Five minutes of yogic sleep added to chair yoga in Nederland, Texas. Here’s what my students said!
Here’s a link to a 15 minute Yoga Nidra that I recently posted up on SoundCloud. Enjoy!
Category: Beginners Yoga with Gail Pickens-Barger
Yoga for Veterans – Veterans Yoga Project
Yoga for Veterans – Veterans Yoga Project – Nederland, Texas
PTS(D) AND YOGA? WE CAN EXPLAIN.
IN THE U.S. ESTIMATES OF PTS(D) AMONG VETERANS ARE:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You have questions? We’ll do our best to answer them.
WHAT IS VETERANS YOGA PROJECT?
Veterans Yoga Project is an educational and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of military veterans through yoga and meditation practice. Working in partnership with veterans, active-duty military personnel, student veteran organizations, and other non-profit organizations, Veterans Yoga Project supports recovery and promotes resilience among veterans who are living with post-traumatic stress or other trauma issues.
WHAT IS VETERANS GRATITUDE WEEK?
Each year, VYP hosts two annual fundraisers, VYP Gratitude Week and Light-A-Candle Memorial Day, supported by donations from yoga classes, individuals and organizations. Held the three weeks surrounding Veterans Day, VYP Gratitude Week encourages yoga studios to host donation-based classes to support veterans in a tangible way. In many cases, these classes have brought together veterans and civilians in an environment where veterans can share their military experience with their community.
HOW DOES YOGA HELP VETERANS?
While magnified by media reporting, only 30% of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or trauma-related issues. Practicing yoga can undo the nervous system dysfunction that underlies PTSD symptoms.
WHY SHOULD I GET INVOLVED WITH VYP GRATITUDE WEEK?
Less than 1% of Americans have ever served their country, however, veterans experience a disproportionately high suicide rate. VYP Gratitude Week is a way for those who have not served to both give back to veterans in a tangible way and to better understand the challenges of military service.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO HOST A DONATION-BASED CLASS?
Our goal for 2019 is to host 500+ classes in all 50 states. We can use all the help we can get to raise awareness and encourage participation.
How is the money raised from VYP Gratitude Week used?
Veterans Yoga Project is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization and depends upon the support of donors to take care of veterans in need. 100% of the proceeds will go to VYP’s mission to support recovery and resilience to our veterans, families and our communities.
VYP AMBASSADOR
GAIL PICKENS-BARGER | NEDERLAND, TX
Gail Pickens-Barger is a yoga teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience.
She first used yoga during the birth and pregnancy of her first child. Fifteen years later, became a yoga teacher. Gail’s 200 hours was through YogaFit International Training Systems, and more recently her 500-hour certificate was through Lex Gillan’s The Yoga Institute. Gail recently finished a Yoga Nidra course through Wise Owl Yoga and the Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery through the Veterans Yoga Project. Currently, Gail is studying to become a Low Back Care Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Vista Academy.
In addition to teaching a weekly beginner yoga class and a chair yoga class, Gail teaches a free Kids Yoga class to the Pre K class at her church and teaches Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Gail originally came into contact with the Veterans Yoga Project, after reading an article on Baxter Bell’s Yoga for Healthy Aging Website. In the article, it talked specifically about volunteering to provide a free yoga class for veterans and to raise funds to support the Veterans Yoga Project during Veterans Gratitude Week. Gail likes to do karma yoga for raising funds for local food missions, raised funds for church playground equipment, Girl Scouts and such, and the providing free class for veterans and raising funds seemed like a worthwhile effort.
So for the past five years, Gail has hosted several classes to benefit the Veterans Gratitude Week for VYP.
More recently Gail was contacted by the local VA to present chair yoga to the vets in the Beaumont/Orange Texas area. In doing so, Gail came into contact with Brianna Renner, who assisted her tremendously in providing a class format, that would present the 5 tools that VYP uses in providing classes.
Gail has gone onto doing the Mindful Resilience training provided by Veterans Yoga Project and hopes to in the near future provide a weekly class to area veterans.
Yoga Mat Spray
Yoga Mat Spray
I shared this recipe with my yoga students. One of the ladies goes to a couple of other yoga classes, and she came back to say that she gets compliments all the time on the smell of her yoga mat.
That is so sweet of her to share, plus it fights germs. Always a bonus!
Here’s the recipe. I only use doTerra essential oils.
Question: I would love to use something natural to help in the litter box, any ideas?
From Dr. Janet Roark, the EO Vet:
LITTER BOX POWDER RECIPE
1 c. Baking Soda
1 tbsp. Epsom Salt
3-4 drops Essential Oils of your choice (Lavender, Cedarwood, Grounding Blend, Lemongrass are all good choices.)
DIRECTIONS: Mix together and let sit for a minimum of four hours. Sprinkle on litter as needed.
OIL SAFETY FOR PETS
- Dilute for topical use.
• Know your pet’s health status.
• Do NOT use oils on or near eyes, ears, nose, or genitals of your pet. - Use a water diffuser for aromatic use and allow your pet to roam freely with an open door to the room.
- Caution should be used around animals that are pregnant, nursing, young, or on certain medications.
• Do not use oils topically on your pet if using a topical medication or dermal patch – this includes topical flea/ tick preventatives.
• Do not give any of the products containing xylitol (toothpaste, beadlets, etc.).
• Only use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. - Observe your pet’s behavior.
In the event of an adverse reaction, dilute with a carrier oil – skin irritation is the most common and most reactions resolve within 24–48 hours after oil exposure. Discontinue use of an oil if your pet shows signs of distress, drooling, squinting, rubbing their face, vocalization, shaking, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Yoga for Scoliosis – YogaBerry – Dr. Loren Fishman
Yoga for Scoliosis – YogaBerry with Christine Jaureguiberry, UK, interview Dr Loren Fishman
Wow what an amazing interview! Insightful, informative and great content in using yoga poses to assist in lessening curves and pain! Updated 9/13/2020 – More info at the end of the post!
Check out the youtube on the interview.
Christine is offering a 4-week online course, that you’ll not want to miss out on for Yoga for Scoliosis. I took this course personally two years ago
and learned so much in how to personally manage some of my issues with my scoliosis.
Here’s the link to find out more on the course!
4 weeks – yoga for scoliosis class with YogaBerry!
Christine is again offering her 4 week online course. You don’t want to miss this. I highly recommend it. She has since done another interview with Dr. Fishman, where he announced some additional yoga poses for easing pain, strengthening the back and quite possibly lessening some scoliosis curves!
Tree Yoga – with a Tree – Nederland, Texas
Tree Yoga – with a Tree – Nederland, Texas
Here I am recently at the Big Bend National Park, striking a Tree Pose with a Tree. One of the 12 yoga poses to help build bones for the reduction of Osteopenia / Osteoporosis, or just keeping your balance and bone strength that you already have!
Tonight is the second opportunity to earn a free class pass. If you came last week, come again this week to earn a free class pass to use between now and May 21st, 2018. See you at Wesley UMC, 3515 Helena Avenue, Nederland, Texas. Beginners Yoga $10. Call Gail for Beginners Yoga questions at 409-727-3177. Thank YOU!
Gentle Yoga and Tai Chi with Gail 
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