NicolePresents: Wellness

Catch HAPPY!

Did you know you can get your tickets for the SF Bay Area Premiere of HAPPY – A Documentary online? Schedule your Independence Week HAPPY movie night now (screening July 1 – 7) and purchase up to 10 tickets online for your whole group! We’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

HAPPY, the latest award-winning film by Academy Award® nominated director Roko Belic, takes us on a compelling journey across the world in search of what really makes us happy. From a scientist scanning brains in his lab to a rickshaw puller in the streets of Kolkata, India, deeply personal stories weave together with insights from renowned experts to provide the keys to our most valued emotion.



BONUS! Meet Academy Award® nominated director Roko Belic and Marci Shimoff, best‐selling author of Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and Happy for No Reason, during an exclusive Q and A after the July 1 screening. Director Roko Belic will also be available for Q and A after the July 2 and July 3 screenings.

EXTRA BONUS! Receive 15% off personal Yoga Instruction from Nicole Presents: Yoga, Health, and Wellness when you present your HAPPY ticket stub from the Roxie Theatre screening! Can also be used for Online Skype sessions!

FOR TICKETS: Link Below and then Tickets for the specific show: http://www.roxie.com/events/details.cfm?eventID=EDC65927-1143-DBB3-C6AF0572862A0C15

Website
http://www.thehappymovie.com

Click for Facebook Fan Page HERE

SCREENING TIME & LOCATION
Friday, July 1 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Roxie Theater, 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA

Yoga is everywhere these days. There are many styles, studios, classes and instructors to choose from, so why would one choose private yoga instruction?

Did you know that thousands of years ago, Yoga was taught only using one-on-one instruction?  It was a practice of meditation using very little postures and way more emphasis on breath. As Yoga evolved to the West, we added more asanas and made it a group activity, similar to the other fitness activities we practiced.  So with many types of people and interests here in the West, Yoga became diverse and exciting eventually growing into a billion dollar business!

But now, stepping back, let’s evaluate this new approach to Yoga and ask if people are practicing mindfully. Are you getting the attention you need in large classes? Do you know how to prevent injuries? Do you understand how to modify postures for a health issue?  Are you getting hurt when practicing?

There are many benefits to personalized yoga instruction listed below.

10 Great Reasons Why People Choose Private Yoga Instruction

1. Proper foundation -Learn accurate postures from the start and develop awareness and alertness to cues so you can move your body safely in any class.
2. Customized -A curriculum designed with your specific needs in mind based on your body type. Not everyone is meant to do what you see in the magazines.
3. Safety -Learn modifications that make sense for your body and gain a deeper knowledge of body movement, preventing injury in less alignment-focused classes.
4. Recovery – If you have an injury or health limitation, take a private to learn how to modify and to work with poses specifically that will aid in your recovery.
5. Environment– You dislike the gym, prefer a more peaceful environment, or don’t like sweaty yoga rooms. Lucky for you Yoga is easy to take anywhere – your room, your deck, your roof, or outdoors!
6. Convenience - Pick a time and place that is best for you.  No stress and hassle about where to go, park and how much time you have. You also can eliminate worries about not getting the space you want in a packed class.
7. Beginner/New Style –If you are not sure how to get started or you want to try a new style of Yoga, begin with a sequence that’s customized for you and your body so you can begin a practice with safety and effectiveness. Learn pose names for more advanced classes and learn the philosophy that accompanies it.
8. Privacy – Eliminate any fear, intimidation or self-consciousness that you might experience in a yoga studio, focusing on your needs first.
9. Honor Your Body Approach – Yoga is a total mind, body, spirit approach.  We practice to create space in the mind, reduce stress and build strength in the body through development of self-awareness and compassion.  Some trainers and gyms prefer a hard, rigorous approach focusing on the body only.
10. Next Level – If you feel you’ve reached a plateau or you are not progressing as you might have wished, find out why.  As you develop your practice over time, you will need to respond to the changes in your body. Find out how to do this effectively.

If you want to find a private instructor ask your studio or search online for certified yoga teachers that offer private yoga and include the style of yoga you prefer.

Nicole Doherty is a 400+ hour Certified Yoga Instructor, blogger and marketing and events consultant for wellness businesses. Her articles can be found on http://wellness.nicolepresents.com and other wellness sites such as Yoganomics, Glad.is and EZine.

Summertime is wedding season and every bride wants to look lean, fit, and calm when she flows down the aisle to say “I do”.  A great way to achieve elevated physical and mental states is through a Yoga practice. Yoga combines the toning and strength building aspects of fitness and exercise with the relaxation and stress reduction benefits of meditation. Brides find that yoga is a great way to prepare for their wedding.

There are many postures in Yoga that can help with the toning of the arms and shoulders, often the place of most concern for brides because of strapless gowns. Yoga is different from weight lifting in that you bear the body’s own weight on the arms to achieve a more natural tone appropriate for your body type.  Yoga poses like Plank, Downward Facing Dog and Chaturanga, the Yogic push up, are great for these areas.  For more advanced practitioners arm balances like Crow Pose, Dolphin or Handstands are perfect ways to build strength, flexibility and tone.  Additionally, opening the shoulder girdle leads to a more beautiful, upright standing posture illustrating confidence and grace as you walk.

Slim waistlines bring the tummy area into focus for brides. As mentioned above, many arm balance postures require core awareness to achieve them, so this area is also worked while holding these postures.  In fact, most Yoga poses require core awareness. To be in proper alignment and to protect your body during practice your teacher will consistently ask you to be aware of the core. Yoga will not let the tummy go unnoticed!

The by-product of a consistent Yoga practice brings attention to your food choices as well.  You may experience a lessened desire for heavy meals and or unhealthy food choices that may inhibit ease in your practice.  You may also find your energy level increases, possibly decreasing your need for sugars and caffeine for that extra boost.

Yoga provides stress reduction and mental relaxation through the use of the breath.  By becoming aware of the breath during the practice of movement, the mind begins to still. By the end of a Yoga practice, the mind has let go of time and task lists.  A bride can learn the art of breathing to help her achieve composure throughout the whole wedding process.

Not only is Yoga excellent for the bride, but also it’s a great way to ground the energy of the bridal party and the rest of your family. Many brides use Yoga as a method to create balance and reduce the high emotional levels of their family members the day of. Brides have also turned to Yoga as a way of connecting with their family members in a fun and relaxing environment.

Yoga is appropriate for all fitness levels and age from teens to grandparents. The Yoga teacher you hire for your wedding will discuss this with you. It’s also super easy to set up.  All that is needed is an open space, some mats and an open heart.

Brides try Yoga this summer and enlist your friends and family.  Get lean and toned. Feel calm and ready for your wedding.  Say, “I do” with grace, ease, confidence and beauty!

If you are interested in scheduling a Bridal Yoga Fitness program preparing you for your wedding day this summer, contact Nicole at nicolpresents@yahoo.com.