Wonderful Workshop

Just a quick shout out to say Dharma Mittra was absolutely amazing. I came out feeling completely renewed in many wonderful ways which I'll write about later. No internet access for a while and no desire to spend time in Starbucks ( bless their hearts for having free wifi though!) so for now; be well, practice, practice, practice, and we'll talk soon!
Jai

Al Big Guy Yoga

The man sitting on all those blankets is Alan Haines. At the time this photo was taken Alan and I were part of a wonderful group of people doing our yoga teacher training at Kripalu. In November Alan will be giving a men only workshop called Big Guy Yoga. "At 6’2” and over 230 lbs he understands only too well the perception that one has to be extremely fit, thin or flexible to practice yoga. In his class the only thing that needs to be open and flexible is the mind. With a light hearted banter and regular reminders of the union of breath and movement, Alan emphasizes the "feel" of a posture more so than the look. His every-person approach to yoga and his gift of putting people at ease provides a comfortable environment for practitioners of all builds, backgrounds and ages to explore the benefits of yoga. He is a certified Kripalu and Yoga Ed k-8 teacher and has also completed the David Swenson 40 Hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training." This is going to be a fantastic workshop and I cant recommend it highly enough.

I am so proud of you Alan, you go big guy!

Not meant to be

Today I attended the Paul Grilley Workshop. From the beginning there were big problems. I needed to drive but once there could not find a parking spot. I finally found something a good distance from the studio. I didn't mind the walk but knew I would need to continue to feed the meters or pay the consequences. I assumed I would be able to slip out slug quarters into the meter and slip back in. This it turned out was going to be a problem since the doors would be locked once everyone was in the workshop. Directed and redirected I finally found a friendly yogi willing to assist me. Late at this point I rushed into the studio and settled down. I saw some teachers I take class with from other studios which was lovely but short lived as I could not overcome my exhaustion, frustration, and need to be mindful of the time. I did make it to the meter and back into the studio, but not without more irritation and a general bad vibe feelings. I settled into my mat for the second half of the workshop and fell fast asleep. Paul Grilley had some interesting things to say but I'm not the one to ask what he talked about as I was holding hands with the sandman! What was I doing there in the first place?

Beach Time

(fineartamerica.com)

The man and I are off this weekend. Back by Monday. I am packing my swimsuit and a couple of yoga DVDs. I'm savoring the last days of summer vacation right down to the last tasty bite! Good yoga class today. I really am fortunate to have some dynamic teachers. I'm excited to say I signed up for a Yin Yoga workshop with Paul Grilley. This will be a gentle and auspicious way to start the year. My instructors in my yoga teacher training were huge advocates of his work and its very exciting to be attending this workshop. I'm also excited about a DVD I will be checking out this weekend. Kundalini yoga with Mantra Girl. I am so impressed by her chanting that I ordered her CD and I am going to play her music in my classes! Well that's about it for now. I've got to pack, so see you soon!

Sunny, Sunny, Beachy, Sandy Happy,Happy Everyone!

Here is a little something nice to begin or end a class with:

May I be filled with loving kindness
May I be well
May I be peaceful and at ease
May I be happy
Sianna Sherman

Today in workshop we learned about the four noble qualities of the heart.
Joy
Compassion
Friendship with ourselves
Giving oneself space

We practiced many asana’s which open the chest. This allowed the heart to shine brighter and brought a happy glow to all of us in the workshop. I am bringing a wealth of knowledge back to the states as well as into my own classes and my personal practice. I can’t wait to share this with others!