We are in the New Moon phase of this March Madness month …Golden Moon Gallery reopens March 21st. It’s one of my favorite places to visit, thanks to their beautiful style and eclectic offering …it’s a “Warm Hug” of a place as I hope to make my own yoga class … The owners there are welcoming and … warm with lovely taste and style they share with ease and generous hearts. The stencil moon phase at their entry way is a work of a local (East Bay) artist and, to me, a power spot:) As an artist, himself, he and his wife showcases local artists’ work. It’s a lovely gallery.
No, it’s not a yoga lesson but a dance session taught by talented Shereen Malani. It’s not yoga but that’s just the point. Yoga helps us live a more uplifted fluid life “in the groove”, OFF the mat as well as On the mat. Thanks to yoga practice, off the mat, I felt more ease flowing through the new unusual steps. More grounded with better balance and,,, lots of squatting and getting down to the floor .. yes, really gett’n DOWN in squats (called “malasana” pose on the mat:). Regular and repeated practice of yoga gives you the bounce in the steps and steadiness, muscle strength, and flexibility in the loosened and juiced joints to keep up with this super spirited and talented dancer. The beat of the live drums made us unstoppable? Amazing syncopation !
The best birthday present is an opportunity to be really PRESENT, transfixed with a gift of new beautiful experience, borne out of precious soulful friendship – thank you to my lovely goddess BFF named Bright Radiant One. She is that.
Key Take-Away from Shereen Malani’s dance class – this dance is not about PERFORMANCE, rather it’s about CONNECTIONS – YOU connecting with those you are dancing WITH. It’s a revival of our innate communal and instinctive tribal proclivity. Each piece tells a story and the dancers are moving more in awareness of those they dance with, rather than about performing for an “audience” – so in that sense, there’s a common thread with yoga – it’s all weaved into this ocean of vibrations and deep flow .
Regular practice of yoga harnesses the power and energies within with techniques to source them, mine them… so there’s an outpouring of prana – energy – life force – when healing is found through mindful self-expression that leads to not a spotlight singularly onto you but a spotlight on the wholenss in channeling and … connecting with fellow dancers. Yoga would be such a rehabilitative and therapeutic practice for all dancers as I stayed on to eavesdrop about joint pains and pinched nerves and how they are dealing with chronic pain … with Epsom salt baths, acupuncture, herbs, and massages … add on to that list – therapeutic yoga – for the ultimate self-care to find more bounce and fresh vibrancy in our steps:)
Let’s dance through the flow and ebbs of life with more vibrancy, more buoyancy … Namaste:)
So, AGING with JOY & GRACE was the title to last weekend’s yoga therapist training. Among some 50? and counting attendees finding mat space on the labyrinth at Oakland Peace Center as we gather for the two days immersion ahead. Making up this module missed last year while in Japan for my mother’s birthday. Reminded how my mother would make a great guest to teach this particular module as she would make a role model for many of us. But for her to come along this far, there’s always a great sense of gratitude for her support system that consists of kind social services and attentive care provided to seniors in Japan. Gratitude to tradition and culture where seniors are respected for their wisdom and the frail cared for as there’s a clear acceptance that we are all aging as long as we are living. It’s just not possible to live in denials when slowly your loved ones start to disappear from this particular world, this life. There’s no exclusion and denial of this natural stages of our lifeline. It’s okay to accept it and go with the flow while doing everything you can to tend to the temple of body, mind & spirit.