Balance

"Yoga is the study of balance, and balance is the aim of all living creatuers; it is our home." - from Meditations From the Mat written by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison.

When we feel balanced it is true that we also feel at home. Through a practice of yoga there are many aspects that will aid in bringing balance. Pranayama, breath control/practice, is a wonderful way to bring balance to your day. Sitting in a comfortable position, closing the eyes, and simply watching the breath come in and go out...working toward equalizing the length of each inhale with each exhale. The asana practice also brings balance...each pose asks you to lift up while rooting down while breathing in and out. Each transition also requires a simultaneous lift and grounding.

In our daily lives there must be sadness and happiness to bring balance. We are always looking for happiness, and if we are sad one day we feel it is a "bad" day. Not so. Feeling sad is part of it all. My sad days are just as "good" as my happy days.

Holistic Anatomy: Zuda Yoga

I just signed up for a Holistic Anatomy 50-hour workshop at Zuda Yoga here in Sacramento. It will be taking place the last two weekends of July. Can hardly wait!

The Most Ignored Posture

Savasana is the most ignored posture, but it is also the most important. I find that all too often I attend a class where we work our mind, body, and spirit very hard only to take a two-minute savasana, if that. I like the advice I got from Syl that for every 20 minutes of asana practice we should take a 5-minute savasana. That means if I am in an hour class that I should take a 15-minute savasana at the end of the class. This pose is a place for the body (and mind and spirit) to re-align itself and to absorb all the work that has just been done. I truly believe that we practice yoga in order to meditate and slow down. As a teacher, I also understand that there is an un-spoken pressure from students...many people are uncomfortable lying still for soooo long. We feel that people will get anxious and not come back because they were lying down for too long. I also think that many people simply overlook the benefits of savasana. They'd rather spend their "workout" time doing situps or backbends. My vote is for longer savasanas.

Why I Love Yoga: a reason

My mom loves to read the paper. But there's something she loves even more: clipping out certain articles and mailing them to me. She mailed me this very story.

It's Yoga in Provo, UT is where I did my very first teacher training...so it is dear to my heart. Monica (a teacher there, and in this photo...you have to find her) was with me in my second teacher training...she is a real joy. It's Yoga is now offering classes for people with MS. The story is here. I love yoga because it truly helps people...it is life changing.

Yet Another First: My First Real Injury

Remember my first fall? I have finally pegged it as the culprit for my incredibly sore deltoids. Since my fall out of handstand I have barely been able to do chaturanga...I'm lucky if I can do it with my knees on the ground for support. So I must have overlooked my shouler injury at first because I was taking care of my nose bleed. It's been two weeks since that fateful day. It's hard to be patient. I want to do chaturanga oh so badly, but just when I think I'm feeling better I give it a go, but I end up wincing with pain. This is what I am constantly telling my students to look for: pain versus discomfort. Chaturanga can be very uncomfortable when you are fatigued or just learning, but this is a sharp pain I am experiencing...no matter how energized I feel.

So for now I will work on practicing patience.

My First Love: Astanga Vinyasa

The first yoga class I ever went to was a Astanga Vinyasa class at It's Yoga in Provo, UT. I was a faithful student there for 1.5 years before I did my first teacher training with them. During our training we were privileged to have a couple days with the founder of It's Yoga (in San Francisco), Larry Schultz.

These past few days I have noticed that Power Yoga does indeed have its benefits, but I've had to add my own Astanga practice in each day because I found I am getting quite tight. I LOVE the Astanga system. I know I'm not supposed to have favorites or attachments, but for now I do. It is what it is. Below are some paraphrased things I remember Larry teaching us about Yoga.

Yoga is a purification system. Our training begins when we leave it. Learn the heart of the practice (the breath). Breathe off the mat. The power of the practice is transformation. The breath is food for the spirit. Yoga is about liberation. Breathe out your pain. Place your mind in your bandhas. Astanga is the art of sequencing. Create a relationship with your mat. Go slow with your life. You are a being machine, not a doing machine. Say it, do it, move. Should be stronger at the end of a class. Become light by doing the exercises. Sun Salutations are about a ritual. Everyone's gotta do Triangle differently. Study transitions, not the pose. All movement is good movement. ONLY TEACH WHAT YOU LOVE.

Firsts

Last night in class I hit my first ever away-from-a-wall handstand. I was so shocked to be up that I didn't know what to do...then I started thinking too hard...then I started freaking out...then I felt myself falling, but didn't know how to do it gracefully...so I fell on my face. Nose Bleed. Embarassment. Bruised Knee. Bruised Elbow. Empathy.

I will now practice falling.