Bow Down Yoga with Sofi Dillof, advanced certified Jivamukti instructor

That which allows us to connect is Sacred: My day spent at the Acholi slums

2010-02-08T14:51:16-05:00

February 8, 2010 at 1:22 pm (Uncategorized) · Edit

Today was my first day in Uganda and we went to visit the Acholi slums located outside the Kampala, the capital of Uganda. We had brought with us lots of clothing and supplies from home to give out to the families living there. Like so many other times in my life that I have faced the new and unknown, the experience I had there was much different than I had imagined it would be.

The first thing that struck me was the strong sense of community that I felt there. It was truly inspiring. We gathered with many of the women in a meeting house of sorts which was no more than a large dark cement structure with some make shift wooden benches. There they welcomed us with a song that was filled with so much joy and gratitude that I felt my heart open up and soak it in like a sponge or like a thirsty dessert animal who had stumbled upon a cool stream and was drinking in the life affirming water. This was not the vibration of sadness and despair that I had imagined would be so palpable in the slums that I wouldn’t be able to breath. We answered their song with our own rendition of Amazing Grace. I had never offered a song as a gift before but it felt like such an honest exchange of loving vibration. It was powerful to say the least.

The second part of the day involved splitting up on our own and going to visit the homes of two families and delivering to them what we had brought. This part was challenging for me. For starters, where as most of the other members of my group were paired with two women (one from each house hold), I ended up two men. At the first house, and I use the term ‘house’ lightly as it was no more than a two room shack which housed 6 family member, no english was spoken. Luckily, the four children with who lived there were of the ages 2-6 and I was equipped with a bottle of bubble’s … need I say more?

The second house, however was a very different scene. Nine boys (who were a mix of brothers and cousin) lived there along with 1 baby girl and a Mom and Dad. The house was, again, only two rooms and I can’t fathom where they all slept. I didn’t ask because I was afraid it would be somehow embarrassing for them. The father spoke only a little english but explained how his brother was gone and that he had taken in his 3 nephews. He was working to support all 10 kids and when he couldn’t think of the english words to express his situation I offered some help. “Hard”, I said to him. He looked me in the eyes and said, in a deeply burden ridden voice, “Hard”. Then there was a silence that lasted for so long that I felt my whole body contract with uncomfortableness. No one was speaking. The teen age boys (ages 13 – 18) had the same vibe as my teenage step son and his friends – totally great kids but probably were being forced to be home and hang out with their parents and me when all they really wanted to do was to go out and hang with their friends. At least this is what I imagined. The scene felt tense. I felt stupid just sitting there but couldn’t think on anything to say. We all just sat there. Time seemed to drag on forever. When the father explained that the boys new english very well but were just to shy to say anything I looked at them and told them that I was feeling shy do. They smiled and though I could have imagined it, I can almost swear that we all shared a big group exhalation. I felt my muscles loosen, my breath began to flow again. We had found our common ground. They were nervous and I was nervous and it was okay.

At first I felt disappointed in myself that I had frozen up in their home but now I feel okay about it. It’s where I was at the time and I am just so happy that my heart allowed me to be vulnerable enough to express what I was feeling to them. They say a smile is a language that we all share but so are songs, tears, hardships and even moments of shyness. Whatever it may be that allows us to connect is Sacred and today, in a place where I had imagined that I would feel so different and separate from those whom I would be meeting, I had a taste of that first hand.

Spring Equinox Detox Flow, Baby!

2010-02-01T19:01:07-05:00

If there's one date that we Vermonters have come to know and love, it's the spring equinox. Out with the darkness in with the light - it's a time to prepare the fertile ground of our physical bodies for the planting of new seeds of intention.

This 3 hour workshop, which will combine asana, kriya (purification techniques), meditation, and a short discussion, is aimed at helping clear the body of toxins, negativity and darkness so that we can move closer to our true nature of wellness and light.

Start your spring cleaning where it counts the most: in your true home... your body.

When Saturday, March 20th, 2010 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Where Bow Down Yoga 200 Main Street

Cost $40

Email me to sign up now!

Uganda Bound

2010-02-01T08:42:14-05:00

I will be away in Uganda from Feb. 5th to Feb. 18th. While I'm gone Mandi will be teaching my classes. Thank you all again for the heart felt support you gave me this past year during my Off The Mat Into The World Seva Challenge efforts.

With love and gratitude,

Sofi

Bhagavad Gita Discussion Group

2010-01-23T17:54:48-05:00

The Bhagavad Gita is possibly the most famous spiritual text in India. It is said that this was the only text Mahatma Gandhi kept on his night stand. Join us for an overview of the text, based on GesheMichael Roach and Lama Christie McNally's recent teaching on this sacred classic. Led by Geoff Eddy.

Saturday, Jan 30th

3-5pm

at Bowdownyoga 200 Main St. Burlington

By Donation

Email me to sign up now!

Haiti Relief Benefit Class

2010-01-16T08:46:24-05:00

I will be leading this class hosted by Yoga Vermont for Haiti Relief efforts on Saturday, January 23rd from 11-12:30 at the Chace Mill in Studio C.

Suggested minimum donation $20. All proceeds to go directly to Partners In Health and their relief efforts in Haiti. Contributions can also be made directly to Partners In Health by visiting standwithhaiti.org. More on this event can be found on the YVT Blog.

Thank you for helping to make this event a success!

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Why Stretch when you can reach!

Bringing Yoga to the under-served:

2010-01-07T21:26:41-05:00

If you are interested in gathering with a bunch of fabulous yoga teachers to talk about how we can organize ourselves to provide yoga classes to under-served populations, then please join us Tuesday January 12th at 7:30pm. We will share stories of previous experience bringing yoga to various non-profits and explore how we might collectively formalize these offerings to the community. Please feel free to contact me with any questions and invite other yoga teachers who might be interested.
Thank you for your contribution to our community !

When: Tuesday January 12th at 7:30pm
Where: Bow Down Yoga, 200 Main St. Burlington VT (The door is next to Mirabelles)

Finding closure in 2009

2009-12-31T11:22:56-05:00

As we head into the new year, it is easy for the mind to jump ahead and focus only on the future: what will we resolve to do differently in the year to come? What will this new year hold for us? etc... So on this, the last day of 2009, I ask that we give pause and reflect on the past year and look for closure where we can find it in the form of forgiveness towards others and towards ourselves. Why carry unnecessary pain and burden into 2010?

To help with this endeavor I'd like to offer a teaching that I'm borrowing from Aaron Neville. It goes like this (if you know the song to helps to sing along)...

“Everybody plays the fool, sometime. There's no exceptions to the rule, listen baby. It maybe be factual, it may be cruel, I ain't lying. Everybody plays the fool”

In other words, we all make mistakes sometimes – that's part of being human and part of the soul's natural evolutionary process. Sometimes our mistakes hurt others (and ourselves) and sometimes other's mistakes hurt us but the fact remains that we are all just doing the best we can at any given moment. We all act foolishly sometimes and it's okay. It's something that we share.

So today, I invite you to practice letting go of anger and resentment. Be compassionate. Make amends. To err is human, to forgive is Divine and isn't that exactly what we are... the Divine in human form? So embrace all aspects of this in yourself and in others – the right to make mistakes and the God given ability to forgive.

Lighten your load and head into 2010 with a heart ready to Love.

Happy New Year.

Love,

Sofi

Spring Equinox Detox Flow, Baby!

2009-12-05T21:04:21-05:00

Start your spring cleaning where it counts the most: in your true home... your body.

When Saturday, March 20th, 2010 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Where Bow Down Yoga 200 Main Street

Cost $40

Email me to sign up now!

One on One Private Classes

2009-12-05T10:55:59-05:00

Whether you are new to Yoga or are a seasoned practitioner with specific questions about your practice, one on one private Yoga classes are a great way to go.

I find this forum for connecting with students is one of the most effective ways to deepen ones practice. It allows for the time and space to:

* Explore the basic principles of Yoga and Yoga philosophy

* Work on alignment

* Learn breathing and meditation techniques

* Deal with emotional blockages such as fear and depression.

* Learn how to incorporate chanting and mantra into you practice

If you think working with me one on one might benefit you or someone whom you care about, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you...

2009-11-16T11:04:56-05:00

... from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helped me reach the 2009 Seva Challenge Goal of raising $20k for Uganda. For more information on this specific program or Off The Mat, Into The World in general click here.