pose of the week: head-to-knee pose

Janu Sirsasana

How to do it:

1. Start sitting with your legs straight out in front of you.

2. Bend your right knee, and place the sole of your foot to your inner left thigh.

3. Begin to fold over your left leg, adjusting your torso slightly to the left and drawing your left side ribs in.

4. Inhale, lengthen the spine, then exhale, draw your navel in and up to fold deeper over the leg (you may place your hands on either side of your leg, on your shin or grabbing the outside of the foot).

5. Avoid rounding in the back and keep your hips leveled.

Hold for 5-10 breaths then repeat on the other side

Benefits:

• Stretches the spine, shoulders, hamstrings, and groins
• Stimulates the liver and kidneys
• Relieves anxiety, fatigue, headache, menstrual discomfort

YOGA for YOUTH!

So I’ve been MIA again from this blog, and been hard on myself because of it. Do I really not have time in my schedule to write? This has long been my outlet for expression, but life as it seems gets in the way.

 

I just completed another teacher training certificate to add to my repertoire. This time, it was with Yoga for Youth led by the great Krishna Kaur.  This training was like no other, and it was truly transformational.  My original understanding was that I would be learning about teaching yoga to at-risk youth, and to get the necessary tools on how to teach these types of kids with issues (poverty, substance abuse, violence, crime, family, education, minority issues). I thought to myself “how rewarding it would be to get out and give the gift of yoga to these underprivileged youth”.

On my first day, I was excited to get back into training mode. I’m not a downtown driver, and during the workweek, the streets of TO are chaotic. I left super early, but still arrived 15mins late….not a great start. From the moment I walked into the room, around 70% of the class were wearing all white and turbans. Ummm, did I not get the memo! The training was taught Kundalini style!!  What did I get myself into?!

The chants, mantras, mudras, and poses were so foreign to me, it freaked me out! It actually terrified me.  I wanted to leave, but how would that make me look? I’m not a quitter and decided to suck it up and go with an open mind. I’m so glad I did! Everyone was so welcoming, and we became one big loving family. Through heartache, trauma and sorrow, we discovered happiness, hope and determination. I was an emotional wreck, mentally and physically exhausted from all the stories I heard of young people and those that experience first hand at abuse. I had chest pains and to top it off, nightmares, which my mom had to come rushing into my room to calm me down.  We meditated A LOT, which was a great release for me emotionally and opened my mind in full force.

At the end of the training, I realized that we all have a lot in common even though we may not know each other; we are not alone. I found a new appreciation for kundalini yoga and that I really want to start teaching with a purpose…with more light, more heart and more meaning.  We really don’t know what goes on in people’s lives and where they come from. If I can make someone smile and change a person’s life for one day, then I have done my part.

Thank you to all the wonderful people I’ve met. I will cherish each and every one of you. Sat Nam xo

pose of the week: chair

Utkatasana 

How to do it:

1. Start standing with your feet together.

2. Begin to shift your weight into your heels then inhale the arms up along side your ears, as you bend your knees imagining you are sitting in a chair.

3. Tuck your tailbone under, lengthen the spine and gaze up towards your hands.

4. Roll your shoulder blades down and back and keep your feet and knees parallel.

Stay for 5-10 breaths then slowly come up to standing and release the arms by your side.

Benefits:

• Strengthens the ankles, thighs, calves and spine
• Stimulates the abdominal organs, diaphragm and heart
• Increases overall strength and endurance 

great life lesson...

I see this day as a positive new beginning (it's never too late to have a new beginning)

Today and tomorrow can be very different from yesterday if you can let yesterday go and focus on today.

Today and tomorrow are about your NOW vibration, and you give complete control over that.

Look for things to feel good about, and watch how everything in your life will unfold to reflect that good-feeling vibration.

Source: Abraham Hicks

bend it like bikram!

So after all these years of practicing yoga, I finally tried my first Bikram class! I was skeptical at first since I heard so many negative comments about it, but I wanted to experience it first hand and go with an open mind. To all Bikram teachers and practitioners out there, I salute you, because it was a class soooo different than what I was used to. I am not bashing the practice, but my beliefs and the beliefs of bikram yoga are complete opposites.

As I lay in the room of over 100F, my mind racing with anxiousness, I began to bring my awareness to my breath. Since the class was 90mins long, I had to brace myself for the poses to come and let my body take in the heat. Immediately this got interrupted and I was blinded by the bright lights.  The instructor had the thickest accent, and was speaking so fast, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. There was not a single moment of silence to soak up the poses and all I kept hearing was “push, push, push your body and lock, lock, lock your knees” –Two things you are NEVER supposed to do in any practice. 

  

By the halfway mark, I was ready to leave. Doing 26 poses twice seems like an easy task, but the heat just became too overwhelming and I found myself repeatedly going into child’s pose or savasana (corpse pose).  I give credit for those that lasted, because my ego got the best of me and I completely gave up.

Floor dripping with sweat and fingers all pruney, the class was finally over. On a positive note, I did feel really good afterwards. There is a reason why we do those poses, which are linked to many health benefits. Tons of people give credit to bikram yoga for helping them cure any pain or suffering they may have. So keep at it if it helps, but branch out and do a downward dog! 

photo source: http://vegangrrlseattle.blogspot.com/

pose of the week: lord of the dance (dancer's pose)

Natarajasana

How to do it:

1. Standing tall, begin to shift your weight over to your left foot.

2. Bend your leg back and grab the inside or outside of your foot.

3. On an inhale, raise your left arm by your ear. As you exhale, push your foot in your hand and kick your leg away from your body.

4. Keep your chest lifted and your hips squared. Stretch your right arm forward, in front of your torso and keep it parallel to the floor.

Hold for 5-10 breaths, then slowly release and repeat on the other side. 

Benefits:

• Stretches the thighs, groins and abdomen
• Strengthens the legs and ankles
• Improves balance and focus

back from reality, back to life

I am officially back!!! After taking three weeks off, my mind, my body and my soul are ready to get back on track with the daily grind. The break was much needed as I got to explore the beauty of life in the Philippines. Here, I take so much for granted. From the moment I stepped out of the plane, the air, the smell, the weather, and people was a lot to take in. I am so happy I got to experience the culture full on and live like a true local. I can write a novel for the amount of things that happened; the memories will always stay in my heart and thank you to my wonderful family for treating me with such kindness and love and overall…dealing with me ;)  

See you on the mat!