What's new with FoYD?

FoYD Class Schedule 1 March 2014 – 30 April 2014 Email fieldsofyoga@gmail.com for bookings & information
Day	Class	Time	Location	Rate
Mondays	Hatha Flow Yoga	7:30pm-8:45pm	FoYD Home Studio in Umm Suqeim 1	50 aed per person
Saturdays	Sunrise Beach Yoga	7am-8:15am	On the beach adjacent to the Bait al Bahar Restaurant	FREE

 

Let Your Voice be Heard!

 Ideally a yoga studio's schedule reflects the desires and needs of its community as well as talents and expertise of the teachers. There have been a couple requests from our community to add  Early Bird Morning Yoga, Mommy/Baby Yoga, Pre/Post-Natal Yoga and Yin Yoga to the schedule. In order to add these to the schedule, I need to hear from you.  If you are interested in taking any of these classes, please let me know which class(es), days/times work best for you.  Simply email me and let your voice be heard. Let me assure you that your voice does make a difference in the design of the schedule!

Monday PM Hatha Flow (7:30pm - 8:45pm)

The start time of Hatha Flow has changed.  Class will now begin at 7:30pm which will hopefully accommodate those yogis who were struggling with traffic, family responsibilities and work schedules.  I hope to see more of you on your mats and sharing the practice with me on Monday evenings at the home studio. Contact me for bookings and location map.

Home Studio Garden Space

Home Studio Indoor Space by Candlelight

Yoga Bolsters for Sale 

Yoga bolsters are an indispensible part of your yoga practice. These wonderful cotton yoga bolsters are fantastic for both stretching and restorative asanas.
Filled with 100% natural cotton, they come with a zippered, removable, washable, and durable 100% cotton canvas cover that easily wipes clean and can be used indoors or out. Each has a convenient carrying strap to easily tote the bolster to and from class. These are made locally right here in Dubai which results in a much smaller carbon footprint.
With your body firmly supported by one of these, you are assured of the deepest, most refreshing relaxation.

Available in Navy Blue  175 aed each

Contact me to get your bolster today!

2-Day Yoga Retreat in the UAE

Check out this great 2-day yoga retreat (28 & 29 March) led by Marcellene and Diana Azavedo of Radiance of Yoga. The cost is reasonable (1500 aed) and includes accommodation at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Fujairah as well as yoga and meditation sessions in the sprawling gardens and private beach. There are other activities on offer at the hotel as well. What a fantastic way to spend the weekend!

Recipe of the Month

I've always been one of those people who can very easily put on weight. I am not naturally skinny and I cannot eat whatever I want. As I get older, I find -to my irritation and frustration- that I have to be even more careful about what I eat as my metabolism has slowed and my weight has a direct impact on how my body feels. It also has a profound impact on the level of enjoyment of my yoga practice.  But the truth is, I love food. I love a fat veggie burger with all the toppings and a side of hot, crispy french fries accompanied by a fizzy drink. I love cake layered with fresh, sweet cream and fruit. I love a hearty meal followed by a large scoop of mint-chocolate chip ice cream. So in order to avoid weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, I have no choice but to exercise restraint. Lately, I have been making a concerted effort to find delicious recipes that are low in fat, low in carbohydrates and low in sugars yet still satisfy my cravings for the previously mentioned foods. I don't believe in dieting per se, I believe in lifestyle changes -with an occasional indulgence.
So if you're in the mood for a sweet treat but want to avoid unnecessary sugar and fat, try this easy, delicious dessert recipe. The original recipe came from Cooking Light magazine but I've modified it to make it even healthier.

Strawberries in Lemon-Agave Syrup

Ingredients

• 4 cups quartered small strawberries 
• 1/8 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons + 1/2 teaspoon Agave syrup
• 1/4 cup whipping cream (or for a non-fat option, use fat-free Greek Yoghurt)
• a few sprigs of fresh mint leaves 

Preparation

1. Place berries, juice, and agave syrup in a large bowl; toss gently to coat. Cover and chill 20 minutes.
2. Place cream in a medium bowl; stir constantly with a whisk until soft peaks form. Serve whipped cream with berry mixture. (If using Greek yoghurt, place a generous spoonful of yogurt over the strawberries.
3. Top with a sprig of fresh mint leaves

Yoga Tutorials of the Month

I had the great fortune of taking a 2-day inversion workshop with Kathryn Budig in Nov 2012. Here is a Gaiam video of her teaching Bakasana (crow pose), one of the postures we learned from her. I often encourage my students to use the 'birdy perch' when they're first attempting this pose.

Esther from Ekhart Yoga is one of my favourite teachers for online yoga tutorials. Her explanations are clear, easy to follow and not too long. In this video tutorial she gives a great explanation for Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana) pose.

Updates, News and Yoga Links

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Class Cancellations and other news...

CLASS CANCELLATIONS

Due to road closures for the Dubai Tour bike race this weekend, I'm sorry to announce that the Sunrise Beach Yoga session for 8 February is cancelled. For more information about road closures in and around Dubai from 6-8 February, follow this link: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/major-diversions-in-place-for-dubai-tour-1.1286164 

The following week (14-15 February) Yogafest will be held at the Dubai Internet City Amphitheatre. This is a FREE event and yoga, meditation, pilates, family and food events will take place from 7am-7pm both days. Check out their website and register for this worthwhile event.  Due to the overlap of YogaFest and the Sunrise Beach Yoga session timings, theSunrise Beach Yoga class is cancelled for 15 February.

Sunrise Beach Yoga will return to its regular schedule on Saturday 22 February.

YOGA AT SAFA PARK - FRI, 7 FEBRUARY

The good news is, there is another opportunity to join me for an outdoor yoga session this weekend. I will be teaching withOpen Air Yoga Dubai on Friday morning (7 February) at 8:30am at Safa Park. To find us, go through the new (temporary) Gate 5 and follow the path to the Ripe Market. You will find us to the left of the Market under the palm trees. This is a donation-based yoga class and all proceeds in February will benefit Babies Behind Bars - a very worthwhile charity right here in Dubai. After our yoga session, stick around and try Acro Yoga with the OAYD teachers or head to the market for a freshly made latte and delicious breakfast.  What a fantastic way to begin the weekend!

YOGA UNDER THE STARS

Another opportunity to practice yoga in the fresh air presents itself each Monday evening. Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, we've moved our Monday evening Hatha Flow class outdoors to the garden. It feels so great to flow through the practice under the moon and stars serenaded by the birds as they nestle down for the evening. All levels are welcomed to Hatha Flow and the reasonable 50 aed per person rate makes the class very affordable.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

Many of us are trying to lessen the amount of carbohydrates we eat each day by eliminating bread, pasta and rice from our daily diets.  If you miss those lovely pasta dishes as much as I do, consider making zucchini (courgette) pasta. It maintains the texture of noodles without the heaviness of the carbohydrates.  There are also loads of recipes to go along with zucchini noodles.  Enjoy! 

If you would like more information about anything listed here or would like to attend one of my yoga classes, please contact me at fieldsofyoga@gmail.com