I received a last minute invitation to sub at Lila at noon today. I heard that this class likes to flow, and to “bring the fire.” Going over my class notes for flow classes I’ve taught, I came across this gem:
Because it’s Friday, I decided also to haul out my “Hymn for the Weekend” Coldplay Yoga playlist, perfectly dialed in for a one hour class I taught for a Happy Hour Yoga class I taught at a studio in Massachusetts. Here we go!
Maybe see you there!
I’m subbing some Independence weekend classes at Lila East End Yoga!
On Friday, as a part of Pause Yoga’s celebration of Poetry Month in the Town of Amesbury, MA, I will be offering a people and some asāna. The selection I am offering will be found in the volume I mention in this blog post from 2011.
Torn leaf of Basho
Four poems lost to me right now
Who could have done this?
Lately, every time a yoga teacher reads a poem in savasana, whether I have heard it before or not, it has gone straight to my heart. What started this recent trend was the following:
Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvellous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvellous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvellous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
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Please see this page, available from the top level menu, with my updated teaching schedule at Pause Yoga Amesbury.
For the past several years, I have been doing spring cleanses with Charlotte Clews. I highly recommend her approach, and plan to offer supportive yoga classes locally if there is interest.
Join Wild Open Heart’s 7th Annual Spring Cleanse and Seasonal Shift!
Participate from anywhere with a user friendly online forum, group phone calls, live and recorded webinars and a comprehensive guide including menu plan and recipes.
NEW This Spring
Each participant will commit to one new daily habit for the 21 days. You will check-in every day to confirm your daily commitment (by email, on the forum, text or by passenger pigeon. . .) I’ll provide a list of suggested diet and lifestyle habits but you can also choose your own if there’s something that you’ve been wanting to commit to.Register by April 1 and save $25!
Source: 21-Day Spring Cleanse And Seasonal Shift | Wild Open Heart Charlotte Clews
I do agree with the potency of chili on these cold winter nights in the Northeast the US. I especially like that one can forego grains and get substance from the sweet potatoes (which are actually less “sweet” than regular potatoes). When I was preparing for one of my shoulder surgeries, I eliminated grains to reduce inflammation. However, on balance, some wishing to reduce inflammation might reduce the nightshades—in this case, the tomatoes. One could make this even healthier by using dried beans and fresh tomatoes, to the extent these could be obtained in Northeastern winters.
In my opinion, Chili is an essential recipe during the winter.This hearty vegetarian chili includes sweet potato and black beans along with flavourful seasoning such as cumin, cinnamon and chili powder. This chili is bursting with flavour and is my favorite chili recipe at the moment. This chili is the perfect healthy weeknight meal. You can even make it and take it with you for lunch, I am sure you will make everyone jealous! I’ve also added a few optional topping ideas such as avocado and coriander.Eat the chili as it is, or serve it with brown rice or quinoa.
Ingredients ( serves 4 people).
1 large sweet potato
1 can black beans approximately 450 gram (15 oz).
1 can chopped tomatoes approximately 400 gram ( 14 oz).
1/2 onion
2 gloves garlic
2 tsp chilli
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
oil for cooking
salt and pepper
3 tsp…
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So grateful…
This morning I was delighted to discover that today Google remembers the 97th birthday of B.K.S. Iyengar, whose instruction in, and articulation of yoga āsana has informed its practice worldwide, and in the US.
His book Light on Yoga was required reading for my teacher training, and I gained an even deeper appreciation of it in Christina Sell’s webinar, “Light on Yoga; Cracking the Code,” which one may still join.
I join others in recognizing our debt of gratitude to this masterful teacher.
I’ve published a longer reflection about this pose over on my long–form yoga blog, if you are interested. The short form: I did this in class today, which bodes well for my healing.
Vasisthasana is typically (in the Iyengar system) the first in a series of three “one-arm” balancing positions.
Vasisthasana is typically (in the Iyengar system) the first in a series of three “one-arm” balancing positions.
via Side Plank Pose | Vasisthasana | Yoga Pose.
Today was one of the first times I’ve attempted this variation of Vasiṣṭhāsana in a public class since the injury to my right shoulder in February 2014. It felt more stable than just about any time before the injury as well. I used to wobble. In truth, unbeknownst to me, I had torn the Subscapularis long ago, probably while pulling snow off my roof with a roof rake, after many Sun Salutations in a vigorous Winter Solstice celebration.
I don’t wobble now. Conclusion? One needs a fully attached Subscapularis for this pose. I tried this on the left side, which I injured in December 2014, and had…
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While I had been on hiatus from regular yoga teaching since the second of two shoulder injuries, I have been back in the studio subbing for a bit. Those of you who subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook have been alerted to these opportunities. I expect more of these opportunities as the summer wears on, what with vacations and such. Be sure to sign up for my mailing list below.
Recovery from my most recent shoulder surgery is going well. I have full range of motion, and I am working on strengthening three of the four rotator cuff muscles. It’s important to me to maintain a regular yoga practice if I am to teach yoga at all, so this recovery has been related to my teaching. I’m not attempting inversions or arm balances, but I am bearing weight in poses as my strength and endurance allow. I am pretty satisfied with the pace of my recovery, but also longing for the return of full capacity. Both of these inspire me to work hard in my physical therapy, personal practice, and public classes.
See you out there!
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Our next Noontime Nourish falls on the Hindu festival of Diwali. Here is a blessing I came upon a few years ago in the Times of India. The post on the longer-form blog has a more detailed description of the significance of the festival.
Today is Diwali.
May the lamps of love and devotion burn brightly in your hearts
May the light of understanding shine in your minds,
May the light of harmony glow in your home
May the bright rays of service shine forth ceaselessly from your hands.
May your smile, your words, and your actions be as sweet as the sweets of this festive season.
May Mahalakshmi bring you the true wealth of peace, health, happiness, and love.Swami Chidanand
Saraswati
via Festival of Lights – Times Of India. November 5, 2010
Here is the background on the festival. See my earlier post for more.
The third day of Diwali is the most important day for people in North India and West India. This is the 15th day of the month Krishna Paksha Ashvin, the new moon day Amavasya. Hindus devote this day performing Lakshmi Puja, worshiping the Goddess of wealth…
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Wholehearted Yoga 
