Recently in an Arlington group yoga class, I had a student ask me this question (“Is this good for you?”) during some wrists stretches I was instructing. I admit wrists exercises can create uncomfortable feelings, particularly if you never stretch them, but it’s funny how people equate “feeling” with bad. Our bodies speak to us through sensation. Yoga teaches us to discern between good, healthy pain and bad, piercing pain. In daily life, comfortable sensations often go unnoticed. It’s the … [Read more...]
Stay
Part of what yoga asana and meditation teaches us is to sit in the middle of challenge rather than run away. More often than not, it’s hard to stay and face the ugliness and a lot easier just to turn our back and walk out. More than once, I’ve taken a yoga class where I truly wanted to walk out simply because I didn’t like the style and/or teacher. What I’ve realized by staying put on my mat and suffering through those practices, I can always learn something if I’m just willing to stay and be … [Read more...]
Yoga Day USA
Yoga Day USA, created by the Yoga Alliance, is on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Yogis of all ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate in this annual event. Where? In the spirit of karma yoga (service-based yoga), yoga teachers throughout the United States will offer free or discounted yoga classes in honor of Yoga Day USA. Click here for a karma yoga class or workshop in your area. Unfortunately, I’m not seeing any participating studios listed in Washington, D.C., Arlington or … [Read more...]
Change. Hope. Inspire.
Dream. Faith. Transform. These are all meaningful words that have been used repeatedly since Obama was elected in November 2008. They are also words that require action in order to be realized. Over the weekend I made a commitment to participate in a “40 Day to Personal Revolution” program. For those familiar with Baron Baptiste, you may know this is one of his programs geared towards self-acceptance, personal growth and transformation. I suspect it will challenge me to create a new way … [Read more...]
Experiences Shape You
Don’t resist the bad days of your life. Invite both the bad and the good with open arms, eyes and more importantly, an open mind. By doing so, you start to flow with life rather than struggle against it. Trust your experiences are just that “yours”. By learning to accept your experiences as they are, humility and compassion are born. Life is full of ups and downs. In the middle of it all, there is always a reason for what is happening – it just might not be obvious at the time. Don’t wait … [Read more...]
Do Backbends Make You Sensitive?
In the yoga asana practice, backbends are known to be heart-openers. Poses like Ustrasana and Wheel, truly offer us freedom across the entire chest wall by stretching muscles, energizing circulation, expanding our lungs and bringing space around our hearts. So it occurred to me as I was telling one of my students about the heart-opening benefits of backbends, are people who do yoga more sensitive? As we bring more space around our heart center, does that increase our capacity to love? Have … [Read more...]
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