YOMO TIMES

Newsletter Winter ‘04/’05

Some of you know that for the last 7 years I have been helping the Yoga community in Cuba and have also from time to time taught in Spain, Costa Rica and Mexico. And this year we had our very own bilingual yoga class at Yomo where students of all ages from teens to grandmas, have impressed me with their natural Latino yoga spirit. There’s something very special about yoga and the Latino community and like Vicki Paterson, executive director of Nuestra Casa, I believe Yoga could make an important contribution to the health and stress levels of this community.
“Being an immigrant in this country is very stressful, especially if you don’t speak the language. People are experiencing a lot of depression and tension living in a new country. Its helpful for established residents to hear yoga instructions in their native tongue. Hypertension, obesity, diabetes are big issues in this community and yoga can help people help themselves to improve and prevent these problems. This yoga class at Yomo is also an opportunity for local people who want to learn Spanish to join in the fun and for all communites to share the joys of yoga!”
Previous participant Marta Gonzalez said “After class, I just feel so good!” Carmen Matus commented that she relaxes so deeply that she forgets everything! We’ve certainly had some great feedback about this class. However this year the class has been a volunteer effort with space and admins costs covered by Yomo and tuition donated but it is not sustainable. We are exploring ways to get some financial support from grants, foundations, businesses or individuals who feel like us that this is an important project that could expand in many directions. If you would like to support this program or have particular ideas, please contact us,. We hope to restart the class in the spring if we can find funding.
-Mary Paffard

If you have a stiff neck for two years, you begin to think it's one of those things that comes with growing older and you'll probably have to learn to live with it. So, when I started attending classes at Yoga Mendocino, my main goal was to become stronger and more limber in general-- to establish patterns that will take me from my 50s into the years beyond feeling healthy and able. The classes were far more enjoyable than I'd imagined, with a lot of relaxation as well as exercise. Mary also told me to put a small pillow or folded up towel on my car seat to change my seated posture. I spend hours in the car driving, and this one, simple act, getting my head and neck to be in the proper position, has totally eliminated my neck pain. Thank you, Yoga Mendocino!
-Victoria Golden, Ukiah