(From Yogajournal.com)
Have you ever gotten up after Savasana (Corpse Pose) at the end of a class feeling a little too calm—unable to refocus and go back to your busy day? Feeling groggy and disoriented after yoga may be the result of inadequate attention to postpractice relaxation. To remain energetic, centered, and focused after finishing your yoga practice, stay in Savasana for at least five minutes at the end of every session, although 10 to 20 minutes would probably be better. If you skip Savasana, your body doesn't have time to assimilate the effects of asana practice.
With a few modifications of Savasana, the effects of the pose can be enhanced. It's important to allow the body to relax deeply. First, make sure your body is arranged as evenly and comfortably as possible. Once you're comfortable, start at your toes and work your way up your body, consciously releasing each part in turn. Then begin to release your senses: Soften your tongue and let your eyes drop back in your eye sockets. Imagine your nose softening into your face and your inner ears relaxing.
IN THIS ISSUE
Savasana (Corpse Pose)
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/482
Friday, December 19, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Joy of Teaching
I just taught the first class last night of Restorative Yoga. I love my students on Monday nights. I have at least 3-4 students who have been coming to my classes for 3 years! It's truly an honor. I realized after class what joy I get out of teaching. It's the sharing about me and the practice of yoga that makes it joyful. I had so much fun helping them relax in the postures; to help them be in their bodies. This time of the year we get so into our heads and I really stressed that in class. It was my invitation to them really stop and just be in the body. Be with breath. I know this can be difficult for people who aren't in their bodies which I did mention a bit, but the first step is observing the breath and the way it is in your body.
I gave them a little homework assignment! Ha! I love it! I asked them to practice at least one of the poses we did in class for at least 5 minutes everyday and to see what happens. I can't wait for next week!
I gave them a little homework assignment! Ha! I love it! I asked them to practice at least one of the poses we did in class for at least 5 minutes everyday and to see what happens. I can't wait for next week!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
One Step at a Time
(From Yogajournal.com)
Gosh! I've totally been one of those people. But, now I use it for inspiration.
Do you ever look at an advanced yoga practitioner in an awe-inspiring position at your yoga studio or in a magazine and think to yourself: "I would never be able to do that!"?
Join the club! Most yoga students can relate to being envious, overwhelmed, or even discouraged when they see someone doing what seems to be an unobtainable pose. But instead of concentrating on your own shortcomings, next time try to focus on the potential you have in your yoga practice—if not physically, then certainly spiritually.
Although there will always be exceptions, most accomplished yogis didn't come out of the womb with the abilities they display in those awesome postures. They used yoga as a tool to gradually improve their flexibility, strength, and concentration—just like you. And remember, yoga isn't about being able to shape your body into a pretzel. It's about what you learn about yourself while you practice that matters.
IN THIS ISSUE
The Wellspring of Joy
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/1157
Polishing the Mirror
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2523
Gosh! I've totally been one of those people. But, now I use it for inspiration.
Do you ever look at an advanced yoga practitioner in an awe-inspiring position at your yoga studio or in a magazine and think to yourself: "I would never be able to do that!"?
Join the club! Most yoga students can relate to being envious, overwhelmed, or even discouraged when they see someone doing what seems to be an unobtainable pose. But instead of concentrating on your own shortcomings, next time try to focus on the potential you have in your yoga practice—if not physically, then certainly spiritually.
Although there will always be exceptions, most accomplished yogis didn't come out of the womb with the abilities they display in those awesome postures. They used yoga as a tool to gradually improve their flexibility, strength, and concentration—just like you. And remember, yoga isn't about being able to shape your body into a pretzel. It's about what you learn about yourself while you practice that matters.
IN THIS ISSUE
The Wellspring of Joy
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/1157
Polishing the Mirror
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2523
Monday, November 24, 2008
Bare Bones Butoh 12 performance
It was so great to perform again. It's been a few months, but it's always a blast. I've been developing more work on this ongoing piece I've been showing at Bare Bones called "Purge". It has to do with a struggle of identity with the world inside and outside of us. How so many things influence us from the external world (people, current events, pharmaceuticals, etc) into the internal world (mind, body, spirit, psyche, breakdowns, etc).
This particular installation was about birth and how our experience affects how we respond to this new world around us. Most births are initially traumatic for the baby (depending on the environment they're born into) and mother. During my Holistic Health program we had a module where we got to experience birth regression and how the way we were born has affected us throughout our lives. For example, I was born as a planned C-section, so my mother didn't go into labor, wasn't that nervous because she knew when I was going to be born. So there wasn't any excitement. I also didn't have any choice in the matter. They just opened up my mom and took me out. Think about how that would feel!
So taking this experience into my performance was really interesting. I can't wait to explore this more and longer as my piece was pretty short. The picture I've included depicts coming out of the womb for the first time. I named the image "Shock".
Don't Get Mad, Get Yoga
(From YogaJournal.com)
Yoga and meditation build awareness. And the more aware you are, the easier it is to break free of destructive emotions like anger.
Studies suggest that chronic anger and hostility are as strongly linked to heart attacks as are smoking, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol. Yoga appears to reduce anger by increasing feelings of compassion and interconnection and by calming the nervous system and the mind. It also increases your ability to step back from the drama of your own life, to remain steady in the face of bad news or unsettling events. You can still react quickly when you need to—and there's evidence that yoga speeds reaction time—but you can take that split second to choose a more thoughtful approach, reducing suffering for yourself and others.
IN THIS ISSUE
Meditation 101
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/1307
Unmasking Anger
Yoga and meditation build awareness. And the more aware you are, the easier it is to break free of destructive emotions like anger.
Studies suggest that chronic anger and hostility are as strongly linked to heart attacks as are smoking, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol. Yoga appears to reduce anger by increasing feelings of compassion and interconnection and by calming the nervous system and the mind. It also increases your ability to step back from the drama of your own life, to remain steady in the face of bad news or unsettling events. You can still react quickly when you need to—and there's evidence that yoga speeds reaction time—but you can take that split second to choose a more thoughtful approach, reducing suffering for yourself and others.
IN THIS ISSUE
Meditation 101
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/1307
Unmasking Anger
Friday, November 21, 2008
All Together Now
(From Yoga Journal.com)
All Together Now
Have you ever wondered why public classes are so popular? Yoga is something that, once the foundation is built, everyone could do at home on their own. It's true that we get individualized instruction at a yoga class. And yes, we learn different things from our teacher and other practitioners that we might not discover in our own home practices. One of the biggest reasons many of us enjoy going to class is because it's inspiring and uplifting to share our practice with others. It's exciting to synchronize our movements with those of our classmates, and when we enter a room that's filled with energy, we in turn feel energized.
Even if you never speak to the person on the mat beside yours, there's something magical about connecting with other people to practice. Although every class won't be a perfect fit for our individual needs, we sacrifice to enjoy the company of others.
The next time you attend a public class, why not take a moment to be grateful for the way that the other people in the room enhance the experience of your practice.
IN THIS ISSUE
Bring Connection Home
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/1455
Not All Yoga Is Created Equal
http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/165
All Together Now
Have you ever wondered why public classes are so popular? Yoga is something that, once the foundation is built, everyone could do at home on their own. It's true that we get individualized instruction at a yoga class. And yes, we learn different things from our teacher and other practitioners that we might not discover in our own home practices. One of the biggest reasons many of us enjoy going to class is because it's inspiring and uplifting to share our practice with others. It's exciting to synchronize our movements with those of our classmates, and when we enter a room that's filled with energy, we in turn feel energized.
Even if you never speak to the person on the mat beside yours, there's something magical about connecting with other people to practice. Although every class won't be a perfect fit for our individual needs, we sacrifice to enjoy the company of others.
The next time you attend a public class, why not take a moment to be grateful for the way that the other people in the room enhance the experience of your practice.
IN THIS ISSUE
Bring Connection Home
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/1455
Not All Yoga Is Created Equal
http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/165
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Free Yourself
Resistance becomes a problem when the psychological immune system doesn't know when or how to let down its boundaries. Then resistance stops being a useful filtering device and becomes a wall, a kind of armor. Sometimes the habit of resisting is so deeply ingrained that you can't tell whether your inner "no" is a legitimate warning or just obstructive. You can live for years with a tendency to resistance that reveals itself in insidious ways: as an inclination to slide away from intimacy; a habit of avoiding difficult emotions by sleeping or watching TV; or simply the onset of restlessness, anxiety, or boredom that keeps you from resting in the present moment. Then, when you truly want to make a change, the wall of resistance can seem impenetrable.
Developing an awareness of your resistance style is the first step in working with it. Yoga and meditation often help develop and break through these styles of resistance. Try to respect your feelings of resistance as well as let the feelings that seem less beneficial to your life dissolve. Part of this is pure conditioning from those deep-seated beliefs that success, love, meaningful work, social justice, and whatever else you value come from outer-directed effort and that inwardness is somehow a waste of time. More often, however, the resistance stems from fear—fear of your emotions, fear of the unknown, and, finally, fear of your own essence, your own grandeur. To move past resistance in your practice is to free yourself in ways you have never anticipated.
IN THIS ISSUE
Free Yourself
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2516
What Are You Resisting?
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2580
Developing an awareness of your resistance style is the first step in working with it. Yoga and meditation often help develop and break through these styles of resistance. Try to respect your feelings of resistance as well as let the feelings that seem less beneficial to your life dissolve. Part of this is pure conditioning from those deep-seated beliefs that success, love, meaningful work, social justice, and whatever else you value come from outer-directed effort and that inwardness is somehow a waste of time. More often, however, the resistance stems from fear—fear of your emotions, fear of the unknown, and, finally, fear of your own essence, your own grandeur. To move past resistance in your practice is to free yourself in ways you have never anticipated.
IN THIS ISSUE
Free Yourself
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2516
What Are You Resisting?
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2580
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