Hello all my yogis,
I'm always worried about what to do if I'm going to be gone or on vacation... On the one hand, if I tell my students I'm not going to be there, many don't show up for the subs, and the studio loses money, making it less likely that they will keep me on staff in the long run... on the other, if I don't tell my students and they DO come and are bummed to have a sub, they often won't come back when I return... Conundrum.
But folks, the truth of the matter is: yoga teachers are human (gasp!), and they need vacations too. So, here's my compromise.
I usually don't announce it in class, but I will announce it on my blog. And here's how I feel about it.
I know what it's like to find a teacher you really jive with, and to show up expecting them, only to find this other totally new person you've never met before. It's jolting. Disorienting sometimes. However, I have often found that I learn something new from new teachers. They have a different way of explaining the poses or more of a focus on breathing or alignment. Not to mention, that when I practice at a studio, or teach at a studio, I consider it part of my community. It's not just a teacher that I'm supporting, it's the entire studio community. And I hope that my students get that feeling from my teaching... and I hope that they will think of it as their community too.
I encourage my students to come even when I'm out not only so that I'll have a job waiting for me when I come back, but also because I believe in the people I have subbing for me and think my students might actually learn something, heck, even enjoy their classes!
At the same time, I will never give my students a hard time if they can't or choose not to show up. There are a million reasons why folks may not show up (vacation, illness, something came up, they left the coffee pot on, etc,) and they are none of my business. However, if someone doesn't show up because they didn't enjoy a class of mine, or a class I had a sub teach, I, OF COURSE, want to know about it, so that I can do something to change it. But it's up to you if feel like telling me!
That being said... I'm going on vacation this week. Don't freak out. It's only a week...Here's my list of subs:
JULES HOGAN: Saturday July 3rd, Level One (11-12:30)
Sunday, July 4th, call the studio to find out if any classes are being held
CHERYL MOSS: Monday, July 5th Prenatal. (10-11:30am)
PULEEZE enjoy these women, these classes and something new for a change. And come back to me when I'm back, tell me all about it and what you learned! You won't regret it! I'll miss you tons and look forward to seeing you again soon.
And a shout out to my Saturday class students: WHERE ARE YOU?! I miss you all!
Peace,
April
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Chasing Svasana...
For Lolita-
I'll never forget the first time I understood Svasana...
In a small studio in Queens, NY, Richmond Hill to be exact, I had my first experience of Dhyana, the 7th limb of yoga, and maybe a touch of the 8th. There are 8 limbs in yoga, according to Patanjali. The translations of the Sanskrit differ, depending on who you talk to, but a crass translation is the following:
1. Yama : Universal morality (this one takes some explaining...)
2. Niyama : Personal observances
3. Asanas : Body postures
4. Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of prana
5. Pratyahara : Control of the senses
6. Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
7. Dhyana : Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
8. Samadhi : Union with the Divine
Most people are only aware of #s 3 and 4, which are commonly practiced in US yoga studios. I consider Pranayama and Pratyahara to be inseparable, myself, which is also how I teach Pranayama - as the beginning of your meditative practice. The last 4 limbs are all forms of meditation. That being said, they are hard to define, and it is even harder to describe the experience of each.
But I will never forget the feeling, that still rests deep in my bones, and in my heart.
I went to a late night class. It was winter in New York. I sloshed through grey snow the few blocks from my house to the studio that magically opened up two days after I swore insanity was knocking at my door while I was starting graduate school. I felt a calling to Social Work, but was struggling with working in communities that dealt with extreme poverty, illness and violence and not being swallowed by despair. Working 70 hours a week didn't help either.
I shook off my puffy coat, and my badly fitting jeans, peeled off my thermals and unbunched my yoga pants from my, well, butt crack, to be perfectly honest. I felt disheveled, out of place, tired, heavy, and very very lonely.
I looked around the small studio, candles lit, warm light bouncing gently off the hardwood floor, the small statue of Ganesh in the corner wreathed in flowers. "Yes, Ganesh. Guide me through the sludge in my head, and the F train commute..." I thought.
I rolled out my mat, and laid down. The only light the entire class was by candle. I was happy to be in the dark warm glow of candles, to sweat, to listen to the soft lilt of my teacher's German accent.
At the end of class, Asana done, my breathing slow and steady, we sat in meditation for a moment in sukhasana (soft- cross legged pose). I heard through the chatter in my own head, "April, you are leaning forward. Sit back a little. Relax. Release your anxiety," my teacher whispered as the slightest touch of her forefinger drew my shoulders gently back over my hips.
I was amazed by how much I was leaning forward, as if sitting on the edge of a cliff, nervously peering over the side. I flipped some switch, and let go of any judgment of my spazzy posture, and just observed passively. I was leaning forward, anticipating my whole life. I realized, I did it all the time, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Never being fully present in the moment, but looking ahead to the next. It was exhausting. It is the work I will continue to address for quite some time.
As we stretched out for Svasana, I wondered if I could let go even more deeply. So I relaxed each muscle, stopped thinking, and just followed the sound of my inhale and exhale. After a few minutes, I let go of the sound of my breathe. I felt my mind turn inward - and felt my awareness sink more deeply into my body. I feel both heavy and light at the same time. I let go of directing my focus to my breathe or any one feeling, and suddenly was very aware of every part of myself, the room, the world outside, and it certainly felt like everything beyond it. It was as if time stopped, gravity ceased to exist, and I was floating, yet anchored to the core of the earth. I felt very at peace.
I have no idea how long I was in this state, nor did I care. After some while, I heard my teacher's voice, calling me (us) back and felt myself sitting up slowly. After class, as I packed my things and calmly dressed in my awkward layers of clothing, I thanked my teacher very quietly, not wanting to disturb my feeling of calm awareness. I walked home, kissed my soon-to-be husband, and went about my evening. I slept undisturbed the whole night through for the first time in many years.
I had experienced glimpses of it before, moments of sustained focus and concentration... of being "in the zone." But this, this was a deep and luxurious, lovely place in the space/time continuum I very much wanted to visit again.
The trick, I've found, is to welcome it when it comes, and not to chase it. Like looking for a star during twilight. If you try too hard to look directly at it, it disappears. I find that relaxing my gaze, breathing deeply and enjoying the transition to night allows the full spectrum of beauty to reach me. It's really the only way I can think to describe it. You don't find Svasana or Samadhi, it will find you.
Peace,
April KirkHart
www.workofheartyoga.com
I'll never forget the first time I understood Svasana...
In a small studio in Queens, NY, Richmond Hill to be exact, I had my first experience of Dhyana, the 7th limb of yoga, and maybe a touch of the 8th. There are 8 limbs in yoga, according to Patanjali. The translations of the Sanskrit differ, depending on who you talk to, but a crass translation is the following:
1. Yama : Universal morality (this one takes some explaining...)
2. Niyama : Personal observances
3. Asanas : Body postures
4. Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of prana
5. Pratyahara : Control of the senses
6. Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
7. Dhyana : Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
8. Samadhi : Union with the Divine
Most people are only aware of #s 3 and 4, which are commonly practiced in US yoga studios. I consider Pranayama and Pratyahara to be inseparable, myself, which is also how I teach Pranayama - as the beginning of your meditative practice. The last 4 limbs are all forms of meditation. That being said, they are hard to define, and it is even harder to describe the experience of each.
But I will never forget the feeling, that still rests deep in my bones, and in my heart.
I went to a late night class. It was winter in New York. I sloshed through grey snow the few blocks from my house to the studio that magically opened up two days after I swore insanity was knocking at my door while I was starting graduate school. I felt a calling to Social Work, but was struggling with working in communities that dealt with extreme poverty, illness and violence and not being swallowed by despair. Working 70 hours a week didn't help either.
I shook off my puffy coat, and my badly fitting jeans, peeled off my thermals and unbunched my yoga pants from my, well, butt crack, to be perfectly honest. I felt disheveled, out of place, tired, heavy, and very very lonely.
I looked around the small studio, candles lit, warm light bouncing gently off the hardwood floor, the small statue of Ganesh in the corner wreathed in flowers. "Yes, Ganesh. Guide me through the sludge in my head, and the F train commute..." I thought.
I rolled out my mat, and laid down. The only light the entire class was by candle. I was happy to be in the dark warm glow of candles, to sweat, to listen to the soft lilt of my teacher's German accent.
At the end of class, Asana done, my breathing slow and steady, we sat in meditation for a moment in sukhasana (soft- cross legged pose). I heard through the chatter in my own head, "April, you are leaning forward. Sit back a little. Relax. Release your anxiety," my teacher whispered as the slightest touch of her forefinger drew my shoulders gently back over my hips.
I was amazed by how much I was leaning forward, as if sitting on the edge of a cliff, nervously peering over the side. I flipped some switch, and let go of any judgment of my spazzy posture, and just observed passively. I was leaning forward, anticipating my whole life. I realized, I did it all the time, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Never being fully present in the moment, but looking ahead to the next. It was exhausting. It is the work I will continue to address for quite some time.
As we stretched out for Svasana, I wondered if I could let go even more deeply. So I relaxed each muscle, stopped thinking, and just followed the sound of my inhale and exhale. After a few minutes, I let go of the sound of my breathe. I felt my mind turn inward - and felt my awareness sink more deeply into my body. I feel both heavy and light at the same time. I let go of directing my focus to my breathe or any one feeling, and suddenly was very aware of every part of myself, the room, the world outside, and it certainly felt like everything beyond it. It was as if time stopped, gravity ceased to exist, and I was floating, yet anchored to the core of the earth. I felt very at peace.
I have no idea how long I was in this state, nor did I care. After some while, I heard my teacher's voice, calling me (us) back and felt myself sitting up slowly. After class, as I packed my things and calmly dressed in my awkward layers of clothing, I thanked my teacher very quietly, not wanting to disturb my feeling of calm awareness. I walked home, kissed my soon-to-be husband, and went about my evening. I slept undisturbed the whole night through for the first time in many years.
I had experienced glimpses of it before, moments of sustained focus and concentration... of being "in the zone." But this, this was a deep and luxurious, lovely place in the space/time continuum I very much wanted to visit again.
The trick, I've found, is to welcome it when it comes, and not to chase it. Like looking for a star during twilight. If you try too hard to look directly at it, it disappears. I find that relaxing my gaze, breathing deeply and enjoying the transition to night allows the full spectrum of beauty to reach me. It's really the only way I can think to describe it. You don't find Svasana or Samadhi, it will find you.
Peace,
April KirkHart
www.workofheartyoga.com
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Did I mention that I love Yoga?
Hi,
I don't write on my Blog nearly enough. Mostly because I feel like I have to have something very important to say - like a really poignant story, a metaphor for life, or some schedule change that my students absolutely must know about...
But I've decided to try to log on, at least once a week, to put down whatever comes to my yogic mind... so there.
I love yoga. I wish I were able to do more of it, and I do try to sneak it in daily, even if in short 15 minute spurts. Motherhood is hard sometimes, literally on the body. My upper back constantly aches for the first time in my life - mostly from bending over and picking up the baby, and breastfeeding. But also from the lack of exercise I get nowadays. Even as a yoga instructor... I don't get as much as I feel I need. And I'm STILL waiting for my abdominal muscles to grow back together (don't worry ladies, this doesn't happen to most pregnant women... I just got lucky!)
When I have free time, I usually make the phone calls I can't make while my baby needs my attention, or online communications, or cleaning the house, occasionally taking a shower or making food for me or the baby, calling my mother back, grocery shopping, running errands, and sometimes going for a walk, or teaching a class.
My standards on the cleanliness of my house have dropped dramatically. Oh, it still bothers me, but I have less choice in the matter.
But I love yoga. I get to go to a class a few times a week, and I get to teach it, and it keeps me sane, makes me feel like I can breathe, makes me feel alive and interested in the world around me. I'm so lucky that yoga exists. And that I get to be a part of passing it on to others, including my amazing daughter, Ruby Jo!
So, them's my thoughts. Have a great day, and enjoy your yoga!
Peace,
April
I don't write on my Blog nearly enough. Mostly because I feel like I have to have something very important to say - like a really poignant story, a metaphor for life, or some schedule change that my students absolutely must know about...
But I've decided to try to log on, at least once a week, to put down whatever comes to my yogic mind... so there.
I love yoga. I wish I were able to do more of it, and I do try to sneak it in daily, even if in short 15 minute spurts. Motherhood is hard sometimes, literally on the body. My upper back constantly aches for the first time in my life - mostly from bending over and picking up the baby, and breastfeeding. But also from the lack of exercise I get nowadays. Even as a yoga instructor... I don't get as much as I feel I need. And I'm STILL waiting for my abdominal muscles to grow back together (don't worry ladies, this doesn't happen to most pregnant women... I just got lucky!)
When I have free time, I usually make the phone calls I can't make while my baby needs my attention, or online communications, or cleaning the house, occasionally taking a shower or making food for me or the baby, calling my mother back, grocery shopping, running errands, and sometimes going for a walk, or teaching a class.
My standards on the cleanliness of my house have dropped dramatically. Oh, it still bothers me, but I have less choice in the matter.
But I love yoga. I get to go to a class a few times a week, and I get to teach it, and it keeps me sane, makes me feel like I can breathe, makes me feel alive and interested in the world around me. I'm so lucky that yoga exists. And that I get to be a part of passing it on to others, including my amazing daughter, Ruby Jo!
So, them's my thoughts. Have a great day, and enjoy your yoga!
Peace,
April
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April's on vacation!
Dearest of Yogis and Yoginis,
As always, I know that you will still come for your yoga class... but I will be away on a small but much needed vacation with my family. I have THE most awesome subs teaching for me, so PULEEZE get your yoga on with these amazing ladies - they really do rock!
Sat, April 17th Level One : Jules Hogan
Sun, April 18th Beginner: Jewel Greenberg
Mon, April 19th Prenatal: Jewel Greenberg
Sat, April 24th Level One: Jules Hogan
Sun, April 25th Beginner: Kate Duyn
And a HUMUNGOUS thank you to them for subbing for me. I love my students and I miss them dearly when I am gone, and I ONLY like to put them in very capable and responsible hands...
Have a fabulous time!
Peace,
April KirkHart
www.workofheartyoga.com
As always, I know that you will still come for your yoga class... but I will be away on a small but much needed vacation with my family. I have THE most awesome subs teaching for me, so PULEEZE get your yoga on with these amazing ladies - they really do rock!
Sat, April 17th Level One : Jules Hogan
Sun, April 18th Beginner: Jewel Greenberg
Mon, April 19th Prenatal: Jewel Greenberg
Sat, April 24th Level One: Jules Hogan
Sun, April 25th Beginner: Kate Duyn
And a HUMUNGOUS thank you to them for subbing for me. I love my students and I miss them dearly when I am gone, and I ONLY like to put them in very capable and responsible hands...
Have a fabulous time!
Peace,
April KirkHart
www.workofheartyoga.com
Friday, April 2, 2010
Schedule changes: Easter & Mommy and Me
Dearest All,
Please note that I have changed my schedule: I am no longer teaching the Friday 10am Mommy and Me class at GODA. Fear not new mothers, Kate Duyn is taking the class over, and I have had nothing but amazing feedback from my students about her. I know the class is in good hands! So if you were worried you'd be banished to your homes with only nap schedules, teething issues, and diapers to occupy yourself, wipe the thought from your minds and get thee to yoga with your little ones!
On another note, this coming SUNDAY is Easter, and GODA is only having one class for the day. Rig is teaching at 9am. So if you are craving some movement, breathe and community, whether you celebrate Easter or not, throw off those covers, hide the chocolate eggs, and go have some fun with Rig and his clan at GODA! * I am still teaching my Saturday 11am Level One class...
Peace and Happy Spring everyone!
-April
Please note that I have changed my schedule: I am no longer teaching the Friday 10am Mommy and Me class at GODA. Fear not new mothers, Kate Duyn is taking the class over, and I have had nothing but amazing feedback from my students about her. I know the class is in good hands! So if you were worried you'd be banished to your homes with only nap schedules, teething issues, and diapers to occupy yourself, wipe the thought from your minds and get thee to yoga with your little ones!
On another note, this coming SUNDAY is Easter, and GODA is only having one class for the day. Rig is teaching at 9am. So if you are craving some movement, breathe and community, whether you celebrate Easter or not, throw off those covers, hide the chocolate eggs, and go have some fun with Rig and his clan at GODA! * I am still teaching my Saturday 11am Level One class...
Peace and Happy Spring everyone!
-April
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sub for Prenatal today!
Dear Prenatal Yogis,
My apologies for the last minute update, but my 10am Prenatal Yoga class today will be taught by special guest teacher Jules Hogan!
I do not have my usual babysitter/auntie around to watch Ruby Jo (Cheryl has a cold!) and thought it would be better to have Jules sub for me, than to bring Ruby in to teach with me - she gets a little cranky while I'm trying to start Svasana for you all, so I thought Jules might be more relaxing for you!
Please forgive the last minute change, but these things do happen when your little ones arrive. I will see you next week!
And a BIG thank you to Jules for stepping in for me!
Peace,
April KirkHart
www.workofheartyoga.com
My apologies for the last minute update, but my 10am Prenatal Yoga class today will be taught by special guest teacher Jules Hogan!
I do not have my usual babysitter/auntie around to watch Ruby Jo (Cheryl has a cold!) and thought it would be better to have Jules sub for me, than to bring Ruby in to teach with me - she gets a little cranky while I'm trying to start Svasana for you all, so I thought Jules might be more relaxing for you!
Please forgive the last minute change, but these things do happen when your little ones arrive. I will see you next week!
And a BIG thank you to Jules for stepping in for me!
Peace,
April KirkHart
www.workofheartyoga.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Teaching PRIVATE LESSONS again!!!!
Dear WHY Yogis,
That's right, you heard it here first! I am teaching private lessons again! As you will notice on my home page at www.workofheartyoga.com, I have new rates, as it is a little trickier for me to sneak away from my baby girl, and I must pay someone to watch her. However, please notice that I DO have packages that allow you to get a great discount!
I am more than happy to come to your home if it is a reasonable distance from me, or we can potentially work something out with GODA if we can schedule it at a time when it won't interfere with regular class schedules. We can work on deepening your regular practice, breathing, particular posses you would like to improve, areas of the body you would like to work on, increasing strength or stamina, weight loss, and prenatal yoga! We will tailor your sessions to your needs.
Please feel free to contact me via email at workofheartyoga@gmail.com to discuss setting up private lessons or pass this on to anyone you think might be interested. Remember, private yoga packages make great presents for others too!
Peace,
April KirkHart
workofheartyoga@gmail.com
That's right, you heard it here first! I am teaching private lessons again! As you will notice on my home page at www.workofheartyoga.com, I have new rates, as it is a little trickier for me to sneak away from my baby girl, and I must pay someone to watch her. However, please notice that I DO have packages that allow you to get a great discount!
I am more than happy to come to your home if it is a reasonable distance from me, or we can potentially work something out with GODA if we can schedule it at a time when it won't interfere with regular class schedules. We can work on deepening your regular practice, breathing, particular posses you would like to improve, areas of the body you would like to work on, increasing strength or stamina, weight loss, and prenatal yoga! We will tailor your sessions to your needs.
Please feel free to contact me via email at workofheartyoga@gmail.com to discuss setting up private lessons or pass this on to anyone you think might be interested. Remember, private yoga packages make great presents for others too!
Peace,
April KirkHart
workofheartyoga@gmail.com
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