I arrived to this beautiful country of Rwanda, known as the land of “a thousand hills,” just a week ago.  The landscape is breathtaking with lush green vegetation and rolling hills surrounded by a wide open, blue sky that makes this world we live in, feel small.  Although the scenery alone sends visitors into a state of awe, I have found the people are even more extraordinary.

While coming to this land with one of my main goals being to teach yoga, I am surprised to find that Africa and those who reside here have taught me infinitely more about yoga then I could ever teach them:

Being Present.  Life is slower here.  To some extent, the society and culture provides no choice.  But, even having spent time in the capitol city of Kigali, I find that many people I’ve met DO choose this way of living.   The teachers, students and residents in the village nearby are consumed with whatever task they pursue, whether it be studying, planning lessons, spending time with children or tending to the gardens.  It is this act of being present in the moment that we in America tend to lack the ability to do, because often times, either knowingly or not, we choose distractions.  The distractions, be they work, money, or technology, keep us from sitting quietly with the discontent and discomfort within our lives and our spirits.

Gratitude.  The people I have encountered exhibit a pure and limitless joy.  The smiles and laughs are contagious and freeing for any observer to witness.  Living in a culture where people endure war, poverty and death, they are continuously grateful for health, livelihood, and opportunity.   Rather than being trapped in a state of comparison of what our neighbor has that we lack, we instead need to learn lessons from those who are truly happy, those who have the ability to find joy in everything, persevere continuously and direct energy on that which they do have.  By leaving the possibility for that which we want open–while not becoming attached to a certain outcome–we free ourselves from that which binds us to control and unhappiness and brings us to a place of gratitude for whatever it is we experience.

Unity.  Everywhere I go,  I am overcome with a feeling of one-ness.   Languages, customs, skin colors, and ideas make us all “different” but we are all united in spirit.  If we take the time to look beyond that which we see and direct our awareness towards that which we feel, we are able to connect with each other in a way that can only bring us to this profound realization.

People come to Africa and say that it will change someone forever.  But, what people don’t realize is that when you connect with humanity, genuinely and honestly, regardless of where you are, the impact that Africa has to offer is everywhere.  This union with humanity has left me with the surreal feeling that Africa and every person in it is already a part of me.  And, I think that I would feel this way no matter where in the world I was.  This ability is within us all.  When we mindfully intend to be a part of the limitless web that joins ourselves and the rest of the world, we become one another.

about the author:

Sam Werme recently completed evolation teacher training in Missoula, Montana. She recently traveled to Rwanda to teach yoga at a school for girls. Sam will be sharing her experiences as a new teacher with us over the coming months.

By Amy Ratto Parks

Well, it’s a new year and with a new year comes a new calendar. This morning as I began the ritual of entering birthdays and major events into the new, beautifully blank pages, I started to reel as I entered dates for December of 2012. A year from now, I thought, what a mystery. This led me to wonder what I had been doing on this day a year ago and since I am still not a digital calendar kind of gal, I just opened my old calendar to investigate.

And what did I find for a year ago today? This: “organize the abyss.” That’s all it said. I seem to have some vague memory of what I literally meant, though honestly I can think of a variety of places in our house that have abyss-like qualities (basement, play room, garage, office desk, kids’ bedrooms, etc.). But I was more humored by the metaphor implied in the vague phrasing: there is an abyss and I should organize it or things are chaotic and I should control them. Does Bed, Bath, and Beyond sell color-coded bins for abyss organization? Can I find a coupon online for buying the abyss-organization bins? I think we would all like an easy way to tidy up all of the confusing, messy parts of our lives, (and actually, those bins are pretty helpful) but we also know that we can alphabetize book shelves and spice racks until the cows come home and it won’t solve any of our actual problems.

The word abyss means an immeasurably deep chasm, great space, or void, but in our colloquial understanding, we also know that it implies chaos and confusion. We don’t want to feel “lost in an abyss” of anything. Instead, we prefer to feel the security of structure in our lives. Our relationships, jobs, hobbies, phones, computers, calendars, etc. keep us from feeling that sense of openness that becomes so open that it feels, well, bad. It’s human nature to create structure in this way, but it is also human nature to notice that there is still something else out there that can’t be scheduled or budgeted for and we can ignore it completely or we can begin to let ourselves look at it little by little.

Thomas Merton, priest, poet and mystic wrote, “What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery.” Isn’t it true that when we decide to take control of our lives by doing things like organizing the spice rack what we’re really doing is clearing the clutter so that something more important (like making cookies) can happen? Isn’t that also why we come to yoga? Yoga can be about heat or calories or mirrors, but for many, it is as much about meditation and Merton’s voyage of discovery as it is anything else.

We organize our books, spices, and schedules because they are tangible things and frankly, it makes other things in life easier. But what happens when the clutter in the way is the chatter of the mind? In his book, Bikram Yoga, Bikram Choudhury writes, “All you need is the yoga.” That’s a big reason we show up, isn’t it? Sometimes we practice in order to organize the spice rack of our minds but sometimes we can take a moment to look into the abyss of the self and see that actually one cannot organize such a thing. It doesn’t need us to put it into categories for easy browsing, it just is, and if we can befriend it we might just be able to breathe more easily.

The Author: Amy Ratto Parks

Amy recently completed evolation’s teacher in-training in Missoula, Montana. She is also a parent, poet, and writing teacher.

The yoga room is a sanctuary. Leave your shoes, worries, and attachments outside.

We all love yoga because it’s so much more than a workout. In the yoga room, we find inner strength and focus. We find patience and serenity. And most importantly, we find our Selves. In this way, a yoga class is very different from a gym or a fitness class. And for this reason, we invite you to think of the yoga room as a sacred space – a sanctuary – where we heal our bodies, yes, but also where we enter into a state of moving meditation, share energy with our fellow yogis, and nurture our spirits.

Practicing with Intention
Because yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual endeavor, it’s important to practice consciously, with intention. That intention begins the moment we set foot in the studio. The etiquette that we encourage in the yoga studio grows out of this idea that every action has an intention behind it, and every action can contribute to the energy and success of others.

• Arrive on time: Be in the yoga room, settled in, and ready to begin when class is scheduled to start. Everyone gets the most benefits when we start promptly. The teacher can devote adequate time to each step of our practice, and students worry less about running late or what they have to do afterward. Strive to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before class time to give yourself plenty of time to sign in, get situated, and find your focus before we begin.
• Travel light: Bring only your mat, your towel, your water, and your Self into the yoga room. Other belongings–cell phones, keys, wallets, shoes and yes, your watch–should stay outside the yoga room, either in the lobby or in your car. These items can become distractions during practice. Even if you don’t touch them or leave them in a corner, these items are visual clutter that reminds us of “life outside of yoga”: our responsibilities, obligations, and attachments.
• Be sip savvy: You may have noticed that there’s only one “official” water break during our 90-minute hot classes, and no water break during 60-minute classes. That’s because the best time to hydrate for class is…before class! It takes your body at least twenty minutes to absorb fluids once you drink them, and stopping to drink water can break your focus. If you really need a drink, make sure it’s water–and wait until the entire class is between postures, so that your action is less distracting to your fellow yogis.
• Embrace the sweat: Sure, sweat may be running down your face, and it’s tempting to simply wipe it away. But the sweat does more than expel toxins from our bodies — it helps our bodies cool down. Wiping the sweat away actually may make you feel hotter (not to mention using up valuable energy best saved for the next posture)! Save all the towel action for your post-practice shower.
• Strive to support your classmates: During yoga practice, we gain strength from the shared energy and support in the room. Help classmates maintain their focus by maintaining your own! Save conversations for outside the yoga room. Aim to move in unison with your fellow students. Think about how your actions in the yoga room will impact those around you.

Bringing this added level of awareness to your practice will deepen your experience right away. Being conscious of others helps break us out of our own mental “bubble” and allows us to plug into a group energy that is uplifting and energizing. Not only that; it’s remarkable to realize how often – both on the mat and off – we mentally go on autopilot. Moving with intention in every aspect of your yoga practice is the key to elevating your daily workout into something truly transformative.

Lately, we’ve been noticing a lot of interesting and tasty-looking beverages coming in to the yoga room . . . coconut water, juice, Power Aid, and other electrolyte beverages.  We love these kinds of replenishing drinks, but they are best for AFTER class, not DURING class.  Why?  We’re glad you asked!

1) Most of these drinks contain sugar (even coconut water has natural sugars!) and other additives which the body must work harder to process.  This takes energy away from your yoga practice, not to mention causing spikes in blood sugar and heart rate that we don’t want, especially in a heated room.

2) Who wants to practice on a sticky or stained yoga room floor?  Clear water, like sweat, is easily mopped up so the yoga room can remain clean and inviting for everyone.

3) While it is important to nourish and hydrate your body well before and after class, DURING class, your body has a different job – to detoxify and heal.  The purpose of your water is just to wet your throat a bit if it becomes dry (and, let’s face it, provide some psychological comfort!).  When you feel tired and hot and need refreshment during your yoga practice, the very BEST thing for you is not any beverage at all, but rather a long, slow deep BREATH.

4) Your body, like the earth, is composed mostly of water, and clear, fresh water is second only to air as the #1 sustainer of human life.  If you consume anything at all during your yoga practice, it should be the most simple, elemental, and pure substance there is.

So, for all these reasons, please save the fun drinks for after class – in the yoga room, all you need is your mat, your towel, your Self, and maybe a small sip of cool water.  Happy practicing!

“What does asana mean?” “Will my body ever bend that way?!” “What if I can’t move tomorrow?” These are all questions we hear from first-time students. Another frequent question: “What kind of yoga do you offer at evolation?”

Usually people expect us to name a specific kind of yoga, like Ashtanga or Bikram. And while these distinctions can certainly be helpful in knowing what to expect during class, we’d rather focus on the fact that…it’s all yoga!

"Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word for "unity."

The Sanskrit word yoga comes from the root yuj, which means “to join, unite, or attach.” Yoga is all about finding and creating unity: unity between the mind and body; unity between your body’s systems; and even unity among people. Thus our goal is to emphasize that yoga is yoga, and everyone who practices is part of the same beautiful and ancient tradition. Yoga is about bringing us together, not about creating divisions.

But What the Heck is Hatha?

Sometimes we will tell prospective students that we teach Hatha yoga, to give them some frame of reference. Hatha simply refers to any type of yoga that is based on classic postures and breathing exercises. Most classes offered in Western studios are in the Hatha tradition, which originated in the 15^th century. Traditional Hatha practice includes not only asanas (poses), but also breathing, meditation, and purification.

Hatha yoga focuses heavily on the physical body, which is why it’s excellent for anyone who wants to improve strength, balance, or poise. The goal is to use physical movement to clear the mind and prepare it for meditation.

Just about everyone can participate in Hatha yoga. Whether you’re a beginner, or pregnant, or have an artificial joint, you’ll be able to take a Hatha yoga class. And at evolation, that’s one of the many reasons we love it: it promotes inclusivity and unity, bringing together students of all levels and physical abilities. Ultimately, our vision is to create a community of yogis who can share in practice, growth, and love.

Have your own questions about yoga? Post them in the comments, and we’ll answer them here!

By Lou Stokes

Amazing!!  Six weeks have already gone by since I completed evolations teacher training and left the the US. Don’t they say “time flies when your having fun”? Australia’s Sunshine Coast is beautiful country, with beautiful people, amazing light, incredible energy, and of course plenty of sunshine.

And yes, the sun does shine literally every day even in winter, and lucky me, I get to see the spectacular beautiful glow of the awakening sun that shines over the sea and sand. As this ball of fire begins to rise, the sky is filled with an array of spectacular colours from reds and oranges, to yellows and pinks, all melting into one another to create the birth of a new day, re-energizing and revitalizing the earth.   The day begins at 6am or even before that, as the sunrise is something that is NOT to be missed. So by 9:30 it’s already the middle of the morning–very different from the “Latino” lifestyle I’m used to living: no meeting for a glass of Rioja, but instead gathering over morning coffee, made with local beans, of course!  It’s all pretty much normal to me now. After all, when in Rome do what the Romans do…so Lou when in Oz does what the Ozzies do.

Of course living the dream does also have it challenges, it is not always a bed of roses.  As I was told in the training, this is just the beginning.  I laughed. What,  a constant training? I’ve only just started and I can confirm that it is completely true….and I have to say that it is a wonderful and fulfiling journey to be on.  But there are moments when things are not easy. If looks could kill, I would definitely be dead by now!!!   Oh boy….are they really looking at me like they want to kill me?  Do I really make them suffer that much?  Was it something I said or is it just in my mind…..?

It’s ironic, but the deadliest looks normally come from those students who come skipping out of class with huge smiles on their faces, saying “Amazing class Lou, love your classes” ….Mmmm, okay, so it is all in my mind!!  It’s that vivid imagination I have that drives me crazy, or maybe that damn ego has something to do with it, thinking that they are focusing on me…”NO Lou, they are not actually looking at you. It´s the mirror they are looking in. They are just there to breath, stretch, and sweat, just like you are when you are practising!”

If the killer looks are a challenge, then the dreams–or should I say nightmares–can be worse, waking up believing that every single student has escaped your class and there you are just talking to yourself…alone in the hot room. That dream has happened various times now. I can assure you it‘s not nice, especially when you actually wake up believing it has really happened….it’s either that dream or the one where you are actually reciting the dialogue in your sleep–I’ve even woken myself saying “Ustrasana” out loud before……is that normal?

I can definitely say that every day is a new challenge, especially in a new studio, as a new teacher with mainly beginner students.  There is so much to do, so much to learn. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but taking the odd breath or doing a few backward bends between classes often helps.  After all, it’s all a learning process.  Isn’t that what life is all about? Learning? Or even better, learning together?

Patanjali says “The teacher must impart a life force–a little current–into others,”   so I do my best to inject this “little current of life force” into my students.  It´s so humbling to teach. I love it.  Just watching the students move as you speak and how they talk back with their bodies. It’s almost like a mirror, I know the facial expressions, the body language…after all I´ve been there and am still there, practising!  Teaching for me is something that will be a part of my life forever. When I walk into that hot room, everything goes out of my mind. It’s just like practising myself or maybe even better. The only difference is my focus is on my students.  It’s not about me; it’s about them.

One of the most enriching parts of being at evolation yoga sunshine coast in Australia is seeing how someone else’s dream comes together, watching it grow and being a part of it.  lt certainly makes me feel happy to see how two dreams merge together to make one big dream!

Now, all we have to do is keep the dream alive…..

The Author: Louise Stokes

Lou is a blogger & yoga teacher.  After completing evolations primary teacher training in July 2011, she  is now traveling the world (current stop: evolation yoga – Sunshine Coast in Austrailia) to share the yoga love.

I’ll bet after you read “lazy river” you thought about a beautiful river winding through a deep green forest, deer bending to drink from the cool water, fish rising slowly to the surface. Mmm, that would be a lovely place to feel inspired to Triangle. But despite living in a state known for its gorgeous rivers, and despite a penchant for public yoga, that was not at all the case.

Imagine, instead, a public pool filled with hundreds of small children and gropey teenagers coasting by around a mechanically-propelled “lazy river” like a frantic floating circus of limbs and inner tubes. Somewhere in there was my son, who had suddenly disappeared when he saw me give him the “it’s-time-to-leave-wave.”  As I stood beside the water resisting the urge to dive in and snatch him, I felt a wave of mean frustration start to rise.

And do you think I did a Triangle right then and there? No way, man. Triangle in a bikini right next to the edge of crowded public pool? I’m not that brave. (Though, in retrospect, he might have leapt from the pool in embarrassment.)

Actually, something smaller but more surprising happened. All of a sudden, I heard this going through my mind:  Triangle Pose, Trikanasana. Feet together. Arms over the head sideways. Right leg steps to the right – a big step – four feet minimum. Immediately bring your arms down parallel to the floor, palms facing down.

Oh my word – I was reciting evolation dialogue to calm myself! And not just any of the dialogue, but the one that I’d had the most trouble memorizing.

As I stood there going through the pose in my mind (and, I’m sure, looking like I was talking to myself), I was transported back to our practice sessions in training. I remembered the people I had been with, the cool grass we had sat in, and the sound of the river – the real river – going by us. And this was all much better than my usual mantra of “Be. Calm. Be. calm. Be calm. Becalm. Becalm! BECALM!” which doesn’t usually serve me very well.

After all of this, I realized I was actually calm….And that my son had escaped through the other exit of the pool and was running the other direction. That’s when I started on Tuladandasana. (Who says kids make it hard to memorize?)

The Author: Amy Ratto Parks

Amy is an evolation teacher in-training who lives in Missoula, Montana. She is also a parent, poet, and writing teacher.

By Amy Ratto Parks

Amy Ratto Parks is an evolation teaching in-training who lives in Missoula, Montana. She is also a parent, poet, and writing teacher. She began our extended teacher training in August and shared her thoughts with us after completing the first segment of training.

It’s been nearly a week now since I went to my last day of evolation’s August teacher training in Missoula, Montana. (Since we are doing an extended training, we will continue in the fall.)

About three weeks ago I had no intention of attending the training.

I’m sure there are people out there who register and plan for something like a teacher training for months ahead of time, and I do recommend this. But I, friends, was not one of those people. I’m a mother of two kids, teach full time at the local university, teach online for a different university, take classes toward my doctorate, and help my husband run our small business. Yoga has been my sanctuary for years and years, but why in the world would I want to attend a teacher training? I surely have no time to teach yoga, and what the heck was I going to do with my kids for two weeks straight?

I had always known that I might want to teach yoga, but had assumed it would have to be in at least ten years (that’s my imaginary marker for a time when things will be “calm”.) In varied, secretive spurts I had researched teacher training options and while I was always swept away by fantasies of meditation classes in grass-roofed huts followed by hours of yoga on white, sandy beaches, and elegant meals in the jungle, it was a pretty short-lived romance; my reality buzzer came around much too quickly. Four to eight weeks? How much money? I need a new passport? How could I just press “pause” on my life for that long?

But then, evolation came here – to my home studio. The weekend before it began, I was still hemming and hawing, thinking of about 100 reasons I should not do it. But I slowly came around because, jeez, it’s right here, and boy, I can sleep in my own bed at night, and gosh, my own town IS pretty fabulous.

And lo and behold, come Monday morning there I was, sitting with an amazing small group of people, about to begin a journey that would change my life.

PS: Sometimes I’m a drama queen, but I really do mean it changed my life.

The Author: Amy Ratto Parks

Amy is an evolation teacher in-training who lives in Missoula, Montana. She is also a parent, poet, and writing teacher.

After many years of going round and round in circles, not really knowing who I really was, what I wanted to do with my life and what was my purpose on Mother Earth….I discovered YOGA….not a day would go by without practicing, it became part of me, a deep part of me, unexplainable and all I knew was that I had to do something with this passion.  So, naturally the next step was to spread the Yoga Love…How???  Become a Yoga Teacher!

After 8yrs living in Spain I made the decision to pack my bag and follow my dream!  So, I crossed the ocean from Europe to Buffalo, U.S.A  to the Evolation Yoga teaching training immersion, yes, immersion = practice, eat, talk, sleep, dream yoga during a whole month. Perfect, exactly what I was looking for.

As an immersion student, I lived on site, so there was absolutely no getting away…day & night, if we were not practicing, we would be studying, posture after posture, non-stop….or just trying to fit some sleep in.

Practicing twice a day sometimes three was tough, but at the same time it felt so good, even when my whole body ached and my knees were screaming at me….”get me out” (especially in Utkatasana).  My mind would play tricks with me, there were moments when the chitta chatta would drive me insane, that damn ego…but something inside so strong just kept me going, it was all about controlling the mind, quietening the mind, being still, following the breath and trusting that it was all part of the process and that everything is impermanent, even pain.  There were moments when tears streamed down my cheeks and I didn’t even really know why, the choke in my throat and the pain in my heart was almost unbearable, but I knew this was cleansing my mind, body and soul, just letting everything go and accepting, letting it happen whatever it was.

Time was non-existent in the training, it was almost like I was in a time warp. We would sit conversing about the sutras, the meaning of life, the bagavad gita, the chakras….the list just goes on and on.  Everyday was a learning experience, something new always came up. It was not just about Yoga and how to teach, it was and is much more than that.  I have learned more about life, myself, acceptance, non-attachment and that anything is possible you just have to put your mind to it.

It´s funny how we manifest everything that happens. Evolation Yoga, Mark and Zefea, my teachers, they just appeared in my life at the perfect moment (I say that, but obviously I manisfested them), their path crossed mine somehow. I still can´t seem to find the words to express how I feel after the training, it´s something very unique, something I’ve never felt before, a great sense of inner peace. It has changed my life in ways that I never would of imagined and I can definitely say it is one of the best things I have ever done, not just for myself, but also for others.

Every single day was and is different, just like every yoga class, even to this day I still don´t fully understand how the process works, all I know is that it is magical, and yes, now I am a teacher, living a dream and right now as we speak I am flying across the ocean, this time in the opposite direction; Australia, Evolation Yoga-Sunshine Coast studio to continue to share the Yoga Love across the planet.

The Author: Louise Stokes

Lou is a blogger & Yoga teacher based in Spain, currently traveling the world (next stop: evolation yoga – Sunshine Coast in Austrailia) to share the Yoga love.

The Author: Nick Mattos

Nick is a writer and blogger based in Portland, Oregon. His column Remember to Breathe, an ongoing love letter to the city he calls home, runs in Portland’s alternative newsweekly Just Out . His essays and fiction work have appeared in such publications as the Portland Mercury, New Queer Media, On Uneven Ground, Litigulous, Non-Prophet Status, and OneCity. A graduate of The Evergreen State College, Nick is excited to bring his eleven-year love affair with yoga to the next level as an evolation teacher.