Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Classes end next week for Spring Yoga

Classes end this week for spring quarter for my yoga students at CWU.  I have given students the opportunity to share on my blog about any benefits or insights they have received during the quarter of yoga, and how yoga benefited their body/min,etc. 

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share yoga with college students at the University.   I first started doing yoga when I was a college student at CWU, I was also a mother of a 3 year old boy, who is now 20...wow!  Anyway, it helped me clear my mind and relax deeply so that I could keep my focus on being a Mom and student.   Now, I get to give back the gift that was given to me so freely:)

Thanks again everyone for practicing yoga with me.....
Have a great summer:)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The heart never lies

Lately I have been interested in yoga postures, stretches, etc.  that help with opening the heart. 
In thinking of the shoulders in particular, I encourage my students to stretch the front of the heart as well as the back of the heart.  In the back of the heart is where we hide all of the feelings that we don't have time for, or that we don't want people to see...grief, sadness,anger,etc. 

I encourage students of yoga to breath into; open;  and melt away anything keeping a heart heavy.  Many times we round our shoulders to protect the heart, because there seems to be so much that is painful to see....It's hard to breath deep that way:)
However, the heart can take it all....and... once we begin to move the breath into the heart, it is like we are opening up a well that clears and flushes out any stagnancy and allows the heart to be free...so, we can see all the miracles and beauty as well as the pain...
After all, isn't it our birth right to be happy, joyous, and free?  In order to feel that sense of freedom and love means sometimes moving into the mud, and letting ourselves be afraid...alone...and alive in this world. 

One of the most powerful yoga postures you can do for yourself is to place your hand on your heart at night and say to yourself  gently, "I am here for me"....because the heart never lies.

Love and light on your sacred and blessed journey.......:)