Month: September 2015

Categories
Yoga

Vignette from summer 2015

Trying out different yoga classes in Vancouver … this studio is chic – YYoga Flow where ironically their restorative yoga class Sunday morning is packed whereas the flow class is rather cozy … Why? Because the restorative class embraces ALL people and welcomes all in any condition. It’s the whole humanity seeking restoration this Sunday morning.
Loved this teacher’s eclectic playlist, his authentic talk about his wife and his 2-year old son, his ability to connect with the young and the old, a whole spectrum of students. While my friend thought he came off a bit egotistical; I on the other hand thought he was endearing for his love for his 2-year old was so …apparent. Guess I like to hear anything that’s heart warming and brings a smile to one’s face – why be so dead tired and burned out – instead, enliven, brighten, join the “living” using this kind of yoga.
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Was so thrilled to see one of my teacher’s book on the book shelf all the way up north in Vancouver. He’s such a humble teacher, he would be thrilled too I think:)
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Out in the park was Krishna Festival … totally unplanned; just bumped into it during a walk exploring. It might be called some consequence of the law of attraction.
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IMG_0185_smallGuess what this is? I was a bit surprised.
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Categories
Anything Cute Beautiful Rituals

Full Blood Moon, Lunar Eclipse

Our Universe is … beautiful and offers so much we can be grateful for.
We just have to stop and notice.
Autumn is a season for reflection upon restoration of your hardware and software. (okay, so I live in Silicon Valley.)
Blood-Moon-Doomsday-Fears-Lunar-Eclipse-2015-Sparks-End-Times-Fears
Haahhh, to be conscious – to feel the energy, not the solar type but the … lunar energy – lunar salutation mixed blend with Mitsu watching in the front yard (who by the way did not start howling at the moon – she’s more of a fox than a wolf.) So powerful to see the light behind the shadows cloaked over the red tinted moon – the shadow is our shadow, our earth blocking the sun’s rays to reflect on the moon …earth’s shadow on the moon – isn’t that just so… awe-inspiring. There’s no need to fear our own shadows – it’s impermanent – let it move in and out until the next … alignment … there’s nothing to fear as there will be another … shift.

I feel restored inside and out now ready for restful evening filled with dreams.

As a side note:
Japanese culture has a tradition of “moon viewing” and as with their culture, there’s always … food associated (as with all cultures probably since it’s kind of a party).
It’s customary to have a full moon viewing in Autumn where sweet cakes such as
“tsukimi dango” may be served.
Japanese moon viewing cakes are … cute:) Usually simple white mochi balls but there are some with golden sweet potato “an” or filling that looks like a “yolk” or a full moon:)

usagicake (image from a Japanese sweets shop in Yokohama …http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/gomadaremochi/a4aab7eeb8.html)

dango　credit goes to http://ca-sun.net/ blog

There’s a rabbit association with moon viewing because in the common folklore, family of rabbits supposedly live on the moon, puttering around making mochi… probably a vision seen by a child:) as they have wonderful imagination.

Here’s a bento box for a child … from a mom so into making such cute bento for her kids:

bentocredit to a blog site http://kototkis.exblog.jp/i51/

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Free image available at http://www.civillink.net/esozai//img/pics2127.jpg

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I love this blog… so pretty that it makes me want to go back to Japan. http://kajiyasan2.exblog.jp/

Categories
Yoga

Full Moon this Sunday

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Prior to moon viewing Sunday evening, subbing for Lisa, 90 minutes Restorative Yoga class at Bay Club Redwood Shores in the morning. I was so thrilled to learn of Lisa’s extensive training background:

Lisa Robinson is a graduate of Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and has taught yoga since 1989. She is a co-owner of the California Yoga Center in Mt. View. To create a safe and enjoyable yoga experience, Lisa focuses on the student’s abilities and needs. She encourages awareness, curiosity and acceptance on and off the mat. Lisa’s B.A. in dance lends to the creative and energetic nature of her classes. Many Iyengar instructors have influenced Lisa’s teachings, and she is currently studying with Manouso Manos. Lisa teaches a private weekly restorative class and other restorative workshops. She is a published pregnant model for Judith Lasater and Elise Miller and a model in Yoga Journal’s 1994 calendar. She also works with people with sports related injuries or surgeries, back problems and pregnant women.

So honored – thanks for entrusting me, Lisa ! We might share some of the same (best) teachers – I got you and your students covered:)

To me, Restorative Yoga is a “Relax & Renew” (a wonderful book by Judith!) style of yoga that gently brings about “restoration” both software and hardware of body, mind, and spirit.

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Then teaching restorative again late afternoon, that same Sunday at a lovely indie yoga studio called, Nandi. Do you know what Nandi means? More on this …at another time.