Nature

May 31, 2013- June 2, 2013 RORES NGO, Gownpalli Village, Srinivaspur Taluk, Kolar District, Karnataka, India. 2 hours west of Bangalore The Set Up It was an unassuming location. No mats, no GAIAM blocks, no branded yoga pants. Not even a wooden floor. It was the anti-”Yoga World” that is being marketed around the world now. We came back to the roots of yoga. Yoga for peace. We came to a place where laughter and smiling came from within, and looks were given low importance. We sat under the large oak tree. I was on a stone bench, sturdy yet unstable; the ladies, ages 13+ (many do not have birth certificates), sat upon Mother Nature’s purest gift. The soil was periodically loosened with the advent of torrential rains that came that weekend, long...

Tree pose is one of the most famous poses in yoga practices around the world. A balance pose, it helps not only your physical balance, but also teaches the spiritual balance between the earth and sky. I always remind students that you can grow your tree in any direction, even downward…. so today, I saw this picture and just had to share it!   Share this:Facebook

  On the twelfth day of xmas, yoga gave to me: Twelve minutes of savanasa, Eleven yin poses, Ten yamas and niyamas, Nine types of yoga, eight limbs of yoga, seven forward folds, six back bends, five deep breaths, four warrior poses, three woven blanket, two sturdy blocks, and a yoga mat in a shoulder bag. This week, we celebrated the coming holiday– Christmas. We celebrated by reflected back on all the gifts yoga has given us–beyond just a great mat and some time to rest our legs up the wall. Some great poses to use while reflecting and discussing include seal (sphinx), stick (staff), butterfly (bound angle), rock, hero, and cow face. You could have a gab fest While in poses, we discussed “yoga and you”, including: how yoga has...

I started this blog when I arrived in Stadtschlaining, Austria, a small village south of Vienna with a castle and a peace studies program. In the words of Maria from the Sound of Music, I was “seeking the courage I lack”. Though I had a lesson plan, I still wondered “What will this day be like?” I wanted to approach the subject of courage and strength, and how you can learn courage from nature. Where do you find courage? I continue to be amazed about my own strength and courage to leave an abusive relationship. I let people know all the time, verbally or through written and pictorial representation of my story done by Bravery Project. You need courage regardless of where you are at in life. In the Peace Field, you need courage to go out...

This evening, I had my first class at the local domestic violence organization. For most of the students, it was their first class too–ever. Some had heard of yoga but none knew what it was or what to expect. I understood their mindset all too well. I remember when I left my abusive situation and started taking yoga classes at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA). Though I come from an Indian heritage with plenty of active years in ashrams and yoga classes, at that time, I was lost and confused. I was alone. I remember asking the receptionist several times about all sorts of things from, “will the teachers be understanding?” and “will you tell them about me?” to “which class should I take?”. I kept saying...

Our first session started sweet and slow.  The great thing about this place is the multi-level balcony with nooks and crannies. Each person can truly find a place of their own, just as we have to find a life and yoga practice–something personal and individualized. With different levels to work with, it’s important to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. This means that some people might need more props than others. It’s about finding what your body and your mind–YOU– need in that moment. Providing students with different levels of the same pose means everyone gets to choose what is right for them that day. Since were in a wonderful natural setting, yet somewhat foggy, I decided to start with some sun salutations. How amazing...