I can understand and appreciate the importance and magic of having a teacher transmit the information to you directly after years of studies. Keeping sacred texts safe and secured so its teachings would not be diluted. The image of students dedicating hours and years of their lives to serve and follow a teacher or guru, so they can obtain knowledge, wisdom and inner peace is fascinating to me. I believe that having that personal connection and feeling of unity was and still is a gift of its own.

I can also appreciate how some things have changed in today’s world. Even though some of us still strive to find a teacher and guru that would guide us in our personal quest for wisdom and inner peace, thanks to the web; many of us have endless information at the tip of our fingers. We can easily access information about yoga, different schools and lineages, meditation techniques, pictures and meanings of mudras and the list goes on. We can even read the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita online. Of course this does not replace the guidance of a teacher, but it sure helps to support anyone’s efforts during their personal growth.

Thanks to the web and social media, the way we teach yoga and practice together is even changing. I never imagined that people across the globe could come together and practice yoga from the comfort of their homes. Sounds crazy right? Well think again.

Recently, I joined a new online movement that is bringing yoga and other health and wellness classes to everyone across the globe. What is fascinating to me is that now the possibilities are endless. This new way to connect with like-minded people has changed the way I can now teach and practice yoga LIVE with anyone in the world.

My goal has always been to inspire others and to make a difference in people’s lives and the world in a daily bases. I feel that I am doing that with my daily local classes and trainings but I never imagined that the key word “WORLD” would bring this new concept into my life. The fact that we can see each other, talk and interact using our computers as we practice yoga is something remarkable.

I still love having that human contact, going to yoga classes and studying with my teacher but I also embrace the opportunity to reach new heights in my teachings and thanks to the advances in technology the SKY is the limit!

I would love to see you in cyberspace and practice yoga together. You can come to my online live classes or watch the recordings later at www.learnitlive.com/adrikyser. Learn it live is offering a free Health and wellness symposium February 20^th -26^th and we would love to have you there. I will be teaching a Special Class “Cultivating Awareness to Bring Balance in your Life” on Feb 24^th at 7 pm EST. I hope to see you there.

Sadhana

I have crossed this

Earth as

a student and didn’t see you

as a teacher

and could not conjure you

I lifted stone

and stepped in soil

I have chanted your name

and breathed the techniques

practiced the particulars

that are mentioned in texts

representing you

I have found these beautiful stones

placed them on the altar and dedicated

it all to you

I have picked up fallen petals

and plucked new ones

all for you

I watch the moon

and feel the breath and a mudra

one that tastes you

I have been tired and not rested

and I’ve fallen in the darkest depth

I have danced and sat

been brave and a coward

have stolen and given my all

Animals, children and people have loved me

I have believed them all

and none of them

these years seem so short

a yesterday, at best

The Poetry Of Yoga (Vol. 1), a contemporary anthology compiled and edited by yogi and spoken word poet HawaH distills 333 pages of heart-wrenching poetry from over 1,500 pages of submissions originating from 16 countries.

Welcome to the first weekend of February 2012! We hope that you have found joy and abundance in the new year thus far, and continue to enjoy every beautiful moment that it has to offer. We have selected a few of our favorite events going down around the world to help you kick off this  new month with a bang! Check out our weekend picks below, and get out there and have some fun!

Don’t see events listed in your city? Want to submit an event of your own? Email us at Submissions@yoganonymous.org and let us know the deal!

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Montego Bay, Jamaica

Thursday, February 2nd – Sunday, February 5th

Get ready for the 1st Annual Caribbean Yoga Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica this weekend!

The conference lineup includes workshops for all abilities with world-class instructors including Toni Bergins, Gaia Budhai, Kathryn Budig, Jeffrey Cohen & Andrea Boyd, Seane Corn, Sharon Feanny, Scott Feinberg & Amy Lombardo, Moses Jas Jeet, Noah Levine, Nadine McNeil, Sadie Nardini, Jason Nemer & Jenny Sauer-Klein, Simon Park, Stacey Shanks, and MC Yogi & Amanda G.  Topics range from Vinyasa Flow and Journey Dance to Core Strength and Kudalini.  The conference will offer two 2.5-hour sessions each day with opportunities for morning meditation and Noon yoga on the beach.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Philadelphia, PA

Friday, February 3rd – Sunday, February 5th

The Gravity Cowboys are heading to Philadelphia this weekend – don’t miss Brock and Krista Cahill at Dhyana Yoga!

Lift Off! | 2/3 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.  We’d like to thank you for joining us as we fly the friendly skies.  En route this evening we will be crossing over many points of interest, including the grand handstand, oceans of navasana, mountainous arm balancing postures, and rivers of vinyasa.” Enough said.

Buoyancy Control | 2/4 | 12pm – 3pm: Brock & Krista will take the principals of basic arm balancing techniques, and refine them using cultivation of bandhas (energetic locks). You will learn how to tap into the subtle energy in the body and explore how the blending of physical strength and energetic power can create a state of weightlessness.

One Giant Leap | 2/5 | 12pm – 3pm: One small step for man, one giant leap for your practice! We will investigate the jumps in this workshop, including jump throughs and jump backs, jumps to handstand, jumps into arm balances, jumps into standing poses…and more! Take a leap, and the landing will appear…if you want it to.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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New York, NY

Saturday, February 4th – Sunday, February 5th

Alanna Kaivalya will be teaching her Art of Adjustments workshops at Pure Yoga this weekend!

Explore the principles behind save and transformative hands-on assists and effective adjustments to convey technique, sublety and mastery. All types of adjustments will be covered, and an understanding of how to “see” the body and optimize students’ freedom in asanas will be examined.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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New York, NY

Saturday, February 4th

Also at Pure Yoga this weekend – Arm Balancing + Gravity Surfing w/ Kay Kay Clivio!

Join Kay Kay as she guides you through a broad range of playful and safe poses, step by step. Build strength, courage, and connection in a graceful arm balance practice.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Newburyport, MA

Saturday, February 4th

Join Ame Wren for her ‘Hot Core Cool Sequencing’ workshop at Repose Yoga Studio on Saturday afternoon!

In this 2-hour workshop, Ame will lead a 90-minute open level class focusing on smart and creative sequencing and the firing up of agni, or core strength to create internal heat. Through bandha work, core transitions, and specific anatomical and breathing cues, you will sweat your way into a deeper understanding of how to move  fluidly, fiercely, and intelligently from your core self. Following the asana practice Ame will open the space for questions about how to greater utilize your core throughout your practice.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Venice, CA

Saturday, February 4th – Sunday, February 5th

Head over to the Exhale Center for Sacred Movement for a meSheeky trunk show!

meSheeky takes you from studio to street, looking fit, fab and full of sheekitude. Our line of yoga-inspired skirts, pants and tanks is designed to accentuate your best parts and cover up the stuff you’d rather not display to the world. We’ve got leg-lengthening, hip-hiding and booty-boosting in the bag with mixable, matchable pieces to flatter every body. It’s no wonder Sheekynistas are effortlessly stylish wherever they go. Featured everywhere from the Today Show to Health Magazine, this is way more than well-crafted fitness wear, it’s a shot of confidence. meSheeky is yogi-owned and operated by Flowmotion yoga founder Sarah Tomson Beyer in Park City, Utah.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Wishing you a safe & wonderful weekend,

With LOVE,

YOGANONYMOUS

Join Jeffrey Duval for Sonic Yoga’s Rejuvenation  & Retreat to Iceland June 11th – 17th. More information below from Sonic’s website:

Sonic Yoga Rejuvenation & Retreat to Iceland w/ Jeffery Duval

June 11th – 17th | Reykjavik, Iceland

Enjoy yoga in a pristine environment just before the Solstice where there is almost 24 hours of sunlight. Includes 6 days of daily yoga with Jeffrey and a special midnight Surya Namaskar to receive the full Dharsan or Blessing of Solar energy. Explore the cosmopolitan and unique city of Reykjavik and experience the vibrancy of volcanically and geo-thermal Reykholt. The air and water here is among the cleanest on the planet. This is the closest you might ever get to the Arctic Circle.

Itinerary/Pricing

Itinerary

Monday, June 11: Reykjavik Hotel: House of the Spirit. Early evening travel cleanse to *Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa. Dinner at Blue Lagoon’s Lava Restaurant.

Tuesday, June 12: Reykjavik. Morning yoga. Breakfast. Explore Reykjavik on bikes. Dinner & live music in the city.

Wednesday, June 13: Reykjavik. Breakfast. Whale Watching Excursion. Afternoon yoga. Dinner: explore on your own.

Thursday, June 14: Morning yoga. Breakfast. Travel to Reykholt. Hotel: Foss. Excursion to Morgarfjordur Waterfall. Dinner at hotel. Evening celebration in honor of the Midnight Sun.

Friday, June 15: Reykholt. Breakfast. Excursion to Langjokull Glacier. Afternoon yoga & soak in hot tubs . Dinner at hotel.

Saturday, June 16: Morning yoga. Breakfast. Return to Reykjavik. Hotel: House of the Spirit. Shopping at The Kolaportid Flea Market. Dinner: Group or on own.

Sunday, June 17: Morning yoga. Breakfast. Check out. Depart.

Pricing

Double occupancy: $1299.

Private accommodations available: $1599 early bird, $1699 after March 1, 2012.

Click here to learn about the House of the Spirit

Click here for more information and to register today!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last year at Wanderlust Festival in Stratton Mountain, the founders came together to give a special speakeasy session to give the festival participants a real good view of what they have going on internally. Jeff, Schuyler, and Sean talk about how they met, how they started the festival, and how they keep it going. Read more below from Wanderlust!

“One of the central purposes of Wanderlust is to create community around shared values. Meet the founders of Wanderlust, Jeff Krasno, Schuyler Grant and Sean Hoess, to discuss how to grow this community and define its values. Hear about the inspiration behind Wanderlust from Yoga to Yoda and share your ideas on how to evolve the event.“

Make sure to keep your eyes out for a special appearance by Michaela of YOGANONYMOUS!

Good manners often seem hard to come by in our stressed out, overworked society. We could all use some yoga now more than ever. With it’s promise for deep inner peace and abundant well-being, it is no wonder the ancient discipline continues to take off in the West. Yoga Journal reports that 14.3 million people in the United States practiced in 2010. With the growing numbers of attendees, occasional ruffled feathers seem inevitable. It is my hope that following these suggestions will help smooth them.

1. Quiet please.

It seems like a no-brainer that you’d turn off your cell phone before yoga class and that it’s a bad idea to make a loud entrance or exit. But new students who are conditioned by the hustle and bustle of daily life in America may not know. So, just like the little reminder at the movie theatre before the show begins, please turn off your cell phone and make as little noise as possible while you’re getting settled.

2. Tiptoe into class after centering if you show up late.

It is fine by me if you’re 10 minutes late for class. I would never wish for you to skip class because you’re running behind. I do think it would be much more polite if you waited until everyone’s done with their beginning meditation and be as quiet as a mouse as not to disturb the peace. Nuff said!

3. Practice respect by making eye contact with the teacher during his/her Dharma talk.

Eye contact is such a strong sign of respect. When the teacher is speaking about how the practice of yoga has changed their life or sharing some ancient philosophy teachings; offer your full, undivided attention. Even if you don’t like the way the teacher is presenting the material, do your best to keep focused. So instead of lying down or closing your eyes, be attentive. You just might learn something.

4. Do what the teacher is teaching. Please don’t add your own “flair.”

It’s disrespectful when you to do your own thing. We teachers put a lot of time and effort into creating our classes and we do it with great purpose. In the past year, I attended 4 workshops, 2 weekend intensives with master teachers, read at least 10 books on yoga and practiced regularly with my teachers. And, I know other instructors who have done way more than that! There is something beautiful about allowing yourself to be led and simply experiencing what the teacher has to offer. If there is a pose you feel you just can’t live without, do it after class instead.

5. It’s a “work-in!” Puh-leese don’t call it a workout.

When you lift weights, run, bike, take a group exercise class…. You work up a sweat and get a great workout. What a healthy part of your wellness routine! However, you could spend an entire lifetime learning about the practice of yoga (which is so much more than the physical postures) and still not know everything. Yoga is an ancient system for well-being where we learn to expand the conscious mind deep into the sub conscious mind, where we learn to live in harmony with nature and other people. It is a shift to your inner-most self and a way for you to see your true and divine nature. So, why don’t we call it a work-in? I like the sound of that.

6. If you’re bummed there’s a sub, keep your disappointment to yourself.

I totally get that you adore your regular teacher and you should. Just please don’t look at me and say “oh, you’re teaching?” when I’m subbing. That’s not so nice. If you’re taking a class with someone who is filling in for your regular instructor it is just another opportunity for you to learn how to adapt to change (which is the only constant in life anyway).  Plus, think about how you’d feel if the tables were turned.

7. Don’t expect a teacher to work for free.

I am constantly asked to teach karma yoga classes and I’m more than happy to give the gift of yoga. In fact, I teach two regular free classes. Those participants enrich my life so much! Seems natural that ALL teachers would share the love in this way and we should. But please don’t be upset if you ask me to teach your church, temple or social group and I tell you how much I charge. If I said yes to every free-class-request I’d be in the poor house. A lot of us teachers make our living by helping to heal. You wouldn’t ask your doctor or dentist for a free office visit would you?

And, traditionally, yoga teachers would work out some type of trade with their students. The masters would teach them yoga and the students would do odd jobs, chores or cook meals in return for that instruction. So, there has always been an exchange of energy even back during ancient times.

8. Let’s not be rude now…
Please do your best to show compassion for all when you are in the sacred space where you practice yoga. Gossip and general rudeness just have no place in an environment where people are coming to reduce stress and learn about life’s deeper mysteries.

9. Bodily functions

Digestion happens. Especially when you’re in an intensive twisting class. If you feel like your fires are getting too stoked kindly and quietly exit the room to keep the air clear.

So, on that note… there are many things I didn’t cover, but as an observer of social behavior I don’t think anyone ever tries to be rude on purpose. So perhaps if we spot someone who is not “playing by the rules,” it’s best to give friendly reminders instead of dirty looks and to forgive if someone’s manners are not perfect.

Enter discount code: YOGANONYMOUS to receive 10% off of the adult ticket price, click here to purchase your tickets today!

Rasa-Lila Fest: Play, Dance, Love

March 30th – 31st | Odessa, FL

Whether you can hold a strong Scorpion pose, or are working on perfecting stillness in Savasana, join Tampa Bay’s leading yoga and holistic practitioners at Rasa-Lila Fest March 30 and 31^st.  The event will take place at Camp Brorein in Odessa, Florida.

Beginning on Friday night, this two day event will be full of yoga and meditation, sound healers, musicians, holistic workshops and lectures, kayaking, paddle-boarding, and rock climbing.  Attendees are welcome to bring tents and camp out Friday night, at the beginning of the weekend’s festivities.

If a festival like Rasa-Lila Fest seems too good to be true, take it from Rasa-Lila Fest Founder Nathan Bangs, “I started Rasa-Lila Fest with a simple vision of bringing the local yoga community together.” He has made this possible through his vision, inspired as yoga continued to expand its horizon throughout the United States. “Rasa-Lila Fest is a celebration of that vision, uniting our growing community at one location, for one great event.”

With Rasa-Lila Fest meaning “the dance of love” in Sanskrit, Friday night’s Pre-Fest activities start with a yoga class to the sound of live music, with “I LOVE YOGA” instructor, Moses Love.  Local recording artist, musician and radio personality, ELUV, will indulge the senses on a sound journey, while festival-goers enjoy the relaxation of nature.

After a night in the great outdoors, or arriving to enjoy the party Saturday morning, yoga and wellness enthusiasts are treated to over a dozen yoga classes, including kids and partner yoga.  Six master classes offered every two hours, will take place on the main stage, featuring instructors: Nathalie Croix, Karina Hahn Harrison, Will Duprey, Jaye Martin, Tymi Howard, and Eric Wheeler.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local yoga teachers and studio owners.  In addition, the lucky festival-goers will enjoy musicians, over 28 workshops with Tampa Bay’s most respected healing practitioners, and a vendor village.

You can choose to bring your own treats to snack on, or indulge your taste buds with healthy options, provided by local vendors along the wellness trail.  Take a break to leisurely shop for items made by local artisans.

All proceeds from the Pre-Fest event will be donated to the non-profit, Rasa-Lila Cares, a public charity created to support yoga teachers and their immediate families with hardship as a result of sudden emergencies.  Rasa-Lila Fest will seek to serve a higher purpose through charitable giving in the yoga communities where Rasa-Lila Fest will take place around the country.

Pre-Fest adult admission is $20.00, Adult Fest admission is $45.00 before the festival.  Admission for teens (ages 13-17) is $20.00, and children 12 and under are free.  Camping is $15.00.  Mention discount code: YOGANONYMOUS at time of checkout and receive 10% off your adult ticket price! For more information, visit www.rasalilafest.com.

We hope you decide to join us in our weekend of relaxation and peace.  Namaste.

Click here to view the embedded video.

AcroYoga co-founder, Jenny Sauer-Klein gives clear instruction on the art of communication. This three part communication check-in is used in the practice of AcroYoga and can be applied to most any group activity in the world!

Join Will Duprey this April in beautiful Guatemala for the first module of his 300-hr advanced teacher training! More information below from the training website:

Fire of Purification: 300-hr Advanced Teacher Training

April 21st – 29th | Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

NOW you are ready to immerse yourself in the practice of yoga and live in it. As we integrate into the philosophies that enrich our living we begin to observe directly through contact with like-minded practitioners. If one is born with all the tools to obtain a state of yoga then certainly being around others with the same goal allows for certain discovery of that spark within.

The Advanced Training will take you deeper into the integration of practice to enrich the living experience. Even though we commonly view Hatha Yoga as being a physical practice involving multiple styles it is a distinct science referred to as Shadanga Yoga. This distinct path focuses particularly on prana and awakening the divine energy.

Essentially we practice a way to develop that burn for living, teaching and creating.

Comprised of three distinct modules – JOURNEY TO SELF, FIRE OF PURIFICATION, and SONG WITHIN – that fulfill 300 hours of Advanced Training and are a registered program with Yoga Alliance.

Fire of Purification or Journey to Self are required before attending Song Within. Fire of Purification and Journey to Self can be taken in any order.

Completion of all three modules acts as a bridge program bringing a 200 RYT to a 500 RYT. Enrollment in each module is limited to offer a better student to teacher ratio and to keep the quality of the program at it’s highest standards. Certification for 500 RYT will be given upon completion of all course requirements.

Curriculum

~ Use of Dinacharya and sadhana for awareness of one’s own potentiality

~ Purushathas and their role in yogic thought

~ Basic mantra theory with relationship to daily living

~ Nadi, chakra, and bandha theory

~ Mantra and asana: access to energy

~ Kriya, mudra, kosha, and psychology

~ Identifying the true nature of specific asana and pranayama for practical use

~ Prana and psychic development

~ Learn to access energy in asana

~ Ayurveda complex and yoga for preventative health

~ Bhagavad gita, yoga sutra, and hatha yoga pradipika

Included in your tuition: 90 hours of accredited Yoga Alliance study, 8 nights lodging and three delicious meals daily at Villa Sumaya, 2 sessions with a local shaman and all training materials provided by William Duprey.

Click here for more information on this and the other modules, and to register today!

Join Kia Miller for a YogaWorks Certified 200-hr teacher training at Blue Spirit Retreat Center in Nosara, Costa Rica this July! More information below from YogaWorks website:

One Month Immersion 200-hr Teacher Training

Nosara, Costa Rica | June 30th – July, 28th

Join Kia for a YOGAWORKS CERTIFIED 200 HOUR TEACHER TRAINING at Blue Sprit Retreat Center in Costa Rica. Take a month to hone your skills as a teacher and deepen your practice in an environment conducive to the spirit of immersion! This foundational (200–hour) program is ideal for serious students of yoga and aspiring teachers. It is recognized by Yoga Alliance and comprises three areas of study: The Theory and Practice of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy and The Art of Teaching.  Break up the teaching sessions with a walk on the beach, surng, or sitting quietly in one of the Blue Spirit’s many contemplative settings.

This residential programs allow you to travel for a month in an exotic location while you complete your 200 hour yoga teacher training. Housing and other amenities are included as part of the price of your training. The foundational 200–Hour yoga teacher training program is ideal for serious students of yoga and aspiring teachers. It is recognized by Yoga Alliance and comprises three areas of study: The Theory and Practice of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy and The Art of Teaching.

What You Will Cover

The Theory And Practice Of Yoga

The 200-Hour yoga teacher training program will deepen and build your personal practice as you embark on a transformational journey toward becoming a yoga teacher. To facilitate a more scientific understanding of the body, you will study functional Anatomy, as well as the physiology of inversions, breathing and the nervous system. Moving beyond the physical, you will learn yoga philosophy, rooted in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Finally, you will begin to learn the fundamentals of meditation, Pranayama, Ayurveda and the chakra system.

The Art Of Teaching

Our programs are aimed at developing teachers who encourage and inspire, who demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of individuals as well as the group. Build the foundation to teach skillfully – with compassion, integrity and safety – as you discover your own unique voice and style.

Students who complete the 200-Hour Teacher Training program will:

~ Deepen their practice and understanding of yoga

~ Know how to structure and create a cohesive, well-rounded class

~ Acquire an understanding of yoga philosophy

~ Become a member of the YogaWorks alumni association

~ Have the confidence and tools to begin teaching yoga

Students will also receive a diploma and Letter of Completion which they can use to register with Yoga Alliance at the RYT-200 level and share with prospective employers. Completion of this program will also qualify students for admission into YogaWorks’ 300-Hour Professional Program and open the door to career opportunities at YogaWorks and studios in the YogaWorks affiliate network.

Click here for more information and to register today!

Ah, the holidays are in the rear-view, and I’ve had lots of time to simmer and shine, lots of tears, exuberance, teaching, breakthroughs, run-ins. I always say that my mat — our mats — are the laboratory, the surfboard, the life raft, the magic carpet, from which we have the opportunities to work through all the things that get thrown at us — good, challenging, ugly, spirited. It’s the same in real life i suppose. The difference i think is that the mat, and the safety of that environment, gives us the freedom to fall apart, get confused, lost, and then found again — rather like Hansel and Gretel with the crumbs along the path, finding our way back to home base.  Or maybe Humpty Dumpty. But enough of obvious fairy tale metaphors.

It would be disingenuous of me, as both a practitioner and teacher, to sit on a pedestal and proclaim capital T truth, as though I still don’t occasionally fall to my knees in tears, praying for clarity and insight, kindness and release — loving compassion even in the face of really hard choices and challenges. I do not believe that as yogis, it is our job to hold ourselves above our students, proclaiming Truth, Love, Wisdom and Beauty, without having also dredged up the darker aspects of ourselves, and come out on the other side; we are works in progress.

I try to latch onto universal themes in my work — speaking to the broader ideas that bind us together in the human experience. In showing up with this willingness to be vulnerable and offer up whatever small insight I may have, I gain SO much from my students, who share their experiences and breakthroughs with me in turn. A true teacher is a  student — tasmai shri.

The thing is, ‘fear’ is still something many of us seem to contend with (or at least I do), in one form or another. Fear of: failing, succeeding, falling, work, love, loss, pain, hardship…we work so hard on (and off) the mat to dispel these things, to hold them at bay. On the other hand, we often struggle with abundance, in a converse way: acceptance of what is, of the affirmations around us. I am continually amazed at small interactions that happen daily in my life — a conversation about a journey; a small gift of appreciation; a hug from someone who I may have helped; the way I feel when I close my eyes and drum.  All reassurance that my own ‘what if’s’ are being answered. Sometimes grace is obvious, sometimes it is subtler, like a song that makes me cry, or the way a room full of students just breathes all at once, in release. Being moved by nuance.

In buddhism, pain is part of living; suffering a choice. so the goal then, is not to hold these things at bay after all, but to live in and through them. How to accept and choose to NOT suffer as a consequence of some of these fears, is the million dollar question.

I ask myself if this is what or where I’m meant to be. Applying for that oh-so-elusive McJob last week is SO not where I WANT to be, but keeping food on the table is an important consideration for a single mom just trying to provide. So I try to create space around this idea of ‘abundance’, letting it come, but fear creeps in occasionally, in the form of ‘how will I pay that traffic ticket?’, or ‘will I ever be able to afford that tiny fixer upper?’, or even ‘what’s for dinner?’. Every time i show up to teach, i am reminded that THAT is where I’m meant to be, despite not living a rockstar’s life or even the roadie-of-a-rockstar’s life, or even the gardner-of-a-roadie-of-a-rockstar’s life. you get the idea. Fluctuating between gratitude that at least I found this thing — this purpose — and worry that it’s not going to sustain us.

So then the question becomes ‘How long can I hold out?’ In a world of  young(er) hipsters leaving for india, thailand, retreats, immersions and other things I cannot presently afford, when i’m merely trying to sustain myself, my kids, and this road I’ve chosen to tow. ‘We are exactly where we are meant to be’, frankly pisses me off at times. I thought I’d be more ‘comfortable’ by now, not in a complacent or entitled kind of way, but in a ‘I’ve earned it’ kind of way. And so I keep going, because that’s all I know, and for the first time in my life, my work isn’t ‘work’; it’s a gift. It gives to me, and I give to it. Owning my own studio? Teaching larger events? Gaining wider recognition? Sure, that would be great. But then I always come back to what it is that brought me here: my love of connecting with people where they are.

Last week one of my students, a wiser lady, said “Wendy, you are a great yoga teacher, sure — but I think your true gift is more about letting people get comfortable with being themselves.” That insight was so deep and resonant for me, because I think she’s right. I teach, I sing, I dance, I tell stories, I laugh, I cry, I’m a goofball….and that’s yoga to me. Allowing others to simply come into the room and be whoever they need to be, is really what it all comes down to, for me.

About the Author

Wendy Devore,  RYT200, Level 2 Stott Pilates Trainer, AFAA PT,  brings with her over 15 years of experience in the fitness, pilates and yoga industry. Her dance/performance background, and love of music, kirtan and drumming, helps her bring a uniquely fun and energetic flavor to all her classes, so that students of all fitness levels and ages really enjoy their practice.

Wendy’s primary focus in the last 10 years has been in the area of mind/body work, and functional core training. She utilizes whatever tools she has, and incorporates these into her classes so that her students are always challenged.

“As an educator and teacher, I try to inspire and motivate my clients and students in a positive way, to reach their life goals through consistent training and practice, striving for a balance between mind and body.” - Wendy Devore

Click here to visit her website and learn more!

Muriel Murphy and Sanjivani are leading a Moon Goddess & Yoga Retreat to beautiful Nosara, Costa Rica! More information below from the event website:

Moon Goddess & Yoga Retreat

March 4th – 9th | Nosara Retreat Center – Nosara, Costa Rica

~ Yoga & Ayurveda ~ Sacred Chanting ~ Shamanic Journeying ~ Healing Ceremonies ~

You are being called, Amazing Women all over the world, to take a week for yourself and meet together in a peaceful setting, on a beautiful tropical beach.

Allow yourself to be Inspired & Renewed.

In this retreat,  Sanjivani & Muriel bring together a synthesis of powerful healing modalities:

Yoga, Pranayama, Mudra, Mantra, Tantra, Yantra, and Meditation; Goddess Puja, Chanting, Dancing, and Pranic Movements; Massage Therapy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Shamanic Energy Medicine; Soul Journeying, Healing Ceremonies, Mythic Mapping; Journaling, Insight Sharing, Goddess Gatherings, and much more…

Wake up each morning with a rejuvenating Yoga flow & Sacred chanting, and complete the evening with nurturing restorative Yoga & guided Meditation.

The Moon regulates the tides of the ocean, the cycle of our hormones, and the balance of our emotions. Since ancient times, women have gathered together in ceremony to receive and integrate the blessing power of the Full Moon.

Learn key principles of Ayurveda to balance your inner feminine cycle as Sanjivani guides you through the morning practice of the Moon Salutation (Chandra Namaskar)—a graceful flow of Yoga postures, attuned with the rhythm of your breath.

This devotional prayer in motion honors the cycle of the moon, as she enhances her qualities within you… calming, cooling, nurturing, grounding, rejuvenating, and healing…

Following morning Yoga, with a deepened sense of calm and wellbeing, we will move into awakening the divine energies within, as Sanjivani guides you through a spiritual practice of the Sri Vidya Tantric lineage of Ancient India.

Sanjivani has been with this practice since receiving it 9 years ago from Her Divine Grace Gurumatha Amma from India.

This ancient ceremony is referred to as the Sri Chakra Puja (Sri Yantra Puja), during which we make sacred offerings to the different aspects of the Goddess, as we chant Her seed mantras within each one of our chakras. This practice creates a protection of positive vibration around you, which can change your destiny, and be a doorway to realizing yourself.

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Dates/Pricing/What’s Included

Retreat Dates

March 4th-9th

For more info and to register ~ Click here

Goddess Accomodations:  Nosara Retreat Center ~ Villa Cortes ~ www.nosararetreatcenter.com

Pricing:

Single Occupancy: US$1,795.00*

Double Occupancy: US$1,595.00* (per person)

Triple Occupancy: US$1,495.00* (per person)

Quadruple Occupancy: US$1295.00*(per person) limited to

Friend Discount ~ $100 cash back upon arrival if you bring a friend

Early bird special ~ $100 off when your registration is paid in full by February 4th

What’s Included:

~ 5 nights accommodation
~

~ Healthful & fresh breakfasts and dinners

~ Daily yoga & meditation

~ Goddess gatherings

~ A transformative massage session
or one alternative healing session of your choice

About Your Teachers:

Muriel Murphy

Muriel Murphy has been in the healing arts field since 1992. She began studying the body as a Fitness Instructor/Health Sciences major at the University of California, San Diego. She graduated from the Phillips School of Massage CMT in 1995. Completed a 500 hours of intensive study with certified Rolfer, Bill Sitkin, in 1997, then trained in Neuro-muscular Reprogramming at the Alive and Well Institute 2003. To date she has 700 hrs of yoga teacher training from 2003-2007. Most recently she studied Touch for the Health, Rieki and Thai massage.

Muriel began her training as a yoga instructor in 2003 at the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, completing the 200-hour certification program with Don and Amba Stapleton.  She has trained at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco, completing the 500 hour Advanced Studies Teacher Training in December of 2006. Completing the Relax and Renew certification with Judith Lasater, in 2005. Traveling to India in 2007 to study with the Iyengars, she integrates these teachings into each class. Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman are her newest teachers and interest of study, as they venture deeply into the healing art form of  yogasana. The rhythm of her life inspires her to live the summer months in Long Island, NY and winter months, Nov-April in Nosara, Costa Rica. In each place she enjoys a thriving practice of transformative integrative bodywork sessions and innovative style of yogasana in each class she offers.

Muriel’s experience as a body worker and yoga instructor shine through in the knowledge she so openly shares with others. She believes that the lineage of yoga, and the healing path of the Great Goddess is a gift to be shared for the health and well being of all who choose to take the journey.

Sanjivani

Founder of Sanjivani Healing Medicine, a health consultation practice in the ancient healing wisdom of the world, for our modern lifestyle.

Sanjivani offers integrative healing sessions, in the emerging fields of Shamanic Energy Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, and Yoga Therapy.

Sanjivani brings to her work a clarity of perception and a depth of understanding that emerges from the wisdom of the divine feminine as experienced and acquired through her personal soul healing journey.

She has devoted her life to spiritual awakening and freedom, and she shares freely with open-heart and pure love.

Sanjivani shares ancient Yogic & Ayurvedic wisdom for women’s health and hormonal balance, including spiritual practices to purify and awaken the pranic energy body.

She facilitates Shamanic Journeying & Ceremonies, guiding people into deep soul healing transformation, and propelling them towards their divine destiny.

Sanjivani is internationally recognized as an exceptionally gifted intuitive and healer, with a wealth of wisdom to share. She has 12 years of professional trainings and experience in Ayurvedic Medicine, Yoga Therapy, Vidya Tantra, Vajra Yogini Tantra, Qi-Gong, and Shamanic Energy Medicine.

Please visit her website to know in more details, and feel welcome to contact her directly by email with any inquiry. www.sanjivanihealing.com

Click here for more information and to register today!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hanuman, is a legendary character from yoga mythology. He has three poses, or asanas, attributed to him: hanumanasana (splits pose), anjaneyasana (lunge pose), and virasana (hero pose). This video illustrates the mythology behind all three and introduces a sequence that incorporates these three hanuman poses.

The story of Hanuman comes from the Ramayana, an epic poem and tale. In this tale, Ram and Hanuman are best friends. Hanuman was a demigod sent to live in the forest with a band of monkeys. When he was young, his name was Anjaneya, named after his mother. That is why we call this kneeling lunge pose Anjaneyasana. This pose named for the baby Hanuman is all about finding an even stretch. Virasana is another name for Hanuman. Ram’s girlfriend, Sita, was stolen by an evil demon so he sent Hanuman to save her. He prayed for the faith to do a seemingly impossible task. He prayed to be filled with confidence and love. The last Hanuman pose is (you guessed it!) Hanumanasana. This video shows how to get into this challenging splits pose through multiple variations and sequences. In this challenging pose, it is super helpful to remember that Hanuman is the embodiment of friendship and happiness – not suffering!

What do these poses have in common? They are all hip openers and involve the stretching of the psoas, the muscle that is most involved in moving through fear. And moving through fear is exactly what this monkey demigod does and what we can do through practicing these asanas. As we start to open these muscles, we begin to relieve our fear and our stress. When we do that, we can do anything.

Click here to learn more about the Kaivalya Yoga Method

Salutiamo il Sole: A Tuscan Yoga Holiday

July 2nd – 6th, 2012

Salute the Tuscan sun this summer. Stroll the Riviera and watch the sun melt into the Mediterranean.  Practice under the full moon sky.  Marvel at ancient architecture and revel in  vibrant village life. Wander through medieval hilltop towns and walk along historic city walls.  Cross the impressive Devil’s Bridge, climb a tower crowned with oaks, and traverse the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Journey into the Apuan Alps and explore an awe-inspiring limestone cave. Savor the regional food, sip the local wines, and connect with the community.  Deepen your practice. Expand your boundaries.  Play. Discover. Laugh. Breathe.

Join Liisa Walimaa, of Brilliant Yoga, Chandler, AZ, as your daily yoga guide. Enjoy a week of exploration, movement, fresh food, and great company.

Accommodations

You will stay at Casa La Pace Bed and Breakfast in Ghivizzano, Italy, in the verdant Serchio valley, the heart of the Garfagnana, a fertile land known for delicious cuisine, abundant natural beauty, and hillsides dotted with charming villages. Each day begins with a rise-and-shine yoga practice and a buffet breakfast featuring regional specialties from local producers.  Then you’ll embark upon a daily adventure uniting yoga with a customized tour,  allowing you to explore different aspects of Tuscany and of yourself.  Each evening, we’ll return to Casa La Pace for a restful night’s sleep:  “La Pace” means Peace.

Indulge your curiosity on this 5-day/6-night holiday, and reveal your brilliance under the Tuscan sun.

Salute the Sun. Salutiamo il Sole.

What’s Included

~ Six nights accommodation at Casa La Pace Bed & Breakfast

~ Six buffet breakfasts, featuring local, seasonal fare

~ Daily yoga practices, suitable for all levels

~ Customized tours of a different area of Tuscany each day

~ One picnic lunch

~ Entry fees to attractions and events as stated on the itinerary

~ All transportation to tour destinations

Reserve before February 14th and receive 250 Euros off the total cost of the retreat!

Click here for itinerary and registration information

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