Sol Kula

I thought it would be nice to honor the space where we practice with a couple of photos.   If anyone knows who did the awesome artwork on the walls I would love to know.  If you are ever curious what the current schedule is at Sol Kula you can find it on-line at http://www.solkula.com/ or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=377037621519

Just before I took the photos Mel lovingly organized the altar.  The reason this is so beautiful to me is that she had no idea I was about to take photos.  The first time I taught at Sol Kula was on August 16th, 2010.  I wrote in my yoga notebook, "Wow!  It feels so good in this studio - the energy is filling me up."  As I've continued to practice and teach in the space I've noticed the impact of the student's energy on the space.  I can only imagine it is each of us - each student, each teacher, breathing love into the space and into each other that makes this space so special.  To take it to another level ~ you can do the same thing at your house and in your body.

The Altar

Backbends ~ Going back to go forward

This week we emphasized the alignment of the pelvis which is fresh in our minds after working on Visvamitrasana.  In backbends, the outer spiral occurs more naturally and we know that we want to create the inner spiral first to create space for the outer spiral.  So - for most of us this means that we need to revisit the inner spiral in our backbend.

Bridge Pose - Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

A few key things to think about in the lower body as we initiate backbends:

• press thru both feet (mound of the big toe, inner edge of the heel, mound of the pinky toe, and outer edge of the heel - in that order)
• engage the shins (shins in)  - you can also think about holding something between your knees - a block or a juicy melon that you don't want to drop
• release the groins (soften the groins to create more inner spiral) - then engage your tailbone towards your knees

Next week we will be focusing on the upper body in Urdhva Dhanurasana.

Inner & Outer Spirals in Visvamitrasana

We learned a lot this past month in Visvamitrasana. Open hips, hamstrings, and side body can make it easier to come into the full expression of this challenging asana. One of my biggest 'aha' moments was in regards to the Inner & Outer Spirals of the legs.  For those of you that would like to incorporate Visvamitrasana into your home practice - read on.


Detailed instructions on creating Visvamitrasana with your body:

Bring your feet to Side Angle Pose, Parsvakonasana, (heel of the front foot intersects the arch on the back foot - front knee bent). Pause. Hug both shins into the midline and draw energy from the earth up thru your legs and into your pelvis and back down again.

Exhale & bring your front arm underneath your front thigh (as if you were going for the bind) and place your hand on the outside of your front foot - pinky toe side. Press into your finger pads & the mounds of your fingers. Breathe into your back body. Fill the space between your shoulders and your back waistline. Lift your front foot a couple of inches off of your mat and place it in your front hand.

Now - Inner & Outer Spiral!  Push your inner thighs towards the wall behind you - open your groins and extend the foot that your front hand is holding.  Go big!!   Open your pelvic floor to the space behind you - this will enable you to extend your front leg (the foot that is in your hand).  Next - create a boundry by strongly outer spiraling your front sitbone. This will bring the front of your body forward and allow your chest to open and your heart to shine forward.  Beautiful!!!

If you didn't reach the full expression today - keep practicing & exploring the inner & outer spirals in your legs.  Most importantly - Have Fun and remember that this is a challenging asana.

Story of Visvamitrasana

This asana, or pose, is dedicated to the Sage - Visvamitra.  Visvamitra is said to have been a friend of everyone.  He spent his life achieving Brahmarsi: a Brahmanical Sage after losing a battle over a female to Vasistha.

Visvamitra is one of the Seven Wise Ones, sons born-of-the-mind of Brahma.  He is part of the seven stars of the Great Bear and a major contributor to the Vedic hymns.  The hymns as they were passed down became stories later.  When they were being communicated to the Seven Wise Ones it is unclear whether they gave birth to the gods or were born of the gods - or both.  What was clear is that they were hidden in the non-existent before existence existed.  "And what was there in the nonexistent?  Before the object there was an image.  A breath before there was flesh to animate.  Desire before there was a body."

"The secret of existence was implicit in just a few actions common to all:  waking, breathing, sleeping, coitus.  They saw the metaphyscial in the physiological."

Taken from Ka by Roberto Calasso & Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar.

Live Imperfectly

About a week ago I pulled a card out from one of my favorite creativity authors, SARK, it said, "Love Imperfectly."  This advice arrived at a time when I was quite frustrated with my significant other.  I'm sure most of you can relate to being frustrated with your significant other at one time or another.  This time it had to do with us having different perceptions on heating the house with wood (only wood).  I don't need to elaborate for you to understand that we both felt like we were giving it our all and we each struggled to understand the other's perspective.

The advice on the back of the card is - "Make Lots of Mistakes."  "Be Willing to Live Between Right & Wrong."

Fast Forward a week.  I'm teaching yoga.  The only way I can teach is Imperfectly.  So that is what I do.  I Make Lots of Mistakes.  The challenge is being okay with the mistakes, moving forward anyway, and learning from myself and others as we move forward together.

My challenge to each of you is to Live Imperfectly.  Make Lots of Mistakes.  This is how we learn.  We try things.  We try other things.  We try again.  We stumble.  We say the wrong thing.  We fall.  Somewhere along the way we learn that living imperfectly is the perfectly imperfect way to live. 

Visvamitrasana

Visvamitrasana

In class, on January 1st, I set an intention for the year that I would introduce a new asana each week in 2011.  In my next class, later that week, I introduced Visvamitrasana.  The class quickly reeled me in with the suggestion that perhaps we should allow a month for each new asana. I agreed with this spectacular idea.  This will give us more time to really explore some of the more advanced asanas and experiment with different ways to build up to them.

I've offered the pose to 3 classes this month and hadn't been able to complete the full expression of the asana myself, until yesterday.  I took a 90 minute hip opener class and realized towards the end that there was a good chance my hips & thighs were open enough for the pose.  They were, on one side.  What fun!

I also had a major 'aha' with regard to the role of the Inner & Outer Sprirals, which I will address in an upcoming blog.  For now, here are a couple prep asanas to get you moving towards Visvamitrasana:

Utthita Parsvakonasana ~ Extended Side Angle Pose

Vasisthasana ~ Side Plank Pose  ~  http://whatsthatpose.blogspot.com/2008/11/vasisthasana.html

Wide Leg Forward Bend

Fire Log

Janu Sirsasana ~ Head to Knee Forward Bend ~ http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/476

More on Visvamitrasana soon!

Hello 2011!

The New Year brings the opportunity for New Year's Resolutions.  Some people love them, others hate them.  If the New Year inspires you with the idea of a fresh start, tweaking old habits, or creating new ones read on. 

The definition according to Webster for Resolution:  the quality of being resolute (firmly determined in purpose).

I like Webster's definition for Intention:  a determination to act in a certain way. 

One of the many reasons I love yoga is that the act of practicing yoga teaches me how to live my life with intention.  It causes me to ask, "why?"  To find the good in sometimes ugly situations.  To remember to breathe.  To not take myself to seriously.  To be courageous and steadfast in living the life I desire.  To love myself.  To try to offer my most authentic self to the world.

Only you know what you want.  You have the power, your own power to chooose what you want.  Once you know what you want you can resolve to act with intention to create what you want or desire.    Your skeptical side may wonder, "how?" 

If there is a big enough "why" you will remain steady in your discipline or intention as you move towards what you want or desire.   

"Act and unforseen forces will come to your aid." - Brian Tracy 

The following is taken from the book Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain. 

1.  Set Your Goal.

2.  Create a Clear Idea or Picture.  "Think of it in the present tense as already existing the way you want it to be.  Imagine yourself in the situation as you desire it, now."
For example,

• I own a 2007 Red Ford Taurus.
• I run 3 miles (30 minutes) 3 times/week.
• I am free from pain in my right hip.
• I bake bread once a week.
• I jump on a trampoline for 15 minutes once a week.
• My business generates $x amount/month or year.
• I took a two week vacation to Slovenia with my partner.
• I drink two 32 oz bottles of water a day.

3.  Focus On it Often.  "Focus on it clearly, yet in a light, relaxed way." By connecting to your intention/goal often you will give it energy to manifest and you will also be aware of when you achieve the goal or no longer desire to do so.

4.  Give it Positive Energy.  "Make strong positive statements to yourself that it exists."  Write it down.  Tell someone you trust your intention.  Tell everyone if you want.  Draw it.  Cut out images that support your intention/desire and put them on your fridge.  Meditate on your desire.


Above all know that you have the power to create what you want in your life.  Believe in yourself.  Trust yourself.  Here is to our best year yet - Happy 2011.