I’ve been putting off posting lately because I haven’t had a chance to get photos of the poses and sequences I’ve been picking up. However, I recently got a tablet, so no more excuses! If I can’t arrange time for … Continue reading
Tree Side Bend
Silence
My meditation practice has been waning a bit lately, but this morning I was reminded of the value of taking time to shut up and listen by this post on Elephant Journal. It brought to mind a song I wrote … Continue reading
Half Twist Switches
Switching from half twist (ardha matsyendrasana) on one side to half twist on the other side can be kind of cumbersome, so here are two graceful transitions for switching sides. The first option is to do a pivot-turn to get … Continue reading
The Mind is a Tool
In a recorded satsang by Adyashanti entitled Immesurable Value, someone asked him what to do with a busy mind. Adyashanti responded: Take it to work with you. That’s what minds are for. They get things done … They’re like tools. … Continue reading
Some Love for the Lower Legs
I used to come out of Bikram yoga classes with such tight calves. Balancing requires the lower leg muscles to work together to stabilize the ankle, and the standing series would completely exhaust my already tight muscles. I asked the … Continue reading
What is a Spiritual Teacher?
I just read a great article about how to conduct yourself as a yoga teacher: Five Keys to Great Yoga Sequencing by Derek Beres. This paragraph made me laugh out loud, because I could really identify with it: Ground yourself. … Continue reading
Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Day 7: Transformation
The seven-day advanced yoga teacher training course had consisted of a gradual layering. On the first day, we stripped away a lot of the intricacy of being a yoga teacher, and focused on self-awareness and relaxation. As the week progressed, … Continue reading
Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Day 6: Asana
On day six, we went over some advanced postures, including wheel, feathered peacock, and handstand. After going over energetic lines and spirals the previous day, the instructions for these postures were so much more intuitive than they were before. In … Continue reading
Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Day 5: Energy
Day 5 was probably the most useful day for me as a teacher and practitioner. I’ve always been a little averse to teaching yoga in terms of energy. I think going over-the-top with chakras and prana can make classes less … Continue reading
Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Day 4: Emotions
Had I asked myself “What’s happening now?” as I walked to the yoga studio on day four, I would have answered, “I’m noticing a lot of emotion.” Yoga has a tendency to bring out emotion, so it’s not surprising that … Continue reading