1) Restorative Yoga workshop at the Teacher Training:

Taught on Friday for Black Dog's TT a three-hour restorative yoga workshop and I swear I could've gone for much longer. I explained what restorative yoga is and its benefits, including the Relaxation Response. The Relaxation Response is a term coined by Dr. Herbert Benson which speaks of what physiologically happens to the body when it is calm; that is, the heart rate slows, the respiration slows down, the blood pressure lowers, blood gets diverted back to the main organs (as opposed to the extremities), digestion improves, etc... Basically the reverse of Flight and Flight occurs. Whenever we are in a restorative pose we are healing our bodies from the alarming effects of stress.

Then I showed several basic restorative poses and how to prop the student. I was trained by a highly gifted teacher, Jillian Pransky, who runs the Yoga Works Restorative program. She believes in completely supporting the body so that the muscles no longer have to work to hold us up, and we can truly practice letting go. Super Yummy. 

Also I spoke about using the Koshas as a model to teach students how to go deeper in restorative class. I have written in previous posts about this, so feel free to look at older posts if you are interested. I find it a brilliant way to help take people deeper in their poses. I always give credit to Jillian for this, as she showed it to me.

Then we did a restorative train where I set up about 14 mats with different props. I wanted everyone to feel the difference between lying over a bolster, versus, two blocks, versus a blanket, versus two blankets, etc. Everyone was really surprised by how different the props feels on your body. It was very "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," as everyone got up every few minutes and tried on a different "bed."  

Lastly, we ended with a few restorative poses and finished with a centering pranayama. It was great. Many students might feel that they don't necessarily want to teach restorative, but the fact is that every yoga teacher teaches restorative at the end of class with savasana. And the more you know how to help the students' relax, the more- I feel- you are truly helping them heal. No one can really teach "letting go." There is no Level 3 Restorative yoga class anywhere. There is no Strong Restorative yoga. There is no Mixed Level Restorative. It's just restorative yoga. You will never hear a teacher say: "my students in restorative kick ass." Or, "I taught my students how to let go." Teaching restorative yoga is incredibly humble as all you do is set the student up in the most supportive way and then the rest is up to them and Shakti.

2) The Teacher Training- we are a little more than half-way in our Level 1 TT and my "little chickens" are taking flight. Everyone taught part of a whole class yesterday and I was so impressed with how well they all did. I felt like a proud mother. It's amazing all the alignment and personality that came out, coupled with sweetness and sensitivity. The hardest part was that they were supposed to teach a Level 1 class and they taught a harder class- which reminded me of how difficult it is to teach basics as opposed to a mixed level class. They did great though- they were adjusting each other, walking around the room, thinking on their feet. Everyone spoke with a clear, articulate voice and everyone I know is going to continue to get better and shine. So proud of them.

3) Kapha Season- We have now entered Kapha season where the earth and water element are predominant. If we are not careful those elements can go out of balance. One of the ways you can tell they are going out of balance is if you are starting to feel tired, dull, sluggish, lethargic, depressed, etc. That would be the earth element out of balance. And the water element out of balance reflects itself in congestion, allergies, etc. So Ayurveda says that this is the time in your yoga practice to do more twists, inversions and chest openers.

Thus my Thursday restorative class was as follows:

Viparita Karani

Supta Baddha Konasana

Twists

Savasana

It went really well!

And my regular classes have had tons of twists, inversions and chest openers, more mindful vinyasas and centering meditations.

I've also brought in Eucalyptus oil to rub on my hands as I spot students.

I find it very centering to align with nature as I teach and remind the students that they are nature herself. So that if they are feeling tired, dull, etc, I can explain to them why that might be, and they really appreciate it. I also love modifying my practice to the rhythm of nature herself. I feel as if I am aligning to something greater.

4) Deva Preval and Miten: 

Last night my sweet friend Abel invited me to the Wilshire Ebell Theatre to see Deva Preval, MIten, and Krishna Das. I have seen KD many times. It was my first seeing Deva and Miten. Their loving, angelic energy and their haunting music centered me. Bought a CD right there and have been playing it all morning. Deva and Miten were so organic- they asked the audience what they wanted to hear and sang that song! How open of them. How generous! Then they asked some of their friends to join them including Reverend Michael Beckwith, Rickie Byars from Agape, and John Desmond, the drummer of The Doors. It was so much fun! 

KD was a blast- he had his fellow musicians sitting all next to him, including yoga teacher Steve Ross. It was potent, loud, powerful. He spoke briefly about his teacher Maharaj ji and everytime I hear KD speak of him, I feel his love. Wonderful. Thank you Abel!

5) Lastly, The Beatles.

I have no idea what is going on with me. I have been listening to The Beatles on and off since College. But something is happening to me that I feel I am rediscovering the Fab Four. I just finished watching the entire Beatles Anthology and was crying at the end. I am humming constantly "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love." I can't wait to see Paul McCartney at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday. Just ordered the entire CD collection, so my immersion with The Beatles will continue. Gotta respect how the overwhelming majority of their songs where about  love, peace and understanding. So grateful that they existed, that they kept growing and evolving. That they loved each other so much.

Off to hike while listening to Beatle music...