Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the world with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return!! Leonardo di Vinci

Therefore, DARE TO SOAR, my friends!!

CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE YOGA CLASS

Oh Happy Week....I begin teaching a beginner yoga class through Central Arizona College this week. Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 to 9:45 at the Women's Club in Casa Grande, Arizona. I am sooo excited. I will also add some of my Yoga Nidra (sleep) teachings throughout the Fall semester. It's going to be exciting, juicy and as my friend Jen says, "gnarly". Lots of friendly familiar faces and lots of new ones that I look forward to meeting.

GRADUATION

Today was bittersweet....Graduation from Yoga Teacher Training (YTT). After six short months of being with the same group of wonderful friends and teachers, I can call them family...It's been an amazing journey - opening myself up to new friends and new experiences. My journey continues now with new experiences in teaching and meeting new friends....
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me on my journey - I couldn't have done it without all of you....from my family, friends who let me practice my teaching on them, teachers who helped me with my studies, and my classmates who were always there to lend an ear and just be there for support and love, and my greatest support of all, my husband John Robert. I love and appreciate all of you.

My heart is full today!!

YOGA AROMA

Last weekend I attended an Aroma Yoga class at Spirit of Yoga (SOY), part of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), in Tempe, Arizona.
Yesterday, I took the information I learned and taught an Aroma Yoga class to 6 beautiful women in Casa Grande. Opening the 4th Chakra, our heart chakra. We used JOY, PEACE AND CALM, VALOR and ABUNDANCE oils. The class started with a beautiful heart opening centering using PEACE AND CALM. We then moved on to warm up stretches. As we came to standing, we used the ABUNDANCE oil and proceeded with "HA Airplane" pose with lots of noice, releasing of negative energy and many giggles and smiles.
I love my students...they are amazing women with open hearts and a willingness to try anything I put in front of them...most days I feel I get more from them, that I am giving.
We moved on to a heart opening sequence, cool downs and a beautifl aroma savasana using VALOR (so earthy and grounding)...before everyone left, I gave them an option of staying an learning VITAFLEX on their feet, using the essential oils....all 6 of them stayed.
Thank you Tracy Griffiths for teaching me a beautiful Aroma Yoga class that I was able to pass on to my students....I love spreading the love!

YTT IS COMING TO AN END

I can hardly believe that we only have 4 more classes in our YTT Program (Yoga Teacher Training). We started our class in January with 50 students, and we now have a core of 20....I've gotten to know the majority of those 20 students really well. We've become a family. So, it is bittersweet that class is ending, as I will miss my new friends and teachers - but I am really ready to give up the hour drive every Monday and Wednesday morning and afternoon....I have learned so much from this class on so many different levels. I have loved the emotional ups and downs, class parties, and now supporting each other as we complete our practicums.

My body, soul and spirit has been changed in these past 6 months, my husband says that I seem so much happier - I have found a passion - and am now finding ways to share that passion with others....Isn't this what life is all about?

A HUGE thank you to my teachers, Christy Burnette, Astara Robinson and Walter Williams - you have made this journey memorable...I have learned so much, and yet, have so much to learn. Thank you for drawing the passion out of me.

ONE TOTALLY AMAZING DAY, WITH 3 ROUNDS OF YOGA

Ding, ding.....round 3. I taught three amazing yoga classes today...Snap Fitness at 7:15 am, with one beautiful student, thanks for sharing your practice with me today Deb.
Next, I was at the women's shelter teaching 4 children and 1 adult - my star student, Alaya, never ceases to amaze me with her love of yoga at 8 years old. I felt compelled to go out and get her, her very own yoga mat, as she will be leaving the shelter shortly - that little girl makes my heart sing!!! She is such a blessing to me.
Lastly, I substituted for Lauren's class through Central Arizona College at 5:30 pm. What an amazing group of women and men- we started out serious, but when you add a lion's breath in the mix of things, you are bound to get lots of giggles! From then on, class was on a less serious note~~

In closing, I would like to share the closing I used in all three practices:

Blessing of Solitude by John O'Donohue in Anam Cara: A book of Celtic Wisdom
May you recognize in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul.
May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the Universe.
May you have the respect for your own individuality and difference.
May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful, good, and eternal happening.
May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees in you every moment.
Namaste'

CRANE POSE - OPEN TO NEW POSSIBILITIES

I have been trying to master crane pose for the past 5 months, with very little accomplishment....On Monday in YTT class we learned how to teach the pose, sooooo.....

I taught arm balancing poses today in the two asana practices. One at Snap Fitness with four beautiful women who were open to new challenges...thank you for opening yourself up to new possibilities.

Then I taught to an 8 year old girl at the women's shelter who is totally amazing and willing to take on any challenge. She went into crane so easily, and was just beeming with her new knowledge and accomplishment. I bet she will be practicing it all week!!! I was delighted to see her pride in herself....

My fourth occurance this week (3rd today) with crane pose was in the yoga class I attended as a student....hmmmm, do you think something/someone is telling me to finally make peace with this pose? It's a journey, for sure!

We Are Unique - June 9, 2011

I love teaching yoga outdoors! Beautiful women sharing their practice this morning, breeze brushing our faces, birds whispering in our ears and the traffic buzzing by - as everyone reaffirms that they are unique.

Blessing of Solitude by John O'Donohue in Anam Cara: A book of Celtic Wisdom
May you recognize in your life the presence, power and light of your soul.
May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have the respect for your own individuality and difference.
May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful, good and eternal happening.
May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride and expectation with which God sees in you every moment.

Flying Warrior - Superman

What a busy day...Taught a 7:15 am class at Snap Fitness, topped off with a noon class at the women's shelter - and had 4 kiddos today in class, and one mom. It was lots of fun pretending we were Superman while doing Flying Warrior. I loved how creative I became teaching kids - as I totally misplaced my sequence - and didn't want to stay in panic mode....what a great learning experience. The kids had fun, as did the mom...they practiced breathing and even joined in the chanting of OM!!!
I spent the rest of the afternoon with my three grandchildren - going to a movie - X-Men and then to Olive Garden for dinner....

I am soooooooo blesssssssed!!!

AMAZING - YOGA FOR TENNIS - PRACTICE

Yoga for tennis players this morning at 7:00 am....I love those guys....they add a little (and some times a lot) of laughter to the 30 minute practice. I was so impressed when I was explaining to them how to get into Virabrahdrasana II and one of the guys wasn't understanding, and another guy looked at him and said "Warrior II". OMG, they are really soaking the teachings into their minds. I am so blessed to have them all in my life!!!

Maybe one day they will let me take their picture, so I can post it on my blog-keeping my fingers crossed!!

A BIG THANK YOU

I am teaching my second practicum (out of 3 total) tomorrow at the Casa Grande Art Museum. My dear friend and beautiful yoga teacher, Lauren Margison, will be observing me teach. I am excited to come one step closer to completing my yoga teacher training (YTT). One month left until graduation. I want to thank all the people who have made this journey with me, my facilitators at Spirit of Yoga (Southwest Institute of Healing Arts) - Christy, Astara and Walter. My yoga teachers, Nora, Lauren, Susan, Robin and Laura for helping me through this journey with my questions and the opportunity to observe and assist in their classes. My friends and family for putting up with 'everything yoga' and for being guinea pigs in my practice classes. And a big thanks to my husband JR, for putting up with all of it (practices in the living room, mats strewn all over the house, yoga notes everwhere, books piled up in the bedroom, and for keeping the gas tanks in the vehicles filled all the time (that is really huge for me). JR, thank you for supporting me in this journey. Thank you to Against Abuse Womens Shelter for the oppportunity to teach and thank you to the women who have shared their practice with me.
Thank you everyone...I love and appreciate you all. I am truly blessed in all areas of my life.

YOGA ETIQUETTE

New to Yoga? Get the lowdown on courteous conduct before you head to class.


Arrive early. Getting to class about 10 minutes early can help you settle in and align your attitude with the purpose of the class. Wait for teacher's permission to enter the room. While you are waiting for class to begin, you can practice a pose, do a few stretches, or just sit or lie quietly, breathe and get centered. Although arriving a few minutes late is better than skipping the whole practice, you need to rethink if you are chronically tardy. Arriving late often shows disrespect to the teacher and the other students, and it robs you of the chance to experience the full benefits of the class. If you are late, enter the room quietly. If you need to leave class early, let the teacher know ahead of time, and choose a spot in the back of the class.


Create an intention. To help focus, you might find it helpful to dedicate your practice to a certain intention. This might be to become more aware and understanding, more loving and compassionate, or healthier, stronger, and more skillful. Or it might be for the benefit of a friend, a cause - or even yourself.


Dress for yoga. Wear comfortable and non-restrictive workout clothes. Wear pants, shorts or shirts that are form fitting, rather than baggy. Choose a shirt than can be tucked in or one that is form fitting. Select pants or shorts that all you to move comfortably and fit well. No special footgear is required, as you will be barefoot. Consider leaving jewelry at home.

Find the Quiet. Turn off cell phones. If you are on call, please leave it on vibrate so that the peace of the practice is not disturbed. Save enthusiastic sound effects for your home practice and limit socializing with friends to before and after class. It is great to share a class with people you know, but it can be distracting to yourself and others to have an extended conversation during the practice. Be respectful and considerate of the other student's practice.

Injuries. Be sure to let your teacher know of any injuries or relevant medical information and definitely sound an alert if you feel pain in any pose. Do not hog the teacher. Resist the temptation to ask for an adjustment in every pose. Instead of regaling everyone with a blow-by-blow account of your injuries, see if you can incorporate the yogic discipline of restraint into your practice. Come early or stay late to talk with your teacher or discuss specific issues. Better yet, schedule a private session to fine-tune the asanas to suit your particular condition. Do not push yourself to the extent of pain, in any pose. Challenging yourself in a pose is different than pushing yourself to injury. If you are injured or tired, skip poses you can't or shouldn't do, or try a modified version.


It's your practice. Instead of trying to go as deeply or completely into a pose as other might be able to do, do what you can without straining or injuring yourself (ahimsa/non-violence). You will go farther faster if you take a loving attitude toward yourself and work from where you are, not from where you think you should be. If something does not make sense to you, please ask questions.


Practice saucha (cleanliness). Bring a towel if you sweat a lot, and arrive clean and free of scents. Such products can be difficult for people with allergies. Wearing lotion to class can cause your hands and feet to slip on your mat.


Allow 2 hours between your last meal and class. If you practice yoga on a full stomach, you might experience cramps, nausea, or vomiting, especially in twists, deep forward bends, and inversions. Also, food also takes energy that can make you lethargic. Also, please no chewing gum in class, as choking is a probability.


Drink water before and after class. In yoga, we typically don't drink water during the practice since its purpose is to heat the body up, not cool it down. We can also use this action as a way to avoid a certain pose or feeling. Of course, if you need to, please drink water. Always keep yourself hydrated.


Sticky mat. Bring your own yoga mat to class. Having your own personal mat is more hygienic. Thicker pilates mats interfer with balancing poses, so be sure to geta mat that is specific to yoga. You can purchase them from a local retailer or off the internet.

Shoes. Please remove your shoes while walking around the studio. Be courteous of your neighbors mat, by stepping over it. If you are doing partner work, it is courteous to ask, "May I stand on your mat?" before jumping feet first into your partner's yoga sanctuary.


Stay for Savasana. As everyone settles in for a long Savasana (the ending of your yoga practice where body and mind balance), you may feel like sneaking out. Relax and stay put. Aside from distracting the other students and showing disrespect to the teacher, you will miss the deep relaxation.


Reflect afterwards to think about what you did in class, so you can retain what you learned. Review the poses you practiced, and not any instructions that particularly made sense. Even if you remember just one thing from each class, you'll soon have a lot of information that can deepen your own personal practice.


Yoga is a sacred space - a time and place to go inside, be a little raw, retreat from the world.




Text borrowed from: Nora Plonsky and Yoga Journal ("oh, behave").

YOGA FOR TENNIS PLAYERS

Yoga for Tennis Players - 7:00 AM - great group of guys who make me giggle and prove to me that yoga is beneficial for everyone! - Lots of Heart Openers and Shoulders today! (Heart Openers boost self-confidence)...

Photo shoot at school!!

JUST BE

Super sweet yoga class today! I love teaching yoga!!! Thanks ladies for sharing your practice.

Reminder: How can you just BE today? How can you open your heart and show compassion to others - as you know not what they are going through? How can you show compassion to yourself, KNOWING what you are going through?

Today's class at the women's shelter was totally amazing. I'm not quite sure why, but everything flowed, the women were PRESENT, and the two little girls from last week's class showed up again...There seemed to be more of a quiet atmosphere - or I may have learned to block out the distractions.... All I know is, I am blessed to have this opportunity to teach yoga to women who need it.

Can YOU open your heart and just BE. Can you be kind to yourself and honor what YOU need?

OPEN YOUR HEART AND JUST BE

Open your HEART and just be!! Theme for tomorrow's class at the women's shelter. My 14-year old granddaughter learned a BIG lesson in life this past week, when she wasn't selected for the cheer team, yet all her friends were. Her friends have been very supportive, as they all have BIG hearts. She had a dance recital the night she received the call that she wasn't chosen. She decided not to let it bother her during her recital and told me, "I just decided I wouldn't let it bother me and that I was going to have a good time tonite, and I did!" Yes, she is sad and upset, yes, she did cry when she got the call, but life goes on, and she's trying not to dwell on it.

Can we, as adults, just BE and live in the moment? Not knowing what others are going through or dealing with, can you open your HEART and hold space for them.

I taught yoga to three beautiful women today out on my tennis court. The weather was cool with a slight breeze. Listening to the birds singing and the traffic buzzing by brought a beautiful ambiance to the practice. Thank you so much to all my friends and family for supporting me in this journey of becoming a yoga teacher. Namaste'

BALANCE

I taught yoga at the women's shelter today. Our theme was BALANCE...How can you find balance on the mat, in your decisions about yourself and in the chaos of life, itself.

Three students participated today, and then 2 children joined in mid-way. As a yoga instructor, I found it challenging to keep my balance, amidst all the chaos going on around me while instructing. Staying focused and centered helped me with this challenge. I also found that holding space for the students, as well as the children joining the practice, was a key. No expectations for me, and letting all of them get from the practice what THEY needed TODAY. I had to remind myself that I am the instrument doing God's work. He is opening the doors and creating the journey that I am traveling.

This week, be kind to yourself, honor your intuition and find the balance between struggle and ease.

Namaste

OPPORTUNITY

What do you think of when you hear the word "OPPORTUNITY", perhaps it's a new job, a new way of thinking, time to start something new? Opportunity is present every time we step on our mat. Opportunity to try out a new pose, to get deeper into our poses, to go inward searching for something new or a deeper understanding. Remember this the next time you step on your mat - use that opportunity and create SPACE for a new beginning.

BALANCE

After a weekend of too much fun, sun, bad eating habits and not enough sleep, I am working on BALANCE in all aspects of my life and in my practice. I know that when I don't honor the bounderies and don't keep balance in my life, my immune system crashes. Can I focus on Yin and yang, honoring what I can do without pushing over the limit, practice balance in my poses on my mat. Can I take time to be true to myself and honor the balance in my life?

How can YOU bring balance into your practice and then take it into your LIFE?

Self-Judgment

Had a great practice with 3 beautiful people out on the tennis court today. The theme was about SELF-JUDGMENT in our lives and in our practice....How can YOU bring a sense of the comfortable to your inner life, your thoughts and how you frame your reality by how you speak to yourself TODAY!!! When you resort to self-judgment, you are no longer present, and you are no longer practicing. Be present with yourself and abide in that which is "steady and comfortable".

Namaste'

Women's Shelter

Two students in my yoga class at the women's shelter today. Very personal class. I have been asked to move the class to a different time, because there seems to be some interest from the women who have been unable to make the class due to the time.....Also told not to get my hopes up, but God can work miracles....Just wanting to make a difference in their lives with the power of yoga....one beautiful woman at a time!!!!

Had a beautiful 40 minute practice with my 4 tennis yogi's this morning out on the tennis court....they are an amazing group of men who are learning to LOVE yoga! I am so blessed to be able to share their practice with them...Love you guys!

Thank you to my 8 friends who let me share their practice today out on the tennis court. I promise I will get better at getting the words out of my mouth. (They sound so beautiful and flowing in my head - but must be getting short circuited by the time they reach my mouth-lol). You were all great sports today and I appreciate your participation!!!

It was a beautiful practice with my new women friends at the shelter. I had five students today, and they all did an amazing practice. Lots of laughter and giggles, and even more PRIDE for a job well done on their mats. I thank all of them for letting me into their lives.

EXPAND YOUR BREATH AND CREATE SPACE FOR THE DAY

Yoga at the women's shelter was AMAZING today. The three women who participated in my class were gracious and their energy was delightful. I enjoyed teaching them yoga, and was amazed at how the energy shifted from nervousness to strength within the first half of the class. Thank you to the three of you, for letting me share an amazing day and an amazing practice.....Don't forget to breathe.

A great big thank you to my friend Barb, who let me practice teaching her several revolved poses - including revolved arda chandrasana (more than once on both sides). The words sounds so profound in my head, but getting them out in the same order, is quite a different matter.

Awareness

I took a walk this morning and felt so alive and one with the universe. I was aware of everything around me. Birds on the fences and in the trees, the bright green color of the landscape, bright yellow flowers on the trees, the red blossoms on the pomegranite tree, water overflowing from the sprinklers, the amazing sky with the sun peeking through the clouds, the brisk coolness of the air on my face. Have a beautiful day everyone! What you think you create, What you feel, you attact, What you imagine, you become Adele Basheer

Thank you to all my friends who donated money to help me buy mats for my journey in teaching yoga at the women's shelter. Your donation and graciousness is much appreciated. Namaste'

Woke up to a beautiful rainy day....practiced a sequence for a class I will be teaching on April 19. Hubby practiced with me, or at least for the warm up....I only had 40 minutes of sequencing and had to increase it to an hour, which was really pretty easy. I get so excited sharing what I have learned with others....I <3 YOGA...

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Teaching yoga to my tennis guys before their game this morning was so much fun. What a great bunch of guys, with great senses of humor...One of the guys brought his college age son to play today....He was a tad bit hesitant about the 'yoga', but was a sport and joined it. After class, he told me, "I didn't think I would like yoga, but it was really calming." All of the guys are doing amazing, I can see where they are becoming more flexible and less intimidated by the poses.

Hiked Casa Grande Mountain today with my husband. He was such a sport taking all the photo ops...It was an amazing hike with a really long incline....my legs will be saying ouch tomorrow....and by the time we got to the top, my heart and breath were singing...

Namaste'

Poses on the courtyard....

Today I played on the courtyard of my backyard with lots of fun poses....using the timer on my camera was very, very intimidating....but I got one good picture out of it, anyway.

Yoga Journey

I have been doing yoga off and on since 2003. My current journey is that of attending yoga teacher training at Southwest Institute of the Healing Arts (SWIHA). I am half-way through my training. It has been so exciting and enlightening. I have made wonderful friends. My teachers are amazing and so full of knowledge, compassion and life! I am currently teaching yoga to 4-5 men on Sunday mornings, prior to them playing tennis. Class is currently 20-30 minutes. They are doing amazing, and seeing results in their game.