yogaworks

Wow...Breakthrough

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:50:05 +0100

So, I am currently reading "Yoga As Self-Transformation", and had the most amazing epiphany about the way I've been living life. The article says there are 2 different ways of practicing yoga: 1) involved viewing a posture as an end to be achieved, a goal, 2) viewing the posture as a tool to explore and open the body. As I read this, I realized that I am often seduced by Door #1 in yoga. I have a strong and flexible body, and I am excited to move up and get to the next posture, that I am not even enjoying the posture I am currently in. And then I realized, wow, I have been living my life this way! I've been so focused and caught up in the end result (where am I going? When I will be promoted? Who's going to be there with me?) that I haven't even just paused to enjoy exactly this stage as it is! I've been pushing and prodding and flexing to make the moves come faster to me, but really, all I need to do is take a step back and realize that I am fully satisfied in exploring the current pose (stage) that I am in. Wow. Big concept to contemplate.

From the Sutras

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:58:09 +0100

If everyone could live on this philosophy, wow...

"Tell the mind, 'All right, you have that much and I'll take the rest away.' After a while say, 'This also seems to be unwanted; let's this away also.' You remove them little by little." - Sutra, 1.7

"In the twilight you see a coiled rope and mistake it for a snake. You get frightened. There is no snake there in reality; there is a false understanding. But still it created a terror in your mind. It is not only valid knowledge that creates thought waves, but erroneous impressions also." - Sutra, 1.8

Sutras

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:34:42 +0100

"The entire outside world is based on your thoughts and mental attitude. The entire world is your own projection. Your values may change within a fraction of a second. Today you may not even want to see the one who was your sweet honey yesterday. If we remember that, we won't put so much stress on outward things." - Sutras, Pg. 5

"If you control your mind, you have controlled everything. Then there is nothign in this world to bind you." - Sutras, Pg. 6

"You are the true Seer. You are not the body nor the mind." - Sutras, Pg. 6

"There is nothing but energy everywhere. Even the atom is a form of energy. The same energy appears in different forms to which we also give different names. So the form and name are just different versions of the same energy. And, according to the Yogic scientists like Patanjali - and even many modern scientists - behind the different forms of energy is one unchanging consciousness or spirit or Self." - Sutras, Pg. 8

2nd Weekend of Training Complete!

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:33:35 +0100

This weekend, the group of students are really getting into the groove of things. We are understanding the organization of the days, and the knowledge of the practice is gathering speed. It amazes me when the yoga teacher throws out a question (which plane are you concerned with right now in regards to your pelvis?), and we all answer in perfect unison and conviction, it just amazes me. Only 4 days, and it is just amazing how much I have learned.

I have both fear and excitement in this process. I am so excited to get the ball rolling in becoming a teacher, and I almost feel impatience to just get it all over with and start teaching! However, yesterday, I tried to teach another student how to stand in Tadasana, and I barely made it through! Yowza. Uttitha Hastasana in Tadasana is Mountain Pose with Extended Arms (basically standing straight with your arms overhead). You'd think it would be easy! But there is SO much behind it! You have to discuss the foundation (what is touching the ground; feet, hands), and then go through the other platforms (pelvis, to protect the lower back, and the shoulders, to protect the neck). And there is so much within just that! I know I'll learn it, I just need to keep practicing.

If you'd like a free yoga session, just let me know! It may be shaky (hence the free), but it will help me get the next level of being a teacher!!

Prasarita Pattonasana - the most complicated sanskrit words yet

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 06:17:02 +0100

Assignment of the week - define the posture Prasarita Pattonasana as if you were instructing the pose in a class. 2 pages later, I have discovered that you really can spend 20 minutes in each pose if you want to. It's amazing the process of moving from student to teacher. I already feel a sense of perspective changing in me as I contemplate not only the way in which to physically move into a pose, but the way in which to teach someone to move into a pose. It is such an exciting movement in my thoughts! The best part of this process is knowing that I'm going to be able to take this topnotch teacher training experience and create my own yoga experience in every class I teach. As I move forward, I also want to remind myself to stay true to my passion of making yoga youthful, powerful and strengthening, while remaining true to the deep-rooted spirituality of the practice.

By the way, you pronounce Prah-sah-reetah Pat-toe-nah-saanah. Good luck. :-)

First Teacher Training Weekend

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:50:28 +0100

The past couple of months have brought huge changes into my life. Experiencing both expansion and contraction in my life (and everything in between), I couldn't believe this weekend had actually arrived. Just three weeks ago, I wasn't even sure I would be able to partake in this amazing teacher training experience I had been contemplating for the past year. Because of the indecisive nature of my decision-making (the universe does like to throw us deceiving curve balls), the first day of teacher training snuck up on me before I even had time to feel emotions about this new journey beginning. And so Saturday morning came, I printed my first homework assignment, saddled my yoga textbooks into my backpack and set off to the YogaWorks Larkspur studio with yoga mat in hand. Not until I walked into that studio door did I truly comprehend that I was here: truly participating in a program that I have dreamt of for so long.

Having no clue what to expect, I truly had an experience walking into that studio room with open arms and no expectations. What a blessing I have experienced in having this mindset. I was immediately thrilled to see so many vibrant people (mostly women, some men) walk into that room with the same joyful faces I myself appeared with. Excited for this new adventure, 26 people have come together to share 6 months together, yet make lifelong soul yogi’s. I was immediately thrilled to find young people in the class with goal-oriented minds like myself! One woman spoke of wanting to own a personal training gym…My mind immediately jumped to images of business partnership! Of course it’s farfetched, but in that room, in that beautiful room, where every face is ecstatic to be there, and inspired by the present and future, it’s hard to not entertain thoughts of developing business relationships with these like-minded people.

My teachers are Nikki Estrada and Melanie Salvatore-August. It is clear that both are amazing women. With years of experience under their belt, and incredible knowledgeable of yoga, I feel truly blessed to be learning from them.

I am absolutely shocked at how much I have learned in just two days of training. I have been anxious in the thought that I might not learn everything quick enough, but it is clear to me now just how fast one can learn when the desire is there. Stay tuned; at some point this week, I’d like to touch on some of the amazing knowledge I learned!

Next weekend, I’ll be back at it for another round!