Back To Yoga Basics
Good Morning from the South West! It has been a wild ride here in Phoenix, Sedona and Salt Lake City traveling with my left foot booted up because of my broken toes. Don't ask how I did it, the Sunday at home, before departing , because the story is not such a good one. I have had people in the airports actually tell me I should come up with a new one but then that would interfere with living a life of Satya (truthfulness) and since I know that the yoga practice is not only the physical asana, I would not be seeing clearly how injury and pain re-shifts my relationship to my practice, teaching and daily living. So, Satya (truthfulness) urges us to live and speak our truth at all times even when a good story would be fun. Walking the path of truth is a hard one, especially while respecting Patanjali’s first Yama, Ahimsa (non-harming). Since Ahimsa must be practiced first, we must be careful to not speak a truth if we know it will cause harm to another or our self. Living in your truth not only creates respect, honor, and integrity but also provides the vision to clearly see the higher truths of the yogic path and a way to deeply understand our self through heightened awareness. In my case, I was reminded from my tippy broken toes.
I heeded the call and fully acknowledge that I needed to slow down in my inner sanctuary, my house, prior to taking a needed business trip for design exploration and yoga retreat scouting as well as planned family time. This vacation had to be different than I envisioned and planned, obviously no hiking and classic asana practices this time. I had to let go that those things were not going to be an integral part of my summer vacation. This was easy because of my yoga practice. My lesson is basic and deep---- slow down, watch every step and be present in the place where I stand or sit, especially in the coziest closest places called home. If you get a physical injury, carry pain, have emotional instability and are dealing with heavy stuff, you still should practice yoga!
It’s easy to be wide-eyed and present in a place of earthly awe and wonder like the mountains of Algonquin, Bell Rock or Cottonwood Canyon. But what about the family room? I guess I am always learning to live with some curve balls or knuckle balls that are thrown over home plate. The game of life is played whether we are looking at the pitch or solidly standing over home plate. The real question that comes to mind for me is - Can we be a player on our own team of life, stepping up to the plate, walking when needed, stealing a base or sitting on the bench to cheer someone else on or just take a break not keeping score ?
I know you are thinking what does this baseball reference have to do with yoga? Everything I tell you. The first time I hurt my foot while practicing yoga, I thought I had an advanced yoga practice and I couldn't practice while healing my injury. My asana practice at this time was physically strong, flexible and resilient and my ego was inflated with that as I moved through complicated transitions of asana sweating through many weekly classes. My anger and my mind were challenged to do the basic difficult deep yogic work of “ letting go “ and to be present that my perspective of the practice had to shift to help me heal my whole self by meeting myself with the injury and letting go of the practice as I knew it for 4 years. There in lied the challenge of me being the captain on my own team of life, learning the powerful fundamentals of the practice and shifting my relationship to it.
MEET YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE AT WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND DEDICATION AND THEN SURRENDER YOUR EFFORTS
The yoga practice sometimes has to look different and when we are willing to let it be different with non-attachment (Aparigraha –one of the Yamas) to what it was and to what we want it to become - it will be in that moment what it is suppose to be …bringing forth what you need know. You have to be willing to listen and see with a new lense of perception of your self. And how you are a player in your integrated game of life, making new plays towards freedom leaving behind patterns that didn't serve you any more.
I feel strongly that yoga and art are for everyone. And should be accessible for everyone as tools for healing. I have custom created my Fall Schedule with types of classes and workshops to give you a wide offering of options to have access points to meet yourself in your yoga practices today and grow every time you come around to the mat. My Back to Basics is a beautiful opportunity to understand the WHY ? of the yoga asana … So batter up and get ready to swing into your yoga. You can plan on going the extra innings with me at one or more of my featured Fall Workshops in the Lower Hudson Valley at Ascend Center, Boscobel House & Gardens, FulBeing Collective, Fire Fly Power Yoga and Garrison Art Center.
Are you breathing? Are you ready to be aware? Then the tools are here.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions about my class, workshops and retreat offerings. If you have any additional inquiries about starting or deepening your yoga and art practices, I am here for you every slow mindful step of the way .
Breathe fully, walk mindfully and live creatively
OM SAHNTI
Dani
FALL WORKSHOPS
Heartful Yoga Family Artmaking
Creative energy lies deep within us all. You don’t need to know how to draw to doodle. You don’t need to be limber to practice yoga. The fact is we are all artists from within because we are human, with this ability and need to express ourselves in many ways. We all have this creative potential just waiting to be tapped into and released. We might not make the time or know where to start. What if you were given the opportunity to play as a family together in a way to move our body and get connected to ourselves and each other?
Restorative Flow
You will learn to use yoga props: blocks, blankets, straps, bolsters, etc, for cultivating alignment and support for stillness to your body. Each week you’ll explore 4-6 fully supported yoga asanas, taking time to focus on breathing deeply as we activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Pranayama and/or meditation will be included in this well rounded slow paced practice.
Back to Basics
Join Dani @ Ful-Being collective for this unique yoga therapeutics series of the 1, 2, 3’s to explore the fundamentals of yoga. Ask some questions and find some answers behind the WHY we do asana, pranayama ,and meditation- with a holistic healing accessible approach so these tools get integrated into your daily life for Heartful living. There is so much neuroscience behind a forward fold, an extended breath and the quieting of the mind. We will also dig deeper into some of the ancient wisdom texts like Patangali’s Yoga Sutras to help integrate your personal practice. Come turn the light it on !
Yoga Nidra
If you find it hard to switch off, this class is for you! Achieving this however can be very challenging for most of us, especially if you find it hard to relax, to fall asleep or to stay asleep. This Yoga for Deep Rest class aims to support your body to learn to relax fully, so the mind and body soften to allow the nervous system to settle.
Outdoor Yoga & Song
Join Dani & Angela for a special opportunity to practice yoga outside once again on the magnificent lawn at Boscobel House & Gardens in Cold Spring, NY. We will be moving through a well rounded asana class led by Dani to practice to the sounds of Angela singing live for our practice in celebration of the Autumn Equinox with Song & Yoga. This yoga class is geared for all levels with numerous options for challenges and moments for personal surrender. We will collectively have an opportunity to seal our practice with an ending Kirtan of call and answer devotional chanting .
