Go Back to School More Green

Mid summer and the “Back to School” ads are flourishing. As you make plans for yourself and family to gather up supplies for returning to school, consider giving yourself or your children a gift of going a little more green. Investing in an aluminum beverage bottle is a great way to stamp out [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Don't you see I love you? And tips for karandavasana

Picture me shaking a rag doll viciously while screaming "I LOVE YOU!" while its head bobs back and forth and the stitch securing its button eye loosens and the eye is dangling down. And now imagine that the rag doll and I take turns shaking each other but we can't seem to figure out how to both be rag dolls or people at the same time. It goes like this: Hug the doll, love the doll, freak out and shake the doll, hug the doll again.

I wanted to practice, I wanted to swim, instead I'll run around this fantastic city and hopefully remember to remember that it won't be surrounding me tomorrow.

Kirsten's Tips for Karandavasana
1. Be sure to make the lotus as tight as possible
2. Stretch your knees up to the sky first as if someone were pulling you up. This helps you to find the bandhas
3. Steady your breath
4. Simultaneously lean your shoulders forward as you wrap your pelvis around an imaginary monkey bar. Aim your knees for your kidneys.
5. As you move, think of being inside a cylinder. You are compacting yourself and dropping straight down.
6. You have to lean your chin forward more than you think (like in bhujapidasana) to counterbalance perching your knees on your arms.
7. And then you come up and jump back. The end.

My tips for karandavasana?
1. Picture yourself on the main lawn of central park having yoga playtime/picnic with friends.
2. Be calm, relaxed, almost lazy--the grass smells fresh
3. Look forward as much as possible--you can see your thumbs and past that thousands of blades of grass
4. Stay soft yet in control--the grass is cool under your forearms
5. Nick your upper arms and then bounce to the floor butt first. Then laugh and try again.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Full Circle

About one year later I am again sitting with Christen in front of a computer listening to php fetch css go in one ear and out the other with one foot here and the other in India. Bless her patience. My flight to India is almost a day away and I want to give New York a big squeeze. I feel unprepared every time I say goodbye and one part empty one part giddy as I stand on street corners alone.

I'm all packed up and ready to go and worrying about the silly little things instead of the big ones. Maybe they seem easier to fix or maybe those are the things that make something special. I'm stepping cautiously and feel like Bambi learning to stand and the rug gets pulled out from under me and I stand and then a rip current pulls everything away but I'm still there in shallow waters watching my belongings dragged out to sea. A little sadness tugging at the bottom left corner of my heart, a little happiness and excitement pulling up the top.

I was hoping to post a picture of me happily perched in pasasana or karandavasana as a "final project" or something to punctuate my time in New York, but instead we'll all have to settle for the intangible glory of tears and toil and little glimpses of liberation.

As I savor the last few moments with my closest friends (and a few tears) I can smell the masala in the distance and can't hardly wait to shed this skin.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Upcoming Solar Eclipse

I hope I can see it from inside the plane!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20080725/sc_space/viewersguideaug1solareclipse yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

PAMPER-ed for a Morning

My kids grew up on Pampers — mostly. For many, many years, I had held on to this pink, carton Pampers box, which if I remember right, could hold 96 Pamper diapers. Too bad I disposed of the box some time ago in a frenzy of spring cleaning. Maybe it was an inner desire to [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Yoga--The Ultimate Health Tonic?

I just finished reading this funnyny little book called Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation by Jess Stern. The author spends some time studying yoga (and all things hippie and new age) in Concord with his teacher, Marcia. He goes from absolute neophyte to adept shoulderstander and believer in the magical benefits of yoga practice. Among the claims of relief from aches and pains, increased energy, change of appetite, reduced stress levels, etc. are claims that his teacher hasn't been sick in years because of the yoga. Yoga is so great. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.

I must be doing something wrong because I have had a cough that sounds like I was brought home from a kennel last Sunday. I threw out our moldy shower curtain, dusted furniture, cleaned floors, turned off the AC, broke out the neti pot, and gargled salt water. When I'm sick or injured, I always think about how I don't appreciate feeling healthy when there is nothing wrong. I make a little vow to myself that I'll savor every moment, but usually, a day or two passes before I realize that I am not sneezing green boogers every two seconds.


Signed,

Mysore Musings--The Most Boring Blog in the World (cus it just don't go nowhere)

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Pasasana is mine, the Return of Tzippy and Ric and Paint Cans

I know this sounds like old news. But I can now reliably bind it with no rolled-up mat, no wall, no assistance...at home...in the afternoon. OK, so that is not the same as binding it in front of the teacher at some ungodly early hour. But it is how things get going for me. It always happens this way.

*****************************************************************************

Today, I didn't go anywhere or do anything much except for prepare 28 cans of old, useless paint for disposal according to the Town of North Castle's ridiculous rules for disposal of paints. I had to open every can and mix what was left in the can with kitty litter and leave the whole mess curbside. 28 cans of paint, some of which were rusty and 10 years old. I HATE the former owners of my house. HATE. Actually, hate is not a strong enough word for people that leave you with 28 cans of VOC-emitting paints that have absolutely zero relationship to the walls in the house they sold you. There were paints for cars, for the garage floor, for a white house with black shutters, when our house is yellow with green shutters. There was paint for a bar - we have no bar. There was paint for a pretty pink girl's bedroom. We have no girl's bedroom. These people should have disposed of their own f-ing paint.

Yeah.

I'm pissed. Almost as pissed as I was when some crazy lady egged my car the other day, which I have not written about because the story is racially charged, and I don't want to get into all of that. Suffice it to say that it was a minor hate crime, against me, unprovoked, unless you count, "Lady, you're going to need to move your car" as a provocation when it pertains to the fact that someone double parked in front of my car, rendering me a prisoner until she saw fit to move her car.

Anyway.

After covering myself in paint, turpentine and lots and lots of VOC's, I noticed that a package had arrived in the interim. How did I not see this? I don't know. But the package was for me! Yay! And it was from my friend, Erica, who used to be behind the short-lived but wildly successful Tzippy and Ric label, which was sold at, among other places, Searle (a high-end chain of boutiques in NYC), and is now behind the wildly successful Sticars, which makes really cool magnets for cars. Sticars are in Target, if you want to go get some. My car is currently plastered with peace signs and whimsical creatures that I can liken only to Uggly Dolls.

So, the package.

I ripped it open, and inside...a touch of nirvana. At least 10 cashmere sweaters...too many, I lost count...in my size, from Tzippy and Ric's remaining inventory. It was like opening a treasure chest. Only there were no pirates with eye patches. It was just me and cashmere. Blue, pink, purple, eggshell...gorgeous v-necks in the lightest, most elegant cashmere with extra long, flared sleeves - sexy and feminine; Debpc will know what I am talking about, and if she is reading this, then she too will reap the benefits as I will send her one! Deb? You there?

What a happy surprise. I am wearing a pale purple one now. Very my style. I like to wear Capezio wrap sweaters, and these are like the high end version of that.

So happy!

Tomorrow, Primary. I must remember how much I look forward to Primary. Must. Remember.


YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Positive Affirmations for You

This was shared with me by a blogger buddy on a day when I was totally sapped of positive energy. Thanks for sharing, Manuel!
Now it is my turn to share this video with you. May it uplift you whenever you need it. But what is probably a great addition to all the affirmations here is [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Cultural Appropriation in Action

I’d like to highly recommend the following commentary from Bhakti Collective to all: Yoga Journal’s Abstract Impression of Bhakti. Although the author Kaushtuba das doesn’t frame it as such, in my mind it speaks to the kind of cultural appropriation that the Western “yoga scene” is unfortunately saturated with. I’m not in any [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Sahaja Yoga - The "Backwards" Yoga?

Most practices teach us that self realization and inner peace are the long-term goals and end result of several years spent following set beliefs and exercises. Even those that follow those practices are not guaranteed to reach that end goal, either. Sahaja yoga differs from these practices in a most unusual fashion. You start out attaining this self realization and proceed to nurture it through attention and meditation.

Sahaja yoga, which essentially translates to "spontaneous union with one's self", advocates becoming your own guru by achieving this self realization, or self awareness rather than depending on a teacher to guide you through every stage of your awakening throughout the course of your lifetime. By becoming your own spiritual guide and continuing to practice Sahaja yoga meditation you can then continue to live your normal life amongst your friends and family while continuing to grow much faster spiritually and without the penances usually prescribed by traditional religions.

What Sahaja Yoga Stands for

Sahaja yoga translates to mean "spontaneous union with one's self". Sahaja mean spontaneous, while the word yoga comprises the rest of the translation. This term, spontaneous, gives one the impression that little to no effort is required on the part of the practitioner of Sahaja yoga to accomplish this form of self awareness, and as the followers of the practice would have you believe it, this is essentially true.

Little is said to be required to achieve self realization through Sahaja yoga other than the simple, honest desire to attain inner peace. Want it, meditate on it, achieve it, and then keep it for years to come with little more than your own desire to be self aware. Doesn't that sound great? Bear in mind that while self realization is the first step in Sahaja yoga, it is not the only step. As with any practice, you can easily step off the path and lose everything you worked for along the way.

Kundalini

In Sahaja yoga, self realization is the awakening of a compassionate spiritual energy within us that lays dormant in the sacrum bone at the base of our spine. This energy is called Kundalini, and it is said to be able to cure and improve you, as well as remove you from the tedious worries of life. Kundalini manifests itself after self realization, traveling up through the central channel (your spine and central nervous system) to pierce through each of the six chakras and emerge at the top of the head. Those seeking some sort of confirmation as to whether they have succeeded in awakening Kundalini are encouraged to feel just above the top of their head for a soft, cool breeze that is said to be present after self realization is attained.

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi devised Sahaja yoga to allow an individual to become their own spiritual guide, believing that in order to know truth you must know your spirit. While the belief that spontaneous self realization might seem a little outlandish, what better way to know your spirit than to be your own guide along your spiritual path?
Even children experience stress in their lives what with homework; pressure to compete with other children as well as non-stop after-school activities and over scheduling all making their lives pretty hectic. Kids today, like their parents turning to yoga for relaxation. Yoga for kids is a means of helping them to develop better body awareness, controlling themselves, flexibility as well as coordination. Kids may be able to carry the yoga skills they learn beyond class and into their normal everyday routines.

Strong and Confident as Warriors

Yoga for kids may also help hyperactive as well as attention deficit children who may be craving for movement as well as sensory/motor stimulus and by learning yoga for kids; it helps them channel these impulses in a positive manner. Especially good yoga for kids are the postures that seem to instill calm, confidence as well as balance in them and these are known as the warrior pose and the tree pose. The kids however, need to go beyond just performing the posture and also need to understand the meaning of the posture and to become like the posture - strong and confident as a warrior should be. Partner poses may also be taught to the kids to help them develop trust.

Some children may not be able to close their eyes and relax while others can't seem to get enough and so yoga for kids should inculcate in them visualization and imagining that they are at a beach playing their favorite sport in order to get them to relax. Yoga for kids may also try the approach of teaching the kids a guided visualization that has a calming theme in order to instill a sense of peace as well as help them feel an oneness with nature. The child should also be encouraged to give their own input and their ideas and questions should be addressed to help them to get all the benefits of yoga for kids.

To introduce yoga for kids there are also books that are unique and funny to read and which are suited for young children. One such book is Yoga Bear: Yoga for youngsters, which can be read by two to six year old kids and which includes photos, delightful color illustrations of Yoga Bear and also has instructions for parents. The book retails for about $16 and can be read as a rhyming book or be used by parents along with the child.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Gold Stars, Weird Yoga Injuries, and Snoopy Squirrels

To help keep me on track with my yoga in the absence of a teacher, Mr. Z devised a gold star system to reward me for good yogi behavior. Just like a little kid’s chore chart–you know, brush your teeth every morning and evening without putting up a fuss and you get a dinosaur sticker [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Happy Birthday Guruji! A look at last year's celebration

Amongst the moving, organizing, seeing friends, and doing research for the upcoming teacher training/immersion post, I 've been really busy. In light of the circumstances, I thought it would be funny to relive last year's birthday party...

http://mysoremusings.blogspot.com/2007/07/joys-of-eating-finger-food-and.html

Interesting note: Guruji's birthday always falls on the new moon and so does Guru Purnima. The event marks the birthday of Vyasa who was the author of the Mahabharata (among other deeds). Being that he was a great teacher, it is an occasion to celebrate all teachers. The name "guru" refers to "teacher" and "purnima" means "full moon".

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Green Eggs

About 24 hours and $5.50 later I am sitting in a local coffee shop feeling really good about being in New York. It's that warm fuzzy tickle behind my sternum that makes me smile a little. Looking back, it's the same feeling I had walking across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time and deciding that yes, this was where I wanted to be.

I break out the laptop and sip tea and here come my eggs and they are scrambled. But I hate scrambled eggs! But I didn't say anything. And I didn't get angry. The thought came up for a second and then it was gone and I took a bite and I liked them.

Before noon, the streets are still soft and if you have a chance to walk them and are able to look around, you notice all the many lives unfolding around you. A woman pushes a stroller. A bike passes by. People doing tai chi. Homeless kids laughing and passing a cigarette. Even the guy who turned suddenly stomping on my foot made me smile. I looked up and saw a man with his head out an apartment window. AC water dripped onto my head like sweet summer rain. Isn't it funnyny how you have to trick yourself into doing things differently and when you do, you're always surprised at how amazing it looks from the new angle.

"I'm barely helping you at all." Ha. Yeah right. It's a nice sentiment though. All those little details that you forgot you gave yourself permission to slide are now center stage when the visiting teachers come to town. Day one they watch you and take notes. Day two you get feedback and nod your head yeah yeah yeah. Day three you do. You do! You sadistic #&%#ers, #%&@ you! Day four you realize that maybe you aren't seeing yourself clearly (duh).

I've never watched myself practice. How can I be objective? How can I see the possibility? I can feel the kinks. It's so quickly that weeds overrun the flowerbed. We don't even notice they are there. And the gardener comes around and pulls and pulls and pulls.

Today I finally let out a sigh and said "okay". And I wasn't just saying it. Inside, my body said let's be open to the possibility. And now everything looks translucent.

Next post: A look at Ashtanga Yoga Immersions...

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Injured Doing Yoga? Apparently I’m Not the Only One…

This timely article addresses the very real risk of injury from yoga, even for the seasoned practitioner.
(One woman experienced a life-threatening stroke as a result of doing Fish Pose!) yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Camp!

Parental bragging alert!! Beware!!

Brian pitched FOUR innings in a tournament game (that's a lot of innings to pitch in a row), struck out two players and let only two earned runs get by.

And there's Adam, running to First after getting a hit.

My boys are the awesomest.

Yoga bragging alert!! Beware!!

I bound Pasasana in my home practice yesterday, heels only an inch off the floor, no walls, no straps, no smoke, no mirrors. It's a miracle. Let's see if it can be repeated in class, which is SOOOO much harder.

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Make Your Banking More Green

The change in lifestyle required to bring society to a more sustainable state for the environment often feels like an overwhelming task, but in fact, small adjustments and simple acts of awareness can collectively contribute to vast changes and improvements. Some of these small, easy changes can be applied to how we conduct banking [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Yoga on CD: Help or Hinderence?

I’m thinking about buying the above led primary CD to help keep myself “on track” when I’m practicing at home. I’m not sure whether this will be useful for my practice or if it will just be another “thing,” another object of attachment. I don’t know. I’ve never practiced with a CD or DVD- - [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Holy toe!

Last year someone was whining to me about their torn up toe. Yeah yeah yeah I said. Nope that hasn't happened to me, didn't you know I was invincible? Duh!

Slowly, my mortality revealed itself. Dry, chapped skin and callouses around my big toes have formed protective coverings marking exactly the spots where my toes roll from chaturanga to up dog and up dog to down dog. Yes, it is a little ugly but not the end of the world. Nothing a proper and regular pedicure regime couldn't counter. But now it has gone too far. There wasn't any callousing around the bottom of my big toe and a few days ago I noticed that the skin was tearing and then it just ripped. It looks like a splintered piece of wood and feels like it too.

"You have 'Mysore toe'?!" My friend yells. Huh--no, me? Of course not. She explains that that was why Sharath's toes were all taped up when we were in Mysore. Really? I ask her. Uh huh. The story goes that she went in to ask Sharath about it during the Indian afternoon class (westerners at crack of dawn, Indians in afternoon). "OH MY GOD! So THAT'S why you have tape on your toes!" She's yelling, he's adorable and quiet. He laughs a little and says shh.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Thanks, Mr. Iyengar

In his Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, BKS Iyengar posits in his explanation of the sutras on pranayama that “the implication here is clear that the sadhaka who had to struggle initially to cultivate a yogic way of life by self-discipline and study, now [after the practice of pranayama] finds his efforts transformed into a natural [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

He's so articulate(d)!

Just look at this Obama action figure.

Look at the fine detailing of the six-pack (eight pack?), the strong hands, the shiny white teeth, the assertive stance.

But mostly, look at the beautifully articulated arms and shoulders. With arms and shoulders like that, this version of Obama could manage a pretty impressive Kapotasana, even if his ribcage isn't capable of articulating away from his spine, even if his chest is significantly muscle-bound.

I haven't been keeping up with the action-figure yoga classes over at Yogabeans of late, but I wonder if the next yoga lesson could possibly feature this fine specimen?

Not long ago, I mused about how Michelle Obama might benefit from some bending. I think it's time for Obama to get in on the act.

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

The Fourth of July and Other Favorite New York Past Times/Fear and Loathing in New York

Flood lights are turning the sky a milky hue, helicopters are circling overhead and shining spotlights down on the large gathering of people who have been corralled into this smallish riverside patch of grass (that is often generously referred to as a "park"). Police officers litter the crowd, stand in dark corners, are perched from view towers, and are checking bags at a make-shift gate. "This is a police state...They're gonna unload on the crowd, man!"

There are people everywhere. We wander aimlessly, trying to lay claim to a patch of grass not occupied or surrounded by screaming children with tennis balls or water guns. Like bugs to a light bulb, our natural instincts pull us closer to the water, closer to the Macy's boat which will be blasting massive explosives into the air. We fight the pull of nature and walk toward the exit, picking a spot that allows us an easy escape.

"I dare you to open that pizza box!" The group of friends in front of us has stood up from their blanket to see if the show is starting --how this would give them any information beats me-- leaving a box of Fornino's tasty pizza vulnerable to our antics. But is the box empty? The question plagues us. We go back and forth over how funnyny it would be to ask them for a slice or whether or not we should just open the box (not that we'd actually eat it, of course). Others around us begin to stand up. Again, what they think they will see puzzles us all. A portly woman stands and balances precariously on a cement balance beam which separates the concrete picnic table area from the grass patch where we and the pizza box sit. We look at each other with eyebrows raised, "That box is going to get stomped when the show starts". It happened sooner than that. It happened sooner than the "healthy" American lost her balance. The woman's obese daughter in Nike high tops and cutoff shorts stomped onto the balance beam with knees high, she stomped onto the grass, and then raised her foot high and stomped on the pizza box.

"Oh!" Did we shout it, or did our eyebrows mime it? Either way, it happened. The group of friends and sad owners of the leftover pizza (seems there was some left) turned around aghast. You see, there are invisible and unsaid divides between different cultures/income levels/age groups in New York. The girl looked at the group and smiled as she stomped again. The mother laughed. The friends moved the pizza box.

We couldn't handle it. We had to get out. We fought against the stream of umbrellas, coolers, and glow sticks to the exit shining a few meters ahead. Dogs were barking impending doom. We walked and walked until there were no more cops. We found a small alleyway where everyone could pee behind cars while the "bombs burst in air". We couldn't hear the car alarms going off anymore, only the loud blast boom and rumble in our hearts.

yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Transition, Loss and Discovery

Mysore practice a few days a week combined with home practice a few days a week is one thing. All home practice all the time is going to be quite another. I’m going to have to muster up an uncharacteristic amount of will power or figure out a good system or something. Because the yoga’s not just [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Life is good!

Sometimes, I'll just have this realization that I am so effing lucky to be alive. We all are, right? But I feel sometimes that there but for the grace of God go I. And by grace of God, I mean to use a cliche, and I do not mean it literally, except a little part of me does.

It's a beautiful day, a new moon, my trees are all planted, my rock paths are pretty much "set in stone", all of the perennials that I was planning to plant this year (it's a many-yeared project) are planted, the annuals I planted from seed are coming up (zinnias) or have already bloomed (short sunflowers galore, plus sweet pea, my plum tomatoes have popped.

What's left is for the compost to finish cooking so that I can amend the soil in the woodland garden for next year's plantings. Whoevever said it takes as little as a few weeks was totally lying. I have composted in three different ways, and none of them is there yet. One of them is still cooking since being put together last year, in a commercial bin no less. My guess is that the quickest cook will be the ones that are in open-topped piles, enclosed in fencing. They seem to get the hottest.

Today, no practice. Yesterday's was great. Touched each toe, but couldn't keep the left while holding the right. In any event the Good Doc says that I'm where I should be in Kapo and all is well.

Eka Pada is funny, but still not happening without either my hand assisting or the assistance of the Good Doc. I am far better with the two-legged Leg-Behind-Headers, at this rate, NOT that I practice them. Ha. Even the Good Doc knows that I do.

Anyone who wants to practice in the EARLY traditional style, the style in which David Williams was taught, should make the pilgrimage up to New York Yoga on York and 86th to see Christopher. There is a LOT to be said for being taught slowly and methodically and not getting Supta K before binding in Mari D on your own, yes. But there is ALSO something to be said for practicing ALL of Primary EVERY day and gradually opening it ALL and building up stamina and burning off more energy and, finally, and I think this is really important: doing ALL of the Yoga Therapy that is Yoga Chikitsa.

There's always more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak, and apologies to PETA. But if you are someone who is inclined to want to be given a LOT to work with and to be EXPECTED to EXPECT to progress (whining, "I can't" is frowned upon), then go see Christopher.

Which reminds me - there is a SUPERSTAR Ashtanga Intensive (my description, not their's) at Ashtanga Yoga Shala in the East Village that I want to tell everyone about. It begins August 2nd, and the faculty are as follows:

Lori Brungard - can't say enough beautiful things about her. If you are into talking about asanas and thinking about asanas and breaking down asanas, then you need to take a workshop with Lori. I've taken her Primary Series In Depth Workshop, and as a result, at least one vritti is wiped away from my practice: I know the vinyasas cold. I never ever have to think about what comes when and which breath goes with which movement. Lori helped me make sense of it. She also gave incredible physical adjustments and anatomical explanations. I'm even quoted on the website gushing...

Christopher Hildebrandt - The Good Doctor will be doing what no one can do so well: teaching Sanskrit, Mantras and Meaning. In his words, because mine would never suffice:

The breath, so central to yoga practice, is expressed through sound. The sounds of Sanskrit are elemental and pure, and create vibrations that help us to purify speech, body, and mind. When seen in this way, Sanskrit is an important key to the ultimate goal of yoga practice, the unification of body and mind through the vehicle of the breath.

Tristhana, the three important elements of Ashtanga Vinyasa, or breath, asana, and drishti, also correspond to these three purifications. In this course, we will learn the sounds of Sanskrit, how to use them to pronounce correctly and decipher the Ashtanga Mantras, counting, and asana names. The course is open to anyone.

He is also teaching Ashtanga Yoga Philosophy.

Petri Raisanen: Adjustment Workshop - I practiced with Petri for several months at a time, several times. You can read about him on my blog - just put him into the search box. He's awesome and with that impish glint in his eye, his energy is infectuous. I adored learning adjustments from Guy, and I can only say good things, but I have to say that it would have been awesome to have had Petri there as well. He gives amazing

Sarah Plumer: One of my first teachers ever. She was as patient as patient gets, as I pushed her and prodded her to get her to let me do what was not to be done at her shala (Eddie Stern's shala, really), which was to practice all of Primary without really mastering any of it. Sure, she could have let me do what my ego wanted, but she patiently taught me "why not". And apparently her knowledge of anatomy, wrought from a dance background before the yoga, is incomparable.

Jessica Blanchard and Jenny Meyer, I do not know, but apparently their reputations are stellar. And Lisa Schrempp is doing Ayurvedic Consultations!

You can take the modules together for a 200 Hour Certification, which will be acknowledged anywhere you want to practice yoga (except, presumably at a shala that only hires AYRI authorized teachers), or you can take it in bits and pieces, as I intend to do this summer.

See you there? yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

10-Year Nap? My ASS.

Got my feet in Kapotasana today, with assistance from the Good Doctor at New York Yoga! I cannot believe I am waking up at dawn to practice now.

And that's all I have to say about practice today other than I am so not a morning person. Hopefully, I will get used to it and be able to move a bit faster and not stop and stare into space every five or so poses.

Next topic: my latest on the Huffington Post: My 10-Year Nap. NOT.

Check it out! Become a fan! Maybe someday, I will not be the only unpublished writer who writes for Huff.

YC yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;