Session Three

Today in the yoga training we learned about Ayurveda -- another completely new topic for me!  It is a Sanskrit word that means "science of life."  We learned about the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which are three energies that define people's makeup.  Oh, goody!  Heaven knows that I love a good personality quiz!  I've never done one that only had three options, though, so I was having a hard time figuring out what type I am.  I hate to admit it, but I probably missed a few things that Syl was saying while I indulged my compulsion for inhaling all of the information in the workbook about the doshas, haha!  I came home and took some online quizzes -- seven to be exact, gotta be sure!  And I'm pretty sure that I'm Pitta/Vata with a Kapha imbalance -- whatever that means!  This is definitely something I'd like to spend more time with.

We also learned about sequencing our yoga classes.  This is something I was very worried about, but can see that there is a natural progression that makes sense and will make it easier to improvise a little during a class.  We are all going to have the chance to teach a little fifteen minute class so I hurried and volunteered to go first so I don't have to worry about it for longer than necessary.  I wrote down everything that I was going to say and timed it all.  When I sat down to do it I was so nervous!  I was kind of shaking and my voice wasn't sure and steady at all, but I got through it -- and even went over the time!  Everyone said they couldn't tell that I was as insecure as I felt, so that is a relief!

Session Two

We've cruised through the information for the second session at Bodhi Yoga and are really getting to know one another well!  The topics for this session are the Twelve Systems of the Body, Hands on Adjusting, and Standing Asanas (poses).  

So much of this information is new to me!  There are a few women in there who totally know so much because of their background in other work.  There is a massage therapist who knows exactly what Syl is talking about when she mentions the fascia or different vertebrae -- but I'm pretty lost.  I think a lot of people think that yoga is simply a form of exercise, but I know that it is so much more than that.  I am so glad that I am doing my training here, because there is definitely the emphasis on yoking all the parts together -- more than physical there is also mental, spiritual, and emotional components.  When I've attended a yoga class in which there is no mention of what our intention is, what our mind is doing, how we might be releasing emotions or letting go of things we don't need, when there isn't any chanting (!) it all feels so flat.  Like we're just stretching out and waiting for something else to be the main purpose.  So, I'm so happy to be here and soaking it all in.

Yoga as Benefactor

Today we were talking about all of the many physical benefits of doing yoga at our yoga training.  There are 12 physiologies of the body and yoga can help them all!  It can help your skin glow by detoxing and balancing hormones, strengthen bones, balance the endocrine system, help you digest, and so much more!  But my favorite thing is the happy loosening that happens as I stretch way out -- my back, my arms, my neck, my hips.  Then I take a deep breath to let the stretch settle in... and the most amazing thing is how it balances my mental and emotional thinking, helps me see what is most important, and brings to my attention the things that I need to think about more -- or not think about!

Session One

Normally the yoga training at Bodhi Yoga that I am doing is done in sessions over the course of five months!  And we're doing it all in ten days -- so essentially one month of study and instruction squished into two days, ack!  So we've had to get right down to business.  The first session is titled Bone, Breath, and Gesture.  We've looked at the intention and introduction to yoga, the foundations of Asana -- or poses, and learned some ways to teach the Tier 1 of the BodhiFlow vinyasa.  

I especially liked learning about the breath.  I have done Ujayi and Three Part Breath in yoga classes and I learned the Breath of Fire doing Kundalini yoga on dvd, but we learned several more in class and in the online videos.  We also learned about the Gunas -- which is a totally new topic for me!  The three gunas have to do with movement: Rajas is very dynamic movement (in and out of poses), Tamas is strong and deep (extension from head to feet), and Sattva is light and graceful (balancing).  I can see how knowing about the gunas will not only help me with my own practice, but also help teach it to others.  It's amazing how breaking things down into parts eventually leads to everything coming together better in the end! 

The Start

Today was the first day of my yoga training at Bodhi yoga and I was so nervous!  I always get apprehensive about new experiences, especially meeting new people -- what will they be like?  And will they like me?  We started at 8:30 for a 90 minute yoga class.  There were a lot of people there!  I looked around, wondering who was there for the training and who was there for the class.  We had a little break and then sat down for introductions.  There are 13 of us!  I was so surprised that it was such a large group!  But it didn't take long for us to feel at home and comfortable with each other.  I loved meeting Syl -- she is a great mixture of Twila and Melody, with a whole lot of herself in there, too, of course.   She did a wonderful job of helping us feel at ease and then we got right down to business.  The training has a nice flow of movement (to feel what we're doing in our bodies) and stillness (to converse, learn, and digest).  

Syl has created Chakra cards that are really amazing!  She passes them out during her yoga classes to help direct your mind.  I loved my card this morning and think I'll be buying the whole deck.

Wild Roses

I was so happy to be able to spend some time with my sisters today.  Ellen and I hiked up Rock Canyon with the kids and the weather was simply perfect!  It is so so so pretty here right now. I think they have gotten a lot of rain this Spring and I honestly cannot remember the mountains ever being this green!  As we made our way up the steep path, I noticed giant wild rose bushes blooming like crazy!  I had never noticed that they were there -- because it is a desert!  It was so lovely.


We had a little photo shoot with my wild sisters -- there is always a lot of chatting and laughing when we get together.  Which I love.  How lucky am I that I get to have three?







And one with our mama -- she thinks we're all quite silly



Tomorrow is the first day of my yoga training!  I am so excited!

Colorado!

Well, I've set off on an adventure! I'm going to Utah for my yoga training at Bodhi Yoga!  I was originally going to fly there -- and had even bought my ticket!  But then my parents suggested I bring the kids so they could go to a timeshare in the mountains with them.  I am all for the kids spending more time with their grandparents! This is the first time I've driven out west without another driver in tow!  I have the three youngest kids with me and so far they've been so so well behaved and great travelers!  We intended to do the usual 10 hour first day and stop in our beloved North Platte, but they were being such troopers that we just kept driving and driving!  In Ogallala I called Zach and Stacie to ask if they minded us plowing through and arriving at their house late that night.  They enthusiastically assured us that would be fine so we did just that, arriving to their house about 17 hours after we left ours.  Whew!  We added India to our little crew and headed up to Evergreen the next morning.  I was so happy that my trip coincided with the Rocky Mountain Retreat!  I was also very grateful that Jon was willing to watch my three and an extra for the weekend.  It was so lovely to reconnect with women that I had met last year and I was even able to room with my Fara ❤️ .  We drank a lot of mexican coke, spent some time at the hot springs, and even got a massage, ooh la la!  I can't believe that I didn't get any pics of the kids all together -- they got along so well!  It is truly a shame that we don't live closer...