It was such a gift to have a review of the True Yoga DVD in yesterday's Dallas Morning News. I felt a great sense of relief and accomplishment when I saw it in the paper yesterday. Because I love my work so much, sometimes I'm unaware of the preparation I'm putting into it. I enjoy the process, so at times it almost feels effortless. The reality, though, is a tremendous amount of energy went into the review becoming a reality. From filming the DVD a year ago, to really committing to and developing a personal Yoga practice in my day-to-day life, (something I had been not fully committed to for four years) to developing a blog, re-creating a new monthly newsletter, throwing a DVD party in June, getting established at Exhale Spa, shooting new pictures for the website and re-designing the DVD cover.

Last night as I lay in bed, I became aware of the growth I've opened up to in the last year and the incredible journey it's been. It's amazing how the practice of Yoga has been my saving Grace time-and-time again in my life. Sometimes, its Grace just supports me in feeling uplifted and positive, when I might be having a day that is otherwise. Sometimes, however, its Grace has truly been life saving...not only when I first started, but just a year ago, when its Grace was there waiting for me to receive it again. Just last September, I experienced being in the lowest place I've ever been when it felt as though my entire life I had built up was in complete devestation and breakdown. When I finally decided to let go of the Yoga studio, I was struggling in every area of my life, my career, intimate relationship, family relationships, financially. I never thought I would rebuild here in Dallas. I was looking for a way to leave and found an opportunity with a successful Yoga studio in Asia, as many of you know, that recruits teachers from all around the world to teach there.

It's amazing how every experience we find ourselves in serves us, even though we're not always sure how it is. Over the 8 months I was communicating with the founders of Pure Yoga in Asia, we had several conversations about me moving there, to teach for them and manage one of the world's largest Yoga studios. In one of our conversations we had in February of this year, the founder asked me if I had a very strong personal Yoga practice. It's amazing because I had been "practicing" Yoga for almost five years, yet my reply was no, that it wasn't that strong. He remarked that it was extremely important to have a strong personal practice, and as he said this, I felt somewhat resistant to the idea of it. (Doing more Yoga than I'm already doing? I thought) But, then, when I was reading an article on Pure Yoga's website one day, about how one of the founders learned how to do Handstand, it inspired me to start practicing it, and the rest is Yoga history. Within about a month of daily practice, I was able to hold and balance in Handstand, which has been one of the most life-changing and enhancing experiences I've ever known.

Over the years I had heard people refer to their "practice" but didn't really understand the depth of what they were talking about until I really committed to my own personal practice at the beginning of this year. The experience I've had as I've grown and developed in my own practice has been like a rebirth. It's so fascinating that although I'm not in Asia, what opened up for me as I pursued that opportunity was the opportunity to develop my practice and my Self without even going there. The truth is, we can awaken anywhere, as the great spiritual teachers have shown us, even under a tree, and especially in our own home, if we're committed to it.

This quote has been resonating in my awareness since yesterday. I'm often reminded of this quote in my work and in my pursuits.

"The Bhagavad Gita also gives explanations of the term yoga and lays stress upon Karma Yoga (Yoga by action.) It is said: 'Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work.' Work in the name of the Lord, abandoning selfish desires. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipose is called Yoga." - Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

As I was looking for this quote in my book, I came upon this one which I'd also like to share with you.

"Happy is the man who knows how to distinguish the real from the unreal, the eternal from the transient and the good from the pleasant by his discrimination and wisdom. Twice blessed is he who knows true love and can love all God's creatures. He who works selflessly for the welfare of others with love in his heart is thrice blessed. But the man who combines within his mortal frame knowledge, love and selfless service is holy and becomes a pilgrimage, like the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Saraswati, and Jamuna. Those who meet him become calm and purified." - Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

Hmmmm....let the work alone be the privilege, never the fruits thereof...What a great reminder as we move through our work in our daily life.

May we know joy in our daily work and practice...

Namaste! Read more

"Learn how to feel joy." - Seneca

As I was driving to class this past Tuesday, on a beautiful, bright and sunny morning, it was as though a veil lifted from my eyes and I was able to see with clarity the infinite Goodness surrounding me. I felt an intense feeling of joy at all of the incredible blessings in my life, and the awesome awareness of how incredibly amazing this place we call Earth really is. It's fascinating how we can move through our day-to-day life in a bit of a daze. Not really present to the miracle of life which is within us and all around us. The practice of Yoga is the practice of awakening to a direct, conscious and clear experience of Reality exactly as it is. This Reality is infinitely joyous, peaceful, loving, it is the Divine current of life. It is the ever-present harmony which exists in the Natural and Blissful beauty of nature, of which we are a part. We were made in the image of this Reality, of this Nature, not from the man-made world with which we often identify. Yoga attempts to reconnect us with our true nature. I was aware of what a gift it is to be driving in a car, how blessed I am to have a car, I turned my head and noticed leaves dancing with each other as the wind blew them. And of course, the poweful awareness of all the Love I experience and how grateful I am to have the relationships with each and every person in my life.

"It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in." -American Beauty, 1999

This feeling of intense joy is one I've begun to experience more and more often. The teachings of Yoga teach us that to be joyous, or blissful, is our true nature. Through the practice of Yoga, we awaken to Samadhi, bliss, unbounded consciousness, abiding in oneness with our Divinity, our Highest Self, the God consciousness within each and everything, the Creator. To be in this union with the Divine energy and current is to be in the state of Yoga, awakened in Samadhi.

1. And now the teaching on yoga begins.
2. Yoga is the settling of the mind into silence.
3. When the mind is settled, we are established in our essential nature, which is unbounded consciousness.
- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

"The nature of life is to grow toward an ever more perfect and joyous expression of itself. Each living being has a nervous system, no matter how rudimentary. This acts as a localized reflector of all-pervading consciousness, just as a mirror reflects light. The more developed the nervous system, the more it will express the qualities of consciousness-intelligence, creativity, and bliss. Yoga is the transformation into this Divine, and of this Divine into everything. Meditation is the key." - The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translated and introduced by Alistair Shearer

So, I began to wonder and imagine what it might be like to feel joy, ever-present, everywhere, all the time, as Seneca mentions in his quote above. Not in just momentary instances, but moment-to-moment, breath-to-breath. And, I realized that perhaps, the feeling of joy, is an intensely powerful and positive feeling which we can experience in every cell of our Being. Imagine being in the most intense, deep stretch in Yoga, feeling deeply all throughout your body. It's possible to have a feeling of joy as deeply as this, experiencing an intensely powerful charge of positivity. This, I believe, is what experiencing the state of Yoga truly is. It's experiencing this deep awareness of joy and truly feeling it in every cell, like a current of energy moving in every part of your body, igniting the very breath of your existence and Being.

"...its hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. Then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain, and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life.

You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry. You will someday." - American Beauty, 1999

May we awaken to our Highest Good, our Blissfuly Divine Self and know the deepest experience of joy, love, peace and consciousness in every breath we breathe. Have an infinitely Happy Thanksgiving...

Namaste!

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I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take a workshop with international Yogini, Desiree Rumbaugh, last month. Desiree is one of John Friend's senior teachers and she travels the world teaching Yoga. She is based out of Arizona where she co-owns a studio with another Anusara Yogini. I have found the Anusara teaching methodology and Yoga philosophy resonates deeply with me. What I love about it is that it blends technicality, teaching how to properly be in a pose, with deep, heartfelt, joyous, spirituality. It's an uplifting practice filled with so much joy and laughter. I have studied with John Friend also, who is a wonderful teacher. But my experience with Desiree felt even more connected and personal and I'm grateful to have been able to experience her wonderful teaching.

One of the things she asked us at the workshop, was who of us would like to be able to do all the poses in Light on Yoga. Out of 60 people, only 5 of us raised our hands. Desiree laughed and replied, "As you can see, this is not a very popular interest." She said she too, however, had this interest and much of what she devoted her time to in her practice was being able to develop into these poses. If you visit her website, as well as her studio's website, you will see she has quite an advanced practice and ability in the postures. She's truly inspirational, and has been practicing for twenty years since the age of 27.

Over the past 8 months I have been practicing Rajakapotasana, otherwise known as King Pigeon Pose. It's similar to the picture above, but in Rajakapotasana, which is opened up to from Up Dog, both hands are on the floor and then both legs bend together to touch the toes to the back of the head. Much of my practice these days is done on my own, working intently on deepening into poses through regular practice. One of the challenges I've had as I've sought to grow deeper into my practice, is finding a teacher to guide me. There are many teachers who are advanced physically, but perhaps don't have the spiritual integration into their practice. I've had the opportunity, more recently, to practice with a group of Anusara Yogi's, which has been wonderful, as their attention to detail and alignment is very helpful. I feel I'm making progress with my King Pigeon, but the left brained side of me has felt very frustrated recently, wondering if I'll ever be able to get into this pose, and if so, what's a realistic time frame to be able to open up to this posture.

So, I sought the guidance of Desiree a few days ago when I sent her an e-mail. The idea to contact her and ask her a few questions came to me in a meditation. So, I did. And, it was a wonderful blessing when I received her reply yesterday. I've posted both my e-mail to her, and her reply. I hope you find this encouraging for you as you journey through your practice, realizing the infinite possibilities of what you can open up to, not just physically, but in your mind and in your heart.

Hi Desiree,
I met you at your workshop in Dallas a few weeks ago.

It was a wonderful experience learning from you. I am still working on my king pigeon pose in updog.

I remember you asked us at the workshop, who of us would like to be able to do all of the poses on Light on Yoga. I, along with about 5 other people, raised my hand. You had shared you also had this intention in your practice, as well. How did you go about opening up to all of these poses? What was your learning process? How many years of practice did it take you? Did some of the more challenging poses take a significant amount of practice and time? I know these are all very left brained questions, I hope you don’t mind and it’s ok for me to ask you this.

It seems to me you learned many of these poses when you were in your late 20’s/early 30’s so I was wondering if you feel it’s possible to continue opening up the body even at a later age. I’m 29, was a gymnast and ballerina for over 10 years of my childhood, and now aspire to reawaken at a deeper level my flexibility and ability.

I would appreciate any insight you might be able offer and thank you for your guidance. I hope all is well. Happy thanksgiving and hope to see you again soon…

Namaste-

Leanne

And, here is her reply:

Hi Leanne,
The good news is that I didn't even start doing yoga till I was 27 and had had two children. I didn't get this strong until I was in my mid-thirties. That said, you are in great shape! I didn't balance in handstand in the middle of the room until I was 40!!!
You will learn and be able to do all of those poses if you have the guidance of a good teacher. Anusara teachers are well trained in the Universal Principles of Alignment. That is why I love teaching this system. We learn how the body is supposed to work and train each part specifically (rather than learning poses, we train the body) Then when you want to do those advanced poses, you have everything you need to be able to figure them out.

Go to anusara.com and check out the teachers in your area or those you might want to travel and study with.
If you need any more guidance, feel free to ask me.

I worked very hard on a weekly basis and slowly but surely built the strength and flexibility I needed to do all of those poses. By the way, I can't do "all" the poses in Light on Yoga. But my practice is by most people's standards, very advanced.

And the beauty of doing those poses is what we have to learn along the way, re: healing from injuries when we get too aggressive, etc...

much love to you on this path, Desiree
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I returned from France last Sunday after an amazing 10 days in the South of France, in a small village called Saint Pargoire. One of the most incredible experiences I had while I was there was getting to practice Yoga at the top of the Pyrenees Mountains, as high in the sky as the clouds. It was breath"giving".

I hope to return to blogging now that I am back and settling into life here again. Some wonderful news is the Dallas Morning News will be featuring a review of the True Yoga DVDthis month. I'll be sure to post a blog on the day the article is in the paper. I also created a new cover for the DVD, which you can preview by clicking on the picture above. The original picture the DVD featured was not a professional photograph, so I'm happy to have the DVD with this new picture on it.

I'm off to practice some backbends right now, before I head off to teach.

I'm happy to be back and look forward to being back in the Flow of things...

Namaste!Read more