Category: Beautiful Places

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Intentions create the energy of the space. When there’s collective intentions, the energy is palpable. As an observer, it is visible. The quiet calm glow that’s rather oozy – sloooooow progression.

I am struck by it each time I make an offering of that space to be shared…I feel the calm, peaceful “energy” that re-surges as I look around and I see a human re-fueling station. I don’t mean fuel as in food and water but us humans require more than the minimum sustenance of food, water and shelter to “re-fuel”. We harness energy 2-ways; By working-out & by working-in. Both are needed and complement each other.

My intention is to make the space safe and place of nature…We can’t always get-away to connect with nature; Our daily commitments mean we cannot always escape to the beach or to the mountains – and for some, workplace is life, your home (now employers want you at workplace all the time so all the perks – espresso machine, tea bar, salad bar… the gym with round-the-clock yoga…everything provided for – you can work longer hours!) but we can with the power of our own mind – connect with nature; connect with your own truth – in an urban mini-“spa”, a sacred space, because anyplace you practice “metta”, a Buddhist concept of compassion, kindness … benevolence… is SACRED.

Intentions in a Christian sense or in any religion is probably similar to a prayer, and setting an intention is a kind of an “affirmation” that gives validity and a horse-power to your desires. It does not have to go on a moral high ground UN-ish like “world peace” – it can focus solely on you – a desire for a transformation even on a micro, Nano-level…from within.

Here are some intentions you can try…or custom make one for yourself – it can be a fun exercise – let it become an affirmation.

– My body has its own wisdom and I trust that wisdom completely.
– Today I choose to honor my beauty, my strength and my uniqueness.
– I love the way I feel when I take good care of myself.
– Today I put my full trust in my inner guidance.
– I allow the universe to bless me in surprising and joyful ways.

If you are going through tough times, this may be challenging but soften your gaze, look within and find the fire again…may hope and faith guide you…and as Judith H. Lasater taught us, exercise this technique:

“be RADICALLY present”.

If you can memorize mantras in Sanskrit, this should come easily:) … Chanting mantras has a different effect and a purpose but affirmations may come more easily to you – Realizing that we all have so much on our plate – sometimes it’s hard to digest all but even digest just a portion provides nourishment – it need not be a Grande super-size portion – you may come to see what I mean by re-kindling your own inner-fire that resides in your belly – it just takes a spark or sometimes, just far reaching oxygen (“breath”)so that the flames rise up to warm your heart…

Haaahhhh, BIG sigh- stretch:)

Gratitude for the space filled with collective intentions.

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Beautiful People Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

Wanderlust!

At the Highest Place as a volunteer, I observed the following classes and for Jes’s class, recruited by her for the partner poses – so fun!

Hatha In Depth taught by Jason Wiley
Oxygen Cocktail Bar: Breathing Techniques taught by Jes Rosenberg
Great Big Heart, taught by Martin Scott

The location of these classes – atop Squaw Valley at 8600ft. is just… breath-taking. Jason taught basically Bikram yoga in a non-heated environment and since I used to do Bikram yoga, the progression brought me back memories of my old practice. Jason really has ways with words – very articulate – such mastery of detailed instructions. He might have been talking non-stop for 90 minutes… Marty’s class was Dharma Mittra flow-ish and he also brought his charm…and a playlist:) I especially enjoyed Jes Rosenberg’s class – Her class is essentially vinyasa flow served like a “cocktail” – no, no, not that kind of cocktail – just very very lovely. It’s not your sweaty workout but plenty sweaty in a euphoric way – but at the same time, tranquil …and soooo fun!Her enthusiasm, her quick wit and quirky sense of humor in addition to a very blended style that draws from multiple styles, traditions and teachings appealed to me greatly. I would love to take her class again (next time on a mat!) – too bad she’s from Minnesota. I will just have to re-create it with my own blend and a twist – and serve up my fruity version of a “cocktail”!

So all of the above-teachers were new in that it was their first time ever teaching at Wanderlust and for that, it was so refreshing to encounter them. This is in stark contrast to the kind of teachers I learned from last year – Last year, I took Tantric Yoga from Rod Stryker; Vinyasa Flow from Sean Corne; then another Vinyasa Flow with MC Yogi. As they are “celebrity” instructors, the classes were packed, maybe 300-500 large. That kind of class is of course so amazing but I also enjoyed this year’s more low key, smaller classes with teachers with little name recognition. Unlike the rockstars from last year, Jes kept on exclaiming how thrilled she was to be teaching us, so thrilled to be there at a most beautiful place – she exuded gratitude & electric excitement – and she was so genuine. Just such a lovable and lovely yogini with an infectious energy – she is brilliant.

This year, I took classes from the following Three:

Live with Love Yinyasa (vinyasa flow paired with yin) taught by Bashi Saunders
Becoming Like Angels – Experiencing the Kindness in you, taught by Gurmukh … goosebumps, yes, Gurmukh!
Kula Flow: Sweetened with Honey taught by Schuyler Grant

I loved Gurmukh’s class – there’s so much wisdom she imparts as probably the oldest yoga teacher there, at age 70, she was glowing with aura… you literally can feel the vibe as you step into her presence. Her fills the void and brings the gift of sacred space and community – her teachings to a packed adoring audience – so many in their 20’s and 30’s, hearing the words of the legendary teacher. She must be one of the few remaining Flower Child from the 60’s still teaching – I mean, who can talk about Woodstock and Hippies with the authenticity that she has. She’s lived it.

I took her class on Saturday but apparently, her Thursday class had cancelled because of the thunderstorm brewing – she said something like (not with conceit but with humility and humor) – “you know, it seems every place I go, I seem to bring the place down with rain” – then guess, what?! There was an exclamation among students who were not under the tent because… yes, it started raining… Those students in the periphery of the crowded tent weren’t trying to stay dry in seeking refuge under the tent – they sort of dashed out onto the green lawn and really, and we under the cover of this huge tent were witnesses to some impromptu rain dance:) Perhaps many of us, at that point became convinced that she’s indeed a rainmaker:) What California needs!

Towards the end of the session, my belly was in stitches laughing – I couldn’t stop the ripples of laughter from taking over – when we realized how ridiculous we must look doing some of her “poses” – she really makes us “feel” what “relief” from pain and suffering is all about. In the end we were all rolling on and off the mat and just laughing! Her class is pure “LOVE FEST”! Pure Joy! Sat Nam!

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Beautiful Places

WONDERLUST!

Squaw valley, Lake Tahoe…

you are water
I’m water
we’re all water in different containers
that’s why it’s so easy to meet
someday we’ll evaporate together
but even after the water’s gone
we’ll probably point out to the containers
and say, “that’s me there, that one.”
we’re container minders
– Yoko Ono (Water Talk, 1967)

Volunteered at Wanderlust and then got to take 3 classes Saturday (here, me the student). Friday, assigned to “yoga rooms”? The yoga “room” assigned to me was not a room per se – it was The High Camp atop the mountain at elevation 8600ft. This yoga “room” was outdoors under a white bright tent atop Squaw Valley with heavenly view – sunny azure sky with fresh exhilarating breeze through your hair… The “room” overlooked the mountain and the valley the arial tram that brought us up. 3 completely different classes with distinctively different instructors (here, me the volunteer assistant) – each was fabulous in his or her own way. I feel lucky to really come in such close contact with some of country’s best yoga teachers and learning from them. There are so many take-aways when you learn from those who are so dedicated.

Beautiful People; Beautiful air; beautiful view… will post photos and description of classes later. Now back to elevation of maybe 40 ft. coming back from 8000 ft. The light-headed-ness, the light-heartedness – the bliss remains or at least the memory of it.

Here back in town, I already miss the crisp alpine infused air of the Sierra mountains – thin oxygen level, yes, due to the altitude but deeper richer quality of that oxygen from all those trees covered mountains … so energizing at the same time – relaxing – it’s a perfect balance where the air energizes you and at the same time, relaxes you. Highly recommended. Anyone will sleep well at night breathing and moving by that beautiful cobalt blue waters of Lake Tahoe. 4 hours drive with no traffic and in my case nearly 6 hours … due to bumper to bumper traffic at couple of bottlenecks … driving can be such a choir… but well worth the trip for yoga & nature lovers, people & tree huggers drawn to that special water of purest clarity. Purest clarity… is found in the crystalline water infused with ripples of light.

Lake Tahoe is located on the western border of Nevada and the eastern border of California. It is central to several National Forests and State Parks. It’s known for its purity and outstanding clarity. One can see objects clearly as deep as 100 feet beneath its surface. This lake has 72 miles of shoreline, with open beaches and shaded, sheltered coves alike.

Tahoe is the largest Alpine Lake in North America, and the second deepest in the United States. It is fed by 63 streams and two hot springs.

The water has a purity level of 99.9%, making it one of the cleanest natural water resources on the planet. It is 22 miles long, and 12 miles wide. The deepest point is 1645 feet, making it the sixteenth deepest lake in the world. The Lake Tahoe Basin floor is at an elevation of approximately 4580 feet.

By Michael Russell