Two major things are happening THIS Sunday, January 20th - and private and group lessons:
1. Free Open House at Your Neighborhood Studio - all classes that day are FREE, but reservations are required. I am teaching a FREE hour-long yoga class from 10:00-11:00am that day, so all of you who can't make my weekday classes, now's your chance! Call (310)876-3498 to reserve a spot. If you are interested in the other dance or fitness classes and want a free sampler, check out the Open House Schedule at: http://www.yourneighborhoodstudio.com/Events.html - and don't miss this opportunity to check out some classes for FREE!!! Did I mention the whole day is FREE?! I may try the Booiaka class...
2. I start my Sunday afternoon class at GODA Yoga, 12:45-2:15pm starting THIS Sunday, January 20th! From now on, every Sunday afternoon, I will be teaching a beginner class from 12:45pm - 2:15pm in one of the sweetest Yoga studios around - GODA Yoga. Even intermediate yogis will find ways to challenge themselves in this class. And if you haven't done yoga before, or you haven't done yoga for a while, and are committed to a New Year's resolution to get back into it, this is the class for you! So come try Sunday afternoon yoga and go out to lunch after!
3. Private and Group lessons. WHOA, April! A third thing? Well, this is a reminder that if you have trouble making it to any of my studio scheduled classes, I am also available to teach small group classes or private lessons. I can teach at your home or a location you arrange. So, if my studio schedule doesn't work for you, grab a few yogi friends and I'll tailor a class for your group at a time that works for you! Call me at (310) 559-2570 or email me at: workofheartyoga@gmail.com to set it up!
Cheers and hope to see you on the mat!
-April KirkHart
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
A New Year brings New Classes!
Welcome to 2008! Before I get into the New Year's resolutions... some class announcements:
January class Schedule:
I know, I sort of fell off the blog wagon while the holidays were in effect...but I had parents to host, ricotta cookies to bake, and pasta sauce to worry over - can you blame me? The good news is that my dad took every single yoga class of mine while he was here and actually said it helped his low back! The even better news is that with the New Year comes new classes, which might enable my Mon-Fri 9-5 working friends the chance to come yoga with me - so check out my schedule for the month of January:
**THIS SUNDAY, January 6th - 1:30 - 3:30 pm Special Intro to Yoga, GODA Yoga, Culver City - $35 Registration recommended, includes one free class, covers basic poses, simplified yoga philosophy and breathing and meditation techniques.
Monday - 9-10:25am Your Neighborhood Studio (all levels), Culver City
Tuesdays - 5:30-6:55pm GODA Yoga (beginner and prenatal), Culver City
Wednesdays - 6:00- 7:15pm YMCA (level 2-3 class), Santa Monica
Thursdays - 5:30-6:55pm GODA Yoga (beginner), Culver City
Fridays *2 CLASSES!!!!
9-10:25 am Your Neighborhood Studio (all levels), Culver City
4:30-6pm GODA (beginner/prenatal), Culver City
**STARTING Sunday, January 20th:
Sundays - 12:45pm - 2:15pm GODA Yoga
Now, on to the New Year's resolutions:
It's that time of year when many have celebrated or reflected on the past, and then look to the future. Many go so far as to make New Year's resolutions. However, those resolutions can quickly turn into a list of "have to's" or at least it feels that way on January 2nd as you run full speed on the treadmill, wondering if you're going as fast as the guy next to you, getting flogged by your new ipod cord, as punishment for holiday eating or for the last 6 months of falling off the gym wagon...
And although Yoga is not so much in the form of competitiveness, many yogis still compete with themselves come the New Year. While I never want to dissuade anyone from setting goals for themselves, I think it's important to look at resolutions and come at them in a compassionate way. And I think I have a few tips that might help:
110% vs. 90% vs. 50% - They all have their place.
If you've told yourself that you want yoga to be a bigger part of your life, by all means, taking a class is a great motivator. However, just like that first time back at the gym, lifting weights or going for a run - you may be tempted to "go all out," which generally ends up making you feel so sore you can't bare to go back for another week. So before you hurl your body into full Kapotasana, play with finding the difference between going 110% and going 90%. Or, if you're getting over colds or the flu or just the influx of relatives and holiday rush, know when you need to practice more restoratively - going 45%, using props to help you open in a pose for instance.
Home Practice: give yourself 10 minutes and patience.
For various reasons, time, money, work, family, etc., it is often hard for people to get to more than one or two studio classes per week. However, building a home practice is challenging. As a result, many people only squeeze in that one session every week. This doesn't meant that they won't get anything from it, but it can lead to frustration for students who want to "progress" in certain poses, meaning they want to build greater strength or flexibility, or try some advanced poses. It's the same as if you only lifted weights once a week at the gym and went 100%, you'd be sore after each session and probably wouldn't move up to lifting heavier weights for a long time if ever. No, that doesn't mean you should forget it, that it's not worth it. It means that a home practice is important AND it should be something fun.
The beauty of yoga is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, and classes are meant to help give you the tools to build your home practice!
PULEEEEEZE don't start beating yourself up if you don't launch into a full 1.5 hour yoga session at home 4 days a week. This is a LIFESTYLE change and takes patience, compassion and above all, some chutzpah. Unless you are an extremely disciplined person, finding 1.5 hours 5 days a week can be really hard. If you can, more power to you. If you can't, don't berate yourself, or force yourself into a session - associating yoga with that kind of negativity is likely to become a big ugly snowball of dirty snow. I know from experience. It took me 4 years of taking one class a week (if I was lucky) and being frustrated a lot before I started a home practice, and it is still one of the things that challenges me most in yoga. There, I've said it.
Instead of getting worked into a tizzy - try setting aside an extra ten minutes somewhere in your day that you roll out your mat. Maybe you set your alarm 10 minutes earlier, or maybe you shut your door at work for 10 minutes, or maybe you take ten minutes after you run outside, or when you get home to find a quiet spot, and roll out your mat or a towel. And then it's up to you - your mat is your oyster... ok that sounds weird, but you get the idea.
Pick 2-5 poses you want to do. Don't worry about their names, your body remembers them. Don't worry about their order. Or maybe even just sit on your mat. Be proud that you've thought to roll it out. Over time, you'll find that 10 minutes may lead to 20, which may lead to 40. You'll find that throughout your day, your body will crave a stretch or two... so stretch! And even if you NEVER find a full 1.5 hours to do yoga, who cares? It's your Yoga. Do whatever poses you want for however long you want!
If you want an example sequence to get you started on a home practice try this:
Roll out mat, shut door, turn off cell phone
Sit in sukhasana and breathe
Then bring hands forward on the floor, uncross feet behind you into table top
Curl toes under, press back to adho mukha svanasana (down dog)
Lower slowly to plank
Lower until your belly is on the floor and try a lower bujangasana (cobra)
Press back to balasana (child's pose)
Then you can go backwards through the poses or start over. Hold each pose as feels right for you in that moment. Repeat only as many times as you want or you feel time allows. And for cryin' in the night - have some fun!
In the meantime, I hope your New Year is off to a good start, and I wish you all health and happiness for 2008. Hope to see you on the mat!
January class Schedule:
I know, I sort of fell off the blog wagon while the holidays were in effect...but I had parents to host, ricotta cookies to bake, and pasta sauce to worry over - can you blame me? The good news is that my dad took every single yoga class of mine while he was here and actually said it helped his low back! The even better news is that with the New Year comes new classes, which might enable my Mon-Fri 9-5 working friends the chance to come yoga with me - so check out my schedule for the month of January:
**THIS SUNDAY, January 6th - 1:30 - 3:30 pm Special Intro to Yoga, GODA Yoga, Culver City - $35 Registration recommended, includes one free class, covers basic poses, simplified yoga philosophy and breathing and meditation techniques.
Monday - 9-10:25am Your Neighborhood Studio (all levels), Culver City
Tuesdays - 5:30-6:55pm GODA Yoga (beginner and prenatal), Culver City
Wednesdays - 6:00- 7:15pm YMCA (level 2-3 class), Santa Monica
Thursdays - 5:30-6:55pm GODA Yoga (beginner), Culver City
Fridays *2 CLASSES!!!!
9-10:25 am Your Neighborhood Studio (all levels), Culver City
4:30-6pm GODA (beginner/prenatal), Culver City
**STARTING Sunday, January 20th:
Sundays - 12:45pm - 2:15pm GODA Yoga
Now, on to the New Year's resolutions:
It's that time of year when many have celebrated or reflected on the past, and then look to the future. Many go so far as to make New Year's resolutions. However, those resolutions can quickly turn into a list of "have to's" or at least it feels that way on January 2nd as you run full speed on the treadmill, wondering if you're going as fast as the guy next to you, getting flogged by your new ipod cord, as punishment for holiday eating or for the last 6 months of falling off the gym wagon...
And although Yoga is not so much in the form of competitiveness, many yogis still compete with themselves come the New Year. While I never want to dissuade anyone from setting goals for themselves, I think it's important to look at resolutions and come at them in a compassionate way. And I think I have a few tips that might help:
110% vs. 90% vs. 50% - They all have their place.
If you've told yourself that you want yoga to be a bigger part of your life, by all means, taking a class is a great motivator. However, just like that first time back at the gym, lifting weights or going for a run - you may be tempted to "go all out," which generally ends up making you feel so sore you can't bare to go back for another week. So before you hurl your body into full Kapotasana, play with finding the difference between going 110% and going 90%. Or, if you're getting over colds or the flu or just the influx of relatives and holiday rush, know when you need to practice more restoratively - going 45%, using props to help you open in a pose for instance.
Home Practice: give yourself 10 minutes and patience.
For various reasons, time, money, work, family, etc., it is often hard for people to get to more than one or two studio classes per week. However, building a home practice is challenging. As a result, many people only squeeze in that one session every week. This doesn't meant that they won't get anything from it, but it can lead to frustration for students who want to "progress" in certain poses, meaning they want to build greater strength or flexibility, or try some advanced poses. It's the same as if you only lifted weights once a week at the gym and went 100%, you'd be sore after each session and probably wouldn't move up to lifting heavier weights for a long time if ever. No, that doesn't mean you should forget it, that it's not worth it. It means that a home practice is important AND it should be something fun.
The beauty of yoga is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, and classes are meant to help give you the tools to build your home practice!
PULEEEEEZE don't start beating yourself up if you don't launch into a full 1.5 hour yoga session at home 4 days a week. This is a LIFESTYLE change and takes patience, compassion and above all, some chutzpah. Unless you are an extremely disciplined person, finding 1.5 hours 5 days a week can be really hard. If you can, more power to you. If you can't, don't berate yourself, or force yourself into a session - associating yoga with that kind of negativity is likely to become a big ugly snowball of dirty snow. I know from experience. It took me 4 years of taking one class a week (if I was lucky) and being frustrated a lot before I started a home practice, and it is still one of the things that challenges me most in yoga. There, I've said it.
Instead of getting worked into a tizzy - try setting aside an extra ten minutes somewhere in your day that you roll out your mat. Maybe you set your alarm 10 minutes earlier, or maybe you shut your door at work for 10 minutes, or maybe you take ten minutes after you run outside, or when you get home to find a quiet spot, and roll out your mat or a towel. And then it's up to you - your mat is your oyster... ok that sounds weird, but you get the idea.
Pick 2-5 poses you want to do. Don't worry about their names, your body remembers them. Don't worry about their order. Or maybe even just sit on your mat. Be proud that you've thought to roll it out. Over time, you'll find that 10 minutes may lead to 20, which may lead to 40. You'll find that throughout your day, your body will crave a stretch or two... so stretch! And even if you NEVER find a full 1.5 hours to do yoga, who cares? It's your Yoga. Do whatever poses you want for however long you want!
If you want an example sequence to get you started on a home practice try this:
Roll out mat, shut door, turn off cell phone
Sit in sukhasana and breathe
Then bring hands forward on the floor, uncross feet behind you into table top
Curl toes under, press back to adho mukha svanasana (down dog)
Lower slowly to plank
Lower until your belly is on the floor and try a lower bujangasana (cobra)
Press back to balasana (child's pose)
Then you can go backwards through the poses or start over. Hold each pose as feels right for you in that moment. Repeat only as many times as you want or you feel time allows. And for cryin' in the night - have some fun!
In the meantime, I hope your New Year is off to a good start, and I wish you all health and happiness for 2008. Hope to see you on the mat!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Deep thoughts vs. Chili - a Yogi's holiday dilemma
A quick Yoga Schedule Announcement:
*Class THIS Sunday the 23rd, 9-10:30am at Your Neighborhood Studio.
Now, on to our regularly scheduled program…
Don’t worry, I have other ideas for “deep thought” posts in the near future…but in the spirit of simplifying things during the holidays, and considering I still have to clean my kitchen, vacuum and pick up my parents at the airport, I thought I’d post something a little less cerebral. Since I’ve had five separate requests for my Chili recipe since Casey’s birthday party, I’ve decided to oblige. Without further ado, here it is…and the quick story that goes with it…
The funny part is, all the folks that requested it are meat-eaters and did not REALIZE it was a vegetarian recipe (suckers.) The meatless ground round fooled them – one person said it was one of the best beef chili’s he’d had. Not to toot my own horn or anything.
To give credit where credit is due - I’ve modified three recipes: My mother’s, my mother-in-law, Marilyn’s and my cooking bible, the Joy of Cooking circa 1997. The curry powder is my own thing, and roasting it with the cumin and chili powder before adding oil is something my dad taught me. For some, reason roasting certain spices while dry wakes them and adds a smoky flavor. You’ll notice the bell peppers and carrots are mysteriously absent in my version – I don’t DO bell peppers – particularly the green ones. And I’ve always felt carrots seem unnatural in chili, a little out of place if you will. Call me crazy.
So this is how it happened.
This year, for my husband’s birthday, we decided to throw a party. As the invite list began to grow, I started to panic about having enough food for everyone (as a good Italian always does.) When I realized that roughly 30 people would be attending, the idea of a quaint sit-down dinner of some elegant fish quickly vanished and I knew I needed a plan. And what do I do when I am panicking and need a plan? Again, what every good Italian does…
I brought out the big guns. I called my mother.
The phone was ringing, my mind was speeding, please let her be there, please let her be there, please let her be there… my new mantra.
“MOM.” I screamed into the phone before she could say hello.
“April? What’s wrong?!”
“The invite list is now at 30!”
“…Well, I guess that means you’re not cooking fish for everyone.”
“Oh shit.”
“Exactly… Well, that’s ok…” She thought for a moment. “Just make chili,” she let it roll off her tongue casually, as if to imply the situation required a smooth and calculated strategy, and that she was, of course, the master.
“Oh, Chili,” I thought, bewildered at her steady composure in the face of what I was sure was impending doom. “That sounds great.” “Yeah honey just make a big giant pot of chili, have some corn bread and chips and salsa, and viola! You’re done!”
Genius, I thought. So that’s exactly what I did. And here it is.
Enjoy, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. See you on the mat!
Casey's Birthday Chili
Ingredients
T ground cumin (not seeds)
T chili powder
½ T curry powder
1 tsp oregano
3T extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic chopped fine
1-3 jalapeno peppers chopped fine (with seeds is more spicy)
1-2 onions chopped
2 medium zucchini chopped
1 yellow squash chopped
2 15 oz. cans black beans (drained a little)
2 15 oz cans pinto or cannellini beans (drained a little)
1 15 oz can creamed corn
1 15 oz can sweet corn
1 package of meatless ground round (experiment with different kinds, any kind you would use in a taco)
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes (Muir Glen is the brand – love their salsa too!)
Splash of white vinegar
Kosher salt (to taste)
Lots of fresh ground pepper
Tabasco sauce (1-2 T or more if you like it spicy.)
*For a wetter version – use more tomatoes or add a bit of water! For a thicker version, or more tomato flavor, add a T or 2 of tomato paste.
Instructions
Get Large pasta or Soup pot. Place over medium to medium-high heat. Heat pot well. Toss in the cumin, curry and chili powder for about a minute, until spices start to smoke.
Pour in the olive oil and heat for 20 seconds to cook the spices a little more.
Toss in onions and jalapeno(s), sprinkle with ½ T of salt to “sweat.” 3-4 min.
Add garlic for 2 more minutes. Careful not to burn, or it will get bitter.
Add zucchini and squash and cook for 5 minutes.
Toss in meatless ground and just heat through. Stir frequently to keep from burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Add beans and corn (stir all and heat for a few minutes.)
Add tomatoes and oregano and splash of vinegar.
Let come to a simmer. Stir and taste.
Add fresh ground pepper and Tabasco to spice it up as needed.
On low heat or simmer, cook for about 45 minutes.
*You can cook it in the morning or the day before a party and then refrigerate. To do so, let it cool significantly before putting in the fridge. To re-heat, put it back on the stove and heat it on low until hot again. Serve in bowls with corn-bread!
*Class THIS Sunday the 23rd, 9-10:30am at Your Neighborhood Studio.
Now, on to our regularly scheduled program…
Don’t worry, I have other ideas for “deep thought” posts in the near future…but in the spirit of simplifying things during the holidays, and considering I still have to clean my kitchen, vacuum and pick up my parents at the airport, I thought I’d post something a little less cerebral. Since I’ve had five separate requests for my Chili recipe since Casey’s birthday party, I’ve decided to oblige. Without further ado, here it is…and the quick story that goes with it…
The funny part is, all the folks that requested it are meat-eaters and did not REALIZE it was a vegetarian recipe (suckers.) The meatless ground round fooled them – one person said it was one of the best beef chili’s he’d had. Not to toot my own horn or anything.
To give credit where credit is due - I’ve modified three recipes: My mother’s, my mother-in-law, Marilyn’s and my cooking bible, the Joy of Cooking circa 1997. The curry powder is my own thing, and roasting it with the cumin and chili powder before adding oil is something my dad taught me. For some, reason roasting certain spices while dry wakes them and adds a smoky flavor. You’ll notice the bell peppers and carrots are mysteriously absent in my version – I don’t DO bell peppers – particularly the green ones. And I’ve always felt carrots seem unnatural in chili, a little out of place if you will. Call me crazy.
So this is how it happened.
This year, for my husband’s birthday, we decided to throw a party. As the invite list began to grow, I started to panic about having enough food for everyone (as a good Italian always does.) When I realized that roughly 30 people would be attending, the idea of a quaint sit-down dinner of some elegant fish quickly vanished and I knew I needed a plan. And what do I do when I am panicking and need a plan? Again, what every good Italian does…
I brought out the big guns. I called my mother.
The phone was ringing, my mind was speeding, please let her be there, please let her be there, please let her be there… my new mantra.
“MOM.” I screamed into the phone before she could say hello.
“April? What’s wrong?!”
“The invite list is now at 30!”
“…Well, I guess that means you’re not cooking fish for everyone.”
“Oh shit.”
“Exactly… Well, that’s ok…” She thought for a moment. “Just make chili,” she let it roll off her tongue casually, as if to imply the situation required a smooth and calculated strategy, and that she was, of course, the master.
“Oh, Chili,” I thought, bewildered at her steady composure in the face of what I was sure was impending doom. “That sounds great.” “Yeah honey just make a big giant pot of chili, have some corn bread and chips and salsa, and viola! You’re done!”
Genius, I thought. So that’s exactly what I did. And here it is.
Enjoy, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. See you on the mat!
Casey's Birthday Chili
Ingredients
T ground cumin (not seeds)
T chili powder
½ T curry powder
1 tsp oregano
3T extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic chopped fine
1-3 jalapeno peppers chopped fine (with seeds is more spicy)
1-2 onions chopped
2 medium zucchini chopped
1 yellow squash chopped
2 15 oz. cans black beans (drained a little)
2 15 oz cans pinto or cannellini beans (drained a little)
1 15 oz can creamed corn
1 15 oz can sweet corn
1 package of meatless ground round (experiment with different kinds, any kind you would use in a taco)
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes (Muir Glen is the brand – love their salsa too!)
Splash of white vinegar
Kosher salt (to taste)
Lots of fresh ground pepper
Tabasco sauce (1-2 T or more if you like it spicy.)
*For a wetter version – use more tomatoes or add a bit of water! For a thicker version, or more tomato flavor, add a T or 2 of tomato paste.
Instructions
Get Large pasta or Soup pot. Place over medium to medium-high heat. Heat pot well. Toss in the cumin, curry and chili powder for about a minute, until spices start to smoke.
Pour in the olive oil and heat for 20 seconds to cook the spices a little more.
Toss in onions and jalapeno(s), sprinkle with ½ T of salt to “sweat.” 3-4 min.
Add garlic for 2 more minutes. Careful not to burn, or it will get bitter.
Add zucchini and squash and cook for 5 minutes.
Toss in meatless ground and just heat through. Stir frequently to keep from burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Add beans and corn (stir all and heat for a few minutes.)
Add tomatoes and oregano and splash of vinegar.
Let come to a simmer. Stir and taste.
Add fresh ground pepper and Tabasco to spice it up as needed.
On low heat or simmer, cook for about 45 minutes.
*You can cook it in the morning or the day before a party and then refrigerate. To do so, let it cool significantly before putting in the fridge. To re-heat, put it back on the stove and heat it on low until hot again. Serve in bowls with corn-bread!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
It is what it is...the human Yogi
I was going to find something funny and witty to write about for my first blog posting. Something to break the ice that would encourage a swift trail of emails from my contacts to their contacts and friends forwarding my blog address (www.workofheartyoga.com) because it was just too hilarious to keep to them selves. I even toyed with the idea of writing a piece about the elusive topic of "the yoga fart." (Don't be surprised if it actually pops up again...the posting, not the actual...well, you get the point.)
But a few nights ago something important happened.
I was making dinner with my husband, Casey, and told him I was struggling with deciding on my next yoga teacher training. Although I'm already trained and certified, it's important to get refreshers. But finding the right teacher to train under is really hard. They are not just teaching you how to do poses, they are teaching you about the health benefits of yoga, how to adjust students safely, anatomy, and equally important, about ethics, how to study one's own mind and body, and how to look more deeply into one's own life. So you don't just take a training from any old Joe-Shmoe!
I turned to Casey and somewhat absentmindedly remarked, "Sometimes it's like I'm looking for a mentor that doesn't exist." We both paused with the weight of this realization, sad and expanding.
But, later in the evening I came across a book I still haven't read cover to cover. Uncharacteristically, I flipped straight to the end...
Rodney Yee wrote the final chapter to his book, "Yoga, The Poetry of the Body," which is largely about his own experience of yoga, and written in a conversational style with his co-author, Nina Zolotow (2002). When she asked him to write something to "wrap-up the book," he was frustrated with the idea of summing up his experience in a neat little bow. Instead, he chose to call the chapter, "Unwrapping."
In it, he says, "if there's one thing I've learned in all these years of yoga, it's that when you inquire deeply into anything, you're basically left with a bunch of confusion and conflicting answers. And I don't necessarily think that's ever going to clear up." He goes on to say that during his practice and throughout his daily life, it's not all just focused, pure thoughts, meditation and bliss...he too is filled with questions, have to's, family, kids, and occasionally self-doubt. He goes on, "And for me, yoga simply means continuing to be with what is and allowing that to be a crazy, chaotic mess..." He explains that even after decades of yoga practice he still has desires, some healthful and some not. And that meditation does not automatically lead to the end of all frustrations, suffering, and mistakes.
He reminds us that we spend so much of our time wishing for something other than what is, rather than choosing how to respond to what is: "God I wish my hips were smaller," "Geez I wish my injury would heal already," "I wish I weren't in this damn traffic jam," or "I really wish I had the new iPhone for Christmas..." He reminds us that even when we alleviate one desire, others are sure to follow. In other words, we are human. That because we are living, there will be things to suffer in the future, just as there will be great joy.
This may sound like we should just accept our suffering which, as a social worker and community organizer who has spent over a decade working on social justice, does not sit well with me. However, thinking more about it, I don't think he means people should just accept their own or other's suffering, but that we should be aware that suffering exists: death, loss, wants that we can't always fulfill, mistakes, worries, etc. And I do not believe the acceptance that suffering exists is the same thing as rolling over and passively allowing one's suffering to continue.
I believe that suffering is to be explored and great healing can come from that exploration. What parts of my suffering originate internally, and which are externally imposed? What is within my power to change? How do I want it to change? What will happen if I can't change it, or if I can?
There is great liberation in knowing that we have choices in how we deal with suffering. And because we are human, we will inevitably falter and make a mess of it sometimes. And that's o.k. too, because we will have other opportunities in the future to do it differently.
My point? Well, my point is to say "KUDOS!" to Rodney Yee for allowing his readers to see that he too is human, and catches himself going over his daily "to-do" list while meditating. And for reminding us that yoga not only builds tight abs, and limber joints, but that it can help us be more aware of our human condition.
So maybe my mentor does exist. Maybe it's Rodney, maybe not, maybe I learn from my students as much as I do from my teachers. Maybe my mentor is deep within me and I just have to learn to listen more closely. I like that idea. And I would love to hear what you all think about Rodney's thoughts, or mine.
FOR YOUR PRACTICE:
For those that would like to take some of this "being with what is," stuff and mix it into your yoga practice, try these poses:
1) Virabadrasana II (Warrior II): Standing, feet spread wide apart (3-4 feet), turn the right foot out 90 degrees, turn the left toes in 45 degrees. Ground through your legs by engaging the thigh muscles. Raise the arms shoulder-height and look over your right fingers. Inhale standing tall. As you exhale, bend the right knee, keeping the back leg straight and strong, and torso upright. Make sure the right knee does not come forward of the ankle, and points over the middle toes. Keep breathing as you hold the pose. How long you choose to hold the pose it up to you. Try the pose on both sides. (*For women who are pregnant or those who feel unstable in the pose, slide a chair under the bent leg, but still engage the thigh muscles.)
2) Utkatasana (Chair Pose): Standing with your feet close together, Inhale and raise the arms up to the ceiling. As you exhale, swan-dive forward, bending at the hips and bend the knees so the fingers touch the floor. Keeping the knees bent and above the ankles, drop your hips a few inches, as you inhale next, raise your torso off your thighs and your arms up. The shoulders are down, away from the ears. You should feel this in your thighs, glutes, hips and shoulders. To come out of the pose, on the inhale, use strong thighs to straighten the knees and push up through standing, then relax the arms down at your sides.
3) Vrkrasana (Tree Pose): Standing with feet close together, root down through the legs. Shift the weight to your left leg, and bring the right foot to the inside of the left ankle, right knee pointed out to the right. (If you'd like you can slide the foot up to the calf or above the knee on the thigh or in the crux of the groin. Just keep the right knee pointed to the right.) Push the left foot firmly against the floor to lift out of the left hip and stand tall. Now raise your arms above your head palms facing towards each other or open the arms with the palms facing up. If you can, try looking up.
*In all three poses: Try to focus your attention on whichever muscles you feel working. Hold the pose just to the point that you naturally want to come out of it. Then notice you have a choice: you can stay for a bit longer, see what that feels like, or you can back off slightly and stay there for a few more breathes, or you can come out of the pose entirely. Think about your choice, are you coming out of it because you are bored or feeling lazy? Or are you staying in it to punish yourself or because you think you are weak if you don't? In #3, Vrkrasana, if you fall out of the balancing pose, do you get mad or frustrated with yourself or can you giggle? Notice any thoughts or judgments that may pop up, and try to just observe them. Just take a breathe when you notice them, and then choose how you would like to respond.
But a few nights ago something important happened.
I was making dinner with my husband, Casey, and told him I was struggling with deciding on my next yoga teacher training. Although I'm already trained and certified, it's important to get refreshers. But finding the right teacher to train under is really hard. They are not just teaching you how to do poses, they are teaching you about the health benefits of yoga, how to adjust students safely, anatomy, and equally important, about ethics, how to study one's own mind and body, and how to look more deeply into one's own life. So you don't just take a training from any old Joe-Shmoe!
I turned to Casey and somewhat absentmindedly remarked, "Sometimes it's like I'm looking for a mentor that doesn't exist." We both paused with the weight of this realization, sad and expanding.
But, later in the evening I came across a book I still haven't read cover to cover. Uncharacteristically, I flipped straight to the end...
Rodney Yee wrote the final chapter to his book, "Yoga, The Poetry of the Body," which is largely about his own experience of yoga, and written in a conversational style with his co-author, Nina Zolotow (2002). When she asked him to write something to "wrap-up the book," he was frustrated with the idea of summing up his experience in a neat little bow. Instead, he chose to call the chapter, "Unwrapping."
In it, he says, "if there's one thing I've learned in all these years of yoga, it's that when you inquire deeply into anything, you're basically left with a bunch of confusion and conflicting answers. And I don't necessarily think that's ever going to clear up." He goes on to say that during his practice and throughout his daily life, it's not all just focused, pure thoughts, meditation and bliss...he too is filled with questions, have to's, family, kids, and occasionally self-doubt. He goes on, "And for me, yoga simply means continuing to be with what is and allowing that to be a crazy, chaotic mess..." He explains that even after decades of yoga practice he still has desires, some healthful and some not. And that meditation does not automatically lead to the end of all frustrations, suffering, and mistakes.
He reminds us that we spend so much of our time wishing for something other than what is, rather than choosing how to respond to what is: "God I wish my hips were smaller," "Geez I wish my injury would heal already," "I wish I weren't in this damn traffic jam," or "I really wish I had the new iPhone for Christmas..." He reminds us that even when we alleviate one desire, others are sure to follow. In other words, we are human. That because we are living, there will be things to suffer in the future, just as there will be great joy.
This may sound like we should just accept our suffering which, as a social worker and community organizer who has spent over a decade working on social justice, does not sit well with me. However, thinking more about it, I don't think he means people should just accept their own or other's suffering, but that we should be aware that suffering exists: death, loss, wants that we can't always fulfill, mistakes, worries, etc. And I do not believe the acceptance that suffering exists is the same thing as rolling over and passively allowing one's suffering to continue.
I believe that suffering is to be explored and great healing can come from that exploration. What parts of my suffering originate internally, and which are externally imposed? What is within my power to change? How do I want it to change? What will happen if I can't change it, or if I can?
There is great liberation in knowing that we have choices in how we deal with suffering. And because we are human, we will inevitably falter and make a mess of it sometimes. And that's o.k. too, because we will have other opportunities in the future to do it differently.
My point? Well, my point is to say "KUDOS!" to Rodney Yee for allowing his readers to see that he too is human, and catches himself going over his daily "to-do" list while meditating. And for reminding us that yoga not only builds tight abs, and limber joints, but that it can help us be more aware of our human condition.
So maybe my mentor does exist. Maybe it's Rodney, maybe not, maybe I learn from my students as much as I do from my teachers. Maybe my mentor is deep within me and I just have to learn to listen more closely. I like that idea. And I would love to hear what you all think about Rodney's thoughts, or mine.
FOR YOUR PRACTICE:
For those that would like to take some of this "being with what is," stuff and mix it into your yoga practice, try these poses:
1) Virabadrasana II (Warrior II): Standing, feet spread wide apart (3-4 feet), turn the right foot out 90 degrees, turn the left toes in 45 degrees. Ground through your legs by engaging the thigh muscles. Raise the arms shoulder-height and look over your right fingers. Inhale standing tall. As you exhale, bend the right knee, keeping the back leg straight and strong, and torso upright. Make sure the right knee does not come forward of the ankle, and points over the middle toes. Keep breathing as you hold the pose. How long you choose to hold the pose it up to you. Try the pose on both sides. (*For women who are pregnant or those who feel unstable in the pose, slide a chair under the bent leg, but still engage the thigh muscles.)
2) Utkatasana (Chair Pose): Standing with your feet close together, Inhale and raise the arms up to the ceiling. As you exhale, swan-dive forward, bending at the hips and bend the knees so the fingers touch the floor. Keeping the knees bent and above the ankles, drop your hips a few inches, as you inhale next, raise your torso off your thighs and your arms up. The shoulders are down, away from the ears. You should feel this in your thighs, glutes, hips and shoulders. To come out of the pose, on the inhale, use strong thighs to straighten the knees and push up through standing, then relax the arms down at your sides.
3) Vrkrasana (Tree Pose): Standing with feet close together, root down through the legs. Shift the weight to your left leg, and bring the right foot to the inside of the left ankle, right knee pointed out to the right. (If you'd like you can slide the foot up to the calf or above the knee on the thigh or in the crux of the groin. Just keep the right knee pointed to the right.) Push the left foot firmly against the floor to lift out of the left hip and stand tall. Now raise your arms above your head palms facing towards each other or open the arms with the palms facing up. If you can, try looking up.
*In all three poses: Try to focus your attention on whichever muscles you feel working. Hold the pose just to the point that you naturally want to come out of it. Then notice you have a choice: you can stay for a bit longer, see what that feels like, or you can back off slightly and stay there for a few more breathes, or you can come out of the pose entirely. Think about your choice, are you coming out of it because you are bored or feeling lazy? Or are you staying in it to punish yourself or because you think you are weak if you don't? In #3, Vrkrasana, if you fall out of the balancing pose, do you get mad or frustrated with yourself or can you giggle? Notice any thoughts or judgments that may pop up, and try to just observe them. Just take a breathe when you notice them, and then choose how you would like to respond.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Welcome!
My Yoga website unveiling!
The time for my Yoga site unveiling has arrived! How did I ever come up with the name - Work of Heart? No, I did not meditate until I levitated, or channel the name through my 7 chakras (although I welcome THAT experience)... I simply asked for some help from my favorite people. And to all of you who contributed your ideas, I was touched by the way you described my teaching style. You gave me the context to identify the winning name, which came from my former intern-turned life-long friend, Jessie. Jessie, thank you for your creative genius and generous spirit. The name says so much about how I feel about, practice and teach yoga. I hope you will find meaning in it too...
Regarding New Classes: Keep checking my website for schedule updates...better yet, subscribe to my posts at the right, and my updates will be conveniently emailed straight to you!
The time for my Yoga site unveiling has arrived! How did I ever come up with the name - Work of Heart? No, I did not meditate until I levitated, or channel the name through my 7 chakras (although I welcome THAT experience)... I simply asked for some help from my favorite people. And to all of you who contributed your ideas, I was touched by the way you described my teaching style. You gave me the context to identify the winning name, which came from my former intern-turned life-long friend, Jessie. Jessie, thank you for your creative genius and generous spirit. The name says so much about how I feel about, practice and teach yoga. I hope you will find meaning in it too...
Regarding New Classes: Keep checking my website for schedule updates...better yet, subscribe to my posts at the right, and my updates will be conveniently emailed straight to you!
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