While cruising by some of the blogs that I read, I came upon this website and I love the content: The Magazine of Yoga. This will definitely be a new resource.
I was reading a posting (an interview with Linda-Sama Karl, whose blog I love) that resonated with me, especially the part about SLOWING down a yoga practice. This is so true: slowing down is far more of a challenge than constantly moving and flowing. There is a time and a place for both practices but at times, slowing down and just BEING is what we need in this time of constant MOVEMENT. Especially when we are always so connected to our various devices: computer, phone, etc... And I get caught up in that web as well.
And this next one was delivered to my e-mail inbox this morning and it, too, resonated with me! The Daily Downward Dog's posting about the holiday season is a must read. She talks about using the "Messages of Light" cards (on my Wish List) by Mario Duguay. The following quote was on one of the cards and I will be shamelessly adopting this mantra, which is important at any time of the year and in any situation:
"Attain Serenity
I no longer let myself be swept into the turmoil of my mind and emotions.
From now on I let go of all stress, tension, and worry so I may attain harmony and serenity.
I will do one thing at a time and savor each moment. "
Namaste and thanks for dropping by...
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #7
Well, that break from my Top 10 list was a little longer than I thought it would be BUT sometimes it takes time to rest and rejuvenate... hence reason #7
7. Learning to Listen to Your Inner Teacher
Sometimes it takes me a while to tune into my inner teacher, to listen to my inner voice. That voice can be the chatter I hear but can also be my body talking to me. That talk can be as simple as a twinge here and there or the ahhhh feeling as I settle into a pose. It gets better as I get older (gosh I HOPE so) but as in most everything in life... it is a process with ups and downs and turn-arounds!
I teach my yoga students, and indeed my language and computer students (my other jobs), to trust their own instincts. Most often, once we have learned something, it is tucked away in that lovely brain of ours SOMEwhere. With yoga, I believe we create the necessary muscle memory and our bodies remember the poses, instinctively knowing what is right. Whenever we practice, we need to listen to those signals that are right there in front of us. Knowing when to push a little more, when to step back, ease off a pose... that is listening to ourselves and respecting our inner teacher. Sometimes our mind needs to step back a bit and let our bodies ease into a pose such as when we are trying out a new pose, for example the first time we fly in Crow or take that leap of faith in Handstand or allow our hearts to soar in Wheel.
The same thing can be said for listening to our inner voice as we travel through our days... we all know that feeling that comes over us when something "just doesn't feel right". Conversly that feeling we enjoy as KNOW that we are doing something that is SO RIGHT for us or when we meet people or see places that just resonate with us in ways that are often difficult to articulate. Learning to understand that voice and distinguishing the real message from the hidden message we can tune into that inner teacher.
Namaste and Happy Thanksgiving!
7. Learning to Listen to Your Inner Teacher
Sometimes it takes me a while to tune into my inner teacher, to listen to my inner voice. That voice can be the chatter I hear but can also be my body talking to me. That talk can be as simple as a twinge here and there or the ahhhh feeling as I settle into a pose. It gets better as I get older (gosh I HOPE so) but as in most everything in life... it is a process with ups and downs and turn-arounds!
I teach my yoga students, and indeed my language and computer students (my other jobs), to trust their own instincts. Most often, once we have learned something, it is tucked away in that lovely brain of ours SOMEwhere. With yoga, I believe we create the necessary muscle memory and our bodies remember the poses, instinctively knowing what is right. Whenever we practice, we need to listen to those signals that are right there in front of us. Knowing when to push a little more, when to step back, ease off a pose... that is listening to ourselves and respecting our inner teacher. Sometimes our mind needs to step back a bit and let our bodies ease into a pose such as when we are trying out a new pose, for example the first time we fly in Crow or take that leap of faith in Handstand or allow our hearts to soar in Wheel.
The same thing can be said for listening to our inner voice as we travel through our days... we all know that feeling that comes over us when something "just doesn't feel right". Conversly that feeling we enjoy as KNOW that we are doing something that is SO RIGHT for us or when we meet people or see places that just resonate with us in ways that are often difficult to articulate. Learning to understand that voice and distinguishing the real message from the hidden message we can tune into that inner teacher.
Namaste and Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Twists....
There is something amazing about twists. Any kind of twist. We are all drawn to them in some form or another. I see people standing in line at the grocery gently moving themselves into twists, I notice my students as they warm up before class doing reclined twists, using breath to ease into them... and as I work on my computer and need a break, I am instantly drawn to a seated twist.
There is a reason for that. I was just re-reading Julie Gudmestad's Yoga Journal article on twists and she mentions how there are physiological benefits as well as structural and focus benefits to twists. She goes on to remind us that B.K.S Iyengar (there is a reason I am drawn to Iyengar... that's another posting for the future!) described twists as a "squeeze and soak"action... our organs are compressed while we twist thereby releasing blood filled with toxins and then as we release the twist, freshly oxygenated blood rushes in.... ahhhh, I can feel it now! And I know that for me just changing my orientation can be of benefit.... sitting at our desks, in a car or an airplane we are facing forward. Twists enable us to see around us. I always find my mood elevated as I relax into a twist. Afterwards things just seem a little more in perspective.
As we twist, we visualize our spine unfurling from the base and reaching upwards towards the crown of the head. Using our abdominal and spinal muscles to deepen the twist we can settle in an enjoy the pose. And then as we release, we feel our bodies smile....
Go on, do a twist!
There is a reason for that. I was just re-reading Julie Gudmestad's Yoga Journal article on twists and she mentions how there are physiological benefits as well as structural and focus benefits to twists. She goes on to remind us that B.K.S Iyengar (there is a reason I am drawn to Iyengar... that's another posting for the future!) described twists as a "squeeze and soak"action... our organs are compressed while we twist thereby releasing blood filled with toxins and then as we release the twist, freshly oxygenated blood rushes in.... ahhhh, I can feel it now! And I know that for me just changing my orientation can be of benefit.... sitting at our desks, in a car or an airplane we are facing forward. Twists enable us to see around us. I always find my mood elevated as I relax into a twist. Afterwards things just seem a little more in perspective.
As we twist, we visualize our spine unfurling from the base and reaching upwards towards the crown of the head. Using our abdominal and spinal muscles to deepen the twist we can settle in an enjoy the pose. And then as we release, we feel our bodies smile....
Go on, do a twist!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Phillip Askew & Lydia Walker - Variations On Surya Namaskara (Music by Jonah Rank)
The beauty in this piece is amazing! Anyone who practices yoga and/or dances will appreciate the whole piece.... The music is so perfectly attuned to the performers and makes you hold your breath as you watch.
Namaste!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
What's your favorite Yoga pose? What pose(s) do you avoid??
Taking a break from the Top 10 List. This topic has been percolating in my mind for the past several weeks...
What is your go-to yoga pose... the one that makes you feel good, the one that you can just settle into and know your body and mind will be at one? And on the flip side: what pose(s) do you seem to avoid? Come on, I KNOW I avoid some poses! And those are the poses that I know I need... because when I come into them, the feeling both in my body and in my mind tells me so,
As if to show me that this is the right posting for the day, I stumbled upon the following in Yoga Journal's blogs today... Read on my friends:
5 Ways to Embrace a Pose You Loathe - Yoga Blog Yoga Journal
And the more I search the Internet, the more I find things about favourite yoga poses.
On About. com: Show your Favorite Yoga Poses
And on FitSugar I found this: Readers Name Their Top 5 Yoga Poses
On Gaiam Life I read about what your favourite Yoga Pose says about you... hmmm.
Just discovered this blog and here's what Jehara had to say: 13 Favorite Yoga Poses
I really DO have some poses that I relish sinking into, settling into... Either for the relaxation or for the way my mood just soars.
Reverse Warrior AKA Exalted Warrior. This one is amazing. Everyone always looks wonderful as I scan the room when I teach a class! I also love the way I feel as I do this pose and afterwards I feel energized and happy.
Reclined Pigeon... ahhhh, need I say more? Some days it is more of a challenge to find that comfort in the hip area, but I KNOW I need this pose and that just feels right.
When I am tired and need to re-energize, I love Legs up the Wall pose... just allowing my body to settle into the floor, to feel my hips and spine release and sense the ease of blood flow in my legs.... Think I'll stop typing now and practice some yoga!
There are more... and I'll add them to my Poses Of the Moment as I find the time.
Oh, yeah, on the FLIP side... what pose(s) do I avoid? Welllll, anyone that knows me knows I am not so crazy about arm balances, although when I succeed I LOVE them. So I suppose you could say I have a LOVE/HATE relationship to Crane pose! Here is a great link to some arm balances in Yoga Journal... I now have this on my To-Do list for December...
Arm Balance Poses - Yoga Journal
Stay tuned and Thank You for reading....
What is your go-to yoga pose... the one that makes you feel good, the one that you can just settle into and know your body and mind will be at one? And on the flip side: what pose(s) do you seem to avoid? Come on, I KNOW I avoid some poses! And those are the poses that I know I need... because when I come into them, the feeling both in my body and in my mind tells me so,
As if to show me that this is the right posting for the day, I stumbled upon the following in Yoga Journal's blogs today... Read on my friends:
5 Ways to Embrace a Pose You Loathe - Yoga Blog Yoga Journal
And the more I search the Internet, the more I find things about favourite yoga poses.
On About. com: Show your Favorite Yoga Poses
And on FitSugar I found this: Readers Name Their Top 5 Yoga Poses
On Gaiam Life I read about what your favourite Yoga Pose says about you... hmmm.
Just discovered this blog and here's what Jehara had to say: 13 Favorite Yoga Poses
I really DO have some poses that I relish sinking into, settling into... Either for the relaxation or for the way my mood just soars.
Reverse Warrior AKA Exalted Warrior. This one is amazing. Everyone always looks wonderful as I scan the room when I teach a class! I also love the way I feel as I do this pose and afterwards I feel energized and happy.
Reclined Pigeon... ahhhh, need I say more? Some days it is more of a challenge to find that comfort in the hip area, but I KNOW I need this pose and that just feels right.
When I am tired and need to re-energize, I love Legs up the Wall pose... just allowing my body to settle into the floor, to feel my hips and spine release and sense the ease of blood flow in my legs.... Think I'll stop typing now and practice some yoga!
There are more... and I'll add them to my Poses Of the Moment as I find the time.
Oh, yeah, on the FLIP side... what pose(s) do I avoid? Welllll, anyone that knows me knows I am not so crazy about arm balances, although when I succeed I LOVE them. So I suppose you could say I have a LOVE/HATE relationship to Crane pose! Here is a great link to some arm balances in Yoga Journal... I now have this on my To-Do list for December...
Arm Balance Poses - Yoga Journal
Stay tuned and Thank You for reading....
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Diane Hudock - Ahmanda Yoga Flow
Just watched this and it is more poetry in motion! It is Diane Hudock's Ahmanda Flow. Seeing that I am just home from a trip and don't feel like doing too much, today will be VISUALIZATION yoga.... ahhhh.
Happy Sunday!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Top 10 Reasons to Practice Yoga - #6
Why do I practice yoga? Sometimes life is beautifully serendipitous.... The subject of the Yoga Journal Daily Insight newsletter I received today is: Bring Balance Home... and one of the articles posted is entitled: Why Do We Practice?, written by Richard Rosen. Click on the link to read the whole piece. What really stood out to me right now was:
"... Sri Aurobindo, the great 20th-century Indian sage and progenitor of Integral Yoga, reminds us, "All life is yoga." ..."
The article goes on to say how Yoga is woven through our lives... We could seclude ourselves and ponder life but we need to LIVE and part of that is dealing with everything that life has to offer: family, friends, jobs, problems.... etc. It is in HOW we take yoga OFF the mat and into our lives that our practice becomes whole and part of our lives. Each breath and each movement becomes asana, or as I sometimes refer to it, a dance.
So reason number 6 is:
Because Life IS Yoga.
Cool.
"... Sri Aurobindo, the great 20th-century Indian sage and progenitor of Integral Yoga, reminds us, "All life is yoga." ..."
The article goes on to say how Yoga is woven through our lives... We could seclude ourselves and ponder life but we need to LIVE and part of that is dealing with everything that life has to offer: family, friends, jobs, problems.... etc. It is in HOW we take yoga OFF the mat and into our lives that our practice becomes whole and part of our lives. Each breath and each movement becomes asana, or as I sometimes refer to it, a dance.
So reason number 6 is:
Because Life IS Yoga.
Cool.
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