Winter Yoga as a Spiritual Practice! - Yoginis of all Faiths Welcome!

[eastkygal]

How is everyone?  I've been doing a early morning sadhana now for two weeks.  Very interesting to say the least. :)  Anyone planning any kind of special practice for Winter Solstice?  I'm thinking on it.

[omamasmama]

 

I've been thinking about it... I teach prenatal yoga and my class will fall on the solstice. 

[pampered_mom]

I didn't think about it - too busy planning other Winter Solstice related activities.  A good idea, though.  We've done a lunar salutation on the night of the full moon.  Why not on the Winter Solstice?

Edited by pampered_mom - 12/18/10 at 7:29am

[pampered_mom]

Seeing as I killed the thread last time, I thought I'd bump the thread up a bit.  I've been struggling lately with developing my own personal practice - mainly that I need to come up with a fairly easy flow.  Videos are out for me as the ceiling in the basement is far too low for yoga.  Any suggestions?

[Katala]

If you want a guided practice outside of class, how about podcasts (Hillary Rubin's is great: http://hillarysyogapractice.wordpress.com/ she hasn't updated in a while, but there's 71 different practices to choose from right now) or audio CDs (John  Friend and Shiva Rea both have some excellent ones).

[kittywitty]

Thanks for the link! I'd like to join in. I'm reading the book Yoga For Anxiety and have started a 31 day yoga dedication for all of January. I have already done it the past two days. It's made me feel so much better already. Does anyone use the Exhale (more of pilated fusion) or Ana Brett DVDs? I do postnatal yoga with Gurmukh right now and an Element postnatal video I really like but was looking for a more challenging one. Right now it's Viniyoga with Rachel Brice on her Serpentine DVD, but I was thinking something a bit more like these.

[kittywitty]

Oh nos! Did I kill the thread?

Has anyone tried the Anna Brett dvds? or Eoin Finn ones?

[pampered_mom]

Katala - Thanks for the suggestions!  :0)

[eastkygal]

Right now, I'm using Maya Fiennes, which I just love.  I think Detox and Destress with her would be a good postnatal one.  But she has a series - Journey Through the Chakras that is amazing.

[holyhelianthus]

Coming out of lurkdom to ask if anyone had read this book and what they thought of it. I'm considering buying it but would like some reviews from like-minded folks. Thanks! :)

[holyhelianthus]

Actually, since I'm already here any book and/or video, heck! or even website recommendations would be awesome! 

[Linda on the move]

I haven't read Yoga from the Inside Out, but it looks good!

My favorite is Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness by Schiffmann. Amazing book!

[Linda on the move]

yoga funny....

I teach yoga and plan my sequences at home on my mat. At home, I never really think about the front of the room and the back of the room.

Today while I was teaching, I ended up with everyone facing the back of the room while we were sitting, and couldn't think how to get them turned around to the front!!!  If we'd been standing, I could have done it, but sitting......????????????????????????????????

I totally blanked, and I seriously considered saying "Simon says, turn around and face the front of the room."

[beebalmmama]

Yes, I've read it. It is a wonderful book as is the author! She's an Anusara instructor and so therefore much of it is based on Tantric philosophy. At the time when I read it I had been involved in an Anusara immersion and so much of it was really insightful. However I suggested it as a good read to a friend (who struggles with body image issues) who practices yoga but not Anusara and she enjoyed it as well. I appreciate Christina's insight from her own experience as well as other yogi practitioners (their stories are inserted throughout the book). I think it speaks to all of our experiences (to some level) of accepting ourselves and seeing the beauty in ourselves as we are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Coming out of lurkdom to ask if anyone had read this book and what they thought of it. I'm considering buying it but would like some reviews from like-minded folks. Thanks! :)

[beebalmmama]

I think you should have! It would have been too funny. I miss my teacher, she always made me laugh.

Originally Posted by Linda on the move 

yoga funny....

I teach yoga and plan my sequences at home on my mat. At home, I never really think about the front of the room and the back of the room.

Today while I was teaching, I ended up with everyone facing the back of the room while we were sitting, and couldn't think how to get them turned around to the front!!!  If we'd been standing, I could have done it, but sitting......????????????????????????????????

I totally blanked, and I seriously considered saying "Simon says, turn around and face the front of the room."

[holyhelianthus]

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

[beebalmmama]

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

I've struggled to find Anusara classes where I am that I can attend. I moved over a year ago and lost access to my wonderful teacher, it's been tough. However I've been able to find some teachers at least influenced by Anusara by looking at their Bios on studio or gym websites in my area (some are more complete than others). It takes a lot to become an Anusara teacher, even Anusara inspired and therefore if a teacher isn't Inspired/certified they can't advertise the class as Anusara. I've done an Anusara immersion/teacher training, but I still could not advertise a class I taught as Anusara, kwim. So you may be able to find someone who teaches in that style and has some Anusara background, obviously it will depend on the teacher on how much is drawn from Anusara.

[Katala]

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

magstphil,

Though nothing can replace a live class, the podcast that I linked to above (Hillary Rubin) is taught by a certified Anusara teacher, as this this one: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/elsies-yoga-class-live-unplugged/id181891173

Yogaglo also has some great classes taught by Elena Brower (another amazing Anusarian!) but those are not free.

I'm in a similar predicament! I've been going into New York or New Jersey (I'm in a very rural part of Eastern PA) every now and then to take Anusara classes and have been relying heavily on podcasts and John Friend's CDs (Anusara Yoga 101 and Anusara Essentials) on a daily basis (I'm personally not a huge fan of DVDs).

Originally Posted by beebalmmama 

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

I've struggled to find Anusara classes where I am that I can attend. I moved over a year ago and lost access to my wonderful teacher, it's been tough. However I've been able to find some teachers at least influenced by Anusara by looking at their Bios on studio or gym websites in my area (some are more complete than others). It takes a lot to become an Anusara teacher, even Anusara inspired and therefore if a teacher isn't Inspired/certified they can't advertise the class as Anusara. I've done an Anusara immersion/teacher training, but I still could not advertise a class I taught as Anusara, kwim. So you may be able to find someone who teaches in that style and has some Anusara background, obviously it will depend on the teacher on how much is drawn from Anusara.

Bee, it sounds like you and I are in very similar situations! I've completed Immersion part I and gearing up for Part II but  am not near to a teacher I can study with on a weekly basis. I'm moving out west within the year so hopefully this will change! I've been practicing Anusara for years and while my actual certifications come from other traditions/schools though I find that my practice and my teaching has been shifting heavily toward Anusara. I've found, in a way, I struggle with being able to honestly describe my classes. I will usually just advertise a general "hatha" or "vinyasa" class (or sometimes I use the term "tantric hatha") and if a student asks what "style" I teach I will name the two schools that my 200 and 500 hour certifications come from but then mention that I am currently studying a lot of Anusara and am heavily influenced by that system.
 

[beebalmmama]

Originally Posted by Katala 

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

magstphil,

Though nothing can replace a live class, the podcast that I linked to above (Hillary Rubin) is taught by a certified Anusara teacher, as this this one: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/elsies-yoga-class-live-unplugged/id181891173

Yogaglo also has some great classes taught by Elena Brower (another amazing Anusarian!) but those are not free.

I'm in a similar predicament! I've been going into New York or New Jersey (I'm in a very rural part of Eastern PA) every now and then to take Anusara classes and have been relying heavily on podcasts and John Friend's CDs (Anusara Yoga 101 and Anusara Essentials) on a daily basis (I'm personally not a huge fan of DVDs).

Originally Posted by beebalmmama 

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

I've struggled to find Anusara classes where I am that I can attend. I moved over a year ago and lost access to my wonderful teacher, it's been tough. However I've been able to find some teachers at least influenced by Anusara by looking at their Bios on studio or gym websites in my area (some are more complete than others). It takes a lot to become an Anusara teacher, even Anusara inspired and therefore if a teacher isn't Inspired/certified they can't advertise the class as Anusara. I've done an Anusara immersion/teacher training, but I still could not advertise a class I taught as Anusara, kwim. So you may be able to find someone who teaches in that style and has some Anusara background, obviously it will depend on the teacher on how much is drawn from Anusara.

Bee, it sounds like you and I are in very similar situations! I've completed Immersion part I and gearing up for Part II but  am not near to a teacher I can study with on a weekly basis. I'm moving out west within the year so hopefully this will change! I've been practicing Anusara for years and while my actual certifications come from other traditions/schools though I find that my practice and my teaching has been shifting heavily toward Anusara. I've found, in a way, I struggle with being able to honestly describe my classes. I will usually just advertise a general "hatha" or "vinyasa" class (or sometimes I use the term "tantric hatha") and if a student asks what "style" I teach I will name the two schools that my 200 and 500 hour certifications come from but then mention that I am currently studying a lot of Anusara and am heavily influenced by that system.
 

I agree with finding some podcasts. I know there are some other teachers out there with some free podcasts out there. I'll see if I can find them again. I just got an ipod this year from a friend and so I'v been thining of looking for some more classes that way.

There is a recently certified Anusara teacher where I am and I'm now able to make her class. Luckily for me my BFF bought me a punch pass for the holidays (funds for yoga are tight for me right now). It's a good class but is lacking in the spiritual element that drew me into Anusara. I try to go in with an open mind, but it makes me miss my teacher even more. I know it's not fair to compare teachers and considering my teacher is a senior Anusara teacher, I know this new teacher can hardly match up. But I 've realized that although I love asana, it is the spiritual/heart themes of Anusara which helps me on my path of yoga.

 Katala, How you are describing your classes is exactly how my teacher asked that we describe a class we taught without being inspired/certified. So I think the best you can do is relate the influence Anusara has on your teaching to your students.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by magstphil 

Thank you, Bee! I would love to take an Anusara class but there are none close enough to me :(

I've been fortunate to attend classes taught by several different Anusara certified or inspired teachers, and they really aren't consistent. Some are wonderful, others not so much. And  there are some WONDERFUL teachers out there with RYT credentials that aren't Anusara.  You really can't tell everything by the name. I think you just have to go to a class a few times and see how that teacher works for you.

I don't think you can really tell much by reading a teacher's bio. Teaching comes from personal practice and what is in the teacher's heart. It's difficult to put that into a resume.

The certification process for Anusara is nuts. The only thing you know for sure if someone is Ansuara certified is that they have spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars on yoga teacher training.

We moved last summer and I'm missing my teachers in my old city too. I finally find a teacher here I really like (RYT200) and she's now out on an injury!