Generally speaking when I get onto my mat to begin a class I often allow my intention to be focus, strength and courage. Sometimes the teacher will put an intention on the table which I borrow if it suits me. Whatever it might be I mash it up through my breathing, through my movement, and I witness how this idea might weave throughout my life.
Every once in a while I get onto my mat and I make my intention to simply quiet my mind and let go. That is to let go of any anger, frustration and hurt that I might be holding inside. This always works while I am on the mat, yet it is never permanent. I quickly forget, and shortly after a practice my mind start racing again with my thoughts and ideas. So that peace and acceptance gained is always partially lost.
The other morning, I entered my practice with such frustration and such anger; feelings I have been feeling on and off for well over a year now. It was interesting, because they were not the normal lingering thoughts, they didn't trail in behind me, they were a culmination of all my negative feelings. I realized I was holding onto something big as we started the class. The feeling was intense while we were preparing our bodies for our OMs. When the teacher invited us to choose our intention I immediately knew I could not simply "let go". This was larger than anything I had felt before. It shook my body.
So my intention was peace and forgiveness.
It took me three tries to successfully centre myself. Three times!
Each time I realized my thoughts were running, my anger was coursing. I was playing it over in my mind, rolling it around. Physically, I felt my eyes, they were violently chatting to the tune of my feelings. Every time, I would remind myself of where I was, what I was doing and why I needed to breath. Allow for peace and provide forgiveness.
Conveniently after class I was hit with a bombshell, which I think any practiced yogi could be forgiven for letting her intention go.
Thinking about my day right now, some of my conversations, I remember, I felt that same familiar anger and frustration. Yesterday too. So now I remember my intention:
Allow for peace and provide forgiveness.
This is what I need to carry on my sleeve, not my anger and frustration.
and after the last few days I think I can start.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Ocean Holidays
I recently got to take a little holiday... sort of.
It's kind of strange, it was four days off work, but it was a work related activity. I think this is why I love working at Mountain Equipment Co-op.
I got to attend a lightweight backpacking trip along the Juan de Fuca Trail which is along the south west side of Vancouver Island. It's 45km in length, traveling just beyond Jordan River at China Beach all the way to Botanical Beach just before Port Renfrew. Although not as nice as the West Coast Trail, it was still a nice trail.The one thing I have noticed about myself is that every time I am next to the water all I want to do is practice yoga. No matter what is going on within my body or outside of it, yoga for me is so centred that nothing matters and it just feels so good. To regulate your breath to flow with movement to feel your body find a new depth within itself. So much so it helps take everything into perspective and make it that much more real.
My two favourite spots to practice were at Sombrio Beach (what a great beach!) and on the pier in Port Renfrew where all of the fishermen come and go. Although the latter was busy and provided many interruptions, each Vinyasa was fuelled by the beauty and the energy of the place.
I even found inspiration in the setting sun on the ferry back to Vancouver.
But there is one thing about wind, sand and a rocking boat, it is really difficult to balance. But I suppose if you could master this external force you should hopefully be able to rock your balance poses in a classroom! I did realize how much stronger my left leg is when I was in dancers pose on the boat in comparison to my right. As I think most people favour certain sides of their bodies, and I know I do so in my arms, but I always had figured my legs were mostly balanced. But I could barely even get into dancers pose on the rocking boat.I've always thought how nice would it be to go on a retreat on a sail boat around france and practice yoga on the ocean... now I am not so certain, a sail boat would be even more rocky I imagine.
I will stick to my beach retreats for now!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Free Outdoor Yoga by Kits Beach
Looking for some great free outdoor yoga for this summer? Well Eoin Finn is going to be teaching at the Kitsilano Showboat stage. (at Kits pool between Balsam and Vine on Cornwall Avenue)
Starting on July 6th, and continuing throughout the summer, Eoin will be hosting his free classes every Tuesday and Thursday ("days that start with a T") starting at 6 and every Saturday and Sunday ("days that start with S") starting at 9am.
The classes are a first come first serve, but are not restricted to just the stage, so sardine yourself in for some great summer yoga by the beach!
Now for a little history about why the showboat is even there!
According to its website it "was founded in 1935 as a community project and so was placed where entertainers could display their talents."
Looking at the schedule, there are numerous events throughout the summer. Lots of music and dance shows along with some other different and more informative shows like the Otesha project, which is definitely worth looking up or even swinging by MEC for their book.
Have a great summer!
Starting on July 6th, and continuing throughout the summer, Eoin will be hosting his free classes every Tuesday and Thursday ("days that start with a T") starting at 6 and every Saturday and Sunday ("days that start with S") starting at 9am.
The classes are a first come first serve, but are not restricted to just the stage, so sardine yourself in for some great summer yoga by the beach!
Now for a little history about why the showboat is even there!
According to its website it "was founded in 1935 as a community project and so was placed where entertainers could display their talents."
Looking at the schedule, there are numerous events throughout the summer. Lots of music and dance shows along with some other different and more informative shows like the Otesha project, which is definitely worth looking up or even swinging by MEC for their book.
Have a great summer!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Choosing to go to Yoga Teacher Training
I recently read this article at yogajournal.com titled "How to choose a Yoga Teacher Training Program". Back a few months ago I remember going through similar feelings of deciding what my expectations of becoming a yoga instructor were and what the different schools had to offer me in terms of scheduling and in the type of program they offered.
Personally, I have ended up placing less emphasis on who my lead instructor is and more on the who the school is and the time frame that the program is set in. I decided I wanted to stay away from more corporate programs that allegedly teach primarily for the money.
Having a few friends who just recently went through teacher training at different studios and each having completely different experiences to tell about, I was sure to listen closely to their experiences and how they felt at the end of their programs. To say that a studio that has a four week intensive program is not a worthy program is unfair. I think these studios should be considered more closely since to solidify the tools needed to be successful in your future goals need to be taught well but in a very short time period.
Knowing that as a learner I need more time to be able to memorize things and make them a natural part of my life and vocabulary, I knew that a four week training program would not be a successful experience for me. So that left me with three schools to consider in the Vancouver area which I could consider to be consistently respectable in their Teacher Training Programs.
Choosing Langara College has always felt very natural for multiple reasons. First I respect the school itself since its primary purpose is meant as a teaching vessel; to provide its students with the skills needed to succeed on their paths through life. I felt that they as a school will cater to different learners and already has the resources to support its students outside the program itself. Also, I have never heard anything but praise from students of Langara, including the one student I happened to meet who couldn't stop praising the school's Yoga program (this was my introduction to Langara in fact!) Finally I have heard that the school consistently attracts instructors from multiple studios as guest instructors. The final and the most major factor is the schools program schedule. The program is set over six months on the weekends, but only every other weekend. To me, this means I don't need to stop working and will also mean that I will still have free time to go on trips, to go skiing, to do what I want. And that means a lot to me.
I have no expectations that this program, or any program will be the one stop solution to becoming a successful teacher right out of graduation. Any teacher out there has had to go through many years of learning and experiences and they are all still continuing to learn and develop.
My favourite quote taken in the article is quoted from Marla Apt, the president of the BKS Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States. She says, "Just because you've gone through the training doesn't mean your training is over... We are always student."
Namaste my friends!
Personally, I have ended up placing less emphasis on who my lead instructor is and more on the who the school is and the time frame that the program is set in. I decided I wanted to stay away from more corporate programs that allegedly teach primarily for the money.
Having a few friends who just recently went through teacher training at different studios and each having completely different experiences to tell about, I was sure to listen closely to their experiences and how they felt at the end of their programs. To say that a studio that has a four week intensive program is not a worthy program is unfair. I think these studios should be considered more closely since to solidify the tools needed to be successful in your future goals need to be taught well but in a very short time period.
Knowing that as a learner I need more time to be able to memorize things and make them a natural part of my life and vocabulary, I knew that a four week training program would not be a successful experience for me. So that left me with three schools to consider in the Vancouver area which I could consider to be consistently respectable in their Teacher Training Programs.
Choosing Langara College has always felt very natural for multiple reasons. First I respect the school itself since its primary purpose is meant as a teaching vessel; to provide its students with the skills needed to succeed on their paths through life. I felt that they as a school will cater to different learners and already has the resources to support its students outside the program itself. Also, I have never heard anything but praise from students of Langara, including the one student I happened to meet who couldn't stop praising the school's Yoga program (this was my introduction to Langara in fact!) Finally I have heard that the school consistently attracts instructors from multiple studios as guest instructors. The final and the most major factor is the schools program schedule. The program is set over six months on the weekends, but only every other weekend. To me, this means I don't need to stop working and will also mean that I will still have free time to go on trips, to go skiing, to do what I want. And that means a lot to me.
I have no expectations that this program, or any program will be the one stop solution to becoming a successful teacher right out of graduation. Any teacher out there has had to go through many years of learning and experiences and they are all still continuing to learn and develop.
My favourite quote taken in the article is quoted from Marla Apt, the president of the BKS Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States. She says, "Just because you've gone through the training doesn't mean your training is over... We are always student."
Namaste my friends!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Book Review - The Athlete's Guide to Yoga
The Athlete's Guide to Yoga
was the first book I bought for myself to help deepen my yoga practice. I constantly would hear of programs like yoga for climbers and yoga for surfers, not being either at the time I always felt a little left out. I hiked, I paddled and most of all I biked, but those sports and yoga were not known to be synonymous. This book is perfect for everyone else that don't get that set guide to complement yoga to your sport.
One thing to remember is that this book is written and designed by a a woman is a triathlete, I would take this book as a round practice guide that is more of an introduction to yoga than a strong and experienced yogi who doesn't necessarily feel the need for a book to guide them through their practice. Near the end of the book their is a list of activities that help determine the best kind of the practice to complement your activity, there is a very detailed description for runners and triathletes but there is a sections for "active persons" which gives an example of activity and style of yoga for each day of the week.
The book has a fairly extensive introduction which covers everything to the basics of yoga including the 8 limbs, giving a short description outlining each limb, a list of what type of props one might want to have, and even what to expect at a studio and what each style of yoga offers.
Then the majority of the book gives descriptions of different asanas one might want to practice to improve their stability, strength and agility. This includes pictures, different variations and even some what not to do photos. This part of the book is broken into opening and warm-ups, balance, standing, sun salutations and flow, shoulders, backbends and chest openers, core, floor work, twists and inversions, relaxation and closing poses.
The final two sections of the book include some other aspects that one can incorporate in their training including meditation, breathing exercises and even some mantras. My favourite part of the book is the final chapter which has different routines, although they are usually short and not fluid, it helps for the person who might be new to yoga or at least new to home practice and wants to design their own practice.
Also included with the book is a 15 minute dvd which has a practice on it. I have never used the DVD so I can not comment on it.
I would give this book an 8 out of 10.
Enjoy
was the first book I bought for myself to help deepen my yoga practice. I constantly would hear of programs like yoga for climbers and yoga for surfers, not being either at the time I always felt a little left out. I hiked, I paddled and most of all I biked, but those sports and yoga were not known to be synonymous. This book is perfect for everyone else that don't get that set guide to complement yoga to your sport. One thing to remember is that this book is written and designed by a a woman is a triathlete, I would take this book as a round practice guide that is more of an introduction to yoga than a strong and experienced yogi who doesn't necessarily feel the need for a book to guide them through their practice. Near the end of the book their is a list of activities that help determine the best kind of the practice to complement your activity, there is a very detailed description for runners and triathletes but there is a sections for "active persons" which gives an example of activity and style of yoga for each day of the week.
The book has a fairly extensive introduction which covers everything to the basics of yoga including the 8 limbs, giving a short description outlining each limb, a list of what type of props one might want to have, and even what to expect at a studio and what each style of yoga offers.
Then the majority of the book gives descriptions of different asanas one might want to practice to improve their stability, strength and agility. This includes pictures, different variations and even some what not to do photos. This part of the book is broken into opening and warm-ups, balance, standing, sun salutations and flow, shoulders, backbends and chest openers, core, floor work, twists and inversions, relaxation and closing poses.
The final two sections of the book include some other aspects that one can incorporate in their training including meditation, breathing exercises and even some mantras. My favourite part of the book is the final chapter which has different routines, although they are usually short and not fluid, it helps for the person who might be new to yoga or at least new to home practice and wants to design their own practice.
Also included with the book is a 15 minute dvd which has a practice on it. I have never used the DVD so I can not comment on it.
I would give this book an 8 out of 10.
Enjoy
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