Author: Kay T. Ananda

Certification from Judith is something I am so proud of because I believe in her work and her teachings. So many people will benefit if we spread her teachings- in fact, many lives can be transformed if her practice is incorporated into everyday life.  Completing the Advanced level Teacher Training is also a cherished experience.  I do still have to turn in a final project for the advance level… SO… I am stressed so all the more I need to put myself into restorative yoga mode.

We have a hypothesis we want to prove – that restorative yoga will actually change your life. Its a delicious, luscious method. Restorative Yoga postures are held for measured length of time to facilitate a gentle releasing of the muscles in your body.  The long held poses are sequenced to invite the body to release any tensions and allowing the mind and heart to feel the richness and wholeness of our being.  As the practice unfolds,  circulatory and respiratory and emotional blockages are cleared and the integration of yoga’s benefits at all levels take place.

Restorative Yoga cultivates the strength in you to fully feel without fear- to come to this sense of acceptance of the eternal truth – that silence can indeed be golden (while scary at first) as you learn to tune in and listen to your inner voice. Students will learn certain breath work that relaxes and mindful movements that quiets into stillness which ultimately aims to lower the heart rate and blood pressure as well as recognize and heal from unproductive thought patterns that prevents you to be 100% authentic and engaged with this gift of life.  Yoga props are used to support you in each restorative posture enabling your muscles to take a vacation.  Yes, so that your muscles are no longer engaged and you are able to thoroughly release, relax… and ultimately renew.  Some say that after each practice, there’s a feeling of rebirth from within.

Honestly, this practice serves as a core to anyone’s self-care regimen as well as a complement to a more firey sweaty practice that engages the muscles, gets the heart pumping – both are good and both are needed.  If that engaged muscles of power is a “yang” practice, restorative yoga is the complete opposite- beyond “yin” as it’s about completely switching an “off” button rather than stimulating your nerves through any kind of muscle engagement or stretching.  It’s cooling lunar practice (thus the blankies and warm rooms) as you cocoon.  In fact, there’s little stretching – but more release, release, and release. 60 minutes of pampering that you deserve. It’s a complement to any practice for the ultimate goal of yoga, i.e., we want to be awake, aware and alive!  We want to just feel GOOD.  Detox and wash out any negative thoughts that have internalized within you over time.  Release & Feel the freedom, lightness, and the open space.

Contact wagayoga@gmail.com to inquire:)  Let’s breathe with your own rhythm, feel yourself wrapped in your private cocoon but connected, no, no, not to Wi-Fi but better connected …holding intention specific yoga poses targeted to loosen up your nervous system.  Your muscles turn to jello and your mind… your brain waves smoothed out and your bumpy flight rides through the turbulence.  Let’s get the monkeys in your mind to quiet down – stop that chattering – you can’t hear yourself.  shhhhh… hear your heart beat, hear your breath, hear the blood flow, sense the flow of thoughts like ripples dissipating and your mind turn quiet like a still lake … yes, you can. With no fear. There’s comfort and relief; There’s peace and ease.  It’s safe here because… there’s… no… judgement…

“Silence gives answers” – Rumi

There is nothing more satisfying to me as a teacher than to watch the glow with which people arise from Savasana. Often people walk into It’s Yoga with worry, stress and tiredness written all over their faces but when they leave, they show the effects of Ashtanga Yoga: they feel better and look better, lighter, freer, more relaxed and energized. This is why to me, teaching Ashtanga Yoga is a kind of self-realization; every time I lead class I, as a teacher, grow and express the insights of my own yoga. I see people take in the practice from various angles and develop, change and transcend their limitations, realize their possibilities.
—Larry Schultz, YogaDragonden Blog:In Memoriam: Larry Schultz 1950-2011, Feb 19, 2010

I thought Baron Baptiste or his father was the father of Power Yoga but it’s said that late Larry Shultz was one of the founders of Power Yoga with his signature teachings, known as “Rocket” series.  Judging from the name “Rocket”, I am imagining a very powerful, gravity defying, blasting into space -kind of practice. I wish I had taken his training in my 20’s – i.e., young, as he’s no longer with us.  But today,  so many of his students are teaching so in that way, he’s still around:) Love those words.

Age 61 is quite young to rocket up into the heavenly space, especially compared to his master, Shri K Pattabhi Jois passing at 93.  But some may live in the extreme (according to Wikipidea, teaching 9000 yoga classes & performing 63,000 sun salutations)  packing in a lot of LIVING, quality living in shorter duration.  Many believe that yoga is the secret to long life judging from the longevity of great masters like S K Pattabhi,  Krishnamachariya, and BKS Iyengar.  What would be your preference?:  To live a shorter but fully aware and vibrant life where you are conscious and present at every moment; OR live a long life but short on quality of life –  be dull and half or un-conscious most of the later years?

How about long and fully conscious and engaged life by maintaining a solid sense of spiritual path with optimal health. In Asia, it is believed that in order to age gracefully, one must temper one’s passion, rather than setting it aflame on fire as an all consuming life sucking pursuit.  Passion pursued with a slow , steady and deliberate heat like a slowly smoldering coal vs. a bonfire-like flame, set ablaze but at times destructive. Both burning, but one with moderation…so it lasts. Moderation is looked upon as a virtue to emulate.  Larry Shultz was known to be a great teacher and to the very end teaching – in this case, perhaps by demonstrating and contrasting.  It could be that his originally pre-determined mortality was age 33 BUT though determination and practice of yoga, he changed his fate and extended it to almost double.  Had he not done yoga, his life might have been over so pre-maturely at 32 or younger – ,maybe; just a thought to put things in perspective. That’s what I like to think as a great yogi should live a long and happy life, having ignited and stoked the fire in so many of his students…

San Francisco & Silicon Valley areas are blessed with so many local legendary teachers. We are lucky to have such dedicated teachers who try to improve the lives of many through their teachings.  I am lucky to learn from so many teachers from different styles and lineages so that I can re-construct them within myself to concoct a “blend” that works best for that practice at that moment, that day.  Being “in the moment”.