Wednesday, May 30
9am - 1pm
​Get a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas!

Click "Read More" to see the schedule & complete list of vendors
​who will be joining us on Senior Day!

Yoga breathing is one of the most powerful tools anyone can use to settle the mind, body and spirit. There are several yoga breath techniques that produce specific effects such as lowering blood pressure, integrating right and left brain hemispheres and reducing stress responses.  First, the most important part of breathing is to establish what the core trunk muscles do during an inhale and exhale.  


Studies indicate that as a whole, people tend to breathe in what is called a paradoxical breath pattern where on the inhale the belly is sucked in and on the exhale the belly releases out. Yet, this is actually reverse of what a normal and healthy breathing pattern needs to be.  When we inhale and expand (instead of contract) into our lower abdomen we allow the lungs more space to fill up and exchange old air for new air more efficiently. This usually means that we have engaged our core trunk muscles to help expand the body with the extra benefit of strengthening our supportive core muscles.  On the exhale, we actually contract the core trunk muscles, drawing in actively through the belly to help exhale out old air. 


To practice breathing with the belly expanding on the inhale and contracting on the exhale, try placing hands on the belly.  When inhaling through the nose the belly expands out into the hands slightly pressing.  On the exhale, breathe out the mouth and say the letter ‘F’ on the exhale until there is no more air to let out. While doing this, the belly pulls away from the hands and the core abdomen should feel engaged or active.  Do this about five times in a row and notice how  the body feels!  More yoga breathing tips to come in next month’s newsletter.

In Keiki and Me Yoga, moms and dads interact with their little ones while doing yoga for both parent and baby. This includes learning and singing yoga songs for babies, practicing different yoga breathing techniques and doing yoga poses!

 Participants will need to bring a yoga mat and water bottle, and feel free to bring toys for the kids too in case they need a break from doing yoga. 

Register at the Kaimuki YMCA Welcome Center or for more information,
​call (808) 737-5544 or email cfield@ymcahonolulu.org. Namaste!

In the past three months, YMCA Kaimuki Yoga workshops have focused on the many ways a yoga practice can help balance our minds, bodies and beings as well as offer various adaptations of poses for pain-free range of motion, help us manage pain and perhaps even become more pain tolerant. 

In fact, research indicates that incorporating a regular meditation practice using Yoga Nidra (Yoga Sleep) as well as mindful breathing practices can change the part of our brain that responds to pain by making it more pain tolerant.  Movement also can be done in ways that allow us more pain free moments during our day while maintaining body integrity and internal strength.  Much of what yoga teaches from the start emphasizes connecting with ourselves at many levels so that we stay in touch with our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual selves.  With this type of connection, we discover and honor our personal boundaries, we can move in healthy and integral ways and we learn to listen to our bodies.  From the start, we connect simply by taking the time to breathe with more intention and awareness. 

Sharing our live recording of our Yoga for Pain Management seminar with Yoga Therapist, Lindsey Sutton. 

The first part (LECTURE) is informational about yoga and its multi-dimensional approach to pain. The second part (MEDITATION) is a short centering and breathing practice that you can try as part of your routine.

Please pardon the quality of the videos as the live recording depends on internet quality. We hope they're helpful to you!

To join our future free seminars, subscribe to our mailing list to get updated!