Maty Ezraty, Running a Yoga Studio

I enjoyed listening to this talk by Maty Ezraty, the former owner of Yoga Works. We've all heard the name, both hers, and the well known, groundbreaking, yoga studio she stared in Santa Monica, California, with her partner. She offers important tips and questions to consider before entering into the biz. Soak it in.

Sean's Path Into Yoga

Sean Corn is always interesting, dynamic and extremely open. I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago during a workshop. She has a lot to say, but it's never boring and always resonates.

Dig Deep. Power Up.

Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaah!

Jānu Śīrsāsana A B C

Beyond the Edge and Powerful Surrender Workshops

I'll be hosting two workshops in the coming weeks at Yogayama! I challenge those who can make it to join in. On Sunday, November 20th, Beyond the Edge, will be an informative workshop on the fundamentals of Arm Balancing. On Sunday, December 4th, Powerful Surrender, will be an intensive on the dynamics of backbending. The times for both workshops will be from 13:00 - 15:00 (1-3pm).

Beyond the Edge: Exploring the Art of Arm Balancing

Sunday, November 20, 13:00 - 15:00

Yogayama, Stockholm

When delving into arm balances there often come feelings of uncertainty as well as the fear of stepping into the unknown. These feelings are natural, however; we may never realize the inherent strength within if never exploring our edges.

Experience the exhilaration arm balances bring, in a playful and explorative way, while learning the basic elements and foundational techniques to successfully build an arm balance practice. Proper alignment, strength building, as well as, energizing the subtle body will be addressed in this inspiring and informative workshop.

Journey beyond the edge and feel that anything is possible!

Powerful Surrender: Backbending with Strength

Sunday, December 4, 13:00 - 15:00

Yogayama, Stockholm

The paradox with backbending is we must be strong and soft at the same time, uniting the energy of strength and surrender. Learn the basic components of backbending with integrity to the natural flow of the body. In addition, understand and experience the concept of active release. When actively releasing, we use grounding mechanisms to deepen, while fully utilizing the breath. Learn the fundamental techniques that allow the body to find its depth and strength while at the same time letting go. 

Dog Lovin'

I love this dog! I see him almost every morning on my way to teaching class. Such a cutie. It's the little things. Ya, know?

Crazy Yoga Chick

I think this video covers every cliché imaginable when it comes to the world of modern yoga. Haha. 

Faith and Reverence

"Asana will make the body light. Pranayama strengthens prana. Dharana purifies the intellect. Meditation purifies the mind."   - Sri T. Krishnamacharya

Practice takes on a whole new meaning when steeped in devotion. After while it leads one there. Recently, when reading Yoga Mala in the asana section, Guruji mentioned when practicing we should lead with faith and reverence. It jumped out at me on the page. FAITH and REVERENCE. A profound statement that brings a whole new energy to the practice if one hasn't done so. I mean, it doesn't always feel this way. When the body aches, it can be challenging to feel reverent, but also, it has a way of healing the ache. It has a way of alleviating tiredness and apathy. It gives meaning. At the end of the day, even after all this time of practice, there is no possibility I can claim to know everything about what it is we are doing, and why the practice has the affect on us as it does. Yes, science has tried to explain it. However, deep down the source we are connecting to is still a mystery. The unexplainable can never be explained. The outlet, being our hearts. Devotion. Love beyond the knowable.

Tuning inward with a dynamic practice such as Ashtanga Yoga is ultimately where the intention must reside. In many ways I feel this is the mastery to the design. On the outside it may look merely physical, however to maintain the practice over the long term, deeply rooting ourselves into devotion, aligning inward, beyond our little self, into the expansive sky of the unlimited, we are carried through the ardor. We find our wings.

Ūrdhva Kukkutāsana A B C

Blur

"The obstacle is the path."  - Zen Proverb

Over the course of the past several months I have found myself embroiled in negativity. Not really from the outside, but from the inside. I've been observing my thoughts and often I don't like what I see. A challenge. I guess I shouldn't have an opinion in regards to any of it. It is always worse in the mind than in reality. My outlets are minimal living in a country without my native language. I didn't think it would have such and affect on me after while. It's nice to have a sounding board from time to time. Some people say a challenging path is the path of most growth. Sigh. Come to think of it, I remember feeling this during my teaching stint in Taiwan. With most people having limited English I remember I was forced to really look at myself and my thoughts. There were much less distractions and rationalizations I could succumb to because of the language barrier. It's interesting. Sometimes it's overwhelming. The good thing about Sweden is that everyone speaks English, and speaks it well, but at the same time, I'm still an outsider. I'm not fluent as of yet. That will take a while. Until then, much of the time I am forced to go inside. It can be frightening, but nonetheless, I am forced to look now, more than ever. I must. I want to. On a subconscious level it is all meant to be. Through this experience the power of thought has come to light in a big way. To climb into my head is like WTF. The lightness, darkness.

I've had recurring dreams where I am filled with anxiety because somehow I had forgotten the key details to an assignment to complete a course. I'm in a school setting and in shock I had forgotten somethings so essential. It slipped my mind. I fell short. I missed the mark. I feel crushed. Obviously it's some type of subconscious drama I need to sort out. Oh lord.

One thing that helps when I feel inundated with thoughts is writing. I have talked about this before, stream of conscious writing, a highly suggested technique in Julia Cameron's, "The Artist's Way." It has a way of wiping the slate clean. I can move forward with more clarity. It's my dumping ground, so to speak. Also, what I am realizing is how sensitive I can be to other people's energy. On some level I have always known this. Often it can be hard to distinguish what is mine and what I am picking up from another person. I have a way of really tuning into someone on a psychic level, that give or take, I am not sure I know how to handle it in the best way. Still sorting that out.

The thing is, I need to start to rely on my own guidance, and intuition. I have known this too for a while. Trusting myself completely hasn't alway been my strong suit, but it is getting there. Much of life pulls us out of our internal knowing. Sometimes I feel it as a mysterious pull or gut feeling you can't necessarily place as to why it is there. Often it comes to fruition later. I think this is where the trust comes in when starting to lean on oneself. I have had a flash of knowing when it comes to another person or situation, in an instant, to then later rationalize as to why what came to light could be wrong. Usually my rationalization is wrong. It's interesting how it works. Thankfully, yoga practice, when the intention is brought down to the essential places, our body wisdom, our intuitive knowing, begins to strengthen. What becomes perfectly logical to one my start to look totally radical to others. However, the radicals ones, the game changers, have never had a problem going with their guts. Even if it went counter to the masses. It takes courage. It takes a strong reliance on inner guidance.

I don't think self mastery has to look one way. It seems to be as unique as the individual. The same thread being, relying on our inherent, God given potential. We either separate from it or connect to it. We either decide to swim up stream or flow with the current. I like flowing with the current, but if I were to be honest, sometimes I find myself swimming up stream. I have to acknowledge the part of me that is hard wired to go this way.

Through it all, through all that I contemplate, I realize just how hard I am on myself. Geesh, can I have a bit of breathing room, please!? Heeelllo. Yes, I know where this come from. I need to start here. I need to send some energy into this space within me, and acknowledge it. It's time.

Autumn

We've been so lucky with the weather this Fall. Compared to last year this season has been pure magic. Hahahaha. I exaggerate, but yeah, it's been lovely. A true fall in Sweden is something I had yet to experience, and happy to say that I have. Last year I was bracing myself for cooler temps in late August, not good. This year, a shift. I like. I like very much.

However, what I'm learning with the extremes of Swedish weather is to do my best to take it in stride. As I enter into more darkness the fact that I must ignite my own inner light becomes evermore apparent. It's a challenge, but like any challenge, one that is worth stepping into. It builds character.

I often joke with native Swedes at how they complain more about the weather than foreigners. This is very true! I guess it's a bit of a novelty. It's different. I grew up with proper winters, so no novelty there. It's the darkness! That, in contrast, is what I'm not used to. An adjustment, for sure.

But hey, let's not get carried away. It all where we put our focus upon. There is light, and when it's light, even if only for a limited number of hours, it's beautiful. I live in a stunning city. Where nature and the urban cityscape are perfectly blended, and balanced.

High five Sweden. I'm gonna do my best to embrace the coming winter.

Ashtanga 4 Life

Yes! I like. Image designed by Allison Meierding.

Practice @ Home

Above is my practice space in the early hours of the morning. Thankfully, there is plenty of room in our living area. Our make shift alter in front of the window makes for a calming focal point. To get myself in the mood I light candles and sometimes burn sage. It's nice. The silence at this time is comforting.

 I get up at 3:00am and have to be on the mat within 10 to 15 minutes of my wake up call. There isn't much time to acclimate. It's literally get up and go. The less I think, the better. It brings new meaning to Guruji's famous saying, "body strong, mind weak." I find it true. My mind could probably think of more than a 1000 reasons why I shouldn't do what I do. But, I do it anyway. I'm hoping, mentally, I've become stronger on each given day. It's interesting what comes up when working with resistance and difficulty. Now, we're in November, it's cooler, it's darker, and it becomes even more challenging to rise. But I do, somehow. I'm thankful.

But really, it's not that bad. It's the same challenge everyone else faces with practice, no matter what hour or time of day. I like to think we're the lucky ones, anyway.

Our practices become a part of us. It's what we do. As simple as that.

Paśchimottānāsana A B C to Purvottānāsana

Astāvakrāsana B

Keep Calm and Blog

Courtesy of Lululemon

Yoga and Sex

Well said, Kiki, very well said. 

Sūryanamaskara B

Samadhi

Vanished the veils of light and shade,
Lifted every vapor of sorrow,
Salted away all dawns of fleeting joy,
Gone the dim sensory mirage.

Love, hate, health, disease, life, death,
Perished these false shadows on the screen of duality.
The storm of maya stilled
By magic wand of intuition deep.

Present, past, future, no more for me,
But ever-present, all-flowing I, I, everywhere,
Beyond the imagination of expectancy,
Is this, my Samadhi state.

Planets, stars, stardust, earth,
Thoughts of all men, past, present, future,
Every blade of grass, myself, mankind,
Each particle of creation’s dust, anger, greed, good, bad, salvation, lust,
I swallowed – transmuted all
Into a vast ocean of blood of my own Being.

Smoldering joy, off-puffed by unceasing meditation,
Which blinded my tearful eyes,
Then burst into immortal flames of bliss,
And consumed my ears, my frame, my all.

Thou art I, I am Thou,
Knowing, Knower, Known, as One!
One tranquilled, unbroken thrall of eternal living, ever-new peace,
Enjoyable beyond imagination of expectancy, Samadhi bliss!

Not an unconscious state
Of mental chloroform without a willful return,
Samadhi but extends my conscious realm
Beyond limits of the mortal frame
To farthest boundary of eternity,
Where I, the Cosmic Sea,
Watch the little ego floating in Me.

Not a sparrow, nor a grain of sand, falls without my sight.
The dark earth, mountains, seas are molten liquid!
The flowing sea changes into vapors of nebulae!
Aum blows upon vapors, opening wondrously their veils.

Oceans stand revealed of shining electrons,
Till, at the last sound of the cosmic drum (Aum),
Vanish the grosser lights into eternal rays
Of all-pervading bliss.

From joy I came, for joy I live, in sacred joy I melt.
Ocean of mind, I drink all creation’s waves.
Four veils of solid, liquid, vapor, light, lift aright.
I, in everything enter the Great Myself.
Gone forever: fitful, flickering shadows of mortal memory.

Spotless is my mental sky – below, ahead, and high above,
Eternity and I, one united ray.
I, a tiny bubble of laughter,
Have become the Sea of Mirth Itself.

(Paramahansa Yogananda)

Modern Day Guru

True story. Last Wednesday on the day Steve Jobs passed away my Safari web browser kept crashing. I would open the program and it would immediately crash and I would open it again and it would crash again. Unusual. This went on for some time until I finally relented and went on to other things. Since I go to bed early I found out about his passing the next morning. I couldn't help but feel a loss. A great one had come and gone.

Like many, I had a deep fascination with Steve Jobs. In a way he was like a guru for me. A guru who taught by example and inspired the world through his tireless passion for quality and innovation. It is his sincere vision and insight that really made me take notice. Even from someone who isn't really technologically inclined such as I am. I mean I do my best, but I'm no techno brainiac. There is something profoundly infectious when a human being lives their passion at the level Steve Jobs did. The out pouring we have witnessed since his death was announced proves it so. What is that? What is it that he had that quickened the hearts and minds of us all? There are thousands of CEOs out there, but a rarity to have made an impact in this way. It is completely fascinates me. The energy. The vibrato. The discipline! It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

I'm taking notes.

Thank you, Steve. Thank you!