In September I passed my two year anniversary of practicing yoga.  I probably have taken more classes than most people celebrating their two year anniversary because I like to take 5 or more classes a week.  I used to lift weights regularly, but I let that lapse because my body got too tight (and you know that women go to yoga to meet loose men).  I used to get regular migraines, now I go to yoga.  I used to carry all my stress in my belly with disastrous results; yogic breathing helped relax my bod.  When I take BART in the morning I practice pranyama because it helps me relax before work.  Less stress.

I used to wonder what yoga was doing for me.  But now I ask myself whether it matters.  I like the way my body feels, it doesn’t ache as much, the people at the studio are way cool, and savasanah rocks at the end of each practice.  I appreciate the thousand times I have to do the standards like downward dog, cobra, forward bend, low lunge, sun salutation, present pose, chair, Warrior I, II, and III; triangle, side-angle, crow, bridge, half moon, and all the rest.  Hey I finally elevated up into wheel, and I’m doing some arm stands (right terminology?…who cares.).   Have you ever had your lower back release when you stay in child’s pose, it feels wonderful. You do these asanas a thousand times and every pose is different and each new time you learn something extra about your body and yourself.  I used to wonder when I’d be good at yoga, it doesn’t seem to matter anymore.  The most important part of yoga is interacting with the people and instructors with whom you practice.

Now my internal chant during flow classes is “re-lax.”  “Re” is my inhale and “lax” is my exhale.  My primary goal at the conclusion of class is to sink into “Corpse” pose.  Isn’t it ironic, you start each practice on your knees and complete it in “corpse” pose,…each class is kind of like a metaphor for life.  Sorry, too deep.  I used to go to practice and admire all the yoga stars with their lithe bodies.  The other day I went to class and saw a bunch of my friends, and wondered what happened to all the stars.  I laugh more at practice now, and it is particularly ludicrous when I fall out of a pose because I’m such a dork.  But it is only practice, no big deal.

So what is the prognosis after two years.  There is none.  Yoga feels good, it makes me mellow, and I have fun during practice.  And to think I was hoping that one day I’d become a yoga star.

V/R
Jeff Cross

I always feel the shift from summer to fall much more than to any other season. So much activity happens during this big period of transition: San Francisco’s beloved post season baseball and football games, the Jewish New Year—and with Halloween and Thanksgiving ahead and summer vacation far behind, we are faced with increased obligations and responsibilities as our daily routines shift into a new mode.

As seasons change and days get longer or shorter, our sleep cycles, moods, and appetites change as well. Life often becomes more challenging during these transitions, especially leading into the holidays. This time in particular presents a good opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to keeping up with our yoga practice.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your practice during the autumn season.

Slow Down The Pace: Practice some more standing poses and sink into them for a little longer then usual. As the holidays approach, it is important to remain grounded and rooted. Increasing the focus on our roots and foundation will lead us to overall greater stability in our lives.

Add an Inversion: Inversions can definitely be scary, but so can a week with family at the holidays! Inversions help to focus frenzied energy back toward the earth, giving a deeper feeling of support. Your inversion doesn’t even have to be as dynamic as a headstand or handstand. You can simply position your legs up the wall for an extended period of time, or start in bridge pose with a block underneath your sacrum and lift your legs (while maintaining your balance on the block).

Breathe Fully: Make pranayama and a small meditation period a part of your daily routine. Breathing practices promote a more restful nature overall and help to ground us. Alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) is a great way to clear out the deeper subtle energy channels of the body, as it draws the mind inward and calms the nervous system.

Cheers,

Ronn

Wednesdays, Vinyasa Flow (Noon-1:15)

We are thrilled to be hosting Rachel Lanzerotti for a series of upcoming workshops on the topic of mindfulness. Perhaps you’ve been looking for ways to lower your stress level and feel more connected but you worry that practicing meditation might be too challenging for you. Mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally” and can be easily integrated into everyday life. You can practice in your office or in line at the grocery store. Rachel has just started her four week Intro to Mindfulness course which will provide you with a solid introduction to mindfulness and methods for meeting stressful moments with greater mental clarity and less reactivity. She is also teaching an Afternoon of Mindfulness Retreat on June 16th from 1pm to 5pm. Each workshop session will include practical information, guidance and first-hand experience with mindfulness and meditation. In the video below, Rachel shares a more detailed explanation of mindfulness.