Hello Dear Kula,
I feel like I have been transformed again and I am so grateful to all of you and to the practice. As you may know the past year and a half have been a "different" time for my yoga practice. Shoulder and knee problems have certainly changed my asana practice. I have been studying so much since the beginning of the Immersion but my practice has been so difficult. Part of the issue I realize has been the decrease in my muscle strength, the consequence of less activity with my injuries. What a cycle. I have been lifting weights lately due to the advise of my physical therapist. But the extra study with John Friend has really had an amazing affect as all of you know who have recently been studying with him. I have the series of 4 hour and a half DVD's of John's besides what we have watched in his teacher training DVD's. Anyway.........this morning it all came together again. My shoulders are in place again. I EASILY did Adho Mukha Vrksasana, Sirsasana, Urdva Dhanurasana, Ustrasana and I even balanced in Vasisthasana. You have all inspired my with your amazing practices, always working at your edge. I think I would have just given up on these basic heart opening poses without your continued inspiration.
I'm really looking foward to seeing you Monday!
Namaste,
Annie
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
My Cup Runith Over
Happy Thursday Beautiful Kula,
I was just finishing up posting my website today and it dawned on my that as I was writing how absolutely grateful I am for the practice. It seems this way and more so each day I study and practice. Our open to grace discussion has been the spring board for all my practices and my classes this week. I have found how truly expansive and sweet this concept is and can be in the practice as well as in my life. When I allow myself an extra second to open to grace before opening my mouth, (which I must admit sometimes gets in the way) or before a practice, pose, even shavasana, it seems as though the gratitude nearly bubbles over.
I can't thank you all enough for helping me through a very rough time in my life. Even though I didn't share what happened until recently I can honestly say that I would not have made it through as I did without the practice and kula. I realize now more than ever that if you are thirsty the river will come...and it has like a HUGE wave!
On this note I will let you know how excited I am to see you all the Monday after next after my workshop and time in New Orleans with Aaron and John Friend! I will be thinking of you all and dedicating my practice to our beautiful kula, our study, and our practice together!!
YES YES YES!! Shanti!
With love and gratitude!
Oh and ps:
http://www.amylindyoga.com
I was just finishing up posting my website today and it dawned on my that as I was writing how absolutely grateful I am for the practice. It seems this way and more so each day I study and practice. Our open to grace discussion has been the spring board for all my practices and my classes this week. I have found how truly expansive and sweet this concept is and can be in the practice as well as in my life. When I allow myself an extra second to open to grace before opening my mouth, (which I must admit sometimes gets in the way) or before a practice, pose, even shavasana, it seems as though the gratitude nearly bubbles over.
I can't thank you all enough for helping me through a very rough time in my life. Even though I didn't share what happened until recently I can honestly say that I would not have made it through as I did without the practice and kula. I realize now more than ever that if you are thirsty the river will come...and it has like a HUGE wave!
On this note I will let you know how excited I am to see you all the Monday after next after my workshop and time in New Orleans with Aaron and John Friend! I will be thinking of you all and dedicating my practice to our beautiful kula, our study, and our practice together!!
YES YES YES!! Shanti!
With love and gratitude!
Oh and ps:
http://www.amylindyoga.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Feeling Loopy
Just wondering how everyone is doing, and what kinds of stimulating experience we are all having as we go deeper and expand wider...What are we working on, what are we discovering, and how is this all fitting together?
Personally, these past couple weeks I have been playing with the loops, they add a HUGE but positively dynamic complexity for me! My body is experiencing an awakening as I hug in on the idea of trying to gain a better understanding for the loop layer of body consciousness. Extreme receptivity has been absolutely necessary for me to maintain in order to keep the awareness in a state of development, because once I try to formulate some limited intellectualization of the loops, I lose the experience of the grand purpose of the loops altogether. Intellectually, the biomechanics are seeming to make sense. The alignment is following the optimal anatomical positioning that our bodies are designed to employ right? Yes, but I have to laugh because it never stops there. Physical is only one of the pillars of something I like to think of as an Empire of Consciousness. That's just the metaphor it seems. I realize that without establishing a foundation, these energetic dynamics have nowhere to initiate from. Without a fundamental experience of foundation, its kind of like trying to run with no feet, or swim with no arms...(which may be possible through extreme compensation but certainly not full of shakti.) The leg loops are my project for the near future, as it seems I have very a subtle sense of them really. But I've been experiencing a vast and progressive movement of something, probably just Ms. Shakti again, as I set my foundation with inner and outer spiral, then initiate kidney loop...draw up through the side ribs and lift the heart up then the head back with shoulder loop...and keep it moving through skull loop. I feel a really neat activation of the location of each focal point as I draw up the spine and create a spaciousness for the loops like this. Giving the prana a direction to flow seems to heighten my awareness that it is flowing intensely in the first place!
Another thing I found extremely resonating from the video particularly, was John's emphasis on learning that " Our foundation is a reflection of our intention." Whoa. Haha looking deeply and with curiosity at that, I notice that it gets a little sloppy sometimes, and the little yogi voice in my head keeps pestering me to notice, enhance...notice, remember, enhance...notice, reinforce, find another opening, enhance.Then I find myself asking, "What do I really need to align with here?" and "How could an amplification of my highest intention be brought forth?" I find this even in walking, in mountain biking, while standing, during conversation, or just my life in general. I guess you could say this little yogi-voice is just serving as my intention coach, who diagnoses me with recognition, and prescribes me principle. Basically, he/she has a really hard time shutting up, however I must bow to that voice since its intrinsic value is extremely noteworthy because as I begin to listen more carefully, the voice becomes like an overtone that is not so redirecting, but aggrandizing rather, and is an affirmation of why existence is so perfect. I find myself less annoyed, and more empowered by these reminders. Since our reflection of the Universe manifests physically, our asana, and our movement and our stillness serves as an incredible tool of remembrance. To have clarity of intention is what I always find myself reverting to in order to emerge into something greater, and until I no longer need my little friend coaching me back to that remembrance, reiterating the point over and over in ways that always change, and standing up to my ego's various personalities with little combating mudras (maybe the Ganesha mudra Arron Lind brought to our little Kula, thanks Aaron for sharing, and thanks Amy for remembering and re-sharing!) The journey is only reflecting the evolution of the Absolute it seems. Learning the steps in order to dance gracefully with my higher-self is fun if I allow curiosity rather than confusion to be my motivating force. Certainly, becoming more distinguished in the spectrum of life makes it easier to blend...which brings me to the realization of the radiating beauty, the deep goodness, and the illuminating truth of Balanced Action...which is a whole 'nother thing for a whole 'nother day.
Namaste all.
I hope everyone is experiencing enrichment to the fullest, its kind of mind- blowing...all this stuff.
Personally, these past couple weeks I have been playing with the loops, they add a HUGE but positively dynamic complexity for me! My body is experiencing an awakening as I hug in on the idea of trying to gain a better understanding for the loop layer of body consciousness. Extreme receptivity has been absolutely necessary for me to maintain in order to keep the awareness in a state of development, because once I try to formulate some limited intellectualization of the loops, I lose the experience of the grand purpose of the loops altogether. Intellectually, the biomechanics are seeming to make sense. The alignment is following the optimal anatomical positioning that our bodies are designed to employ right? Yes, but I have to laugh because it never stops there. Physical is only one of the pillars of something I like to think of as an Empire of Consciousness. That's just the metaphor it seems. I realize that without establishing a foundation, these energetic dynamics have nowhere to initiate from. Without a fundamental experience of foundation, its kind of like trying to run with no feet, or swim with no arms...(which may be possible through extreme compensation but certainly not full of shakti.) The leg loops are my project for the near future, as it seems I have very a subtle sense of them really. But I've been experiencing a vast and progressive movement of something, probably just Ms. Shakti again, as I set my foundation with inner and outer spiral, then initiate kidney loop...draw up through the side ribs and lift the heart up then the head back with shoulder loop...and keep it moving through skull loop. I feel a really neat activation of the location of each focal point as I draw up the spine and create a spaciousness for the loops like this. Giving the prana a direction to flow seems to heighten my awareness that it is flowing intensely in the first place!
Another thing I found extremely resonating from the video particularly, was John's emphasis on learning that " Our foundation is a reflection of our intention." Whoa. Haha looking deeply and with curiosity at that, I notice that it gets a little sloppy sometimes, and the little yogi voice in my head keeps pestering me to notice, enhance...notice, remember, enhance...notice, reinforce, find another opening, enhance.Then I find myself asking, "What do I really need to align with here?" and "How could an amplification of my highest intention be brought forth?" I find this even in walking, in mountain biking, while standing, during conversation, or just my life in general. I guess you could say this little yogi-voice is just serving as my intention coach, who diagnoses me with recognition, and prescribes me principle. Basically, he/she has a really hard time shutting up, however I must bow to that voice since its intrinsic value is extremely noteworthy because as I begin to listen more carefully, the voice becomes like an overtone that is not so redirecting, but aggrandizing rather, and is an affirmation of why existence is so perfect. I find myself less annoyed, and more empowered by these reminders. Since our reflection of the Universe manifests physically, our asana, and our movement and our stillness serves as an incredible tool of remembrance. To have clarity of intention is what I always find myself reverting to in order to emerge into something greater, and until I no longer need my little friend coaching me back to that remembrance, reiterating the point over and over in ways that always change, and standing up to my ego's various personalities with little combating mudras (maybe the Ganesha mudra Arron Lind brought to our little Kula, thanks Aaron for sharing, and thanks Amy for remembering and re-sharing!) The journey is only reflecting the evolution of the Absolute it seems. Learning the steps in order to dance gracefully with my higher-self is fun if I allow curiosity rather than confusion to be my motivating force. Certainly, becoming more distinguished in the spectrum of life makes it easier to blend...which brings me to the realization of the radiating beauty, the deep goodness, and the illuminating truth of Balanced Action...which is a whole 'nother thing for a whole 'nother day.
Namaste all.
I hope everyone is experiencing enrichment to the fullest, its kind of mind- blowing...all this stuff.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Musing over Meeting
Hello all,
I am putting the call out there:
What shall we practice for our upcoming Asana Gathering?
We briefly discussed going over some of the subjects covered in the first 1+ hour of the DVD - Open to Grace / Set a Strong Foundation. And, then taking this foundation work into specific poses and really working it.
Do we need a discussion of more specifics for the study? Shall we show up with our ideas and see what accumulates?
*** From our study session, I have been working on an even grounding of all four corners of the feet and then an even lifting of all the arches (the outer arch of the foot specifically since this is sometimes lacking for me). I have been feeling a strong "river-banking" of my outer shin from this work. Very noticeable as I have been sore a bit from the work.
Good hunting!
Brittany
I am putting the call out there:
What shall we practice for our upcoming Asana Gathering?
We briefly discussed going over some of the subjects covered in the first 1+ hour of the DVD - Open to Grace / Set a Strong Foundation. And, then taking this foundation work into specific poses and really working it.
Do we need a discussion of more specifics for the study? Shall we show up with our ideas and see what accumulates?
*** From our study session, I have been working on an even grounding of all four corners of the feet and then an even lifting of all the arches (the outer arch of the foot specifically since this is sometimes lacking for me). I have been feeling a strong "river-banking" of my outer shin from this work. Very noticeable as I have been sore a bit from the work.
Good hunting!
Brittany
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Kitcheri Recipe
Hi Everyone,
I've been really having fun with some Kitcheri Recipes..... the rice and mung bean dish we all discussed with Karen. This is a nice recipe I found on the website we used for finding our Dosha's.
http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/ayurveda/kitch_ghee.html
I love this dish. Eating it makes me feel really even, full and no big ups or downs in blood sugar or mood. - Food has a big effect on me in those ways.
In the past, I have used whole green mung beans from the Co-Op. I recently found the split yellow mung beans at a world food market. I do not remember the name. But, it is located on Orchard, near to Emerald Street.
-Happy Cooking-
Brittany
I've been really having fun with some Kitcheri Recipes..... the rice and mung bean dish we all discussed with Karen. This is a nice recipe I found on the website we used for finding our Dosha's.
http://www.banyanbotanicals.com/ayurveda/kitch_ghee.html
I love this dish. Eating it makes me feel really even, full and no big ups or downs in blood sugar or mood. - Food has a big effect on me in those ways.
In the past, I have used whole green mung beans from the Co-Op. I recently found the split yellow mung beans at a world food market. I do not remember the name. But, it is located on Orchard, near to Emerald Street.
-Happy Cooking-
Brittany
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Kindling
I just wanted to share a few things. First, a big THANK YOU again to Shyla for getting this blog going and for coming up with the wonderful idea to create a space where we can all share and nurture the growth of the kula! To continue Shyla's metaphor, I also feel warm and toasty thanks to the little Boise kula campfire that we built together. Everyone played such a vital role and I am truly grateful for all of you.
Here are a few blogs, etc. that I wanted to share. Many of you are probably familiar with these already. I find them to be excellent resources for my ongoing study of Anusara and Tantric philosophy.... kindling for the fire. And just for fun, I've included a link to the video filmed during the making of the Anusara Syllabus poster. Enjoy! See you all very soon!
Shanti!
Karen's Blog
John Friend's Blog
Douglas Brooks' Blog
Christina Sell's Blog
Making of the Anusara Syllabus Poster Video
Here are a few blogs, etc. that I wanted to share. Many of you are probably familiar with these already. I find them to be excellent resources for my ongoing study of Anusara and Tantric philosophy.... kindling for the fire. And just for fun, I've included a link to the video filmed during the making of the Anusara Syllabus poster. Enjoy! See you all very soon!
Shanti!
Karen's Blog
John Friend's Blog
Douglas Brooks' Blog
Christina Sell's Blog
Making of the Anusara Syllabus Poster Video
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