I have taken a lot of yoga classes in the last couple years. I think it must be a rite of passage to take as many as possible as a holistic doctor to know what to prescribe to patients. I’ll never forget the first time I took a class from Rosanne Nicassio. Her class stood out for its wisdom and her attitude for her students.
Instead of the aggressive desire for change in a student that many teachers can often purvey, Rosanne was a patient and gentle influence over the entire hour and a half class.
It seemed she understood from a very deep place within herself that with health, there is an ebb and flow. That for each of us, there is a time to rest and a time to exert. That yoga is about a balance of power and relaxation.
I guess that’s why she has such a loyal following within Long Beach. I soon found out she not only teaches at the Belmont athletic club, but also has a community class at Whaley Park through Long Beach Parks and Rec with many faithful attendees.
Rosanne blends her Yoga teaching seamlessly with her job as a motivational counselor, where she helps clients everyday breakthrough difficult issues and reach their personal best.
How did you get your start in Yoga?
I went back to school as an adult, and I was majoring in Psychology, and they had a yoga class in the middle of the day at Long Beach City College. The class absolutely changed my life. The teacher was an American who had lived in India for five years and he and his wife had returned and began teaching at Long Beach City and Long Beach State.
At this time in my life I had five kids, I was in school, a marriage that was dissolving and I had a lot on my plate, so Yoga saved my life, I just fell in love with it from the very first class. I had been a dancer my whole life and I thought Yoga was just going to be a continuation of that: just merely a physical discipline.
What I began to learn over time from my teacher was that I had to leave my ego at the door, and it wasn’t about being the “star” of the class, and that Yoga was way more than a physical discipline. The center I first learned at in Sunset Beach in 1974 explored the diet, community, music, and mind-body aspects of Yoga and health as well. I later became certified through their school as a Yoga teacher.
Years passed, I was working as a psychologist and practicing yoga but not teaching. This was a different Yoga then than what we see now. Classes were only known as “Hatha Yoga” and they lasted a minimum of 2 hours. We took a minimum of a ½ hour focusing on breathing, and a ½ hour at the end focusing on relaxation.
First I began filling in for a teacher, but it began to get so popular that I was requested by the students to teach a class of my own. The students found my classes to be gentler and more understanding of injuries or emotionally generated tension. The class has continued to grow over the years and the personal growth and health changes I’ve seen students experience has been very rewarding.
Describe what health means to you?
Health is mind and body connection and well being. We can’t have a health body if we don’t have a healthy and relaxed mind. We can’t have a healthy, relaxed mind if we don’t have a healthy body. Deep breathing slows down the thinking process, and aids in a relaxed mind and body. If you’re not eating correctly your body will let you know. I’m not an extreme advocate of any diet, but I do think you know when your body doesn’t agree with certain foods.
What can we do as a community to make Long Beach a healthier city?
One, we could all greet each other and say hi on the street. I take a walk every morning and I just wish everyone would be friendlier to each other in every neighborhood.
I would love the air to be cleaner as well. I’ve been in Long Beach all my life, and I feel that the quality has reached a dangerous level.
Roseanne’s easy 5 step meditation for the workplace…..
1.) First, sit straight and uncross your legs. Your palms should be up resting on your thighs.
2.) Close your eyes or lower your eyelids and focus in on your breath.
3.) Count your breath. Focus on the number of seconds it takes to breathe in, and the number to breathe out and begin to slowly make the inhale and exhale the same number. Count up to the set number for the inhale and back down to 1 on the exhale.
4.) Thoughts will come in and distract you, but focusing on the breath count will help you focus in.
5.) Be patient. It will take time to learn to breathe slowly and to empty your mind for relaxation.
Quick health tips:
1.) Laugh! Life is fun, enjoy it. Keep a gratitude journal.
2.) Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and grains.
3.) I like to chop up different vegetables, put them on a cookie sheet, pour some olive and sprinkle some dried basil and oregano on them and pop them in the oven. It gives me a great snack I can warm up, eat with fish, or even eat cold.
To find out more about Roseanne’s Yoga or Motivational counseling she can be reached at [email protected].