Impermanence

Impermanence. 

Stuff that is exterior to us is always changing, meaning they have an end, they are finite. Often, they are more dense and more tangible like the seasons, our physical body, businessesadventures and relationships. However, they can be less dense like our thoughts and emotions. The stuff between the exterior things deep within ourself is a more subtle energy that resides inside of us. I like to think of this place as my true home. It is permanent, infinite, unending. We sing about this in the Anusara Invocation with the word “Nishprapanchaya” which means “is never absent.” This is our True Self our Inner Light. 

The place we get into trouble is when we attach ourself to the exterior finite things. The more we attach our happiness to these things that our outside of ourself the more suffering we will experience when these things eventually go away. For example,a student of mine shared a poem her dad wrote, who is an avid skier. In the poem he expresses the deep sadness he experiences at the end of the season as one of his biggest loves, skiing, is taken away from him. 

This cycle where things are born, grow, fade and eventually go away (sometimes quickly sometimes over a long period of time)is completely normal. To expect otherwise would be unrealistic and yet we do all the time. Another example is the real sadness I have knowing that we are on the last season of Game of Thrones (but why!). This is the cycle of nature and everything on this planet even the man-made stuff like plastic, is made of natureand thus goes through the cycle of nature.

This isn’t to say don’t enjoy the seasons, don’t get into relationships, don’t take care of your physical body because they will all disintegrate and it will make you unhappy. Instead develop a practice that connects you to the one thing that is always every present and does not go away, which is the source, the light, the link of our oneness that shines within the core of ourself. Through consistent practice you will experience a more subtle contentment. Then enjoy all the things, enjoy them as they are in full expansion and as they contract away and since your contentment comes from within when they eventually go away (and they will) it will disturb you less and cause you less suffering.  

One of the studios I teach at, Centered City Yoga, is moving studio locations. They are actually moving back to their old location one building over. This is what prompted me to write this post because it reminded me that almost all things are impermanent. In the past 13 years I have taught yoga at studios I have seen so many studios change locations, change names, close, and new ones open. It used to really upset me. These places were a big source of my happiness. Now that I am older and wiser, I have learned that if I put my happiness on something outside of myself, I am asking for pain. This is not bad, because pain is a wonderful motivator. We have more willingness to take action if we know it helps us to avoid pain.Let this encourage you to practice connecting to your infinite self with commitment and consistently so you become so stable in yourSelf that when stuff changes outside of you that it becomes a more beautiful experience of the cycle of nature then a heart break.    

Another teaching in yoga I love is forgetfulness. Meaning you will forget this teaching, but then hopefully and with practice you will remember you forgot, you will attach your happiness to something outside of yourself, you will experience pain and then you will remember. You will draw back in and do the work. The more you do this the father away from your center you will go and the more efficient you will get at coming back to center. We become listeners to the whispers of pain to readjust and realign instead of the screams of agony from the pain. 

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Home has Om in it and om is the vibration of the earth the world which is our home. Come home. We all have an inner child that can run the show this shows up as tendencies that run the show and one of the tendencies is, we get lost it we run away and we have to find our way back to our home our Center. And the more we forget. Leave. Remember come back. The easier it becomes to find our way back. Because we have broken trail, we don’tneed to bush wake.


Remembering home. Remembering to consistently commit to connecting to your deeper perminate always present self will help you navigate the fluctuations, the conning and goings of that which is finite. The stuff that doesn’t last. 
Our collective consciousness has made it to a place where we know we have to clean and care and connect to the subtle parts of ourself daily if we want it to operate effectively and if it doesn’t operate effectively your gambling with your happiness which is the most important thing we got. If you put your happiness in the conditions of the outside things that will fall away like a yoga studio location or a flower or a relationship your happiness or contentment is not steady. If you put your contentment and happiness based on the connection to your undying self then you can enjoy the outside stuff and even enjoy or suffer less when it goes away. 

Connection. Connected to what matters. Not at the surface level. Enjoy stuff at the surface level but hold onto what’s deeps. Yoga is the joining of self with Self

Apex- full Urdhva Dhanurasana

Universal Principle of Alignment: Muscle Energy to the midline. With some extra shoulder work.
Keep coming back home to your center, your midline. Go out and do all the things while being connected to YOU so you suffer less when all the things always change. 

Sun A teach strong legs in cobra
Down Dog
L- tree- tadasana eagle arms- vinyasa with knees bent like Dhanurasana prep
L- eagle - tad vinyasa with knees bent like Dhanurasana prep
W2 arms bring up upper arm bone positioning and when is not home, and where is home that connects us back to the midline
Dancing warrior
Cow face with prone pec stretch prep - triceps stretch - fish twist - mod side plank prep set up collapse into shoulder and then push it away (inner body bright) keep that and squeeze arm bone into heart into home into the vibrancy of love, light, andintelligence (vibration of hOMe of our center)
High runners lunge twist
Low lunge twist- Low lunge quad twist
Cobra squeeze block between feet- push into hands plank on top of feet (Kidney Loop) - chaturanga- cobra 5x
Block between inner thighs Dhanurasana prep on forearms – to full Dhanurasana 
Roll onto back keep squeezing block between inner thighs during the transitions
Supta feet off floor in line with knees, knees over hips crunches
Squeeze blocks bridge
Tadasana Urdhva Dhanurasana shoulder prep work: arms forward hands in line with arm pits- hold block between hands squeeze to midline – broaden shoulders- arm bones back- scapula tips together. Keep that then bend arms at elbow bringing hands over elbow- then straighten 5x
Repeat but this time extend arms over head. Urdhva hastasana: hold block between hands, hands to sky- squeeze to midline – broaden shoulders- arm bones back- scapula tips together. Keep that then bend arms at elbow bringing hands over elbow so the hands should face the wall behind your head- then straighten 5x
Urdhva Dhanurasana prep on top of head integrate shoulders into sockets and back of heart 
Urdhva Dhanurasana prep- full. From the stop of your head. From the connect to yourself, your home press arms straight (just like in the drills above)
Or optional supported bridge
on back Asyemtical femur root - half happy baby- mod pada c- mantra missile
Supta Baddha konasana
meditation

Commit to your PRACTICE

I don't know about you, but for me November brings with it the stress and busyness of the the Holidays. I used to think when I got busy that my practice could become optional in order for me to "save time". What I found was that its especially when I don't think I have time for my practice, that is precisely when I need to MAKE time for my practice. We all have the same amount of time in the day and we get to CHOOSE what  we prioritize. I now know I must prioritize my practice, especially during the holidays so I can stay more sane, more calm, and more giving through this part of the year.

This doesn't mean I need to do the same two hour advanced practice every day, but for me I have found choosing a practice and doing it everyday helps me feel steady and calm.  

A yoga practice gives us the opportunity to PRACTICE being CONSISTENT and COMMITTED. If you need a little nudge to get more consistent in your practice, here it is: **nudge nudge wink wink**.

If you want to take it one step further, join me for a 40 day sadhna (personal practice).
I will be doing a 40 day practice starting November 11th (11/11 which an auspicious date with all those 1's and gives this day extra potential to shift our awareness) and ending on winter solstice (12/21).

To join me for this sadhna, all you have to do is pick a daily practice (list of suggestions below) and make a commitment to show up for your practice every day for 40 days. If you miss a day, that is OKAY. Use it as an opportunity to see how you feel when you do the practice and when you do not. A big suggestion is to pick something realistic, especially if this is your first 40 day practice. By completing a 40 day sadhna you build your practice muscles and you get a big self esteem boost. Pick something you can commit to doing everyday and then do it even when you do not want to (find out why below).

Here are some ideas:
5 sun salutation, 3 minutes of meditation
1 minute of meditation 2 x a day
11 rounds of a mantra (suggestions below)
108 rounds of a mantra (use mala beads to count)
Meditation 3 or 11 minutes
or your own thing

Suggestions:
Inhale: I love you, Exhale: Thank You
Inhale: Sat, Exhale: Nam
Exhale Breath Meditation: same count for inhale. retention, exhale for example: 5 count in, 5 count hold, 5 count out. Closed eyes gaze toward 3rd eye.

Mantra Suggestions:
The mantra: Om Shanti Shanti ShantiTranslation: Om Peace Peace Peace
May there be well-being for all,
May there be peace for all.
May there be wholeness for all,
May there be happiness for all.

The mantra: Sat Nam
*Sat is extended longer than Nam, radiate the mantra from the base of your spine to the center of your head
Translation:Truth is my identity

The mantra: (Siri Gaitri Mantra) Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung
Why chant it: It Sends healing energy to ourselves and others.

The mantra: Om Namah Shivaya Gurave
Translation: I bow down to all the teachers and teachings that lead me from the dark to the light

The mantra: (Lakshmi mantra) Om Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha
Why chant it: purifies and cleanses your heart, opening doors of opportunities that will transform your life. This mantra cultivates abundance and the connection to the abundance that is every present with in.

The mantra: (Gyrati mantra) Om Gam Gaņapateye Namaha
Translation: Om and Salutations to the remover and installer of obstacles.
Why chant it: helps you move through obstacles.
 

If you do this please let me know which one you are doing, I would love to know!. Feel free to message me for support or if you have any questions. There is something so powerful about being consistent for 40 days,  because at some point you are not going to want to show up for yourself. When you choose to show up, even though you don't feel like it over and over again...... That feels AWESOME!

Anusara Yoga Universal Principles of Alignment: Review Time

In August there was the first ever Anusara Instagram Challenge called #weareanusara. It lasted 5 days and focused on one universal principle of alignment (UPA) a day. I had a lot of fun coming up with my caption describing how I practice each UPA on and off my mat. Here they are, I hope they can help deepen your understanding of these vast and wonderful principles. 
#weareanusara! Day 1- Open to Grace.
Elements of Open to Grace:
Breath Foundation Side Bodies Long Inner Body Bright- Outer Body Soft

Opening to Grace, is not just something we should do at the beginning of our practice but is the foundation that we should carry throughout our practice and into all areas of our life. This principle asks us to soften, become more sensitive, feel and connect to our breath, body/ mind/ heart and the world around us with awareness and openness. It's from this place that we can respond optimally. We have the opportunity to begin our practice, and each new day humble, open, willing and hopefully excited!

Lately in my practice I have been thinking of Open to Grace as being Open to a Revelation. To opening myself up to an ah-ha moment that can remind me more deeply of my true essence and in that opening release limiting beliefs that hold me back. Opening up to the to truth that darkness is not a bad thing, challenges are not a bad thing. When I Open to Grace I am reminded that it’s the dark that nurtures growth and helps the light shine more brightly.

Open to Grace and see the light that surrounds you and that is you!!!



The second universal principle of alignment in the Anusara method= Muscle Energy.
Muscular Energy literally pulls us into our center. It creates security, firmness and power.
On the mat creating this integration steadies us and sets us up to do refinements (inner spiral/ outer spiral) and then extend our (organic energy).

My favorite place to practice muscle energy is off my mat. Can I draw into myself, get steady in my intention? That is muscle energy the drawing in! This helps me make refinements if needed before extending out. It's my tendency on and off the mat to skip the getting steady part and go straight for the freedom of extending for example into a pose or into a conversation.

However I have found that more freedom and joy comes when I slow down, draw in and reconnect (muscle energy). The steadiness of muscle energy leads to much more freedom in organic energy.

On the mat there are three ways we can engage our muscles:
1. From the skin to the bone.
2. To the midline
3. From the periphery—hands, feet and head—along the core lines to the Focal Point.

The third universal principle of alignment in the Anusara method is Inner Spiral. This is a refinement principle that comes AFTER Opening to Grace (1st principle) and Muscle Energy (2nd principle).

Inner Spiral is an expanding energy that runs from the feet through the pelvis into the waistline area to rotate the legs IN, move the thighs BACK and WIDENS the pelvis.

Inner Spiral in the arms draws the head of the arm bones in to the shoulder sockets, back and widens the scapula's. (Inner spiral in the arms can be confusing because the rotation changes depending on what plane the arms are in but the expanding results in the scapula's is the aim).

Practicing inner spiral off the mat just like on the mat comes after I open myself up, then I draw IN, and BACK into myself to see what is going on inside. Looking to see what is working well, what isn’t working, if my actions are in alignment with my intention (attitude). I can NOT figure this out if I don’t deeply look within. For me this often includes journaling.

After this I can anchor down (outer spiral) and extend out (organic energy) from a more clear and aligned space.

The fourth UPA in the Anusara method is Outer Spiral. Like inner spiral, outer spiral is a refining principle that comes after opening to Grace and setting the foundation (1st UPA), engaging the muscles (2nd UPA), creating space (3rd UPA).

When you create space in the pelvis with inner spiral there is often a collapse in either the low back, knees, ankles or a combination of those. Outer Spiral starts above the back of the pelvis and travels down to the feet. This engages the glutes, lessens or stabilizes the lumbar curve, narrows the sit bones, widens the knees, and draws the shins in. (There is also outer spiral in the upper body that narrows the scapula tips together just like the sit bones of the pelvis. Balance inner spiral and outer spiral of the upper body also help to align the wrists and elbows).

Inner spiral and outer spiral go together and everyone will have a different amount of each spiral to help them move from a place of too much, or not enough and into a place of JUST RIGHT (sattva). It is from this just right place that we will extend our from with the next UPA, Organic Energy.

Off the mat for me outer spiral comes after I open, reconnect to my center and draw deep into myself and get clear on what actions I should take to move me in the direction of my intention.
Outer spiral is the fire that fuels the commitment to take these actions to grow my intention.

Organic Energy the 5th UPA!
To review:
1st principle Open to Grace- connect to your breath, ground into your foundation, expand your inner body
2nd principle Muscle Energy- Engage you muscles and feel stable
3rd principle Inner Spiral- create spaciousness, align the heads of the femurs in the hip sockets create an in and up lordotic curve above the scrum
4th principle Outer Spiral- engage the glutes hold or lesson your lordotic curve align the knees towards the 2-3 toe
And now 5th principle!
After all the refining of bringing the bones and the muscles into a place better function ability and healthy it’s time to extend out! Physically, you keep the integration of Muscular Energy, and then extend and stretch out from that place of feeling really plugged in along with the refinements of inner and outer spiral. The brightness of the inner body expands out in every direction with joy, playfulness, freedom and the full expression of the pose is honored.

3 kinds of Organic Energy:
1 away from the focal point
2 away from the midline
3 away from the core and out through the skin

I think one of the most magical things about a yoga practice is it can change the way we extend our Self out to the world.
When I practice yoga (on or off the mat). I am a more kind, more patient and more helpful human. When I interact with people from a centered place it creates a positive ripple into the world. This is organic energy it’s being intentional with the way you extend out.
Organic energy for me can look like smiling at a stranger, spontaneously dancing with my kids, taking a deep breath and expanding when I see the sunset, or being able to articulate my feelings in a kind way during a challenging conversation.
The universal principles of alignment help me to co participate in life and set my intention, choose optimal alignment to lead to my intention and a way of taking action from that place of alignment.
Anusara Yoga and the UPA’s have changed my Asana practice and my life!

No more SHAME

Is shame something you focus on in yourself or in your parenting? I would love to hear from you about your personal relationship with shame.
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The topic of shame is something I am very passionate about after realizing how much my own shame talk contributed to my low self esteem and feelings of self worth.
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Now I do not use shame on myself or others! Shame talk is not allowed in our house! I try my best to keep my kids from feeling shame. Guilt yes!! But shame no!! I never ...want them to doubt there goodness or self worth!
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Do you know the difference between shame and guilt. Although they may seem similar, shame is highly correlated with addiction, depression, and aggression. Where guilt is connected to empathy and understanding and motivation.
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Shame= you make a mistake + “I am bad” = “I am a mistake”
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Gulit= you make a mistake + “I did something bad” = “I made a mistake”
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Shame erodes our courage and fuels disengagement. Guilt motivates us to take positive action to align with our values.
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I encourage you to look for shame and guilt. Do you ever drop something and say or think “I am
Stupid, I can’t believe I didn’t that!” That’s shame! When I started noticing this I was amazing how much shame talk I saw in my head and all around me.
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For example. Someone saw Violet (my 1.5 year old daughter) pick her nose and said “nobody wants to see that”. To me that sounded like shame. Instead of saying maybe there is a more appropriate place to do that. Or do you need a tissue? Or remember she is 1!
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Another example. When I started paying attention to this I noticed I shamed my husband when we would argue. I made him feel like he wasn’t worthy. When what I should have been doing was maybe laying on a little guilt. But never ever shame! I never want to shame others or be shamed!
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We are all innately, unique, awesome, and WORTHY! yes. We make mistakes. But we are not those mistakes. Can we use those mistakes to help us improve in the future. To motivate us to take positive action. Instead of shame ourself and live in fear that we are unworthy and disempower us!
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“I am worthy” “I am good” are some of my favorite affirmations.
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Finding the MAGIC in the MUNDANE

Special shout out to Elisabeth Stich's dance class who took this class via fortefit.com I hope you learn alignment actions in this class to help your body stay healthy and safe while moving on and off the dance floor!

Special shout out to Heather Skies who celebrate her birthday with friends in this yoga class, such an honor to be able to celebrate with you! Thank you for demoing and letting us celebrate you with our voice!

Theme: Finding the magic in the mundane. When we are present we get the opportunity to ground our self in the magic that is constantly unfolding within the present moment. This awareness of the here and now allows us to align our body, mind and hearts in a healing way.
Anecdote: When I move through my life and I get bored, or worst irritated, and everything feels so dull I normally have fallen into a habitual collapse. Whether its in my mind, my emotions or in my body. For me nothing good comes from staying in a habitual collapsed pattern. Its like when I drive home and I arrive without clearly remembering how I drove home. Thank goodness I didn't crash! Compared to when I am present and I pay attention to my drive and I consciously keep myself and others safe. Most regular moments could be considered boring but with attention, alignment actions and attitude all moments can become magical.
Universal Principle of Alignment Emphasis: shin loop, thigh loop. pelvic loop

Sequence:

Warm up 

Tadasana (align legs with shin loops aka slight bend in knees, thigh loop aka slight bend in hips, pelvic loop belly in. This is the alignment we are training in all the poses avoiding hyperextension in knees, hips and low backs so we can ground ours self in the magic contained in the mundane) 
Uttanasana- Ardha uttanasana 3x (watch those knees! are they bending backwards during the transition?)
Ardha uttanasana- tadasana 3x (keeping the same alignment in the legs use the power of the hips to bring yourself up to standing with a flat back and without losing the alignment of the legs. Check when you come up to standing if the head of the thigh bones press forward.)
Uttanasana- tadasana 3x 

Basic 

Tree (whats the bottom leg doing? Is the knee bending backwards? Keep the top of the shin forward, top of thigh back, belly in) - Eagle 

Uttanasana- parsvotanasa 2-3 blocks (use props to get the best action instead of sacrificing action for depth) - lunge - vinyasa- uttanasana- repeat on second side 
Warrior 2 (watch the back leg again you can hinge forward at hips to work the back leg: top of shin forward, top of thigh back, then use the actions of the hips to bring the torso up and the action of the glutes can help align the front knee over the ankle in line with the second toes (that's outer spiral))
Mod Parsvak- Parsvak (same actions as above) 

Harder 

Prasarita padottonasana (this is starting to sound repetitive, but same actions use a block to take the bend out of the spine, shines forward, thighs back, tone the belly stretch down through the feet and through the spine)- trikonasana ( start with block inside of foot hinge slight forward, set up lower loops, then use pelvis to lengthen spine forward and possibly moving block to outside edge of foot if you can maintain stability in lower loops and length in spine) block
Half moon- utthita padangusthasana B prep ( watch the bottom leg same set up as in tadasana, knee forward, thigh back (you can even lean forward to help with this action) then lift belly and use glutes aka pelvic loop to bring chest upright similar to the transition between Ardha utt and tadasana)
Low lunge quad (active feet, hinge forward, thighs back! then use pelvis to get torso up)
Half hanuman regular (watch front knee it often bends backwards, the stretch should be felt in the hamstring not the back of the knee, to stretch the hamstring lift the top of the shin while dragging the sit bone backwards and rooting the femur bone back)- take front foot wider to stretch the medial hamstrings - eka pada kindenyasana 2 (optional)
On side (I call this super model pose) grab top foot uttitha pada b
On block psoas stretch (block goes under low back, on leg straight heal on the floor other knee toward belly, then take knee out wide with hand you can use other hand to hold opposite pelvis for stability. Watch alignment! Tendency is for lower thigh to pop forward and externally rotate and knee possibly hyperextend. Tone leg, heal down, shin up, thigh down, medial leg internally rotates) 
Supta padangusthasana B 

Apex

utthita padangusthasana B 2x (grab pinky edge of foot in hand, hinge forward (similar to Ardha uttanasana) active legs tip bottom/ standing knee forward thigh BACK, extend foot into resistance of hand out to the side (like a ninja) the leg doesn't have to straighten the alignment actions are more important then the depth of the pose, keep the alignment of that bottom leg and use the actions of the hips to bring the torso upright. If your extra modbil and you get upright and your lifted leg hip is higher then your standing leg hip scoop the hip of the lifted leg under more and lift your belly. Root down through the earth and rise up through the spine)

Cool down 
Double pigeon 
upavista konasana root femurs (active legs, push heals into floor drag them towards hips this action should lift the top of the shins up, keep the shins lifting up while rooting the sit bones down and thighs down. IF you hips are really mobil tone belly in and up)
Dandasana (I think this pose is so difficult, its like Ardha uttanasana but the floor is unforgiving, same actions, active legs, press heals down drag them toward hips until top of shin lift root femurs down, create a lumbar curve and extend spine up.)

Shavasana