Wednesday, May 6, 2009

May Class Schedule

monday: 8:30-9:45 pm (home studio)
28 burnside dr., hastings-on-hudson
NO CLASS 5/11, 5/25
wednesday: 9:30-10:45 am (home studio)
333 broadway, dobbs ferry
thursday: 9:30-10:45 am
pilates & more, 129 main st., dobbs ferry
sunday: 9:30-11:00 am
pilates & more, 129 main st., dobbs ferry
NO CLASS 5/17

May Update

Hi Everyone,

As summer approaches we may find that pull to take on too much, to break from the normal routine. While this can be wonderful and exciting it can cause us to lose focus on what we may need to do for ourselves mentally and physically. The pose of the month is another fundamental standing pose that can help us stay grounded; Parsvakanasana, both utthita (extended) and pavritta (revolve).

When practicing parsvakonasana (and any other asana, really), it is important to remember the true meaning of YOGA. Yoga, when translated literally means "union", and is generally further understood as the union of self with the Divine. Yoga can also be understood as the union of mind with body, of the physical with the mental, of steadiness with ease, of give with take, of push with pull, of strength with flexibility etc........Any opposing realities have a middle ground where yoga can be found.

All of life, really, is about striking a balance between opposing forces. All of life is about creating and finding our "yoga". It is only with an honest balance that we can transform and evolve, so that we can be present in the world to love the way we are meant to. From a place of balance, we can more easily embrace our life's work, and love from an authentic grace-filled spot inside. Only from a place of balance can we let go of duality, and know that we are love, we are grace, we are divine.

We are excited to be participating in the Yoga Journal Conference in Manhattan next weekend and are looking forward to sharing our exploration and learning with all of you.
There are some changes to the schedule for May. Firstly we have CANCELLED the Tuesday class moving forward. In addition, Sunday, May 17th class in CANCELLED as we will be attending the conference that weekend and Monday nights May 11th & May 25th classes are CANCELLED.

Please feel free to go to our blog (findyourflow.blogspot.com) for more detailed information on the pose of the month as well as schedule changes.

Thank you to all of your for letting us bring yoga to you. We feel truly blessed.

Om shanti

Allison & Mary-ann

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Pose of the month-May 2009
Parsvakonasana- Utthita & parivritta

parsva=side      kona= angle      
utthita= extended            parivritta=revolved

benefits:
~stretches and strengthens the legs, ankles, and hips
~cultivates stability and balance
~enhances lung capacity
~tones the muscles of the heart
~relieves sciatica 
~improves digestion
~tones waist and hips
~builds stamina

revolving parsvakonasana is especially beneficial for:
~cultivating stability & balance
~improving digestion
~toning the waist
~stetching the upper back 
~opening the shoulders


Parsvakonasana: A Lesson in Opposites

This month we are examining another one of the fundamental standing poses of any yoga practice--parsvakonasana.  Like trikonasana, it is one of the six poses that every student of ashtanga yoga performs each time they step onto their mat.  It is also included in BKS Iyengar's list of the 23 most basic, building block asanas.  

When practicing parsvakonasana (and any other asana, really), it is important to remember the true meaning of YOGA.  Yoga, when translated literally means "union", and is generally further understood as the union of self with the Divine.  Yoga can also be understood as the union of mind with body, of the physical with the  mental, of steadiness with ease, of give with take, of push with pull, of strength with flexibility etc........Any opposing realities have a middle ground where yoga can be found. 

On the mat, when practicing this pose, it is easy to feel the front thigh and the grounding of the front foot.  Ask yourself how aware you are of the back leg, and the back foot.  Next, consider the side body.  It is very apparent that the top side is stretched, but how aware are we of lengthening the body side of the torso as well, so as to not compress the organs? Then check in with your breath.  Is your exhale dominating and forceful, while the inhale is passive and tentative? Even out the breath and slow it down, creating a sense of rhythm and equality between inhale and exhale.  The more awareness you can bring to the seemingly less active parts of the pose, the more balance you will find.  

Looking for opposites in parsvakonasana can be enlightening on more than just a physical level. You may feel the top arm and fingers stretching toward the sky taking your awareness up toward the blissful heavens.  This allows you to feel a sense of elation and "airy-ness".  Also feel the bottom hand root deeply down into the earth so that you might feel the grounding, rooting force as well. Parsvakonasana is a particularly vigorous pose, in which it is easy to feel like you are strong and steady, and firmly working.  Now check to see if you can ease the breath, relax the shoulders, and feel a sense of calm receptivity as well.  In the yoga sutras of patanjali, we are reminded that an asana is a steady (sthira), comfortable (sukha) place.  Can you truthfully feel both strong and steady, but also effortless and easeful?  This is true grace.....This is true union, this is yoga in it's truest form.

Off the mat, the opportunity to find "yoga" presents itself constantly.  As parents, we are challenged  to be both firm and soft.  It is with firmness that we set a boundary, but it is with softness that we implement that boundary.  We are called on to be consistent in routines, but never rigid.  Our children demand a grown up to guide them, but also need us to remember our inner child.  We are constantly putting children's needs before ours, but we know that if we neglect our own needs and desires, the whole system will fall apart.  

All of life, really, is about striking a balance between opposing forces.  All of life is about creating and finding our "yoga".  It is only with an honest balance that we can transform and evolve, so that we can be present in the world to love the way we are meant to.  From a place of balance, we can more easily embrace our life's work, and love from an authentic grace-filled spot inside. Only from a place of balance can we let go of duality, and know that we are love, we are grace, we are divine.
Om shanti...