Desert Health News - January-February 2025

Golf is among the few sports where fans exercise along with the players. Watching your favorite pros finish an 18-hole round can have you walking four or more miles, but only if you are watching live and not from the comfort of your couch. Tournament season is here and you won’t want to miss the live action at The American Express returning to PGA West and La Quinta Country Club Jan. 16 - 19. Some of the world’s best are back in an impressive field that includes world number one Scottie Scheffler and number two Xander Schauffele , along with Billy Horschel , Patrick Cantley and Justin Thomas all in the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Fan favorites Ricky Fowler , Tony Finau , Jason Day and Zach Johnson are also slated to compete. Then there are the young phenoms setting records and providing some of the most extraordinary displays the sport has ever seen. Those attending last year’s event witnessed amateur Nick Dunlap take the title in an exciting one-stroke victory. Just 20 years old at the time, Dunlap became the first amateur winner on the PGA TOUR since Phil Mickelson in 1991. While he was unable to claim the $1.5Mprizemoney due to his amateur status, the victory propelled him into national acclaim and he turned pro four days later. His success on tour continued and his ranking moved from number 4,121 at the close of 2023 to number 31 at the end of 2024 (when he also celebrated his 21st birthday). Dunlap returns with hopes of reclaiming his title, and this time, the large payoff that comes with it. However, tough competition includes the sport’s latest phenom, 17-year- old Blades Brown who turned pro this month and will be making his professional debut at The American Express. The Nashville native is only the third person to win medalist honors as a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior joining Tiger Woods and Bobby Clampett. He was just 16 at the U.S. Amateur where he shot 64 to break Bobby Jones’ 103-year-old record and become the youngest medalist in the history of the event. Needless to say, we are in for some great golf at this year’s tournament. Come see the action live, get in your steps as you follow your favorites and witness these new talents, then reward yourself with a beverage and bite at one of the event’s many hospitality hubs. Ticket holders can also enjoy post-play concerts on Friday featuring country’s own Little Big Town and Saturday featuring rock n’ roll legends Journey. The American Express takes place Jan. 16-19 at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club. Tickets start at $70 and include numerous hospitality venues and both concerts. American Express ® Card Members receive a 20% discount on tickets. Children 15 and under are free with paid adult admission. Visit www.theamexgolf.com. (Photos by The American Express.) www .yogasix.com/palmdesert www.yogasix.com/laquinta www.pdpool.com www.gatherlaquinta.com www.DesertHealthNews.com January/February 2025 Fitness The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 24 760.219.7953 78010 Main Street Suite 201 gatherlaquinta.co m yoga barre breathwork meditation sound baths pilates/yoga fusion Scan to view schedule YOGASIX LA QUINTA 760.362.6366 Offer available for local first timers only. YOGASIX PALM DESERT yogasix. om/laquinta 760.262.4149 yogasix.com/palmdesert ACCESSIBLE TO ALL EXPERIENCE A FULL-SENSORY YOGA PRACTICE that calms the nervous system and quiets the mind. This peace isn't about escaping life's challenges; rather, it's about finding stillness within them. Regular yoga practice helps us develop what ancient yogis call "witness consciousness" — the ability to observe our thoughts and emotions without being completely swept away by them. This creates space between stimulus and response, allowing us to respond to life's challenges with clarity rather than reactivity. The beauty of these three gifts lies in their interconnected nature. Physical strength supports emotional resilience; balance in body promotes balance in life choices; and both contribute to a deeper sense of peace. As we continue our practice, we may discover that these gifts multiply and deepen, creating a foundation for lasting wellness that supports us through all of life's seasons. Whether you're considering your first yoga class or returning to your practice after time away, remember these gifts await you on themat. They develop naturally through consistent practice, each session building upon the last, creating positive changes that extend far beyond the physical realm. As we step into 2025, the invitation to begin or renew your yoga practice couldn't be more timely. The new year naturally inspires reflection and fresh starts, making it the perfect moment to step onto your mat. Remember, every master yogi was once a beginner, and every long-term practitioner has experienced times of returning after a pause. Your yoga practice isn't a linear journey — it's a circular one that allows for new beginnings, gentle returns and continuous growth. The first step is often the hardest, but it's also the most transformative. This year, give yourself permission to begin exactly where you are. The gifts of strength, balance and peace await — and there's no better time than now to unwrap them. Jennifer Yockey is an E-RYT500 yoga instructor, an IAPRC professional life and recovery coach and owner of GATHER Yoga + Wellness. She can be reached at (760) 219.7953 or for more information, visit www.gatherlaquinta.com. Yoga instills peace in many aspects of life outside of practice. 17-year-old professional Blades Brown Watching golf live can be a great workout. Fan favorite Ricky Fowler Strength, Balance, Peace: 3 Gifts of a Yoga Practice Continued from page 21 Fan Favs and Phenoms Tee It Up at The American Express By Lauren Del Sarto