The throat chakra or Vishuddha was the focus for classes this week. We tried to let go of all other distractions in order to focus on the sound that we know is truly and purely our own . . . . the sound of our breath. With all of the noise around us, the opinions that are constantly thrown at us (from society, the news, politicians, Facebook, etc.), and people trying to influence us both consciously and unconsciously, it's sometimes hard to sort through the sounds, thoughts and voices in our head and know which one is truly our own. Yes, conscious breathing helps to calm and centre us, but it also helps to connect us to ourself and our own unique vibration. This sound that we produce is just waiting to be shared and wants to be heard.
This week in classes, we worked with the heart chakra, also known as Anahata in Sanskrit. I love working with this energy centre as it is soft and gentle which is how I perceive myself to be, so it feels natural to be in this centre. It is also the midway point in the chakra system, so it is as concerned on the physical lower three chakras as it is with the three higher less tangible centres. This concept of balance is something I constantly try to achieve and one that shows up in my teaching often.We worked with the concept of Mettā which is loving kindness. So we focused on sending out love and kindness not only to other people, but also to the person who deserves it from us the most . . . ourselves! The Yoga Nidra for this week is focused on this concept of Mettā.
Who's excited about the coming spring equinox? After a long, harsh winter that seems to keep returning, I am getting anxious for some sun, some heat and some time outside without a bunch of ridiculous layers! This week's classes focused on the light. Not so much the light outside that we will start to get more of starting on Monday, but the light within that is always shining even when the darkness descends outside us. This is the centre of Manipura, as it is known in Sanskrit, or the solar plexus chakra. This energy centre is our inner power, our personal drive and our motivation. It is a very active and dynamic centre and is represented by the element of fire. The yoga nidra this week focuses on helping us gain access to and recognize this spark of light that is within all of us.
This week in classes we did some work with the sacral chakra, also known as Swadhistana in Sanskrit. This energy centre is where we work on dealing with and feeling our emotions . . . . . ALL emotions . . . in order to help us let them go and get those energies moving. Working with the emotional body and really feeling our postures physically, as well as emotionally, was the focus for the majority of my classes this week. To learn more about Swadhistana, there are a number of past posts that introduce various aspects of this energy centre. This week's yoga nidra practice focuses on bringing up, experiencing and feeling the emotion of joy. Who doesn't want more joy in their lives?
Two student requests in one post! Your wish is my command. There was one recent request for chakra series classes. Sunday night Yang/Yin Fusion classes will focus specifically on the chakras, while the rest of the week classes will be centered around a theme that is associated with these centres. This week we concentrated on the first chakra also known as the root chakra, or Muladhara in sanskrit. To learn more about this energy centre, feel free to check out earlier posts filled with an abundance of information. In general, the root chakra is where we work to get grounded. This is what we focused on within all of my classes this week.
I love being a student. I love taking courses and going on retreats and taking trainings. I love learning about new things and acquiring more knowledge, especially if it has anything to do with yoga, energy, or mental work. However, 2017 has been asking me to step even more into the role of teacher and leader. Yes, I have taught for many years in different forms, but opportunities have been showing up that are telling me it's time to really share all of the teachings and knowledge and skills that I have acquired over more than a decade that make up my personal practice. It's with this awareness that I'm excited to share that I am partnering with Salli Siewert to offer a yoga teacher training this spring/summer.
