Yoga on the Mountain Spring 2012

Yoga on the Mountain

Sat, May 19th

11 a.m.

at Max Patch

sliding scale $10-$20

There just isn't enough outdoor yoga, and there just isn't a more gratifying experience!  Check back to my blog post after last fall's Yoga on the Mountain event: It Made the Most of Us
This year's plan is to meet at the parking lot of Max Patch at 11am.  If you've never been to Max Patch before then you are really in for a 360 degree treat!
Here are directions to Max Patch from Asheville:
http://www.mapquest.com/#fbb987db9219bad357159083
It's about an hour away so please carpool!  Carpooling options will be discussed in the facebook event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/391599877531143/
If you have sworn off facebook for your own sanity (I understand!)  please email me kymdrye@gmail.com
You won't want to miss this!

Shoulderstand

Stripes

It's okay to laugh in yoga.

(image from http://instagr.am/p/eZ9en/)  

It's okay not to laugh in yoga.

(image from http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ilona-olkonen-stripes)

“Once you can accept the universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.” -Albert Einstein

The Daily Bandha

Featuring The Daily Bandha blog, http://www.dailybandha.com/, "Scientific keys to unlock the practice of yoga".  If you've ever been to one of my classes, you know I love yoga anatomy!  I believe it is important for us to approach yoga as intelligently as possible.  Take it seriously, because what you put in to your practice is what you get out of your practice.  And believe me, yoga IS serious.  It's real, it's effective, and it's powerful in ways you could never imagine.  Now, of course, we can be serious and still have fun!
In order for your practice to be rewarding, safe, and therefore FUN, you've got to be inquisitive and curious.  You've got to be patient, and you have to be gentle but firm with yourself.
The Daily Bandha helps yoga practitioners explore the deeper aspects of asana from a scientific/anatomical approach.  The best part about this approach to yoga is that it has the opposite effect than you think it would--.  science doesn't resolve for us the mystery and spirituality of the practice. If anything, science only deepens the mystery.  The more I learn about how things work within our bodies, and in the universe, the more I am astonished by the miracles of life and this world.

The Most Astounding Fact

"You wanna feel connected, you wanna feel relevant, you wanna feel like you are a participant in the goings on in activities and events around you.  That's precisely what we are- just by being alive." -Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, "What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?" This is his answer. 

Spring!

Good Intentions

Whack! Wake Up!

In this clip, John Schumacher (http://www.unitywoods.com/john-schumacher/), a certified advanced Iyengar teacher (one of only 13 in the U.S.) explains that yoga is about "what Ram Dass used to say, being here now."  Schumacher also explains how Iyengar yoga developed the reputation of being "harsh" and how to look beyond that.

I know I could use a whack on the head every now and then (as a reminder to be present).  Compassion is not always in the form of kindness.
(No, I don't actually think yoga teachers should hit students!)
 ;)

The Here Now Garden

On a street corner in West Asheville, there is a garden with bright blue glass bottles and empty birdcages swinging in trees, toy trucks scattered in the bushes.

And a special message:

Validity

I’ve been on Spring Break.  Kevin and I went to Washington D.C. to visit family and friends over the last week. 

A previous Asheville yoga teacher and former manager of Asheville Yoga Center, Caitlin van Hecke, is currently teaching full-time in the D.C. area.  I consider Caitlin a close and valuable friend.  I so value her skill as a yoga teacher and professional, but most of all I value her friendship because she has been so supportive, and such a timely influence, throughout my yogic jouney.

In fact, she was with me in my first teacher training, at the Asheville Yoga Center in 2008 with Stephanie Keach.  We did the immersion training together, which means we spent thirty days together focused on personal transformation.  I am still friends with a few of the people in that training and its hard not to feel close to those that I remember, without having to stay in touch.  Caitlin and I have discussed many times just how transformative that experience was.  The influence of that intensive training unfolded slowly over time, like how a seed is planted and then blooms later, and sometimes over many seasons. 

Caitlin and I have both worked hard to cultivate the seeds planted at that time.  And our friendship is such nourishing soil to grow within.  I miss her now that she is in D.C. and am so thankful that she is in a place that I visit often.  

We went to a Prana Flow class while I was visiting.  Prana Flow is a type of yoga created by Shiva Rea (http://shivarea.com/) and from what I could tell from the class, taught by Shawn Parell at Flow Yoga Center (http://www.flowyogacenter.com/), is designed around the idea of "flowing" through poses in an effort to connect with the flowing force of nature within (prana).  The vinyasa sequence was orchestrated in a circular motion, moving from front to back of one side of your mat and then around the other side, like a mandala.  It was really very fun, although difficult to follow the teacher's instruction to let go of the shapes of poses. I'm so very used to falling into those shapes.  I can see how over time I have created habits in my practice, little safe boxes I fall comfortably into.  I'm still unsure whether these poses are suppose to feel safe and comfortable over time or if I should be pushing myself beyond these "boxes".
The class led Caitlin and I to a question of "validity".  I often long for my practice to be "validated", for someone to tell me that I am doing it the right way, that I am practicing it correctly.  I think that one lesson we can draw from the many styles of yoga is that there isn't just one right way.  This desire for validity I recognize also as my insecurities about trusting myself.
Nothing in this world has meaning without each of us placing meaning upon it.  The only validity that truly exists is the meaning that we create within ourselves, and the intention and integrity in which we carry forth our expression of meaning.  Over time, I've realized that it doesn't matter what style of yoga I practice-- that it can take many forms and expressions.  I've realized that the arguments over form and expression are not relevant to the core meaning behind the practice of yoga.  All yogis agree upon certain content in their practice:  we aim for understanding, for compassion, for acceptance, and for truth.  If I continue to make my practice about these things-- then my practice is valid and beyond the questions and concerns over form and technique.

If anyone is interested in this "latest evolution" called Prana Flow, Asheville Yoga Center is offering a workshop with Simon Park, Dec 14-16 (it's a pretty good long ways out from now).  Here is some more information on the event from facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150719237760320&set=a.184759460319.163492.37960305319&type=1&theater