Like Water

This week was amazing.  I learned so many things in these past few days.  I'm feeling extremely grateful for all the teaching I get to do and all the people I have the honor of meeting through my work. 

Currently, I have the priviledge of teaching two private yoga sessions each week.  When I first started teaching yoga three years ago, I was intimidated by the idea of sharing my knowledge of yoga with others especially one-on-one.  While the concept still seems scary to me, in actuality, it is one of the richest and most rewarding experience I've had so far in my journey.  It means I have to come prepared to offer guidance and hold space.  I have to reign in my spontaneous, go-with-the-flow side and create a little more structure.  It's an excercise in self-discipline and growth.

This morning, I learned that the best medicine for stiffness in the body and unwillingness to move fluidly is to prescribe movement that resembles water.  I've always been attracted to the water.  My "happy place" is a beach with no people in sight.  The water is a clear blue and the sand is nearly white.  I am alone there and completely at peace.  It is where I go in my mind when I feel anxious or overwhelmed.  My client this morning was experiencing extreme stiffness in the low back and hips.  The image of water immediately popped into my head.

Instead of focussing on alignment principles and holding a pose statically, I encouraged her to move freely.  In Kripalu Yoga, we refer to this concept at times as 'meditation in motion.'  We allow the body to move freely and with as little constriction as possible.  One example of this is incorportating Sufi Circles. Sufi Circles are torso circles with the hands on the knees while sitting in easy pose.  I like to encourage students to imagine they are surrounded by a giant tank of water while they move.  Your intuitions is your guide.

My student this morning said on several occassions:  This is exactly what my body needs.  She was referring to fluid movement.  Move like water, I told her...surround yourself with water whenever you can...go toward the fluid, avoid that which is retrictive.  I think we made some serious progress today.  Keeping this in mind, I will return my awareness to water whenever I feel the urge to control my surroundings or tighten my body when I go into protective mode.

Be. Like. Water.

Yours. Not Mine.

I taught my usual Saturday morning class at East Side Yoga today and was reminded of a very important lesson.  As a Kripalu Inspired teacher, I learned to approach the practice of yoga as compassionately and intuitively as possible.  I aim to teach in the same fashion.  This morning I had my students begin in Child's Pose, which I sometimes will do if I am sensing lower energy in the room.  There is a lot of mold or something in the air right now (I can really sense it), so I was tuned into to the fact that people might have needed a gentler start.

While in Child's Pose, I instructed my students to remain in the present moment, to leave everything at the door behind them and to relax into the space.  One of my students was having a seemingly difficult time.  She was fidgeting around a lot and even at one point lay prone on her belly.  I took this as a sign that she needed some extra guidance.  So, I intuitively walked over to her and proceeded to ask what she was struggling with.  She named some areas of discomfort and said it just wasn't comfortable anymore for her body to be in this shape.  I offered her 2 or 3 suggestions, even rolling up a blanket to place in between her knees and her calves.


While I was helping her, she said..."actually, my intention today is to do the things I can do and be ok with the things I can't."  Simply put, beautifully said.  A very important lesson for me to keep in mind.  I left her alone. I stepped aside and let her have her own experience.  I don't call my business "This is Your Yoga" for nothing.  I need to keep in mind that each student comes to class during any given moment to have an experience.  Sometimes it is appropriate for me to offer assistance, but other times it is not.

Thinking that I was doing this student a favor by offering her all these things was a misconception.  Allowing students to experience their practice as an unfolding, un-forced and totally individualized gift is something that I cannot and should not take away from them because of my own ego or my own desire to help or 'fix.'


Letting go is a theme that keeps creeping up in my life these days.  I find myself in limbo between being totally and completely spacious and allowing and being a bit ego-driven and caught up in the what ifs.  The best way to achieve inner peace is to allow.  Allow for the good, the bad and the imperfect to occur without trying to force things.  My student brought to light these important lessons for me and I will try to work on this ever present balance.

No Meat, No Wheat

Massage school really inspired me to be a bit more conscious about what I put into my body.  For the month of June, I decided to give up meat.  For many years I had been a vegetarian, which was never very difficult for me because I never craved meat too much.  However, over the past couple of years I started really wanting animal protein and thus began incorporating chicken and red meat into my diet, even occasionally eating sausage.

After working with my body very intensely for a few weeks, I started to realize that what I consumed directly correlated with my energy levels and moods during massage.  I want to have good energy and to be able to give more fully to my clients.

Cutting out meat was not hard.  I started to feel a bit lighter and more conscious about my food choices.  I couldn't just reach for the nearest thing to satiate my hunger...I had to be more creative and thoughtful about it.

This month I decided to try cutting out Gluten.  Meaning: no more bread, pasta or flour tortillas.  It actually makes the food that I eat taste better, fresher and healthier.  It is continuing to help me further my consciousness level about the foods I am consuming and also allows me to feel even lighter and with purpose.

I eat more fresh vegetables now and hummus, guacamole and sweet potatoes...Hoping to be a human being fueled by smarter and more deliberate food choices as I journey toward being completely involved in my path.

Family

Yesterday I hopped in the car and drove to Houston to visit my sweet, adorable family.  On the way over here I listened to NPR "This American Life" podcasts for hours in the car.  I laughed out loud and definitely cried hearing some of the stories. It made me want to record more stories about my own life to look back on later.  I suppose that's one great advantage of keeping up with a blog.

Houston is definitely not my favorite city in the world but nothing beats getting to spend quality time with my family.  This city is in my opinion very dull and lifeless compared to Austin where vibrant energy fills everyone and you can wear T-shirts with giant holes in them and not feel like an outcast.  In my folks' house, my heart feels really settled and protected.  I can let my guard down around these lovely people and watch mindless television.  My sister even gave me a full bottle of multi-vitamins and new deoderant that smells like baby powder.  I love getting free stuff.

Anyway, I am delighted to say that I found a Restorative Yoga Class that happens on the first Sunday of every month (that would be today) at a studio called Yoga Ananda (http://www.yogaananda.com/).  Ananda means bliss and I definitely feel blissful in their space.  I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to practice restorative yoga since I teach it and want to learn some new techniques.  Book learning only gets you so far in the yoga world. 

I am also getting the opportunity to give my middle sis a massage.  She needs it I think.  I love sharing the gift of body work with people I love.  It's like sharing a very special and beloved extension of myself and it feels so complete and whole. 

Will head back to Austin this evening to start another exciting week of Swedish massage, yoga  teaching (http://www.thisisyouryoga.com/) and hosting one of my best friends in the world coming all the way from MA.  Lots of love surrounding me and I feel so blessed.