Blog. blog. blog.
Thought I would give you folks a little update. As time passes, our daily activities become less exciting and more routine. Doesn't make for interesting writing. Though it makes for a nice, calm lifestyle (it can't be snakes and excitement all the time).
Yoga. yoga. yoga (things are better in threes, that's my motto). The An-ho studio has re-opened... so I've been teaching non-stop since Friday. By non-stop, of course, I mean 2 times per day. Teaching has been fairly interesting. Developing a heart-felt intention for each class is an interesting (for lack of a better word) challenge. I tend to learn through example... At home, I would take classes at Jivamukti and then feel inspired... read something in the Yoga Sutras or whatever book I was reading at the time and it would all tie together into something inspirational to offer my students. There is less of that at the moment. I am hoping to be able to organize a small group of teachers that want to gather and learn, discuss, and share YOGA together. Not asana... but YOGA. Mmmm, my favorite.
My intention of choice at the moment:
The yoga poses that we do in class are called asana in Sanskrit. Asana literally translates to "seat". We can examine this in two ways:
1) When we are seated, we are firmly placed on the ground. Our bodies are solidly and firmly placed on the floor. This idea should apply to any yoga pose that we are in... whether we are in Downward Dog or standing on our head, there should be a firm connection to the ground. A strong foundation.
2) Seat can also be seen as establishing a conscious connection to the Earth. The Earth, not only as the soil or dirt, but as all the beings, plants, animals, buildings... the whole entire planet. Our yoga poses should create in us a clear connection to all beings.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says:
Sthira Sukham Asanam
The connection to the Earth should be both steady and joyful.
Therefore, Yoga (including the time we are together here today) should inspire in us a conscious connection to the Earth, to all beings, that is both steady and full of joy.
There you have it. Can you tell that I read the Jivamukti Yoga book? Funny girl (or completely boring with her cheesey yoga talk... you can decide).
Other things of interest... hmm... I'm stretching it here, folks. Um... Desiree Rumbaugh was here to do some workshops at SPACE. She was a lot of fun... a very charismatic teacher, and very experienced. Anusara is an interesting form of yoga. Like nothing I have experienced before, really. But the concepts on alignment got us into poses that I would have never thought I could do... AND some serious backbends, my friends. I noticed some Anusara principles sneaking into my teaching... Draw the groins in, tuck the tailbone, abdominal muscles strong, shins in, lift the heart, heart, heart, heart, heart.... Hilarious. Oh, and Ryan got to go to the workshops for free... which was really nice of Matthew to offer. He got to practice some handstand with the assistance of four teachers... funny stuff.
Suddenly I want to practice handstand. Alright... well I hope you are all doing beautifully and that Spring is bringing new exciting things into your life. I would love to hear from you (do I say that in every blog?). Some nice lengthy emails. Yum. Love. love. love. xo. -n.
No comments:
Post a Comment