I had the absolute joy and privilege this past Sunday to attend an event conceived by yoga teacher Dhyani and yoga teacher/massage therapist Krystal, both of whom I know from The Giving Tree, my local yoga studio. (Two more days of 30 Day Giving Tree June Yoga Challenge, by the way!) From 2:00 to 4:00, Krystal and Dhyani lead an intimate class of about 8 or 9 of us through restorative yoga poses as well as massage. It was, in a word, incredible. Bliss doesn't even begin to describe it!
They held this special event at a studio in quiet, peaceful Murray Hill called mang'Oh, opened by a Laughing Lotus alum. Mang'Oh was the perfect place for this event - it felt intimate, serene, and the gentle teal and yellow colors promoted tranquility and beauty.
The ladies introduced themselves and the event, and then we began with deep yogic pranayama (breathing techniques) led by Krystal. After that centering beginning, poses like restorative spinal twists, restorative child's pose, and ending with legs up the wall ( just to name a few), were clearly set up and demonstrated by Dhyani.
The two hours melted away into something timeless. Time didn't fly, exactly - it kind of stood still for a little while and then when I came back to full consciousness it was time to go. It's not like I slipped into total mindless naptime mode and checked out (well, sometimes I did). Dhyani, while observing long stretches of silence, also has an incredibly soothing voice and is deeply skilled at guiding you deeper into an awareness of your physical peace. It's like she's inside your body and knows exactly what still might be holding tension or what can release more deeply. Krystal glided silently around the room providing fantastic massages to complement whatever restorative pose we happened to be in at the time, keeping you connected to your physical body while helping you fully let go and relax.
I'm not sure what their plans are for the future in terms of how much they'll be charging, but this event cost $30 - an absolute steal for what you receive. I'll be sure to post information on when they'll hold future workshops. I can't recommend this highly enough! I believe it was Dhyani who described it as a reset button for your body and mind. Especially in this crazy city, I think that's something we can all use!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Summer Solstice!
I had the absolutely phenomenal experience of practicing yoga with bazillions (okay, thousands) of fellow yogis in Times Square yesterday. They offered three classes, and I chose the evening one after a lovely day of work at Karma Kids. I couldn't have asked for a better companion - my best friend in the world, Lisa! We were among the very first to file in (numbers 49 and 50, to be exact) because I was absolutely determined that we were going to be able to get that free mat! What a bummer it would have been to wait all day and then not be able to participate because I didn't feel like hauling my own mat around all day.
Anyway, I digress. The class was led by Douglass Stewart of ISHTA and YogaWorks, two studios I thoroughly enjoy. It was lovely, the weather was perfect, the onlookers were fun, and Times Square was its usual insane self. It's probably the first time I appreciated it instead of letting it drive me insane in a very long time!
I'm having an insanely hard time uploading photos on my blog today, which is sad considering that's a majority of what today's post was going to be. Luckily, you can view the album here on Picasa.
It was an extraordinary experience that I plan on repeating next year!
Anyway, I digress. The class was led by Douglass Stewart of ISHTA and YogaWorks, two studios I thoroughly enjoy. It was lovely, the weather was perfect, the onlookers were fun, and Times Square was its usual insane self. It's probably the first time I appreciated it instead of letting it drive me insane in a very long time!
I'm having an insanely hard time uploading photos on my blog today, which is sad considering that's a majority of what today's post was going to be. Luckily, you can view the album here on Picasa.
It was an extraordinary experience that I plan on repeating next year!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
30 Day Yoga Challenge
Happy Thursday!
I'm writing today to share what my next daily practice is...it seems like this year I've been trying out different meditations/yoga practices for a certain amount of time to see how they've affected me. I did 40 days of a japa mala practice, nearly a month of writing every day, a (somewhat failed attempt at a...) 21-day Sun Salutations, journaling, and meditation practice...a few more were in there, I'm sure. I've really enjoyed them, and for the most part have been able to stick to them consistently. My May Sun Salutations 'challenge' suffered many roadblocks, most notable the fact that I felt ill for nearly the entire month. Allergies in New York are a brutal thing that my southern body is still getting used to in my second spring here.
Just as May was drawing to a close, however, I got a message from my local yoga studio, The Giving Tree, about a June special they were offering. For $120 ($30 less than the normal rate), you get an unlimited month of yoga at this fabulous Astoria studio. They're challenging you to take full advantage of the reduced rate and this glorious time of year to dive into deeper waters in your yoga practice.
On Day 16, I'm feeling fantastic. I've had my fair share of sore hamstrings and lower back (and randomly, my right bicep) from some of the classes, but the next class or two always seems to have it feeling better.
It's not turning me into an Amazing Super Yogi - there are some days (today, for instance) where I walk into class feeling low energy, exhausted, and full of doubt that I'll be able to make it through without all my muscles turning to jelly. But that's the beautiful thing about yoga - no matter what, I leave the class feeling wonderful.
The Giving Tree is a gorgeous studio, located right by the Ditmars N/Q station. Every single teacher is fantastic and I not only feel great after every class, but I feel like I've truly learned something about my own personal practice as well as an increased knowledge of alignment.
Sadly, there are two days this month where it will be physically impossible for me to show up to a class. This Saturday I'm leaving Astoria for Karma Kids at 6:30am and won't be back until probably 7:30pm. The following Friday, a similar deal - 7:15am - 9:30pm. It'd be nice to be able to do a solid 30 days, but it's not something worth dwelling on - especially considering I'll be off doing what I love.
Although in my own brain I always associate June 1st as the first day of summer, the actual first day of summer and the summer solstice is this coming Tuesday, June 21st. Although The Giving Tree is having an awesome 108 Sun Salutations event at the studio, I'm already committed to practicing yoga in Times Square. I highly recommend either event - both are sure to be blissful, sweaty, and amazing!
I'm writing today to share what my next daily practice is...it seems like this year I've been trying out different meditations/yoga practices for a certain amount of time to see how they've affected me. I did 40 days of a japa mala practice, nearly a month of writing every day, a (somewhat failed attempt at a...) 21-day Sun Salutations, journaling, and meditation practice...a few more were in there, I'm sure. I've really enjoyed them, and for the most part have been able to stick to them consistently. My May Sun Salutations 'challenge' suffered many roadblocks, most notable the fact that I felt ill for nearly the entire month. Allergies in New York are a brutal thing that my southern body is still getting used to in my second spring here.
Just as May was drawing to a close, however, I got a message from my local yoga studio, The Giving Tree, about a June special they were offering. For $120 ($30 less than the normal rate), you get an unlimited month of yoga at this fabulous Astoria studio. They're challenging you to take full advantage of the reduced rate and this glorious time of year to dive into deeper waters in your yoga practice.
On Day 16, I'm feeling fantastic. I've had my fair share of sore hamstrings and lower back (and randomly, my right bicep) from some of the classes, but the next class or two always seems to have it feeling better.
It's not turning me into an Amazing Super Yogi - there are some days (today, for instance) where I walk into class feeling low energy, exhausted, and full of doubt that I'll be able to make it through without all my muscles turning to jelly. But that's the beautiful thing about yoga - no matter what, I leave the class feeling wonderful.
The Giving Tree is a gorgeous studio, located right by the Ditmars N/Q station. Every single teacher is fantastic and I not only feel great after every class, but I feel like I've truly learned something about my own personal practice as well as an increased knowledge of alignment.
Sadly, there are two days this month where it will be physically impossible for me to show up to a class. This Saturday I'm leaving Astoria for Karma Kids at 6:30am and won't be back until probably 7:30pm. The following Friday, a similar deal - 7:15am - 9:30pm. It'd be nice to be able to do a solid 30 days, but it's not something worth dwelling on - especially considering I'll be off doing what I love.
Although in my own brain I always associate June 1st as the first day of summer, the actual first day of summer and the summer solstice is this coming Tuesday, June 21st. Although The Giving Tree is having an awesome 108 Sun Salutations event at the studio, I'm already committed to practicing yoga in Times Square. I highly recommend either event - both are sure to be blissful, sweaty, and amazing!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Big Questions
I spent this past Memorial Day weekend in one of my new favorite places in the world - Massachusetts. Specifically, at Marc's parents' beautiful home near Boston. The weekend was so peaceful but also stimulating - the LeVasseurs a philosophical, intellectual family that can debate, theorize, and just plain converse until the sun comes up. Especially when there's excellent wine involved!
For a variety of reasons, on the train ride home, Marc started asking me some Big Questions. Questions about how I deal with my undefined faith and if it bothers me that I don't have something solid that I believe in, the way Christians believe with all their soul that Jesus is the son of God, for example. Does it bother me that I don't have a defined belief for what has happened to my loved ones that have passed away?
Marc has always been one to ask the Big Questions that mankind has never found an answer for. What is the meaning of life? His endlessly inquisitive mind has lead me to realize that mine is startlingly uninquisitive. Or rather - it doesn't bother me that no one has the answers. To me, spirituality and all those Big Questions are very personal things that slowly unfold.
When I was a kid, we didn't really go to church. My mom was raised Episcopalian, but she never connected with a church when we were little and so we just never went. I never believed in Christianity - it just never resonated with me. I think it's something you have to fervently believe, and I didn't - it was almost an instinctive lack of belief. This didn't bother me because I couldn't really imagine living differently.
For a long time I identified as an atheist, until I got older and realized if I couldn't have belief in a God, where was I getting this assurance that there isn't one? I changed my label to agnostic with no existential crisis or fanfare.
In college, one of my favorite professors and mentors would always reference The Universe. "The Universe will take care of you, The Universe will show you." It endeared her to me further and I liked the idea. I found that after I graduated, I thought and spoke in those terms more and more, and it was the first time I felt the need to have a spiritual connection or some kind of faith. I wasn't able to define it anymore than "the universe," and I wasn't even sure I believed there was a fate or a way in which the universe provides. But I was comforted by it. After spending nearly your entire life in the school system and then college where everything has an order and is mapped out for you, going out on your own without any kind of organizational system is scary. I needed an anchor, even if it was a vague one.
Here's where yoga really entered the picture. The year after I graduated college, I started taking a gentle Hatha Yoga class that was pure stretching and relaxation - very little physical challenge and not a chaturanga in sight. Because there was so little physical demand, which was new for me in a yoga class, I really began focusing the mind. Eventually, these gentle classes started to feel like my very own church. I'd dedicate one class to my mom, one to a friend in need, one to myself to try to wish for more strength or whatever you might think of. I really loved how it felt and was very comforted by it. It really showed me that I had some kind of space inside me that needed filling up by something spiritual.
Fast forward to today, and I've learned so much about yoga philosophy, meditation techniques, Sanskrit chants, even the Hindu gods and goddesses. However, I still feel about the same as I did once I turned those gentle yoga classes into church. I don't have any specific belief. Ironically, two of my best friends in the world are very devout Christians (and shining examples of all that is good in Christianity!). It helps to have them to listen and bounce ideas off of when we get into spiritual discussions.
I do wish I had a rock solid belief system. I often find myself on a difficult meditation day - or a day when I skip meditation altogether - wondering what exactly I'm doing. Am I praying to someone? To myself? If I'm not praying, who or what am I exactly communing with? I know that I'm still very young and I have a lot of faith that my own spirituality and belief system will develop if I just keep practicing.
What about you, readers? Is faith and belief something you struggle with - struggling to define it or struggling to maintain it? Are you testing the waters or have you even decided any kind of spiritual connection isn't something you need? I'd love to hear opinions. Until next time...Namaste and enjoy beautiful June!
For a variety of reasons, on the train ride home, Marc started asking me some Big Questions. Questions about how I deal with my undefined faith and if it bothers me that I don't have something solid that I believe in, the way Christians believe with all their soul that Jesus is the son of God, for example. Does it bother me that I don't have a defined belief for what has happened to my loved ones that have passed away?
Marc has always been one to ask the Big Questions that mankind has never found an answer for. What is the meaning of life? His endlessly inquisitive mind has lead me to realize that mine is startlingly uninquisitive. Or rather - it doesn't bother me that no one has the answers. To me, spirituality and all those Big Questions are very personal things that slowly unfold.
When I was a kid, we didn't really go to church. My mom was raised Episcopalian, but she never connected with a church when we were little and so we just never went. I never believed in Christianity - it just never resonated with me. I think it's something you have to fervently believe, and I didn't - it was almost an instinctive lack of belief. This didn't bother me because I couldn't really imagine living differently.
For a long time I identified as an atheist, until I got older and realized if I couldn't have belief in a God, where was I getting this assurance that there isn't one? I changed my label to agnostic with no existential crisis or fanfare.
In college, one of my favorite professors and mentors would always reference The Universe. "The Universe will take care of you, The Universe will show you." It endeared her to me further and I liked the idea. I found that after I graduated, I thought and spoke in those terms more and more, and it was the first time I felt the need to have a spiritual connection or some kind of faith. I wasn't able to define it anymore than "the universe," and I wasn't even sure I believed there was a fate or a way in which the universe provides. But I was comforted by it. After spending nearly your entire life in the school system and then college where everything has an order and is mapped out for you, going out on your own without any kind of organizational system is scary. I needed an anchor, even if it was a vague one.
Here's where yoga really entered the picture. The year after I graduated college, I started taking a gentle Hatha Yoga class that was pure stretching and relaxation - very little physical challenge and not a chaturanga in sight. Because there was so little physical demand, which was new for me in a yoga class, I really began focusing the mind. Eventually, these gentle classes started to feel like my very own church. I'd dedicate one class to my mom, one to a friend in need, one to myself to try to wish for more strength or whatever you might think of. I really loved how it felt and was very comforted by it. It really showed me that I had some kind of space inside me that needed filling up by something spiritual.
Fast forward to today, and I've learned so much about yoga philosophy, meditation techniques, Sanskrit chants, even the Hindu gods and goddesses. However, I still feel about the same as I did once I turned those gentle yoga classes into church. I don't have any specific belief. Ironically, two of my best friends in the world are very devout Christians (and shining examples of all that is good in Christianity!). It helps to have them to listen and bounce ideas off of when we get into spiritual discussions.
I do wish I had a rock solid belief system. I often find myself on a difficult meditation day - or a day when I skip meditation altogether - wondering what exactly I'm doing. Am I praying to someone? To myself? If I'm not praying, who or what am I exactly communing with? I know that I'm still very young and I have a lot of faith that my own spirituality and belief system will develop if I just keep practicing.
What about you, readers? Is faith and belief something you struggle with - struggling to define it or struggling to maintain it? Are you testing the waters or have you even decided any kind of spiritual connection isn't something you need? I'd love to hear opinions. Until next time...Namaste and enjoy beautiful June!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
"Sleep is the best meditation."
I'm alive!
Appropriately, this unusual night-time entry is to share an article I really enjoyed on YogaJournal.com today...
Sweet Slumber.
Good night, all!
Appropriately, this unusual night-time entry is to share an article I really enjoyed on YogaJournal.com today...
Sweet Slumber.
Good night, all!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Adapt, Adjust, Accomodate
A quick entry today, as my unfortunate head cold is demanding I stop for the day. Marc is kicking butt at P90X in the room beside me and I wish I was beside him getting sweaty and wishing this Tony freak would just stop the torture already, but alas. I'm going through a box of tissues and denying there's a tickle in my throat.
As I mentioned in the previous entry, I decided to start a new sadhana for the month of May inspired by a local yoga studio. 10 minutes of sun salutations, 10 minutes of meditation, 5 minutes of savasana, 5 minutes of journaling. So awesome, and so right up my alley.
And of course, on Day 2, I wake up with a beast of a sore throat.
Initially, I was thinking of making the 'sun salutations' part very structured so it would be the same practice every day. I wanted to get as much consistency in this daily practice as possible so I could really feel how each morning feels different. However, I learned for the 47 millionth time that so much is out of my control, and life calls for flexibility. As my beloved Thai Yoga Massage teacher is fond of saying (singing, actually, but I can't transmit the magic of that over this blog): "Adapt, Adjust, Accomodate!"
The last few mornings, my sun salutations have been different depending on how I'm feeling with this allergy attack / head cold / whatever this situation is. Monday morning I was surprised by how much stronger I felt after doing a few of the surya namaskars; yesterday morning was a big challenge. I've altered the speed, frequency, and moves - no chaturangas or Warrior poses for me when I'm feeling ill. I think I'm finding the self-knowledge I was looking for when I planned for absolute consistency in the movement in the fact that I'm tuning into my body each morning to see what I need.
The coolest part? When I was dreading doing yoga this morning because of my stuffy nose, I was shocked to find that by the end of the first 10 minutes, I was breathing 10 times easier. Yoga is so much cheaper than nose spray.
As I mentioned in the previous entry, I decided to start a new sadhana for the month of May inspired by a local yoga studio. 10 minutes of sun salutations, 10 minutes of meditation, 5 minutes of savasana, 5 minutes of journaling. So awesome, and so right up my alley.
And of course, on Day 2, I wake up with a beast of a sore throat.
Initially, I was thinking of making the 'sun salutations' part very structured so it would be the same practice every day. I wanted to get as much consistency in this daily practice as possible so I could really feel how each morning feels different. However, I learned for the 47 millionth time that so much is out of my control, and life calls for flexibility. As my beloved Thai Yoga Massage teacher is fond of saying (singing, actually, but I can't transmit the magic of that over this blog): "Adapt, Adjust, Accomodate!"
The last few mornings, my sun salutations have been different depending on how I'm feeling with this allergy attack / head cold / whatever this situation is. Monday morning I was surprised by how much stronger I felt after doing a few of the surya namaskars; yesterday morning was a big challenge. I've altered the speed, frequency, and moves - no chaturangas or Warrior poses for me when I'm feeling ill. I think I'm finding the self-knowledge I was looking for when I planned for absolute consistency in the movement in the fact that I'm tuning into my body each morning to see what I need.
The coolest part? When I was dreading doing yoga this morning because of my stuffy nose, I was shocked to find that by the end of the first 10 minutes, I was breathing 10 times easier. Yoga is so much cheaper than nose spray.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
My YogaWorks Week
This past weekend concluded my 7 Days of YogaWorks adventure, and I'm so sad to see it go! It came to me with the most perfect timing imaginable - Karma Kids was closed to classes for the week and open for a teacher training, so my hours completely changed and, for the most part, opened up to allow me to take a class once a week. YogaWorks, luckily for me, has several locations in the city and I explored 3 of them - Westside (near Central Park), Eastside (76th & 3rd), and Union Square(ish). I mostly went to Union Square, since it was closest to Karma Kids - and the farmer's market! - but all the studios were gorgeous.
It was a different kind of yoga class than I'm used to, and that's always so refreshing. YogaWorks has an Iyengar/Ashtanga base, as opposed to my usual exposure to Vinyasa. Vinyasa means linking breath to movement, and it's an interesting style because there's so much freedom for the instructor to play. One Vinyasa class could be completely different from the next. In general, though, they tend to move a little more quickly and get a little more sweaty.
I didn't notice the Ashtanga quite so much in these classes - although that may be because my only experience with Ashtanga wasn't the most inspiring and it also kicked my behind. I really noticed the Iyengar-Vinyasa mixture though.
Iyengar and Ashtanga are styles of yoga founded by BKS Iyengar and the late Patthabi Jois, respectively. I could fill a million blog articles with the details, differences, philosophies, and intricacies of each, but I'll try to be brief. Ashtanga teaches you a specific series of poses that you practice each and every time. There are different levels of difficulty (primary series, secondary series, etc.), but the idea is you measure your advancement in practice because of the consistency - you're doing the same poses every time, so you can see how they change. Iyengar is a much more gentle, much less intense practice that is completely focused on the alignment of the body. Iyengar teachers are big fans of using props in class to help the body or demonstrate a certain aspect of a given pose.
So that's my 2 cent explanation - if any yogis reading this want to elaborate or correct something I got wrong, have at it!
What all of that explanation basically boils down to is that these classes were slower and more thoughtful in terms of alignment than classes I'm used to. I took a class from a different teacher every day so I got to see an interesting array of personal teaching styles all within the same general umbrella of YogaWorks philosophy. Some classes worked me harder than others; some, I didn't even break a sweat. The sweat wasn't the point. One class, we did triangle pose about 3-4 times on each side until we got the point. This is a pose that I'd probably breeze through a couple times during a quick Vinyasa class and not teach too much about the alignment aside from the basics. It was interesting to take a pose that I thought I knew inside and out, a pose I usually just breeze through on my way to the next, and really break it down.
Aside from the physical practice, I got a really invaluable little nugget of wisdom from a class with yoga teacher Chrissy Carter. She was talking about worrying and the notion of "preparing for the worst" - something I very often (sometimes compulsively) do.
"When you prepare for the worst, your body experiences the worst."
That really resonated with me. How many times have I worked up a worry in my brain and imagined all the terrible worst-case-scenarios, only to have everything turn out fine? Or even if it doesn't turn out fine, it still turns out not to be worth all that mental - and physiological - anguish. We all know the myriad of negative effects stress has on the body - why give ourselves anymore than absolutely necessary?
It was a really special experience taking a yoga class every single day. It's a luxury I haven't had since I was going through teacher training in the fall of 2009. I found myself more patient, more able to deal with stress, and more able to accept negative turns of events with a measure of grace.
I'm finishing up the week/month of April with daily writing as my sadhana, as it's been all month. Marc has been a rock star at writing in his journal faithfully every day for almost the whole year, and as a formerly hard-core journaler (I wish that was a word), I was starting to get jealous!
On Sunday, May 1st, though, I'm starting a new sadhana, inspired by a local yoga studio, The Yoga Room. They're offering a 21-Day Meditation Challenge for $55 that is as follows:
10 minutes of Sun Salutations
10 minutes of Meditation
5 minutes of Savasana
5 minutes of Journaling
I can't imagine keeping journaling down to 5 minutes, so we'll see how many of those sessions extend to 10, 15, and 30 minutes! I'm excited to get started. I'll be doing it at home, since I don't live close enough to The Yoga Room to get there in the wee early hours every day, and I feel comfortable doing it on my own. If you live in Astoria and you're interested, though, you should definitely check out the studio and the challenge!
Enjoy the gorgeous spring weather, everyone! Namaste :)
It was a different kind of yoga class than I'm used to, and that's always so refreshing. YogaWorks has an Iyengar/Ashtanga base, as opposed to my usual exposure to Vinyasa. Vinyasa means linking breath to movement, and it's an interesting style because there's so much freedom for the instructor to play. One Vinyasa class could be completely different from the next. In general, though, they tend to move a little more quickly and get a little more sweaty.
I didn't notice the Ashtanga quite so much in these classes - although that may be because my only experience with Ashtanga wasn't the most inspiring and it also kicked my behind. I really noticed the Iyengar-Vinyasa mixture though.
Iyengar and Ashtanga are styles of yoga founded by BKS Iyengar and the late Patthabi Jois, respectively. I could fill a million blog articles with the details, differences, philosophies, and intricacies of each, but I'll try to be brief. Ashtanga teaches you a specific series of poses that you practice each and every time. There are different levels of difficulty (primary series, secondary series, etc.), but the idea is you measure your advancement in practice because of the consistency - you're doing the same poses every time, so you can see how they change. Iyengar is a much more gentle, much less intense practice that is completely focused on the alignment of the body. Iyengar teachers are big fans of using props in class to help the body or demonstrate a certain aspect of a given pose.
So that's my 2 cent explanation - if any yogis reading this want to elaborate or correct something I got wrong, have at it!
What all of that explanation basically boils down to is that these classes were slower and more thoughtful in terms of alignment than classes I'm used to. I took a class from a different teacher every day so I got to see an interesting array of personal teaching styles all within the same general umbrella of YogaWorks philosophy. Some classes worked me harder than others; some, I didn't even break a sweat. The sweat wasn't the point. One class, we did triangle pose about 3-4 times on each side until we got the point. This is a pose that I'd probably breeze through a couple times during a quick Vinyasa class and not teach too much about the alignment aside from the basics. It was interesting to take a pose that I thought I knew inside and out, a pose I usually just breeze through on my way to the next, and really break it down.
Aside from the physical practice, I got a really invaluable little nugget of wisdom from a class with yoga teacher Chrissy Carter. She was talking about worrying and the notion of "preparing for the worst" - something I very often (sometimes compulsively) do.
"When you prepare for the worst, your body experiences the worst."
That really resonated with me. How many times have I worked up a worry in my brain and imagined all the terrible worst-case-scenarios, only to have everything turn out fine? Or even if it doesn't turn out fine, it still turns out not to be worth all that mental - and physiological - anguish. We all know the myriad of negative effects stress has on the body - why give ourselves anymore than absolutely necessary?
It was a really special experience taking a yoga class every single day. It's a luxury I haven't had since I was going through teacher training in the fall of 2009. I found myself more patient, more able to deal with stress, and more able to accept negative turns of events with a measure of grace.
I'm finishing up the week/month of April with daily writing as my sadhana, as it's been all month. Marc has been a rock star at writing in his journal faithfully every day for almost the whole year, and as a formerly hard-core journaler (I wish that was a word), I was starting to get jealous!
On Sunday, May 1st, though, I'm starting a new sadhana, inspired by a local yoga studio, The Yoga Room. They're offering a 21-Day Meditation Challenge for $55 that is as follows:
10 minutes of Sun Salutations
10 minutes of Meditation
5 minutes of Savasana
5 minutes of Journaling
I can't imagine keeping journaling down to 5 minutes, so we'll see how many of those sessions extend to 10, 15, and 30 minutes! I'm excited to get started. I'll be doing it at home, since I don't live close enough to The Yoga Room to get there in the wee early hours every day, and I feel comfortable doing it on my own. If you live in Astoria and you're interested, though, you should definitely check out the studio and the challenge!
Enjoy the gorgeous spring weather, everyone! Namaste :)
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