Just Sitting

Recently, one of my teachers asked me rather casually if I had a sitting practice?

Oh no! Please don't ask that!

This is one of those questions that have an acid like quality.  It burns through any superficial idea of yoga because it forces the person being asked to reflect about the inward side of practice.  It is easy to engage in the physical side of yoga by going to classes and performing the external actions.  Well, maybe not easy with all the acts of will and sweat involved.  But, it is less of a challenge than the inner journey which involves the practice of sitting.

Fortunately, I could answer yes to his question.  I do practice sitting and have done so for a while. Several years ago, I discovered the importance for my mental and spiritual well being to engage in some kind of meditation.  I chose the simple art of sitting, no mantras, visualizations or special prayers and techniques, just sitting upright, breathing and being right there.  Upon rising and before embarking on the day's demands, I sit on a pillow or a yoga block in an easy pose, set my timer, close my eyes and breathe.  Then, the adventure begins.  I get to be right there and breath through any run of the mind or distraction in the room.  When I started this practice, yoga took off in my life in a way beyond my imagination and it continues to do so.

The point of this lies outside any self promotion and personal  patting on the back.  Yes, I practice a form of sitting.  My hope is that whoever reads this may delve into the world of sitting and find his/her own way.  Just try it and see what happens.  Sit and be right there wherever that is both on the inside and the outside.

Namaste

Yoga starts here

Where does my practice start?

Is it when I enter the studio? Step on to my mat?  Flow into a challenging pose?

Nope!

My practice begins with a pen and journal during my morning rhythm.  For years, I have kept the ritual of making a gratitude list of at least ten things.    This simple process of jotting down some things that I truly feel thankful to have in my life begins the opening process, furthering the unfolding that occurs while practicing yoga on my mat.  Trust me when I say this, that the gratitude list has power to do so. I am one of those people who have a temperament that see things half empty and naturally cynical towards simplistic formulas of feel good philosophy.  The gratitude list supersedes any such formula by granting me the opportunity of putting everything into its proper perspective.   I start by writing the word gratitude itself then follow with such things as:

Waking Up
Being Me
Love
My fiances name
Friends
Family
Yoga
My students

The list goes on from there and before I know it at least ten things are on my page.

Rather than convince you that it works.  Try it and see what happens.  It will revolutionize your yoga practice.

Namaste!

Teaching Schedule 11/11-11/17

Come to one of my classes!

Monday
5:30-6:30 Hot Yoga Zen Urban Yoga Studio (Anchorage Athletic Club)

Tuesday

4:30-5:30 Yoga Conditioning Inner Dance Yoga Studio
6:30-7:30 Vinyasa Flow Basics Spirit Path Yoga

Wednesday

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew

5:30-6:50pm  Hot Yoga Zen Urban Yoga Studio (Anchorage Athletic Club)

Thursday

12pm Yoga Conditioning Inner Dance Yoga Studio
4:30-5:30pm Yoga Conditioning Inner Dance Yoga Studio

7-8:30pm Hips, Core, Explore Yoga Open Space

Friday

6:30-715am Spin Alaska Fitness

2-3:15pm Gentle Vinyasa Dharma Hot Yoga

Saturday

8-9:15am Yoga Stretch Solo Yoga
12-1pm Yoga Flow Alaska Fitness

Sunday

9:30-11am Hot Yoga Zen Urban Yoga Studio (Anchorage Athletic Club)

Teaching Schedule 11/4-11/10

Monday

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew

4:30-5:15pm Core Conditioning (Hybrid fitness for a complete workout) Alaska Fitness

5:30-6:30pm Muscle Fit (Body sculpting and toning) Alaska Fitness

Tuesday

4:30-5:30 Yoga Conditioning Inner Dance
6:30-7:30 Vinyasa Flow Basics Spirit Path Yoga

Wednesday

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew

5:30-6:50pm  Hot Yoga Zen Urban Yoga Studio (AAC)

Thursday

4:30-5:30 Yoga Conditioning Inner Dance 

7-8pm Yoga Flow Midtown Body Renew

Friday

6:30-715am Spin Alaska Fitness

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew
2-3:15pm Gentle Vinyasa Dharma Hot Yoga

Saturday

8-9am Yoga Stretch Solo Yoga
12-1pm Yoga Flow Alaska Fitness

Sunday

9:30-11am Heated Vinyasa Zen Urban Yoga Studio (AAC)

Three things to do every morning!

The morning has always been a special time for me. I love rising with the morning light and taking some me time before the day gets rolling. I find this essential for me and in some ways a determining factor in how I approach the day before me. There are three things I do every morning that Leo me get on the right track. Maybe thy will work for you. 

#1 Eat breakfast even if it is simple. I am one of those people who are starving when I wake up. Eating grounds me and and let's me get on with the rest of the day. 

#2 Write a gratitude list. I find this so important. It helps to place things in perspective and reminds me how much I have in my life. 

#3 Sit quietly without doing anything. Some call tho meditation but that sounds so pious. For me, I practice a mindful variation of just sitting upright closing my eyes and just seeing what comes up. No commentary no judgment no forced meditation practice. Just a few minutes is all one needs to center. 

Of course, these are just my personal things. Everyone has such things even if not aware of them. What are your morning practices?  

Giving up!

Things happen when we give up. I know this sounds contrary to everything you know but after the struggle their comes the give up stage and that is where the magic happens! Think about those times when you pushed and pushed to get something. It didn't work out and you walked away only to have an even more interesting thing emerge. Reflect and think about when this has happened to you. I bet it has. Namaste!

Teaching Schedule 10/7-10/13

Monday

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew

4:30-5:15pm All Mixed Up (Hybrid fitness for a complete workout) Alaska Fitness

5:30-6:50pm Muscle Fit (Body sculpting and toning) Alaska Fitness

7-8:15pm Energy Yoga Flow Dharma Hot Yoga

Tuesday

5:30-6:30pm Tone (Hybrid yoga/fitness for developing long lean muscles) Solo Yoga

7-8pm Yoga Flow Midtown Body Renew

Wednesday

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew

5:30-6:30pm Hot Yoga Zen Urban Yoga Studio

7-8:15pm Energy Flow Dharma Hot Yoga

Thursday

12-12:50pm Lunch Yoga Motive8 Health Studio

5:30-6:30pm Tone (Hybrid yoga/fitness for developing long lean muscles) Solo Yoga

7-8pm Yoga Flow Midtown Body Renew

Friday

6:30-715am Spin Alaska Fitness

10:30-11:30am Yoga Flow Eagle River Body Renew

Saturday
8-9am Yoga Stretch Solo Yoga

12-1pm Yoga Flow Alaska Fitness

3-4:15pm Vinyasa Spirit Path Yoga

Sunday

9:30-11am Heated Vinyasa Zen Urban Yoga Studio