Podcast #31 – Tapping into Potential and Exploring Possibilities Lvl 2-3

After sitting nearby one of my sweet teachers Naime Jezzeny (he helped me to see both my potential and the possibilities to be the person I am today) last weekend in his workshop which focused on the Upanishads (means to sit nearby) I was inspired to share with you these teachings inspired from our teacher Dr. Douglas Brooks . When we sit among others and share, listen and realize we all have amazing potential that is in nature. Amidst this diversity you may find a moment of feeling connected to the source (potential) and through this awareness you may discover a new way to express yourself (possibilities).

I know now that I always had the potential within myself to be a yoga teacher but until it was time for me to find teachers who would show me that it was possible then I was able to connect to my own heart and could actually believe it for myself – this was huge for my growth as a person and only 5 years ago. My love for yoga took me to go deeper into Philosophy and realize that I can study seeing that I was intelligent and it was possible to enjoy learning – thanks to Douglas for his teachings open me to more possibilities than I could ever imagine within myself.

We all can relate when we find gifts that are within that come out on the mat, in conversation, at work or in relationships. Tap into your potential that you were born with and see what your possibilities are and if you look to those who believe in you then let them show you the possibility of becoming more of who you are.

The Mala’s: On this great site that one of my friends Jessica Jennings created you can scroll down to the following words – And the next three, from which come the 3 A’s, are: then you will see how the Mala’s play out in Anusara Yoga.

Anava-mala located in the heart

Karma-mala located in the pelvis

Mayiya-mala located in the 3rd eye

many, many, many thanks for the listing of my podcasts Yoga Everyday

Sequence: Level 2/3

Tadasana

Urdvah Hastasana then interlace fingers and stretch palms up to Samastithi

Uttansana – Standing Fwd Bend to Straight Leg Lunge

Down Dog w/Twist

Vinyasa – Plank, Chatarunga Dandasana , Bhujangasana (cobra)

Lunge Hip Opener Chest to Floor (if possible today)

Vinyasa to Uttanasana

Vira II – Warrior Pose then interlace fingers and fold fwd

Vinyasa

Trikonasana – Triangle Pose

Down Dog to Vasistasana – Side Plank
Childs Pose

2X Adhho Mukha Vrksasana – Handstand REST then try Variation or try this

Vrksasana – Tree Pose

Urdvah Hastasana then do *Vinyasa with Leg Lifted

*option for plank with knee down

Crescent/Vira I – Warrior 1 back Heel Lifted into Vira III – Warrior 3

Down Dog

Uttanasana

Malasana – Garland Pose

Standing Hold Knee to Chest Prep for Padangustasana then Extent Leg Fwd

Malasana taking it into Pasasana Variation – Ganapati’s Noose

Uttanasana to Plank

Ardha Bhekasana – Thigh Stretch

Dhanurasana 2X – Bow Pose

Anjaneasana 2X – Low Lunge Backbend

Down Dog

Pigeon Prep then Twist

Balasana – Child’s Pose

Knee to Chest then Both Knees into Chest

Savasana

Namaste!

 

 

 

Podcast #30 – Enjoy the Gift of Embodiment – Lvl 2/3

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These past few days I have being feeling a bit down, sad and not wanting to feel these feelings while they we coming to the surface of my heart. My tendency is to ignore and not let myself feel sad which in turn denies the very gift of embodiment – diversity of experience. With being in the body there is an extraordinary opportunity to connect and feel the feelings we have so why deny oneself?

When we don’t allow the flow to happen we deny the very gift we have been given. I first heard this from one of my teachers Dr. Douglas Brooks and it woke me up to see that yes, life (every bit of it) is a gift. When we embrace and see all of our potential even with the bad feelings or circumstances then we can better align in every way and go directly to the ocean of the heart. Some yoga’s teach liberation from the body and Anusara teaches it in the body – this one gels with me.

I invite you to see all that you have experienced as a gift, your life as a gift, and that you are a gift allow each one to be a portal to greater awareness. About 11 years ago being diagnosed with MS could of been a sentence to suffer but I used the yoga to turn it around and make something good out of it deepening the value of my life.

Sanskrit: Bhakti – Devotion, Laghima – Lightness, Kalyanamitra – Spiritual Friend

My sweet teacher and friend Naime Jezzeny, who constantly reminds me how Hanuman lives within us all.

Hanuman

Vastus Medialis – Psoas –

Sequence: Level 2/3

All 4’s to Down Dog Uttanasana with a blanket under the arches

Urdvah Hastasana to Uttanasana

Straight Leg Lunge with Blanket under arch

Down Dog to Plank to Chattarunga or Your Belly into Cobra Pose

Crescent Pose Also Known as Vira I with back heel lifted

Down Dog to Uttanasana to Samastithi

Uttanasana with Blanket Roll

Down Dog to Crescent Pose

Vinyasa

Down Dog to Uttanasana with Blanket Under Arches

Parsvakonasana with Blanket Under Front Foot Arch

Vinyasa to Uttanasana Blanket Roll in Hips

Samasthiti to Urdvah Hastasana

2X Pincha Mayurasana Prep- Feather of the Peacock/Dolphin

Balasana – Child’s Pose to Down Dog

Trikonasana with Blanket Under Arch

Uttanasana with Blanket at Hips

Lunge to a Twist in Lunge to Ardha Chandrasana

Vinyasa

Pigeon Prep with Blanket Edge in Hip

Down Dog to Eka Pada

Uttanasana to Runners Lunge

2x Hanumanasana

Uttanasana

Sukhasana – Easy Seated Pose

Parvritta Sukhasana – Seated Easy Twist

Sukhasana with Fwd Bend

Meditation or Savasana

Namaste!

Podcast #29 – Creativity and Resourcefulness – Lvl 2-3 Class

This week was sizzlin’ hot in LA (even though its still spring) and in this crazy heat I was doing some spring cleaning creating more space in my closet and filing papers. As I was putting order to my stuff and cleaning out my clothes there were two pair of pants I decided to make capri’s to teach in (the heat drove me to do it). While in the process of cutting the pants, I rediscovered my love for altering my clothing and that it is ok to love clothes again (something I pulse in and out of).

Little did I know that Mala my puppy was going to get some new digs out of my creative moment (my being resourceful)… yes I did make two shirts for her and she looked quite cute in her pima cotton 80’s sweat shirts… don’t ya think?

What I love about the yoga is it’s everywhere always taking us deeper into what we value and if we tune into the flow of our heart we can find the joy that resides inside and have an even brighter more beautiful expression. Being creative, resourceful and finding what I value allowed me to do yoga without even rolling out my mat totally cool- all in all enjoying the lila tandava (the dance of play). Find how you can do what you love and tap into something more within to see what you have already and begin to use your resources to empower yourself and enjoy your gifts on and off your mat.

This is the Serratus Anterior muscle that I mention to extend from when in Down Dog

Sanskrit: Sri: Beauty Mudhya: Middle Vikrukti: Crooked or Assymetrical Ganesh: Elephant God and Son of Siva

• For cool tunes to listen to trip hop and not lots of chatting check out Daves’s Lounge

Sequence: Level 2/3

All 4’s Hands and Knees

Down Dog – Bend Elbows to Side 3x and Bend Knees Taking Top of Thighs Back 3X

Uttanasana – Standing Fwd Bend – Look Fwd 5x

Urdvah Hastasana to Uttanasana Lifting One Leg to Eka Pada Uttanasana

Plank, Chattarunga Dandasana, to Bhujangasana – Cobra to Down Dog

Uttanasana to Urdvah Hastasana

Standing on One Leg Holding Your Shin

Uttanasana to Crescent Pose to Vinyasa

Down Dog to Eka Hasta to Eka Pada

Uttanasana – Hold Calves with Bent Legs Opens Hamstrings

Samasthiti to Uttanasana to Vira I

Vinyasa to Second Side Down Dog Working Towards Handstand Prep

L-Pose

Handstand

Samasthiti to Vrksasana – Tree Pose to Samasthiti to Urdvah Hastasana

Trikonasana – Triangle Pose

Ardha Chandrasana – Half Moon

Parvritta Ardha Chandrasana – Twisted Half Moon Open Back into Ardha Chandrasana to Trikonasana

Uttanasana

Virasana – Hero Pose

to Supta Virasana – Reclining Back

Down Dog

Lunge Hip Opener Knee Down or Up

Anejaneasana to Monkey Lunge Hands Come to the Floor

Ustrasana – Camel Pose

Setubhanda Sarvangasana- Bridge Pose to Eka Pada Setubhandasana

Urdvah Dhanurasana 2X – Upward Facing Bow

Easy Supine Twist

Supta Padangustasana

Knees to Chest

Savasana – Corpse Pose

Namaste!

Podcast #28 – Conversation with Anna Rose Hopkins

One word for Anna is…well it’s actually three words – Open to Change! A few months back Anna came to City Yoga looking for a yoga class and I suggested her to take class over at Earth’s Power Yoga after she told me she did flow yoga in NYC. Glad she took my therapeutics class and listened to her heart – now she comes about 6x a week (check City Yoga Teachers for Tony G.) finding a love for her practice as it deepens on and off her mat. One thing that I found pretty cool was that we both practiced over at Go Yoga in Brooklyn but never knew one another – I did leave NYC in 2002 so not sure if she was there yet.