My Teachers: Credit Where Credit Is Due

Funny how the same subject comes up in a variety of ways when the right time arises!

Recently, students and other instructors have asked me who teaches and trains me or whose classes I visit when practicing.  It is time to give credit where credit is due.

I have had a lot of teachers over the years.  Honestly, I had a relatively random practice early in my yoga story visiting different classes with anything but consistency.  A serious teacher was far from my mind.  After repeatedly hurting my shoulder, I made the decision to go deeper into my limited yoga practice.

As the proverb declares, the teacher comes when the student is ready.

Teachers emerged, amazing yogis who welcomed me into their classes.  I am grateful to all of them, but there are certain ones whose classes and styles I connected to on a deep heart level.  Why we are drawn to whom we are drawn to as a teacher is one of those mysteries.  Among all these individuals I truly connected with the style.  I owe them a great debt and want to acknowledge them.

First, there is Heather Healey the owner of Mighty Yoga who accepted me as a work study. She gave me a glimpse into some of the practical ins and out of a studio and  helped me feel like I belonged in the greater yoga community.

Enter Jamie Silverstein! She taught several classes at Mighty Yoga  before going on to open her own Seattle studio, The Grinning Yogi.  Jamie's voice even now resonates in my mind during my own classes.  Her constant class advice to go beyond the edge and to spin the kaleidoscope of one's view of life helped me walk past my own limitations and dare to go further in my own journey.

Next comes Anchorage.  Leaving Mighty Yoga was hard.  I loved that studio, but life brings change. This truth is inevitable.  I searched the web and settled on Anchorage Yoga as a studio that had the style closest to what my practice knew and needed.  Ultimately, I would even go on and complete its teacher training program.  Since coming here, this is where I take classes.  But...most of all, I go there because of the owner Katey Inman.   I attend her classes regularly, continue to learn from her and think of her as my primary teacher.  Actually, if wasn't for her training, I probably wouldn't be an instructor.

Thank you dear teachers, those mentioned and all the others!  My heart abounds with gratitude.

Who are your teachers?  Who has furthered your practice and helped you discover your yoga story. Maybe, its time to give the credit where the credit is due.

Namaste!

Private Yoga Lessons?

No hustle, no claim for any miracle in just days, none of that!

I never believe those kind of things.  Why should you?

Still having written that, I do offer private yoga lessons and would love to work together.  If you practice yoga or want to start on that path, private sessions are a great way to feel special and get the personalized attention you deserve. I will help and work with you to reach your yoga or general well being intentions.

Yes, it costs money but you are worth it.  Also, if I do say so myself, I am worth every dollar and will make sure you get the full benefit.  Remember the maxim, "You get what you pay for?"    I am not cheap but reasonable and in the end money well spent.

$75 one hour session

Or, maybe you would like to set a specific goal and works towards that.  In that case, I have a couple of packages.

$70 five one hour sessions
$65 ten one hour sessions

Interested in more?  I can set up all sorts of special packages to fit your needs.

Send me an email and let's start the conversation.

Favorite Yoga?

Recently, I made a reference to particular style of yoga while teaching a morning class in an attempt to offer a variation to a familiar pose.  After the class shifted from that pose into downward dog, one of the students remarked, "What kind of yoga is your favorite?" This question took me off guard.  Needless to say,I didn't really answer the question, instead gave some unsatisfying noncommittal answer then moved onward with the flow.

This was several days ago, and the question still lingers in my mind. It is always interesting how the  inquiries of my students move me deeper into my own practice.  I love this side of teaching.

So, what is the answer? My favorite yoga?  Why is that such a hard question to answer?

Although a registered yoga teacher, I am hardly an expert on all the different schools of asana and their different beliefs and nuances. I have visited all sorts of classes, Bikrim, Iyengar, Kundalini, Forrest and the list goes on.  All of these had something beautiful to offer, and I always walked away a richer person. Overall, I am glad to have had the exposure. But, one thing has come clear.  No school of yoga that maintains an exact method or formula fits my personal path.  Personally, I find that my favorite forms of yoga are those that incorporate and combine aspects of different schools into a wonderful kaleidoscope of practice.

That is probably part of the reason  for choosing Anchorage Yoga when deciding where and with whom to study for my teacher training.  It offered different types of yoga along with its own hybrid signature style and had a diverse group of teachers with a variety of backgrounds on staff. This granted me the framework and freedom to discover my own yoga.

All this aside, I still haven't answered the question.  What is my favorite kind of yoga?

If I am honest I must declare, "My own!"  Yes, my favorite is the one I discovered within that has been cultivated and nourished by so many wonderful teachers.

Namaste!

Interested in some fantasy?

It helps to be a person with many interests.  Yes, I teach yoga but also enjoy other things too.  For me, writing fantasy tales has always served as a nice release from the day to day affairs.  As you may or may not know last year I wrote a novella of sorts and created a FB page to host it.  The story continues and another short story has started from that same fantasy world.  I call this one Why We Fear Wolves. Maybe, you will like it. Click here to check it out and read the brief first part.

New Year's Resolution

Another year passes.  It seems the older I get the faster time flies.

Tempus fugit! Est veritas!

Someone asked me about my New Year's resolutions.  Well...I admit I don't make them.  It isn't because I am doubtful or lazy.  Rather, I find that to resolve on something makes me uncomfortable.  I would prefer to identify my bliss and move towards that remaining open to what this will grant my life.  I know this isn't as absolute and possibly not as convincing as some solid and crystallized plan for the future, but I prefer to remain open to where my bliss might take me and discover gifts never imagined.

May I suggest that you look to your bliss this upcoming year and follow that wherever it may lead.

Namaste to you and happy New Year.

Holiday Contentment

Can you believe this Winter Holiday Season is well upon us?  Hanukkah has come and gone! Solstice and its magical 108 has just passed.  Christmas comes in two days and before one knows it New Year's Day will be here.

Honestly, I feel rather different this year about the entire experience.  Years prior, I have felt the stress of holidays, usually a self induced infusion of expectations and other toxic emotions.  This year I must admit to another sensation, one gladly accepted.  Contentment has settled upon me for this season.

Sure there are material possessions and random things that come to mind that I think might be nice to have and honestly some of them I probably do need.  Who knows maybe I will have these kind of things eventually?  Who knows if I even really want them?

This year I realize all the magnificent things I really do have.  I am alive.  My eyes opened this morning. Besides a touch of the flu,  I seem to be pretty healthy.  I teach yoga for living.  How cool is that?  I am engaged to an amazing woman who adores me.  I live in a mind blowing beautiful place.  I have people who care about me.  Opportunities that I never thought of continue to open up on a regular basis.  The list goes on.   Yes, I am content this holiday.

Please don't think I am bragging.  I just wanted to share because maybe just maybe if you look at your life in the right light you will feel the same, that is if you don't already.

May you discover contentment in your stocking this season!


Namaste!

108 Sun Salutations

Join me for a very special honor this year at the annual Inner Dance Winter Sun Salutations.  I will be the master of ceremony for this classical yoga experience.  After a brief introduction and a few words behind the symbolism of the Winter Solstice we will flow through 108 Sun Salutations together  as a community.  Karen Greenwood and her Kirtan band will lead us with music and chanting.  It should be inspiring.  

A well deserved hour of restorative yoga will follow then afterwards, enjoy a catered lunch by the Organic Oasis.  

Suggested donation: $30-60 All proceeds go to the Inner Dance Scholarship Fund.  

10:00-11:15 Sun Salutations 11:30-12:30 Restorative Yoga 12:30 Lunch