You never know how differently the world looks when you're upside down! Gain new perspective and have fun with it!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Homeless
While yoga is a very individual, personal experience, it is often practiced, at least initially, amongst a group of like-minded people. Once you've found a class, a teacher, and a studio that you feel comfortable with, all of a sudden you become a loyal customer. When you try a class at another studio, oftentimes, it just doesn't quite feel right, and you return to your beloved teacher with a little bit of relief.
So what happens when your teacher moves away or, gasp, your home studio shuts its doors for good? When I first discovered yoga, I was a devotee of Jivamukti Yoga Studio in Astor Place, NYC. My teacher was Christopher Hildebrandt, I came to love his Sarvangasana adjustments, his gentle demeanor, and his inspiring instruction. When I made the decision to move away from NYC to South Korea, it was with the awareness and knowledge that likely it would be a very very long time before I'd be taking group yoga classes again. I hadn't yet discovered the passion for the practice that I developed later in life, so though it was a loss, I didn't feel the loss quite so keenly.
A little more than 4 years ago, I moved to Washington, DC, and discovered yoga again at Georgetown Yoga. Here I found a home studio that had exactly what I needed at the time - knowledgeable and compassionate teachers, friendly and relaxed students, within biking or walking distance from my home, and an undefinable, unquantifiable aura of generosity and good-naturedness. Sounds perfect, huh? Even as I acknowledged some drawbacks of the studio and realized the potential benefits of learning from different teachers, I was continually drawn back by the feel of the place. Georgetown Yoga is where I re-discovered myself, where I worked so hard and achieved things I never thought possible. I developed friendships as well as a new perception of my mind and body. And then the catastrophic happened. Within 3 months, I lost my teacher (she moved to NY) and the studio shut down (the lease was not renewed). What was a girl to do?
I began to yoga studio shop. I attended classes at three or four different studios in DC, found some that I liked, found some that I didn't like, and found some that I was a bit indifferent to. But it turned out that adopting a new studio and new teachers, even when I liked them, was a difficult thing to do. It required me to let go of my old studio. It's almost like a romantic relationship. The relationship is doomed if you can't stop measuring it against your former partners. Memories are important to keep and treasure because you will never have the same experience again. Even were the same variables put in place, you are a different person today than before, and therefore your perception of your experience will be different. If you can't let go of the past, then you sacrifice finding joy in the present. Acknowledging the beauty of your memories, yet not being imprisoned by them, opens a whole new world of possibilities and opportunities. They may not all be good, some may even be painful, but some may be life-changing and transcendental. It's a difficult thing to do, I can't emphasize that enough. But maybe it is by virtue of the fact that it takes enormous courage, that it can be that much more valuable.
Whether it is a new yoga studio or a relationship or moving halfway across the country, I wish you luck and bravery to embrace and seek out the challenge of finding and inviting a new kind of joy into your lives.
Namaste,
Cindy
So what happens when your teacher moves away or, gasp, your home studio shuts its doors for good? When I first discovered yoga, I was a devotee of Jivamukti Yoga Studio in Astor Place, NYC. My teacher was Christopher Hildebrandt, I came to love his Sarvangasana adjustments, his gentle demeanor, and his inspiring instruction. When I made the decision to move away from NYC to South Korea, it was with the awareness and knowledge that likely it would be a very very long time before I'd be taking group yoga classes again. I hadn't yet discovered the passion for the practice that I developed later in life, so though it was a loss, I didn't feel the loss quite so keenly.
A little more than 4 years ago, I moved to Washington, DC, and discovered yoga again at Georgetown Yoga. Here I found a home studio that had exactly what I needed at the time - knowledgeable and compassionate teachers, friendly and relaxed students, within biking or walking distance from my home, and an undefinable, unquantifiable aura of generosity and good-naturedness. Sounds perfect, huh? Even as I acknowledged some drawbacks of the studio and realized the potential benefits of learning from different teachers, I was continually drawn back by the feel of the place. Georgetown Yoga is where I re-discovered myself, where I worked so hard and achieved things I never thought possible. I developed friendships as well as a new perception of my mind and body. And then the catastrophic happened. Within 3 months, I lost my teacher (she moved to NY) and the studio shut down (the lease was not renewed). What was a girl to do?
I began to yoga studio shop. I attended classes at three or four different studios in DC, found some that I liked, found some that I didn't like, and found some that I was a bit indifferent to. But it turned out that adopting a new studio and new teachers, even when I liked them, was a difficult thing to do. It required me to let go of my old studio. It's almost like a romantic relationship. The relationship is doomed if you can't stop measuring it against your former partners. Memories are important to keep and treasure because you will never have the same experience again. Even were the same variables put in place, you are a different person today than before, and therefore your perception of your experience will be different. If you can't let go of the past, then you sacrifice finding joy in the present. Acknowledging the beauty of your memories, yet not being imprisoned by them, opens a whole new world of possibilities and opportunities. They may not all be good, some may even be painful, but some may be life-changing and transcendental. It's a difficult thing to do, I can't emphasize that enough. But maybe it is by virtue of the fact that it takes enormous courage, that it can be that much more valuable.
Whether it is a new yoga studio or a relationship or moving halfway across the country, I wish you luck and bravery to embrace and seek out the challenge of finding and inviting a new kind of joy into your lives.
Namaste,
Cindy
Sunday, July 5, 2009
What yoga means to me
Since I found yoga, it has always been a tool for me to get through the tough times in my life. Of course, yoga amidst happiness is pure bliss, but perhaps more significant, yoga amidst adversity can be times for growth and change, however painful. One thing I know, without yoga or for some people, without running or biking or journaling, those tough times would be far more difficult.
How many of us lie awake nights or find ourselves drifting off in the middle of our workday dwelling and brooding on our troubles of the moment? How many sleepless nights and less-than-productive workdays? When I'm in the middle of a tough, sweaty session of yoga, there's no room left in my mind, body, or soul to focus on anything but the alignment of my knee and the opening of my chest as I reach for the stretch or command my body to lift gracefully in a strength pose. A moving meditation. "Yoga citta vrtti nirodha." The second of Patanjali's yoga sutras. This is translated as, Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. Oh boy, it sure is. Most times my thoughts race from one topic to another, and my emotions inevitably follow suit. Sometimes it feels like all the disparate facets of my personality have their own voice in my head and clamor to make themselves heard when attempting to understand a particular situation. But without perspective and objectivity, it can feel impossible for one voice to win out over the rest, leading to a state of chaos and confusion. Yoga gives me a chance to take a deep breath and allow my thoughts to settle - to cease its fluctuation. And hopefully, it is in the silence, in the quiet, that I find my answers without active searching. Answers that come from a deeper aspect of my being, a more integral and foundational energy. I feel that these answers are more trustworthy in that, they come from a place stripped of emotion whether happy, sad, prideful, or selfish.
There are several lucky people out there who are able to be in this state of stripped down awareness throughout their consciousness, whether or not in an hour and a half yoga class. Or, maybe I'm in error calling them lucky. Luck implies that it is good fortune and not hard work that has gotten them to that state. In actuality, these meditative gurus work terribly hard day in and day out to cease the fluctuations of their minds in hopes of achieving that transcendental state. Anyone who thinks meditation is easy needs to try it sometime. Achieving an unassisted handstand in the center of the room is easier and less scary than having to face yourself in the stillness of your thoughts and mind.
It is through the continued practice of yoga that I begin to realize how much more there is to yoga than just the simple postures. Asana, or posture, is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. And, it is perhaps the easiest and most accessible of the eight for those of us who have grown up in the western world. It looks like I have a long way to go before I can make a guess at what yoga can really mean to me.
Namaste,
Cindy
How many of us lie awake nights or find ourselves drifting off in the middle of our workday dwelling and brooding on our troubles of the moment? How many sleepless nights and less-than-productive workdays? When I'm in the middle of a tough, sweaty session of yoga, there's no room left in my mind, body, or soul to focus on anything but the alignment of my knee and the opening of my chest as I reach for the stretch or command my body to lift gracefully in a strength pose. A moving meditation. "Yoga citta vrtti nirodha." The second of Patanjali's yoga sutras. This is translated as, Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. Oh boy, it sure is. Most times my thoughts race from one topic to another, and my emotions inevitably follow suit. Sometimes it feels like all the disparate facets of my personality have their own voice in my head and clamor to make themselves heard when attempting to understand a particular situation. But without perspective and objectivity, it can feel impossible for one voice to win out over the rest, leading to a state of chaos and confusion. Yoga gives me a chance to take a deep breath and allow my thoughts to settle - to cease its fluctuation. And hopefully, it is in the silence, in the quiet, that I find my answers without active searching. Answers that come from a deeper aspect of my being, a more integral and foundational energy. I feel that these answers are more trustworthy in that, they come from a place stripped of emotion whether happy, sad, prideful, or selfish.
There are several lucky people out there who are able to be in this state of stripped down awareness throughout their consciousness, whether or not in an hour and a half yoga class. Or, maybe I'm in error calling them lucky. Luck implies that it is good fortune and not hard work that has gotten them to that state. In actuality, these meditative gurus work terribly hard day in and day out to cease the fluctuations of their minds in hopes of achieving that transcendental state. Anyone who thinks meditation is easy needs to try it sometime. Achieving an unassisted handstand in the center of the room is easier and less scary than having to face yourself in the stillness of your thoughts and mind.
It is through the continued practice of yoga that I begin to realize how much more there is to yoga than just the simple postures. Asana, or posture, is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. And, it is perhaps the easiest and most accessible of the eight for those of us who have grown up in the western world. It looks like I have a long way to go before I can make a guess at what yoga can really mean to me.
Namaste,
Cindy
Monday, October 27, 2008
Namaste and Welcome!
Let me introduce myself, my name is Cindy, I am a yoga instructor and mental health therapist in Washington, DC. Yoga has been the medium that has taken me on such a phenomenal journey over the course of the past year and a half. I renewed my passion for yoga at Georgetown Yoga in May 2007 when I was going through a lot of personal problems. Suffice it to say that I was grieving my loss of self and cliche as it may sound, I had lost awareness of who I truly am. It was through yoga, what I call a "moving meditation," that eventually brought me peace, balance, and a clearer outlook on life and my place within my environment.
As a mental health therapist, day in and day out, I'm usually attempting to assist my clients to locate this same sense of clarity and emotional cleansing through the medium of talk and play therapy (with children, though I'm convinced adults would greatly benefit from a little bit of play in their lives!). As I discovered the healing benefits of yoga for myself, I became inspired to share my newfound passion with others in need, be it dealing with a crisis or simply getting through the daily grind. To that end, I completed a 200hr teacher training at Georgetown Yoga in the YogaWorks method in June 2008. To say that it was a life-changing experience doesn't even begin to convey what I got out of the training. Yoga is an individual practice, while also acknowledging the essence of community. Through yoga, one is faced front and center with personal demons - pride, anxiety, and ego, to name but a few. To many, that doesn't really sound like a fun hour and a half a day. And, honestly, it isn't always fun. But it is almost always a chance for growth and development.
Again, as a therapist, I know that personal demons don't get exorcised by ignoring them. The only way to find resolution and peace is to face them head on, eye-to-eye, "mano y mano." And then, I also know that personal demons almost never completely disappear, they evolve to match one's current experiences and future possibilities. Over the course of the past year, a consistent yoga practice has helped me to weather the intermittent storms I've gone through, and has inevitably enabled me to come out the other side refreshed and ready to face the challenges ahead.
I wholeheartedly encourage all to give yoga a try and please do come visit me at my new yoga teaching home, Tulsi Holistic Living Center, www.tulsiliving.com. I will be teaching two classes a week:
Thursdays, 7-815pm: Candlelight Yoga
Saturdays, 430-530pm: Flow 2
I will also continue to update classes that I'm substitute teaching at Inspired Yoga.
Peace,
Cindy
Let me introduce myself, my name is Cindy, I am a yoga instructor and mental health therapist in Washington, DC. Yoga has been the medium that has taken me on such a phenomenal journey over the course of the past year and a half. I renewed my passion for yoga at Georgetown Yoga in May 2007 when I was going through a lot of personal problems. Suffice it to say that I was grieving my loss of self and cliche as it may sound, I had lost awareness of who I truly am. It was through yoga, what I call a "moving meditation," that eventually brought me peace, balance, and a clearer outlook on life and my place within my environment.
As a mental health therapist, day in and day out, I'm usually attempting to assist my clients to locate this same sense of clarity and emotional cleansing through the medium of talk and play therapy (with children, though I'm convinced adults would greatly benefit from a little bit of play in their lives!). As I discovered the healing benefits of yoga for myself, I became inspired to share my newfound passion with others in need, be it dealing with a crisis or simply getting through the daily grind. To that end, I completed a 200hr teacher training at Georgetown Yoga in the YogaWorks method in June 2008. To say that it was a life-changing experience doesn't even begin to convey what I got out of the training. Yoga is an individual practice, while also acknowledging the essence of community. Through yoga, one is faced front and center with personal demons - pride, anxiety, and ego, to name but a few. To many, that doesn't really sound like a fun hour and a half a day. And, honestly, it isn't always fun. But it is almost always a chance for growth and development.
Again, as a therapist, I know that personal demons don't get exorcised by ignoring them. The only way to find resolution and peace is to face them head on, eye-to-eye, "mano y mano." And then, I also know that personal demons almost never completely disappear, they evolve to match one's current experiences and future possibilities. Over the course of the past year, a consistent yoga practice has helped me to weather the intermittent storms I've gone through, and has inevitably enabled me to come out the other side refreshed and ready to face the challenges ahead.
I wholeheartedly encourage all to give yoga a try and please do come visit me at my new yoga teaching home, Tulsi Holistic Living Center, www.tulsiliving.com. I will be teaching two classes a week:
Thursdays, 7-815pm: Candlelight Yoga
Saturdays, 430-530pm: Flow 2
I will also continue to update classes that I'm substitute teaching at Inspired Yoga.
Peace,
Cindy
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Group Classes
Saturday, October 25, 10-11:15am
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Inspired Flow All
Saturday, October 25, 11:30-12:45pm
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Intro to Yoga
Sunday, October 26, 6-715pm
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Candlelight
Sunday, November 23, 10-1115am
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Inspired Flow All
Sunday, November 23, 6-715pm
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Candlelight
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Inspired Flow All
Saturday, October 25, 11:30-12:45pm
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Intro to Yoga
Sunday, October 26, 6-715pm
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Candlelight
Sunday, November 23, 10-1115am
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Inspired Flow All
Sunday, November 23, 6-715pm
Inspired Yoga, 12th and U St NW, www.inspiredyoga.com
Candlelight
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