CHRISTINE COTE:  A STORY OF HOW YOGA WORKS

When she first began the Basics Series at Jai Yoga in January of 2006, Christine was struggling with chronic migraines and an accompanying depression. “At the end of her rope” and on the advice of her neurologist, she decided to give yoga and meditation a try.

Nearly six years later, she practices yoga and meditation everyday. She has recently left her position as Registrar and Director of Institutional Research at Bowdoin College, a position she held for almost 19 years, to publish two art-focused journals and curate an online art gallery. She and her husband David enjoy walking together in the woods with their dogs. Christine describes herself as “very, very happy.”

Though managing migraines is still part of her life, Christine now has a greater understanding of the disease and how to help herself through it with the support of physicians and non-pharmaceutical methods, as well as a willingness to surrender to the situation. “Migraine is…not just a matter of having a headache now and then,” she says. “Management seems to be a delicate and ever-changing balance.”

Practicing yoga and meditation have been a large part of her non-pharmaceutical methods of migraine management and have changed her life in more ways than one. “Yoga and meditation have made me more aware of everything about myself,” says Christine. “This awareness had a lot to do with my decision to change my livelihood…I became very aware of the fact that I wanted to do something else [and] that I had the strength and courage to…An introduction to meditation is the greatest gift I was given at Jai.”

Through her practices, she also realized her experiences with migraine had led her to think of her head as separate from the rest of her body. “This kind of separation would prevent healing. But, yoga helped me to get back in touch with all parts of my body and mind and breath.”

Now, Christine has found a greater sense of ease and connection, one that she returns to regularly with meditation and yoga. “I listen to my body and soul and they tell me what I need,” she says. “Sometimes I do nothing but sitting poses, sometimes mostly standing poses; sometimes I move quickly, sometimes I stay a long time in just a few poses.”

“And that’s How Yoga Works.”

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7 DAYS FOR $7 2012 – REGISTER NOW!
UNLIMITED YOGA JANUARY 1-7 FOR ONLY $7!

2012 is just around the corner! How do you plan to start a new year? How about with unlimited yoga? Try some new classes! Meet some new teachers! Invigorate and inspire yourself! Registration is open! Reserve your space in classes today! Visit our website to get the details and to register for 7 Days for $7!

www.JaiYogaHome.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Jai Yoga
Studio 314 Fort Andross
14 Maine Street
Brunswick ME 04011
207.725.7874
www.JaiYogaHome.com
info@jaiyogahome.com
facebook.com/JaiYogaHome

Here we are – the final days of 2011. And there’s still so much to come before 2012
begins! We want to help you stay strong and uplifted through the holidays and into
a New Year.

With our many offerings this month, we invite you to celebrate yourself with us!
And to share your joy with others this season.

Happy Holidays!
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in this issue
SPECIAL CLASSES & EVENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRACTICE
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SPECIAL CLASSES & EVENTS

LAUGHTER YOGA - FRIDAY DECEMBER 2 5:30-6:30 PM
$5 suggested donation. Every 1st Friday this Fall!
With Katie. Donations benefit the Jai Yoga Scholarship Fund. No need to register, just show up!

YOGA ED FOR TEACHERS - SATURDAY DECEMBER 3 1-5 PM $85
With Hoa

YOGA NIDRA - SATURDAY DECEMBER 10 2-4 PM $22
Every 2nd Saturday this Fall! With Sue. No experience needed. Click here for more info and to register online. Members
pay only $11!

FAMILY YOGA - MONDAYS through DECEMBER 12 4:15-5 PM $10 per family per class
With Jen. No need to register, just show up!

RESTORATIVE YOGA - SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 2-4 PM $22
Every 3rd Saturday this Fall! With Jessie. Members pay only $11!

KIRTAN - FRIDAY DECEMBER 23 5:30-7 PM $10 suggested donation
Every 4th Friday this Fall! With Kevin. Donations benefit the Jai Yoga Scholarship Fund. No need to register, just show
up!

TOTALLY BLISS! NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION - SATURDAY DECEMBER 31 6-9 PM
$15 suggested donation at the door. With Hoa, Kevin and Michael. Welcome 2012 with Yoga, YogaDance, live music and Kirtan.

7 DAYS FOR $7 2012 - UNLIMITED YOGA SUNDAY-SATURDAY JANUARY 1-7 FOR ONLY $7

Ways to Register: 1) Click the links above 2) Call 207.725.7874 at least 24 hours
in advance and leave a message with your NAME, PHONE and which WORKSHOP you want
to attend 3) In person either before or after a class or during our office hours:
Tuesdays 1-3 PM and Thursdays 1-3:30 PM.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS - NO REGULAR CLASSES DECEMBER 24th-25th
We will not hold regular classes over Christmas weekend. Enjoy the holiday!

10% OFF GIFT CERTIFICATES UNTIL DECEMBER 24th!
Purchase at the studio or online with promo code GIFT.

NEW STUDENT SPECIAL
30 DAYS UNLIMITED YOGA FOR $30
Good for anyone who has never been to Jai before! Invite your friends to sign up
online and join you in the benefits of a regular yoga practice!

WINTER SCHEDULE BEGINS JANUARY 1
Our Winter schedule will be in mailboxes, at the studio and around town in the coming
weeks.

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PRACTICE

FLOAT INTO A NEW YEAR WITH NAVASANA OR BOAT POSE

Boats are both strong and adaptable. With each voyage, they quite literally go with
the flow, maneuvering through the waves and weather to arrive safely at another
shore.

What better way to remain buoyant through the holidays and cross into a new year
than by boat?

Practicing navasana will help you build core strength and focus, increasing both
physical and emotional stability.

To practice:

1 – Begin sitting on the floor with legs stretched out in front and hands palm-down
at your sides, aligned just behind the hips, fingers pointing toward the feet

2 – Inhale as you lift your heart and lengthen your spine. Begin to lean back slightly,
finding your sit bones. Avoid rounding your spine

3 – Exhale and bend the knees, then pick your feet up off the floor. Do your best
to keep your spine and front body long

4 – Raise your feet so that your shin bones are roughly parallel with the floor
and your toes are in line with your eyes

5 – On your next inhale, reach your arms straight out alongside your legs, making
them parallel to the floor. Reach through the fingertips

6 – Set sail with eyes forward and heart lifted. Breathe and enjoy!

Notes: Stay here for 3-5 breaths at first, gradually increasing the hold. To modify
this posture, practice only steps 1-3. To make the pose stronger, begin straightening
first one leg and then the other while maintaining a lifted heart and a long torso.

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Namaste,
Jen and the Jai Yoga Family