91-year-old yoga instructor, Tao Porchon-Lynch, shows a truly open and radiant heart.
She is so inspiring with her giving and sweet approach to living. (click the title for a lovely video)
And then also, Bette Calman, who found yoga in the 50's and is still inspiring and teaching people - all in her pink jumpsuit, nylons and perfectly set hair!!!
I love it!
Much Light and Love,
~Brittany
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
L-shape pose for low back and hamstrings
Hi everyone, I just saw this video from John on facebook and thought it was related a bit to what we talked about last night. Enjoy!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Relevance of Tantra
Hi All,
I hope everyone is doing well! I have been spending a lot of time contemplating some of the Tantric teachings that Anusara embraces. Specifically, the practice of engaging in the world as it is, in the modern day, with all that we now know about our universe and the human experience, while acknowledging the importance of what has come before us. This approach really speaks to me because it is a living, breathing lineage that is constantly expanding, which ensures that it never becomes dogmatic. Douglas Brooks recently updated his blog with a great post that addresses how Tantra works in the world today. Check it out and enjoy!
Tamara
I hope everyone is doing well! I have been spending a lot of time contemplating some of the Tantric teachings that Anusara embraces. Specifically, the practice of engaging in the world as it is, in the modern day, with all that we now know about our universe and the human experience, while acknowledging the importance of what has come before us. This approach really speaks to me because it is a living, breathing lineage that is constantly expanding, which ensures that it never becomes dogmatic. Douglas Brooks recently updated his blog with a great post that addresses how Tantra works in the world today. Check it out and enjoy!
Tamara
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sprigs of Spring
Hello beautiful yogis and yoginis!
As the winter dissolves, and the springtime tempts us with its sunshine and vibrance, I hope people are finding vitality in their lives, relationships, and all other endeavors. The winter is rigid and frigid, causing us to introvert more, and expand less, for we need all the energy we can get to stay warm, to keep a fire going in our practice, and to remain involved fully throughout all areas our busy lives.
I've been observing the flowers outside in front of my house, and they have been analogous to my overall energy. As the last few weeks have passed, and the weather has begun to warm up, I cannot help but think about the incredible potential that the springtime offers. Green is popping up all over the place, and life is abundant. Even winter trees, who are hugging all of their energy and life force to their core, are full of life. But this time of the year we have no way to deny life, its luminous, and increasing as such!
On another note, I've been doing some spring cleaning...refreshing the browser, if you will. It feels good to weed out the things that are no longer of service, and to remember an intention of being generative, and to proceed in the process of being ever-new. What I've discovered is that there are things that bring up resistance in this process. They require a bit more effort to let go of, or a bit more scrubbing. In contemplation of the various attachments that have been revealed, it has been necessary for me to open to a vaster space in myself, to really remember to locate my core beliefs about what it is that I need vs. want, and to expand into a process of letting go, or accepting something in its place. In time, all things will dissolve, but in that process, it (time) will only create the foundation for evolution of something more even brilliant. There have been many things revealed to me that I prioritize too highly, or not high enough, and this spring cleaning as really allowed me to see what has been nurtured, or neglected, and has provided me with incredible insight on how to be more mindful of the areas that have not been tended to properly. Weeding the garden, so to speak. If one plans to create a healthy environment for oneself, others, plants, or animals, we must face the entire situation fully, and avoid nothing. Planting flowers amongst weeds seems "natural" as it would reveal the death and life dynamic fully, however, starting anew, cleansing fully, pulling all the weeds, and remaining mindful that the weeds will come in time, brings a wholesome new meaning to being able to have an opportunity to begin fresh, completely fresh.
Talking to a very insightful dear friend, and yogi, I began to sink into something he presented to me, that I by myself, had never brought light to before. He told me, " Unconditionally, we are always innocent." I couldn't respond, because immediately I began to feel what he meant. If in fact we are holding true to our intention to be generative, looking at the process of all things as beginningless and endless, then all we have is a single present moment, and in that, we are pure, by nature. I began to see this metaphor in almost every expression of life around me. It started to theme itself ever-so-sweetly into my meditation, and has been clearing off my perceptive lens so inevitably, things become more clarified. The thing is, many of us think it takes spring cleaning to refresh and to submerge ourselves with a natural purity, an undefended innocence, and a dignity of presence. However, we are, in each moment granted the gift of existence, which in itself is profoundly beautiful. The grace this wisdom has provided is recognizable, particularly in my practice of staying in yoga throughout each moment I have the gift of breath. In fact, each breath resembles this metaphor fully. Each time we cycle through another inhalation, exhalation, and again, and again, we begin to see how its inexhaustibly innocent, and provided to serve LIFE! This allows us to take refuge in the Grand Process itself.
So, as we bring in the new season, as we bring in new breath, may we bless all beingness with the grace of our expanding vitality.
Much love to all!
What is the meeting process these days? Is it even still happening? Fill me in if someone would be so kind, I've been jugging about seven different schedules with my clients at work, as well as trying to make time for my own, but I would love to know at least when/if we are still joined in this process!
If meetings have stopped, perhaps we could plant a garden of new seeds, and tend to the plants that are still growing.
Be Well,
Shyla
As the winter dissolves, and the springtime tempts us with its sunshine and vibrance, I hope people are finding vitality in their lives, relationships, and all other endeavors. The winter is rigid and frigid, causing us to introvert more, and expand less, for we need all the energy we can get to stay warm, to keep a fire going in our practice, and to remain involved fully throughout all areas our busy lives.
I've been observing the flowers outside in front of my house, and they have been analogous to my overall energy. As the last few weeks have passed, and the weather has begun to warm up, I cannot help but think about the incredible potential that the springtime offers. Green is popping up all over the place, and life is abundant. Even winter trees, who are hugging all of their energy and life force to their core, are full of life. But this time of the year we have no way to deny life, its luminous, and increasing as such!
On another note, I've been doing some spring cleaning...refreshing the browser, if you will. It feels good to weed out the things that are no longer of service, and to remember an intention of being generative, and to proceed in the process of being ever-new. What I've discovered is that there are things that bring up resistance in this process. They require a bit more effort to let go of, or a bit more scrubbing. In contemplation of the various attachments that have been revealed, it has been necessary for me to open to a vaster space in myself, to really remember to locate my core beliefs about what it is that I need vs. want, and to expand into a process of letting go, or accepting something in its place. In time, all things will dissolve, but in that process, it (time) will only create the foundation for evolution of something more even brilliant. There have been many things revealed to me that I prioritize too highly, or not high enough, and this spring cleaning as really allowed me to see what has been nurtured, or neglected, and has provided me with incredible insight on how to be more mindful of the areas that have not been tended to properly. Weeding the garden, so to speak. If one plans to create a healthy environment for oneself, others, plants, or animals, we must face the entire situation fully, and avoid nothing. Planting flowers amongst weeds seems "natural" as it would reveal the death and life dynamic fully, however, starting anew, cleansing fully, pulling all the weeds, and remaining mindful that the weeds will come in time, brings a wholesome new meaning to being able to have an opportunity to begin fresh, completely fresh.
Talking to a very insightful dear friend, and yogi, I began to sink into something he presented to me, that I by myself, had never brought light to before. He told me, " Unconditionally, we are always innocent." I couldn't respond, because immediately I began to feel what he meant. If in fact we are holding true to our intention to be generative, looking at the process of all things as beginningless and endless, then all we have is a single present moment, and in that, we are pure, by nature. I began to see this metaphor in almost every expression of life around me. It started to theme itself ever-so-sweetly into my meditation, and has been clearing off my perceptive lens so inevitably, things become more clarified. The thing is, many of us think it takes spring cleaning to refresh and to submerge ourselves with a natural purity, an undefended innocence, and a dignity of presence. However, we are, in each moment granted the gift of existence, which in itself is profoundly beautiful. The grace this wisdom has provided is recognizable, particularly in my practice of staying in yoga throughout each moment I have the gift of breath. In fact, each breath resembles this metaphor fully. Each time we cycle through another inhalation, exhalation, and again, and again, we begin to see how its inexhaustibly innocent, and provided to serve LIFE! This allows us to take refuge in the Grand Process itself.
So, as we bring in the new season, as we bring in new breath, may we bless all beingness with the grace of our expanding vitality.
Much love to all!
What is the meeting process these days? Is it even still happening? Fill me in if someone would be so kind, I've been jugging about seven different schedules with my clients at work, as well as trying to make time for my own, but I would love to know at least when/if we are still joined in this process!
If meetings have stopped, perhaps we could plant a garden of new seeds, and tend to the plants that are still growing.
Be Well,
Shyla
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
John Friend on the History and Healing Effects of Yoga
This is the video I spoke to some of you about. He is speaking at the 2009 Texas Bikram Championship. It is truly beautiful and inspiring to see how skilled he is at seeing the divine in all!:
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Checking In
Greetings everyone!
It feels as though the holiday season, workshops, travel, Immersions and whatnot have shifted our attention away from our kula study, however, it is such a blessing to have such committted students amongst us, and it feels as though we are all ever-increasing the brilliance of our collaberation. I feel a new wave of inspiration dawning, and am thrilled to continue along our journey together!
Are we still meeting on Monday evening?
Should we continue with the format we have set up, or, is it necessary to expand our view since we've all probably naturally taken our practice to a new level?
Perhaps it would be good to direct our energy on coming together and distinguishing where each of us are at in our practice, recruiting an intention for our study, and exploring any challenges we are looking at.
Just wanted to touch base...whats happening, how's it going, you know.
Over and out! Be Well!
It feels as though the holiday season, workshops, travel, Immersions and whatnot have shifted our attention away from our kula study, however, it is such a blessing to have such committted students amongst us, and it feels as though we are all ever-increasing the brilliance of our collaberation. I feel a new wave of inspiration dawning, and am thrilled to continue along our journey together!
Are we still meeting on Monday evening?
Should we continue with the format we have set up, or, is it necessary to expand our view since we've all probably naturally taken our practice to a new level?
Perhaps it would be good to direct our energy on coming together and distinguishing where each of us are at in our practice, recruiting an intention for our study, and exploring any challenges we are looking at.
Just wanted to touch base...whats happening, how's it going, you know.
Over and out! Be Well!
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