Day 3 and 4- Yoga and Meditation Challenge

DAY 3

Classes: 
Alana Kessler's Ashtanga inspired Vinyasa flow at Sangha Yoga Shala
Self Practice at the gym for 45 minutes

Meditation:
15 minutes

Notes:


Alana's Ashtanga inspired Vinyasa was surprisingly delicious.  I shy away from ashtanga because I prefer the unexpected sequences and flow of a vinyasa class rather than the perfect structure of the asthanga series.  Alana's class perfectly balanced the two.  The precise breath count felt like each pose was allowing my mind to take a break and to deeply enter each pose.  At the end of the class, I felt like I had meditated for an hour and 15 minutes.

Speaking of meditation, I can't seem to meditate on my own for as long as i'd like, now more than ever.  Putting pressure on myself  had the opposite effect on what I was trying to accomplish, and now I feel forced to meditate which makes me feel anxious about meditation thus making it much harder to achieve a calm mind.  Add the fact that i checked my bb as soon as I woke up, drank a bit too much wine and do not have earplugs, and there goes my meditation practice.  

I should have known better- Lama Kelly had warned us about the effects of checking our phones before meditation.  Also, she told us to get ear plugs so unexpected noises don't distract us (there is construction next to my apartment).  So I bought some earplugs and the challenge continues.

DAY 4

Yesterday I took a break from the challenge since I taught yoga all day long!  I practiced for about 45 minutes on my own.  

I was not sore yesterday.  My muscles got used to the beating quickly!

Day 2- Yoga and Meditation Challenge

Classes: 
Jivamukti with Cassandra
Conquering Lion Yoga with Lisa Jacobson

Meditation:
NONE. WTF.  (Too sleepy in the AM, high on caffeine in the PM).

Observations:

Cassandra's class was amazing!  It was really, really challenging in a good way. Clear instruction into full standing bow, and some crazy pose that looks something like the one below, but the arms are in knees, chest and chin arms.  Your chin is on the floor!  And now my chin is slightly bruised.  But it was really fun.  I also loved her class included handstand practice, forearm stand practice into scorpion, and half-moon pose with bow variation.




Lisa Jacobson's class at The Three Jewels:  If you've not had a chance to go to Lisa's class, you are really missing out.  Lisa's class started with a Dharma talk that made me all warm and fuzzy, a feeling that lasted throughout the entire class.  The class itself was a challenging, with many twists.  The music was awesome, and her adjustments are like getting a massage every time.  I felt surprisingly energetic through the class even though I had just finished the class at Jiva.  Lastly,  the savasana adjustment I got from Lisa is probably the best one I've had in my life- lavender oil massage on my shoulders and a scalp massage that felt I was at the hair salon.  I left the class high on yoga.

P.S.  My muscles are sore as f&^k!

Day 1- Yoga and Meditation Challenge

Classes:  
Jivamukti at 3:00 pm with Jessica,  I practiced alone at the gym for 45 minutes.

Meditation: 

Only for 15 minutes on my own, 5 minutes in Jessica's class.  Total of 20 minutes.  

Observations: 
I am sore! but in a good way.  My shoulders and hamstrings.  

Jessica kicks ass.  Her instruction is so clear, I never get confused.  She is also very good at keeping her breath count nice and even and she is so lovely.

I have been practicing handstand almost every day for months.  I don't always stay up, but yesterday I stayed up for about 15 seconds!

I need to work on meditation, way more than yoga.  I should quit drinking coffee in the morning for it is almost impossible to meditate with caffeine.  I may try a guided meditation at The Three Jewels and also some online guided meditations tonight.

Today:
Jivamulti at 4:00 pm and  Lisa Jacobson's class at The 3 Jewels, 6:00 pm.  Let's see if I am able to move tomorrow.

Deep down, I'm loving this adjustment.  Alyssa is amazing. 

5 days, 10 classes

 I am challenging myself to take 2 yoga classes and meditate twice a day until Friday.  If the regimen sticks may be I can reach Emptiness by the end of winter  (I kid, I kid).

As of the schedule for this week, I am all over the place!

12:15 today:  Viva Vinyasa open level
7:30 tonight:  Quick Fitness
7:00 am tomorrow:  Crunch, Fort Green
7:00 am Wed:  Quick Fitness
7:30 pm Wed: Quick Fitness
9:00 am Thursday:  Quick Fitness
Noon Thursday:  Sangha Yoga Shala Williamsburg
No classes on Friday and Saturday- Happy New Year!
Sunday 10:00 am:  Quick Fitness, Chakra new year series begins!

Phew!

xoxo

P

Gather, Rejoice, Repeat

As the year comes to an end, I am going to look back through my journal, 6x book, emails and Facebook to sort out what my year was like.   Although cumbersome, I will do this to rejoice on all the little things that I accomplished, to pat myself in the back on all the things that I've improved on, things I've learned, and to thank all those individuals that have made a difference in my life.  Lastly, I will put together my resolutions.   

My list will probably look something like this: 

- Sleep less (yes, I have a sleeping problem)

- Meditate for 30 minutes a day

- Save money

- Surf at least 20 times in New York (ECK!) 

- Yoga four times a week

- Talk to my nephews twice a week (I can hear them already saying "Why is tia Patricia calling me again?")

- Go to at least 4 art exhibits per month.

- Be punctual

- Be generous. 

These are all feasible, I hope.   

When it comes down to making and achieving resolutions, I work on making changes as if I was working with a kid.  For example, telling a child that he is awful at math, punishing him, taking the Wii away until he gets the homework perfect, and then telling him that if he doesn't improve within two weeks he is gonna probably never learn, is just f*cked up.  But yet, I used to put similar pressure on myself,  made ridiculous resolutions and failed to focus in the little steps that took me there.  I'd look at my past failures,  felt like shit for not achieving them, hit rock bottom, then make peace and start again.  What a violent way to make goals! 

Rejoicing on the little changes and goals I've achieved- rather than beating myself up for the ones I didn't- has been life changing.  This happened naturally; I noticed how happy I would feel when people around me made little changes to their lives that mattered, such as when one of my students finally did chaturanga correctly, or when my friend finally stopped partying every night and cut it down to partying 3 times a week. If I can feel  happy for the little changes the people around me are achieving towards a goal, why can't I do the same for myself?  

So as we all look back through our last year, we should rejoice on the little steps we accomplished.  Rejoice on all the baby steps the people around you have accomplished, and then go back and rejoice on yours.  So what if your wife is still annoying, at least she left you alone during those two games of ______ and then cooked dinner.  Or so what if you didn't get a boyfriend this year? At least you stopped looking in all the wrong places...   I stopped smoking this year, and although I have a cigarette here and there, I can say that I don't smoke anymore.  That's how this works. 

You may not have reached your resolution, but any effort towards that goal counts.  Next year (and every day after) you will have chance to try again. 

Nochebuena

Back home in Venezuela, tonight is the night we celebrate Christmas.  We cook all day, we hang out with family, and open our gifts at midnight.  This year I traded the tropics and have stayed put in New York City, something I've not done in about 10 years.  I plan on having dinner at my mentor's house and tomorrow will be crashing Christmas breakfasts around Williamsburg with peeps that also stayed behind..

Check your local studio for amended schedules.  As for my teaching schedule, Friday morning class at Viva Vinyasa is cancelled for the next two weeks, Quick Fitness on Friday at 7:00 pm is also cancelled for the next two weeks.  I am teaching all over next week and subbing for good friends that are out of town.  I will post my schedule on Sunday.

Wishing you all a happy holiday season! xoxoxoxoxinfinity

Summer Yoga Retreat, continued

My little sis and her boyfriend just returned from a vacation in Panama.  She loved it and said I'd probably love it too. And since I've been looking for a place to go spend the summer, I started to research Panama.  Panama looks so beautiful!    So in addition of spending June and July there, I am now thinking of doing a yoga retreat there (in addition to the Italian retreat).  I've gotten in touch with the owners of that hotel and they seem really open to it.  If the price is right, then its on.

I am excited, for by the time of the retreat, I will (hopefully) be certified to teach Conquering Lion Yoga.  May be some of my lovely classmates will come with and teach as well.   I may also teach surfing, or bring along someone that can teach surfing full time, we'll see.

P.S.  I am teaching tomorrow at Crunch in Park Slope 6:30 class and permanently have the Friday 10:00 am at Viva Vinyasa in midtown.  This is all in addition to my other classes at Quick Fitness, Viva and Sangha Yoga Shala.  Hope to see you!

Focus of the Week

During the past couple of weeks, I've had a hard time focusing.  I sit in front of my computer for hours waiting to come up with creative ideas for school-related papers or dharma talks, all while I check Facebook, read the New York Times online, and think about my next yoga class.

This is scary turf for me.  Before I started meditating, I suffered from a disease I believe every New Yorker suffers from- ADD...  I used to run around like a maniac attending meetings, going to school, I'd help friends with their creative projects, take on yoga classes I couldn't take on, and volunteer.  Everything I did was with great intention, but it was way too much.  Rather than dealing and focusing on one thing at a time, I chose to deal with 100 different things, never committing my full attention to one item.  It was a vicious cycle.  My non-New Yorker friends thought I was insane.  My New Yorker friends were right there with me, doing 100 things per day.  It was pretty bad.

    

That's changed a lot since I've started meditating.  By working on staying focused during meditation, my racing mind has calmed down a lot.  I feel liberated from the craziness of what used to be my thoughts and I have learned to say no.   I've learned to calm my life down through managing my thoughts.     

Drishti, the focus of the week, is defined as the focal point where one’s gaze lies to attain concentration and alignment to find inner and outer balance. When meditating, one's drishti should be in the breath for the first 5 to 10 minutes of meditation.  This helps direct the meditation towards stillness of the mind.  In asana practice, for example, in warrior one, one's drishti should be directed to the palms, as it helps the gaze forward, ground the feet and calm the mind.  

Exploring drishti in asana practice can be either scary or liberating.  One can assess at what level of concentration one is currently on, deal with it, and improve it.   For example, if you're prone to loosing your balance in a balancing pose, your eyes are probably wondering around,  most likely your mind is full of moving thoughts that pop in whenever they want- your drishti is all over the place. In that instance, keeping your drishti in one place for the entire pose count is your challenge.  By keeping drishti in one place, everything will align, beginning with your thoughts and allowing the body to follow.  

On the other hand, if you're grounded in balancing poses, your drishti is in good form. You most likely can gaze at one spot and immediately calm the mind, your drishti aligning to work with your body,  You are ready to explore different drishtis because the stillness of the mind is not affected the shift in the focal point.   It's very liberating to experience this.   

No matter where you are in your drishti practice, concentration can always improve for the goal is to reach Emptiness. Drishti is working ground for the most of us.  

Let's get on it...  And if you read this entire post, you're on a good path. 

Staying focused while demonstrating Adho mukha svanasana

There's nothing cute about this winter wonderland

Whatevs.  May be I'll try snowboarding..

Schedule

Catch me at the usual places and times, I am all better.

And thanks for reading.  I got some nice compliments from random people recently.  I guess I should start spell checking.

love.

Last minute cancellations

I've managed to catch a flu of some sort. None of my mother's ayurveda recipes are helping and I had to resort to good ol' fashioned antibiotics to soothe my throat.  It's day 2 of no solid food- I'm not digging this involuntary fast at all and I am dreaming of a grilled cheese with tomatoes.

I cancelled yesterday's class at Sangha and tonight's class at QF because I have no voice today. Sorry about that.

I hope to see you on Sunday!

Patricia

This week, getting it all together

Hiya dear yoga peeps,

I finally learned how to use Garage Band for the purpose of recording my classes. This past Sunday, I  recorded my class, then took it and critiqued it all as part of my CLTT homework.  I was stoked to break a sweat and I actually enjoyed the flow of the class but did notice that I talk a lot and say bad jokes throughout class.  Overall, I am myself.  

Thus, there's always room for improvement.   The bad jokes will never stop (sadly for you) but my flow WILL get harder.  You've been warned!   And if anyone ever has comments or suggestions, I would love to hear them!  Please email me at yogawithpatricia@gmail.com

This week I teach on Wednesday 7:00 am at QF, Thursday noon at Sangha Yoga Shala (Community class), Friday 7:00 pm at QF and on Sunday at QF at 10:00 am.   

Hugs to all  of you for you are all my teachers.

Patricia


  
  Of course I thought this was hilarious, I can't help it.  Regardless of my tendency to laugh at everything,  it was very informative, its all about the mula bandha!  

Kelly at the Shala

Kelly is teaching at The Shala tonight, yay!

Thank you awards

I am thankful for so much, including:

- My 10 year-old nephew's random phone calls to let me know what's up with him (per his words)

- For chupe (the best venezuelan soup in the planet) is sold a mere three blocks away from me.  Venezuela in a spoon.  

- For soup, overall

- For all the people that write blogs about yoga, surfing and bad art, for I spend a good hour a day or two not doing things I'm supposed to do and I just read them. 

- for good art blogs too, like this one. 

- For my students for they are really my teachers. 

- My beautiful dharma teachers Lama Kelly Morris and Lama Kimberly

- My favorite yoga pose of all time, Scorpion.  All the time I spent making this pose perfect, to find that yoga is a million times more than just touching your head with your toes while upside down.  If it wasn't for my need to perfect this pose, I probably would not be where I am. 

- For Phillipe Parreno

- 20 minutes or more meditation sessions  

- My ridiculously optimistic attitude

- For being able to nap every day

-  CUNY tuition
- The ocean, even the Northeast coast, green and all.   

- My sister choosing a wearable maid of honor dress for me to wear to her wedding

- Clever Facebook updates

Am I missing anything? 

Tapas and Giving Thanks

When thinking of Tapas, I think most of us think of that restaurant, or of chorizo, batatas bravas, etc. 
Unless you have heard of that term in Yoga.  In yoga, Tapas is Niyama #3.  To read all of the Niyamas (and the yamas), click here.

Tapas has become one of my biggest priorities. Tapas means to apply all your discipline to your practice.  I like to think of it as having a "no pain, no gain"attitude. And to me, tapas, or discipline towards a goal, applies to much more than just my asana practice. It applies to everything around me that I am trying to change and improve. My quest for becoming a better person (or finding emptiness, per my lineage) and everything that falls under than huge umbrella (meditation, generosity, love, my karma, etc, etc).   I work on changing for the better, then I forgive myself for my mistakes, and finally, I give thanks to the person or situation that is allowing me to come into this realization.  I give this my all.  


Yesterday in teacher training with Lama Kelly, one of our fellow TT's talked about a situation in which she purchased food for a homeless person.  She was practicing generosity with an open heart, with a good intention.  In return, the homeless person told her that the food that was purchased was not the food that she would prefer and asked that she buy her something else.  This, upset my friend.   But Lama Kelly gave us an amazing way of looking at the situation-  she said that she should learn from the homeless person and explore how that person made her feel.  Rather than responding by being upset and pissed at the homeless person, the other choice is to choose to learn from them-  ask questions such as "how can I learn from this situation?"  how can I shift my energy so that I don't respond in an angry way?"  ANY situation can teach you to look at yourself and celebrate that you are choosing to make the right decision, that you are learning something, that you are improving...  

This week, thank all those people around you that give you these realizations, subtle or huge.  People that remind you of how good, or bad you have been.  This includes the person that pissed you off on the train (for they made you realize that your anger is useless), that person that made you feel bad about yourself because they were prettier/smarter/richer than you (for you are responsible for feeling that way towards them, its not their fault), your parents (for they love you), thank EVERYONE, for everyone teaches you something every single day.

Class schedule

Monday:  Quick Fitness at 7:00 am
7:30 pm:  Viva Vinyasa, open flow
Wednesday: Quick Fitness 7:00 am
Thursday:  Sangha Yoga Shala community class at noon

I'm off to Miami for the weekend.  My classes at QF are subbed to Catherine Helleux on Friday and Cass on Sunday.

xoxo!

Patricia

No gripping

My beautiful friend Joanna is in town, and as a fellow yoga teacher, we wake up, go to bed, and in between talk nothing but yoga.  It's so nice to be able to share yoga experiences and come up with answers to our own questions based on our talks.

Today, we were discussing how upset we get when we are running late for yoga classes or miss yoga overall because of a schedule hiccup.  It made me think of this attachment to yoga classes that sometimes we feel.  It's like yoga is going to save our lives or something.  Gripping to the idea that yoga is what will make your day better.

We have to separate ourselves from this feeling of attachment to everything. It sounds super harsh, and we must do this little by little.

To practice unattachment, we can begin on the mat.  The sequencing, the teacher, the poses, is not what is making us feel good.  WE are making ourselves feel good by practicing, by committing to class, by working on your postures, by allowing ourselves to disconnect from everything, we are increasing our self esteem, etc etc.

Tap into what it IS you feel when you are doing something you love, and disconnect it from what is providing you that blissful feeling.  Ultimately, it is always US providing ourselves that feeling.   We are responsible. Simply connect with that.   Once you find that, you can then find that feeling anytime.

For this week, let's explore the blissful feeling of asana practice by stepping it up a notch in all your poses. Challenge your mind to the next step and forget about the pose, just notice how it makes you feel and memorize that blissful feeling so you can keep it anytime.

Busy schedule

Tomorrow at Quick Fitness 7:00 am
Viva Vinyasa in midtown at 7:30 pm

Wednesday at Quick Fitness 7:00 am
Thursday at noon at Sangha Yoga Shala
Friday at 7:00 pm, core-fusion yoga at Quick Fitness
Sunday at 10:00 am at Quick Fitness

I also start teaching teenagers in an after school program on Wednesdays.  I am looking forward to this week!  And midterms are done, phew!

Have a great week!

Practicing when you are sick

I love New York and all, but come the colder seasons and New York City becomes like a giant kindergarden class, where germs are exchanged through trains and public places, yuck!

If you feel slightly sick (like I have all week) do yourself and everyone around you a favor and stay home.  This also includes not practicing yoga at a studio.  Let your body rest and nourish your body with lots of healthy food and herbal teas.

Here are some great ayurvedic recipes to help with the stuffies of a cold:

-  Pepper and honey mixure in the morning.  Take a spoon of honey and grind 7 peppercorns on it.  Start your day with one right after breakfast.
-  If you already have a full-on chest cold, do the following: buy a jar of honey, a medium purple onion and about 2 lemons.  Grind or chop the purple onion, mix it with the honey (yes, I know), and then squeeze some lemons on top of the mixture, then mix it all together.   Eat the entire jar within three days. This is seriously good!   I used to do it when I first moved to the Northeast and I didn't have health insurance to help me pay for antibiotics.  My mom's recipe :)
- Alternate nose breathing is another good way to start your day.  This will help clear both nasal channels and bring some energy on the moon and sun nadis (left and right energy channels). Do this right before your meditation so your breath can stay steady during meditation.

bug hugs,

Patricia


P.S.  My schedule remains the same!  I teach tomorrow at 10:00 at Quick Fitness for those of you that skipped the halloween madness.  I am doing a series on the energy line starting with the root, the lowest part of the spine.   xoxo

I have been told I laugh way too much..

The Dalai Lama on laughter :)

Hamstrings hamstrings

Tight hamstrings not only limit out mobility and make forward bends difficult, but they also cause chaos on our lower back.  As a teacher, I like to dedicate a week to our hamstrings every two months or so.  The cherry on the top is when you are finally able to see the difference in a split.  It also reminds us to breathe into the poses, to be compassionate with ourselves, not to fold too fast or too hard.  Our hamstrings are a nice reminder of how to treat ourselves- gently and mindfully.

So this is my theme this week.   See you at the mat!

patricia

Learning Sanskrit Yo

I spent the whole weekend learning Sanskrit.  I actually spend an average of 50 hours per week either in class, doing homework or doing research, which is all good because I then get to share my knowledge with peeps either in my yoga classes or in school.
Here's a pic of me nerding it out, in true form.



As of my teaching schedule this week:

Monday, 7 am at Quick Fitness/ 8:30 pm Hot Yoga at Crunch Union Square, subbing for Ambyr
Wednesday, 7 am at Quick Fitness
Thursday, community class at Sangha Yoga Shala
Friday, core fusion yoga at 7 pm at Quick Fitness
Sunday at 10 am

I have been doing homework since I came out of class at 11:00 am and have not been able to come up with a theme for this week.  I am thinking Half moon with bow (as I did in my morning class today).  Will post later.

Hugs to all!

Conquering Lion Teacher Training, second term added!

More Retreats

The fabulous Joanna is also speaking to her friend in Italy (IN TUSCANY!) for an amazing deal for another yoga retreat.  Cooking classes, yoga everyday, private lessons, low season prices.  This is so exciting!

Bali and Italy retreats.  Double wowza!  Please stay posted.

LAMApalooza and schedule changes

It has been an overwhelming weekend with Lama Kimberly then with the Gita talks with Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally.  The messages are many- Find your Gurus, see the Buddhas in all, find the Self via meditation..  Wowza.

What topped the weekend with Lama K was a class at Go Yoga with one of my favorite teachers, Matt Lombardo.  He is always able to successfully combine a challenging asana practice with the Tibetan Buddhist teachings.  I felt like I was taking a class with Lama K.   And what Matt does as a teacher (to combine the asana with the heart)  is what I aim to do as a teacher.  What is a strong body without a strong heart? 

This week, I am focusing on this heart opening theme.  We do not have to be into Buddhism to work on opening our heart.  We can simply focus on opening our front upper body, the pectorals,  our intercoastal muscles (the little muscles along the ribcage) even our triceps. This opening improves our posture and releases our back.  We sit in front of the computer for hours per day and our shoulders slouch forward, our front torso tightens.  So even if you don't believe in the heart opening (chakra) benefits of an asana practice,  you can just think of it as a release from the tightness we get from slouching forward all day and ultimately the area around the heart is freed.  

Schedule

I am subbing tonight for the lovely Jozelyn at Sangha Yoga Shala (9pm)

Tomorrow I start a community class at Sangha Yoga Shala (noon)

Friday class is subbed at Quick Fitness (7:00 pm) I will be back next week. 

Saturday class at Sangha is cancelled until further notice. 

Sunday at 10 am Quick Fitness continues.  

Hugs to all!

Patricia 

Bent On Learning

I also start with Bent on Learning in a Chinatown school on October 21st, teaching pre-school kids to yoga.   PS2 in Chinatown, pre-school kids with a teacher that has never left neverland- I'm thrilled! 

Changes in schedule

This rainy weather makes me want to live in a yoga studio.  It's only Tuesday and I've gotten 3 yoga classes in..  Trying to stay calm as the semester in school heats up.

Sooo, if you're planning on catching me this week, my focus is to bring lightness to every pose.  My inspiration comes from my upcoming weekend with Lama Kelly Morris and the Conquering Lion training in which we will be studying anatomy for asana.  The goal is to separate completely from the asana and letting the asana take you to the next level.  I'm in! 

• Tomorrow I'm at Quick Fitness bright and early for the 7:00 am 
• I am subbing on Thursday at noon at Sangha Yoga Shala
• I will not be teaching the core-fusion yoga on Friday at QF.  The awesome Catherine Helleux will sub. 
• Saturday I am at Sangha Yoga Shala at noon.  Please note that this class will be moved to 10:30 am come Saturday October 16 and it is for intermediate-advanced students. 
• Sunday at 10:00 am at QF. 

My Crunch schedule is still pending. 

My playlist this week is mellow since I am taking it up a notch on the asana practice side in order to continue with the detox plan.  I've got some Beach House, I just got the new Interpol and ending with some beautiful Krishna Das chants.  Yum yum! 

See you on the mat! 

Patricia 

Detoxing for Fall

In the last few weeks, I have been detoxing by doing lots of mental laundry (working on removing negativity from around me)  along with watching my diet (no more dairy, cutting down on bread, very little refined sugar), I am also drinking my daily vitamin b12  (good mood in a vitamin) and cutting out unhealthy habits- Phew!  I am doing all this in preparation for a positive and healthy winter.

In our asana practice, to detox is to twist.  When twisting, all your organs get a rush of fresh blood when you release a twist- oxygen rushes and energy releases onto the energy centers equally.  Twisting is also good for your nervous system, bringing it stimulation which is perfect for the cooling weather blues.  I have put together a lovely twist class for tomorrow's class at Sangha Yoga Shala with hopes that the students get a dosage of brand new energy and begin to prepare for winter as well.

Have you meditated today?

• 
  

I have been meditating every day as a requirement of the Conquering Lion Program.  Meditation is something that I have always wanted to do, and as Lama Kelly said "we don't do it because we know we have to" which is probably the only reason why I never did it.   Meditation calms the mind, clears our thought paths, creates a good habit, makes us more aware.  Yes, we should ALL be meditating.

I'd take part of the meditations offered in yoga class and really enjoyed them.  But sitting in meditation hurts my knees a lot and makes my entire lower body fall asleep to the point of pain.  This discomfort was so alien to me for I have been practicing yoga for years and have open in my hips.  I also rarely suffer from asana related knee issues.  Among the many other reasons why I didn't meditate daily, the discomfort was my main reason.

Here are some tricks to start your own meditation practice:

• Set up a comfortable space in your room or apartment.  Start by setting a table add some flowers, incense or anything that makes you feel like you would like to visit that space.  Pictures of loved ones, of the Dalai Lama, things that inspire you.    

• Set up your blankets in front of the table.   For me, this means A LOT of blankets and pillows under my sitting bone.  The hips need to be elevated above your knees so your knees rest of the floor.  I have also been putting blankets under my knees so they are not directly on the floor.  Try the seat a couple of times and make sure that you are going to be able to sit there for a while. 

• Light your incense (if you like it).  I find that lighting the incense in another area of the room works better for me so the smoke does not bother me.  I love the smell of incense. When I was in Bali, I woke up to the smell of incense every day for this is how the Balinese call the Gods.  I found this beautiful!  When I light incense, I feel like I'm waking up in Bali all over again.  May be for you, this is vanilla or lavender.  Something that soothes you and brings up a good mood.  

• Lastly, close your eyes and bring your attention to the tip of your nose.  And breathe, breathe, breathe.  Watch your breath as if you're watching the most interesting movie you've ever seen. 

• Start with 10 minutes and take it from there. 

There are many different types of meditations.  Find one that is appealing to you and take your time getting to know your meditation style.  Enjoy the clear mind!

Student For Ever

I started my second teacher training today with the amazing Kelly Morris. I have been listening to her podcasts and classes for a while but due to my school schedule I was never able to go to her classes in person.  

We went over so much material already and I am so excited to apply these philosophies onto my life.  I am beyond excited and happy!

Bali Retreat

When I was in Bali this past summer I met a lovely Italian couple.  They had been in Bali for about 6 years and wanted to make it their permanent home.  I do not blame them!  They mentioned that they are opening a little hotel with a spa a few blocks away from the one of the best surfing beaches in the world- Uluwatu. I immediately thought of doing a yoga retreat, what a dream it would be to have it there!  Bali is gorgeous and they were amazing.  So I've kept in touch with hopes of doing a retreat there sometime next year.

The retreat in many ways will be like other yoga retreats, incorporate yoga every day, healthy meals and have the amazing experience of visiting this unique island.   But I want to make it affordable.  The need to spend so much money on yoga retreats is beyond me.

My BF and one of my fave yoginis Joanna Benevides and I have talked about this retreat before and I really hope we do it.  She is a fantastic and experienced teacher. I cannot think of a better person to do this retreat with.

We will see what happens!

Playlist and Schedule

I am obsessed with the new Arcade Fire album.  For this week, my playlist includes three of their songs.  I will be dancing while teaching.  Beware.

Some of the songs I have for my playlist this week are:

Half Light I- Arcade Fire
The Weight of my Words (Four Tet instrumental remix)- Kings of Convenience
Rococo- Arcade Fire
10 mile Stereo- Beach House
Hearing Damage- Thom Yorke
Transglobal underground
Krishna Das

And a beautiful Indian instrumental I got from my good friend and yoga teacher Alli LaGreco.

My teaching Schedule this week is the same as last week's, I hope to see you on the mat!

Hugs to all!

Uluwatu 

Schedule this week

Hello hello!

My schedule this week is as follows:

Monday- Quick Fitness at 7:00 am, 1 hour express
Wednesday- Quick Fitness at 7:00 am, 1 hour express
Friday- 7:00 pm at Quick Fitness, Core fusion yoga (yeah!)
Saturday- Sangha Yoga Shala at noon- Intermediate/Advanced class
Sunday- Quick Fitness at 10:00 am

ciao!

Humbled

I am doing lots of reading for my upcoming yoga training and I am truly humbled by Geshe Michael Roach and his thoughts on Teaching.

My journey to be a Teacher is a long one.  I am reminded, once again, that I am forever a student.

Pic

I took a bunch of pics in preparation for a website that I never ended up creating.  I felt a little weird having my own site and  I opted for a blog instead.  So here is one of the pics...  More to come.

I am excited for the weekend!  I don't have school tomorrow nor Friday.  I now have time to catch up on my Conquering Lion pre-reading and then get ready for Julie's wedding on Friday.   It will be great to see old Boston friends and see Jules and Randy tie the knot.  To think that they met at a bar on Fenway!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

Morning Glory

I woke up with a fever.  And, I noticed that I made a mistake with this week's schedule in the previous update (below) and in an email I sent to a lot of my friends.  As a good yogi, I just tell myself that these things happen, we make mistakes and we can't control everything, but the New Yorker in me is screaming in my head in pure panic.  It's all about the balance.

So, please note, this Saturday, the wonderful Dominick is teaching my noon class at Sangha.

Now off to take some dayquil.  Have a good day.

Forever Summer

Summer 2010, I will miss you

Once again, my life revolves around the school year.  As the summer comes to an end, I can feel the butterflies I used to get when I was little; my mind filled with shopping for uniforms and new backpacks, looking forward to seeing my friends.  Now, 20-something years later,  I feel the butterflies from the anticipation of college, yoga trainings, creative projects, sibbling's weddings, etc, etc.

In between Hunter College (art, art and more art) and the Conquering Lion yoga teacher training program,  I will also work with my good friend Xavi on his next film, the follow up to The Strangers Land, a visually poetic film he directed (check out the trailer at http://www.thestrangersland.com/).   I am also thrilled to be part of Bent on Learning, a not-for-profit yoga program for kids around the New York City area.  I am the maid of honor in my sister's two weddings, February in Miami and June in Venezuela.  Oh, and this new blog too, thanks to the suggestion of Octavia.  A year full of good stuff!

My weekly teaching schedule is below and apologize in advance for this shameless self-advertisement.

Monday:  Quick Fitness at 7:00 am- Energetic Vinyasa flow
Tuesday:  Sangha Yoga Shala at 7:00 am- Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesday: Quick Fitness at 7:00 am- Energetic Vinyasa flow
Thursday: Sangha Yoga Shala at 7:00 am- Vinyasa Yoga
Saturday:  Sangha Yoga Shala at noon (intermediate/advanced class)
Sunday:  Quick Fitness at 10:00 am

I also teach at Crunch but have not gotten a confirmed schedule yet.  I will do more shameless self advertising when I know more.

Happy Labor Day!