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Healthy Living

To Know Our Needs

Yoga is the Journey of the Self through the Self

to the Self – The Bhagavad Gita

This quote was on the cover of a graduation gift from Tianna Meriage-Reiter, one of our esteemed teachers from Niroga Institute’s advance yoga therapist training. Tianna is well versed in physiology and anatomy as a physical therapist but … what sets her apart is her understanding of our needs.

Please revisit this post from my first year yoga therapist training HERE:)

One of the most valuable learning we did during our 2-year Yoga Therapist training was not only the top-down from a dozen+ esteemed master teachers, but even more essential was the deep learning we did through each other, being that each of us brought our yoga experience (some very seasoned teachers with extensive experience!:), life experience and skill-set to share at the circle.  Every month we had a yoga philosophy reading and a write up on that reading; then we also had the practical homework of designing a sequence with justifications and insights based on what we learned the preceding month which we shared and took turn leading a class of  presenting a case and/or research. The critiquing by self and from others were unforgiving and could say, harsh, but helpful.  It was not the 200 hrs. TT where we just said nice things to each other for we did not want to judge, criticize in any way – but just be liked. Uh uh, not here – the critiquing, while very tactful and kindly delivered, it was sometimes a bit harsh BUT we learned from it.  A lot:)  Then we learned from each other – there were several cohorts who excelled in writing and somewhere in their essays, there was reference to just that – the title above.   She believed that a certain style of yoga was not what she needed and it turned out … much to the contrary, the yoga style she thought she did not need was ultimately the practice the guru prescribed and she needed the most.  Like the harshest critic, that practice you avoid because, let’s face it, you are not “good” at it – that, in fact, was what she needed the most.  That conclusion she arrived at after deep and unflinching self-study where the guru is the dispeller of darkness.

Enjoyed subbing tonight’s restorative class.  Had a break from teaching weekly restorative class for couple of years and … by returning to teach it by fluke,  I realized how much I owed my healing to that particular practice.  I had been blessed with such knowledgeable teacher (Judith Hanson Lasater) and I am filled with gratitude that the teacher appeared when I needed that teaching.  Release of endorphins through a sweaty practice is beneficial – maybe you feel you are burning calories by sweating but … after the bliss, what if you are drained and depleted even more?  In fact, a scientific studies have shown that reduced cortisol level leads to most effective weight loss if that is your intention for your yoga and exercise program … not merely mindlessly running the treadmill watching yet another screen. The bitter the medicine the most effective a guru knows and she also knows nothing wrong with that elixir of bliss – so – take the medicine and the elixir – BOTH.

Anyway, I mix-&-match my yoga practice and that  blended style works for me.  What about you? Are you intentional in manifesting the desires and needs we have to connect with our higher selves?

Whether you are a runner, dancer, spinner/cyclists … any athletic endeavors – any sports you are passionate about – you will be better at it if you incorporate yoga in the training or the warm up or in recovery.  The healing comes with more ease and speed.  Namaste:)

ahhh… SUN in the face !  Spring is here:)  & so is the much needed rain – we are blessed !

By Kay T. Ananda

Yoga brings Joy!
Joy to your body, heart, soul and allows your mind to settle all the debris to the bottom of the lake, ripples gently subsides so that like that shining water, your lake in your mind is still and crystal clear. Only then, you can find your truth... when your mind clears and all distractions are gone, leaving you - stillness and clarity. Peace.
Dog is doing yoga all the time and brings you laughs!
Anger is borne out of fear; how do we find that fearless path of inner peace?
Why Bark when you can Wag to express your JOY Joy joy !!!???
無心でしっぽをふる喜びを表すあの子犬のようなJOYを糧に無理ない、各自のコンデイションに寄り添いながらもチャレンジ精神をとりかえす…そんなヨーガを:)
全米ヨガアライアンス公認ヨガ講師養成コース修了、リストラティブヨガ指導者認定登録、アメリカRYT500登録インストラクター、800hrsヨガセラピーIAYT今現在一瞬ThisMoment&NOWをCELEBRATEするカリフォルニア*ライフ!

帰国子女としてニューヨーク、テヘラン、カリフォルニアと転々、いずれ東京に帰る意識で日本語高等部卒大卒後シリコンバレーにとどまる。ヨガはカリフォルニア州立、バークレー大学時代、ストレス解消に効くと教授に教わり試してみるが... 合わずジャズサイズ、ウェイトトレーニング、エアロビックスのクラスに移転の20代、30代、産後、過労で体調を崩し大病も治癒。死ぬかと思った~大病後、久しぶりに足を踏み入れたヨガスタジオのヨガが大学時代のスローでポーズごと器械体操ごとく、つまらなーいヨガとはまったく違い進化していた。流れる踊りの振り付け的なヨガに魅せられる。数々の流派があることを習い、数種類のスタイルを試す。ビクラム、ホット、アイヤンガー、ヴィンヤサ、アシュタンガ・パワー、などなど。数年前サンフランシスコにて、ヨガアライアンス認定インストラクター養成を経て、インストラクター証書習得。同じ年にキッズヨガインストラクター証書ゲット。リストラテイブヨガ、インストラクター認定、陰ヨガのインターン、アシスト後、陰とヴィンヤサ、レギュラーハタクラスを教える。又プライベート、セミプライベートレッスンをクライアントのニーズの合わせ、ヨガセラピストとしてセラピー集中ヨガ提供。その為に2年間のアドバンスコースに挑みc-IAYT証書習得!ヨガ療法士としてIAYT(国際ヨガセラピスト協会)認定のヨガセラピスト、C-IAYT(Certified-IAYT) 10年以上、ベイクラブ、ヨガスタジオ、シリコンバレー社などで子育て中週4-5回レギュラーレッスンの講師を務める。3月2020にあの頃は最後とは知らずの週2教えていたスタジオにてのインパーソンヨガクラスを後に…遠方介護ニーズとコロナ禍を機に当分はパブリッククラスリードからはリタイア。
自分自身が心と体の調和で得た平穏…日常の小ちゃな事に見出す喜びをヨガ愛好者のどなたとでもと共有できたらと願うばかり。ジョイを共有し、ジョイフルライフを。そう、もし犬に例えるのであれば、恐れや威嚇で吠えまくる犬ではなく、シッポふりふり笑顔で愛と喜びに満ちた心持をヨガを通しシャア。恥じる気持ち等恐れず誰でもできる自身ジョイフルヨガを肝に銘じりたい。LOVE LOVE LOVE:)Shanti Shanti Shanti:)