Posted by Gurdip (Honorary Member) Hari on Jul 27, 2017

At the July 27  meeting, Lynwood Rotary members and guests heard a presentation from Rob Guilmette, Yoga Teacher.  Teacher Rob was introduced by Daniel, explaining that he first met Rob at a Lynwood Union Gallery event in April 2017.  He was part of a band that performed at the Gallery.  Teacher Rob explained that yoga in a broad sense is a combination of various physical exercises with a mental framework of connecting one’s body with one’s spiritual senses and with one’s connection to the immediate surroundings.  He gave examples of stretching motions in combination with breathing exercises and in encouraging the mind to think about one’s relationship with one’s surroundings.

Rob’s talk generated a lot of discussion and questions from his audience. For example, Rotary member Raj asked for clarification as to what and how does yoga practice affect one’s body.  Speaker Rob responded that it removes blockages and increases circulation.  This is accomplished in stages, noting that breathing and moving your body affects cognition in a favorable manner of increasing awareness.  Rob noted two different types of yoga: one called “Kundalini” which involves breathing and chanting.  Then there is “hatha” which emphasizes types of physical exercises and positioning of the body.

Rotary Club Secretary Maria Quinionez (Lulu) asked how yoga had helped Rob in his own life “playing in a band had caused carpal tunnel syndrome in his hands, from the repetitious motions of his hands”.  This physical problem was affecting his entire outlook on life.  Through various yoga practices, including physical movements and diet changes he completely corrected his carpel tunnel syndrome problem.

Dr. Edwin Pygatt talked about pains in his wrist, and at the end of the meeting, Rob had Edwin stood next to him and practice certain arm and wrist movements to help alleviate Edwin’s physical pains.

Tila Millan responded to Rob’s yoga talk by describing how she has used yoga practices in her elementary school classroom with her students.  She explained that after she had completed a six week yoga class herself, she has employed 5 minutes of meditation and breathing exercises with her students in the classroom, and it has had a very positive effect on the students.

Looking to the future, Rob would like to find a way that more members of the community have access to the practice of yoga, to include developing a community center for this purpose.  Currently, Rob provides a health and wellness “platform” at the Avalos Center in Ham Park on Mon and Wed at 7pm for $7.00 per person or $40.00 for the month.  Also he provides a similar program on Sundays at 9am.  There is no charge, but participants may make a donation.

Some thoughts to remember from Rob are immersion in nature, to include backyard “pockets of nature.”  Yoga has been promoted in different ways, he notes, and every teacher has a little different emphasis -- citing yoga and the Beatles in comparison with current teachers.

Before the presentation by Rob Guilmette, President Joe Wang talked about coming events.

Coming events were discussed, starting with the annual National Night Out event planned for Tuesday evening, August 1. The event will take place this year in front of Lynwood City Hall, from 5pm to 8pm.  The Lynwood Rotary Club will have a table and will provide hot dogs and buns and relish for participants in this well attended annual city event.  As a fund raising action, T-shirts with two different Lynwood oriented designs will be sold at the table for $15 each.  The costs of the T-shirts have been donated, so 100% of the income from the sales of the 40 shirts will be for Lynwood club projects for the community.  Other events planned were listed in the cover page of the weekly update which is emailed to Rotary members and to non-members who have requested these weekly updates. The events were for Youth act members and their parents. On Fri, Jul 28 at South Gate Park involving Mariachi music, and on Sat, Jul 29, Los Alamitos Bay in Long Beach for kayaking practice.   It was noted that for the boat races at the District Picnic on Sat, Aug 26, at Redondo Beach Harbor Lagoon, as usual, Joe Wang will construct the cardboard boat, and then the youth will paint the cardboard boat.  This year the District annual picnic will be held in the evening, starting at 5pm.   President Wang reminded everyone, that the District 5280 Governor will attend the Lynwood Club’s meeting for the second meeting in Oct.

 

 Daniel Miller / Omar Franco / Rowland Becerra –

 Public Relations and Community Outreach for the Lynwood Rotary Club