It's been a while

Greetings from Miami!  My sister is getting married next weekend and I've arrived here a week before to be part of the preceding events.

That said, all my classes are subbed so please check Viva Vinyasa's facebook page for instructor's details.  At Quick Fitness, Emilia (who you may remember from the summer when I was away) will be subbing my classes, Lauren will sub my core class and Jozelyn on Sunday.

I hope everyone is staying warm!

P.S.  I have added a new class to my schedule at a loft of Delancey.  It is at 7:00 pm every Wednesday and it is RSVP only.  A great space with some of the most amazing creatives I know.   Please email me for details! 

Subbing for Lisa Jacobson at The Three Jewels

During the yoga challenge of the end of the year,  I raved about my mentor's yoga class at The Three Jewels.  Her classes are a challenging yet filled with pure love.    

I am subbing for Lisa next week while she is on holiday.  If you've not been at The Three Jewels, please come visit, it is a class by donation only.  And while you are there, check out their amazing upcoming program about the Boddhisattva Bows.  

xoxo. 

Learning how to meditate

Meditation is THE BOMB...  Just FYI.

Basics of meditation

New Schedule

Heya yogis and yoginis!

My new schedule is as follows:

Monday:
7:00 am at Quick Fitness
10:00 am express at Viva Vinyasa
12:15 express at Viva Vinyasa
7:15 Open at Viva Vinyasa

Wednesday:
7:00 am at QF
10:00 am at Viva
7:30 pm at Viva Vinyasa

Thursday:
Noon at Sangha Yoga Shala

Friday:
10:00 am at Viva Vinyasa
7:00 pm at QF

Saturday:
Noon at Viva Vinyasa (Intermediate- advanced)

Sunday:
10:00 am at QF

Also, restorative classes are in the works! Among other things.

Hope to see you!   Please email me if you have any questions!

fundamentals

The beginning of the year is a great reminder that we always have a chance to change.

Although in making resolutions we should shoot always high, we must first make sure that there is a strong starting point, a strong root for our goal.   For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, you must be realistic and make sure that you have healthy knees and have been a previous runner before.   Or if you want to travel to a far away country, you must have a passport.   

With our yoga practice, before moving forward, there are many things that can be considered a "fundamental" part of yoga, and they are personal depending on what you're trying to reach in your practice.  When I started, i focused on my core as an essential part of my practice, for my goal was to get nice abs.  And these foundations have changed for me many times- from making my legs really strong so I can hold poses  for a long time to practicing Ujaji breath from the beginning to the end of a class.  I've achieved that- so now, my focus is to leave my ego out the door and be able to meditate through the entire practice.  I would never be able to pick these goals if I didn't have a strong core, strong legs and a strong concentration level to begin with.  For next year, my focus will probably be something else and my foundation will be even more solid.  I worked from the ground up.

As you move forward in your practice, have a strong foundation in which you can build your goals upon.  Start by picking a goal, breaking it down, and working from the ground up.  Lastly, make sure you celebrate the baby steps that take you to your goal and don't be upset if once you reach your goal you realize that's not even what you wanted in the first place- the journey is the fun part.

Have a lovely week!
Patricia

P.S.  If you're looking to start to practice or need a foundation refresher, try doing a workshop like this.

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!