Monday, July 24, 2006

Madonnasana





“I'd like to be more involved in making the world a better place.” - Madonna

Madonna was performing at the Miami Amphitheater over the weekend. (http://www.madonna.com/) I was sweating and jamming along with hundreds of other people that took in the event. What an experience. This was the first time I had seen the material girl live and it was truly invigorating and for lack of a better word FUN to let loose, whoop it up and genuinely enjoy the evening. Madonna came on stage around 9 PM and from that point on it was continuous music, dancing, lights, spinning disco balls, and a mock bull riding contraption that she hooked her legs onto and from there hung upside down while spinning in a circle. At that point I had to ask myself, “hey, doesn’t Madonna practice yoga”? Yes, indeed she does. In fact she has been practicing the primary, intermediate and advanced routines of Ashtanga daily since the early nineties. And to see her glide effortless on stage attests to the healthful practice. Ashtanga Yoga means eight steps or eight "limb" yoga. These are described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
The eight steps are divided into two parts - the first four are called external limbs, they are: Yama (suggestions for social behavior: non-aggression, truthfulness, non-theft, appropriate sexual behavior and non-greed), Niyama (suggestions for personal disciplines: self purification, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and surrender to the ideal of yoga), Asana (physical postures) and Pranayama (breathing exercises).
The four "internal" limbs are Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (single pointed concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (the state of yoga in which the ultimate truth is experienced). Once the four "external" limbs have been mastered, the internal limbs start to unfold naturally. So the physical postures create a stable foundation for pursuing the other aspects of yoga. They return the practitioner to good health and eliminate the distractions caused by disease and an unstable mind. (*Sri K Pattabhi Jois interviewed by Sandra Anderson in Yoga International Jan/Feb 1994)



There is a new Ashtanga yoga studio called Native Yoga Center (www.NativeYogaCenter.com) that has been open for a few months. It is in Juno Beach on the north corner of Donald Ross and US1. Todd and Tarnara McLaughlin direct the classes in the traditional Ashtanga form with the traditional primary poses lasting approximately 90 minutes. Their studio is brand new, and easy to find. Todd & Tarnara have studied in India and Thailand and completed courses to further enhance each student’s time on the mat. Todd also provides traditional Thai massage, giving you a well rounded experience. If you are seeking to enhance your Ashtanga practice, this is the place to find. And those who are new to this style, handy folders are given out during the session depicting each pose in succession. They also sell mats and Mysore rugs from Barefoot Yoga (http://www.barefootyoga.com/) and provide towels in case you’ve forgotten anything. Overall it is a great studio for the individual dedicated to starting, expanding, and furthering their Ashtanga practice.

Here's to the vitality of life and the practice of getting into the groove. Rock on!

Friday, July 21, 2006

Home

Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You can't wait to put on your clothes. You can't wait to get out - and you can't wait to come home, because the soup is hot. -George Burns





Yesterday I decided to visit a yoga studio discovered while driving around running errands. Any time there is a sign that says “Yoga” I make a quick turn around or pause to remember the location. This particular studio was called Sports Yoga M2 (http://www.yogam2.com/). It was a small second floor studio with painted light walls, deep mahogany colored floors, and a pleasant seating area outside the practice room. The lights were dimmed, soft piano music was playing and the temperature felt warm but not stifling. The practice was just over an hour and started in a seated position with a logical pattern of 15 minute increments of seated, standing, kneeling then lying down for final pose. It was a practice that left you feeling relaxed yet not overly taxed. This was perfect since I had just flown back into town from a weekend with my family and needed a moment to reflect.

Where are you from? That must be one of the top five questions asked upon meeting someone for the first time. It is right up there with “What do you do?” or “What is your name?” or “You look so familiar…” then boom- “Where are you from?” Why? Home resonates within people. It invokes feelings of warmth, identity, belonging, acceptance, and sometimes it is a place where people wish to forget. There are exceptions to every observation, but let’s choose to lean to the positive side and let good beget good. Let us focus and work on good intentions. In the end that is all we have.

I took a mini trip this past weekend. It was a lovely jaunt north to Cape May, New Jersey. Both of my sisters and two nephews also arrived from their parts of the country. My mom and dad were there as well. Then a close friend from high school stopped by for a visit. Then more friends arrived. We laughed and fought and reminisced in quite a short amount of time. During the days we walked along the tree-lined Victorian streets and mused how the town has changed since we were children some thirty years ago. This trip was to be one of the last I would take back to the old town. My parents had sold the family business two years ago, and there was nothing left to visit. But I went this time. Any time I can see the family who raised, loved, and protected me from the time I came into this world to today, well, is there a better reason? It is this nucleus that I wish to foster in my own children. It is where your heart claims as home. Sometimes it takes a visit back to your childhood to shake the cobwebs and gently nudge the memory. Perhaps it is the smell of fresh baked cookies, cut grass, or freshly laundered sheets. For me it is a combination of the sight of a small quaint town coupled with the familiar banter between family and friends. Life is a soothing ebb and flow of lessons, laughter, challenges and achievements.

How do you identify where you are from? And does the answer change as you age? I am originally from New Jersey, born in Pennsylvania. The answer I offer when asked is Cape May. By sheer measure it has been the longest amount of time I’ve spent in one place. But that is not the gauge by which I judge my origin. No, my highly evolved and scientific mind deduces and reasons as such: it feels right. Not your typical analytical accounting answer, but the best I can provide. My mind knows where I learned how to ride my bike, where we had our first pet, where my first day of school started, where I began to bloom as a person. My heart remembers the love I received and heartaches I felt for the first time. That is home. For those of us that have to wander far to find that place, keep seeking. For those of us who carry that place with us, feel free to share your peace. Indeed the days are fine, but the soup at home is divine.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Giving and Sharing with our Neighbors











Apart from the regular posts I love to share worthwhile causes in our community. Yoga allows the body to recognize our natural state of happiness. Let's share some of our joy with others!

Laura Cole is an instructor out of Tequesta Florida who is doing great things for our local area and beyond.

Thanks Laura!

YOGA
FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED




Saturday, August 5, 2006
9:00am
Village of Tequesta Recreation Center
399 Seabrook Drive
Guided by Laura Cole


All are invited to and encouraged to participate in a special yoga class being held to raise money to help local people in need. The class is being offered on a cash-donation basis. 100% of the funds collected will go to The Community Action Program in Jupiter to provide back-to-school supplies and clothing for low-income families in our community.
The Community Action movement has, for over 30 years, responded to the need of low-income Americans inadequately served by federal, state and local programs.
For more information on the class call Laura Cole at 743-5829.
For more information on The Community Action Program in Jupiter call 747-2008.
Please bring your own yoga mat.
Free childcare will be provided.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Enjoy the Ride



The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.
-Albert Einstein






So this past week was a holiday for most of us. For me, it started with a yoga class led by Keith Fox (www.buddhaloungeyoga.com) in Delray. His teaching style is free flowing with mellow groves and challenging yet attainable asana combinations. The room was kept to the same temperature of the outside and for South Florida that is around 85 degrees. Keith adjusts with confidence and lends you a feeling of security to fully reach your potential. It has been a pleasure every time I can steal away for another session. For the adventure minded he hosts retreats and seminars ranging from Telluride Colorado to a Chartered Catamaran in the Bahamas with fresh food and daily yoga. What a way to break a sweat. Some yogis say that every day one should sweat and laugh, I can image that happening floating on the ocean somewhere sipping on pineapple juice with wonderful company. But I digress; please pardon the side road.

The time frame for my weekend off went from Saturday clear into Tuesday the following week. Nice. That’s 96 hours of non-office distractions. Fill em as you please. Every hour has 60 minutes; every minute has 60 seconds, and so forth and so on. Perfect even measures of time in predictable increments. I decided to take a mini trip up the coast and spend some of the 96 hours away from home. My boyfriend and I meandered along the shore and checked into a hotel room later in the day. I have to say, every moment was felt intrinsicaly. Why was that day so delicious? The day we left was eternity eaten with a candy coated spoon. Every moment was full and complete. We hung out and enjoyed the time simply. Later in the evening there was dinner and a movie, with eternity in between. In comparison the day we were to check out, I again felt every moment pass. Same increments of time and yet the percieved feelings were vastly different. Instead of enjoying the moment I had already resorted to making mental lists of projects to complete the following week. That was a moment. That was THE moment. It is funny how it takes a vacation to remove ones self from their familiar surroundings to be able to appreciate the concept of being present.

I tried to incorporate the Niyama philosophy of “Santosha” by being accepting of what the day had provided and to remain centered regardless of my environment. Try was the operative word. The two days were identical in amount of time, possibilities, challenges, and triumphs. And yet knowing one lay stretched out ripe with possibility allowed my perception to move from next to now.

Isn’t every day ripe with possibility though? If we empower ourselves to know our own meandering path along the coast we should all be able to arrive at our destination with peace in our hearts joy abound. And instead of going on vacation and coming back from vacation the thought might be to feel as though each day were a vacation. Each day is a gift to be enjoyed, fully explored and appreciated. I say we all should roll the windows down, sweat a bit, laugh and enjoy the ride. Namaste~







Saturday, July 01, 2006

My First Day


Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

They say that we are the sum total of our life’s experiences and events. What we bring to the proverbial table is our own juxtaposition of memories and lessons learned along the way. Sir Winston Churchill had it right when he said we are ever improving. At least that is my fervent wish. I started my yoga journey on a morning almost five years ago while looking for socks under the couch. Steve Ross was on the television (www.steveross.com) inviting me to “get up, and let’s do some yoga”. Well, ok, the laundry can wait, at least until the commercials play. Steve’s easy demeanor and carefree instruction eased me into and out of the asanas even as my thighs twitched and my shoulders burned. Some days I cursed the television while other days a slight shift would occur. Slight. Shift. Fast-forward a few years and the page reads the same only this time there is lightness and joy, which has replaced the socks and the burn. Don’t get me wrong, some days the mat is not my friend, but isn’t that the case with any gratifying relationship? We are not the same every day physically or mentally. And it is in that place of movement and uncertainty that we make the greatest gains. That coupled with a healthy dose of curiosity and great mentors and teachers.

So the challenge is posed.

I live in southeast Florida. The yoga community is growing every year with new studios opening and vibrant instructors adding their own flavor to the mix. The path of discovery is gratifying. Coming from an individual whose schooling is financial with a license as a certified public accountant, the path to yogic enlightenment from “why” to “why not” has been a leap of faith. My life has brought me to this moment. My goal is to discover great yoga wherever the path leads and to share this information with whoever fancies this sort of thing. Why not. Namaste~

About Me

  • I'm Heather
  • From Florida, United States
  • Graduated from Florida Atlantic University BS in Business. Certified Public Accountant. Mother of 2 daughters.
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