Writings
Lessons from Mala
I walked into my dark, quiet studio ... the morning light had yet to creep through the windows. While my eyes were adjusting, I squatted-down to place my blanket and cushion in front of my altar. Then, I stood up and walked across the cool floor to retrieve my practice shawl, a lime green, airy shawl that Swamiji gave me four Christmases ago, when I was visiting India and studying at his ashram. I also grabbed my wooden mala.
The Body Dashboard
It’s summer! If you’re like me, sometimes “summering” eats-up most of your time and leaves less for your yoga practice.Yes, even I experience this (yoga teachers aren't superhuman). This is why, in my personal practice and public classes, I’ve been focusing on a kind of self-discipline, called tapas. To clarify, I'm speaking of the Sanskrit word for nurturing, mental and/or physical practice, and not the Spanish word for snacks/appetizers, though the latter form of tapas necessitates self-discipline too!
Ayurveda - Tools to Cool
In class, we’ve been exploring how the wisdom of Ayurveda can help us to tailor our yoga practice to suit the "energy" of the summer. Ayurveda, as the sister science of yoga, offers guidance to maintain physical and emotional health. It is based on three constitutions, or doshas, namely vata, pitta and kapha. Each of us has all three doshas, but usually one or two dominate.It’s thought that our dosha make up is determined at conception. However, many lifestyle-related factors influence our dosha balance, such as our diet, schedule, and our sleep and play habits. In addition, the time of day, the time of year, and the phase of life we are experiencing all alter our dosha cocktail.
How To Rock a Handstand
Happy October! In all of my classes this month, I'll be teaching a series focused on strength and conditioning exercises to prepare for Handstand. Handstand! One of the most elusive and enticing postures I've come across. There's something so, so sweet about balancing on my hands, and feeling all my muscles in precise orchestration. Handstand requires strength, balance, mobility, theright breath, state of mind and gaze point.
Tapas! - Raja Yoga
Not the delicious Spanish kind.....
As we near the middle of February and realize it's still winter, despite the previous weeks of amazing weather, I remind you to continue your practice. After the initial excitement of the new year, resolutions can begin to slip to the wayside as the general quiet energy of winter persists. This is a time of introspection, which is a divine gift. We need to take time to tune in, tap in and connect with our True Self. However, this naturally slow period of the year can lead to a challenge in maintaing new approaches to life and living. So how do we stoke the fire of our resolutions?