A visit to real life...

Last night I went to a party, and apparently, whenever I am in a room with people, inevitably, the conversation meanders to yoga at some point. Not surprisingly, given that the party was in Westchester, where there are exactly zero Asthanga shalas, no one had a clue what Ashtanga is.

Try explaining Ashtanga to people who don't practice it. Try explaining Mysore style to people who have practiced only led classes of any kind. Try explaining the notion of being "given" poses. Try explaining the linear progression of Ashtanga from Primary to Intermediate to the Advanced Series. Try explaining that there is no "talk" and no "breathing work". Try explaining that there is no "camel pose" until after you're able to put your legs over your head and clasp your hands behind your back. Try explaining that there is no "shoulder stand" until after you're able to do "Marichyasana D" (what the hell is that to someone who doesn't practice Ashtanga?). No crow pose until you can bend over backwards and, at a minimum, touch your toes with your fingertips. No backbends except full wheel until you can twist and wrap your arms around your legs while in a deep squat.

"That doesn't seem funny."

"But you paid for class, so why are you not allowed to do things?"

"But the poses you're talking about in Primary Series are way more advanced than anything I do in Level II/III class..."

Try explaining why you do it then. And you hear yourself sounding really snobby. And kind of...ego driven. And perhaps even...competitive?

But the thing is, not one of these people who you're talking to at this party gives a rat's ass that you can put your legs over your head and clasp your hands behind your back. Or that you were "given" up to the one-leg-behind-the head pose that you see Madonna doing in some movie stills of that movie that no one saw, where she played a yoga teacher.

In the world outside of the shala, the standards are different. None of this shit matters. Sometimes it's really quite refreshing to take a dip in that pool.

YC

yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Bloomington Power Yoga Summer Schedule

The summer schedule is now online: www.bloomingtonpoweryoga.com
This schedule will run from May 1 thru August 31. yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Growing Up, Letting Go

It's been said that the greatest gift a parent can give a child is the ability to separate from the parent. It follows then that a child who is able to separate from the parent is a child who has been given a great gift from her parent.

I believe that the same holds true in the teacher/student relationship, that the greatest gift a teacher can give his student is the ability to separate from the teacher, to be independent from the teacher, to take what she has learned from the teacher and to put it to good use, separate and apart from the teacher.

A parent should not require that his child "twin" him, emulate him, be the same as him. Similarly, a teacher should not require that his student "twin" him, emulate him, be the same as him.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I do know where it comes from. And no, Mom, it has nothing to do with you.

YC

yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Too Hot or Too Cold?

In the wintertime, many students complain that the classroom isn’t warm enough. “Crank up the heat!” they say from about November to mid-March. Then, as the weather starts to get above 70, everyone wants to open the windows or turn on the A/C.
As a teacher, I want my students to be comfortable and happy in [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Core Fluidity Hatha Yoga Video

My Yoga Online has posted a new online yoga video by Kreg Weiss, Core Fluidity Hatha Class Bring enhanced mobility into the core and spine with this warming yoga practice. With emphasis on the hips and pelvis, enjoy releasing energy and tension out of the lower back. Slow transitions and extended holds in asanas encourage [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Keep It Zen: Practical Tips to Organize Your Child

Enjoy this latest My Yoga Online article by Ranka Burzan who offers great tips in helping your children stay organized and tidy. An organized space encourages positive energy flow and establishes a foundation of groundness. What occurs internally is greatly influenced by the external environment. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is around the corner and we would like to honor this important day with our favorite ways to celebrate this day of awareness. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Reunion with Raquel & Mommy Bloggers

I missed the mommy reunion at Burgoo’s last year when Raquel was in town from Germany with her family (though I did see her at Dine’s birthday dinner at The Old Spaghetti House Katipunan).
So when Raquel made the trip back to Manila again this year and called for another mommy reunion, I jumped at the [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Power of Movement Yoga Event Update

My Yoga Online would like to share the results of the Power of Movement Yoga 2009 event. The Power of Movement is the worlds largest yoga challenge in support of arthritis research. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Go Vegan Earth Day and Go Green

My Yoga Online is proud to support Farm Sanctuary and their campaign to promote eco-friendly vegan diets for Earth Day. Farm Sanctuary is conducting a nationwide outreach and education events that will highlight the harsh environmental impact of meat consumption. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

I can be very opinionated, but I can also change my mind.

Today, due to scheduling issues and a desire to keep up my practicing mojo, which I have been re-cultivating of late, I found myself with a need to practice and not many choices. In fact, I really had no choice except to go back to that very same teacher whom I dissed on this blog several weeks back. Who shall go nameless, people. (You sneaky little commenting people, you. And you wonder why I moderate comments? Naming names and shit like that. Not gonna happen on my watch. Not gonna.)

I ruminated for a while, polled my facebook friends, and finally determined that the only way to practice with said teacher without exuding a potent mixture of anxiety and rage in every drop of perspiration, was to ask said teacher, very nicely, not to teach me. Notice, I said "not to teach me". Some suggested that I ask said teacher not to "adjust" me. But that wouldn't really help, since it is not so much the adjustments but the constant interruptions - to reteach me the vinyasas and ujaii breathing and to tell me that I need to use my bhandas and that my "fancy armbalance jumpbacks" might be funny but are not acceptable - that made my practice so unbearable the last time I was in this teacher's presence.

Full of determination, I walked into the room, ran into a CT Shala friend, chitchatted for a moment and then went and hid in the back. Arthur, who was assisting, came to me after my first Surya Namaskar and told me that this was not acceptable to the teacher. I needed to come up front where I could be....taught. I scoffed and said, "I've been through that before, and I want to not."

"You'll have to explain that yourself..." he said, and justifiably so.

And so I did, but nicely: "I was hoping to just do some self-practice today, since I am limited on time and kind of out of sorts today." The response was gracious. And I felt glorious. I practiced my heart out.

Until Marichyasana B, when I got assisted.

What the???

Then Supta Kurmasana. Since Val usually crosses my right ankle over my left over the back of my neck, I was a bit dismayed to have my left foot crossed over my right over my head. But I strived to not take it as an insult to my leg-behind-head prowess, and I moved on.

To the next pose, Garba Pindasana, which got heckled. "Too much neck and head, not enough bhandas". And then assisted! I was praying it wouldn't come to that, but it did. I got rolled. And then I got propped in Kukkutasana. Humbling. But why? Why???? These are the salad poses for me. Heckle my Kapotasana. My Parsva Dhanurasana. But Garba P???

And the heckling continued. Heckling. Hectoring. Whatever. Until it was time for backbends. And then I just collapsed in a heap on the floor and said, "My arthritis is acting up, and I can't straighten my wrists today."

Strangely, or not so strangely when I think about it, that was the moment when it all turned aroun 180 degrees. Suddenly, I was being given incredibly solid advice to which I could totally relate. Suddenly, the heckler was gone, and a teacher was there.

Together, we pieced together the fact that my diet has been high in tomatoes and mangoes lately, which are high in acid, which may be contributing to inflammation.

So, long story short, I still do not enjoy practicing with this teacher. No how. But I do believe that this teacher has something to teach, nevertheless.

LC

yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Activating Inner Energy through Nutrition and Lifestyle

My Yoga Online has posted a new nutrition and wellness article by Karla Heintz, BSc Nutrition, Activating Inner Energy. Karla offers a series of easy tips on how to manage your eating patterns to maintain energy throughout your day. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Top Ten Reasons to Eat Organic

Shopping and eating organic foods and products promote sustainability and offer a great number of healthy living benefits compared to traditional consumer products. Enjoy this article by Joan Ullyett BA, RHN and learn why eating organic makes sense for you, your family, and your community. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Reasons and Seasons

This is an old email making its rounds up to now. I decided to post this here because its words hold a lot of meaning for me these days. I have had the chance to reflect on how people come into your life, make an impact, then go. Many times, you see the blessings in [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

New Online Hatha Yoga Video Class

My Yoga Online has posted a new Hatha Yoga video class by Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg titled Be Here Now. Tara explores classical Hatha Yoga poses with various modifications while bringing in the important elements of breath and connection. Through the integration of warming yoga asanas, Tara offers a practice in which you can readily move into your range of flexibility. This online yoga video embraces the wholeness of building energy while also settling into this warmth, thus offering a complete sense of groundedness along with the expansion. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Bloomington Power Yoga Summer Schedule

Starting in May, Bloomington Power Yoga will be switching over to a summer schedule. Most likely, it’ll be very similar to the current schedule, but with a few modifications.
If you practice yoga at Bloomington Power Yoga and have any suggestions or requests for the summer schedule, please email us: hello@bloomingtonpoweryoga.com [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Yoga at Work: Restore Gluteal Strength

My Yoga Online has posted a new Yoga Anatomy article by Dr. Carla Cupido, Restore Activity to Gluteal Muscles. This new wellness article offers insight into the unwanted development of inhibited or weak gluteal muscles that can lead to lower cross syndrome and other postural problems. Also learn a series of tips on waking up the gluteal muscles to bring balance back into the body. yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Book Launch: A Time for Dragons

We almost missed this book launch.
M1 was eager to go to this one because his teacher, Vincent Simbulan, was launching an anthology of dragon stories written by a pool of authors including himself. But when we went to Shangri-la Plaza Mall last March 26, there was no such event!
Thanks to a heads-up by Dom Cimafranca, [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;