Adho Muhka Svanasana (downward facing dog)

Here's a classic pose we all should know and love, Adho Muhka Svanasana, or Downward Facing Dog. This pose is technically an inversion which make it incredibly calming to the nervous system, but also is a strength building pose, especially when held for longer periods of time. Downward Facing Dog is like a homecoming to the seasoned practitioner, promoting a quiet mind and offering the body a chance to recover and rest in between other challenging postures or sequences. For the beginner, it brings us into awareness of our natural strength and ability, as well as shows our bodies how to cultivate more internal support, length and space within the body.Begin by coming onto the hands and knees. Spread the fingers as wide as possible, creating even space between all of the fingers. Take a deep breath in and with an exhale, lift the knees from the floor and reach the pelvis as high as possible. As you press evenly into the hands, feel the arms and the sides of the body lengthen. As you lift higher through the hips, allow the heels to reach toward the floor, elongating the backs of the legs. Do your best not to collapse in the chest or shoulders, and draw slightly in right below the navel. Breathe deeply and evenly for 3 to 5 rounds, with each breath, allowing the mind to soften.

Inversions Workshop

This workshop is designed for the beginning and intermediate practitioner to learn (or review) how to move safely in and out of inverted poses. Focus with be on building the strength and awareness necessary for inversions. Themes will include overcoming fears, restoring balance, and ultimately changing our perspective. Featured poses will be (but not limited to) Shoulderstand, Headstand, Forearm Balance and Handstand.Please join me on Saturday September 28th from 12:30 to 3pm at Earth Yoga, Santa Catalina, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Surya Namaskar

A quick little vid filmed at Manhanset Chapel in Shelter Island, NY. Repeat this sun salutation a few times to warm up the body before moving into your standing poses. (Turn your volume down- apologies for the sound quality!)

Yoga as a means of healing: Body, Mind and Spirit

As a yoga instructor and practitioner, it’s hard not to notice the trends in the yoga world.  As westerners, we may have a limited scope of Yoga, meaning that what is a vast and ancient means to bringing the mind and body into balance has been compartmentalized to suit our busy lives.  It seems that we have isolated the Asana practice as an approach to physical fitness, and in that we have lost sight of the other aspects of Yoga, and as a result, are missing out on the benefits of a whole practice.

Asana was developed by the great sages who would sit for long periods of time in absorptive concentration, meditation, and contemplation. It was a means of keeping the body free of pain during these periods of stillness.  Ultimately, the goal was to gain control over the senses, the emotions, and the mind. It was the mind, the Ego, which was truly the cause of their suffering.

Our senses are so powerful.  When one first begins down the path of yoga, they may quickly see and feel their body becoming stronger, more balanced, more flexible.  The practitioner may feel a sense of calm or a deeper breath, they may be able to sleep better at night.  All of these things are positive results of a yoga practice.  But the mind is also very powerful.  Once the mind identifies with a “positive” outcome to our actions, we may easily become addicted to that action and then have the propensity to repeat it and repeat it, with diminishing returns.  It is important to temper this tendency with a balanced approach.

My approach to teaching in the west is to remember the ultimate goal of Yoga, which, put simply, is self-awareness.  And with self-awareness comes the awareness of our impact on the people and the world around us. When we as teachers forget this, and begin to cater to physical trends and superficial desires of our students (which can be extreme in some cases), we run the risk of alienating or even injuring our students to the detriment of the whole.

Having a yoga practice is beneficial for EVERYONE, even if it is purely Asana.  I believe that the other facets of Yoga will eventually seep into the practitioner with time, possibly unknowingly, or unintentionally.  But when we invite these other aspects into our yoga practice and into our lives, knowingly and with zeal, undeniable shifts in our approach to life take place.  This is more satisfying than any physical practice alone.

It is my mission to make Yoga accessible to everyone so that we all might reap the rewards of living in a world filled with mindful and compassionate people.