About Me

Yoga changed my Life and it's just too good a thing to keep to myself! I have been practicing yoga since 1995 and am a certified yoga instructor. I teach a combination of classical Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow. My teaching style is safe, compassionate and challenging at the same time. I teach at a number of studios, and also offer private and group lessons!

In addition to my schedule, I post other writings here, about yoga and Life in general. For private or group lessons, contact me at: workofheartyoga@gmail.com .

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Where to find peace in a world turned upside down?

My dear friends, the past few weeks, or months have been hard ones. The world is in upheaval. I have felt it listening to the news, I have seen the images splashed across the media, I have friends I fear for abroad. I have seen it on the streets where my children live and go to school, I have seen anger and violence in traffic patterns, criss-crossing my daily life. I have felt it in my heart for children everywhere. I fear sometimes for my own. And now I feel the sadness for a man lost in his own pain, sadness and anger, who was so widely known and yet felt so alone.

How do we go about our days? How do we do the things we normally do? How does the world not stop turning, how does life continue when there is so much heaviness?

I've been wrestling with these questions lately myself. As a mother, I often do not have the luxury of grieving or processing these things upon their arrival in my life. My children carry a momentum with them that usually sweeps me away with them. But the other night I sat up, way too late for my own good, reading this lovely book, "The Yamas and the Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice," by Deborah Adele. And I came across a quote that I think has huge implications for us as individuals, but also for people, societies, our world at large. I wanted to share it with you all. I have never heard anything so challenging, so true, so inexplicably simple and yet complicated. It is the work we all need to do. I hope it will resonate with you.

The author, Adele, in her second chapter quotes a statement made by Etty Hillesum, a young holocaust victim:

"Ultimately we have just one moral duty:
to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves,
more and more peace,
and to reflect it towards others.
And the more peace there is in us,
the more peace there will also be
in our troubled world."

Sending out as much love as I can,
-April

Monday, July 21, 2014

Back to teaching and loving it!

I can't tell you how good it feels to be teaching again!

I have missed being able to share what I love and live in yoga. And I forgot how much fun it is to teach, not just to practice. What makes it so fun? The students, of course!

For Jules' regular and very loyal students, it's fun to see them experience a new teacher and to adjust to a new situation. Think about how you feel when you go to a class that you love, only to find some stranger at the front about to teach. It's hard! Even for teachers! We try to practice Samtosha, acceptance, taking what is, whatever presents itself... but it's hard not to build expectations, especially for something that is generally consistent and to which you've grown accustomed. But as a teacher, it's so rich to watch a student go from maybe a little disappointment (or a lot!), and hesitation, to full blown letting-go-and-releasing-mode in a single class, and it is a pretty special thing.

I forgot how amazing it is to watch someone totally new to Yoga, experience the breath, the poses for the first time. I've watched people open up, both literally in their bodies, and I can read it on their faces. And maybe I've opened up too, after taking a break, and seeing my own practice from a different perspective, heck, teaching from a different perspective.

Change can be hard, but it can also be amazing, and wonderful. And that's just where I am right now. In a world that seems to be in major upheaval right now, I am really happy to be out there, trying to help people stay open, to find peace and calm, to try to generate a sense of unity and grounding. And I'm so grateful to Jules, her students, and to GODA Yoga for giving me the opportunity to do so.

So, if you haven't heard, or want to know when I'm teaching here's the schedule:

Tuesday and Thursdays, Beginner, 5:30pm -6:55pm
Fridays, Beginner, 6:30-8:00pm
Saturdays, Level One, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Sundays, Beginner, 11:00-12:30pm

GODA Yoga
9711 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
cross street/ Watseka and Culver Blvd.
(310) 287-1255

There's 2 hours free parking at the garage on Watseka!

Come get your yoga on with me!

Peace!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

My new, temporary, schedule at GODA Yoga!

Here it is! My new schedule at GODA Yoga in the heart of downtown Culver City, as I fill in for Jules Hogan-Sahay while she is on maternity leave. So hurry up and come do some yoga with me and spread the word!

Tuesday and Thursdays, Beginner, 5:30pm -6:55pm
Fridays, Beginner, 6:30-8:00pm
Saturdays, Level One, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Sundays, Beginner, 11:00-12:30pm

GODA Yoga
9711 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
cross street/ Watseka and Culver Blvd.
(310) 287-1255

And all the beginner classes can be prenatal appropriate. I have lots of experience and training in that department!

Peace, and hope to see you there!

-April

Monday, July 7, 2014

I'm Teaching at GODA again starting Sun, July 13!

Hello? Is anyone still out there?

I know I've been out for a long while. Well, I had another baby, then I had to wait to have surgery (see previous posts), then I had surgery, then had to wait a year or so to heal... Since then, I re-immersed myself in the world of yoga at my favorite place, GODA! I took the 2014 teacher training to dust off the old yogic mind and create a little Satsang for myself, and boy did I ever.

My trainee buddies were amazing, uplifting, lovely people and I am so grateful to Cheryl Moss and Kate Duyn Cariati for giving me the opportunity to heal, re-strengthen, and most of all, to be a part of that wonderful group.

So, now that I'm all back together again, I have the privilege of repaying the favor that Jules Hogan-Sahay granted me by taking over my classes and keeping them while I was out... I am going to start teaching for many (not all) of her classes while she prepares to go on maternity leave, and only until she's ready to come back. I repeat, I will be taking over many of her classes TEMPORARILY while she is on maternity leave.

I will be starting this Sunday, July 13th, teaching her beginner class from 11:00am - 12:30, and will slowly start teaching more of her beginner and level one classes as she is ready for me to take them. I will keep you posted via my blog.

But prepare yourselves. Jules has an INCREDIBLE following, and space in her class is so very coveted, which is absolutely a tribute to what a gifted teacher she is. I will strive to serve well in her absence. In other words, if you want a spot in class get there early!

I can't wait to see you all and move and breathe together!

Jai!