Asana

In the US, yoga has been given to people by way of asana, the poses.  There are other parts to yoga that a lot of people don't know about.  Some people learn about it, and find it too close to a religion they already have, and fear that they will lose what they have.  That's ok because even if asana is the only thing we practice, it gives us so much.

For me, I learned about asana first.  During class, for one hour, it quiets the monkey chatter.  I am so busy trying to keep my balance, remembering to breathe, making sure my alignment is at least not going to destroy me, pushing my body the tiny bit further than the last time.  I don't have time to think about the fight I had with my husband, the bill that I have to pay when I get home, the groceries I need to buy right after class, the lunch I need to make for tomorrow.  It's essentially a moving meditation for me, which I am completely grateful for.

We are all human, we all have our times of doubt, fear, frustration.  Asana allows us to forget about that, bringing out the confidence, strength, flexibility, and compassion.  Again, if that is all we do, it's still far better than doing nothing.

The next step and hope is to try to bring that off the mat.

Namaste my friends,

Chess

My business

In the last month and a half since I graduated from my yoga teacher training, I have been working very hard on my business.  I created my business name: Spark of Life Yoga.  I have a studio that I am teaching at on Mondays and Fridays.  I have a facebook page and a website: http://www.sparkoflifeyoga.com/.

I'm very excited to be able to share my love of yoga with others.

My first class went well, I had two students.  I had some technical difficulties, but I'm glad I was able to get some of that stuff out of the way with my first class.  No one showed up to my second class, so I used the time to get some photos for my website.

All in all, it has been a very busy month.  I am hoping that things go a lot smoother in the next month.

Namaste my friends,

Chess

Completion of my Yoga Teacher Training

It's so surreal.  I can't believe that the 10 weeks are all behind me and the training is over.  I really bonded with everyone in the program with me, and I feel a slight sense of loss that we won't be spending every weekend together.  I am hoping to create a little get-together for everyone to come if they are available, but I need to figure out when a good time would be.

Also, after all the yoga we have done recently, I am taking the week off yoga.  Aside from working on my business stuff, and the final assessment, I am resting.

I signed up for two workshops coming up this weekend.  One is to help me teach beginners, and the other is or me to work on my adjustments more.  I want to become comfortable touching people before I start teaching.

I have plenty of info that I didn't get to blog about before, and now I will have a lot more time.  Keep an eye out for my upcoming posts!

Namaste my friends,

Chess

Being "selfish"

As many people may know, I have been very busy lately.  I already work a 40 hour week at a job that I don't particularly find inspiring.  I spend about three to five hours every week working on my Belly Dancing.  I recently started the Yoga Teacher Training.  It is a 200 hour course over 10 weeks, so essentially I am spending 20 hours a week working on the yoga stuff.  It's like a part time job.  Add on top of that the usual stuff of wanting to spend time with my husband and family, and I am getting run down.

I am having to re-evaluate most things, including work.  My PTO bank is extremely high because I never take time off.  Even when I am sick, I work.  I constantly feel like I am letting someone down in my life, because I aim to make everyone else happy.

With this YTT, I am learning that I need to take care of myself, and some people will just have to deal with it.  I need to learn that what other people think of me doesn't really matter.  I know I am smart and a hard worker, and if taking a few days off from work makes me look like less of a hard worker, that's not my problem.  We have PTO for a reason, and I should be able to use it.

This past Monday I came into work and requested two days off in the beginning of the week next week, knowing that I am getting tired.  I waited too long, and now I am sick again.  I very rarely get sick, so I know this is related to stress, and most of it is job stress.

So I am going to take my two days, despite issues that are coming up and meetings that I should attend.  My co-workers can handle it without me, and notify me of any changes when I return.

It's time I put myself first, even if that seems "selfish" to others.

Namaste,

Chess

Fourth Chakra

One of the funniest things about this chakra is there is a woman in my class that said she couldn't see her heart chakra, but could see all the others.  She kept saying that she doesn't have a heart chakra, but she is one of the sweetest, nicest, most caring individuals that I know.  I honestly believe that her heart is so big and so bright, that she is just having a hard time seeing it herself.

The fourth chakra is the heart chakra and it is called Anahata.  It is associated with the element of air and the color green, or sometimes purple or pink.  It can bring compassion and balance to ones life, and is involved in service or giving, and receiving.

When this chakra is in balance, physically one might find a healthy heart and lungs, good circulation and blood pressure, good posture, and that the fine motor skills are working properly.  Emotionally one might be able to show affection well, have compassion for others, be able to take care of oneself and accept him or herself.

If the chakra is imbalanced, physically one might see breast cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and shallow breathing.  Emotionally, one might be grieving, feeling fear or self-loathing, jealousy, envy, indecisiveness, or have issues with attachment.

In order to bring the heart chakra back into balance one could chant the word "yam" or meditate.  There are a few options for meditation, including visualizing light in heart radiating out, or using mudras during the meditation such as the lotus mudra or Anjali mudra.  Most pranayama is good to explore, especially alternate nostril breathing.  One might focus on the mandala, which is to the right (link).

Physical activity that one could do would include selfless sevice (Seva), self-care, prayer, massage or making something.  The asanas that one might practice are poses that open the heart, such as fish, bridge, wheel, venus arms, airplane, dancer, tree and cobra.

Love and light my friends,

Chess

Third Chakra

So far, through the few classes I've had on the chakras I haven't really found anything I am connected too.  I keep waiting for the right thing to pop out, but so far nothing has.

This third chakra is is the navel chakra and is called Manipura.  It is located at the navel or solar plexus.  The color associated with this one is yellow and the element associated with it is Fire.  This chakra is where we find out willpower and self-mastery, our self esteem, the ego.

When this one is balanced, one might find a healthy digestion and liver function, a strong core, stable blood pressure and vitality.  One might also find good discipline and self-responsibility, and that you are able to manifest your desires and like yourself.  If this chakra is out of balance you might find ulcres or gall stones, heartburn, diabetes, eating and digestive disorders, or adrenal burnout.  One might also feel stress, victimized, anger, guilt , poor self-esteem, jealousy, or even over controlling.

To try to balance this chakra one can use the Breath of Fire for pranayama work, or chant the word Ram. The mandala to focus on is given to the right (link).  You could try exercising, heated yoga, spending time in the sun, socializing, or working on a problem at hand.  You could even meditate in the sun.

Different asanas that you can use include Warrior II, Floor Bow, Challenging Twists, Boat, and setting the navel point.

Love and light,

Chess

Second Chakra

The second chakra is the sacral chakra.  It is also called Svadisthana.  This chakra is located in the lower abdomen and genitals.  The element associated with this chakra is water and the color associated with it is orange.  This chakra brings pleasure, desire, creation and procreation to ones life.

When this chakra is in balance, one can experience a normal sex drive, a strong lower back, good circulation, and hormonal balance, creativity, sensuality, enthusiasm, devotion and charisma.  When it is out of balance, one might experience kidney and bladder conditions, reproductive disorders, an abnormal sex drive, obsession with oneself or money, or a creative block.

If this chakra is out of balance, there are many ways to work on getting it back in balance.  One can use a specific pranayama technique called Nadi Shodhana, which is alternate nostril breathing.  There is focusing on the mandala at the right (link). One might chant the word Vam and meditate.  One could try more physical activities such as swimming, giving or receiving a massage, taking a bath, or even doing something more creative.

Finally, the poses that one might do in yoga that would help balance this chakra include twists and pelvic rotations, cat/cows, frog, reclining bound angle, and omega pose.

Namaste my friends,

Chess