This morning, I finished my asana practice.
Sitting in half meditation with my eyes closed,
thinking about writing and yoga.
When I closed my eyes and had a moment of samadhi.
I saw a warm yellow light hovering horizontially,
knowing this warmth was spirit, god, love, protecting us all.
And then I saw, felt a warm yellow ray vertically loving me,
in absolute peace, bliss, oneness I can't explain--but just know--
it was the spirit letting me know it's all good.
And then when I came to, I thought I had somehow tricked my eyes
into seeing --so I tried to do it again-- and it was impossible.
I felt the peace.
Knew what had happened.
And am thankful for the reminder.
Om.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
You Can't Take the Ganesha Out...
A little over a year ago I began teaching yoga at a local studio that offers varying
healthy options to living: massage therapy, bellydance, reiki, life coaching, etc...all the
yummy stuff. But coming into this space, I quickly realised I wasn't going to start class with a lot Sanskrit chanting or delve into the spiritual side immediately. Part of this has been personal, selective growth and part of this is learning about the people who come to this studio. Well--on the other side of immediately--is this year later when I comfortably begin and end with OM and share small stories of the practice. I understand this to be more about my comfort at this point, not wanting to scare off students, afraid if I delve too deeply they're not going to come back to this space. Even as I write that, I think it's smartly silly.
This past Thursday, at the end of class, a student came to me and said she had a question.
She continued by asking if I had any good books about Hindu gods or goddesses. I
told her I didn't, but when I have questions about them, I either go to the library or online. She then continued to tell me that when she is in savasana she gets images of "elephant people."
I smiled.
Oh Ganesha.
I asked if she knew about Ganesha. Had she heard the name? The story?
No. And No.
I gave the small bits I knew and realised it's ok to share what I know, even if it's not complete. People have the choice to go further in exploring their minds.
And then she talked about seeing a "monkey face."
I smiled again.
Oh Hunaman.
She was full of this open space--recalling the past. We spoke of reincarnation and spirituality. It was a conversational gift.
That evening in the beginners class I shared the word Sri and the meaning. This student was/is connected in with this divine sense, yummy sense of her spirituality. So, even as I try to lightly cover the spiritual side of yoga, there are going to be those it resonates with and those it won't. I don't need to necessarily water down my words, my stories...they sit where they need to...and Ganesha, removes the obstacles--placing success...where we open ourselves to.
healthy options to living: massage therapy, bellydance, reiki, life coaching, etc...all the
yummy stuff. But coming into this space, I quickly realised I wasn't going to start class with a lot Sanskrit chanting or delve into the spiritual side immediately. Part of this has been personal, selective growth and part of this is learning about the people who come to this studio. Well--on the other side of immediately--is this year later when I comfortably begin and end with OM and share small stories of the practice. I understand this to be more about my comfort at this point, not wanting to scare off students, afraid if I delve too deeply they're not going to come back to this space. Even as I write that, I think it's smartly silly.
This past Thursday, at the end of class, a student came to me and said she had a question.
She continued by asking if I had any good books about Hindu gods or goddesses. I
told her I didn't, but when I have questions about them, I either go to the library or online. She then continued to tell me that when she is in savasana she gets images of "elephant people."
I smiled.
Oh Ganesha.
I asked if she knew about Ganesha. Had she heard the name? The story?No. And No.
I gave the small bits I knew and realised it's ok to share what I know, even if it's not complete. People have the choice to go further in exploring their minds.
And then she talked about seeing a "monkey face."
I smiled again.
Oh Hunaman.
That evening in the beginners class I shared the word Sri and the meaning. This student was/is connected in with this divine sense, yummy sense of her spirituality. So, even as I try to lightly cover the spiritual side of yoga, there are going to be those it resonates with and those it won't. I don't need to necessarily water down my words, my stories...they sit where they need to...and Ganesha, removes the obstacles--placing success...where we open ourselves to.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Morning Practice
This morning my practice was slow and deliberate.
I had to wake up early for my oldest daughter and though I'm an early riser
most days, this extra early was a thankful hello.
I spent 15 each minutes in pranayama, meditation and chanting--then
beginning the asana portion. I do this everyday, but not 15 minutes each.
Meditation always wins out anywhere 10-20 minutes most days though...anyhow--
what I found was my hour asana was much more deliberate in positioning and transitioning.
My mind focused quicker, yet my thoughts were slower.
I tend to lean towards a slower vinyasa practice most days, but try to throw in
some speed and curiousity too. Today, I didn't worry about speed but tried to stay curious
in how I could find simplicity in the pause, the rest, in between.
Looking forward to the simplicity of my day.
Looking for the pauses,
the rest.
Om.
I had to wake up early for my oldest daughter and though I'm an early riser
most days, this extra early was a thankful hello.
I spent 15 each minutes in pranayama, meditation and chanting--then
beginning the asana portion. I do this everyday, but not 15 minutes each.
Meditation always wins out anywhere 10-20 minutes most days though...anyhow--
what I found was my hour asana was much more deliberate in positioning and transitioning.
My mind focused quicker, yet my thoughts were slower.
I tend to lean towards a slower vinyasa practice most days, but try to throw in
some speed and curiousity too. Today, I didn't worry about speed but tried to stay curious
in how I could find simplicity in the pause, the rest, in between.
Looking forward to the simplicity of my day.
Looking for the pauses,
the rest.
Om.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Moving meditation
Yesterday I went to a yoga workshop dealing with mantras in asana.
I am falling into this place of genuinely feeling the practice as a moving meditation.
I've said it over and over to students, having moments of feeling it--and as I continue to add it into
my own practice, it truly is there.
I sense the kundalini rising when sound is added into movement.
Prana.
Love.
Om
I am falling into this place of genuinely feeling the practice as a moving meditation.
I've said it over and over to students, having moments of feeling it--and as I continue to add it into
my own practice, it truly is there.
I sense the kundalini rising when sound is added into movement.
Prana.
Love.
Om
Monday, April 30, 2012
National Honesty Day
As I was roaming the online world this afternoon,
I came across that today is National Honesty Day.
If you look it up you'll discover that it was created in
1991 by a press secretary that wrote a book. I am not
going into any political realm or link for this one.
Well...my brain went straight to yoga honesty.
What does it mean to be honest on the mat?
Off the mat?
Is truthfulness, satya, the same as honesty?
What are we honest about to others, but what are we honest to ourselves about?
Or more, what aren't we honest about?
Am I honest about my fears, desire, hopes or do I trudge through trying to be honest and not allowing the time to listen?
What are my desires? I know every morning I desire to wake up in a happy mood, but understand that I don't wake up chipper. I wake up slowly to drink a cup of coffee I desire and then desire to sit on my living room mat. Delving into breathing, managing to work into childs pose and slowly move through spine work to down dog. Eventually my happiness begins to bubble and I do my best to choose happiness. But desires are huge and random. I desire a clean house. I desire love. I desire companionship. I desire stability. I desire the time to craft. I desire time to live calmly with my girls. I desire to teach more yoga and make yoga my "day" job. I desire clean sheets and happy dreams.
But I'm realistic that my desires are not always reality. My house is rarely clean and I don't have the time I desire, but so many of my other desires are attainable. And they are intuitive to my life. That offers hope. Creates less fear in my waking life.
I will continue to look into my desires this week, moving to hopes and fears...and be honest where I am today in those thoughts.
Om.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Partner Yoga
Just watched this great video on Partner Yoga with school age kids. So much gratitude for sharing!
Partner Yoga
Namaste.
Partner Yoga
Namaste.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Storytime Yoga
One of my favorite groups of yogi's: Storytime kids!
On Thursday my co-worker and I are attending a Children's Librarian Workshop. We are to bring our favorite storytime/ craft activity. I am taking one of my Storytime Yoga favorites. I originally started doing storytime yoga before I "offically" began teaching and was introduced to the book Storytime Yoga by Sydney Solis. She is a wonderful storyteller and I appreciate all the tips she gives in the book. My storytime classes are loosely based on her style, using some of the same warm ups. This is only one small portion. It is a book I would recommend if you are considering using it in your library. Librarians and teachers could use this book in their classroom/building with ease. Though I give poses to go with certain animals, please feel free to incorporate your own. If you work with kids, then you know as much as you lead--you follow. Have fun. Enjoy.
Storytime yoga: Drum theme
Introduction:
We are going to be doing yoga with stories. Yoga is a way to stretch your body and your minds.
Sitting up straight/happy vs. slouched/sad.:
example: do i look happy? shoulders slumped? no...sit up straight, now do i look happy? Yes.
favorite instrument? ice cream? food?
Om:
If you took all the sounds in the universe and played them at the same time. Bring our hands to our heart, anjali mudra and ocean of OM’s for 1 minute approximately.
Centering:
close eyes; think of garden--where you are happy
Warm up:
Light house; Sitting criss cross applesauce , ask if anyone knows what a lighthouse is. Imagine your eyes are like the light looking over the water and your body is the lighthouse that will change shapes. Look over right, left, down and up. As you look up you see a bird, begin flapping arms like a bird flying. Become the bird. Look down and see yourself landing on the beach. You crash into the shore like a boat. Be a boat. Sing “Row, Row, Row your boat” and roll back and forth on back. The boat stops and you touch your toes and become a crab. Do the crabwalk in your area. You don’t want the crab to get your toes so lift one leg, then the other--then stand up with arms overhead and become a mountain.
Sun Salutations:
The sun the sun i salute the sun i open my heart to everyone, the sun rise the sun sets in the whole world my heart rests, again i rise ready to live happy to be ready to give, the sun the sun i salute the sun i open my heart to everyone
Story: How the Drum Came to the People (salish) first without movement;
then with movement.
Partner Poses if possible, Favorite part of story,
Affirmations with fingertip breathing; closing hands into loose fists on exhale, opening on inhale--like flowers.
Shavasana:
Lay on back with eyes closed, one hand on belly other on heart, sun/cloud/drum/ visual. Tell them we are resting with our eyes closed for a few seconds. We are going to see who can be most quiet. It will feel long to them, but usually can lay still for about 1 minute.
Namaste song,:
Namaste is what you say to the good in me and the good in you, sing namaste everyday and the world will live in harmony.
Om ending:
sitting happy ocean of oms
Craft:
Make drums. Cut brown paper to fit a large red/blue cup/oatmeal container/coffeecan.
Have kids decorate paper with their own shapes. Have Native American Indian symbols available as examples. Cut off the top of a balloon and stretch over the top of the container.
Possibly play drum music.
How the Drum Came to the People
Long ago, the Sun *large arm circles* looked down upon his people. He saw that they were quiet and their hearts were heavy, so he sent for wise Coyote.
*Down Dog*
“Why are my people so sad? Sun asked Coyote. “I have given them warmth and light. They have plants and animals. But still they are silent.
“Sun father that is true. You have given people many things, food, warmth, shelter but they have no way to let out whats in their hearts..
The winds *twirl*, rain *wiggle fingers*, birds *bird arms or eagle* and trees *tree* all know how to sing, but humans *warrior* do not.
“I want humans to be happy as the others, go back to earth and find some ways for the humans to call out the sounds in their hearts.
Coyote *down dog* went back to earth and began to walk when he met Beaver.*childs pose*
He told Beaver I am looking for some way to help humans call forth the song in their hearts.
Beaver said we need a skin that has not been tanned. We will steal the young hunters tanned skins so he will need to go hunting. Coyote nodded and said that is a good plan, Bluejay, Elk, Wind and Fire will help.
That night Coyote sang a soft song to put the hunter to sleep so they could steal all his tanned skins.
When he woke up the next morning he was very angry. *Warrior 1 into Warrior 2*
He asked Blue jay *bird*what happened. Blue jay told him two wise ones took it. He must hunt an elk to be warm for the winter.
So the young hunter shot an elk. *Dhanurasana/Bow and arrow/Ask what an elk looks like* Elks spirit met Coyote and Beaver, the plan was working.
The young man *warrior 1*took the hide. It was wind and fire;s turn to help.
Wind dried and fire burned off all the hairs.
The young hunter was angry again. He threw the hide over a hollow stump. *Act like you’re throwing a blanket down*
The sun shining hot and bright in the sky dried it to the stump.
His village was ready to move and when he went to get the hide, it was stuck on the stump making the hunter angrier...he was so angry he took a stick and began beating the hide. *drum beat on the floor*
To his surprise it made the sound like a thunderbird. This touched his heart and made him happy.Far down the mountain the people heard the sound asking where did you get the power to made such a sound.
It is heart *place hands over heart*, the voices are in this stump. He beat on the dry skin, the voices spoke and the people listened. The peoples hearts grew light and they began to dance in a circle while he struck the drum again and again.
Up in the sky the sun *sun large arms* listened and smiled. His people were no longer sad...they brought happiness to their hearts.
On Thursday my co-worker and I are attending a Children's Librarian Workshop. We are to bring our favorite storytime/ craft activity. I am taking one of my Storytime Yoga favorites. I originally started doing storytime yoga before I "offically" began teaching and was introduced to the book Storytime Yoga by Sydney Solis. She is a wonderful storyteller and I appreciate all the tips she gives in the book. My storytime classes are loosely based on her style, using some of the same warm ups. This is only one small portion. It is a book I would recommend if you are considering using it in your library. Librarians and teachers could use this book in their classroom/building with ease. Though I give poses to go with certain animals, please feel free to incorporate your own. If you work with kids, then you know as much as you lead--you follow. Have fun. Enjoy.
Storytime yoga: Drum theme
Introduction:
We are going to be doing yoga with stories. Yoga is a way to stretch your body and your minds.
Sitting up straight/happy vs. slouched/sad.:
example: do i look happy? shoulders slumped? no...sit up straight, now do i look happy? Yes.
favorite instrument? ice cream? food?
Om:
If you took all the sounds in the universe and played them at the same time. Bring our hands to our heart, anjali mudra and ocean of OM’s for 1 minute approximately.
Centering:
close eyes; think of garden--where you are happy
Warm up:
Light house; Sitting criss cross applesauce , ask if anyone knows what a lighthouse is. Imagine your eyes are like the light looking over the water and your body is the lighthouse that will change shapes. Look over right, left, down and up. As you look up you see a bird, begin flapping arms like a bird flying. Become the bird. Look down and see yourself landing on the beach. You crash into the shore like a boat. Be a boat. Sing “Row, Row, Row your boat” and roll back and forth on back. The boat stops and you touch your toes and become a crab. Do the crabwalk in your area. You don’t want the crab to get your toes so lift one leg, then the other--then stand up with arms overhead and become a mountain.
Sun Salutations:
The sun the sun i salute the sun i open my heart to everyone, the sun rise the sun sets in the whole world my heart rests, again i rise ready to live happy to be ready to give, the sun the sun i salute the sun i open my heart to everyone
Story: How the Drum Came to the People (salish) first without movement;
then with movement.
Partner Poses if possible, Favorite part of story,
Affirmations with fingertip breathing; closing hands into loose fists on exhale, opening on inhale--like flowers.
Shavasana:
Lay on back with eyes closed, one hand on belly other on heart, sun/cloud/drum/ visual. Tell them we are resting with our eyes closed for a few seconds. We are going to see who can be most quiet. It will feel long to them, but usually can lay still for about 1 minute.
Namaste song,:
Namaste is what you say to the good in me and the good in you, sing namaste everyday and the world will live in harmony.
Om ending:
sitting happy ocean of oms
Craft:
Make drums. Cut brown paper to fit a large red/blue cup/oatmeal container/coffeecan.
Have kids decorate paper with their own shapes. Have Native American Indian symbols available as examples. Cut off the top of a balloon and stretch over the top of the container.
Possibly play drum music.
How the Drum Came to the People
Long ago, the Sun *large arm circles* looked down upon his people. He saw that they were quiet and their hearts were heavy, so he sent for wise Coyote.
*Down Dog*
“Why are my people so sad? Sun asked Coyote. “I have given them warmth and light. They have plants and animals. But still they are silent.
“Sun father that is true. You have given people many things, food, warmth, shelter but they have no way to let out whats in their hearts..
The winds *twirl*, rain *wiggle fingers*, birds *bird arms or eagle* and trees *tree* all know how to sing, but humans *warrior* do not.
“I want humans to be happy as the others, go back to earth and find some ways for the humans to call out the sounds in their hearts.
Coyote *down dog* went back to earth and began to walk when he met Beaver.*childs pose*
He told Beaver I am looking for some way to help humans call forth the song in their hearts.
Beaver said we need a skin that has not been tanned. We will steal the young hunters tanned skins so he will need to go hunting. Coyote nodded and said that is a good plan, Bluejay, Elk, Wind and Fire will help.
That night Coyote sang a soft song to put the hunter to sleep so they could steal all his tanned skins.
When he woke up the next morning he was very angry. *Warrior 1 into Warrior 2*
He asked Blue jay *bird*what happened. Blue jay told him two wise ones took it. He must hunt an elk to be warm for the winter.
So the young hunter shot an elk. *Dhanurasana/Bow and arrow/Ask what an elk looks like* Elks spirit met Coyote and Beaver, the plan was working.
The young man *warrior 1*took the hide. It was wind and fire;s turn to help.
Wind dried and fire burned off all the hairs.
The young hunter was angry again. He threw the hide over a hollow stump. *Act like you’re throwing a blanket down*
The sun shining hot and bright in the sky dried it to the stump.
His village was ready to move and when he went to get the hide, it was stuck on the stump making the hunter angrier...he was so angry he took a stick and began beating the hide. *drum beat on the floor*
To his surprise it made the sound like a thunderbird. This touched his heart and made him happy.Far down the mountain the people heard the sound asking where did you get the power to made such a sound.
It is heart *place hands over heart*, the voices are in this stump. He beat on the dry skin, the voices spoke and the people listened. The peoples hearts grew light and they began to dance in a circle while he struck the drum again and again.
Up in the sky the sun *sun large arms* listened and smiled. His people were no longer sad...they brought happiness to their hearts.
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