Prairie Yoga

11/22/2025

Let these words be for those who are grateful
for they will always have hope to share,
to spread like falling leaves
or to sow like wildflowers
on the tired landscapes
of indifference and poverty,
pain and despair.

Let those with hearts to love and hands to help
heal the need in their neighbors and cradle the children
who bear the weight
of a world too heavy.

Let those whose eyes can smile despite it all
cast their gaze on the jaded and scornful,
the judgemental and the arrogant,
and let their radiance pour over them like unrelenting sunlight.

Let those who have much
use their good fortune to buy
compassion
and dignity
for those with less
and let those with the privilege of books and teachers
and music and beauty,
pass along truth and freedom
to the souls who struggle in the dark.

Let this be for those who are grateful for even the smallest
of miracles,
for it is gratitude, in any amount
or any configuration
that fills a heart to overflowing;
it is gratitude that reaches out
and gratitude that wants to give;
it is gratitude that keeps us humble
and gratitude that makes us human.

So, let these words be for those who are grateful,
and let the grateful be us,
for the seeds of hope
take root and grow well in every grateful life.

Poem and Artwork by LYN ASSELTA
You can sign up for her newsletters at:
https://www.lynasselta.com

11/20/2025

NEEDED - Volunteer Yoga Teachers for NAMI-DuPage in Wheaton

We're looking for volunteer teachers for our free yoga classes at National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This community service is near and dear to our hearts at Prairie Yoga. It's our way to help those struggling with mental illness - both clients and their caregivers. Classes are taught on Monday mornings and Monday evenings at the beautiful community center in Wheaton. These classes are very, very basic for beginners. We have lots of props onsite. Teachers alternate each month so you commit to one or two months per year. NAMI loves the classes and the teachers find them very rewarding to teach. You can get started even if you aren’t certified yet.

If you are interested, or know of other teachers who may be interested, (they don’t have to be Prairie grads) please contact Carmela, our teacher coordinator at: chluangdilok@gmail.com.

11/17/2025

Lifespan, health span... how about "joyspan"?

Dr. Kerry Burnight calls your “joyspan”—the number of years you spend not only healthy but also genuinely happy.

Here are Dr. Burnight’s four core strategies for aging well:

1. Grow: Keep learning, stay curious, and do hard things on purpose. You don’t grow by being great at everything—you grow by being willing to suck at new things and laugh about it.

2. Connect: Research shows the single biggest predictor of long-term happiness and health isn’t diet or exercise—it’s relationships. And not just the deep ones—the small, everyday connections matter too. So text your friend. Talk to your barista. Be that person who says hello to strangers.

3. Adapt: Life will throw you curveballs—illness, loss, change. You can’t control that part. What you can train is your response. Burnight suggests building your “coping strategies toolbox” now: journaling, meditation, gratitude, and reaching out for help when you need it.

4. Give: Purpose is medicine. Burnight recommends asking “How can I help?”— and then actually following through. It can boost your mood, your immune system, and maybe even your lifespan. Generosity isn’t just selfless, it’s also self-care.

Working on this stuff doesn’t just lengthen your life; it improves it right now, no matter your age.

Attending in-person yoga classes is a great way to challenge yourself, make new friends, learn how to adapt and increase joy!

11/11/2025

Be a little leery of this whole, "You have been doing this one exercise regularly and now your pain is gone" business that social media influencers are peddling. It must be a template some business coach is teaching everyone to say.

From my experience, one single exercise can help temporarily, but to feel good in the long term? Moving regularly in a variety of ways is the real secret.

That is one of the reasons I love yoga so much, We lengthen, extend, flex, rotate, and side bend in every yoga class. And over time, our practice becomes part of our daily life.

~Lori

11/11/2025

Veterans - Thank you for your service to our country! Today we honor you with our deepest gratitude for protecting our country and Democracy.

11/11/2025

Inspiration! https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2025/11/01/101-year-old-yoga-teacher-guide-to-ageing/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOACl5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeq5P0zh30Tyo2L5qNvPC0wOzmLO7DIbTa6IxZbGDI1PfPFLMHbI0sID2fYBU_aem_KPfF2YnbN9aPzvDTeRyA8Q

Dorothea Barron maintains a fitness regime many half her age would struggle with – and says she feels as sprightly as she did at 16

11/06/2025

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2501144-what-were-learning-about-consciousness-from-master-meditators-brains/?utm_source=nsnew&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nsnew_0611&utm_term=Newsletter%20NSNEW_Weekly

Neuroscientist Matthew Sacchet is revealing how mastering meditation can not only enable transcendental states of bliss, but also reshape how we experience pain and emotion

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween!

10/20/2025

Your mind isn’t just in your skull. It’s in your body. It’s influenced by the people around you and your surroundings. The best thinking may arise when you get out of your head.

Here are three ways to improve your thinking, from science writer Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Extended Mind:

1. Think with your body. Your body is constantly sending you intel—if you learn to listen. When you’re facing a big decision, try a quick body scan or jot down what sensations are showing up. Over time, you’ll start recognizing which feelings mean “full-body yes” and which mean “nope.” And if you’re a fidgeter, good news: movement helps. Walking, pacing, even bouncing a leg can shake ideas loose and steady the mind.

2. Think with your surroundings. Your brain isn’t a laptop that works the same everywhere. It’s exquisitely sensitive to context. Step outside when you’re stuck—nature resets attention and kick-starts creativity. In one Stanford study, people who went for a walk—especially outdoors—came up with twice as many creative ideas as those who stayed seated inside. Indoors, surround yourself with cues that remind you who you are and what (or who) you’re doing this for—a book that grounds you, a photo that makes you smile, a memento from a past win.

3. Think with other people. Human intelligence is “loopy”—we think better when we loop our ideas through other minds. So talk through problems with a colleague, debate a friend, or teach what you’ve just learned. Even simple things—like walking in sync or sharing a meal—create “groupiness,” that easy sense of connection where better ideas start to flow.

10/11/2025

Keep practicing!

For decades, Charlotte Chopin has been teaching yoga in Léré, a village in France. At 102 years old, she maintains a simple approach to aging well.Video by T...

10/09/2025

Join Prairie Graduate and Yoga for Pelvic Floor Specialist, Rita Meier, 500 RYT for two upcoming special programs on the pelvic floor at Edward Elmhurst Wellness Center, Seven Bridges.

A gentle yoga class series to target the core and pelvic floor. and a structured workshop to provide more background; including videos, presentations and in-depth topics.

These courses are designed to strengthen your core and pelvic floor muscles through gentle and targeted exercises that improve posture, stability, and overall wellness. Benefits include:

*Improved Core Strength:
Strengthening the deep abdominal muscles and pelvic floor helps support your spine and reduce lower back pain.

*Enhanced Bladder and Bowel Control: Regular training can help prevent and manage incontinence and a host of other problems related to the pelvis.

Pelvic floor 101: four Saturdays, one hour each beginning October 18.
https://search.eehealth.org/wlp2/ #!/classes/info/A5P00568

Pelvic floor and core workshop: two Saturdays, two hours each beginning November 15.
https://search.eehealth.org/wlp2/ #!/classes/info/A5P00569

10/07/2025

Highly recommend taking a workshop with Gabriel! He has been our teacher and mentor for many years and we learn so much from him. Contact The Yoga Lounge to sign up for his upcoming weekend events.