Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Pose of the Month: Janu Sirsasana

Janu Sirsasana is a wonderful seated forward bend that allows for space in the side body- your ribs, it opens the backs of your legs, spreading that connective tissue evenly from the heel to the buttock. It also helps to circulate blood through the legs and lengthens the upper torso. This posture feels especially good as a cool down built into your regular practice or anytime your legs feel tight. Providing flexibility to the hamstrings and spine while relaxing the central nervous system Janu Sirsasana is a mainstay in my prenatal yoga classes.

Sit on the floor with your buttocks lifted on a folded blanket if need be, and your legs straight in front of you. Inhale, bend your right knee, and draw the heel back toward your perineum. Rest your right foot sole lightly against your inner left thigh, and lay the outer right leg on the floor, with the shin at a right angle to the left leg (if your right knee doesn't rest comfortably on the floor, support it with a folded blanket). So now you are in a figure four position with your legs.

Press your right hand against the inner right groin, where the thigh joins the pelvis, and your left hand on the floor beside the hip. Exhale and turn the torso slightly to the left, lifting the torso as you push down on and ground the inner right thigh. Line up your navel with the middle of the left thigh, if your belly is there, you can stay in the center where there is space to fall forward. You can just stay here, using a strap to help you lengthen the spine evenly, grounding through the sitting bones, or when you are ready, you can drop the strap and reach out with your right hand to take the inner left foot, thumb on the sole. Inhale and lift the front torso, pressing the top of the left thigh into the floor and extending actively through the left heel. Use the pressure of the left hand on the floor to increase the twist to the left, so your chest is floating upward. Then reach your left hand to the outside of the foot. With the arms fully extended, lengthen the front torso from the pubis to the top of the sternum.

Exhale and extend forward from the groins, not the hips. Be sure not to pull yourself forcefully into the forward bend, hunching the back and shortening the front torso. As you descend, bend your elbows out to the sides and lift them away from the floor.

Lengthen forward into a comfortable stretch. The lower belly may touch the thighs first, the head may come last. Stay in the pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Come up with an inhalation and repeat the instructions with the legs reversed for the same length of time.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Pregnant New Yorker Event-Guest Speaker: Latham Thomas

The Pregnant New Yorker is an Alternative Health Event held monthly in Manhattan and Brooklyn for expectant and new moms. Founded by Janet Markowits, L.M.T of Maternal Massage & More, The Pregnant New Yorker brings together the best wellness practitioners around the city to present their services and answer the questions you have regarding your pregnancy. Join us this January 10th 2009, from 1:30-3:30pm along with Midwife Cara Mulhanhn, featured in The Business of Being Born. Meet doulas, acupuncturists, physical therapists, lactation consultants, and learn more about the work of Tender Shoots Wellness. Gift bags full of goodies for all attendees. The cost for the event is $10. Please CLICK HERE to register. For more information please visit The Pregnant New Yorker

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tender Shoots Wellness contributes blog on Ecomii


Ecomii is an online community that was created to specifically address this need for a single credible and comprehensive resource for everything green. Ecomii believes that accuracy, objectivity and transparency are very important considering the amount of new “green” products on the market and conflicting information about what we can do to make a difference. Its a wonderful new site, please check it out for info on al things green.

Latham Thomas is a contributer to Ecomii parenting blogs. Where twice a week you can find interesting and informative posts that focus on green living, pregnancy, parenting, holistic nutrition, and wellness. Please check out the site by clicking Ecomii
To read recent blog posts, visit Ecomii.com, parenting blogs or scroll to the bottom of the page and find "Articles" and click directly from there.

Read- Mommy Meal Plan- For Green Mommies on the Go

Monday, December 15, 2008

Happy Holidays with Hyde

Give the gift of Hyde this holiday season. Save 20% on Hyde Organic Yoga apparel this holiday season. coupon code is "comfort". Visit Hyde Yoga to start shopping.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Prenatal Yoga at OM Factory with Latham Thomas

Please tell all the moms you know to come check out this great prenatal class that will be offered at Om Factory. Tea served afterward. For more info please email me at: info@tendershootswellness.com

Yoga with Latham & Holiday Shopping Event at Victoria Keen

Feel good Sunday December 14th, at 1pm with a free hour of vinyasa yoga with certified vinyasa yoga teacher, Latham Thomas. Save big on wellness services for yourself or gift the gift of wellness to others this holiday season. Gift certificates available!

Enjoy mimosas and hours d'ourves after, and a special sale 50-80% off on all Victoria Keen clothing. Also for that day, store wide sale 30-50% off on soy candles, jewelry, accessories, and clothing. Get your holiday shopping finished sipping mimosas and mingling with great company.

If you are a yogi or know one then you know that Victoria Keen yoga gear in on everyone's wish list! Visit Victoria's shop online at Victoria Keen.
Yoga class is one hour, stay to shop!!! Event goes till 6pm.

Bring your own yoga mat.

Victoria Keen is located at 357 Lafayette street between Bleecker and Bond B/D/F/V to Broadway Lafayette station or 6 train to Spring st.

Please RSVP to attend as space is limited!!!
info@victoriakeen.com or info@tendershootswellness.com

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Take a peek at the new Hyde Website and save 20% on clothing from now through December 15th. www.hydeyoga.com

Friday, December 5, 2008

Yoga Brunch at Om Factory with Latham

Get a taste of amazing yoga instructors as you sample an array of visiting guest teachers with The Om Factory Yoga Brunch Series! Every Saturday, Om Factory features a visiting instructor to teach from 9:30 – 11:00am. Each class is followed by a $10 vegetarian brunch created by Yogi Chef Michael Rosner of the Natural Gourmet Institute. Come for the yoga … stay for the brunch!

Vinyasa Yoga is a practice of linking breath with movement. This practice teaches us to cultivate an awareness of linking each action to the next. The class is very alignment-oriented, and includes chanting and breathwork. Expect to engage in a fluid expression of the poses that seems almost like a dance. Groove to the sounds of a soulful mix or live drumming as you build heat in the body, sweating out toxins, elongating muscles and connective tissue, and relieving stress while moving through this innovative sequence of postures. Come join me Saturday, December 13th 2008 from 9:30-11am.
Visit Om Factory for details.
Om Factory is located at 265 W. 37th street 17th floor, near 8th avenue.

Honeydrop Organic Beverage

Deluxe Honeydrop, a leading producer of honey-infused waters, announced the launch of Deluxe Honeydrop, the company’s first line of premium beverages. Deluxe Honeydrop is an organic flavored water infused with a drop of organic honey and “deluxe” premium juices. Containing only 80 calories per 16.9 oz bottle, Deluxe Honeydrop comes in four flavors: Bee Good (apple), Bee Alive (blood orange), Bee Calm (chamomile) and Bee Strong (blueberry).

The Founders of this amazing product debuted the beverage at Tender Shoots Wellness's website launch party on Thursday December 4th. It was a huge hit at the party and a wonderful beverage for mothers and children alike. Honeydrop will be available in Whole Foods Markets across the country. Please check out www.honeydrop.com for more info.