Does Acupuncture Hurt?
At our CNY Healing Arts Centers in Syracuse, Rochester and Albany, NY we perform acupuncture to treat many different health issues from infertility, sinus pressure, smoking cessation, migraines, arthritis and more. Clients sometimes come to us with different levels of anxiety regarding the needles used during acupuncture. Some have a lifelong fear of needles while others are just nervous about whether it will hurt.
Now that’s a logical fear, right? Will the needles hurt? We are taking a needle and inserting it into your skin in many different locations. Seems logical that it may hurt. The truth is most people who have had acupuncture describe it as virtually painless or far less painful than, for example, plucking out a hair. The sensations that follow needle insertion can range from nothing at all, to mild tingling, to slight numbness/achiness, to electrical pulsations in areas distant from the site of insertion. These subside once the needles are removed.
The size of the needle is part of the reason that some people think the acupuncture treatment will hurt. Most people who are having a treatment for the first time don’t realize how small the needles actually are. The needles used for acupuncture are much smaller than the standard hypodermic needle. They don’t draw blood and are solid, not hollow.
We want to dissuade your fear of acupuncture and the needles that are used. Please don’t hesitate to call us and ask for more information. We have several acupuncturists waiting to assist you at all of our locations. We hope you will allow us to aide you on your path to better health and wellness by utilizing acupuncture.
Contact us today!
Syracuse – 315.671.5755
Rochester – 585.244.1280 ext 2
Albany – 518.724.5750
The Health Benefits of the Yoga Pose Pranamasana
Pranam means salutation and asana is a posture. Pranamasana is the posture of prayer or salutation. It is also the starting and finishing pose of the asana series Surya Namaskara or Sun Salutation. This pose is one of those wonderfully simple ones that can be practiced easily at any place and moment in time. It is very useful for getting you back to center when you feel a little out of balance or just in need of some extra inner nourishment. This pose is also an ideal one for prayers and chanting mantras.
How to get into the pose:
Stand straight with your feet together focusing on the perfection of the pose and the spine being aligned and your posture being erect. Join the palms in the center of your chest and inhale. Take a moment to go inward, share a mantra or prayer with yourself and be grateful. Then exhale and release while pushing your hands down, straightening and lowering the arms until the elbows touch the sides of your body. You may keep your eyes closed or stare straight ahead.
The Benefits of Pranamasana:
This asana gives balance to your body and eases your nervous system and body. Anyone who can stand erect can practice this asana without any precautions or guidance.
As you continue to cultivate a yoga practice remember that what you are doing right now is perfect and there is no wrong way to go about it. Your intent for working on better health and wellness through a yoga practice is what brought you here at this very moment. Please allow us to assist you by attending a yoga class at one of our Centers or a yoga workshop. Visit the calendar to see all of the upcoming opportunities.
Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation)
Surya Namaskara, or Sun Salutation as it is known in English, is a sequence of yoga asanas that has origins in the worship of Surya, the Hindu solar deity. Many prefer to perform this series at sunrise, which is considered to be the most spiritually favorable time of day.
To perform this sequence you will link together twelve asanas in a dynamically performed series. These asanas are ordered so that they alternately stretch the spine backwards and forwards. A full round of Surya namaskara is considered to be two sets of the twelve poses with a change in the second set to moving the opposite leg first through the series.
Surya Namaskara like most yogasanas is best performed on an empty stomach so it’s best to have a gap of at least 2 hours after eating before beginning. Breathing is synchronized with the asanas as you can see referenced below. There are a total of 8 different postures in the sequence of 12 posture changes of Surya namaskara with some asanas being repeated twice in the same cycle. It is said that by performing Sun Salutation day by day your age, conscious, strength, essence of humanity and glow would never fade away.
- Exhale – Pranamasana
- Inhale – Hasta Uttanasana
- Exhale – Hastapaadasana
- Inhale – Aekpaadprasarnaasana
- Exhale – Dandasana
- Suspend breath – Ashtanga Namaskara
- Inhale – Bhujangasana
- Exhale – Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Inhale – Ashwa Sanchalanasana
- Exhale – Uttanasana
- Inhale – Hasta Uttansana
- Exhale – Pranamasana
Below is a video for you to watch if you would like to see an example of the series and practice on your own. Of course we would also love for you to join us for a yoga class at one of our CNY Healing Arts Centers and enjoy this series together.
Teacher’s Special During the Month of September
Well it’s back to school time. It’s hard to believe the summer has come to an end already. Where does the time fly?
At CNY Healing Arts Centers, with locations in Syracuse, Albany and Rochester, we are taking the entire month of September to honor all of the great educators out there. We firmly believe you play a huge role in shaping the minds of our future leaders… the kids of today.
With such an important job to do you must remember to take care of yourselves. Recognize the signs of stress as they creep up on you and take a moment to breathe. Be sure to eat healthy, drink lots of water and don’t forget to pamper yourself from time to time. That’s what we are here for so please take advantage of our discount we are offering just you Teachers during September.
Come in and let us massage your stress away. Maybe you’ve been feeling some discomfort from seasonal allergies, our Acupuncturist can help relieve your symptoms. And let’s not forget how refreshed and invigorated you feel after a wonderful facial.
Teachers Special – Buy 2 Get 1 free ($70 service value). *Please bring proof of employment.
Don’t wait, call us today and take advantage of this discount and book your appointment! Below are our locations and phone numbers. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.
Syracuse, NY – 315.671.5755
Latham, NY – 518.724.5750
Rochester, NY – 585.244.1280
Off the Mat: Yoga is a Lifestyle
At CNY Healing Arts Centers in Syracuse, Rochester and Albany, NY we offer many different opportunities for participating in a yoga class or workshop. Check out our current yoga schedule here. As you practice yoga and learn more about it you will see that it doesn’t take place in the studio only. Yoga is a lifestyle and it can enrich your life once you learn to integrate it into your life and practice off the mat.
Below are just a few ways you can integrate yoga in your life and begin to practice off the mat. You may find you have already been doing some of these, keep up the good work!
Live in the now, be present.
Live in the present, in the day-to-day. This is a fundamental lesson we re-learn every time we place our bare feet on a yoga mat. It is a useful way to practice living off the mat as well. Practice resisting the thoughts and temptations that may tempt you out of the present moment.
Spiritual growth through the body and mind.
The word yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of the union occurring between the mind, body and spirit. Yoga truly is a unique union of physical practice, mental focus, stamina, flexibility, relaxation and above all else, a healthy balance between mind, body and spirit. As we deepen our practice and become more aware of our mind and body we begin to open up spiritually and are more receptive to what the Universe offers.
Focus on the breath.
When practicing yoga, remaining in the present moment can be a constant challenge. The breath is always with us; by focusing on this rhythm we can stay anchored in the moment. Focusing on the breath is useful off the mat as well as on. Day to day we encounter many different things that impact our stress levels, and sometimes coming back to the breath can be the most effective tool to remain balanced.
Focusing on the breath offers the opportunity to learn about ourselves and grow. When pull ourselves back to the breath, we can see where our mind tends to wander and are often confronted with our repetitive thought patterns. Negative thoughts can be seen and worked with after their recognition. Through yoga we unite physical movement to the breath and, in effect, draw our focus inward.
There are many other ways to practice yoga off the mat. How do you do it?
