#yoga nerd

[misscurlyhairtoothemax]

meitalpo #alexturner #tlsp #tlsplive #thelastshadowpuppets #mileskane #live #ps16 #primaverasound

[typeayogini]

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing... only I will remain."

Frank Herbert, "Litany Against Fear," Dune.

This poem serves as a personal 'mantra' for overcoming abhinivesha, "clinging to life" or "fear of death," one of the most powerful of the 5 causes of suffering (klesha-s) and the source of both attachment (raga) and aversion (dvesha).

[ommygod]

I'm feeling all giddy because I just handed out my first yoga biz card and that makes me all nerd-excited.

Then I came home to a staff email from the gym I recently started subbing at, and the owner welcomed me / introduced me to everyone and mentioned that she'd been receiving great feedback from the class I subbed the other week.

SQUEE!!!

Now heading out for a teacher trainee reunion dinner. Sushi, get in my belly.

[inbetweenmotion-blog]

Oh, happy day!

I woke up early this morning, on my day off. Yes, early. Like, 5:30 early. Yes, it was my day off. I'm surprised, too. But when you have found something in your life that brings you so much joy, it's easy to wake up excited about the day. I went to my first mysore ashtanga class this morning at 7:00am. For those who aren't familiar with mysore ashtanga, let me brief you. Ashtanga is a style of yoga developed by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. It is a vinyasa sequence that is both beautiful and challenging. Mysore ashtanga, as taught in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, is based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which (in short) brings a more philosophical and spiritual element into the asana practice. In a mysore style class, students are taught individually. They then practice what they have learned at their own pace, with assistance from the teacher, and receive further guidance when necessary. This allows for more individual attention, and contrasts with most yoga classes, where the entire group is guided in unison. It is a practice that is developed slowly and at the individual's pace, thereby requiring a good deal of patience and discipline. I could not be more pleased with my first experience at the Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana in East Village. Lori Brungard, an Ashtanga teacher with an Authorized Level 2 teaching certificate through KPJAY, led me through a great couple of poses. The studio space is beautiful with natural wood floors and exposed brick walls. There are three big, slightly open windows facing the outside street that brightened up the room and brought in a nice, subtle morning breeze. As I laid in shavasana at the end of my short first class, listening to the ever bustling New York City streets, I am filled with gratitude for where I am and what I am doing. New to the city and not really having any sort of community established, it can be kind of tough at times. Though there may be some rough edges around my transition away from Nashville and my family into the big apple, it's moments like these that remind me of why I am here. I know that this is the beginning of a lifelong journey through yoga and through self discovery. I am reminded that this is what yoga is about. Enjoy the now. Enjoy the journey. I am reminded that everything in the universe is exactly as it should be. That all is yours already. Nothing to do. Nothing to force, Nothing to want, --and everything happens by itself. Set an intention and watch the water part.

[inbetweenmotion-blog]

Hidy, ya'll!

Welcome to my little space here on the inter-webs! I am creating this site to share experiences, inspiration, wisdom, and everything else that comes with the practice of all that is yoga, and when I say yoga I mean life, for yoga is not just going to class and practicing asanas (poses). Yoga is a guideline, albeit a discipline utilized for the attainment of certain goals, certain aspects you wish to manifest in your life. It could be that the goal is not to have goals at all, but to have complete and total freedom, happiness, gratefulness, contentment... the list goes on. This site is dedicated to incorporating yogic philosophy in your everyday life. What the world needs is more love, more understanding, more compassion, more inspiration, more yoga. As far as a little 'about me': I was born and raised in Tennessee, but recently relocated to New York City to explore the thriving yogic community. Growing up, I wanted to either a) be a veterinarian or b) be a doctor. Well, turns out, my freshman year of college really did not set me up to advance in either of those fields. As I continued to make my way through school, the more indecisive and thus linearly unhappy I became. While I did indeed make some not so great choices my freshman year, little did I know it would set me up for a long road to academic recovery. How unfair, I thought. If only I had known, I thought. If only I had been ready. I felt stuck. ...long story short, I dropped out of school to get some real world experience. I planned to explore the world and thus really find out what makes me tick. What is it that makes me feel alive? Two years later, after working a full-time receptionist job, I discovered yoga. I went to yoga class looking for a new work-out regimen, but came out of yoga class with so much more. The intense asanas that I guided my body through, with the instruction of great teachers to whom I'm forever grateful, forced me to be present with myself. I wasn't simply running on an elliptical machine, headphones in, zoning out, wishing I had one minute left instead of 25. I was there with my body, paying attention to every movement, every muscle. Every thought that distracted me from being present with my body was quickly recognized and shooed away before it had the chance to disrupt the balancing act I was devoting my whole attention to. In those spaces, I am free from the outside world and my ever lengthening to-do list. In those moments, I am forced to let go of all the thoughts I do not need. Even if only for a brief moment, I find solace. It is in those spaces, those few seconds in between motion that keep me coming back to yoga. Yoga has changed my life for the better and I am here to share it with you, with anyone who wants to feel more peace, more clarity and more freedom.

[yogawarriornyc]

I'm in Boston about to head into class 1 of 4 during this weekend workshop with Kathryn Budig. I am so exited to meet her!!! I hope I don't totally fangirl her like I did when I met Sadie Nardini.