You can use your practices of yoga asana to bring your body back to life, just as the earth is awakening from its slumber. The abdominal region, including the gastro-intestinal system, is a great place to focus, as it can be in need of some cleansing and rejuvenation.

To purify your insides as part of a personal spring cleaning nothing beats a good healthy twist. Twisting poses are often the best way to untie both physical and psychological knots.

The squeezing, soaking and spreading action of twists massage the internal organs, specifically the kidneys, adrenals and liver, helping to increase energy and improve digestion. From an emotional perspective, twists can soothe scattered nerves and flood the body with calmness. It=92s all about the combination of contraction followed by full release.

Try incorporating a few of these twists into your yoga routine, allowing the breath to move deeply into your center, and let the purification begin!

Janu Sirsana (head to knee pose)
Ardha Matsyendrasana (seated twist)
Bharadvajasana I (Bharadvaja's Twist)
Parivritta Prasarita Padotanasana (Standing Wide Leg Fold, with a twist)

Also available - new line of environmentally friendly yoga mats! Made of recyclable and biodegradable materials such as rubber, jute and hemp, these mats also stand up to serious wear. Visit the boutiques at either studio to check them out.

Have you had your kale today? Kale, along with chard, spinach, dandelion greens, mustard greens, etc... comprise my favorite food group, and the one I believe holds the greatest potential for health enhancement. They are some of the most overlooked (and overcooked) foods as well!

Greens are incredibly nutrient rich, and also hold some of the most powerful tools for cleansing the blood and digestive organs. As we see the color green starting to fill our landscape, we can also 'green' our internal landscape by increasing our consumption of these nutritional powerhouses.

If you see your lawn being freckled with these pesky greens, don't get mad. Just pick them and eat them!

Select the smallest, tenderest leaves for this salad.

Ingredients:

1 lb. young dandelion greens
1 Vidalia or other sweet onion, thinly sliced
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar (raw is best!)
4 dashes hot pepper sauce, or to taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Wash greens. Discard any discolored or fibrous ones, and tear into bite-sized pieces. Spin dry, and place with onion in nonreactive salad bowl.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in small jar, cover and shake well to mix thoroughly. Adjust seasonings, pour over greens, toss and serve immediately. toppings of your choice.

Adapted from Vegetarian Times

The re-awakening of the earth is a resounding YES to life, the power of change, and the perfect beauty of it all. This is a time when our beings are more open to transformation and change as well. Imagine yourself like the tiny bud or sprout, brave enough to push through the dirt, or burst open against all odds. Why not seize the opportunity to undertake the activities that have been lingering in your thoughts, whether it's improving your health, relationships, home, or environment?

* Try taking some children on a field trip to a local farm to see where your food comes from, and witness the miracle of nature.

* Give your home a good spring cleaning, and donate your excess belongings to a good cause. One of my favorite organizations is freecycle.com, where we can create large, extended communities to share our wealth.

* Maybe take it one step further and organize a cooperative sidewalk sale in your community. Get to know your neighbors and clean out the garage at the same time!

Now that the earth is sharing more of herself with us - her light, her warmth, her bounty - we can give back our own light - in the form of love to ourselves and others, actions to lessen our impact on the planet, and, like a child, living in un-stoppable wonder and joy at this great gift we call life.

Abundance and prosperity, also associated with 'green', do not come from having more, but by the expression of gratitude for all we do have. It only takes a moment to notice and acknowledge our blessings.

For more information on any of these exciting events, please visit us at www.centerspacestudios.com or come by the studios.

Holistic Psychotherapy
An introduction to a spiritual psychology

Holistic psychotherapist Douglas Economy will speak about an original and powerful approach to psychotherapy.

His work is based upon the fact that our real Self is a spiritual being that is perfect and whole. He offers the means through which clients can easily access what he calls Essence =96 an aspect of the higher self, the true nature.

Essence is free from destructive patterns, imprisoning feelings and needs. As a source of inner peace, joy, freedom, quiet strength, and love, only it has the true power to heal.

Please join us for this fascinating exploration on:

Friday April 20th, 7:30-8:30pm
CenterSpace Yoga and Wellness Studios
403 King George Road, Basking Ridge

In honor of the NJ Shore Marathon, we will be offering the first annual CenterSpace Yogathon!

Date: Sunday April 29th
Time:=099am to 6pm
Location: Somerset studio
900 Easton Avenue
Cost: Use your regular cards for single classes or pay just $25 for the whole day

In this full day of yoga, be prepared to sweat a little, rest a little, and enjoy a lot!
Light refreshments will be served.

We have a few good Work-Study positions available during the week and on the weekends. What is work-study? You work a shift here at the desk checking folks in and taking care of sales in exchange for free yoga classes. Interested? Please contact Pascale at work@centerspacestudios.com.