award winning Yoga program
created by Emmy Award Winner and certified Yoga Instructor, Robin Downes,
announced a partnership today with Lucky Ant, a crowdfunding platform that
helps small businesses reward themselves and their customers.
Yoga
Flava is gearing up for a fresh start for Fall 2013. Renovations are needed for
the Yoga Flava Sanctuary Studio, which offers private sessions on NYC's upper
west side. Updated technical equipment is needed for Skype Yoga sessions and
Yoga Flava TV (http://www.youtube.com/user/yogaflava). Management Fees are
needed for the 2014 Yoga Flava Events and Retreats.
Over
the next twenty (20) days, Yoga Flava has set three (3) milestones; looking to
raise a minimum of$1,000.00 for
business development, $2,500.00 for Yoga Flava TV Equipment and $5,000 for Yoga
Flava studio renovations.
Rewards
range from $10.00 Yoga Flava Hats and T-Shirts to $2,500 for a featured episode
on Yoga Flava TV with a sponsorship campaign across all Yoga Flava platforms.
The
Yoga Flava brand is seeking additional partnerships with brand managers,
licensing agreements, sponsors and advertisers. Ms. Downes is also available
for speaking engagements, Personal Yoga Instruction in person or online via
Skype, Host/ Guest instructor for workshops and retreats.
About Yoga
Flava
Yoga
Flava is a Hatha Yoga based tasteful blend of ancient moves to contemporary grooves.
Ms. Downes is also an Emmy™ Award winner for “Outstanding Individual
Achievement In News and Documentary for “ABC News “20/20”. Since 1996, founder Robin Downes
is Hollywood's certified Yoga Instructor to the stars (actress Vanessa
Williams, actress/singer Brandy, NBA Champion John Salley, actress LisaRaye
McCoy, Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons and many more). The first African American woman to have an
internationally distributed video through Wal-Mart, entitled "Yoga Flava™
for Relaxation", Vol.1 . Essence Magazine recommended Robin Downes' Yoga
Flava™ in the "2010 Wealth and Wellness" issue. She has also been
featured in the “The New York Times”, “Yoga Journal”, “Shape”, “Heart and
Soul”, “Black Enterprise”, “Ebony”, “UPN News” and “CBS News” to name a few.Additionally, she is asyndicated health and wellness digital
journalist, servicing various
media outlets. Additional information can be found at (http://www.YogaFlava.com)
About Lucky
Ant
At Lucky Ant, we love small businesses. So much so that
we've made it our mission to help them. Over the years we've worked with
countless businesses and built this platform specifically to your business'
needs. Everything from the design to the features was put in place for you!
That's why our success rate is higher than most platforms. (http://www.LuckyAnt.com)
FREE
YOGA FLAVA SESSION (Live Online One-On-One) ... for the first 10 Yoga
Flava Playas to sign up for the "Fresh Start For Fall" Campaign on Lucky
Ant.
For the Fall 2013 season (Now until December 21st) , the focus will be
on inner work and meditation. Robin Downes will work with you,
personally customizing a Yoga program particularly for your needs.
You pick the dates and times that work best for YOU! Cultivate calm to sustain you through the holiday season.
Skype or in-person at private NYC Yoga Flava Studio. (Individual Private Personalized Coaching)
*Reduce Stress *Cultivate a youthful vitality *Cleanse your mind, body, breath and spirit *Stretch *Strengthen *Sensual Healing *Manifest your desires with mindfulness. **Yoga Flava's signature style of ancient moves to contemporary musical grooves.
Still the best "recession buster" deal for 4 private sessions - Only
$100.00 investment, upfront in advance, toward your well being.
Otherwise, travel to your location is negotiable. Single private session (in person or via skype) $30.00
Leave a message on this event page and / or Email: robin@yogaflava.com
or call 310-266-7362 to book your appointment. I will invoice you and
once I receive the payment we can begin.
The spirit in me honors the spirit in you - Namaste
Yoga Flava (Robin Downes) and ElectroYoga(Nina Roshelle and Nicole Hauk), team
up, to chronicle their journey “Living
Yoga Dreams” during the Summer of 2013.Not just Yoga, also the Flava of Life …
Join us on the journey and watch the first Yoga Flava TV Episode of "Living Yoga Dreams":
AJ Calloway (Extra) hosted American Black Film Festival's (ABFF) HBO Short Film Competition on June 20, 2013 at the Colony Theatre in Miami, Florida. ABFF is a five day retreat dedicated to strengthening the Black filmmaking community.
AJ has a busy schedule and a new wife with a baby on the way. In addition to checking out the nervous competitors' films, I had the opportunity to ask AJ how he manages stress. He shares his tips for what he does for stress relief and his experience with Yoga in the video below.
View Youtube Episode - AJ Calloway: ABFF / HBO Red Carpet With Yoga Flava
HBO's prestigious award has been part of the ABFF's competitive film program since it was established in 1998 to honor the writing and directing talents of emerging Black filmmakers. A special screening will showcase the five films selected for the final round of competition: The Adventures of Edson Jean, written/directed by Edson Jean; Black Girl in Paris, written/directed by Kiandra Parks; A Different Tree, directed by Steven Caple, Jr.; Stone Cars, written/directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and Sweet Honey Child, directed by Talibah Newman, co-written by Newman and Amanda Brennan. The grand prize winner, who will be awarded $10,000, will be announced during the ABFF's Awards presentation on closing night, on Sunday, June 23, 2013.
Penthouse Pot Luck to
witness the "Super Moon" - the closest and largest full moon of the
year, it also represents the moon's closest encounter with earth in a
long time.
At this point space is limited to six people. Due to the limited capacity, please commit if you sign up - there is no "Maybe."
Just observing the moon and chillin' with friends and healthy snacks :-)
Not a Yoga session in the all out physical way - more about mindfulness
of the moon - as we evolve the summer solstice... Coordinate with me for your healthy dish contribution.
Yoga Flava Penthouse Sanctuary, 235 W. 102nd Street. (Between Bway and West End Avenue)
"Living From The Heart" was the topic for of the Educational Panel Discussion for New York City’s Go Red For Women Luncheon this year. I was delighted to be able to attend and reflect on the whole month of February for heart health awareness. Also Read: Robin Downes Spokeswoman For Feel Rich Goes Red
"Living From The Heart - Moderator: Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum –
Director of Women and Heart Disease, Heart and Vascular Institute, Lenox
Hill Hospital, North Shore-LIJ Health Systems Panelists: Dr. Jennifer Mieres - Professor
of Cardiology and Population Health, and Senior Vice President,
Community and Public Health, North Shore-LIJ Health Systems Lisa Oz - Producer, writer, actress, and frequent co-host of The Dr. Oz Show on Oprah & Friends’ XM radio telecast Agapi Stassinopoulos- author, speaker, Huffington Post regular and author of Unbinding the Heart JuE Wong – CEO, StriVectin This panel is an opportunity to
further educate and engage women about heart healthy living, with an
intimate discussion around specific topics. Our passion is to educate
women on how true health stems from living a heart-centered life.
Join Robin Downes of Yoga Flava, Spokeswoman for The Feel Rich Goes Red Campaign, with The American Heart Association, spreading the awareness about living healthy, wearing red and
fighting heart disease - the No. 1 killer of women! We look forward to
socializing and having a good time raising awareness.
Come Dance For Heart Heath Madame X 94 Houston Street, NYC 7pm - 11pm Wear RED for FREE Entry D.J. Jay Wright Neo-Soul | RnB | Latin | Hip Hop | Raggae | House
In the spirit of having heart health awareness
and being hot for your Valentine - I have several events to help get
you in sync with the season. Check out the Facebook event pages below and join
the journey - ENJOY!
Go Red For Women will be celebrating 10 years of National Wear Red Day on February 1, 2013. The organization continues it’s mission to spread awareness that heart disease is the No.1 killer of women.
The fact is: Heart disease kills one in three women each year – that’s approximately one woman every minute. Yet, only 1 in 5 American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. What’s more, African American women have almost two times the risk of stroke than Caucasians, and more likely to die at an earlier age when compared to women of other ethnicities.
Below is a list of few unsettling stats:
‐ Heart disease kills nearly100,000 African American women annually
‐ Of African American women ages 20 and older, 46.9% have heart disease
‐ Only1in 5 African American women believes she is personally at risk
‐ Only 50% of African American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack
‐ Only43% of African American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk.
Check out the Yoga Flava TV Video Snack: "Heartfelt Desire":
De-tox Winter 2013 For A New You! - Happy New Year!
Because the days are much shorter in the Winter, you’re aware of
the need to get more natural sunlight to ward off the effects of
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), caused by light deprivation. And you
take special care to nurture the organs of the season, the kidneys and
the adrenal glands.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS CLEANSING IN WINTER?
The holidays tend to bring on weight gain for most people.
Our bodies are striving for balance with nature, so
as the season shifts to winter, our bodies need support with nourishing
foods that support the kidneys (the central organ of winter).
Winter builds up mucus in the body which can lead to allergies, getting sick, feeling sluggish.
Instead of making resolutions for quick fixes, detox is a way to set an intention for the year. An intention to take care of yourself with a clean-eating lifestyle plan.
You get to connect with the season and start to notice the difference between stress eating vs. real hunger.
The kidneys and bladder work harmoniously in the detox process to
eliminate wastes from the system. The kidneys filter blood to balance
water and the body’s acidity level. They help your system keep the right
amounts of sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium and
phosphate while helping to pull out elements such as nitrogen, minerals,
salts, and unwanted chemicals. In one day, the kidneys filter several
thousand quarts of blood. And if the liver becomes burdened with too
many toxins, the toxic substances move on to the urinary tract or
outward through the skin. Irritated by these poisons, the urinary tract
is a doormat for yeast infections, viruses and bacteria. That’s why it’s
important to check the color, clarity and tone of your skin. A kidney
problem may cause a bluish discoloration around the eyes. And also look
at your hair. If it is too oily, too dry, thinning or too thick, it may
indicate an imbalance in the kidney/bladder area.
The adrenals—those overworked and neglected walnut-sized glands
nestled on top of the kidneys—need some TLC this time of year. If
overstressed, your eyes may become too sensitive to light due to a
slowing in your pupil contractions, forcing you to don sunglasses much
of the time. You also might feel dizzy if you get up too soon because of
a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Winter healing tea, herbs, and spices
Nettle (Urtica dioica) is the wintertime herbal tea of
choice because it is a rich source of alkalizing minerals especially
helpful for kidney cleansing and adrenal support during this time of the
year. Other kidney-protecting herbs include juniper berries (Juniperus communis), which act as a diuretic and are especially helpful in chronic bladder infections; gingerroot (Zingiber officinale), which is warming to the body and assists circulation in the kidney area; and marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis),
which is good for soothing mucous membrane irritation in the urinary
tract. The natural sodium and other electrolytes in unrefined sea salt
and miso assists both kidney and adrenal function. Miso is a fermented
soybean product that is especially noteworthy because it also
strengthens the blood and lymph and is a good source of enzymes,
calcium, and iron. Tamari, an aged soy sauce, is a flavorful alternative
to salt that aids digestion (tamari is still very high in sodium,
however). Ginger can also be used as a seasoning in cooking.
How is it going for you this winter? If you are on the east coast you most likely are a winter warrior, figuring out your Winter Wellness Plan. It has been no joke - truly a challenging winter wonderland outside! For most of us it really has an affect on our mind, body and spirit and can result in "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (SAD).
