What is Savasana and why do we practice it at the end of class?
The most important posture, the Corpse. The goal is conscious relaxation. Many people find the "conscious" part the most difficult because it is very easy to drift off to sleep while doing Savasana.Relaxes and refreshes the body and mind, relieves stress and anxiety, quiets the mind.
The most important posture, the Corpse. The goal is conscious relaxation. Many people find the "conscious" part the most difficult because it is very easy to drift off to sleep while doing Savasana.Relaxes and refreshes the body and mind, relieves stress and anxiety, quiets the mind.
The best teachers are the best students, how willing are you to be the student?
When I'm on the mat and off I find myself being the student. I think my hardest time
is the morning and although I am open to new perspectives, ready to listen, appreciating what I don't understand, questioning what it means when I step off and make a mistakes. I do find myself grumbling through early morning practice. I am giving myself
six months to flip my morning ritual into a funtime and then I can say I'm really ready and willing to be a student.
When I'm on the mat and off I find myself being the student. I think my hardest time
is the morning and although I am open to new perspectives, ready to listen, appreciating what I don't understand, questioning what it means when I step off and make a mistakes. I do find myself grumbling through early morning practice. I am giving myself
six months to flip my morning ritual into a funtime and then I can say I'm really ready and willing to be a student.
What is the meaning of Surya Namaskar and why do we practice it?
सूर्य नमस्कार Surya Namaskar is known to us as Sun Salutations but it was derived from the Vedas, the oldest texts of Hindu literature. We know it in class as our vinyasa, the flow we go into to start to warm our limbs . It was known to promote health and prosperity. It is a series of poses to worship the sun and can be observed in ancient Hindu practices.
In your own words :
Grace: The softness in communing in prayer.
Community: Where I go to share in this life experience with other like minded souls
Prayer: A song I sing to God.
Heal: When our connection with ourself is stronger than our dis-ease
Soul: our own essence seen in our world through laughter
Freedom: liberation of mind, body and spirit
Grace: The softness in communing in prayer.
Community: Where I go to share in this life experience with other like minded souls
Prayer: A song I sing to God.
Heal: When our connection with ourself is stronger than our dis-ease
Soul: our own essence seen in our world through laughter
Freedom: liberation of mind, body and spirit
What has yoga taught you about you?
Yoga has led me on a journey back to myself. On many stages of this journey my desire for a true connection kept me curious, asking questions. Yoga has brought my speaking voice forward.
I trust my judgements, listen to my own intuition. I have the courage to follow my own path.I'm a strong spirit with wisdom, light and wonderful gifts to offer you as a teacher.
Yoga has led me on a journey back to myself. On many stages of this journey my desire for a true connection kept me curious, asking questions. Yoga has brought my speaking voice forward.
I trust my judgements, listen to my own intuition. I have the courage to follow my own path.I'm a strong spirit with wisdom, light and wonderful gifts to offer you as a teacher.
What would it mean to get in touch with the parts of your self that are neglected?
My teacher , Julie Dohrman in Brooklyn really helped me address this .... can I practice when sick or not feeling well. I came to class with a tooth abcess and she asked me " Where in the body is it manifesting?" I let her know the front part of my shoulder and my neck. We did chest openers on the wall , neck stretches before practise. I have a major fear of the dentist and this is why the predicament was created. She reminded me how to bring the light into the darker places.
How often do we not move or bring our pranayama into those days when we feel unwell when our dis-ease could use a helping hand. When I practise when I have aversion to it , I find parts of myself that needed me most.
My teacher , Julie Dohrman in Brooklyn really helped me address this .... can I practice when sick or not feeling well. I came to class with a tooth abcess and she asked me " Where in the body is it manifesting?" I let her know the front part of my shoulder and my neck. We did chest openers on the wall , neck stretches before practise. I have a major fear of the dentist and this is why the predicament was created. She reminded me how to bring the light into the darker places.
How often do we not move or bring our pranayama into those days when we feel unwell when our dis-ease could use a helping hand. When I practise when I have aversion to it , I find parts of myself that needed me most.
How long have you been practicing yoga and where do you usually practice?
I'm honored to share the magic & truth of yoga, to remind people of their innate Divinity and to spark their own enthusiasm. I have been a devoted practitioner for the last five years.
I'm honored to share the magic & truth of yoga, to remind people of their innate Divinity and to spark their own enthusiasm. I have been a devoted practitioner for the last five years.
I'm infinitely grateful to the lineage of brilliant teachers that continue to inspire me. My first certification was in Boston 2006 with master teacher Ana Forrest. I have a background in dance, which has led me to Brazil in 2004. I studied three months with the world-renowned DIDA school of Afro-Brazilian dance. This whole journey began many years ago in 1999 when I began my Holistic Health Practitioner program in Northern California with wonderful teachers Gayna Uretsky and Paul Pitchford. I have been blessed to practice on the mountain side retreat Verana, Amansala, Maya Tulum and in the urban environment , Back Bay Yoga , Jivamuhkti , Laughing Lotus and Mala Yoga.
You can tell someone what yoga is like but they have to have the direct experience of it . Why?
Yoga has many interpretations and styles but until you get on the mat how will you discover where you are on this path of life. The whole process is about you , what
are you able to conquer today.When I studied with Ana Forrest in 2006 , she cracked open some big misconceptions. Her approach-get on the mat already and drop into your experience.
Yoga has many interpretations and styles but until you get on the mat how will you discover where you are on this path of life. The whole process is about you , what
are you able to conquer today.When I studied with Ana Forrest in 2006 , she cracked open some big misconceptions. Her approach-get on the mat already and drop into your experience.
What makes your practice spiritual?
"Stop the words now. Open the window in the center of your chest and let the spirits fly in and out." -Rumi
Throughout my life I have gone searching for a connection to a higher power.
I sought out teachers like Thicht Naht Hahn for retreats , he opened up my meditation practice.He showed me it doesn't need to be in front of a wall as in Zen Buddhism , you can do it anywhere.In my high school and college years I utilized dance as an outlet and we practised yoga before classes. When I realized later on that my yoga practise was assisting me in clearing my mind that I had one of those ah-hah moments. Yoga paves the way for me to access my stillness and to have deeper discussions with my spirit. When I come to the mat and begin my pranayama through repetition my body enters a state of Samadhi. I become lighter and have been known to smile often.
"Stop the words now. Open the window in the center of your chest and let the spirits fly in and out." -Rumi
Throughout my life I have gone searching for a connection to a higher power.
I sought out teachers like Thicht Naht Hahn for retreats , he opened up my meditation practice.He showed me it doesn't need to be in front of a wall as in Zen Buddhism , you can do it anywhere.In my high school and college years I utilized dance as an outlet and we practised yoga before classes. When I realized later on that my yoga practise was assisting me in clearing my mind that I had one of those ah-hah moments. Yoga paves the way for me to access my stillness and to have deeper discussions with my spirit. When I come to the mat and begin my pranayama through repetition my body enters a state of Samadhi. I become lighter and have been known to smile often.
In your own words:
Mudra: hand positions that seal a prayer I use in every class by bringing my hands to my chest
in the Anjali mudra.
Chakra: The name for the individual seven light centers of the body. I chose the color purple to highlight this blog because it represents the spiritual center above our head and is known as this color.
Mantra: A repetitive chant or prayer that quiets the mind. Sometimes I utilise , go back to Ujjayi as my mantra during the day because it signals my body to relax.
Satsang: When two or more gather for meditation.
Prana : Our life force, what we connect to as we draw our breath connecting our internal force with the external.
Bhakti: The devotional wisdom I bring with me off the mat.
Mudra: hand positions that seal a prayer I use in every class by bringing my hands to my chest
in the Anjali mudra.
Chakra: The name for the individual seven light centers of the body. I chose the color purple to highlight this blog because it represents the spiritual center above our head and is known as this color.
Mantra: A repetitive chant or prayer that quiets the mind. Sometimes I utilise , go back to Ujjayi as my mantra during the day because it signals my body to relax.
Satsang: When two or more gather for meditation.
Prana : Our life force, what we connect to as we draw our breath connecting our internal force with the external.
Bhakti: The devotional wisdom I bring with me off the mat.
When woman are on their cycle, it is recommended that they do not invert. Why?
Gravity plays with our bodies in yoga, in fact we encourage classes like gravity surfing.
When we enter our menstrual cycle and invert we are not always at risk but the umbrella
is held in place for bodytypes which it might increase risk. The uterus can stretch when we do inversions allowing for more blood flow to accumulate causing heavier flow. If there are already preexisting genetic defects or conditions this can cause unnecessary stress on the body during a sensitive time. There are many stretches you can do to alleviate the pressure and cramps like forward bends , twists and supported standing poses.
Gravity plays with our bodies in yoga, in fact we encourage classes like gravity surfing.
When we enter our menstrual cycle and invert we are not always at risk but the umbrella
is held in place for bodytypes which it might increase risk. The uterus can stretch when we do inversions allowing for more blood flow to accumulate causing heavier flow. If there are already preexisting genetic defects or conditions this can cause unnecessary stress on the body during a sensitive time. There are many stretches you can do to alleviate the pressure and cramps like forward bends , twists and supported standing poses.
BKS Iyengar says backbends address fear. Why do you think that is?
I agree , whole heartedly whether it is as backbend or handstand or doing any inversion on your own for the first time without wall assistance tends to raise the fear factor . We all have different threshold buttons for fear . I personally love backbends and hip openers but for some reason tripod headstand weirds my neck out. When we go upside down or bend we are pushing past our control boundry. We are like "uh-oh" I might lose control here and when we are in a classroom setting this
can be a major source of uncomfortability. The other is " holy dirt " I might really be awful at this. We are built different , with different injuries so the flag might come at any moment. The real joy comes when you over come that on the mat you not only reach a different place in you practice but in your courage too.
I agree , whole heartedly whether it is as backbend or handstand or doing any inversion on your own for the first time without wall assistance tends to raise the fear factor . We all have different threshold buttons for fear . I personally love backbends and hip openers but for some reason tripod headstand weirds my neck out. When we go upside down or bend we are pushing past our control boundry. We are like "uh-oh" I might lose control here and when we are in a classroom setting this
can be a major source of uncomfortability. The other is " holy dirt " I might really be awful at this. We are built different , with different injuries so the flag might come at any moment. The real joy comes when you over come that on the mat you not only reach a different place in you practice but in your courage too.
Do you think yoga teachers need to possess certain qualities?
What are they?
Be a good communicator. Speaking well is important, but communication is a “two way street,” which requires listening skills and exceptional observation skills.
Answer questions even if unsure...transcend fear by looking for solutions
Kindness, charisma, self confidence
Honest feedback while still empowering
Sense of humor and willing to make a mistake :)
Why is gratitude so important?
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
- Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
- Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks
What does it mean to be flexible?
Life has many twists and turns we must bend with the earth.
I'm reminded of what I envision in tree pose when I'm still in my dhristi point.
I can still remain balanced while my limbs are bendible swaying branches.
Life can have warm breezes or harsh strong gales but my roots are planted.
Life has many twists and turns we must bend with the earth.
I'm reminded of what I envision in tree pose when I'm still in my dhristi point.
I can still remain balanced while my limbs are bendible swaying branches.
Life can have warm breezes or harsh strong gales but my roots are planted.
Your friend knows your love for yoga. Please, explain the meaning of Hatha yoga and its practices.
" The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, your nature with nature" Joeseph Campbell
In general my friends understand that yoga is more than excercize. Hatha means sun and moon. We are harmonizing with both male and female polarity within ourselves. There is a mind- body connection which carves the way for higher realization. They ask me why there are so many different styles. I tell them there are many different religions so why not in yoga. We come from many directions to reach the same goal. In yoga we discover that way to harness our mind body and spirit. In order to achieve this union, it is first necessary to take control of the mind and remove the unnecessary stimuli and clutter that get in the way of clarity.
Yoga teaches us balance: balance of the body in relation to gravity; balance of the mind between action and observation; and balance between stress and relaxation Through a regular yoga practice we learn which poses are effective in re-establishing balance in some aspect of our existence.
" The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, your nature with nature" Joeseph Campbell
In general my friends understand that yoga is more than excercize. Hatha means sun and moon. We are harmonizing with both male and female polarity within ourselves. There is a mind- body connection which carves the way for higher realization. They ask me why there are so many different styles. I tell them there are many different religions so why not in yoga. We come from many directions to reach the same goal. In yoga we discover that way to harness our mind body and spirit. In order to achieve this union, it is first necessary to take control of the mind and remove the unnecessary stimuli and clutter that get in the way of clarity.
Yoga teaches us balance: balance of the body in relation to gravity; balance of the mind between action and observation; and balance between stress and relaxation Through a regular yoga practice we learn which poses are effective in re-establishing balance in some aspect of our existence.
Coleman Barks says, The real ancient text is your daily experience" Explain.
This speaks to our belief systems, what houses our spirituality.
There are many teachers and many prophets from all different religions but love is the religion.
We have our own stories to lead, create our own texts and they all belong to the same higher power. We are , our own sacred texts and nobody can take that from us. Life is the sacred text we all follow. " Let the beauty we love be what we do."
Patanjali says the asana must be alert and relaxed, explain.
When we practice there are two qualities an asana should have.
In sanskrit , sthira sukham asanam, we must not come into class
with a mind that we will conquer like a gym class. Instead we must find
a steady balance, be awake in our movements but not force them.
Sukha means comfortable and light we can bring this into our practise
by remaining joyful and soft.
What is Sanskrit and why do we chant in Sanskrit?
The word Sanskrit means cultured or refined. It is the classical language of Hinduism, is the oldest and the most systematic language in the world. The vastness and the versatility, and power of expression can be appreciated by the fact that this language has 65 words to describe various forms of earth, 67 words for water, and over 250 words to describe rainfall. Sanskrit words are comprised of bijas, seed sounds, the sounds of which actually communicate the closet approximation possible to the vibration of the thing in itself. Therefore, the correspondence between Sanskrit words and objects is much closer than any other language.
Chanting in Sanskrit:
Sound flow is the highest priority in Sanskrit chanting. We use Sanskrit because it is the language of yoga.Sanskrit is special because the vibrations of the sounds have a direct correspondence to the meanings. So even if we don't know the intellectual dictionary meanings of the words, we will be able to intuit the understanding at least in the general sense. As we recite more frequently, we recognize more words and ever greater depths of meaning become apparent to us.
Is breath Prana? Explain.
Prana is the universal principle of energy. It is vital force. It is all pervading. It may be either in a static or dynamic state. It is found in all living things from the gigantic to the minutest. It exists in the form of an unicellular amoebae to man and from and ant to the elephant. "It is Prana that shines in your eyes, Prana that the ears hear, the skin feels, the nose smells, the brain and the intellect do their functions. Fire burns, river flows, wind blows, through Prana. The aircraft moves in the air, train and cars move through Prana. Radio wave travel through Prana. Prana is electron. Prana is force. Prana is magnetism and Prana is electricity." Even the sun, moon, the clouds and the very earth we live on is a blessing of Prana. Knowledge is Prana. The whole body works with Prana shakti. Human body derives this Prana through breath. As is common knowledge breath and life are practically synonymous. To breathe is to live and to live is to breathe. Breath is intimately connected with body and mind. It is the bridge permitting access to the nervous system, mind and vital energy . Breath, body and mind are all energized by the vital life .
Our injuries are often our greatest teachers. Explain.
Pain is a valuable teacher, giving us a chance to awaken. When we are injured our guides are limitation and discomfort. They redirect us ,our focus shifts and we can see ourself with new vision. The discomfort is the teacher and the healing retains it in our memory.
My first year teaching was in a tropical climate. The warmth , led me to a bad habit...not warming up enough or honoring my practice before I taught.
One sunset class on the roof , I had a request for Upavistha Konasana, wide angle seated forward bend. The class was warmer than me since they were into their full practice.
My ego pushed me deeper into the posture before I was ready and as I led them further my left hip bone opened and I felt my left hamstring tear slightly.
There was a ping in my brain as I realized although I was fully into the position, it was not in a good way. Luckily, I could breath through it but I knew the challenge would come later. My practice was altered for the next year and a half. And my wide angle posture and Hanuman challenge my left side to date. As a teacher and student this lesson was immeasurable.
Why is it important to keep a beginner’s mind?
When you approach life as a beginner , you are fresh, able to absorb
new knowledge. Your heart, mind and soul are eager to begin a new journey.
This important because for true learning, we leave our egos at the door.
We have a clean slate and can truly get to the kernal of truth.
When we warm up our mind like in practice we are able to stay light
and internal .
Why Do We Chant Om ?
When we begin a class or greeting with Om we are calling into space
our higher self, our connection to the spirit and oneness.
"Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M".
The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.
The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm)."
The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.
The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm)."
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