TUESDAY MORNING

As some (many) of you know, my morning routine goes like this --- up, turn coffee on, sit, pour that first cup, turn on computer, review e-mail and last night's Facebook musings, read some of my favorite blog posts, and - finally - turn to my own blog.

In this blog, I have written about the interesting flow of energy that occurs (i.e. I think of something, someone close to me is thinking similarly). I remember when I first started yoga, I was sure yoga instructors talked to each other and shared lesson plans for the week. At that time, I attended many classes each week and very often different instructors taught similar classes or, at least, poses. I have since learned that, no, we don't talk to one another, but there is an energy thing out there.

For example, read 3 blog posts this morning before beginning to write. Here is a breakdown and analysis of what each different (and from different parts of the U.S.) instructors had to say and how their comments relate to similar events/thoughts in my life:

• MariaCristina - wrote about her intention to attend more classes with favorite and different instructors in 2011. Interesting that I had a conversation last night with a fellow teacher about just such an intention. My fellow teacher's lament - that only on a handful of occasions have other yoga instructors attended her class. I could say the same. Our mentors attend our classes on occasion, but our friends? Not in the room. I suppose that could be chalked up to the fact that many spend so much time teaching that a yoga studio is not the place they choose for their personal yoga practice. Or, something like that. Just an observation, not a judgment.
• Denise Benitez - wrote in her Dec. 2 post that 'free yoga' is a fallacy. I began reading this post with a bit of trepidation, worrying that she might not support my similar belief and/or the story of how I believe, historically, people 'paid' for their yoga instruction. Fortunately, as I read, I breathed a sign of relief. She echoed my belief, and used similar examples to those I've used on my website, www.skillfulyoga.com, where I talk about my fees. The one I'd never heard - that sometimes students were asked to cut off a finger (fingertip?) for their lessons. Ouch! How many of you would do that to come to my class?
• Scott Marmorstein - wrote in his Jan 4 post that "everything is borrowed". Last week I had an e-mail conversation with clients who have been traveling. Just checking in, I told them, letting them know I was ready for them to return - were they ready/willing? What I received were two very complimentary e-mails within which they said 'yes, we're ready'. I copied the phrases from their two e-mails, and created a short, concise e-mail to JF, Sundari, Adam Ballenger, and Christina Sell, acknowledging and thanking them for their contribution to this feedback. What does this have to do with Scott's post? Almost everything I have taught, shared, communicated to these clients is 'borrowed' from these very pivotal people in my studies. These 4 teachers need to hear these compliments, as much as I do. While I certainly put my own 'spin' on the teachings and how I transmit them, I would not have this 'borrowed' knowledge were it not for these teachers (and many others - too many to list here).

I learn a lot from reading other peoples' perspectives. Most importantly, I receive validation for many of my thoughts and actions. Very valuable for someone who has a tendency to fall short on the self-confidence scale. (Working on that!)

And, today:

• Teaching Level 1-2 at The Yoga Center, 9:15 am
• Pilates at 12 noon
• Teaching a semi-private, 2:30 pm
• A couple of errands to run

Have a great day!

BEEN TOO BUSY

Remember many posts back, when I wrote "the excuse, 'I am too busy' is not a valid excuse, in my book". Well -- here I am writing it, using that lame excuse as the reason for not writing in this blog. Couldn't I at least be a bit more creative? Like, who would know any differently, if I wrote that I was ill over the weekend, or I had to go out of town unexpectedly, or my computer broke. Well, there are too many people who saw me over the weekend, to make the first two 'untruths' work; now, the third - the computer one - that could have worked. But, I took the easy (lazy) way out and used "I was too busy". Must be a human thing.

Friday was a day of teaching (big Gentle Yoga class, good for a Friday), then to the lemon store. Adam told me I should get some shorts (rather than long pants), so that I can see my knees and quads in my poses. Just couldn't bring myself to do it. Something about doing uttanasana and staring at knees with wrinkles, turns me off. Fortunately, I found two pair of nice yoga pants to add to my yoga wardrobe. If I need to look at my knees, I'll pull them up (the long pants).

I was to have guided the practice on Friday evening - unfortunately (or fortunately), no one showed -- perhaps a product of renovation, publicity, teacher rotation, or is once a week too often for this studio's population (I don't think so, but some may). No matter, I put the time to good use helping Sheldon and Lyndsey a bit to get the studio ready for the Yoga Festival and Open House, scheduled for the next day (Saturday). Time well spent.

My Saturday was spent at the Festival -- began by taking Sheldon's class at 9, then Michael's at 10, and Kim's at noon. A brief lunch, and back to teach my own class at 2. When asked what I would be teaching, I quickly responded that I'd focus on the 3 A's of Anusara Yoga. I was able to teach to the theme. Interesting thing about the class? One student struggled with her wrists during vascisthasana. When we moved to bakasana (crow), after a brief rest from the other wrist-stressing pose, there was no discomfort in her wrists. Could it be that the arm balance was just more fun? And, therefore, the discomfort disappeared? As a newer-to-yoga student, I don't think she was aware of the hugging-in element that will remove stress from the wrists. Interesting. Perhaps 'attitude' kicking in.

Then home to rest up for the evening's festivities -- an open house back at the studio. Music, yoga demos, friends. Good stuff. We left a bit early and shared dinner with Michael and Shala at Layla's in Holladay. For those of you who haven't tried it, Layla's is the old Confetti's restaurant -- remodeled and menu re-vamped, same owners. Great food and much nicer ambience.

Sunday was husband-time. We spent a quiet morning, then - FINALLY - got to see "The King's Speech". I've been waiting since November to see this film. Definitely worth it. Home to enjoy the fire; mac & cheese with a salad for dinner -- great comfort stuff.

And, today?

• A one-on-one appointment this morning at the Apple Store. My website is running (www.skillfulyoga.com); now to fine tune and tweak it, so that the search engines will find it!
• Errands
• Adam's 5:45 pm class at Sugarspace

Have a marvelous Monday,

PLAN ACCOMPLISHED

Yesterday, I did all that was listed on my blog 'to do' list -- it was a good day, but full (unless I'm really trying to impress, I don't write down the mundane activities -- like housework or laundry). People repeatedly ask me if I have a lot of time on my hands now that I don't own the studio. It doesn't seem like it -- I had fine-tuned work at the studio down to the bare minimum (perhaps a sign I was ready to be done owning a studio); I wasn't spending hours each day marketing, planning, etc. The spare time I have now is just space between activities; space I used to fill with paperwork or cleaning at the studio, but now don't have to worry about.

Pilates was fun and work (huh?). And, I see similarities to my yoga practice when all of a sudden some move previously inaccessible or pretty clumsy is now accessible!?!?!?

Then, time to kill between Pilates and my 4 pm class (that will change in 10 days or so, when the 'less-than-flexible' couple return from their travels). Since there's not enough time to run home, I suppose the efficient person would have some reading material with them -- me? No - stopped in the grocery, got to the studio early intent on practicing a bit; didn't work out quite like I planned as students began arriving EARLY for the 4 pm class.

Continued with my theme of burning the smudge off our images of ourselves (maya). Good one as we begin 2011.

The long-awaited class with Tiffany Wood at The Yoga Center followed. Skillfully crafted, encouraging and, yet, asking for commitment (loved that part) from all of us present. Many of the students had practiced before; not sure if Anusara had been in everyone's repertoire, tho. Impressive that even the beginning students (a couple) were well taken care of, as the rest of us worked hard - in my book, long holds are always hard work, if done with intention and care. Good stuff; look forward to future classes.

Last night, as I practiced, my attention was drawn to the statue of Shiva dancing (Nataraj). This murti is different from the one previously in the studio (brass vs. wood), and one of the things I noticed was the snake -- from a distance, in this murti, the snake is very visible winding around the figure of Shiva.

I have heard in trainings and workshops that this snake represents the kundalini shakti present in all of us. Curious about the snake, I googled it, found a decent website that briefly yet clearly explained many of the elements. The snake, this site explains does represent kundalini, and also symbolizes the Hindu belief in reincarnation. The molting of snakeskin is symbolic of the human soul's transmigration of bodies from one life to another.

In the first Immersion with JF last February, he went on to talk about other components, mentioning:

1. The drum, representing the tick-tock of life; sound reverberating out of silence.
2. The fire held by Shiva represents that which transforms, and is at the same height as the hand holding the drum.
3. The hand in abaya mudra is the hand of sustenance; creates the appearance of stability.
4. Nigraha arm (the arm crossing over and pointing at Shiva's foot) represents concealment.
5. Anugraha; the upraised foot, perhaps saying "don't worry, it's just a dance".

Other interesting things I learned from the website I found:

• There is a small figure in Shiva's dreadlocks - the Goddess of the Ganges. Belief is that the Ganges originally flowed in Heaven. When it was needed on earth, Shiva broke the fall from Heaven to earth with his dreadlocks. So, the Goddess rests in his dreadlocks on her way to earth. I never had heard about that element of the murti.
• The outer ring - fire - represents the Universe with all its suffering, pain and disillusionment. Just inside is another ring - representing the waters of the ocean. (Perhaps tempering the fire a bit??? -- my thought, as I don't remember ever hearing much if anything about the water.)
• The crescent moon in Shiva's hair keeps Kama (the god of nightly love) alive. The waxing and waning of the moon represents the seasons, rejuvenating life.

Interesting to pick one element and explore it -- I learn so much. And, I know students are curious what murtis represent and why they are in our yoga space. Now, I'll feel more confident answering questions about the Nataraj.

Today?

• Gentle Yoga, 10:30 am at The Yoga Center -- I'm teaching!
• Maybe the elusive lemon store is open and I can cash in my gift card.
• I will lead The Practice, 5:40 pm at The Yoga Center. Planning LONNNGGGG holds.

Enjoy your Friday,

SOMEONE, TELL ME WHY

Caution: Not everything written in this post is 'happy, happy'.

So, 'tell me why' what? Why do many of the events scheduled that we would love to attend attach the caveat: "must be able to do handstand at the wall and urdhva dhanurasana (full wheel)".

I used to just see mainly it for JF's advanced events; but, more and more, I'm seeing it attached to weekend workshops, advanced practices, etc., conducted by regular(??? - couldn't come up with a better word) instructors. And - until 3 months ago - I couldn't do either; now, I can do the urdhva -- still working on the kicking up to handstand (12 years on that one so far).

One explanation might be that doing those two poses is a sign of an 'advanced' practice. However, I've been in enough classes, trainings, workshops, etc., to know that sometimes a very new-to-yoga person is more than able to get themselves into these positions. (Imagine my envy - oops, murdita.) So, to me, that is not a valid reason.

Another might be ____?_____. I truly can't think of one for those particular poses. Someone, please tell me why!

It's a discouraging and demoralizing requirement that ought to be stricken from our verbiage - we can be more creative and inclusive, and still communicate that it will be a challenging practice, workshop, whatever. I'll take this statement back, if someone can tell me 'why'.

Understand the UPA's, warm up the body, open shoulders, open quads, work the hamstrings, do every pose with integrity -- in a perfect world those would be my requirements; purna.

Enough.

I did film yesterday's Gentle Yoga class -- almost afraid to watch it. The class is a great one, attended by dedicated and hard-working students. It is also a class full of modifications -- some students doing cat/cow stretches on the floor; others, as they sit in chairs. When we do trichonasana (which isn't often), we always do it twice -- first time EVERYONE uses a chair under their lower hand (why? just to equalize the playing field). Second time around, the chair can be replaced with a block or hand can go to the floor. During balance postures, the chair is handily placed at most peoples' side -- just in case; and many will use it for stability getting in and out of the posture.

By the end of this class, the room looks a bit 'trashed' -- chairs, blankets, blocks, straps, mats and people strewn around (mats and people are lined up in true Anusara(®) style). If this is a class I choose to submit a video for, I'll have to have a lengthy explanation of many of the things I'm doing. Why, for example, am I standing behind one student during many of the standing poses? Because her balance is so compromised by a debilitating disease that she will fall over unexpectedly. We do what we have to do; but, I'm not quite sure every video reviewer will be ready/willing to evaluate a video like this. If nothing else, this will be a challenge for me and them.

I read yesterday that a certain famous fitness-wear company (that is geared towards yoga, among other things) earned over $450million last year. Earlier in the day, I took a gift card I received for my birthday over to try to give them some more money. They were closed; on a Wednesday. Oh, well -- I'll just have to go back on a Thurs, Fri, or Sat. Perhaps they've decided that success is achieved by making yourself 'hard to get', ya' think? (This same company's product, a few years ago, was only available in Canada -- in the USA, we couldn't buy their stuff. Imagine the envy; oops - murdita, when someone walked in with that logo on.)

Enough on that, too.

Today's plan:

• 1 pm Pilates
• 4 pm, teaching Level 1-2 at The Yoga Center
• 5:45 pm, attending Tiffany's class at The Yoga Center -- good stuff!

Enjoy your Thursday,

MAKING SPACE

For whatever reason, blogging is not as easy as it was before December 5. I wonder if it's related to the sale of the studio. More discipline is needed, for whatever reason. So, to make it more easeful, this will just be a compilation of thoughts -- ramblings, if you choose -- from my week so far.

I used 'making space' as my theme for yesterday's class (the one I am subbing for a friend for a while - skiing injury). As I de-clutter my home (making space), it also seems to relate to our practice and any resolutions or intentions that we have set for 2011. We make space to cultivate our intentions, to give them room to root and grow - and, what better place to do that than on our yoga mat. I chose confidence as my heart quality (because it takes a bit of confidence to expand; and the results are often confidence - the calm feeling of accomplishment we experience when we've done something good for ourselves). My UPA emphasis: Inner Spiral (making space, after all). My apex pose (on paper): EPR using a strap.

Students in the room, we began. One commented that she has struggled with many injuries over the years -- pelvis, knee, back and neck. As we moved through the first surya's, she complained about the pressure on her knee during a modified vacisthasana. That caused me to change my plan from putting her knee into EPR - she is newer to the practice and the verbiage, so - instead of EPR with a strap, I asked students to prep for baby nataraj and then move more fully into the pose using a strap. (Bending her knee was not a problem; lateral movement and pressure was an issue. I'm hoping that as she progresses and due to her well-developed body awareness, the concepts of inner spiral, shins in, etc., will come easily to her, and doing EPR will not create issues for that knee. It just seemed that for this class, shifting gears was needed.) So, we shifted and we still had fun. Always good to have an 'exit strategy'.

It is great to teach in the newly-renovated Yoga Center (studio I just sold); just teach. Not worry about any of the details, just plan my class, teach it, talk to students, fill out the paperwork, lock the door. But, truth be told, I do worry about these things; it's still a part of me, tho easier to let go of that I thought it might be. Lyndsey and Sheldon are getting little bits of information from me on occasion, signed with a "take it or leave it" closing.

Anyway, back to teaching. As people get used to the new space and new class times, some classes will be smaller, others larger. O.K. by me -- just trying to get that elusive video in. I think today I'll video the Gentle Yoga class; just to see how it goes. Ought to be interesting.

I attended a class on Monday - Mary's Vinyasa 1. Great class. Great from more than one standpoint. First, I had a good time. Second, I often sub for Mary. Now - after taking her class - I understand some of the blank stares I get when her loyal students experience my teaching. We use different verbiage, we teach poses somewhat differently. The good thing? Mary is very focused on alignment; that, we have in common. Lesson learned? From now on, when asked to sub, if there is enough time before the subbing date, I'll attend that instructor's class. Not so that I will teach exactly like the person for whom I'm subbing, but so that I'll understand what/how students have been experiencing their yoga classes. Important and valuable teaching lesson for me.

Today?

• Gentle Yoga, 10:30 am at The Yoga Center
• Errands

Hope you have a great Wednesday,

PROJECTS IN THE HOPPER

Once one sells her yoga studio, what does she do?

For one, I will continue teaching at that studio (3 classes each week, plus subbing for a few weeks for a friend who was hurt skiing).

That takes up about 6 hours each week (NOT including travel and planning time). What else?

Several weeks (months?) ago I proposed to my physician that her group host a patient education series. This series would last 4-6 weeks, would include aspects of yoga in each week, and would introduce attendees to pro-active means to improve their health -- means they might not otherwise look at (i.e. life coaches, physical trainers, dieticians, Ayurveda, etc.). I offered to organize this series, do all the legwork, but didn't hear anything back after her initial enthusiastic response. So, I waited - upon announcing my website, she contacted me and explained that the group is looking at space options and will be bringing in a new physician this Spring. All this activity has kept her busy; long story short -- she does want to pursue something for patients that includes yoga. Yes! Will keep you posted on progress -- an idea some of you may want to pursue with your physicians.

What else? I am in the process of contacting local Parkinson's Support Groups about their interest in a series of yoga classes. Why? I work with patients who struggle with chronic, debilitating diseases, and I see the positive effects of yoga on their outlook. Keep you posted on this one, also.

In addition to public classes, I am teaching private and semi-private sessions.

Every so often, I think -- maybe I should try to find another public class to teach. Could do that, but these special projects offer an aspect of teaching that I've begun to appreciate -- the benefit of yoga to people who might NEVER walk into a yoga class, much less a studio. Why wouldn't they? They believe they can't afford it. They don't know much, if anything, about yoga - so why would they pursue it? They may believe that yoga is far out of their physical reach. I can work to change many of those factors.

As you can tell, this is an ongoing saga; and it will shift each day, week, month. It's an exciting time, filled with rewarding challenge.

Today's plans:

• Mary's class at the newly-renovated Yoga Center, 10 am
• Pick up cats from vet (more $$$)
• A trip to the airport
• Another class? We'll see.

Enjoy your Monday,

JANUARY 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR! and Blessings for all of 2011.

It's awfully early to be up on January 1, but when you are in bed before 10 pm -- that's what happens. One of the favorable qualities of being a bit more mature, is the wisdom to know limits. My limit is about 10 pm, no matter what holiday it is.

So, what does one do on New Year's morning when everyone else is sleeping? Well, here's a list:

1. Turn the coffee pot on.
2. Re-kindle the fire. We installed a wood stove insert in one of our fireplaces last winter. Wonderful purchase; maybe one of the best ones we've made for a while. Love it.
3. Pour a cup of coffee, sit a while, watch the fire come back to life, then turn on the computer.
4. Check e-mail, look at Facebook -- what do I find? An amazing picture of The Yoga Center (studio I just sold) in it's new, renovated state -- bamboo floors, higher ceilings, wall sconce-type lighting. All in just 2 weeks! There will be two classes there today (11 am and 4 pm), and more special classes tomorrow; regular schedule begins on Monday -- as promised. As I said, AMAZING!
5. Also on Facebook -- video from the "Tough as Nails, Soft as Ghee" workshop in Tucson with Christina, Noah and Darren. Mental note to self: next year, be there.

As I watch the fire, there's a feature of this wood stove that fits right in with our yoga and theming for classes. Here goes: Every once in a while, there's a smudge in the corner of my new fire place doors -- created by the residue from the fire burning, especially as we start or re-kindle the fire. But, if we continue to burn the fire; to get it hotter and hotter, the smudge disappears - the glass is clean! I can equate that process to maya (my own internal mirrors). My mirror is often smudged and dirty with my negative thoughts and perceptions of myself. That's one reason we practice yoga - to build our own internal (and external) heat and burn (or begin to burn) the smudge off our mirrors. Clear those false perceptions away with the heat of our practice. To see our beauty, our amazing selves.

Maybe this is a stretch; but, remember, it's early.

Lots of cold and snow in this part of the country. Everyone, it seems, is being affected by extreme weather of some sort.

Enjoy your day, whatever it holds; and - again - Happy New Year!