Categories
Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

Pacific Ocean … The theme for last 3 days was the “ocean”. What is that Ocean? You will know if you practice with or without me, yes.
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“We are visitors on this planet. We are here for one hundred years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. if you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true meaning of life.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

Have been at Judith Hanson Lasater’s invitational studies this past 3 days… missing the last day, iSad. I miss this great teacher, I miss the fellow yogis, I miss the vibe, the sangha of the like-minded who is so refueled by this teacher.

There’s no fancy playlist – no music – there’s no fancy location of a retreat but it’s an urban retreat of sorts – a refuge as I was refueled and regenerated. WHILE learning. Last night, normally, by evening, I am absolutely exhausted but after dinner, I had so much energy, I took care of all that was neglected last few weeks. With clear lucid mind, all is possible.

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And earlier this month at Niroga’s Yoga Therapy Teacher Training … very interesting – know some people with this problem. YOGA is the remedy, that is, the right kind of yoga … lecture by Baxter Bell, MD and Yoga Educator.
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Learning from teachers’ teachers, my class is now all about prevention – not so glamorous but yes, prevention or if too late? Then, it’s all about defrosting what’s already frozen and bringing back the ease and grace in our everyday living – That is my intention. Where does that lead us to ? It’s not just the shoulders, it’s in all areas of the body, mind and life – to melt away the blockages not by means of HEAT and stress but by way of methodical, mindful movements and stillness to bring about the balance… the restoration.

Categories
Beautiful Places Yoga

Cold April revisited … Nature Hike & Yoga

IMG_3049IMG_3051IMG_3053Eye popping price tag … Staring in disbelief. Who would …? Lovely to admire but not to own. In fact, the less you own, the better. No matter how beautiful, why cart around this? Just come to this store or go to the museum. The story goes, it belongs to some woman moving to Hawaii and she decided she cannot take house full of crystals …so the store is helping her sell them. Interesting. A treasure has now become a burden. Owning things no matter how beautiful will not make you happy. Said the crystal …
ladygagacrystalHere’s Lady Gaga hugging one …Guess she can afford to buy a bigger one for bigger happiness? Think not. A Fetal Savasana with a crystal prop!!! Ingenious …

IMG_3074Tree on this is like being on a tight rope?

Benefits of the Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

– By stretching the legs, back and arms, the posture invigorates you.
– brings balance and equilibrium to your mind.
– helps improve concentration. Harnesses the FOCUS power!
– helps strengthen the legs, improves balance, and opens the hips.
– Helps relieve some cases of sciatica.

Trekked up the creek – Now, how about a Triangle … trying to not fall into the water … so pure but icy cold.

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Benefits of the Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)

– Strengthens the legs, knees, ankles, arms, and chest
– Stretches and opens the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
– Increases mental and physical equilibrium
– Helps improve digestion
– Helps improve respiration
– Reduces anxiety, stress, back pain and sciatica.

IMG_3056 Gratitude for this beautiful place.

Categories
Yoga

1992 … Tough Teacher

Amazing footage … to have learned from him for 25 years? To endure and persevere his tough style of teaching … Respect to Judith and all Iyengar trained teachers.

Luckily Judith took the kinder approach in teaching therapeutic applications – whereas, his style of teaching is very … Asian – strict and tough… you can feel the fear mixed with sheer respect and enthusiasm to learn among the students – they just don’t want to be yelled at. I can imagine Judith was one of those students who was not intimidated and just showed up with bright eyes and curious … her energy is contagious even today! She really knows a thing or two about how to “regulate” her energy level to meet the demands of … life.

SOOOO honored I will be assisting Judith H. Lasater’s Teacher Training Level 2 in August – all about therapeutic applications of restorative yoga. Learning from Judith basically means learning from Judith and indirectly from her teacher, BKS Iyengar.

Realized he is 74 in this footage… Way past the Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-Hour Rule of mastery.

** Noting – that Japanese teacher referred to here needed an interpreter ! A teacher can see through when a true learning actually took place vs. not. Here the great teacher knew right away that the Japanese student did not get the lesson. Why? because of the language barrier. Without the understanding of language, you are not learning anything.