Ever wonder how yoga relates to justice and peace? Check out a blog post by Yoga District founder Jasmine on how our yoga practice can serve as self care and as a practice of peace in its own right. From teachings of former Harvard Professor Ram Das to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Emily Greene Balch, you’ll explore a few simple ideas about how everyday life is full of opportunities to practice peace.

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IS peace the point or the journey? 

Back in 2009 I asked Ram Das, former Harvard professor and author of Be Here Now (pictured here), how to love people who I considered political enemies. He told me:

“You’ll never find peace in the outside world. Just go inside, find peace, then become an instrument of peace.”

So next time you do some yoga, do it as an instrument of peace. Your practice is not just for you. It’s for everyone, everywhere, who deserves or needs that peace. It’s for peace itself.

Every time you practice in this way, it’s as if you’re making a little deposit in the universal bank account of peace. When you join a peace demonstration, when you are kind, when you eat vegan, when you don’t buy something you don’t need, when you speak truth to power, you’re making little deposits in the peace bank.

If you’re attached to achieving peace, you might find yourself upset with much of the results these days. But attachment to achieving peace isn’t the goal. Instead, like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Emily Greene Balch (pictured here) said, “Peace is the way.” So the goal is to peacefully fight for the fight for peace.

As always, thanks for sharing your practice with us, and please keep finding ways to contribute to peace. Be sure to do plenty of yoga as self care so you develop strong resilience to any ups and downs you have on the journey! 

The post Yoga and peace appeared first on Yoga District.

 Meet Maylin, one of our teachers at Yoga District who focuses on accessibility, inclusivity, and healing practices. Learn about her journey with yin yoga and how she helps her students practice the best yoga for their bodies. Check out Maylin’s current class offerings at bit.ly/yd-maylin. 

Yin yoga features poses held for longer periods of time compared to flow and other hatha yoga classes, and the practice incorporates principles of traditional Chinese medicine.  It’s a great way to do some deep, meditative stretches to develop real flexibility and mindfulness.

Yin Yoga Journey 

I’ve been practicing yoga since college but had only done ashtanga/vinyasa classes. To rebuild my strength after an injury, I took a Yin/Yang class and discovered that I really loved the yin practice. Finding that yin teachers were in short supply, I did extensive yin yoga teacher training and even trained under its founders, Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. 

Now, as a yin teacher, I love sharing my practice with others. Not only does this practice provide physical, energetic, and mindful benefits, it encourages each student to customize poses to their bodies (1). For example, in yin yoga, we can all be in slightly different poses when working on hamstrings. Each of us utilizes props as we see fit to support ourselves in our poses. Since we hold yin poses for several minutes, I have time to work with students individually to make their poses optimal for their bodies. 

Yoga for All

A lot of people tell me they can’t do yoga because they aren’t flexible, which is a huge misconception. My teacher Bernie Clark is famous for saying, “We do not use the body to get into a pose – we use the pose to get into our body.” I encourage people who haven’t tried yoga to not worry about looking “perfect” in a pose or whether they can touch their toes. Yoga is about getting in tune with body and breath. You may eventually find some mindfulness and energetic benefits as well. 

My yin yoga training has taught me a lot about skeletal variation. Everybody has a unique skeletal structure and we may need to adjust poses accordingly (2). For example, I have a long torso and short arms, so it’s impossible for me to touch my hips in the starting position of a bridge pose. I can come into a traditional bridge pose, but I’ve learned that I can get into a much deeper backbend and feel more supported with my feet further apart.

Our skeletal structures may also limit us when doing certain poses. For example, I admit that even as a yoga teacher, I cannot do a headstand because of the structure of my shoulders and length of my arms. In a supported headstand, I learned that my head was hitting the ground first just by a bit, which is why I could never figure out how to leverage my arms to support me in the inversion. In my classes, I incorporate teaching with skeletal variation (i.e. functionally). I will be pursuing more training in functional vinyasa and hope to share this approach when teaching vinyasa as well. 

Teaching Yoga

I love that I get to teach a variety of students in my classes. I strongly believe in making my yin and yin/yang classes accessible to all ages, body types, and conditions. It’s inspiring that so many students, particularly those with injuries and conditions, are willing to try my classes and trust me to guide them in their practice. 

In my classes, the top requests I get from students are to work on hips and shoulders. These areas carry a lot of tension and emotion in our bodies. Prior to COVID-19, I would often do some gentle adjustments and reiki on my students during yin poses. I feel my students’ energy change during child’s pose, figure four, or sleeping swan — a yin version of pigeon (3). They tend to release stress during shoulder openers, such as supported heart-opener, supported fish pose, or simply savasana (4 and 5).

Sources

1. 1. Benefits of Yin, https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/types-of-yoga/yin/yin-yoga-2/
   2. A Lesson in Anatomy: Why Your Practice Won’t Look Like Anyone Else’s, https://yogainternational.com/article/view/a-lesson-in-anatomy-why-your-practice-wont-look-like-anyone-elses
   3. Sleeping swan pose, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/9618/sleeping-swan-pose-yi
   4. Supported fish pose (Matsyana), https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/modify-fish-pose-joy-contentment/
   5. Savasana, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/6582/savasana

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JOURNEY WITH  YOGA

On a whim, I tried my very first yoga class in a gym. I never realized how much it would transform my life. When I first learned about yoga and thinking that it was nothing more than “stretching”. I felt better than expected in that first yoga class. I was more grounded, balanced, and rejuvenated mentally as well as physically. That alone was enough for me to try it again. 

Generally, my San Francisco-based teachers would guide me through: 

• Immersive practices
• Intention setting
• Devotional chanting
• Philosophy sharing. 

Through regular practice, I started to discover the healing, calming, and spiritual aspects of yoga. After many years of practicing and teaching, yoga is now a lifestyle. I can’t imagine my life without it!

TEACHING YOGA

Teaching yoga is my dharma and makes me feel deeply connected, grateful, and inspired(1)! As a yoga teacher, I love curating a memorable experience for my students that creates vibrations of peace and conscious awakening.

My time on the mat has led me to act differently and think more positively while navigating life’s uncertainties off the mat. I wish for others to access, experience, and benefit from yoga in the same ways that yoga has enriched my life. 

THE BEAUTY OF KUNDALINI YOGA

My favorite style of yoga to teach is Kundalini because it’s designed to help practitioners elevate their energy, strengthen their mind, and access their true nature (called “Sat Nam” in Sanskrit) (2). I love how “holistic” the practice is by integrating: 

• Mudras (hand gestures)
• Mantras (a word, phrase, or sound repetition) 
• Pranayama (breathwork)
• Kriyas (quick, repetitive movement). 

While I find Kundalini to be the most challenging style of yoga yet it offers many benefits and applications to our modern world. It’s a little different but definitely worth trying!

I love to guide students through a pose called woodchopper (or Kashtha Takshanasana in Sanskrit). 

1. On the inhale, you stand in a wide-legged pose with hands interlaced overhead.
2. Squat lowering fist between legs while on the exhale audibly emptying air from the abdomen.
3. Basically to perform this Kundalini-style, you can imagine you are holding an axe and chopping through something in your life that does not serve you. Do this repetitive manner usually for one to three minutes. 
4. The movement of the arms in a swinging motion helps to increase blood flow, boost energy, and reduce stress from the body and mind. 

Students have shared that this kriya has had profound effects when combined with the intention of slaying or transforming stagnation. It’s truly liberating!

Sources:

1. What is Dharma?, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/4967/dharma
2. Kundalini Yoga, https://www.healthline.com/health/kundalini-yoga#bottom-line

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Finding Self-Compassion

Yoga has changed my relationship most with myself. In a society that is always asking me to judge and change things about myself, yoga has made me feel more at home in my body. 

Dealing with chronic anxiety disorder, yoga is an integral part of my wellness practice as it  strengthens my mind-body connection. Now before approaching or addressing a problem, I always try to assess how I’m feeling and my state of being. As a teacher, whatever I’m going through shows up in my class. So before one begins, I’ve found it especially important to reflect on how I’m feeling internally.  

It took me years to finally start a yoga practice. I did not see myself reflected in the community.  I did not often see yogis who looked like me or my friends. I think this has changed a lot in recent years. I am really grateful to teach in a space like Yoga District that is more reflective of the diversity in my life.

Teaching Yoga Online: Making Yoga Accessible

Online yoga reduces a lot of barriers such as:

• finding transportation to a studio
• not having the time to get to an in-person class
• feeling uncomfortable taking an in-person class (whether due to COVID or other personal reasons). 

Even with the occasional technology challenge, I’m happy we are able to provide yoga both in-person and online to meet the needs of a variety of students. 

My favorite style to teach online is slow flow (1). I think it helps to foster a relaxing space in your own home. This is incredibly important in our current climate since so many of us are spending an increased amount of time at home. I also think that it is a very approachable style to yoga for both beginners and experienced yogis. The flow is usually amenable for students to follow along verbally. I find it to be a big bonus as I know that sometimes watching on a small computer screen can be a challenge. 

Supporting Students during Online Classes

I attempt to create a warm and safe environment for students to practice online. I make sure to greet students individually and welcome them to class as they join. Before class begins, I always make sure to do a soundcheck to verify everything is good. If an issue occurs during class, I also invite online students to use the Zoom chat function or turn on their mics. At the start of class, I let all of the students know how many people are joining in-person and online. Finally, at the end of class I try to say goodbye to everyone who has joined. 

In an online class I think it’s important to present lots of options for poses. It is hard to assess students in a virtual space, especially if students keep their cameras off. I find it’s best to offer options for both beginners and experienced yogis. Additionally, it is important to take into consideration how active or tired someone may be feeling that day. I also think props are amazing and encourage everyone to use them. There are so many things you can use at home in place of “proper” yoga props to enhance your practice or find more ease in a pose (2).

Teaching Yoga: Empowering Students

There are so many different styles of yoga. Each individual teacher will have their own unique style and perspective that they bring to a class. If you try one class and it wasn’t for you, don’t be hesitant to sign up for a completely different class – you might find that it fits! 

In my classes, I like to have students stay in tadasana for a few breaths as our first standing pose (3). It’s an incredibly powerful feeling to stand with your feet firmly planted on the ground, your shoulders rolled back, and your chest puffed out focusing on your breathing. When we come into our first tadasana, I don’t instruct students to close their eyes. Yet, I notice in most classes, every single student has closed their eyes. I love to see everyone automatically shift to an internal reflection.  

Check out Sam’s current class offerings and sign up here!

• Tuesday, 7:15 PM: Slow Flow @ 14th St Studio and online
• Saturday, 1:30 PM: Flow 1-2 @ Bloomingdale and online

Sources

1. What is slow flow vinyasa yoga?, https://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/2013/09/28/what-is-slow-flow-vinyasa-yoga/
2. No Blocks, No Bolsters, No Problem, https://yogainternational.com/article/view/no-blocks-no-bolsters-no-problem-home-practice-hacks-for-propless-yogis/
3. Tadasana, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5897/tadasana

The post Teacher Feature: Meet Sam! appeared first on Yoga District.

Meet Mana, beloved Yoga District teacher and a valued member of our community. Mana was recently nominated in Washington City Paper’s “Best Of” for Best Yoga Instructor in the greater DC area. Learn how Mana discovered yoga on a trip through Southeast Asia, and how she became the teacher she is today. 

Yoga Journey  

After leaving a creative director/consulting position in the fashion industry in Tokyo, I traveled for two months in Southeast Asia. While traveling, I began attending a local yoga studio. Even when I returned to Tokyo, I continued to study yoga, but then moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand to get closer to my true nature. Moving to a new country to start a new job and make new friends really shows you who you are. I needed a new perspective to realize how many layers I was wearing that I didn’t need. Ever since, I’ve continued to study and practice yoga, and have taught classes from Thailand to Laos, Japan, and now the US.

Yoga creates a space to show up authentically as yourself, which inspires us to hold onto that authenticity after we step off the mat. It has taught me to hold space for whatever thoughts or feelings arise within me. To also cultivate compassion for myself and others. To just be me. 

My life as a yoga pose would be Samastitihi (tadasana) (2). It is a neutral pose that creates space while also grounding us. Samastitihi allows us to broaden our perspectives and build energetic power in ourselves. 

Teaching Yoga: Yoga for All

I’ve always loved the ability to carry the energy I create on the mat with me the rest of the day. Yoga and meditation bring me joy and peace. I simply want to share those feelings with other people. 

When I started teaching in the US, I took notice of the diversity of students within my classes. It was amazing that there were so many different types of bodies and levels of ability! It contrasted with my previous Yoga training in which we didn’t learn much about teaching to different levels of ability. The truth was that I didn’t know much about how to instruct bigger bodies, older folks, and people with injuries. I feared that if I stopped to help a small group or one student, I would displease the majority. So, I started to listen to podcasts, read books, and took additional workshops and training. I am continuing to work on creating spaces that are welcoming to people of every size, color, age, and gender. 

Also, I learned that there are so many optional variations of poses, and I am a big fan of using props in a pose. I practice the Iyengar tradition, which tends to use blocks or straps to help with alignment (1). Even when practicing “traditional” Ashtanga, you can still use props or pose variations. Regardless of your age, size, or ability, I believe an advanced practitioner has deeper awareness, a strong connection with mind and body, as well as a sophisticated practice. They are not necessarily more skilled in advanced poses.

Teaching Yoga Online: Communal and Global Experience 

My favorite style to teach is Ashtanga Mysore (3). In a Mysore practice, students practice a series of asanas, or poses, at their own pace (4). This is the main practice I teach, and I enjoy helping students cultivate this practice. Ashtanga Mysore becomes more customizable with each individual who experiences the practice. 

In these classes, I try to create a welcoming Ashtanga class that is accessible for all by offering many variations and other options. I focus on fundamental standing poses, seated poses, and a series of backbends. My vinyasa flow classes combine high energy and mindful breath to cultivate mind and body connection. Simple movements and moments of stillness can really create strength and peace of mind. 

My favorite thing about teaching yoga online is that I can teach from anywhere in the world! My introduction to yoga came from traveling. I have studied, practiced, and taught yoga as I’ve traveled all over the world. Teaching yoga online can broaden the possibilities for both teachers and students. 

With online classes, you have more possibilities to choose your favorite teachers from anywhere in the world, and students can join from wherever they are. In one of my online classes, we had students from Singapore, Europe, Thailand, LA, and Japan. It was so cool!

Empowering Students 

I’ve found that the headstand pose can create a feeling of empowerment within my students (5). It’s not the easiest pose, and overcoming the fear of falling doesn’t always feel natural. But, the inversion requires students to trust their strength both mentally and physically. They need to connect their mind and body. This pose also reminds us to remain gentle with ourselves when we inevitably lose balance. 

Also, remember that even if we’re connecting through a screen, we can still create community and strengthen our practice together. I encourage students to tap into that connection, see the community, and uplift each other as we share our class together.

Check out Mana’s current class offerings and sign up here! 

• Monday, 6:30 AM: Ashtanga Mysore Style @ 14th St Studio and online
• Monday, 12:10 PM: Ashtanga Flow @ Petworth Studio and online
• Tuesday, 6:30 AM: Ashtanga Mysore Style @ 14th St Studio and online
• Wednesday, 12:10 PM: Ashtanga Flow 1.5-2 @ Petworth Studio and online
• Thursday, 6:30 AM: Ashtanga Mysore Style @ 14th St Studio and online
• Thursday, 6:30 PM: All Levels Flow @ Petworth Studio and online
• Friday, 12:15 PM: Flow Express All Levels @ Petworth Studio and online
• Sunday, 9:00 AM: Ashtanga Led Primary 1.5-3 @ online only
• Sunday, 12:45 PM: Ashtanga Flow 1.5-3 @ H St Studio and online

Sources

1. Iyengar Yoga, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5017/iyengar-yoga
2. Samastitihi, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/6429/samasthiti
3. Mysore style, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/8559/mysore
4. Asana, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/4951/asana
5. Headstand, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/6288/headstand

The post Teacher Feature: Meet Mana! appeared first on Yoga District.

Meet Andrea B., one of our senior teachers at Yoga District! Learn about her journey with yoga and meditation. Throughout her practice she always allows herself to begin anew.

Learning How to Begin Again

When I’ve strayed from my deepest aspirations, there are a few bits of wisdom that help me organize my actions and come back to myself. An especially powerful notion that my students are used to hearing is that you can begin again at any time.

Learning to Restart

I first heard this on a meditation retreat. I was, let’s be real, searching for a blissful and peaced out experience. In reality I was neck-deep in the all too familiar internal battle. It was waged by my ego as I struggled with disappointment and frustration about what was actually happening. When my teacher gently offered “you can begin at any time,” it was like someone had opened a window. There was another way forward.

It doesn’t need to be a revelation to realize that we can pause, come back to ourselves, and begin anew. The truth is that at any moment, we can decide to let go of the struggle. Let go of the story so that we can give ourselves the grace of beginning anew. It’s not magic. It’s not the domain of the enlightened and it’s not complicated. Like so much in our yoga and meditation journeys it’s something we can practice again and again until it’s metabolized into our bodies. We can choose to pause and interrupt the reaction. Take a breath and then just start over without judgment and with a sense of compassion for ourselves. 

Recognizing When to Begin Again

The trick is to recognize that we’ve gone astray, lost sight of our breath, lost connection to our intention, or slipped into a narrative. In that moment of waking up, we can skip the analysis and mental stir to just come back to the practice. When we notice our next breath then we can come home to our bodies. We can decide to participate in moment-by-moment awareness. It’s a way to build our resilience, confidence, and sense of connection to ourselves and others. We’re never so far from ourselves that we can’t return. It just takes an awareness that we might have left home.

Satya (Truth)

The good news is that we get to participate in the unfolding of our reality. We get to continue to participate in fruition every single day. We always have the power of creation when we pause to come home to ourselves. There are times in life that feel like a dead end. And there are times we recognize we’re at an intersection and every choice seems consequential. We get waylaid, stuck, or veer off the path. And eventually, we realize it. If we can slow down enough in that awakening to pause, then we can create the space to choose to take the first step back to ourselves, in satya (truth) and with compassion (1). 

Sankalpa (Deepest Aspirations)

My sankalpa (my deepest aspiration) in my teaching, relationships, and how I show up in the world, is to learn to embody myself fully (2). A profound alignment occurs when what’s inside (embodying what we believe and aspire to be) matches our outside actions. It becomes natural and effortless to notice when we’ve been disconnected from ourselves. I’ve committed to slowing down enough to recognize when I’m overly identifying with a story of suffering or of not being enough. I’ve learned that the flow of grace knows its way through me. That I’m most embodied when I show up, participate, and allow this flow to happen. Even if this means that sometimes I need to let go of the shore and let the current take me. Despite the inevitable muddy waters and unexpected obstacles as the river flows on, I want to be awake for the journey. That’s why I practice.

Finding Community

You can begin again, no matter where you’ve been or how far you’ve strayed. You can learn how to come home to yourself. How to recommit to embodying your truth. How to pause and take the next step forward in full, compassionate awareness. Lucky for us, we  are never alone in this aspiration to wake up. This is the power of sangha (3). Of joining with a community of people doing the same courageous work of tuning into what’s healthy for ourselves and the greater good. Here’s to tapping into the power of sangha together, on the mat, on the cushion, or wherever your flow takes you.

Check out Andrea B.’s current class offerings and sign up here!

• Sunday, 9:00 AM: Yoga 1.5 – 2 @ Online
• Tuesday, 7:30 AM: Free Community Meditation @ Online
• Tuesday, 5:15 PM: Strength and Mobility Happy Hour @ Online
• Tuesday, 5:15 PM: Strength and Mobility Happy Hour; Vaccinations and Distancing Req’d @ Petworth

Sources

1. Satya, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5354/satya
2. Sankalpa, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5751/sankalpa 
3. Sangha,  https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/6238/sangha

The post Teacher Feature: Meet Andrea B! appeared first on Yoga District.

Check out Chuck’s current class offerings below and sign up here!

• Monday, 6:15-7:30 PM: Yin Yoga @ online
• Tuesday, 6:30 PM: Yin & Yang Yoga @ 14th St. Meridian Hill: lower level near the fountain (16th & W St NW)

Teaching Yoga Online

I love teaching Yin Yoga online. It allows for a relaxed practice in the comfort of one’s own home. I enjoy sharing the surrender, stillness, and healing aspects of Yin yoga with my students. I offer deeply relaxing, and meditative practices. My classes also offer options for adding challenges that expand physical and mental boundaries. 

I am drawn to teaching Yin yoga to help others be comfortable in finding their stillness within themselves. I integrate Hatha and Vinyasa Flow into my Yin & Yang classes (1, 2). Also, I emphasis the movement of chi and balancing subtle energetic systems (3).

My favorite part about teaching online is the opportunity for students’ fur babies to join practice! My own friend, Porsha the cat, often makes an appearance.

Overcoming Addiction through Yoga

I am an addict in recovery, and I turned to yoga during rehab as a tool for confronting my addiction. This month I am celebrating two years of sobriety and yoga has been critical to overcoming my addiction.

My most triumphant yoga moment happened on my birthday this past year. I camped overnight at Catoctin Mountain in northern Maryland (4). At dawn, I woke up to hike Chimney Rock. I meditated and practiced yoga at the summit at the time of day I was born (5). It was a true mountaintop experience. It showed me how far I have come.

I am so grateful for yoga. As well as the amazing teachers and supportive friends, which have made this journey possible. I hope to share the power of yoga with others in recovery (6).

Sources:

1. Hatha Yoga, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/4977/hatha-yoga
2. Vinyasa Yoga, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5035/vinyasa
3. Chi, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/10360/chi
4. Catoctin Mountain, https://www.nps.gov/cato/index.htm
5. Chimney Rock, https://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
6. Yoga for Recovery, https://kripalu.org/resources/break-cycle-how-yoga-and-meditation-can-help-heal-addiction

The post Teacher Feature: Meet Chuck! appeared first on Yoga District.

Meet Michelle, one of our teachers at Yoga District! Learn how yoga transformed her life, and see how she makes online yoga classes a welcoming, personal space for students.

“When we practice this awareness…we unveil the wisdom of our bodies and discover our authentic selves.”

Check out Michelle’s current class offerings below and sign up here!

• Monday, 7:30 AM: Yoga Basics and Yin Stretching @ online
• Tuesday, 8:00 PM: Yin Yoga @ online
• Wednesday, 11:00 AM: Yoga for Shoulders and Hips @ online
• Thursday, 7:15 PM: Yin Yoga @ online
• Saturday, 10:00 AM: Flow 1-2 with Yin @ online

Sign up here to join Michelle on 10/25 for her half day retreat Embodied Life: Connecting the Physical, Mental and Emotional @ Home

The Welcoming Power of Awareness and Individuality

My teacher says, “If you have seen one body, then you have seen one body.”  It is such a simple yet profound concept. I know yoga can be intimidating, so I try to make students feel welcomed by inviting them to show up exactly as they are. If you had a good day or a bad day, if you are an advanced practitioner or a beginner then just showing up is 90% of the effort! As a Yin teacher, I encourage students to focus their awareness on what feels right and not what a pose is “supposed” to look like.

My classes are not designed to achieve the perfect pose but rather an invitation to explore and become aware of our bodies. Through using a combination of breath, postures, and mindfulness, we learn how we store tension in our bodies. Then we learn how we can release stagnant energy to feel more fluid, relaxed, and alive. When we practice this kind of awareness, we transform not only our relationship with yoga but also our relationship with our bodies. This is truly how we unveil the inherent wisdom of our bodies and discover our authentic selves.

Top Three Lessons Yoga Has Taught Me

Being Embodied: Yoga helped connect me to my body in ways I never imagined. Prior to practicing yoga, I had no body awareness. I never exercised, nor did I have a physical routine. Yoga gave me a strong understanding of how I hold tension and how to release it.

Energetic Awareness: When I refer to energy, I mean the subtle sensations that are always present but often unnoticed. The various practices of yoga (asana, meditation, breathwork, etc.) helped me recognize energetic sensations (1). I use them as tools to reprogram my old behavioral patterns. For example, I grew up in New York City, so my nervous system defaults to fight-mode. Yoga taught me how to recognize this energy. For me, it is usually tightness in my belly, sweaty palms, heart racing, and overpowering thoughts. Now, I know how to diffuse it before it dictates my actions. We cannot control what happens but we can control our responses. Energy is in everything, and yoga taught me how to transform it.

Slowing Down: Having had a demanding career and life, I didn’t know how to slow down.My life was a constant rush. I sought distractions and kept busy with things that didn’t matter. Yoga helped me find the beauty and simplicity in slowing down. It taught me to appreciate the things that truly matter in our lives: breath, nature, love, and gratitude. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s so real…even for this Brooklyn girl!

Teaching Yoga Online

Teaching Yin Yoga means I design practices for people looking to decompress and release tension. I also get to witness the powerful ways people shift their energy into something much lighter. It’s quite impressive and inspiring. Now that we are online, I love that students have the convenience of practicing in their homes! In the mornings, they can roll out of bed and onto the mat. For evening classes, students can transition right from savasana to sleep. Most of all, I love that students can take up as much space as they want.

Another beauty of taking class online is being able to practice without being distracted by other students. In a way, practicing alone can be more private and intimate. I encourage students to keep their cameras on so I can offer personal modifications, but I want students to choose for themselves. I want to empower them to make the practice their own.

Life as a Yoga Pose

If my life were a yoga pose, it would absolutely be Anahatasana, Heart Melting Pose (2). It’s a deep heart opener that connects you to the earth. Anahatasana calls upon yin and yang energies, engaging from your feet to your seat and softening the body all the way to the crown of the head. This pose can be challenging to enter but once I am there it is incredibly nurturing, grounding, and soothing. 

Sources

1. Asana, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/4951/asana
2. Anahatasana, https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/7902/anahatasana

The post Teacher Feature: Meet Michelle! appeared first on Yoga District.

Meet Cliff, one of our teachers at Yoga District! Learn how he turned the harsh realities of life into a yoga practice that healed himself. His ultimate goal is to serve as a bridge between yoga and those that need it most.

 “Sharing yoga has helped me grow into a true practitioner because the more I teach, the more I learn. Since I’m teaching about joy, love of self, and positivity I get to relearn it consistently.” 

Check out Cliff’s current class offerings below and sign up here!

Mondays 7:30, Flow Yoga @ online

The Healing Power of Yoga

Back in 2014, yoga was a healthy cope to my adjustment into the real world as a postgraduate. The anxieties of life stood abound and the only way out was to look within. I tried yoga and I stuck with it. It has taught me to always pay attention to my body, to intently listen to my breath, and to breathe through the tension of the real world. 

While watching the video –‘Yoga for Happiness’, I was inspired to actually tune into the speaker’s voice. It broke down my barriers to gain physical and mental relaxation.

I’ll never forget the day a trauma was triggered while I was teaching. I did not know what I could do about it. I continued to teach and breathe through it. It was not my greatest class but it definitely gave me the courage to not let my trauma get in the way of my success. 

Yoga has helped me change my relationship with myself. It has aided in my understanding of my imperfections and uniqueness as a source of power rather than a source of pain. My life is Garudasana (Eagle Pose) filled with balance and twists (1). 

Teaching Yoga Online

What’s great about online yoga classes is that I get to teach in my safe space from the comfort of my own home where I started my practice. I like to teach Vinyasa Yoga online. I get to move and groove to the tunes and rhythm of our souls. In addition, I get to put some pretty cool sequence combinations together.

As a teacher, it is important to be clear with your cues and to know your poses. Keep a healthy rhythm and know when you need to demonstrate poses for the students. I’m prepared to turn around on my mat several times so that the poses can be demonstrated. When sharing music on Zoom, I’m careful of anything with drums or words since it runs the risk of interfering with my cues. Instead, I choose soft melodic music.

If you are new to yoga, take your time to get to know the poses. You can set goals and intentions for your practice. Some benefits of fulfilling a yoga practice virtually is the versatility. You can personalize your yogic experience! If you mute your mic, you can play your favorite music in the background. If you turn your camera off then you can take as many modifications you would like without fear of judgement.

 The Importance of Sharing Yoga

Students can expect to get a sincere and authentic connective practice from my class. I teach from the heart so every pose, every breath and every sound counts when spending time together. Oh, and they might laugh a bit too. I tend to have meaningful conversations with my students. We talk about where we are at the moment, share resources to help fight against injustices, and discuss the areas of the body we would like to work on.

I like to teach Bakasana (Crow Pose) to help my students feel empowered(2). It is an accessible pose with confidence boosting results. For stress, I have our students practice handstand hops. This way they can have a little fun and experiment with going upside with low risk. 

Sharing yoga has helped me grow into a true practitioner because the more I teach, the more I learn. Since I’m teaching about joy, love of self, and positivity I get to relearn it consistently. I wanted to share yoga because it made my life better! I truly believe it is a key to unlock yourself, your perception, and your peace. Once I discovered it, I thought everyone should know about it – especially Black people. 

Sources

1. Garudasana (Eagle Pose), https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5204/eagle-pose
2. Bakasana (Crow Pose), https://www.yogapedia.com/yoga-poses/crow-pose/11/11803

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“[Y]oga provides us with the opportunity to really get to know our individual bodies. As we try new poses, the process of learning is an opportunity to explore and play.”

Check out Heather’s current class offerings below and sign up here!

• Wednesday, 5:30 PM: Flow Yoga 1-1.5 @ Online
• Thursday, 6:45 PM: Flow Yoga 1-1.5 @ Online

The Healing Power of Yoga

I found yoga in my early 20s when I was in graduate school. I was dealing with the anxiety of being a new grad student. As I spent my days reading and writing, I felt disconnected from my body. I saw yoga as a kind of workout, or as something that would help me deal with anxiety. Yoga helped me improve my physical and mental health.

Sharing and Learning

I love working with beginners because they eventually find the same love for yoga I found so many years ago. I remember how my first few classes as a beginner helped me experience my body in a different way. As I continued to take more classes, I felt more connected to my body. I got excited to learn what my body could do. I love teaching folks who are new to yoga because I see that joy in them and it helps me see my own yoga practice with fresh eyes.

Before I taught yoga, I worked for many years as a women’s studies professor. Teaching yoga helps me appreciate the body-mind connection and how that connection increases receptivity. Now,  I am more attentive to how students feel as they learn. I view learning from a holistic perspective.

Getting to Know Our Bodies

Online Classes with Yoga District

The post Teacher Feature: Meet Heather! appeared first on Yoga District.