May 22, 2013 |
Raise your hand if you are a yoga teacher and you’ve instructed your class to close their eyes so they can see within. Or, raise your hand if you are a yoga student and you’ve heard your yoga teacher ask you to close your eyes. I’m seeing a lot of raised hands out there in the universe as this is a common theme in yoga classes.
If you ask me, once you get comfortable in your yoga practice and can start to close your eyes during some of the asanas, that is when your practice really starts to blossom. Closing the eyes provides an outlet to quiet the mind and notice exactly what is happening in your body. When I ask my students to do this, it is not so they can’t see, but so they can truly SEE what’s happening from within.
These instructions took on a whole new meaning to me when I started the first week of my beginners’ yoga class series and was notified that one student was blind. Not only that, but she was to be accompanied by her seeing eye dog. I wasn’t terrified, but I quickly changed my game plan of how I was going to teach the class. I’ll be honest: This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a teacher.
With a student who is blind, you can’t tell them to look at their feet to see if they are in the proper alignment, or to watch the way you are demonstrating the proper alignment with your feet. You pretty much have to throw most of your regular cues away. It forced me to rethink every cue as it came out of my mouth.
So, what’s it like having a blind student in class? It’s awesome!
When you teach new students, there are always a few in each class who fear the unknown, not quite sure what to expect, maybe even thinking, ‘oh my gosh, what have I gotten myself into?’ If any of the women in my beginners’ series class felt this way, I’m sure their fears were squelched as soon as they saw Mary and her dog walk into the studio. I know I would be checking myself and saying, “Geez, if this woman has the courage to step onto her yoga mat, then I most certainly can too.”
Buddha always practiced with his eyes closed!
Mary has been an inspiration to each person in the class, present company included. I love the sense of community she has brought to all of us – how the other students are patient when I need to spend a little more time with Mary, how they help her prepare for class and then put away her props for her after. Every week something one of the students does to help Mary touches my heart and makes me smile. And, Mary is probably by far the most attentive and best listener I’ve ever had.
Having Sarah the dog in class is a special treat too. Sarah sits attentively next to Mary and has never caused the slightest distraction. Although, I admit I was kind of bummed when she didn’t try downward dog with us.
I close my eyes a lot when I practice, but never for a whole class. I blindfolded myself and tried this out at home and have to say (no pun intended) it was an eye-opening experience, one that I highly recommend everyone try at least once (but be safe and have a spotter there to keep an eye on you). Even if you can’t do a whole class this way, just try doing a sun salutation with your eyes closed. However, I caution you to watch your nose when you come down from plank to chaturanga dandasana. And be careful with those balance poses – they were nearly impossible for me! Standing poses and alignment will take on a whole new meaning, and if you are a teacher, this exercise provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen your verbal asana cues.
It can be really natural to be fearful of new experiences. What I’ve learned from Mary is that you can’t be afraid, that you have to look at what the experience will teach you, how you can embrace it, and how you will learn and grow from it. Mary is not showing a single sign of fear. Last week after class she asked if I could teach her how to do Warrior 3!
I’d like to send out a huge hug and thanks to Mary for having the courage to start her yoga journey and also for helping me to grow as a yoga teacher. Mary used to do a lot of ballet dancing and is looking forward to bringing her love of dance and movement into her yoga practice. So, Mary here’s to you – keep on dancing on your yoga mat and spreading your light!
Buddha image: Andrea Kratzenberg
Yoga Teacher Tale #1
May 6, 2013 |
I got the biggest yoga geek-out smile this year when Krishna Das was nominated for and performed at the 2013 Grammy Awards, where he was hailed as “yoga’s rockstar.” But hey, me and the other 300,000 people who have bought his records, used his music in our yoga class playlists, and went to his live kirtans already knew that! I’m glad the rest of the world is finally catching up.
One of the things I love best about Krishna is seeing him perform live. Krishna is a master storyteller and spins great tales about his guru Need Karoli Baba, aka Maharaji. So it is only fitting that a filmmaker by the name of Jeremy Frindel decided it would be an awesome idea to make a documentary about the definitive story of spiritual teacher and musician Krishna Das.
ONE TRACK HEART premiers in New York City
and hits theaters Wednesday, May 8.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/6CJ570hqy0c[/youtube]
I got the opportunity to interview Jeremy about the making of this movie, and the story goes that, after becoming completely burnt out from many long years in the cut-throat film business, Jeremy signed himself up for a 10-day silent retreat at the Vipassana Retreat Center. How’s that for making a drastic lifestyle change? The experience changed his life and he started practicing yoga and studying with Dharma Mitra and was introduced to Krishna Das. Jeremy immediately connected to Krishna and saw the real depth of his spiritual power unfold over the next few years. He got the idea to make the documentary and in a huge leap of faith approached Krishna about the project. What happened next, in Jeremy’s words, was amazing because Krishna said yes! No less than two weeks after putting the idea out there, Jeremy had the funding for the movie, a camera, and was in the Bahamas shooting the film at one of Krishna’s performances.
I can’t even tell you how much I love this story. It is proof in point that – no matter what you want to do in life – you can’t let fear get in the way. It truly is amazing what can happen if you ask. The answer may just be yes, but you’ll never get the opportunity to realize your dreams if you never ask the question!
I’ve already had the opportunity to see the documentary, and I highly recommend you check out the schedule of screenings throughout the US. I am hoping for a Cleveland area screening. Zeitgeist Films, the distributor, is still booking screenings, and the film will eventually come out on DVD.
Here’s another cool story: The first time One Track Heart was shared with audiences was at the Maui Film Festival just about three days after the final editing was completed. It was so well received that it won Best Documentary at the festival.
Krishna Das in India in ONE TRACK HEART: THE STORY OF KRISHNA DAS, a film by Jeremy Frindel. A Zeitgeist Films release. Photo: Balaram Das
A big part of the documentary tells the story of how Jeffrey Kagel, aka Krishna, found his way from the suburbs of Long Island to the foothills of the Himalayas in search of happiness and the spiritual teachings of Maharaji. One segment that didn’t make it into the movie (but that Jeremy shared with me) is from Dr. Larry Brilliant, explaining why the connection between the guru and his students is so extraordinary. Larry explained that it is not that the Maharaji loves everyone unconditionally; it is that when he is with the guru he loves everybody. This showed him what is possible when you open up to it.
One thing that I bet most Krishna Das fans don’t know is that KD was a rock musician in the States before his journey to India. He got a call one day from his manager inviting him to be the lead singer in the band that would eventually become Blue Oyster Cult. Becoming a rockstar had always been Krishna’s dream, but he walked away from it. I asked Jeremy if it was something that Krishna has regretted, and he told me that the answer was definitively no. Apparently Krishna was surprised at how easy it was to answer. He knew that he had been turned onto something that was much bigger, that it was his priority, his calling, to go to India and study with his guru.
Photo: Kailas
Thankfully, Krishna listened to his heart, and Blue Oyster Cult’s loss was the gain of kirtan yogi fans around the world. One Track Heart tells the incredible story of his spiritual journey with lots of interview footage from Krishna, clips from concerts, and interviews with awesome yoga peeps like Wah!, Jai Uttal, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Ram Dass, Rick Rubin, and Sharon Salzberg, to name a few.
If you live in New York City, head on out to the IFC Center to catch the premier on Wednesday, May 8 and it will be there through May 16. There are a bunch of cool talks after the NYC screenings with Jeremy, Elana Brower, Ram Dass, and Sharon Salzburg, so check out the schedule.
Streaming the 2013 Grammy’s Live from my laptop to watch KD perform!
The current theatre schedule of dates can be found here, and please follow One Track Heart on Twitter and Facebook and help me spread the word about this cool new flick about my favorite yoga rockstar Krishna Das.
If you live in the New York area, please also check out the Brooklyn Yoga School, a by-donation yoga center voted “Best of New York” by New York Magazine and co-founded by Jeremy Frindel.
If you are a yoga teacher, you have inevitably purchased a Krishna Das CD and lovingly put his songs on your yoga class playlists. If you are a yoga student, I hope you have had the opportunity to come into some deep stretches or savasana with the hauntingly beautiful sound of Krishna chanting, “By Your Grace Jai Gurudev,” from his Heart as Wide as the World album.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/JLfNt4ewYHs[/youtube]
Apr 30, 2013 |
Sometimes I put together a yoga class playlist that I just really love, so much so that I want to keep using it and I have to share it. I’ve used variations of this over the last few weeks in my yoga classes and it will definitely be one I continue to pull out of the archives.
“Om Mani Padme Hum” – Travelling the Sacred Sound Current: Divine Chants & Sacred Tones for Healing & Meditation – Deborah Van Dyke
[youtube]http://youtu.be/X2m98JO2g3s[/youtube]
It starts out like a beautiful whisper. Then a slow drum beat layers on top, and the peaceful chant of “om mani padme hum” is perfect for opening up class with breath meditation and warm-ups.
“Om Shantih Shantih Shantih” – Asana 3 Peaceful Heart – Robert Musso
This one starts out slow too, but with more of a mystical feel, and then it picks up with a groovy beat and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois chanting “om shanti, shanti, shanti” over the musical stylings of Robert Musso. PJ’s chant is so cool, it sounds like he’s rapping.
“Om Mani Padme Hum” – Path to Bliss – Mercedes Bahleda
Yeah, I was on a little om mani padme hum kick when I was putting together a class about Avalokiteshvara, a goddess able to reach nirvana who delayed doing so out of extreme compassion to save suffering beings. “Om mani padme” is the universal mantra of compassion and often associated with Avalokiteshvara, and that is why this classic mantra gets a double-take on this playlist, but in this version Mercedes serves up a happier, sunnier version of the chant.
“Om Namah Shivaya (Omstrumental)” – Elephant Powered Omstrumentals – MC Yogi
[youtube]http://youtu.be/_Z2gzCLCt2I[/youtube]
This is a yoga class playlist standard, and I’m not quite sure why it took me so long to finally include it on one of mine. This is the perfect song to use when it’s time to pick up the pace and when you want a little chant/rap in the playlist.
“Love is My Religion” – Love is My Religion – Ziggy Marley
I always need at least one reggae song per playlist, and if you’re gonna have religion in your life, love is certainly one to not only worship but believe in.
“All Good” (Mangalam Remix) – Remixed – Girish
This one has a funky belly-dancing groove sound to it, and I love the vocals and message, “It’s all good!” Girish will make you want to shake your hips and move to the groove on your yoga mat as you repeat the mantra. I’m really excited to say that Girish is coming to Yoga Bliss Akron – one of the studios I teach at! – on June 1 from 11 to 12:30 PM for a special yoga class led by Juli Hicks, where he’ll be playing LIVE. Then on June 2, he will lead a chant workshop from 11 to 1 PM. If you live in the Akron/Cleveland area, you can’t miss this opportunity to attend a yoga class where Girish will be performing live.
“Amazing” – One eskimO – One eskimO
[youtube]http://youtu.be/nLEPdjscQ5Q[/youtube]
I will fess up, I am guilty of overusing the word amazing, and in this song, the word is definitely overused, but I don’t care, because this song is AMAZING! The definition of amazing is to affect with great wonder and astonishment. Yep – I’m certain I misuse the word all the time, but to quote One eskimO, “I love life, I hope you do to, cause I love everything, it’s all amazing.”
“Copper Moon” – Sounds of Tadasana – Tom Freund
[youtube]http://youtu.be/9Zuzd-wsrlE[/youtube]
I’m digging Tom’s sound. He reminds me a little of Tom Petty, but a mellower version him that is into yoga, incense, and chanting om. I picked up this song from the complimentary Sounds of Tadasana festival album, but you can pick up this tune from Tom’s album titled Copper Moon.
“Bliss Ma” – Blue Fire Soul – Suzanne Sterling
I got the opportunity to attend an awesome singing yoga class with Suzanne at Tadasana Festival and have been wanting to include her lovely voice on my playlists ever since. This song has a nice beat, but a slower feel to it, so it’s perfect for the second half of class after all the vinyasas, when the body is heated up and we flow into the “Bliss Ma” portion of class.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/QFuuUT-J6RA[/youtube]
Check out this video of Suzanne talking about singing and pranayama!
“Jap Man Sat Nam (from Anand)” – The Essential Snatam Kaur – Snatam Kaur
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V9WA98gGyk[/youtube]
I can’t get enough of Snatam lately. I just love the sound of her voice, and this album has a ton of great cuts to use in yoga class playlists. This one is perfect for savasana.
I have so many yoga class playlists that I’ve put together this year that I have not had the chance to share, so I promise to get back on the cool yoga music bandwagon and start sharing more of my favorites. And you can always visit the Cool Yoga Music page for a look at past yoga theme songs and playlists.
I’ve got a special treat for you later this week, some big news about KD, one of my favorite yoga rock stars – Krishna Das!
Musical Note Image courtesy of Billy Frank Alexander – like him on Facebook and check out his awesome work!
Apr 19, 2013 |
Woo Hoo – I’m super excited to announce new Daily Downward Dog yoga classes coming to a yoga studio near you! Well, that is if you live in northeast Ohio. Get ready to flow through some vinyasa, deepen your meditation practice, and embrace your inner yogini goddess!
Vinyasa & Meditation | Mondays & Wednesdays 3:45-5:00 PM | Yoga Bliss Akron
Want to begin or deepen your meditation practice? This yoga class is dedicated to teaching the practice and benefits of meditation. Each class will begin with a seated pranayama (breath) exercise, followed by warm-ups and an all-levels vinyasa yoga practice. The last 15 minutes of class are dedicated to a long, sweet savasana and instruction for a quiet period of meditation to help your mind calm and let your body absorb the peace and stillness. The spiritual teachings of yoga will be weaved into class themes to deepen your understanding of yoga beyond the asana practice. Class length is 75 minutes and will be held in the Ganesha (non-heated) studio. All levels welcome.
The Vinyasa & Meditation classes begin on Monday begin April 22, and the Wednesday class will start up on Wednesday, May 8th!
Embracing Your Inner Goddess
Sunday, May 12 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Yoga Bliss Akron
Friday, May 17 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Nirvana Yoga in Richfield, Ohio
Saturday, June 1 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Namaste Yoga Studio in Sagamore Hills, Ohio
Yes, mere mortal women can be goddesses, and in this workshop we’ll explore the qualities that goddesses possess. You might be surprised at how many of these qualities—taking care of yourself, being present, loving yourself just the way you are—are in essence the same as the principles taught in the yoga sutras. So, by living in a yogic way both on and off the mat, we’re also in training to be goddesses! This 2-hour workshop will include discussion, a vinyasa yoga class suited for all levels, a meditation to tap into your divine inner feminine power, and opportunities to love and support fellow yogini goddesses. Bring a friend, a sister, your mother, a group of friends, or just yourself and share in this celebration of the goddesses in our lives. Please bring a journal and something to write with.I offered this goddess-themed class on my recent Aruba retreat, and it was a big hit!
Please contact Yoga Bliss Akron or Nirvana Yoga for further details on pricing and to register for these classes!
I offer a full schedule of yoga classes weekly as well as private and corporate yoga classes, and in just a few more weeks, the 2013 Summer Beach Yoga Classes begin! Please contact me if you need any additional information about Daily Downward Dog Yoga Classes.
Apr 17, 2013 |
I’m back from my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba and full of stories, great memories, and a ton of pictures to sort through. I’ve still got some sleep to catch up on and way more to write about, but for now I’d like to share the top 10 reasons why I am so full of joy from this experience!
1) Beach Yoga. One of the primary reasons I picked Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa was for its unique beach yoga settings. I saw the pictures and dreamed for months about how lovely it would be to teach under the yoga pavilion or on the wooden yoga deck overlooking the white sand beaches and clear blue Caribbean waters. I know that pictures can sometimes be deceiving, but as I flew down to Aruba, I hoped the yoga venues would be everything I had envisioned. When I arrived at the resort, the lovely Rita (who is the assistant general manager) took me on a tour, and as soon as I stepped into the Manchebo Yoga Pavilion, an overwhelming feeling of emotion came over me and I started to cry tears of joy. I was so overwhelmed and couldn’t believe that I would get to teach yoga in such a beautiful space. Everything just kind of hit home – that I was in Aruba, leading my very first yoga retreat, living the dream – and I got a little verklempt as my heart burst wide open.
The view from the Manchebo Yoga Pavilion!
I typically teach right on the beach, close to the water, so I was concerned about having a roof overhead and not being right by the shore. But that did not matter one bit – you could still see the incredible aqua blue waters of the Caribbean, feel the ocean breeze, and be protected from the sun. It was pure bliss for me to teach there and pure bliss to practice there as well. Yes, I got to attend classes with the lovely Rachel Brathen, the resident Yoga Director at Manchebo, as well as do my own practices on the beach every day!
Digging my beachfront yoga studio!
2) Aruba Rocks! They have t-shirts that say this, and it’s true. I had been to the island once before for just a few hours on a cruise ship. When you are touring an island with a pending deadline, it is hard to really take in the culture, the people, and the beauty. This time I was able to relax, soak it all in, and enjoy the natural beauty and awesome people on this island.
I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out here to Jovita, one of the best tour guide/taxi drivers I’ve ever met. Jovita is an incredible ambassador for the island of Aruba and shared her knowledge and passion for the beauty of Aruba with all of us. If you go to Aruba, do yourself a favor and contact Jovita at jovitaaruba @ hotmail.com to set up a tour of the island.
Boca Keto Beach – A Truly Magical Place!
3) Adventure! If we wanted to lay on the beach and chillax we could, but if we wanted a little island adventure, it was on the agenda in some form almost every day. Hiking, swimming in a natural pool, and snorkeling were all part of the outdoor fun, and I’ll write more about these adventures in the coming weeks.
Hanging out in the natural pool.
4) SUP Yoga. On Monday the yogini goddess girls of summer got their first taste of not only standup paddleboarding, but a yoga class on top of their boards. After learning the basics from Rachel, we all jumped on our boards, paddled down the shore to the yoga studio on water, anchored our boards, and busted out some downward dogs and sun salutations. Rachel’s only rule is that if we fell off the board we had to laugh, and she guaranteed that everyone falls off. Suffice it to say there were lots of giggles and two proud yoginis who never once fell off.
The yogini goddess girls of summer heading out for their first SUPYoga adventure!
I am thrilled to report that I was able to get up into shirshasana (headstand) on my paddleboard, but alas have no pictures to prove it. I do have eleven witnesses who can vouch for me, though! The best part of the SUP yoga class was lying in peace on the board in the middle of the Caribbean in savasana with the sun shining down on me. I’ve always loved savasana, but doing it while floating on the ocean is absolutely sublime.
5) Sisterhood. The women who came on the retreat were from different parts of Ohio, California, and Florida. Some came with a friend or a sister, some came not knowing anyone else, but we all left together with a special sense of sisterhood and some newly forged lifelong friendships. When you go on a weeklong yoga retreat, a special bond forms, and it was evident in how much we all cared, supporting each other as we overcame fears, realized dreams, and offered comfort and compassion. One of the class themes was about the importance of supporting the goddesses in our lives, and time and time again I witnessed these women uplifting their goddess sisters.
6) Exceeding Expectations. At Manchebo it starts with the friendly welcome and complimentary mojito at check-in, and the thoughtful amenities just kept popping up. Like the healthy smoothies for breakfast, refrigerator and microwaves in the room, a cooler we could fill with our own beverages to take down to the beach, a waterfall shower, and a garden-view room with an actual Zen garden to hang out in.
The garden view rooms at Manchebo really do have a beautiful zen garden to enjoy.
Our first and last night, the resort put together our very own private beachfront dinner with tiki torches, table decorations, and fancy decorated chairs to accompany our three-course meal. I felt like a princess! I want to give a big shout out to all of the awesome staff – Swinda, Rita, Dilia, Ignacio, Debbie, Dilia, Cynthia, Blanco, June, Carlos, Frances, Lincoln, Jean Pierre, Diane, just to name a few – you all were wonderful and made us feel like a part of the family!
Totally blown away by the beachfront dinner Manchebo arranged for our group!
7) The Gift of Peace and Solitude. I love the fact that Manchebo caters to yoga and Pilates practitioners. With a full week’s schedule of classes, great venues to practice, a beachfront spa, and healthy food options, it really is the perfect place to give yourself a special gift – the gift of peace, solitude, and honoring your body with the practice of yoga. One of my class themes was about taking the time to give yourself the gift of solitude, to unwind, let go, and recharge. A walk alone on these beautiful beaches to breathe and meditate was my gift to myself each day, and I brought home some seashells to remind me to keep giving myself that gift even when I’m back in Ohio.
The view on my daily beach walks. A great way to connect with nature and experience solitude.
8) Journaling. Or, I should say having the time to write in a journal. I love writing in my journal, but I have to admit I don’t always find the time to do so. I provided everyone on the retreat with their very own journal from Global Goods Partners (an incredible non-profit organization that sells handmade, fair trade products in order to improve the economic status of women in marginalized communities around the world), and we set aside time before or after class as well as during the day while lounging on the beach to write. It was fortuitous that we happened to be in Aruba on Wednesday, April 11, the day of a new moon, so you can bet we were jotting down a lot of our dreams and visions on that auspicious day.
9) Growth. When you have the opportunity to practice yoga and meditate twice a day for a week, your practice is going to blossom. By supporting one another, some women were able to do balance poses they had never done before, and I high-fived and shared the sense of accomplishment a few women felt after they got into headstand for the first time. And, my friend told me after class one morning that she experienced her very first yoga high! I can’t even tell you how many times my heart burst forth with joy as I witnessed these women overcome their fears, saw the bliss and peace on their faces during meditation, and shared their hugs and revelations at our final dinner. I experienced just as much growth and enjoyed some special moments of sharing yoga that I will never forget.
10) Making Dreams Come True. I’m not going to lie, I put my heart out on the line when I decided to host this retreat, and there were many times when I doubted if anyone would sign up. For at least two months, there was only one woman registered, and I joked with her that no matter what, if no one else decided to come, she and I would still be doing yoga together in Aruba come April. The group grew to ten, and every single woman that experienced beach yoga bliss in Aruba gave me the most incredible gift. They believed in me and helped make my dream of hosting a yoga retreat come true, and for that I will always be grateful. Danki, danki, danki (that is Papiamento, the native language in Aruba, for thank you) to Amy, Holly, Mary Ellen, Maureen, Rachida, Barbara, Esther, Grace, Nancy, and Pam for sharing your yoga practice with me, for SUPing, snorkeling, dreaming, meditating, journaling, and taking this yoga journey with me. I’m sending out a wish that you manifest all the dreams and intentions you set in Aruba, and I know you all can if you BELIEVE!
I want to send out a huge thanks to Cado de Lannoy who took the photo above and several on this page. If you go to Aruba check out his Salad Skate Shop, and follow him on Facebook, Tumblr, and Instragram at CADO_SaladSkateShop. I’ll be posting more of the awesome pics and videos he took in the coming weeks.
Also big hugs to Jennifer Hoddevick of the Travel Yogi for her travel wisdom and prowess in seeking out so many yogalicious resorts for yoga adventures. Her awesome customer service helped all of us get to Manchebo. Jen – you ROCK!
Stay tuned because this is not my first and last retreat. I foresee many more yoga retreats in my future; in fact, that is one of the messages the universe sent me loud and clear last week. On the last night at dinner, the group posed the question, “Where will the next retreat be?” Since I started with A for Aruba, I figure I’ll just keep going through the alphabet, so B is next. Hummm… Bali, Bonaire, Belize, Bermuda… it is going to be fun figuring out where to do Beach Yoga Bliss next!
Ready for a week of Loving Kindness by the Sea?
