Pacific Elements Yoga Blog

Tonight is the full moon of Guru Purnima, the full moon in July in which we honour the Guru, the teacher. I have just finished a weekend intensive with Certified Anusara Yoga teacher Noah Maze and am in my hotel room at the moment writing this blog, feeling very full (purna) from my experience. I always find the last day of a workshop or training to be emotional- the combo of physical and mental exhaustion due to radical expansion on multiple levels combined with the let down of having to shift back into "ordinary" time out of the focused and sacred time of learning with the teacher (guru) and the community (kula) is always a somewhat tricky transition for me. I am grateful that I have a long bus ride home tomorrow to allow me integration and digestion time before I jump back into to things. Because receiving the teachings is one thing- and putting them into everyday practice and living them in real time is another. These focused moments out of the normal routine are incredibly helpful in allowing for shifts in how I align myself in regards to my deepest intentions and without them I could easily forget the infinite nature of this work and the endless possiblities for expansion that it promises. The time that I spend as a student is so very precious to me, beyond words really...

In honour of this full moon of Guu Purnima I want to give thanks to all the amazing teachers who have inspired me on my path and to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude. There is no greater gift that I know of than the one the teacher gives to the student when they inspire the student to uncover the potential within themselves. Lives can be changed in moments simply through that exchange....So tonight I offer all that is bright and joyful in my life today at the feet of my teachers because without them I would never have had the ability to appreciate it and recognize it.

Thank you Dionne, for your enthusiasm and delight. For showing me the path to the light.

Thank you Ifat, for changing the course of my life and teaching me the value of personal responsibility. I owe you everything.

Thank you Gloria, for your kindness and your love. Your friendship was a balm to my soul during such a difficult time in my life.

Thank you Fiona and Julian for teaching me the yogas of devotion and discipline, and helping me to find those qualities in myself.

Thank you Shiva for teaching me how to dance! Your freedom and absolute comfort  in your body continues to inspire me.

Thank you Mugs for introducing me to the wisdom of the yoga tradition found in it's sacred texts. You have sparked a desire for knowledge that will keep my busy for many lifetimes to come.

Thank you Lalitha for all your words of wisdom- you are often in my thoughts. Jai Guru!

Thank you Christina for your passion and your knowledge, and for encouraging me to dig a deep hole with the Anusara method- life has been an explosion of joy since my first class with you and I will forever be grateful to you for being my first teacher in this fabulous method.

Thank you Robin for nourishing me with your deep wisdom, authenticity, and integrity. I look forward to many more long hours learning at your feet.

Thank you Chris for all the LOVE! Your incredibly generous nature and joyful enthusiasm are a great gift to your students.  In a world that can be so cold and cynical you are the fire that warms the heart.

Thank you to all the teachers I have had the opportunity to study with for one class, a weekend, or longer- each and every one of you has gifted me something special and I hold all of you in my heart.

Om Namah Shivaye!

This past weekend we hosted the fabulous Robin Golt at Coastal Bliss Yoga Studio for an exploration of Anusara Yoga and Siva Sakti Tantra. We had a wonderful group of participants who all committed to the entire weekend which allowed us to create a mood of real focus. It was a deeply nourishing and inspirational weekend.

One of my favorite themes that Robin worked with over the weekend was the concept of slowing down time. Like many people I often find myself lamenting the fact that there isn't enough time in a day and despite my best intentions can end up running around flustered and frantic. Robin invited us to work slowly and consciously (and keep the thigh bones back!) while we made our way through a delicious forward bending and hip opening practice and for a while it seemed as if we truly were slowing down time and entering a state of timelessness.....

As time moves on and I am preparing to head into the busyness of a Tofino summer I am grateful that I had this chance to step back and enjoy sharing in yoga with my teacher and my local kula. I hope to bring the spaciousness and the steadiness that I was able to access this weekend past into the activity of the exciting months to come.

Heartfelt thanks to all of you who participated in the weekend- it truly was a delight to dive deep with all of you.

The third chakra is known as Manipura Chakra, or the City of Shining Jewels. Located in the area of the solar plexus it's essence is Personal Will and Manifestation. It is a masculine power center, ruled by the element of Fire and when it is in balance we feel confident, energetic, and generous. We have the energy we need and confidentce necessary to make manifest our personal vision. When this area is unbalanced (deficient) we may feel weak, shy, and fearful, lacking confidence. When this area is excessive we may struggle with our appetites or find ourselves in constant power struggles. On a physical level the Manipura Chakra rules the digestive system so imbalance may show up as chronic digestive concerns.

A regular practice of Hatha Yoga undertaken with the guidance of a supportive teacher is a great way to build self confidence. I will never forget the day I found myself doing an advanced posture with the help of my teacher, not 3 days after saying "I will never be able to do that pose"- in that moment I realized that there were probably many things I was capable of that I was unaware of and made a decision not to limit myself with statements like "I can't" anymore. I continue to surprise myself regularly now.

Below are some postures that help to strengthen will and focus, providing a good level of challenge for newer yoga students. All balance poses, core strengthening poses, and twists will help to stimulate Manipura Chakra. Because they are fiery postures I have included a seated forward bend at the end to encourage a harmonius flow of energy. If you are feeling tired and need a pick me up you can leave the forward bend out.

Virabhadrasana 2-Warrior 2

Virabhadrasana 3- Warrior 3

Parvrita Parsvakonasana- Revolved Side Angle Pose

Phalakasana- Plank Pose

Chaturanga Dandasana- Four Limbed Staff Pose

Navasana- Boat Pose

Table Top Pose

Paschimottanasana- West Facing Stretch

Certified Anusara Yoga teacher Robin Golt is one of my main influences on the path of Anusara Yoga and her wisdom is a source of true inspiration to me. I recently asked her if she would agree to a short interview so that more people here on the West Coast  could hear her voice. For more info on Robin see her website. And to experience her as a teacher soon check out her Tofino workshop in June.

What led you to the practices of yoga? How did your journey begin?
 
I was born a seeker. I remember asking the big questions really really early on in life. And wondering just what this world was all about. It seemed such a curious and strange place.
On a grade 4 school trip, I stumbled onto a group of what must have been Krishna Consciousness devotees chanting outside a museum in Ottawa. It was so compelling I sat down and joined them. I could have stayed there forever, playing tambourine. My poor teacher had other plans. She grabbed me and put me back on the bus. It was a real let down. It felt unfair.

When I was 11 I found a copy of Herman Hesse's book Siddhartha in my school library. It was a revelation to discover I wasn't the only one on the planet who was aksing strange questions about life. My reading habits changed after that, taking me into quite a different realm than most of my friends. At 14 I started meditating. It gave me a headache, and no one could tell me why, so I lost motivation.

In retrospect, it's clear to me that so many things transpired in my life to lead me to yoga. But I have to say that the most extraordinary act on the part of destiny was to conspire to lead me to a place of deep, deep unhappiness. I was in my mid-twenties. And things had happened in my life that had me completely tied up, bound in knots emotionally and otherwise.

I remember the day, June 13, 1985, the tipping point, when an inner SOS call spontaneously arose from inside of me, a cry to the universe for help. The very next day I met my spiritual teacher, heart master Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, who revolutionized my life. And it was through Gurumayi that I met both John Friend and Paul Muller-Ortega, who are my primary mentors now.

That's my story in a nutshell. Destiny is such a fascinating thing. By the way, all my teachers have stressed the importance of reflecting on our experiences.

You have been studying, and teaching yoga for many years now- what is it that most inspires you personally to continue going deeper with your studies?
The very clear understanding that no matter how "far" I've come, this is just the beginning. And I truly mean that. The path I am on doesn't have an end. It's a continual unfolding. That's just the way it is. And it's the beauty of what's already happened that inspires me to go deeper: I know there's more where all this has come from. And I want more.

If you had to go to a desert island and you could only take one asana with you which one would it be?
The Posture of Freedom. (If it doesn't exist, I'll make it up).

You have been a student of John Friend (founder of Anusara Yoga) since 1993 and so have had opportunity to observe and be an active part of the vision of Anusara Yoga since the beginning- what would you say in a nutshell (word or phrase) most captures Anusara Yoga as it is today?
The sweetness, power, brilliance and sincerely wild desire to serve and dance with the Shakti that was Anusara from day one, is still what Anusara is today. It's just so much BIGGER. There are so many more of us to play. Thank the Lord!

If there was only one practice or one teaching that you could share with a student to help expand their vision what would it be?
Swami Muktananda's teaching: Honor yourself , love yourself, meditate on your own Self, for the divine dwells in you, as you.

As a teacher of yoga teachers what do you think is the most important practice that aspiring yoga teachers should focus on
If you are an aspiring asana teacher, practice asana, of course. Develop a personal practice that you deeply love and find fascinating. And I highly recommend recommend additional practices, particularly meditation and contemplation (fearless and ongoing), to keep the wellsprings of inspiration bubbling.

What delights you most as a yoga teacher?
Having the great good fortune to share the experiences and teachings of yoga with people who are equally fired up and just want more....

I had a wonderful day off yesterday. Talked to my mother, sister, aunt, grandma, and mum in law in the morning. Had a hot bath before going to an awesome yoga class [taught by Katie!]. Went out for a delicous lunch at Sobo with my husband after yoga class. Walked the dogs on the beach. Had a hottub in the sun. Did some more yoga. And then had dinner with my boys before settling in to watch a good love story on DVD. Ahhhh....A perfect day to nourish my second chakra.

The second chakra is located in the pelvic/sacral area, it's colour is  dark orange, it is ruled by the element of water, and it's essence is the Desire for Pleasure and Movement. When we are balanced in this area we have a healthy relationship to pleasure and sensuality, we are able to express ourselves both creatively and emotionally, and we are comfortable with movement and change in our lives. When we are imbalanced we may experience stiffness and rigidity (in body and mind), we may feel stuck emotionally and creatively, we may struggle with our relationship to sensual pleasures such as sexuality, movement, and food. The second chakra rules the physical areas of the hips, pelvis and low back, the reproductive organs and the kidneys so imbalance may manifest as stiffness, pain or discomfort in these areas of the body.

Some wonderful practices besides Hatha Yoga that will help to bring nourishment to this area of our subtle body are the use of water to cleanse and stimulate- think epsom salt bath, floating in the ocean (with your wetsuit on!), bathing in mountain streams and lakes, relaxing in a hottub under the stars... Dance is another healing practice for the second chakra area, put on your favorite dance tunes and do it alone at home if dancing in public is not your thing yet. Creating beautiful meals, setting the table with care, and taking your time to eat slowly, savour each flavour and enjoy your food is also very healing. Giving and receiving of massage is wonderful for the second chakra. As you can see these are all practice that encourage pleasure and sensuality.

Hatha Yoga postures that are specific for second chakra balancing are primarily hip openers done standing or seated. I have included a few below. Work on these when you feel stuck emotionally to get pranic energy flowing through your vital centers once again. These poses are deeper so make sure you warm up with some key standing poses (see Muladhara Chakra postures) and some flowing Sun Salutation before getting into the hip work. As well give yourself time to do these poses slowly. Take the time to feel, breathe and relax while opening deeply.

Utthita Parsvakonasana- Side Angle Pose

Goddess Pose

Pigeon Pose

Agnistambasana-Firelog Pose

Janu Sirsasana- Head of the Knee Pose

Gomukasana- Cow Face Pose

Padmasana- Lotus Pose

Over the next seven weeks I will work with the chakras in our Wednesday night Moving into Stillness class. You can find info about the chakras here after each class.

The chakra system is an aspect of our subtle anatomy that was mapped out by the ancient yogis who had experiential knowledge of it gained through deep meditative awareness. There are seven main chakras. The chakras are subtle energetic centers within the body/mind complex that cannot be seen with the ordinary eye but that can be felt if sensitivity is refined. Though we cannot ordinarily see or sense the chakras they never the less have a profound effect on bodies, minds and emotions. A well-rounded and conscious practice of yoga will create balance in the chakra system over time.

The Muladhara Chakra is also known as the Root Chakra and is located at the base of the spine. It's element is Earth, it's colour is red, and it's essence is the Desire to Be. When we are balanced in this chakra we will feel grounded, sure, stable, strong and steady. When we are experiencing imbalance we will feel fearful, insecure, fatigued and unstable.

Imbalance in this chakra can be caused by stresses concerning our health or financial situation, or any threats to our basic security.  We can become ungrounded in our root chakra when we are in periods of movement in our lives and don't have a home base, or are in between jobs. Any type of major transition will temporarily disturb the root chakra if we are not conscious of maintaining balance in this key energetic center.

Practices that will nourish the root chakra include Hatha Yoga as Muladhara rules the physical body and more specifically the feet and legs so all the barefoot work and standing postures are excellent for creating a stronger sense of grounding in the body/mind. As well creating a home base for yourself even when you are on the move and travelling lots will help nourish a feeling of stabililty from within- some ideas are walking to the local food store from where you are staying and purchasing than preparing your own food (food is very grounding), travelling with a special item from home such as a blanket or pillow that you always unpack when you arrive, or any other ritual that works for you. Seated or restorative meditation is another wonderful practice for nourishing the root chakra during periods of stress or uncertainty helping you to connect to the stillness within you.

The following are some great postures to include in a yoga practice to support Muladhara Chakra.

Tadasana- Mountain Pose

Uttanasana- Standing Forward Bend

Virabhadrasana 2- Warrior 2

Utthita Trikonasana- Extended Triangle

Vrksasana- Tree Pose

Prasarita Padottanasana- Wide Legged Forward Bend

Adho Mukha Svanasana- Downward Facing Dog

Balasana- Child's Pose

Paschimottanasana- Intense West Facing Stretch

Viparita Karani- Supported Shoulderstand/Legs Up the Wall

Savasana/Yoga Nidra- Deep Relaxation

Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher Robin Golt will be returning to Tofino this June to share her wisdom with us once more with an offering of Shiva Shakti Tantra philosophy and uplifting Anusara Yoga.

You can find full info on the Workshops and Events page of my site. Below is a description of what the weekend will include.

Shiva Shakti and the Healing Currents of Grace   June 25th-27th 2010

Join us for a full weekend of Anusara yoga in beautiful Tofino BC with certified Anusara Yoga teacher Robin Golt. This weekend is an opportunity to dive deep into the experience of asana, pranayama, meditation and the study of some of the exquisite wisdom teachings of Anusara yoga's Shiva Shakti Tantra. Each session will be a balanced offering of all of these elements.

Through the intermingling of these beautiful practices, we'll help guide the many currents and undercurrents of our bodies, minds and hearts towards the great, expansive and restorative pool of what we refer to in Anusara, as Grace.

Robin Golt was Canada's first certified Anusara Yoga teacher and has been studying with John Friend, Anusara yoga's founder, since 1993. She has played a key role in the growth of Anusara in Canada over many years, and is committed to supporting the harmonious development of Anusara in communities in this country.

Robin is known for the power, depth and clarity of her teaching and her particular ability to communicate the profound philosophical teachings that underlie the Anusara method in an accessible and uplifting way.

In addition to teaching classes, workshops, Immersions and Teacher Trainings across the country, she serves on the Anusara yoga Certification  Committee, mentoring new teachers on their path to certification. Robin is also delighting in her advanced studies of the wisdom teachings of Tantric Shaivism under the guidance of Paul Muller-Ortega, founder of Blue Throat Yoga.

It's been an incredible month of Teacher Training and everyone put in a fantastic effort wrapping up with our graduation celebration yesterday. Congratulations Kathryn, Sally, Panagiota, Roslyn, Candy, Morag, Sophie, Amber and Ryan - I have loved every minute we have shared together this last month and am so excited to see how each of you moves forward from here. 

Teacher training is a transformational journey that delivers a full spectrum of challenges and delights. It is rarely easy, but then many things worth working for aren't- and the reward for the commitment put in is high. I have always found teaching yoga to be incredibly rewarding and even after the hardest, longest day teaching I still come home feeling satisfied and can't imagine doing anything else with my time and energy.

Thanks so much to all of you that shared in Yoga with us this last month and helped this training come together. Special thanks to Sarah Platenius, Kimberly Loeb, April Woods, and Daniel Clement for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with our group. And thank you to all the staff at the Field Station for making everyone as comfortable as possible while they stayed here if Tofino with us.

Thanks for the memories!

Natalie

Sunday April 4th I am hosting Ayurvedic practictioner Kim Loeb at Coastal Bliss Yoga Studio. She is a wonderful teacher who never fails to inspire and this will be the first time she will be offering a public workshop in Tofino. Below is some more info on the offering.

Learn more about Ayurveda and the practice of yoga in this fun 3 hour workshop led by Ayurvedic practitioner and Sivananda Yoga teacher Kimberly Loeb. Kimberly
is a certified Sivananda Yoga instructor, Yanumoja Yoga therapist and Wise Earth Ayurveda practitioner who has been practicing, studying and teaching Ayurveda and Yoga since 2001. She holds a minor in the philosophy and practice of Ayurveda and Yoga from Prescott College in northern Arizona and is currently deepening her studies in Ayurvedic massage and Marmatherapy through the Samya School of Ayurveda on Salt Spring Island and the Three Winds Academy in Victoria, British Columbia.

Cost: $65.00 plus GST

Date and Time: Sunday April 4th 2-5 pm

To Register: email Natalie at natalie@pacificelements.ca

This Saturday March the 20th marks the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, a time when night and day stand in perfect balance. The cross quarter points of the year marked by the Solstices and Equinoxes are perfect times to pause and reflect on what balance means to you and to celebrate the flow of change within your own life. Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth so it seems very fitting to celebrate any new beginnings or projects you have initiated for the year as well as honor any significant endings that have occurred. The end of one chapter always marks the beginning of another, even if the new beginning is not apparent right away. Indeed the balance point in between endings and beginnings can be a very potent time if we can handle the sometimes scary sensations that accompany not knowing what comes next.

One of the key teachings of yoga is a recognition of the fact that everything in the universe is in a state of constant motion, a perpetual movement of expansion and contraction that is known as Spanda in the Tantric traditions. This natural movement of expansion and contraction can be witnessed in the changing seasons and tidal rhythms, the waxing and waning of the moon, the journey from childhood to old age, the pulse of our breath, and the daily shift from sunrise to sunset. This endless pulsation between creation and dissolution is one of the few things we can count on; it is present in every aspect of our lives from the tangible to the subtle. But still we seem to fight it at times. Especially when it comes to those times in our lives when we are unsure of what the next moment will bring, those times when we feel we are in the dark, the time of mystery, or concealment. However when we cultivate faith in the natural rhythms and movements of life and nurture practices that strengthen that faith then we are able to stay open to whatever arises and are less apt to make quick decisions based out of fear and the need to be in control. When we open to the grace and wisdom that is inherent within the natural cycles of life we find that we are able to maintain the humility that comes with knowing we can never control our lives completely but at the same time gain the courage that comes from learning how to make skillful choices. Times of darkness and confusion are often followed by times of great illumination and insight, just as the new life of Spring follows the stillness of Winter.

Make time this weekend to stop and look back on the significant endings and new beginnings that have arisen in the last year as a way of honoring and recognizing the flow of change as it moves through your own life. If you are in a period of uncertainty make extra time to sit quietly in meditation with the intention to be open to whatever arises. Don't go looking for answers, just make time for stillness and allow yourself to listen fully. The days surrounding the Equinox are full of subtle power so this is the perfect time to ask for guidance if you are feeling unsure. This can also be a good time to do any personal rituals to help strengthen your commitment to change if you are struggling with releasing relationships, habits or beliefs that no longer serve your highest intentions.

Celebrate the changing season by taking the time to look forward and back without judgement and you will see that your life is indeed a magical dance of synchronicity and wonder, each perfect moment leading to the next. May you deepen in wisdom and skillfulness so that you can participate in this dance fully, saying Yes! to all that life brings you.