World's First Airport Yoga Room Opens at SFO

Whether it's after a downward facing dog or the plank pose, the airport invites devotees to relax and take a few cleansing breaths before their next flight.

With his arms open wide in a Sun Salutation yoga pose, the director of San Francisco International Airport Thursday opened the world's first airport yoga room. Located just past the security checkpoint in SFO's newly remodeled Terminal 2, the "first of its kind" Yoga Room is a 150-square foot silent space to stretch out and unwind amidst the often stressful atmosphere of modern day air travel, airport officials said. Airport director John Martin, who has practiced yoga for 18 years, said the idea came from a member of the public who toured T2 and said the passenger-friendly terminal had everything - except a place to do yoga. "We took that charge to heart and here it is," Martin said. Three walls of the dimly lit Yoga Room are painted …

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Los Altos Hills Style Yoga: Find Your Own Alignment

In the ever-changing flow of life, you need to recognize the information your body is telling you

Since I am the teacher of the only ongoing public adult yoga class in Los Altos Hills, I am going to claim to represent Los Altos Hills style yoga. My style emphasizes flexibility and freedom of movement. The rhythm of the life force provides the beat. Sometimes a new student will ask me, “Should my hips be aligned this way or that way?” and I answer, “Yes.” My longtime students giggle. I say, “I don’t know how your hips should be aligned. Maybe this way, maybe that way, depending on your inner body and the forces in the room at the moment. I want you to learn how to feel what is right for your body now.” I had the good fortune to learn yoga in 1968, before proper alignment became the dominant element of yoga classes. It seems to me that B…

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Email at the Beach—How Plugged In Should You Be?

An email in time saves peace of mind, but does it make sense to answer your messages on vacation?

I was having lunch at Main Street Café and Books in Los Altos last week after yoga class, and the subject of vacation email came up. Paula Rini was wondering whether or not a person can truly unwind and connect to the place where they are vacationing if they check email several times a day. Randee Fenner said she likes to check her email daily, wherever she is, because otherwise too much mounts up.            I love to interact with my email on vacation! What a tremendous luxury, to be able to connect with loved ones and colleagues while far away. The farther away I am, the more I like to check that everything is OK back home, and let people know that I am OK. My husband, as nerdy as I am, also enjoys checking his mail—we both like to …

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Frugal Family

Frugal Family: Bring a Book, Get Free Music, in Deals This Week in Los Altos, June 15-21

Save money on yoga, kids' entertainment, summer produce, and medications, all here!

Each week, Frugal Family highlights five local deals to help your family save money. We incorporate reader feedback and encourage you to add the deals you've seen to our comment box. Check in with Frugal Family next week to see what we've uncovered together. We've found great deals this week on yoga, kids' entertainment, summer produce, and medications. 1. Evolve Deal: Opening special--$85 for three months of membership at this yoga and Pilates studio if you sign up for auto pay; after three months, the price goes automatically to the regular $115 monthly rate. Good Through: Ongoing. 2. Linden Tree Children's Recordings and Books Deal: On Wednesdays at 10:30, donate a book for local literacy programs and attend a free concert in the …

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Your Time: Get Prepared, Know the Scams, Then Relax and Enjoy

A holistic health fair, a conference on elder abuse, a yoga class, a book club meeting and a class on getting your email skills up to speed are our suggestions for Your Time, in and around Los Altos this week.

1. ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY Where/When:   70 W Hedding St, San Jose, (County of Santa Clara Government Center) Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Why Go: We wish there was no need to have a conference on this topic, but this is one good place to find out the latest in senior scams and financial abuse, safe ways to delegate control over major decisions, and advice in aging gracefully. Think of this as good way to tap the intelligence of government officials and experts in identifying, preventing and stopping elder abuse. Santa Clara County's activities is one of many  events happening around the nation, and parts of the world. Pricing: Free 2. LOS ALTOS SENIOR BOOK CLUB: DREAMS OF MY RUSSIAN SUMMERS Where/When: Los Altos Library, 13 S San…

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Your Time

Your Time: Your Calendar

'Your Time' is a new weekly column of things to do in and around Los Altos for those of us who are, shall we say, older? And this curator of activities for body and soul is one of you! So please welcome our latest addition to the Los Altos Patch fold.

Patch is introducing a new "Top 5" picks for those of us who are over 50. We don't know how to label ourselves, but we're ready and able to spend our time our way. If you lived, really lived, through the 1960s and 1970s, you are the starting point of our focus on women—and men—of  "a certain age." Let's hear it for us. We have a wide spectrum of interests and will try to reflect that in this planner. This column will come out weekly on Mondays.  Please let us know what you think and what elements you might like to see in it. 1. FOOTHILL COLLEGE AUTHOR SERIES: TERRY CASTLE, AUTHOR OF 'THE PROFESSOR' AND OTHER WRITINGS Where/When: Foothill College, 12345 S. El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills,  Friday noon to 1 p.m. Why Go: The Foothill Authors …

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A Yoga Moment

A Yoga Moment: Lie Down, Relax

Lying flat on the floor, you can quiet your mind.

After the video ends, lie still for a while. Do this pose by itself, as a mini-break in your day, or use it to start your practice. Most yoga classes end with a relaxation period; why not also start with one?   About this video series: each week Pam Walatka will present a very brief yoga lesson. Pam began teaching yoga at Esalen Institute in 1968 and now teaches for the Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation Department.

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A Yoga Moment

A Yoga Moment: Bellows Breath

Breathing is the core of yoga. Bellows breath is an exercise in deep breathing.

A Yoga Moment is intended to give you a short break from whatever you are doing. Focus here for 20 seconds or so, to learn one little thing that may help you in the future. Breathing is where mind, body and spirit come together. If you train your mind to focus on your breath, and train your body to breathe more deeply, you might experience better health, less stress, and expanded consciousness. Individual experiences will very. I'm just saying. This page is not meant to be medical advice. Pam teaches Pam's Yoga Fitness for the Los Altos Hills Parks and Rec Department. She began teaching yoga, at Esalen, in 1968. Contact her at pamwalatka@yahoo.com or visit pamwalatka.com. Yoga student: Sarah Walatka. Narrator: Nancy Jamello.  

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Go Rural

5 Reasons to Avoid Exercise in January

You know you are supposed to exercise to keep fit; consider these reasons not to.

1. It is too cold to go out. Stay in bed under the covers. 2. You have to wear bulky sweaters anyway—who will know the difference if you have a little extra personal padding? 3. You could hurt yourself—it is slippery out there. 4. The gym is full of nasty germs. 5. Life is an endless cycle of suffering. What difference does it make what you do? Am I kidding? I wish I knew. I believe that an hour or more of vigorous exercise, six days a week, is the best medicine for anything that ails you. On the other hand, I feel an instinct to hibernate this time of year. All I want to do is lie in bed and do Sudoku. My mom, who is 96 and healthy, says you should never force yourself to do anything. She exercises daily. The lying-in-bed thing can be a …

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Five Ways to Love Los Altos—Today

It's Not Your Grandma's Yoga

Feel the burn with Yoga Fitness, land a role in ‘Seussical Jr.,’ let the sun shine with inspiring new art, voice your opinion on senior citizens’ matters and better your spirit with mantra and mandala.

1. If one of your New Year's resolutions is to lose weight, get more fit, or both, you're not alone. Therefore, join other like-minded folks at the brand new winter session of Pam's Yoga Fitness, which begins this Wednesday. Classes are each Wednesday, 10-11:15 a.m., at the Los Altos Hills Town Hall, 26379 W. Fremont Rd. This class regularly attracts people of all ages, but be warned—it is not gentle yoga! You will get quite a workout in this class, says instructor and Los Altos Patch contributor, Pam Walatka. The cost for this eight-week session is $105 for Los Altos Hills residents, or $115 for nonresidents. For more information or to register, stop by LAH Town Hall, call 650-941-7222 or visit losaltoshills.ca.gov/activity-guide. 2. Warm…

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