Yoga Studio Stretches Out Stress for Easier Weight Loss

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 09, 2009 – Knoxville, TN - A one-day yoga mini-retreat Saturday, June 13th seeks to help women lose weight. The retreat, called "Yoga and Health for Women's Weight Loss" takes an inside-out approach, starting with the relief of mental and emotional tension that may be hindering effective weight loss.

"There's the belief that weight loss is simply a matter of burning more calories than you consume," said David Morgan, yoga instructor and manager of New Moon Yoga LLC, Knoxville's newest addition to the yoga scene. "That's not completely accurate. The hormone cortisol, involved in the fight-or-flight response, works against weight loss if the body faces a real or imagined threat. We call this stress. Yoga is unique in the exercise world in that it triggers a relaxation response rather than an adrenaline rush -- in this sense it could be argued that yoga is the exact opposite of exercise. It is a spiritual discipline above all else, but it doesn't matter what religion you are, it works just fine for Christians and Hindus and everyone else."

Morgan believes that self-acceptance is the first piece in the weight loss puzzle. "For many, learning to accept themselves as they are in the here and now is nothing short of a spiritual awakening." From this point, he believes, any sort of change is possible. "The yoga toolbag contains a great number of methods to root out self-defeating habits of thinking and doing -- as well as burn a respectable number of calories."

During New Moon's Saturday retreat, participants will enjoy yoga as well as deep relaxation, tai chi, personal training, chair massage, eating meditation, journaling, bellydance, and other mindful movement. The event is only for adult women. "My job is to facilitate creating an environment for personal transformation to occur, then get out of the way," laughed Morgan. "We've designed this to be a holistic celebration of life, it will be fun for everyone involved."

The one-day retreat will be held 8am to 5pm Saturday, June 13, 2009 at New Moon Yoga LLC, 402 N. Cedar Bluff Rd. in Knoxville, TN. The cost is $75 to non-members and is limited to 12 participants. A healthy, high-energy lunch will be provided. Participants may register by mail or online at New Moon Yoga LLC's Knoxville yoga web site, http://www.newmoonyoga.com.