hope everyone has enjoyed the bender, thus far. only two more days left, after today.
make sure to hit one of the 3 classes on Saturday to celebrate the culmination of your journey!
happy bending!
Brigette
p.s. don't forget about the bender rate membership offer. it expires 1/31/10, no exceptions or extensions.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
over the half way mark
hello, bendees!
congratulations on making it to day 18! the hard part is over, now its all about staying committed. this is the time when people start to drop off because they have already done so well... don't be one of those people! stick with it, you can do it!
if you can't make it to class every day, just do some sun salutes or sit for a 10 minute meditation on your own. If you are looking for ideas for home practice, don't hesitate to ask one of your teachers before or after class. we are here to help and support you during this challenge.
happy MLK day, by the way. now, that man was one heck of a yogi!
happy bending,
Brigette
congratulations on making it to day 18! the hard part is over, now its all about staying committed. this is the time when people start to drop off because they have already done so well... don't be one of those people! stick with it, you can do it!
if you can't make it to class every day, just do some sun salutes or sit for a 10 minute meditation on your own. If you are looking for ideas for home practice, don't hesitate to ask one of your teachers before or after class. we are here to help and support you during this challenge.
happy MLK day, by the way. now, that man was one heck of a yogi!
happy bending,
Brigette
Thursday, January 14, 2010
snow down
Its funny... when we get a few inches of snow in St. Louis, everything slows down. Its mother nature's way of telling us to back off, stay home, sit still and take in the beauty. Take last week for example, everything literally froze and everyone slowed down. Its a good thing. We all try and and pack in so much. We live very busy lives, in America. When something (like weather) is beyond our control, we actually accept a slower pace. We plan more time to get where we need to go, in case the roads are bad. We drive more cautiously. We walk a little slower, not knowing what type of traction is beneath our feet. Its a great way to live life... aware.
Over the past couple days, the temp has risen and everything is melting fast. Likewise, every one's lives have sped back up. Cars are racing down Kingshighway, once again. People are out and about, buzzing from appointment to appointment. What if we treated every day like a snow day? What if we started to slow down on purpose? What would life be like?
Nature is a beautiful thing. Sometimes, everything makes perfect sense, like a snow day. Other days, we can't seem to grip why or how something so tragic could possibly occur, like the earthquakes in Haiti. There are not always going to be answers for everything in life, but there will always be questions. I do know one thing, we can never predict what the next day will bring. Its out of our control. So just live... one day at a time, with your eyes wide open. And, for the love of god, SLOW DOWN!
Happy Bending,
Brigette
Over the past couple days, the temp has risen and everything is melting fast. Likewise, every one's lives have sped back up. Cars are racing down Kingshighway, once again. People are out and about, buzzing from appointment to appointment. What if we treated every day like a snow day? What if we started to slow down on purpose? What would life be like?
Nature is a beautiful thing. Sometimes, everything makes perfect sense, like a snow day. Other days, we can't seem to grip why or how something so tragic could possibly occur, like the earthquakes in Haiti. There are not always going to be answers for everything in life, but there will always be questions. I do know one thing, we can never predict what the next day will bring. Its out of our control. So just live... one day at a time, with your eyes wide open. And, for the love of god, SLOW DOWN!
Happy Bending,
Brigette
Sunday, January 10, 2010
this blog is for you
monday is already day 11 of the bender. by now, you are likely experiencing the effects of doing yoga every day. this blog serves as a forum. a place for you to share your insights, your experiences and your stories. every person registered for the bender is also an "author" of this blog. so far, the postings have been mostly inspiration or tools provided by me to kick start your bender experience (with a few comments here and there from bendees).
its time we hear from YOU. create a blog entry. share your experience. say what you have to say. people want to hear what you have to say. it gives people something to relate to during the bender.
ready... GO!
happy bending,
Brigette
its time we hear from YOU. create a blog entry. share your experience. say what you have to say. people want to hear what you have to say. it gives people something to relate to during the bender.
ready... GO!
happy bending,
Brigette
Thursday, January 7, 2010
home practice
For those days you can't make it to the studio every day, here are a few resources to keep you going at home. I use yogaglo all the time at home. There have stellar teachers and you can choose a class, specific to what level and time frame you'd like to practice. Really good stuff on there. The catch, yogaglo.com is $18/month.
The other links to the YJ classes are not as interactive, but is free... play on!
Yogaglo - Online Classes
Play Leads the Way - Yoga Journal - Yoga Home Practice with Sianna Sherman
A Fine Balance - Yoga journal - Yoga Home Practice with Desiree Rumbaugh
The other links to the YJ classes are not as interactive, but is free... play on!
Yogaglo - Online Classes
Play Leads the Way - Yoga Journal - Yoga Home Practice with Sianna Sherman
A Fine Balance - Yoga journal - Yoga Home Practice with Desiree Rumbaugh
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Yoga Inc.
I pulled this video from yogadork.com. It's very interesting, given the last post about defining yoga... plus, there is some great info on the history of yoga. I hesitated to post this at first, because some of it is presented from a bias point of view. However, I think there is so much valuable content within this piece. Take in the history and the information presented. To watch, click the link below. Its about 1 hour long.
Yoga, Inc. Video
Description (from yogadork.com):
Yoga has transformed from an ancient spiritual practice into a competitive, commercialized, multi-million dollar industry. And for a practice rooted in renunciation, yoga sure is making some people very rich. Can yoga survive this war between the sacred and the profane with its good karma intact?
In today’s yoga world only the marketplace has real meaning, where everything is up for grabs, from yoga shoes to chakra panties. The new mantras are Standardize and Supersize. In the race to cash in yoga chains are popping up everywhere, putting the smaller studios out of business. No wonder purists are scratching their heads. Is nothing sacred? Greed, lust, ego and the search for enlightenment all come together in this original, irreverent portrait of spiritualism and capitalism colliding head on.
Yoga, Inc. Video
Description (from yogadork.com):
Yoga has transformed from an ancient spiritual practice into a competitive, commercialized, multi-million dollar industry. And for a practice rooted in renunciation, yoga sure is making some people very rich. Can yoga survive this war between the sacred and the profane with its good karma intact?
In today’s yoga world only the marketplace has real meaning, where everything is up for grabs, from yoga shoes to chakra panties. The new mantras are Standardize and Supersize. In the race to cash in yoga chains are popping up everywhere, putting the smaller studios out of business. No wonder purists are scratching their heads. Is nothing sacred? Greed, lust, ego and the search for enlightenment all come together in this original, irreverent portrait of spiritualism and capitalism colliding head on.
Monday, January 4, 2010
the grey area
Ah... the age old question that so many ponder and discuss.
In this day and age, we are answer-seekers. Often times, we want concrete proof to believe something is true. In yoga, there are no black and white answers. In yoga, you define your own truth. Yoga doesn't give us all the answers, but it does continue to ask lots of questions.
In the state of MO, we've been asked to define yoga. Is it fitness or a spiritual practice? The state wants to put yoga in a specific category, so they know how to tax the sales of classes. The hard thing about putting yoga into a category is that it fits into every category. My teacher always says, "You can make anything spiritual, if you have the right intention behind it. Everything you do in life can be a spiritual practice, if you want it to be."
Like many things in life, it's hard to understand yoga without experience under your belt. Think back to the first time you did yoga on the mat. It's common for first timers to walk away feeling clam, yet energized. It's that yoga euphoria people talk about. Yoga helps us get to know ourselves. To get inside our own head and our own body. It builds awareness.
In my experience, yoga encourages me to figure out how to be the best version of myself. Its tapping into the divine nature that lives not only within me, but within all things. Yoga is everything to me and everything is yoga. To some, that answer seems far fetched, and maybe even hard to believe. However, its not my job to convince others to have my experience. It's my job to simply invite others onto the mat to have their own experience.
So, the grey area is where we start finding the answers. Not the black or the white.
What is yoga, to you?
happy bending,
Brigette
In this day and age, we are answer-seekers. Often times, we want concrete proof to believe something is true. In yoga, there are no black and white answers. In yoga, you define your own truth. Yoga doesn't give us all the answers, but it does continue to ask lots of questions.
In the state of MO, we've been asked to define yoga. Is it fitness or a spiritual practice? The state wants to put yoga in a specific category, so they know how to tax the sales of classes. The hard thing about putting yoga into a category is that it fits into every category. My teacher always says, "You can make anything spiritual, if you have the right intention behind it. Everything you do in life can be a spiritual practice, if you want it to be."
Like many things in life, it's hard to understand yoga without experience under your belt. Think back to the first time you did yoga on the mat. It's common for first timers to walk away feeling clam, yet energized. It's that yoga euphoria people talk about. Yoga helps us get to know ourselves. To get inside our own head and our own body. It builds awareness.
In my experience, yoga encourages me to figure out how to be the best version of myself. Its tapping into the divine nature that lives not only within me, but within all things. Yoga is everything to me and everything is yoga. To some, that answer seems far fetched, and maybe even hard to believe. However, its not my job to convince others to have my experience. It's my job to simply invite others onto the mat to have their own experience.
So, the grey area is where we start finding the answers. Not the black or the white.
What is yoga, to you?
happy bending,
Brigette
Saturday, January 2, 2010
expectation vs. intention
Its natural to set expectations at the start of any journey... during the bender, try setting intentions, rather than expectations. When you set an intention, it puts meaning behind the practice. Setting intentions raises your overall awareness level.
Expectations can get tricky. When your expectations are high, your experience is constantly measured up to what you have set in your mind. When you release all expectations for the bender, you open the door to unknown possibilities. Think about it... if you are expecting a huge bonus at work and the bonus you actually get is about half what you expected, the bonus is less appreciated. However, if you were rewarded for your hard work with an unexpected bonus of the same amount, you would be thrilled.
Setting an intention keeps you on track, it helps keep your focus strong. Your intentions can change as time progresses and your experiences grow. Make your intentions right for you. Let go of expectation and see what comes your way. You might surprise yourself with an experience that is (at this point) unimaginable.
What's your intention?
Expectations can get tricky. When your expectations are high, your experience is constantly measured up to what you have set in your mind. When you release all expectations for the bender, you open the door to unknown possibilities. Think about it... if you are expecting a huge bonus at work and the bonus you actually get is about half what you expected, the bonus is less appreciated. However, if you were rewarded for your hard work with an unexpected bonus of the same amount, you would be thrilled.
Setting an intention keeps you on track, it helps keep your focus strong. Your intentions can change as time progresses and your experiences grow. Make your intentions right for you. Let go of expectation and see what comes your way. You might surprise yourself with an experience that is (at this point) unimaginable.
What's your intention?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
Let the fun begin!
Today, you embark on a new journey. Today, you have the opportunity to open to new possibilities. Today, you dive in.
Last year, the bender was a huge success. Students started the bender as individuals and finished the bender as a yoga community. People shared stories of great physical, mental and emotional growth as a result of a daily yoga practice. This practice is powerful. Doing yoga every day will change your body, mind and spirit. Whether you signed up for the bender with intentions of getting fit or you are looking for a stronger peace of mind, all benefits of yoga are available to everyone open to the possibilities.
Individual participation will vary from student to student. Last year, some students chose to change certain daily habits in addition to the bender and saw amazing benefits and changes. Others noticed simply doing yoga every day increased their awareness so much that other habits changed by default.
For those not able to attend class at the studio every day, I will post asana sequences for your to play with at home. In addition to asana, healthy lifestyle tips and fun yoga facts will show up from time to time.
My advise to you... enjoy this. Keep record of how you feel every day. Keep your eyes wide open so you can recognize and appreciate the transformation that will happen over the next 30 days. I am excited for each and every one of you. Looking forward to bending with you.
Happy Bending!
Brigette
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
get ready...
The 2010 bender is coming soon! Just like last year, the bender starts Jan 1 and runs until Jan 30. Get ready for some fun!
Monday, February 2, 2009
congratulations, bendees!
Well, the bender has come to an end... however, for many of you the journey has just begun!
I can't even begin to express my gratitude and the overwhelming sense of joy this bender has brought to the studio and to my life, personally. What a great way to kick off 09'?! The level of dedication, excitement and energy put forth by our bendees has greatly surpassed anything I had ever imagined. I figured we may have close to 20 people sign up, if we were lucky and turns out over 60 signed up! Think about that... over 60 people in St. Louis committed to doing a daily yoga practice for 30 days straight! The people make the community and the community makes our studio what it is today. I am happy to stand behind what we have built at STY. I have full faith that it will continue to grow like crazy. The potential is amazing around here :)
I've heard so many stories along the way... handstand accomplishments, doing headstand in the middle of the room for the first time, seeing muscles in your arms that you never knew were under there, going into full wheel from wild thing, even moving your feet/toes in ways you hadn't in years! The list goes on and on. In addition to the strength, agility and flexibility gained within your asana practice, there was a sheer sense of happiness around the studio. People started to smile more often. Friendships were deepened. Eye contact was easier. Not only did your bodies change, your hearts became more open. You built the capacity to see yourself and others in an honest manner. That's the thing about yoga... you may come to the mat to simply tone your body, but you step off your mat a little sweeter, a little stronger and a lot more settled in your own skin.
I want to personally congratulate each and every one of you who participated in this bender. It may seem crazy to others, but now you can honestly see how a consistent yoga practice effects your daily life. As the folks at my favorite yoga studio (On Time) in Boulder say, "Changing the world, one downward dog at a time!"
So here's to living each day with a committed, inspired, passionate and celebratory outlook. Thank you all for your hard work and smiles along the way. Honoring each and every one of you, Namaste!
Brigette
Friday, January 30, 2009
Finishing the Bender!
Well, since the snow hit on Sunday, I have been hibernating and not driving. I did go to 'sub' for a class at YogaSource, but I caught a ride, since my little Miata is not exactly "roadworthy" in bad weather. I really prefer not to drive when it snows unless I have to, because the street I live on is never cleaned. However, that did not stop me from doing a home practice!
Each day since the snow I have either done John Friend's "Growing a Lotus" practice on DVD, or done a series I've worked up on my own while listening to Erykah Badu. For an hour-and-a-half, I've gone through 2 min. of Handstand and pushing up 10 times into Urdhva Dhanurasana, as Brigette stated that Shiana Sherman of the YogaKula in Berkeley suggested she do to cover all the bases of strength and flexibility. One-legged Pigeon, of course, and, as always, Headstand and Pincha Mayurasana are integral components of my daily practice. I've been working on Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana,as well, which I did for the first time in my life in Brigette's class 3 weeks ago! I remember beginning to hyperventilate when I first got into the posture, and Brigette just calmly said: "Breathe!" Such a simple suggestion, but one that most people don't think of when someone is beginning to have a panic attack. I have been practicing yoga since 1994, but have shyed away from most backbends, because of the intense anxiety they bring up for me.
One of the wonderful things about this Bender has been the way it has opened up my fear of doing deeper backbends. I don't like to open through the lower back AT ALL! I can do Upward Bow fine, but I've always gravitated toward the poses that require upper body and abdominal strength, such as inversions of all sorts... I've spent a decade of yoga practice avoiding backbends like the plague, and I teach Yoga. Hm.
I'd say, based on that little personal revelation alone, this Bender has been very, very good for me. Of course, my personal desire to get into Eka Pada Rajakapotasana I've been working on methodically for some time, but not with the intensity that the Bender has inspired. This Bender really lit a fire under my butt, so to speak. Thanks Brigette! What an awesome idea!
Now I just finally returned an e-mail from Sherry Summers about teaching at Shalom House, a shelter for women, and my friend Wendy and I just took a trip around the corner on lunch to find where the center is located. I feel as if, with teaching, I am about one step ahead of my students, but at least I am not at risk for being arrogant. It keeps me humble. That and the backbends. They keep me humble too. And the snow keeps me humble. I'll be trudging through the leftover snow today to meet up with all the Bender attendees later, and celebrate our successes! Thanks again, Brigette, for this wonderful opportunity to be inspired by everyone at Southtown Yoga. What a lovely studio.
Each day since the snow I have either done John Friend's "Growing a Lotus" practice on DVD, or done a series I've worked up on my own while listening to Erykah Badu. For an hour-and-a-half, I've gone through 2 min. of Handstand and pushing up 10 times into Urdhva Dhanurasana, as Brigette stated that Shiana Sherman of the YogaKula in Berkeley suggested she do to cover all the bases of strength and flexibility. One-legged Pigeon, of course, and, as always, Headstand and Pincha Mayurasana are integral components of my daily practice. I've been working on Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana,as well, which I did for the first time in my life in Brigette's class 3 weeks ago! I remember beginning to hyperventilate when I first got into the posture, and Brigette just calmly said: "Breathe!" Such a simple suggestion, but one that most people don't think of when someone is beginning to have a panic attack. I have been practicing yoga since 1994, but have shyed away from most backbends, because of the intense anxiety they bring up for me.
One of the wonderful things about this Bender has been the way it has opened up my fear of doing deeper backbends. I don't like to open through the lower back AT ALL! I can do Upward Bow fine, but I've always gravitated toward the poses that require upper body and abdominal strength, such as inversions of all sorts... I've spent a decade of yoga practice avoiding backbends like the plague, and I teach Yoga. Hm.
I'd say, based on that little personal revelation alone, this Bender has been very, very good for me. Of course, my personal desire to get into Eka Pada Rajakapotasana I've been working on methodically for some time, but not with the intensity that the Bender has inspired. This Bender really lit a fire under my butt, so to speak. Thanks Brigette! What an awesome idea!
Now I just finally returned an e-mail from Sherry Summers about teaching at Shalom House, a shelter for women, and my friend Wendy and I just took a trip around the corner on lunch to find where the center is located. I feel as if, with teaching, I am about one step ahead of my students, but at least I am not at risk for being arrogant. It keeps me humble. That and the backbends. They keep me humble too. And the snow keeps me humble. I'll be trudging through the leftover snow today to meet up with all the Bender attendees later, and celebrate our successes! Thanks again, Brigette, for this wonderful opportunity to be inspired by everyone at Southtown Yoga. What a lovely studio.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Celebration
We are only a few days away from completing this bender! What a whirlwind it has been, for some of you. Hopefully, these few final days bring you joy, playfulness and new perspectives on your yoga. Naturally, the theme of this final week is celebration.
There is so much to celebrate, about this life we are given. We have the opportunity every single day to explore the possibilities of life. Last Spring, I was in a class at Yoga Kula, with Kenny Grahm. He talked a lot about this life being a gift. He described it in such a clear way... "This life, its is a gift. We can choose to unwrap this gift and see what's inside, or we can choose to let the beautiful package remain wrapped up and never know what the gift has to offer."
This idea spoke so clearly to me about how yoga can effect your life. The yoga physical practice can be a way we unwrap this gift of life. We play, we explore, we figure things out in our bodies to help the breath flow with more ease. When the breath flows with more ease, we can go deeper, we can live more fully, we can experience life at our greatest potential.
Its all pretty cool, I think. Just like anything else, though, you have to pay attention to and appreciate your practice, your breath, your life to see the amazing joy in it. You can walk around with your head down and never see the beauty in anything... OR you can choose to look around. See what's there.
In my opinion, there are two ways to look at everything. You have to make the decision to see the good, on a regular basis. You have to honestly believe in it, too. You can't fake optimism, it doesn't work like that. You have to honestly believe in the good. Anyone can pick apart what is hard or identify what went wrong - that's easy. How about working through life with gratitude... how about living each day, like it was given to you as a gift.... how about celebrating that we are here together, enjoying what life has to offer. It's your choice.
To me, approaching life with a true positive approach is one of the highest forms of celebration. I invite you to fully celebrate this life with me. Trust me, its a very fun way to live :)
Namaste,
Brigette
p.s. another form of celebration is coming to our toast this Friday night at lululemon. I sent out an evite, so please check your email and RSVP. looking forward to celebrating everyone's accomplishments, together :)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Not passively passionate
I have been practicing yoga on and off now about 3 years. And last week, I went to a beginners class. And not because I'm not as passionate about yoga as I was on the first day of the bender, but because my body was physically tired.
The awesomely annoying thing about the bender has been that every class is full of so much more possibility. Poses are deeper, held longer, pushed to their edge. Which is fantastic unless the minute you get into a high lung, your leg starts to tremble like a leaf.
Being tired isn't a good reason to quit yoga or forget about the bender. No one said it was going to easy. But being tired is also not a good reason to be satisfied with letting one day of physically doing yoga be replaced with mindful meditation (not that, that is a bad thing).
So I took a step back. Sometimes we all need to be reminded it's ok to do what you can. Child's pose is ALWAYS an option. And hitting up a beginners class, doesn't mean you're a beginner. It was actually pretty wonderful. Seeing yoga through the eyes of beginner is refreshing. It reminds me that yoga is not something I want to get tired of, even if I'm tired.
6 more days. What an incredible experience we've all had. I can't wait to celebrate!
The awesomely annoying thing about the bender has been that every class is full of so much more possibility. Poses are deeper, held longer, pushed to their edge. Which is fantastic unless the minute you get into a high lung, your leg starts to tremble like a leaf.
Being tired isn't a good reason to quit yoga or forget about the bender. No one said it was going to easy. But being tired is also not a good reason to be satisfied with letting one day of physically doing yoga be replaced with mindful meditation (not that, that is a bad thing).
So I took a step back. Sometimes we all need to be reminded it's ok to do what you can. Child's pose is ALWAYS an option. And hitting up a beginners class, doesn't mean you're a beginner. It was actually pretty wonderful. Seeing yoga through the eyes of beginner is refreshing. It reminds me that yoga is not something I want to get tired of, even if I'm tired.
6 more days. What an incredible experience we've all had. I can't wait to celebrate!
Friday, January 23, 2009
building blocks
At the start of the bender, classes were packed... everyone was full of energy and determined to complete the yoga bender. 30 days of consecutive yoga is a major commitment. It takes lots of inspiration AND passion. We have one more week of this bender, keep up the hard work and fierce energy you have already invested.
Classes are much lighter in attendance, these days. That tells me one of two things, (1) you have gotten so used to a daily practice, you are more comfortable practicing at home... or (2) you have fallen off the wagon. If my first assumption is true, that is great news! A personal practice can be an enlightening and joyful experience. If you fit into the category of falling off the wagon, its not too late. You still have 7 days of this bender to make up for it.
Test your edge. Practice more. Work harder. Play with your practice. It's time to get seriously committed, again. As we build on each theme weekly, don't forget about the previous one. Passion takes inspiration. Inspiration happens when you stay committed. Commitment relies on YOU and your community. We are in this together.
Tomorrow we celebrate Yoga Day USA with free yoga classes and a lululemon trunk show. Come support each other and all the newbies that are drawn in. Its exciting to see first-timers meet yoga. The communal feeling at STY is amazing. Come help us build :)
See you in class...
Happy bending!
Brigette
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Passion
Passion... even the word itself has fire to it. Passion is our theme this week. There is a lot to say about passion and what it means in your life. Take a moment and ask yourself, "what are you passionate about?"
In yoga, we often find passion within our asana practice. There are certain "ah ha" moments that happen while practicing and we start ignite that feeling of passion within those experiences. To me, passion comes into play when you find something you love, without obligation. It develops free of choice, by free will. No one ever tells you what to be passionate about. It stems from love, desire and attraction. It can be toward a person, idea or even an activity. For example, I am deeply passionate about yoga (shocker, I know). I love how it makes me feel, both mentally and physically. I love teaching yoga, mostly because I want every single person possible to have the same wonderful experience in their life as I've had and will continue to have. My deep passion for yoga drives me to learn more, teach more, grow more. No one is on my back telling me to do any of this. I do it because I love it.
Take this idea to your practice. When you step on the mat, think about what you are passionate about. What makes you tick? Use every ounce of effort to bring your passions closer to your heart. The power of positive thinking is a very powerful tool. Think about your passions. Dream about your passions. Most importantly, live your passions.
My teacher, Mitchel, said to me one day.... "when you look back at your life as a story, do you actually want to read it? Do you like your story? If you don't, take every opportunity possible to make your life a story you want to read.
Live passionately. If your passions are currently on the back burner, figure out a way to bring them forward. Figure out a way to live through what you are passionate about. Don't waste time living an OK life, when you could be experiencing something grand.
A life full of passion, now that's grand!
Committment AND Passion!
It's been an interesting journey this month! Last Friday, I was on my way to class, and my car battery died! I spent the better part of the day getting the battery replaced, and spending time visiting with my father. He took me to pick up my car, and everyone at the autoshop loved him! So, the day started out with fried jumper cables, progressed to a lovely afternoon with my father while we waited for my car, and then a quiet personal practice of yoga at home. I practiced Pincha Mayurasana in the middle of the room, and then Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana, which I'd never done until Brigette's class last week. I felt peaceful and happy.
This week, when I taught my Hindu friends I found my inspirations for teaching coming just hours before, as usual, and I found it to be filled with both Passion and Committment. I came across the phrase: "Committment is to intention what sunlight is to a flower." I feel as if I am daily watering my practice, and the practice of others. As I began to teach my class we were listening to Sheila Chandra's rendition of "Love it is a Killing Thing", and the lyrics caught my attention: "I wish my love were a nightigale for to sit on garden wall, and I to be a drop of dew upon his chest to fall..." finding it to aptly describe the feeling of Bhakti, or devotion to Source. I read a haiku from Clark Strand's out-of-print Zen classic: "Seeds from a Birch Tree"
"All beings are blossoms, blossoming in a blossoming universe"
[In original Japanese:
Hana no yo no
Hana no yoh naru
Hito bakari]
I found my love for the natural world expanding so much, that when Jyoti and I took our usual Sunday walk after class, the winter trees with their branches against the black sky looked like beautiful old gnarled hands filled with love.
I'll be 'subbing' my first class for Chris Yonker in two weeks, and sometime next month teaching an 'audition class' at another studio. After 'officially' beginning my yoga journey with Lynn Magee and Kitty Daly in 1994, and then studying with Erich Schiffmann, Rodney Yee and Chris Yonker, I slipped off the path from 2003-2005. By then I was too weak to do yoga, and so began chanting Sanskrit mantra. To this day, I have been chanting for hours each day, sometimes sitting in meditation as well, or simply chanting silently while doing other activities. This "committment" has been solid since 2005. And my passion for the Divine has not waned, only grown fuller, like the moon.
This week, when I taught my Hindu friends I found my inspirations for teaching coming just hours before, as usual, and I found it to be filled with both Passion and Committment. I came across the phrase: "Committment is to intention what sunlight is to a flower." I feel as if I am daily watering my practice, and the practice of others. As I began to teach my class we were listening to Sheila Chandra's rendition of "Love it is a Killing Thing", and the lyrics caught my attention: "I wish my love were a nightigale for to sit on garden wall, and I to be a drop of dew upon his chest to fall..." finding it to aptly describe the feeling of Bhakti, or devotion to Source. I read a haiku from Clark Strand's out-of-print Zen classic: "Seeds from a Birch Tree"
"All beings are blossoms, blossoming in a blossoming universe"
[In original Japanese:
Hana no yo no
Hana no yoh naru
Hito bakari]
I found my love for the natural world expanding so much, that when Jyoti and I took our usual Sunday walk after class, the winter trees with their branches against the black sky looked like beautiful old gnarled hands filled with love.
I'll be 'subbing' my first class for Chris Yonker in two weeks, and sometime next month teaching an 'audition class' at another studio. After 'officially' beginning my yoga journey with Lynn Magee and Kitty Daly in 1994, and then studying with Erich Schiffmann, Rodney Yee and Chris Yonker, I slipped off the path from 2003-2005. By then I was too weak to do yoga, and so began chanting Sanskrit mantra. To this day, I have been chanting for hours each day, sometimes sitting in meditation as well, or simply chanting silently while doing other activities. This "committment" has been solid since 2005. And my passion for the Divine has not waned, only grown fuller, like the moon.
Passion
Brigette mentioned passion as the new focus for this week, I know nothing has been written by her stating that yet, but I wanted to say some words that popped into my head this morning as the inaugeration is coming to a close.
As many know I started with ashtanga as my regular practice and taught only that style of yoga for many years, but as I was introduced to the alignments surrounding Anusara yoga, and met more and more Anusara teachers and practitioners and saw the unbounding love and energy they hold and extend from themselves to all around them, and discovered on my own from practicing with these alignments the freedom it gave my body to allow the energy to travel through it and how it opened up my heart and mind. I must say that I have a passion for teaching these things as I discover them.
This new direction my teaching has taken has been embraced by most of my students and in their embracing of it it makes me want to teach it even more.
I've slowly, over many years, discovered a passion, not the only one, but one of many in my life and I must say it only grows and grows as I share it more and more and more each day. And the students I encounter in all my classes, but most notably at Southtown Yoga on an almost daily basis inspire me more and more and build this passion in me more and more.
As I over the next couple weeks am dropping my very last ashtanga class which has been holding on by a thread, which happens to be the very first class I ever taught on my own back in 2001 I realize that I was holding onto the past in keeping this class as long as I have, attached to it in some way and now that I am releasing it I see the universe conspiring to give me more and more in the line of this passion. I anticipate even more and more coming my way as I embrace my passion even more, and I look forward to sharing that with you and having you feed it in me and back around again, creating that circle that is life!
Namaste, Keith
As many know I started with ashtanga as my regular practice and taught only that style of yoga for many years, but as I was introduced to the alignments surrounding Anusara yoga, and met more and more Anusara teachers and practitioners and saw the unbounding love and energy they hold and extend from themselves to all around them, and discovered on my own from practicing with these alignments the freedom it gave my body to allow the energy to travel through it and how it opened up my heart and mind. I must say that I have a passion for teaching these things as I discover them.
This new direction my teaching has taken has been embraced by most of my students and in their embracing of it it makes me want to teach it even more.
I've slowly, over many years, discovered a passion, not the only one, but one of many in my life and I must say it only grows and grows as I share it more and more and more each day. And the students I encounter in all my classes, but most notably at Southtown Yoga on an almost daily basis inspire me more and more and build this passion in me more and more.
As I over the next couple weeks am dropping my very last ashtanga class which has been holding on by a thread, which happens to be the very first class I ever taught on my own back in 2001 I realize that I was holding onto the past in keeping this class as long as I have, attached to it in some way and now that I am releasing it I see the universe conspiring to give me more and more in the line of this passion. I anticipate even more and more coming my way as I embrace my passion even more, and I look forward to sharing that with you and having you feed it in me and back around again, creating that circle that is life!
Namaste, Keith
Monday, January 19, 2009
Commit or else
Commitment seems like such a scary word. I used to tease my fiancee before we got married that "forever is a long time." And it is. No two ways about it. Commitment COULD be viewed as something designed to trap you until the end of time, or you can choose to look at commitment as comfort.
There is comfort in relying on something or someone. There is comfort in knowing you can depend on them/it to be there. This is the way I choose to look at the bender. I am as committed to it, as it is to me. We are there for each other to lean on, to depend on.
I view commitment as a two-sided thing. Sure an inanimate object can't commit itself to you, but it can give you things. Yoga gives you as much as you give it. It responds to you in the like and kind you speak to it. Some days it's gentle. Other days it wants to make you work. Some day it wants to take it farther and deeper than you every thought possible.
That's the beauty of a commitment. Because once you are willing to open yourself up to it, you are free to discover the depth the relationship can go. And to be honest, some days the commitment is a little more than superficial (A headstand counts as yoga, right?). But other days, I just know that my relationship with my yoga has grown.
I think people fear commitment because they think it means 110% every second of everyday. I like to think of it as making a decision to stick with something to the best of your ability and not denying yourself the beauty of the relationship. Grow. Learn. Hell, fail! But don't let the relationship you have developed over the last 19 days with your yoga die.
Happy Over Halfway!
Rachael
There is comfort in relying on something or someone. There is comfort in knowing you can depend on them/it to be there. This is the way I choose to look at the bender. I am as committed to it, as it is to me. We are there for each other to lean on, to depend on.
I view commitment as a two-sided thing. Sure an inanimate object can't commit itself to you, but it can give you things. Yoga gives you as much as you give it. It responds to you in the like and kind you speak to it. Some days it's gentle. Other days it wants to make you work. Some day it wants to take it farther and deeper than you every thought possible.
That's the beauty of a commitment. Because once you are willing to open yourself up to it, you are free to discover the depth the relationship can go. And to be honest, some days the commitment is a little more than superficial (A headstand counts as yoga, right?). But other days, I just know that my relationship with my yoga has grown.
I think people fear commitment because they think it means 110% every second of everyday. I like to think of it as making a decision to stick with something to the best of your ability and not denying yourself the beauty of the relationship. Grow. Learn. Hell, fail! But don't let the relationship you have developed over the last 19 days with your yoga die.
Happy Over Halfway!
Rachael
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Commitment
Ok, I've been thinking about this idea of commitment a lot since Brigette posted the first blog on it and what does that mean to me?!?
I've been committed to an almost daily practice, at least 5-6 days per week for what will be 9 years in March, so how does that fit, not really anything I could come up with to write about. Until my practice this morning.
I was doing an Eye of the Tiger practice, which is something that was laid out by John Friend in a specific order to optimise the use of the Universal Principles of Alignment and open up your body - probably more open than its ever been. One day you can focus on backbending, ab work, hip openers, arm balances and standing poses, another day forward bends, inversions and standing poses (always with the damn standing poses!) and today was a day that I was doing the former.
So I go through Sun Salutes, handstands (about 5 different ways) and forearm balance. Did I forget to mention that you always start with these when doing Eye of the Tiger? Ok, now you know. Then I go to standing poses, arm balances, abs, hips and I'm about to start backbends, somewhere in there is where I usually poop out-I mean I've been going for an hour and a half already, but then the commitment idea came into my head. Am I committing to this as my practice today? No, I'm wanting to poop out, so I did it and committed to finishing. Much to my surprise I feel better now and more invigorated than I have in weeks and was able to do some of the things more fully than ever, even being able to do the hardest (in my opinion) of the backbends, Mandalasana. You go up into a headstand and then drop back to Viparita Dandasana, basically headstand in a backbend and then walk or run around your head, both directions. We did this in the Practice class this past week but I did it at home by myself. I had to committ yet again to working on my Eka Pada Rajakapotasana and was able to get my foot, in two different ways.
Now the point of all of this is not that I was able to perform these asanas but that by committing to doing my best in them I was able to get deeper into myself and deeper into a connection with reality and feel more open to bigger and better things and my back feels fracking awesome!
I hope to hear some more from more of you soon!
Keith
I've been committed to an almost daily practice, at least 5-6 days per week for what will be 9 years in March, so how does that fit, not really anything I could come up with to write about. Until my practice this morning.
I was doing an Eye of the Tiger practice, which is something that was laid out by John Friend in a specific order to optimise the use of the Universal Principles of Alignment and open up your body - probably more open than its ever been. One day you can focus on backbending, ab work, hip openers, arm balances and standing poses, another day forward bends, inversions and standing poses (always with the damn standing poses!) and today was a day that I was doing the former.
So I go through Sun Salutes, handstands (about 5 different ways) and forearm balance. Did I forget to mention that you always start with these when doing Eye of the Tiger? Ok, now you know. Then I go to standing poses, arm balances, abs, hips and I'm about to start backbends, somewhere in there is where I usually poop out-I mean I've been going for an hour and a half already, but then the commitment idea came into my head. Am I committing to this as my practice today? No, I'm wanting to poop out, so I did it and committed to finishing. Much to my surprise I feel better now and more invigorated than I have in weeks and was able to do some of the things more fully than ever, even being able to do the hardest (in my opinion) of the backbends, Mandalasana. You go up into a headstand and then drop back to Viparita Dandasana, basically headstand in a backbend and then walk or run around your head, both directions. We did this in the Practice class this past week but I did it at home by myself. I had to committ yet again to working on my Eka Pada Rajakapotasana and was able to get my foot, in two different ways.
Now the point of all of this is not that I was able to perform these asanas but that by committing to doing my best in them I was able to get deeper into myself and deeper into a connection with reality and feel more open to bigger and better things and my back feels fracking awesome!
I hope to hear some more from more of you soon!
Keith
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