Be Present- Yoga & Life in San Diego

Classes and classes

2009-04-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Normally I post what I taught at my previous class. Unfortunately, I am at least 3 or 4 classes behind! Oops. I am also really behind in writing about other classes I have recently taken.

Hopefully I will spend some time this weekend putting some of my thoughts and observations into cyberspace soon.

I have picked up at least 3 new classes to teach and I am super excited about them. I also subbed at Chula Vista Yoga Center last night and loved the openess and positive energy of the students there. I had about 50 people in the class and it was an amazing place to be for those 90 minutes. I could not believe how well everyone exemplified the core priciples of yoga. It was a perfect lesson of: 1) no expectations, 2) no judgment, 3) being present, and 4) demonstrating kindness.

I really did not know what the overall opinion of my teaching style and the class would be at the end of the night, so I was on cloud 9.5 when I received loving feedback and had confirmation that I helped guide some of them through a postive practice.

They could have chosen to revolt. I was far from stellar last night, in part due to the crazy circumstances that had me rushing there without a chance to calm my mind and transition out of my office mindset.

I borrowed clothes to teach in. I went straight from the courthouse to a doctor appointment, and then to the studio. I had no clue where the lights were and when the sun went down I had them practicing in near blackness until I saw the switches. I did not have a watch or any clock and was not positive how many minutes the playlist I put on would last so I was clueless to what time it was when I had them slip into savasana. Nevertheless, it all seemed to be okay!

Tonight I have my candlelight class. I love this class and I really love the self-practice I do after it is over. I really really love the Yogurtland I usually treat myslef to before I head home!

Absence

2009-04-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

Not that I think people are out there missing my postings or wondering what happened to my regular musings because I am thrilled just to have somewhere to write and keep track of the other blogs I like to visit---but lately I have found it difficult to get up enough energy to express myself.

I started worrying about leaving the safety of my regular paying job and then really wondering what I am going to do with my life. It feels odd to be done with college, done with graduate school, having worked in the professional world, and nearing 30; yet, realizing that I am still in the process of trying on different hats to see which one fits well and is attractive and will last through the years. Metaphor there is that I am a freaking adult that spend thousands and thousands of dollars and years on getting to that career stage, and once I reached the top of the mountain I realized that the view was a landfill and that I had at least another moutain to climb before I reach the place I am meant to be.

In some ways I feel fortunate that I am being honest with myself and admitting that what I thought I should be doing with my life is definitely not what I want to or should be doing with it. I am comfortable admitting that the corporate world and all that comes with it is not cut out for me. After 20+ years I figured out that I don't actually enjoy and thrive on stress.

Problem is that I need to find a way to pay rent, buy food, maintain health coverage, and pay off those grad school loans while I go through the process of figuring out whether to go back to school and become a physical therapist so I can use yoga and pilates and other holistic treatments in that practice; or do I try to find a way to get a masters or PhD in an area that will allow me to focus on international human rights issues and somehow involve yoga into that realm as well; or do I open a business; or do I try to make ends meet by stringing together enough yoga teaching jobs and miscellaneous work to make ends meet?

It is almost funny to think I spent years and years not having a clue what I wanted to do. I got so caught up in what I thought I was supposed to do and be and what others told me I should do or be that I did not have any concept of my true self.

The last year has been filled with peeling back the proverbial layers, delving into the depths of my relationship with my parents; coming to terms with decisions I made at points when I did not know myself; and finally, embracing the opportunity to let go of what I carried for so many years so that I could find joy in the journey of living---struggles and all.

Obviously I have some more layers to get through, but I think it gets easier after you work past the rough surface. I am truly thrilled that I have come to a place where I feel okay being.

Teaching at the Wall

2009-04-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

I am a person that needs a lot of change and variety to keep me interested and focused. I am pretty sure that if I went to a doctor looking for a diagnosis they would tell me I fall into the A.D.D. category. What that translates to as far as yoga and teaching yoga: I change things up a lot. A lot a lot.

My tendency to change things up is one reason I could not be a pure ashtangi and one of the many reasons why the idea of Bikram makes me contemplate poking my eye out with a dull pencil.

But, if you like a lot of change (and some people definitely are averse to change), you might like showing up at my yoga classes. I change the poses, the integration sequencing, the use of props, the sun salutations, the music, and my savasana love regularly.

Last night I decided to change up the beginning of class and do a portion against the wall to work on alignment and integrity in certain foundational poses. The group I had last night seemed to welcome the Iyengaresque approach and I definitely saw some light bulbs go off when we did triangle, warrior-2, and ardha chandrasana (half moon).

Here's the general sequence:

Standing tai chi twists.
Quarter moon stretches (3 on each side using breath)
Shoulder opener (clasp hands behind back) and fold to uttanasana
Rag doll

Surya Namaskara/Sun Salutation:

Tadasana-urdvha hastasana-uttanasana-low anjenayasana-chatturanga-
downdog-anjenayasana-uttanasana-urdvha hastasana

First round was slower paced and then we did 2 more together and then I had the class do 3 rounds at their own pace.

Ukatasana
Warrior 2 in center of room
Extended side angle/ parsvokonasana
Reverse warrior
Cartwheel to floor for low lunge hip opener variation (rolling onto outside edge of front foot & come to forearms if able)
Eka pada anjaneyasana (quad stretch in low lunge)
plank/chatturanga
Updog
Downdog

Repeat Left side

Move to Wall:
Triangle
ardha chandrasana/ half moon
warrior 2

Back to center of room to do Eagle with a prep in Crane

Malasana/Squat---play here shifting weight side-to-side and in circles

Come to floor
Janu sirsasana rolling up to modified side plank and circling top arm back for a slight back bend/heart opener

Repeat other side

Ardha Matsyendrasana

Half Saddle

Supine twist starting from belly

Savasana

If time allowed I thought about doing:

Rocket Cats for core strengthening
Ustrasana at wall [one arm at a time and then both)
Paschimottanasana
Table top

I loved all their questions and excitement when they felt the poses at new depths and in new places.

And- the music rocked (I am biased though since I chose it)!!

Anya Marina

2009-04-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

So I loooooovvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeee her. Her music is fabulous and she was absolutely adorable the other weekend when I saw her at the Casbah (birthday luck for moi). When I woke up in the middle of the night last night and could not get back to sleep for 4 hours I ended up splurging on itunes.

What was my big purchase of the night? Yes---Anya Marina's new album: Slow and Steady Seduction Phase II.

I can't wait to play it in my yoga classes!

I am just hoping I can find a way to download her acoustic cover of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like." That, however, is not yoga class appropriate lyrics. It is appropriate for a cardio/fitness pole dancing or strip class though :)

Yoga for Athletes

2009-04-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Subbed again last night and had a really great class. I think I am going to start teaching Yoga for Athletes Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

The yoga class will follow a group cycling class which is perfect because I have been wanting to start teaching what I will call: SAVY (Spinning and Vinyasa Yoga). This will be a double-header style so an hour of each.

When I hopefully start teaching SAVY I think I will do 30-45 minutes of spinning and then maybe 45 of yoga. Ideally the workout will be 90 minutes--so it can vary on how to divide the time up.

Focus will be on counterbalancing the body---equanimity. The yoga will strengthen and lengthen and open the areas that spinning doesn't touch or counteracts.

Super excited to try this out. When I was spinning and yogaing regularly (spinning
3x week and yoga 5-6x), I must say my body was in top form. I felt strong and agile and lean.

Now I just need to find a way to turn my daytime law job to a part-time law job in order to take the health and fitness stuff up a notch!

Enlighten Up in San Diego

2009-04-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Great News!!! Enlighten Up will open in San Diego May 8 at the Ken theater! Now I can save gas and the environment and see it in my town. Can't wait.

Some Southern California Yoga Workshops

2009-04-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Friday April 17 - Saturday April 18 - Sunday April 19, 2009
Thai Massage with Saul David Raye at Exhale in Los Angeles. 12:30-5:30 p.m.

How to Teach Vinyasa Flow with Vinnie Marino at Yoga Works O.C. Costa Mesa. Fri-Sun. $250.

Finding Ease at Your Edge with Jason Crandell at L.A. Yoga Works. Sat. 6-8 p.m. and Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m. $40, 75, or 100 for both. *also with Kathryn Budig!

So much I want to write about...

2009-04-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

and not enough time! The writing requirements of my day job are getting in the way with my ability to blog about yoga and health. I would much rather spend these hours at the computer pouring out my thoughts and experiences related to pilates, healthy recipes, anatomy, meditation, class playlists, world travel and what yoga class I want to go to this week. Unfortunately, I need to draft some orders telling attorneys to just do what they are supposed to do and stop wasting time and whining. I am stuck wading through briefs that make no relevant points and do no thing to improve the world. It's as if everything I write about for work exemplifies why I gravitate toward yoga. it's too bad that I didn't fully understand my dharma until I was committed to a professional degree in a different field.

Thursday Candlelight Class

2009-04-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Taught last night and felt lucky to have a couple hours to lose myself in the moment and focus my attention and energy to others. I have been inside my head a lot this week dealing with heavy personal junk and last night was the first chance I had to just leave my personal mess out of my thoughts.

I had a small class this week. None of my regulars were there. Actually, nobody from last week, which may be because they didn't feel like taking my class again (though they all said they enjoyed it when they left) or perhaps Passover and Easter had something to do with the absences.

I had two wonderful newbieesque students: one make and one female. There was ample opportunity for me to give adjustments and really teach proper alignment in the postures. I ended up just making up class as I went, allowing my students to be my teachers and guides.

We started laying on backs with a block under the back (long ways) to help open the heart and get the shoulderblades pulling onto the back. Next we did easy folding in sukasana and stretched left and right to open up the side body.

Cat/cow and side-to-side spinal curving and then thread the needle. Balasana and finally first downdog of the evening. Walk feet to hands for uttanasana/ rag doll and roll to standing.

Tadasana alignment and then experimenting with shoulders by rolling them and pressing scapula together whil simultaneously pressing shoulders away from ears.

Mini surya namaskaras with low lunges into low crescent lunges. Held ukatasana for a bit and worked on that for thigh stregth.

Warrior 2 and triangle.

Tree.

Low lunge hip opening. Forearms to floor and roll outside edge of front foot to access different parts of hip. Jump switch to other side.

Plank and slowly lower to bellies. Back strengtheners: locust/salabasana, cobra, danurasana (eka pada Right and Left first). Rest in balasana.

Badha konasana. And I am not positive about the order of the rest (or the preceding to tell the truth), but we did supta hasta padangustasana with straps A, B and IT band. Dandasana. Roll down engaging core. Halasana and shoulder stand/salamba sarvangasana with 2 blankets. Happy baby. Supine twists.

Moved mats to wall for legs up the wall and then...Savasana!

That was the best part of my week. I was content and present in the moment and never found myself distracted by the craziness going on in my personal life.

What a week

2009-04-09T23:56:00.000-07:00

This has been one of those weeks where I feel as though I am having an out-of-body experience. I keep waiting to wake up from this overly realistic dream and realize, with relief, that things are as they should be. Sadly, this is not the case. My week is more real than I like to acknowledge.

As I write I am also listening to a song entitled: "The Girl With the Weight of the World in Her Hands." A verse mentions glass half empty versus half full. I can happily say that although there have been moments this week where I felt like the weight of the world was in my hands, I have kept an open mind and continued to see my situation in the half full light.

My yoga practice is a main component of my ability to remain positive and calm and present in this week of emotional turbulence and life crisis. Practicing yoga on my mat and in daily life has allowed me to find myself and I am well on my way to embracing my true, authentic self. I have developed the fortitude to survive situations that I previously believed would cripple me. I can laugh at the absurdities of life and just shake my head when the inexplicable and seemingly impossible happens.

Yoga led me to new friends and has opened my heart to self-love. Yoga has warmed my weathered soul and allowed me to realize that I am perfect just by being present. And when my world gets tense and I begin to struggle, all I have to do is turn to my breath and go to my symbolic mat and escape to a place where I honor my true self and let go of the ego and attachments and expectations and societal norms that previously paralyzed me and prevented me from enjoying existing.

Foudn this through Nadine Fawell and it is from Jaimal Nikos Yogis. Expresses what i was trying to much more beuatifully.

Saltwater Buddha by Enef on Polyvore.com

Celebrations

2009-04-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday was my birthday and my friend/pilates intsructor's wedding day and my best friend also got engaged! Luckily I will easily remember Candise's anniversary and Matt & Amber's engagement anniversary.

Preparing for Class

2009-04-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

I am preparing (while at the day job) to teach tonight. My challenge---I have a friend coming out for the weekend to celebrate my birthday and go see Anya Marina at the Casbah tomorrow and she does not do yoga and has a few limits to what she can do in a practice. I think she is coming to my class tonight and I want her to because this way I can design a class that she can do and will hopefully leave her with a positive feeling about yoga.

So my constraints are no balancing postures, no shoulder stressing openers or push-ups or anything that someone who has had a couple serious shoulder surgeries should not do, and a focus on the back and traps.

Crossing my fingers this goes well.

Surely there will be trikonasana.

Babs Playful Babble

2009-04-01T23:44:00.000-07:00

One of my guilty pleasures is checking up on another yogi/yoga teacher's blog: babsbabble. Her post from yesterday made me smile. Here it is:

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Ah. Class tonight was so great. I had a fun group of students who were willing to try new things. We kept things flowy and fun and then worked on some balancing poses. There was a lot of laughing!

And, then we worked on arm balances. They kept playing until they couldn't anymore and collapsed into bhaktasana laughing.

Classes like this make me think I'm not crazy to be a yoga teacher. Like I might have something to offer.

And here is my reply after reading about a class I wish I was at:

Sounds like the best class ever. My favorite sound in a yoga class is laughter and it is all the more amazing when it comes out of playing with inversions and arm balances. I read somewhere that a yoga teacher will say to her students: "If you wobble smile, if you fall laugh." I love how encouraging laughter encourages yogis to move closer to their edge and challenge themselves to try the poses they might be nervous to try in a silent room.

Maybe this is why there is now Laughter Yoga. Can't wait to see that part of "Enlighten Up!"

"Enlighten Up" the Movie Opens Today in New York--Next week in Cal.

2009-04-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on NPR I listened to an interview with Kate Churchill and Nick Rosen. The movie sounds like it will be a "must see" for American yogis.

Free Previews are being offered to yoga teachers:

Complimentary Preview Teacher Screenings in LA
March 28th, 2009

We are offering complimentary preview screenings for yoga teachers, studio managers and staff a week before we open in Los Angeles. Director Kate Churchill will be present following the screenings to answer questions. If you would like to attend please write to Dana Cote with your name, a link to the studio where you teach and which screening you would like to attend.

IRVINE • Tuesday, 4/7/09 • Westpark 8
SANTA MONICA • Thursday 4/9/09 • Monica 4-Plex
PASADENA • Friday, 4/10/09 Playhouse 7

About the Film
Filmmaker Kate Churchill is determined to prove that yoga can transform anyone. Nick Rosen is skeptical but agrees to be her guinea pig. Kate immerses Nick in yoga, and follows him around the world as he examines the good, the bad and the ugly of yoga. The two encounter celebrity yogis, true believers, kooks and world-renowned gurus. Tensions run high as Nick’s transformational progress lags and Kate’s plan crumbles. What unfolds and what they discover is not what they expected.

Featuring: B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Norman Allen, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Gurmukh, Dharma Mitra, Cyndi Lee, Alan Finger, Rodney Yee, Beryl Bender Birch, Shyamdas, Diamond Dallas Page and many more!

For pictures, clips, reviews, and much more, go to http://enlightenupthefilm.com/
Linked to this post.

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver

2009-03-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Like this quote! Sent to me by one of my yogis.

Frustration...trying to keep from escalating to anger?

2009-03-27T11:21:00.001-07:00

Last night I was frustrated to say the least. After spending at least an hour writing about my frustration, however, the feelings had decreased and I was much more calm about the entire situation. Moral---writing is cathartic for me.

Problem: I spent the hour writing about this frustration for a post. This morning I came back to finish up my rant and...gasp!...once again my draft had disappeared into the unknown.

Perhaps I should be okay with the loss of so many sarcastic, yet humorous and witty remarks because I basically expressed that I thought someone was a moron and that their philosophy on teaching yoga classes according to a pre-ordained flow, rather than based on who shows up at class time is stupid.

Now that I am writing about it all again, I feeling frustrated. I better stop. Instead I will spend some time gathering quotes, etc. on teaching yoga as expressed by some of the most amazing teachers in the world and post them here to support my philosophy that you teach according to the instant needs and desires and energy of the class---not a prescription that creates a studio of Stepford Wife-like teachers and classes!

Does anyone else think that if 6 beginners show up to an all-level class and want a blissful candlelight class that you should give them a speedy, sweat inducing cookie-cutter vinyasa flow at 8:15 pm on a Thursday night? Just wondering. If so, please let me know why. I am open to feedback and changing--or not changing but at least being aware. I just don't see how any yoga teacher is providing a valuable service worth a yogi's time and money if they go on auto-pilot and ignore what the people in the room are needing and wanting.

By the way: I received an email from one of the students after class last night and here is some of what she wrote:

I really enjoyed class tonight....I gain a lot from your classes and would love to take more of them. Maybe we could even get tea sometime as I would like learn more about you and your yoga endeavors.

Deep breathing is required right now. Lots of deep and calming and cleansing breaths. I need yoga. I need to practice letting go!

Old Navy vs. Lululemon

2009-03-26T12:04:00.001-07:00

While cruising my yoga blogs I came across a post at Yoga Buzz regarding Old Navy's line of yoga wear and their advertising/marketing campaign taking shots at Lululemon and its prices.

Here's the post:
Old Navy Goes "Yoga-ing"
If you think yoga classes are expensive, don't even think about shopping for yoga clothes in a cutesy retail boutique store! Some of the big-name yoga brands can charge close to $100 for a pair of yoga pants. With this in mind, mass retailer Old Navy recently launched a line of affordable yoga clothes, and is marketing the line with signs in their stores that say, "Our guru thinks you're lulu if you spend $90 on yoga pants." (Lulu? Is that an abbreviation for looney, or are they referencing our friends at Lululemon?)

It seems like a sound strategy in these economic times. What do you think? (And can any of you speak to the quality of the Old Navy yoga line?)

Here was my comment to the post:

Perhaps the $90 is not in every yogi's budget--however, they last and are expensive because the company cares about human rights and sustainable practices. Though your Old Navy gear may not cost much, it is also manufactured in a developing nation where the workers are not usually paid living wages and the company does not prioritize the health and rights and future of the workers.

Sometimes you pay more because as a consumer you use the power of the purse to encourage thoughtful consumerism. With such a move toward sustainable agriculture, fair trade products, etc., it is companies like lululemnon that promote social awareness and allow consumers to purchase products that they can be proud to wear. Clothing can only cost pennies when the people manufacturing it are paid less than pennies.

And here is YogaDork's Post today on the same topic:

UPDATE: Old Navy’s Anti-Lululemon Ad Confirmed National Campaign
by admin on March 26, 2009

in Business of Yoga, News

UPDATE: We mentioned Old Navy’s laying down the chutzpa with their new lulu-slappin “Goga” ad. Well, we have confirmation that the ad is indeed part of a sweeping national campaign - we saw it with our own little eyeballs at an NYC Old Navy store yesterday. (photo by official YD undercover agent)

Yoga Journal politely wonders if maybe they could be using an abbreviated version of “looney” rather than attacking Lululemon. Haha. We just think the Chipster should have spent a little more time premeditating on the name of his overpriced yoga-inspired clothing company.

PS. The yoga items are surprisingly well-constructed (by Old Navy standards) and cheap - we bought a yoga top on sale for 10 bucks. also, there’s a just as large running/walking section. So far, no word on how great the pants make your ass look. Reports surely to follow.

One more thing. This does seem like a major appeal to the female market, once again with not much attention to dudes.

During my last semester of law school I took a class entitled: Consumer Law. I wrote my paper on consumerism and using purchasing power as a vehicle to communicate what practices you want to promote e.g., fair trade, sustainable agriculture, human rights practices, no sweat shops, etc. I actually value companies like Lululemon that are founded on these principles. Yeah- $90 is a lot for yoga pants. But, they last, the people making them can eat at night, and if we are really talking about being "green" then don't buy new yoga clothes that are manufactured in Southeast Asia and result in a giant carbon footprint when they are shipped to the U.S. Think about what someone is paid per hour if your yoga pants only cost $25. The company marks the product up at least 150% from cost or even wholesale price. Doesn't leave much room for paying a decent wage and offering health care or retirement benefits for the people making your affordable yoga garb.

Sorry for the rant. I appreciate being able to buy cute yoga stuff without going poor--but maybe buy your Lulu stuff on sale or buy it second hand. I think Old Navy is taking a cheap shot at Lulu. What do you think?

Yoga for Athletes

2009-03-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

My friend asked me to sub for her last night. The class is titled: Yoga for Athletes, which is fitting because the class is offered at a small privately owned gym. Yoga follows the Tuesday night spinning class and the gyem owner is wanting to incorporate more yoga into his clients' workout regimen. It appears that the gym owner, Rodrigo, has quite the following in the community. Rodrigo is from Brazil and many of the women leaving the spinning class look like they might have spent some days on the beaches in Rio as well. Whether these women are genetically blessed with their figures or it is a result of Rodrigo's training does not matter---it made me want to start working out there too.

I digressed. Back to the yoga. So Yoga for Athletes...athletes, like the general population, could defintiely benefit from some yoga. In some respects, the athletes need the yoga all the more. From the professional to the weekend warrior, athletes have spent their lives testing the limits of the body. Even the everyday jogger wreaks havoc on their joints, their backs, their internal organs, their IT bands, and surely much more. I am not advocating that anyone quit jogging/running to save their knees from the abuse repetative pounding on concrete causes, but I do advocate adding a few sessions of yoga to their routine to undo any harmful side effects that the running might create. Same goes for cyclists, basketball players, golfers, ultimate fighters, rowers, football players, high and long and broad jumpers, soccer players, swimmers, divers, etc., etc., etc. Yoga ought to be a staple in an athletes life to help prolong careers, prevent injuries, recover from injuries, and so on and so on.

Speaking of yoga and athletes---Kira Ryder of Lulu Bandha's included an article about LeBron James use of yoga to enhance his basketball game. Sasha Cohen also was featured in an article discussing that she now does yoga and as a result feels she is in the best condition of her career and is considering another Olympics if she remains healthy. Yoga Journal interviewed one of the pitchers for the Colorado Rockies about his yoga practice and how that has improved his pitching. All this enthusiam about yoga from some serious athletes andthese are just the most recent examples that come to the tip of my typing.

So I taught Yoga for Athletes last night and enjoyed the audience. It is actually a community I want to work with more and more. I would love to be a personal yoga/pilates coach for professional athletes. Anything is possible--right?

March Madness-Weekend Yoga Workshops

2009-03-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday 3/28:

Spring Celebration Workshop
Rancho Bernardo Yoga
12:00-3:00 pm
$35 per person if paid by March 24, $40 per person after.

Shakti Rising- Spring Awakening with Garry Alesio
Yoga Del Mar
1:00-4:00 pm

**FREE**

Sunday 3/29:

Hips & Twists with Stacy McCarthy
Sculpt Fusion
1:30-3:30 pm
$45

Sculpt Fusion

Being Open Minded

2009-03-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

I challenged myself to be open minded today. I went with my roommate to her yoga studio to take a class this afternoon. I used the experience to practice non-attachment and letting go of expectations. I vowed not to let my ego take over. I focused on understanding why that type of yoga and that studio appeals to so many people.

My first challege came before I had even placed my mat into the studio. The teacher told me that the focus of the class would be quads. Unfortunately, I already have strong, developed quads and have been actively trying to use them less because they are so strong and build muscle so easily. I have been told that my quads are over developed and a massage therapist even suggested that my quads could be contributing to my low back pain. You can imagine how "thrilled" I was to hear that we would be working out my favorite body part. Yippee.

I did my best to turn the quad building poses into quad lengthening and stretching poses and I made some other modifications to counter some of the quad work. For example, instead of doing ustrasana with the group I used that time to do virasana with a heart opener in order to combine quad stretching with some heart opening/ back bending. I also modified Dancer's pose in order to make it more about stretching my quads out rather than it being about balancing and back bending.

Overall, I had a nice practice and definitely got my body moving and my sweat dripping. If nothing else, this was an exercise in being present, being open minded, not letting the ego influence what the true self needs, and letting go of expectations---all central themes in yoga.

Innovative Yoga Sequences

2009-03-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

After I teach and when I am practicing alone at home I like to just let go, be present, release any expectations or plans, and allow my body and subconscious to dictate what poses I do, how I move in and out of them, where I wiggle and shift engergy to, and what shapes I can create to open spaces that have not felt that open before.

Sometimes during these personal yoga practices I come up with fun and often challenging sequences. I try to use exciting transitions between postures, link a number of balancing poses together, move from standing to a seated twist and back to standing in one flowing sequence. I even make up new poses...except maybe they are not new poses, but just poses that I have never seen or been taught before.

I can hold the left and right sides for as long as I wish, do a bunch of hip openers, choose the arm balances I feel like working on, rest in supta badha konasana for ten minutes, start with 20 sun salutations or 2 (I don't think I have ever started with just 2), and allow myself to go on for 20 minutes or 2 entire hours.

To be completely honest, I am my own favorite teacher right now. If you have not spent some time doing your own yoga practice lately, I hope you will do so soon. I am sure you will realize that you are your favorite teacher as well.

Candlelight Yoga

2009-03-20T11:34:00.001-07:00

Taught a candlelight class last night. I twas the first week this was offered and I had 3 students. One newer yogo that is testing out the studio, a nurse that found the class that afternoon while looking online, and an athletic male. The group had some very positive energy and seemed the perfect mix for a late night class. I enjoyed the opportunity to teach to a smaller group because it allowed me to really focus my comments and provide lots of yummy assists and adjustments. If I could have, I would have taught this class for at least 2 hours.

I had them start on their backs in badha konasana with one hand on their heart and the other on their belly. We took some time tuning into the breath and lengthening inhales and exhales, eventually pausing to retain at the top and bottom of the breath cycle.

Next we moved through a brief seated warm up of folding forward in sukasana and gently twisting. Eventually pressing into a bent knee down dog before walking hands back to fee for the first standing forward fold---uttanasana.

I had them build heat with sun salutations. Surya Namaskar A in the sivananda method with modifying chatturanga the first time and starting with cobra. We went through A 3 more times. Sun B was traditional B and could tell that they were getting warm. I helped the newbie focus on modifying chatturanga and only inhaling to cobra because her upper body strength is not quite where it needs to be to do that part of the vinyasa without compromising alignment and comfort in the low back.
The other two just need some work on Urdhva Muka Savasana-Up Dog- to roll the shoulder s back and down and press firmly into the tops of the big toes in order to take the arch out of the lumbar and into the thoracic spine. I did some hands on assisting and adjusting to help guide them into those places.

Standing sequences were crescent moon low lunge and high lunge with twisting and then Vira 2. Then pyramid pose to reverse triangle to twisting 1/2 moon with a release to forward fold.

We balanced with uttitha hasta padangustasana using straps and I challenged them to hold legs out in front for 5 counts. They really did well.

Moving to core work I challenged them at this point with downdog core and finally let them take it to the ground for janu sirsasana and related seated poses. By the time we moved through the finishing sequence and relaxed into savasana they seemed ready for a long rest.

They all said they really enjoyed the class and the attention that such a small class provided. I hope to have them all back again next week. Out of everything in my life right now, teaching yoga is my favorite way to pass the time.

Adjustments

2009-03-18T22:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight I took class from someone I had never taken class from before. I was a bit wary going into the class because this teacher did their teacher training with a studio that has a style that is not my preferred style of yoga. Although the sequence of postures followed the familiar sequence that other teachers from that vein follow, this teacher made it work for me. Perhaps it was the candlelight. Perhaps it was just where my mind and body were at tonight. Perhaps the music selection enhanced the flow. But, I think what made it such a wonderfil class for me was the teacher's pace, tone, and most of all---the quality of the adjustments.

I am a yogi that LOVES adjustments. Overall, I am very open and most of the time need another body's pressure to get me into poses deep enough to open further. Sadly, I am also one of those students that many teachers avoid adjusting. As a teacher myself, I understand that it can be intimidating to adjust another teacher because you worry that they may judge you or be thinking that you did something incorrectly. Teachers and advanced yogis, however, are often the people that enjoy and need adjustments the most. I have fallen in love with teachers based on their adjustments, especially what type of adjustments they provide while I am in savasana. Mmmmmmmmmmm--savasana adjustments. My favorites are the neck lengthener, the ear lobe tug, the temple massage, the shoulder/upper arm press, and the crown jewel is when the teacher gives a bit of a massage to the inside arch of my feet. I used to take a rope wall class with a teacher that also did bodywork. Those Sunday classes were heaven. Not only did the wall class open me up in a way that yoga without the wall props could never do; but, then I could count on an absolutely delicious savasana that left me feeling as fabulous as if I had just had an hour massage.

Back to the point of this post--tonight's class. The amazing assists I received tonight were: (1) helping release my low back after spine strengtheners with some low back rubs and quick back massage; (2) one of the best assists in supine twists that I have ever had (pressed on the back outer edge of my hip bone while maintaining strong pressure on the head of that same shoulder; and, (3) sweet, scrumptious savasana contact.

Can't wait for next week's class!

So Excited for Stacy MacCarthy's Hips & Twists Workshop

2009-03-17T23:34:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite teachers---Stacy McCarthy---is holding a 2 hour class themed on hips & twists. I rarely get the chance to take her classes due to my day job, so this is perfect! Stacy is one of those teachers that I am willing to miss watching an Elite Eight game in order to get a guaranteed 2 solid hours of serious yoga! If you haven't taken a class with Stacy before this is a perfect opportunity to understand why I rave about her.

Here is the blurb from the Sculpt Fusion website about the workshop:

Looking to further your practice? Join us for our upcoming workshop with renowned yoga instructor Stacy McCarthy: "Hips & Twists" Sunday March 29th from 1:30-3:30 pm...Stacy offers world-class instruction that integrates mind, body & spirit. With over 15 years of experience presenting at a national level, she has distinguished herself through her cutting edge classes which have been passionately devoted to the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system.

Weekend Workshops

2009-03-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

Spring Detox @ Ginseng in South Park. Saturday 3/21 2:00-4:00 pm $25.

Acro Yoga @ Four Seasons with Maral & Manel. Saturday 3/21 2-5:00 p.m. $50

Yin Yoga @ Four Seasons in UTC with Roland Matthews. Sunday 3/22 1:30-4:00 p.m. $40

Walk Out Update

2009-03-16T12:25:00.001-07:00

Found out from the teacher that I took over the class from that the student that left is in fact someone who does not want to be touched and does not want personal (or any) corrections. Just like Kira Ryder said, it isn't usually about you. I guess I will just let it go.

I Dig Kathryn Budig!

2009-03-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon was Kathryn Budig's famous arm balancing workshop! A room packed full of eager arm balancing yogis gathered downtown, at Yoga One, for instruction from none other than the balancing ninja herself, Kathryn Budig. It was a stellar afternoon that left me and everyone there invigorated and excited about yoga. Not only is Kathryn an amazing yoga practitioner, she is a charming teacher as well. Her instructions just make sense. I love her explanations of "snuggle the foot back," or "pull,then snuggle your shoulder back," or, "float like a secret ninja on the rooftop trying to remain unseen." I laughed out loud at least seven different times and then walked on air for the rest of my day.

I believe we covered just about every arm balance I could think of and I even learned a new one that I had never heard or seen before: Fallen Angel. Actually, I don't believe I had ever seen or done what Kathryn called, Baby Bakasana. Baby Bakasana is crow in forearm stand. We even jumped into baby bakasana from dolphin---actually pretty challenging because everything needs to be so compact and spot on.

My jump for joy moment came when, for the first time I made it from bakasana to handstand. Finally! I swear it was her demo and instruction that just made it click and next thing you know, there I was in my inverted tree. Kathryn then challenged me to get from Flying Pigeon to Hanstand. That did nto happen yesterday, but I thought about what I need to tweak to make it happen and I believe I am going to get there soon.

Honestly, I think I want to start an official Kathryn Budig fan club. She is absolutely bad ass in every way and teachers like her are why I decided to become a teacher as well. I am grateful to Amy and Michael for hosting yesterday's workshop because it really clarified some things for me internally and helped me realize that I need to embrace my own teaching style and find a place that accepts that style rather than try to change myself into a product of the studio I am teaching at. Truth is that I can and do bring something a little different to the yoga table and if I don't stay true to myself and offer my own special dish, well...the potluck might be missing that one tasty entree.

I plan to road trip up to Yogaworks April 18 for her "Finding Ease at Your Edge" workshop with Jason Crandell. Good stuff.

Self Practice

2009-03-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

I have heard from other yoga teachers that they often have a hard time keeping up their own practice when they are teaching yoga. Interestingly, I have actually been much better about doing my own paractice and really delving into my own yoga and allowing myself to play, do poses that I don't often have presented when I take group classes, and I am even honing in on developing my own style of yoga that I would love to offer.

My practice lasted a good 2 hours and I had a blast opening the areas that needed serious opening and connecting poses together in unique ways. I also used the sand bags and strap to help in badha konasana, supta badakonasana, supta hasta padangustasana, and savasana. Delicious! I think my personal practices are now my favorite practices. Crazy to think that I have spent years resisting and shying away from personal practice. It is as if I have turned over an entirely new leaf and am getting a second wind as far as yoga growth goes. So exciting!

I Experienced the Walk Out...

2009-03-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Taught Saturday and had 12 people in the class. Was a sequence I had come up with the week before and involved a lot of twisting to squeeze out the stagnant energies from winter. We started in balasana and stretched left and right before moving into a flowy version of cat cow where we exhale from cat through balasana and then inhale pulling up with an open heart through cow. After some organic rounds of that we pushed back into a bent knee downdog and walked our dogs and came up to tip toes and then sunk our heels back toward the floor before slowly walking feet to hands and relaxing in a slumpy uttanasana with knees touching thighs and head hanging heavy. Finally, we rolled slowly up to tadasana to move into our sun salutations.

Sun A/Surya Namaskar: Urdhva Hastasana, uttanasana, step left foot back into lunge, inhale right arm to sky, exhale hand back to mat, inhale left arm to sky, exhale hand to mat, inhale step back into plank, exhale through chatturanga, urdhva muka savasana, exhale to adho muka savasana. Step or jump feet to hands and inhale half lift, exhale uttanasana, inhale to urdhva hastasana. Repeat other leg and then one more round.

Sun B/Surya Namaskar: Ukatasana, swan dive to uttanasana, chatturanga, urdhva muka, adho muka, inhale right leg to sky, exhale sweep through to right lunge & plant back heel to inhale to Vira I/Warrior 1. Exhale humble warrior with airplane arms, inhale warrior 1, exhale reverse warrior, inhale Vira 2, exhale through vinyasa and then repeat opposite side. Repeat 2 more times.

Standing sequence was parsva ukatasana to right, step left foot back, twisting parsvokonasana and optional bind with step forward and take twisted bird of paradise. Well nobody in class bound so we skipped the balancing posture.

Vinyasa to Warrior 2, Trikonasana with core challenge, Revolved triangle, Parsvottanasana, then standing splits prep and eventually revolved half moon with option of taking that to chaporasana (aka candy cane). Release padangustasana A. And Repeat other side.

Next sequence was moonrise to hip opener or as called in jivamukti- turtle stretch and then moved into flying pigeon/crow.

Moving to the floor we started with back stregtheners and stretches. Salabasana/locust A then B. Bekhesana/ frog with Right leg, left leg and then both. Dhanurasana. Vinyasa to Ustrasana--and I offered variations of either lago or kapotasana. I helped one gils with a really open back into lagu for her first time and she said it felt fabulous.

Time was passing so I took us into seated twists. Mareychasana A, C and then Ardha Matseyendrasana. This is where I lost my student. I was helping and adjusting people and when we were in ardha matseyendrasana I could see that the girl could easily access the full posture to hold her knee and put the other hand reach back to crook of the hip. Well All I did was ask her whether or not she wanted to do the bind and wasn't sure what she said. I asked quitely once more and she didn't want help moving into it. Next time I looked over to that corner she was gone. Lost one. I didn't dwell on it at the time but did feel bad and sad and wondered whether she doesn't like any of my class or whether she just doesn't like to be touched or if she felt I told her that she was doing something wrong. I am not going to be too bent up about it because it would be wrong for me not to try to offer adjustments because one person left. I had noticed that she didn't take verbal corrections even when they were made to the entire class, so perhaps she doesn't come to class for the instruction, but more for the energy and the flow. Just hope I didn't turn her off from all yoga classes.

After this was closing sequence poses. Plow, shoulderstand, karnipidasana, supta hasta padangustansana A, B, across the body, supine twisting, supta badha konasana & savasana.

I Need a Cleansing Breath

2009-03-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

I am at my other job, I guess it is more of my "career" job and I need to do some serious yoga and pranayama. I spent the morning drafting an order and I was happy with what I was writing. But of course something had to go wrong because I am cursed in almost every way when it comes to my day job. How did the curse manifest itself today? The darn document that I saved over and over again did not record any modifications since last night at 5:00 p.m. Somewhere in the bowels of cyberspace my paragraphs about poor planning and blatant disregard for clearly established rules of procedure are floating in a state of limbo. Of course a server went down today and that is likely connected to my disappearing document problem, but the iT experts aren't able to find my missing words somewhere on that server either. I just don't have the patience or energy (that is a refrain I find myself repeating often) to redo what I already spent precious hours of my life doing. Just bad timing all around. I keep thinking that although I enjoy my day job/career and find it challenging and stimulating much of the time, I would not call it fun. It does not provide me with the same sort of joy I get when teaching yoga or helping an asylum client. it defintiely does not leave me as hapy as I am when I am travel planning or creating next week's vinyasa class. Does this mean I should dump the career and create a career out of my hobbies? Big decision. One I have been toying with for many months now. Or is it just a case of "the grass is greener"?

Full Moon Yoga

2009-03-10T23:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a full moon and I had an 8:15 pm class to teach so I decided to focus on the moon as a theme and do a practice centered on the full moon. As I have mentioned before, my style has a heavy ashtanga influence and therefore I do pay attention to the philosophy of full and new moon yoga practice. But, since I do not teach ashtanga at the Tuesday night class I did not feel blasphemous leading a yoga class. I even made a music playlist with the moon as the theme to the songs (well except for the one called "Ocean," but since the ocean tides are a major part of moon cycles I thought it fit well). Most everyone in class was at a beginning or early intermediate level so a full moon practice was very skill level appropriate.

I opened with an explanation that tonight was a full moon and gave a quick talk about our bodies being 70% water and the belief that our bodies are affected by moon cycles just as ocean tides also are affected by full moons. The full moon corresponds to the end of the inhalation, the aspect of the breath cycle with the most prana. As a result, full moons leave us with energy and lots of emotion. Although we are often energetic at this time, we are also likely to be headstrong and lack grounding. The focus of the class, therefore, would be strength and grounding.

The style of the class was more along the Kripalu branch, but of course there were flavors of Jivamukti, ashtanga and yin yoga woven throughout. I guess that makes it a class of my eclectic and non-dogmatic yoga style.

The integration/warm-up sequence began in sukasana/easy seated pose. First we did side stretches. Next, easy twists. Coming to all fours we started cycles of cat/cow and eventually worked our way into downdog with deeply bent knees. Everyone was invited to slowly walk their dogs and ease into lengthening the spine, hamstrings, and achilles tendons. After rising up to tip toes and sinking the heels back toward the floor we slowly stepped the feet up to meet the hands for rag doll. In rag doll everyone was invited to sway their torso, bend the knees, allow the head to hang heavy and perhaps wiggle from side-to-side and front-to-back. Finally, we rolled slowly to tadasana.

Moon Salutation A:
1/4 moon side bend Right (R) and Left (L)
Open left leg to side for goddess pose
Take star
Side bend R/L
twisting forward bend R/L
Goddess
1/4 moon R/L

Repeat once more.

Chandra Namaskar:

Urdvha Hastasana
Uttanasana
Lift
Step back L leg to low R lunge with L knee on mat
Low crescent moon pose/anjeleyasana (spelling...?)
Down Dog/Adho Muka (DD)
Plank
Knees, chest, chin
cobra
DD
Lift left leg high
Low L lunge
low crescent on L
step to uttanasana
lift
uttanasana
Urdvha hastasana

(repeat 4 more times quickening pace)

Standing Sequence 1:
Vinyasa
Virabhadrasana/Warrior 2
Utthita Parsvokonasana
Bind
Extend to bound trikonasana
Return to Utthita Parvokonasana
Cycle through Vinyasa
Repeat on Left

Repeat entire sequence with 1 breath to 1 movement.

Sequence 2:

Ukatasana/chairpose
hands heart center and step back to a high R lunge/Crescent moon
Lower back knee and take intense quad stretch by pulling back heel toward same thigh while in low lunge.
Hamstring stretch/ Hanumanasana prep
low crescent
DD
Uttasana with lift, etc.
Ukatasana

Repeat L side.

Balancing:
Vrksasana/tree with optional arm variations
Moon rise from Jivamukti sequence (variation of utthita hasta padangustasana and parivrtta utthita hasta padangustasana
Seat of Isis with variation with feet hip with and then staggered {tip toes on inhale and lower to squat while remaining on tip toes}
Malasana and variations there

Seated Poses:
Dandasana
tolosana/lolasana
paschimottanasana
Swamp monster paschimo variation
to & lo pick ups between all
purvottanasana or table pose 3 times with Navasana between
Vinyasa to belly
Sphinx
locust/salabasana
swimming locust
balasana
roll down to back for supine twists

Suggested relaxation into savasana.

Hopefully everyone left feeling grounded, strong, and harnessed their energies enough to fall into a blissful sleep.

Fabulous Friday Home Practice

2009-03-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

I just spent over an hour writing about my night and the gooey, delicious, and absolutely yummy home practice and went through the entire practice pose for pose in very explicit detail...only for it to result in an error when I tried to publish it. I don't have the patience or energy to rewrite it all right now. Perhaps tomorrow I will after I do it again in the morning or after I teach it in my class tomorrow.

But it was a wonderful night at home with the dog watching me practice and sleeping while I practiced with a wonderful playlist and had candles lit in the room.
Mmmmmmmmmm. Much better than drinking cocktails with the new roommate or drinking cheap beer with that person I was on the fast track with a couple weeks ago or even better than a night just sleeping.

Free Yoga Spoof

2009-03-06T15:58:00.001-08:00

Yoga Dawg had this image posted on his site and I thought it ties nicely with my post & spreadsheet of donation based/free or nearly free yoga classes in San Diego.

Another Upcoming Yoga Activity in San Diego and it's FREE!

2009-03-06T12:25:00.000-08:00

On Saturday March 14, 2009, Shakti Rising is having a "Love Your Life Day." From 1:00-4:00 p.m. there will be FREE yoga classes taught by Jenny of Four Seasons Yoga, as well as a nutrition class on cooking with herbs and a keynote speaker--Christine Aylo--discussing and signing copies of her new book: Choosing ME before We, Every Women's Guide to Life and Love." Shakti Rising is at 2404 F. St., San Diego, 92102.

*Shakti (the power, or the energy) is personified as woman. Shakti--Shiva's wife--is energy. International Woman's Day is Sunday--so celebrate the the dynamic female force that moves through the entire universe.

Roll to Your Right (or Left) Side

2009-03-04T17:13:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I like to roll to my left side after savasana...but usually I am only offered the option of rolling right. I wonder if my teachers know why they more often ask the class to roll to the right, or whether it is just out of habit. Although I have learned that rolling right is supposedly more gentle on the heart that is open after practicing---I get the craving to roll left every now and then. Is it rude to roll left if not offered? Is it wrong somehow? Am I the only one who feels like my right and left need more balancing and coming out of savasana is no different? I am going to roll left this week and see how I feel. Maybe I will do a heart opening practice and then roll left and see what happens.

2009-03-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

Found this picture this evening and thought it captured Moxie's yoga poses too. Moxie is my dog and she's had a rough week. It seems the poor thing has epilepsy. Good thing she doesn't drive--but I am worried it may impact her cat and bird chasing skills.

Girish Coming to North County 3/29

2009-03-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

This month's WAH! and friends evening of kirtan at Bodacious Living in Carlsbad features Girish. The concert is at 7 p.m. and is $15/20.

Upcoming Workshops and Events

2009-03-03T14:21:00.001-08:00

Bodacious Living in Carlsbad has "Funky Flow" this Friday with Natalie.

This Friday, March 6, 2009, Akasha Yoga in La Jolla is offering a FREE Intro to Yoga class from 7-8 p.m. On Sunday, March 8, 2009, Melissa is teaching a 1 hour clinic on backbending. The backbending clinic is also at Akasha. And, also at Akasha this weekend is a Mind-Body Therapy Demo/workshop on Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

Amazing Arm Balancing Workshop: Kathryn Budig is coming to Yoga One on March 15 from 1-4 p.m. to teach San Diego yogis how to balance like she did on the cover of Yoga Journal recently. $35 in advance or $45 at the door.

Willows in Encinitas has the first of a series of events entitled: "Dynamics of Yoga Anatomy-The Beautiful Body" on Sunday, March 8 from 11:30-1:00. The topic this week is "Bones" and the cost is a mere $15. Upcoming topics are Energetic physiology on 3/22, Anatomy of the pelvis 4/5, Shoulders 4/19, and Consciousness of Body, Mind & Noetic Biology on 5/3.

Yoganics is hosting Skyler's Bliss WOrkshop again this Sunday, March 8 from 1-4 p.m. I took her workshop geared toward teachers in the fall and it was wonderful!

This Friday at the Haven is Intensive Yoga and class begins at 5:00 p.m. The following Friday-- March 13 (yes, Friday the 13th) is the Haven's monthly workshop. The workshoip will be based on the needs of the individual participants.

Friday March 13-Sunday march 15 Bodacious is hosting Alanna Kaivalya for a weekend of workshops inspired by Jivamukti. Friday night is Kirtan at 7:30 ($15/20), Sat. is "Sacred Vibration: The Power of Nada Yoga," 1-4pm ($45/50), Sunday is "The Essence of Chakras," 1-4pm ($45/50). Saturday's workshop includes chanting, kirtan, and a vigorous physical practice where the yogis sight is taken away and thus only the ears and other senses are used to experience the practice. Sunday will involve working through the chakras with asanas and mantras to bring balance to all 7 chakras.
http://www.bodaciouslivingyoga.com/sections/view/classes-workshops

Michael Faith is offering "Mystery Magic and Awe- A Yoga Adventure on March 14 at 1:30 p.m. at the Little Yoga Studio. This is billed as a PLAYshop.

Four Seasons Yoga in UTC has a Yin Yoga workshop with Roland Mathews on 3/22 from 1:30-4 p.m.

2009-03-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

This is Lululemon's recent ad featured on the back cover of Yoga Journal. Though there is a good amount of criticism surrounding the ad, I love it! Yoga and Obama--two of my favorites!

2009-02-28T13:11:00.000-08:00

Taught a class this morning. I had so many different ideas about what I wanted to include in the class and was having a hard time finalizing what I thought might go over well with this group. What I am most nervous about is that I am taking over the class for one of the studio's owners and I am sure she had a group of regulars that may not be excited about a new teacher bringing in a new style. I know that my style is a little different because my true yoga roots are in the ashtanga world and I value the vinyasa as the transition linking poses througout a practice. I did like my music and I look forward to putting together next week's playlist. There were about 12 people in the class, 2 of which were men and 3 of the attendees are also yoga teachers. We opended in sukasana--easy pose and did side and forward stretching there. Next we moved into Surya Namaskar A (sun salutation). I did a variation that involved stepping back with the left leg and coming into low lunge on right side. Inhale to cresent lunge, exhale twist right, inhale crescent with arch, exhale to plank, chatturanga, urdhva muka, adho muka, repeat left side, then meet in tadasana. I don't remember how many times through we did it---hopefully about three times. Next was surya namaskar B. Inhale ukatasana, exhale through vinyasa meet in down dog, inhale warrior 1, exhale warrior 2, cartwheel arms to floor and take plank and flow through vinyasa. Repeat on left side. Then did Surya Namaskar with core work. From downdog knee to nose three times and switch sides. Then right knee to right elbow and on third time option is to keep leg straight and move right thigh to right arm/elbow. Repeat left side (vinyasa in between each side. [I am coming back to this 4 days later and no longer have the clear recall that I did Saturday afternoon.] Next was vinyasa to Warrior2, to parsvokonasana, bind in parsvo, bound trikonasana, release to regular trikonasana and then vinyasa to repeat on left side. Next parsvottanasana with reverse namaste arms or hands grasping opposite elbows (actually I did a warm up parsvottanasana where inhale sweep arms to sky, exhale to flat back/half way,inhale hold and exhale fold forward allowing hands to reach to floor). After 5 cycles of breath in parsvottanasana moved into Warrior 3 with arms staying in reverse namaste. Release to tadasana. Repeat opposite side. I believe we did more blanace poses next and started with clasped hands under thigh in a preparation for uttitha hasta padagustasana A. Extend leg and hands to hips and hold, sweep leg through to Warrior 3 and hold 5 breaths and then sweep forward again to take eagle. Hold eagle and round forward in eagle and then release tadasana. For the opposite side we went from clasping under thigh and hamstring stretch to Eagle, round the eagle and straighten. From eagle to warrior3 then sweep leg forward to uttitha hasta padagustasana A with hands on hips and release tadasana. Final balancing sequence was traditional Uttitha Hasta Padagustasana A and B then return to A and release grip of big toe and hold leg out straight for 5 counts with hands on hips. Aghhhh- to the floor.

Vinyasa to 3 legged dog with right leg lifted, drop right heel to left buttock and gaze under left arm at the right foot for hip opener. After 3-5breaths straighten right leg and square hips before exhale to pigeon. Hold pigeon and/or parivrtta variation for at least 10 cycles of breath. I walked around to adjust here. Repeat on left side. After left side we took double pigeon or I have also had it called fire log pose. Again gheld here and also stretched to left and right while folding forward. I wanted to give them some luscious hip opening today because I think that seated poses and especially deepening these poses has not been a part of their practice previously. I am a bit confused on the order because I know that we probably did dandasana before the hip opening and after dandasana did padagustasana and then floating stick (aka lifted dandasana). Then Janu sirsasana A and variation...aka parivrtta janu sirsasana. Hmmmmm....other floor worknwas badakonasana A and B and then navasana with utplutihi/tolasana in between 5 breath cycle navasanas. I believe next was bridge and wheel (dhanurasana)and then closing it out with happy baby, supine twists and any other last poses before savasana.

My gripes were with me trying to mirror the class for demos, not being sure if it was too challenging with balancing or just right or whether the ashtanga influenced style was more floor work than what this class wants. Ideally, I would always like to fit in the entire closing sequence of plow, shoulder stand, carnipidasana and if advanced enough sirsasana before finishing. Well there is always this week. I am trying to decide on a theme or a master pose to base the class around. Hopefully I will decide that Thursday and do a home practice to fine tune on Thursday and Friday.

Donation Based Yoga Classes

2009-02-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

When I started practicing yoga I was in college in Los Angeles. For the better part of my years practicing I was a student and did everything possible to scrape together enough money to pay for memberships at the student rate at my favorite studios. I was lucky to have Yogaworks in the area and with the student discount I could attend unlimited classes at any time of day with amazingly gifted and inspiring teachers. In San Diego, however, I have found it difficult to commit to a membership relationship with just one studio. I am still searching and/or hoping for a studio to come along that has more than one location where my membership is valid, has a variety of class times, offers a variety of styles, a variety of teachers, and really just makes me feel at home like I have felt at certain studios at different points during my yoga journey. Yoga Fusion in Bird Rock was that studio for me for a couple of years. Unfortunately, I came back to San Diego after three months spent traveling around the world with a few months left on my unlimited yoga membership, only to find that my yoga home was gone. Ever since I have become somewhat of a yoga nomad. But good things often come from situations we initially find disappointing, and one good thing I have found is a fabulous movement toward donation based yoga classes. I know how much yoga has helped me in every aspect of my life and ultimately I hope that everyone with an interest in experiencing yoga has the opportunity to do so even if they cannot afford the premium price tag classes often come with. Although having a self/home practice is central to a yoga journey, maintaining a community practice with guidance and adjustments from passionate teachers is similarly integral. In order to provide you with the incentive to try some new teachers, or styles, or perhaps to just try yoga for the first time, I compiled a chart of donation based yoga classes in the San Diego area. Enjoy! Akasha also offers a free class Intro to Yoga class on the 1st Friday of every month.

The Beginning

2009-02-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I decided that I would start a blog/website about yoga. I had already spent hours upon hours pulling up class schedules for almost every studio between Chula Vista and Oceanside and compiling the schedules into a spreadsheet organized by day and time. My most recent idea was to create a spreadsheet with every donation based yoga class in the San Diego area. That is when the light bulb turned on---It would be so much easier to share the fruits of my OCD with other yogis if I started a blog! Alas, this is the beginning of what I hope will be a great resource for anyone interested in yoga and other holistic practices. I plan to have links the various studios in the area and each studio's schedule. I also want to list the numerous workshops, retreats and other events that are taking place around the county. Teachers can use this as a forum to share sequences of poses or music playlists, people can suggest books and albums that they find inspiring, and the possibilities go on and on. Now I just need to figure out how to actually do this blog thing and learn how to post spreadsheets and link to other sites. I look forward to sharing my passion for yoga through this contemporary medium and I hope others will find it helpful or even inspiring. I am excited to begin this journey.