Iceland Reflection

About a week ago, I returned to Massachusetts from my 2nd trip to Iceland.  Many of you know I had planned it to be a yoga retreat for mid-September, but luckily life happened a little differently.  I realized that most of my friends and students who wanted to come had to get back into organization and work-mode.  And many of them already filled up their vacation days over the summer.  So, instead I took the opportunity to travel to the land of magic and light again as an adventure/scouting trip...and I am so happy that I did.  I now feel all the more accustomed to the culture, the land, the spirit of the place.  I connected with new people and yogis, and the places where we'll venture when the retreat does take place in June 2010.  Yep, that's right, it's in the process of being confirmed and scheduled, but it will happen in about 8 months from now...so start saving and planning to come along with me!  ;)  

How do I describe this place that means so much to me?  Many of you who come to my classes regularly already know the story.  And I'm pretty sure I've blogged about my love for Iceland (and the music that comes from there) before.  But for those of you who don't know, in a nutshell...it's that Iceland feels to me like a place I've been to in another life.  It is a place that breathes from the ground up.  The nature, the stillness, the drama of the weather and landscapes, the pride of the people and culture....I could go on and on.   There is an overall wholeness that you feel when graced in the presence of bright moss, deep blue ocean, crisp white clouds, shadows on the mountains, and horses meditating in the fields.  And this happens all in one scene or moment.  It is a place to connect to your emotions and yourself, and to grow from the inside out, just like the earth.  And I was so delighted to realize on my 2nd visit, which was at a different time of year with new colors and weather patterns, that I still felt the same as before.  This is why I must bring any of you who would like to join me, over to this land.  I have some special things for our week of yoga this coming June in the works.  I look forward to sharing it.  

In the meantime, I've given myself this week to reflect on my 10 days there.  To re-adjust to life in the United States fastlane slow and steady.  And I hope to keep the spirit with me as I continue to teach and grow this new autumnal season...

September gotten away from me

I can't believe September has gone by and I haven't posted anything!  Well, I've now been to Iceland and back and will have more to share on that soon.  I promise.  In the meantime, autumn has officially arrived, though we're just gradually starting to feel it hear in New England.  I've been playing lots of my old Icelandic playlists in class as of late (naturally).  But lately I've been playing the new Mum album "Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know" and the new Jonsi & Alex "Riceboy Sleeps."  They are both beautiful and lovely to practice to in their own right.  

Now I'm off for the weekend to officiate my friends' wedding!  Something new and exciting for me to take part in and celebrate love.  Til soon...

Yoga Levels

I've been meaning to discuss the topic of levels for yoga class for awhile now.  This is something all yoga teachers and studios have to deal with at some point, and something I've been pondering for the last few years.  Recently some fellow teachers and I have been discussing the questions and difficulties that arise when a class is set at a particular level, but then people at a different level show up to class.  And I've had some students pull me aside to ask when I'll be teaching higher difficulty classes.  What to do?  

I've seen it happen too often.  A class is slated as intermediate, but a beginner will show up.  Then the teacher spends the rest of class trying to balance the difficulty in order not to scare off the newbie, but keep the regulars satisfied.  It's a fine line.  I dislike having to turn people away from a class.  In fact, I don't think I've ever done it before.  But maybe I should have?  Hmm...

I've gone 3 years teaching in the same studio at various levels.  Most classes are all levels which allow everyone to take it at their own pace, but I do teach a few intermediate.  And these should very well be reaching the advanced level since so many of my regulars have been with me awhile.  However, I do find that people who aren't practicing regularly, or are new to yoga have been showing up to the higher level classes anyway.  So over the summer I started teaching one workshop a month, and they have been geared towards the advanced crowd in order to teach them asanas that they can choose to take deeper in class, despite the level.  Unfortunately it's been the summer and many people are away.  So, I hope to continue offering these in the coming season.  Until then, and in general, however...I have an answer to this dilemma.  

Yoga is about developing your own rhythm.  It's about knowing whether or not to push your edge or pull out.  It's about discovering your strengths and weaknesses both mentally and physically.  I move in my own practice through cycles.  Some weeks I'm exhausted and I do a basic hatha or vinyasa practice.  Some days I'm ready for an intense ashtanga series.  Other days I need to leave out inversions altogether, and spend most of the time in my hips or in savasana.  :)  I don't see myself busting out any attitude with people and sending 'em packing just because they showed up to my intermediate class but are more on the beginner side.  That's just not me.  I want everyone to find their yoga.  So I simply try to honor the level and announce at the beginning that it will remain intermediate, but everyone needs to take it at their own pace.  I encourage everyone to take their own pace in class (and in life) as a daily mantra.  So it's truly up to you.  If you want a guaranteed sweaty, advanced asana practice...maybe it's time to take a break from your norm and check out a hot vinyasa or ashtanga studio a few times a week.  Everyone needs to grow.  All you can do is keep growing and educating yourself on alignment, the poses, the philosophy...whatever will help you find your flow.  Then, all you have to do is show up to any class, and be able to judge for yourself where you need to be on your mat that day.  Hope that makes sense?  I'm open to discussion.  Just love yourself, be yourself, and breathe.  One class at a time.     

Rain after the sun on day 31

It's the last day of July.  Gratitude?  Check.  Have relied on it all month and will continue to.  Morning of breakfast and catching up with a friend at my neighborhood cafe, biking around for errands and posting my Iceland flyers around town (you know you wanna come with me!), teaching my noon yoga class, staking up my tomatoes, and now taking in the new Riceboy Sleeps album (again, you know you want to come to Iceland to check out where this music comes from...).   There is a summer monsoon-like storm setting in for the late afternoon.  Perfect for this music.  Seems like a whole lot to be grateful for to me!  

Haven't been blogging or making playlists as much as of late because I'm still trying to enjoy life and take the summer as it comes.  Went to Nantucket with my love to take in the grey lady's mist, do yoga in nature, swim with seals, and reflect on the beauty around us in life.  

Hope everyone out there is doing the same, no matter where you are!  

Looking forward to August and a new mantra, a new sound, a new creative energy to enhance that beauty that sets us into who we are and what makes us feel alive. 

New Playlist: Cosmos Petals in the Wind

1. Arms & Sleepers:  Dear Charles, my muse, asleep, or dead

2. Lisa Hannigan: Lille

3. Lisa Hannigan:  An Ocean & a Rock

4. Neko Case:  Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth

5. Lisa Hannigan: Keep it All

6. "           "           : Venn Diagram

7.    "        "           :  Sea Song

8. Neko Case:  Vengeance is Sleeping

9. Lisa Hannigan:  Splishy Splashy

10.  "          "         :  I Don't Know

11. Neko Case:  I'm an Animal

12.  "           "   : Magpie to the Morning

13. Lisa Hannigan:  Courting the Blues

14.    "          "         :  Pistachio

15.    "           "        :  Teeth

16.    Neko Case:  The Next Time You Say "Forever"

17.      "           "   :  Middle Cyclone

18. Arms & Sleepers:  Jetty

19.              "                :  Algiers Point

20.            "                 : In the Empire of Builders

21.            "                  :  The Motorist

-Lisa Hannigan album: Sea Sew

-Neko Case album: Middle Cyclone

-Arms & Sleepers EP:  The Motorist

This weekend, botanical beauty and vinyasa fun

Flowerfolk

Botanical Beauty 

by

Nazarene Zabel

It's finally been a full week of summertime sunshine...and this weekend promises some more summer fun in the making!  Here in Somerville and Cambridge, MA we know how to do it up right, supporting local business, farms, and artists.  So if you're not heading to the cape or a festival this weekend, then there are a few things you should check out!

1)  My talented and brilliant best friend, Nazarene Zabel, has finally debuted her own line of organic (mostly locally grown herbs) beauty products, called Flowerfolk!  She (an ethnobotanist, reiki practitioning, flame-haired gem) has been working hard to bring you all a fantastic array of creations that she's been selling at local farmers' markets.  There are lotions, lip balms, salves, facial steams, scrubs, toners, etc.  Plus, she's super knowledgeable about all things botanical...including what teas to drink, how to make cordials, tinctures, and more.  So this Saturday, July 18th, you should go chat her up and check out her stuff at the Union Sq. Farmers' Market!  Located at the square in front of Precinct and The Independent off of Somerville Ave., it opens at 9am and runs through 1pm.  You'll also find a nice selection of local farms providing veggies, cheeses, meats, flowers, breads, and baked goods.  

If you must miss this, then you have another chance this coming week to check out Naz and Flowerfolk:  Tuesday, July 21 at the Harvard Sq. Farmers' Market.  This is the one located just outside of Harvard Yard near Memorial Hall.  It runs from approx. noon-6pm.  

My fave Flowerfolk items you ask?  

Hildegard's Charm Rose/Witchhazel Facial Toner

Mossy Sister Sage Cleansing Scrub

*I've been using her stuff for months now and it feels so good to know exactly what I'm putting on my body and it feels even better!  You'll find stuff ranging from $4-30.  

2) Saturday, July 18th, after checking out Naz in Union Sq., I suggest heading towards Harvard to come Embrace the Heat with me in my July Vinyasa Yoga Workshop at Karma Yoga Studio! 2:15-4:30pm 

If you have been practicing regularly and feel like finding your edge and strength in your asanas, then come join me! 
We'll work on our legs, arms, and abs. Binding in warriors, chaturangas, crow and other arm balances...working with the heat instead of against it. ;)  I've broken up these more intense poses in sequences that will help you have fun with them and get nice and warm.  
Plus, there will be time as usual to sit and meditate or journal during your practice. Take your practice a step further than you might normally...in body, mind, emotions, and spirit. 
Drop-in only, so if you're around, pop in for an intense and awakening yoga afternoon. 
--$46, or 25% discount if Karma member--

*So, that's 2 great options for the weekend.  There's also the ArtBeat Festival in Davis Sq. all day Saturday (I suggest checking out vintage finds at Artifaktori if you're in Davis Sq.), loads of great music at Precinct or Toad, and time to work in your gardens and enjoy the sunshine.  So, keep smiling and feeling gratitude the rest of July and beyond!

xxo

rely on gratitude

The sun came out for 3 days last weekend to bring us summer just in time for my birthday and the holiday weekend, and it couldn't have been a better one.  Those 3 days after a month of continuous rain and clouds made it all the more sweet and has encouraged my new mantra for the month of July:  Rely on Gratitude.  

With the most splendid friends, yoga students, family, community, and the awesome ability to get to do what I love as my life's work...there is nothing else to feel this month other than gratitude for being alive.  

The weekend ended with a Cancer Full Moon in Capricorn asking us to confront old voices within that prevent us from finding our own inner voice.  Summer is still fresh, everyone!  Keep your spirit alive by staying on track with this gratitude.  Breathe it into your hearts for your health, your yoga, the people in your life, anything that makes you smile...

Keep using the mat to confront those old voices, sit with the fear in order to let it resolve, and then let it go.  Be patient with the process.  I believe in you, and the rest that summer has to offer.  

Then off to Iceland at the end of it...you game?