Services
Hatha yoga instruction for the North/Northwest San Antonio area.

Bio
Robyn Middleton is a certified RYT 200 hour hatha yoga instructor and is registered with national Yoga Alliance. She completed an extensive 7-month instructor training course through the U.S. 1 Yoga Teacher Training program in Alexandria, Virginia. This training was rooted in the traditional Indian hatha yoga lineage of Krishnamacharya, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, and T. K. V. Desikachar. In addition to teaching yoga, Robyn is also an officer in the Reserve U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps, works as a healthcare administrator, and maintains currency in CPR and First Aid. She holds a B.A., a M.A. in Communication Studies, and occasionally teaches college level public speaking courses. She is married and has two sons.

Teaching Style & About Yoga
Robyn initially came to the study of yoga to heal chronic tendinitis. She firmly believes in the power of yoga not only to heal the body, but also to calm the mind and build self-discipline and awareness. Through teaching yoga, she desires to help others find healing for the body, mind, and soul.

Robyn leads Gentle, Ashtanga-based and Iyengar-based classes. All classes are student-centered focusing on proper alignment, safety, and modifications for injury, pregnancy, etc.

What is Prana?
Prana (or "chi" in traditional chinese medicine) is energy or life force. Just as acupuncture balances one's energy, yoga over time opens up the body and encourages proper breathing technique to cultivate and distribute this vital energy. As the body's energy becomes more balanced, increased health, a calming of the nervous system, and peace of mind begin to follow. This is what is meant by the saying that yoga is exercise for the "body, mind, and spirit".

40 Ways Yoga Heals
source: YOGA AS MEDICINE by Timothy McCall, M.D.
http://www.drmccall.com/

1. Increases flexibility
2. Strengthens Muscles
3. Improves Balance
4. Improves Immune Function
5. Improves Posture
6. Improves Lung Function
7. Leads to Slower & Deeper Breathing
8. Discourages Mouth Breathing
9. Increases Oxygenation of Tissues
10 Improves Joint Health
11. Nourishes Intervertebral Disks
12. Improves Return of Venous Blood
13. Increases Circulation of Lymph
14. Improves Function of the Feet
15. Improves Proprioception
16. Increases Control of Bodily Functions
17. Strengthens Bones
18. Conditions the Cardiovascular System
19. Promotes Weight Loss
20. Relaxes the Nervous System
21. Improves the Function of the Nervous System
22. Improves Brain Function
23. Activates the Left Prefrontal Cortex
24. Changes Neurotransmitter Levels
25. Lowers Levels of the Stress Hormone Cortisol
26. Lowers Blood Sugar
27. Lowers Blood Pressure
28. Improves Levels of Cholesterol & Triglycerides
29. Thins the Blood
30. Improves Bowel Function
31. Releases Unconscious Muscle Gripping
32. Uses Imagery to Effect Change in the Body
33. Relieves Pain
34. Lowers Need for Medication
35. Fosters Healing Relationships
36. Improves Psychological Health
37. Leads to Healthier Habits
38. Fosters Spiritual Growth
39. Elicits the Placebo Effect
40. Encourages Involvement in Your Own Healing

Negative Effects of Stress
source: YOGA AS MEDICINE by Timothy McCall, M.D.
http://www.drmccall.com/

Impaired Function of the Immune System
Increased Inflammatoin
Decreased Bone Density
Problems with Memory
Increased Appetite
Weight Gain
Fat Deposited in Abdomen
Increased Resistance to Insulin
Increased Blood Sugar
Increased Cholesterol
Increased Triglycerides
Increased Blood Clotting
Impaired Wound Healing
Poorer Sleep
Increased Pain
More Fatigue

Online Asana (Posture) Guides
http://www.yogadancer.com/Asana.shtml
http://www.houseoflucas.com/rob/new%20site/asanas/asanas1.htm
http://ashtangayoga.info/
Iyengar Notebook http://www.bradpriddy.com/yoga/

Links
Yoga Journal http://www.yogajournal.com/
Yoga Glossary http://www.healthandyoga.com/yogaglossary.html
Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide http://www.tilakpyle.com/sanskrit_asanas_a.htm

Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute http://www.ayri.org/
Ashtanga News http://www.ashtanganews.com/
Ashtanga Yoga http://www.ashtanga.com/

Yoga Blogs
Blog from Malaysia - nice photos
http://yogaiswheremyheartis.blogspot.com/