by Amber
Belly, Belly, Stomach Abs ….explore your own Core Power
Yes it’s time for the annual Ab’s week. (Like how I just decided that this is an annual event? Ah, the many benefits of setting the agenda…) We explore our abs not only physically this week, but emotionally and energetically as well. Yes, your belly vibrates energetically…
Physically, our abdominal muscles are at the very center of ourselves. Emotionally, when we have a ‘gut feeling’ about something it literally is a sensation felt in the abdominal area. When something shakes us to our core it can sometimes feels like a ‘punch to the gut.’ When something doesn’t feel right to you, you might say it just ‘doesn’t sit well.’ And by that you mean it doesn’t sit well in your belly. My, my your belly has a lot to say to you!
Energetically, the Manipura Chakra is located in the solar plexus region. The word “Mani” means ‘jewel’ and “pura” means ‘city’ – so a jeweled city it is. How about that for a visual next time you are lamenting the size or condition of your own middle area?? It is also associated with the color yellow and the element of fire. When someone is particularly ambitious they are said to have ‘fire in the belly.’ Truth is we all do, it’s just a matter of degree. And this week we turn up the fire in our jeweled city and tune into the communications coming from this generously supportive area of our bodies. Know what the belly knows and you will be wise….
by Amber
Mid Summer “Chill-Lax”
Chill and relax yogi style this week. It’s midsummer and time to group. Mid way through summer and your ‘to do’ list is overwhelming. Even your list of ‘fun things to do this summer’ is out of hand and perhaps unattainable. We frantically try and cram every summer activity into our days and still we feel as if it’s not enough. We are reluctant to see the calendar days slip into late July. We tend on one hand to completely enjoy summer and on the other regret how short it is. This mix of feelings can bring us off balance. How can we thoroughly enjoy what we are doing when we know it can’t last? Is there ever enough time? What’s a yogi to do?
You already know the answer to this. Stop. Time is always fleeting. It can never be stopped, but you can. Step into the moment you are in right now and enjoy it.
The end of summer will get here all by itself. But not today. Not now in this moment. Mid way means we are only half way through these long, lovely days of MN summer. So why waste your effort, your emotions on something that is not even here? Take the madness out of mid summer and savor instead each drop of time you are offered. Soak up what you can and realize that it is enough. Yes, the State Fair and the start of school is approaching. It always has been. You can’t change it. So “chill-lax” instead.
This week at Good Life Yoga we let our breath take us deeper into the moment, saturating our spirits with contentment, joy and certainty that the moment we hold will be released and replaced by the next. One breath after another, we ride with time. We savor the sanity of being here right now. Expect some focus on the mid-line, your breath and your state of mind. Stop in and step into NOW.
by Amber
Recess Redo or “Play it again, Yogi…”
It’s summer and we are feeling rather light-hearted and playful at Good Life Yoga. Last week we indulged in some summer time fun by creating our own classes. In a round robin fashion, each student chose the next pose from a select section of cards placed in the middle of the room. Not only did they choose the pose, but in some cases how long or how many we were going to do. Anyone remember the 30 chaturanga push-ups selected by Puck? Or how about the volume and duration of hand stands back to back? And then there were those who chose lots of hip openers for extended lengths of time… Reminiscent of recess when you just made up games and played – we choose at Good Life Yoga to remember that life can be recess at times and so some of us have to ‘practice’ letting go and just playing.
Perhaps we’ll add music this week and a few more variations on our ‘play cards’. See you soon for play time Redo!
by Amber
Play time!
It’s summer and time to play at Good Life Yoga. Playing has so many benefits. Physical play – such as yoga opens up your creative juices, puts a smile on your face and offers you endorphins for feeling good. Put all that together with your friends and you’ve got a yoga party. Many of you will be familiar with this type of ‘play.’ This week you will be using yoga cards to create your own yoga class. You’ll have some choices on the poses you’d like to do and of course, there will be some parameters set up; sequences to adhere to and lots and lots of help. This type of class is something we do about twice a year and you won’t want to miss it.
Join your friends for some summer time play with all the fringe benefits of stronger and more flexible bodies and open radiant ‘playful’ hearts. I am looking forward to it!
by Amber
Space Element:
The final frontier…We finish off our dive into the elements with the one that holds, supports and is within all the others – Space. In Sanskrit, known as ‘Akasha’ – you many have heard of the ‘akashic records’. These are the recordings of all things known – memories if you will of everything that has ever existed in the Universe. Our element of ‘space’ – holds, literally the ‘space’ for these memories.
In our Universal Principles of Anusara we may relate Akasha with Open to Grace. Space is the place of the unmanifest becoming manifest. It is pregnant with potential – just like your own nature. Indeed, as you have discovered, each element resides within you. Space is your spirit; infinite, limitless. It is your own true nature shining forth in every pose, breath and action.
In the body, Space element is represented by the 5th Chakra – at the throat area. Sound is associated with Space and so this week we may use our voices in our practice. We will step into our authentic self and attempt to speak, seek and find the truth of our own nature.
The Space element is also associated with our auditory functions. I plan to decorate ‘auditory parts’ i.e. my ears with sparkly, shining gems – just for fun – join me! At Good Life Yoga we make every attempt to celebrate all there is in life. And this week, we celebrate and honor the element of Space – the final frontier with inversions and an invitation to embrace every space in our hearts, minds, and bodies.
by Amber
Air Element
What feeds fire? Air. This week we explore the element of air that comes in the form of your breath with the capacity to expand and rise. Air is connected with your heart chakra and offers you the ability to find compassion for yourself and others. Think of air as penetrating and highly mobile. These capacities flow over and relate to your minds ability to be quick, and curious. Air touches the skin and this sensation of ‘touch’ is related to the air element.
Connected to your prana or life force, air flows within you as your breath and as one of our Universal Principles of Alignment it is aligned with Organic Energy. At Good Life Yoga this week, we explore this 4th Element and look for ways to bring it into our awareness on and off the mat. Expect to find some challenging arm balances, backbends thought provoking inquiry and Pranayama (breathwork).
by Amber
The Fire Element
This week we celebrate the element that is fire. It snaps, rises and creates beautiful forms of nature. Fire lives in the solar plexus and helps us to define who we are.
When we think of fire we think of transformation, warmth and tranquility. We also think of destruction and anger. There are always two sides to a sword. When we develop our ability to wield fire effectively we learn to embrace the fullness of ourselves, our capacity for transformation and our ability to focus intently.
In our yoga practice, fire this week takes the form of our outer spiral. When we assume our ability to draw into our core by hugging all sides evenly and drawing our tailbone toward earth, our solar plexus rises up. The center of ourselves comes into focus and our power, strength and capacity is realized. We will also incorporate a bit of heat, as fire is known to have and incorporate visual focus as a tool to help us maintain our sense of fullness; oneness with the fire element all around us.
by Amber
Water Element
We are diving into the Water Element this week. Water offers us the remembrance of our own fluidity. It reminds us that we can go with the flow and be accommodating. Water seeks harmony by creating solutions to obstacles. It literally fills in the gaps and wends its way effortlessly around problems and sticky situations. It runs deep in many places and reminds us that there is always peace when we immerse ourselves in our own bright being.
In our practice this week we flow in our poses and using the principle of Inner Spiral we open the creative energy in the hips.
by Amber
Earth Element:
Strong, powerful, heavy and solid the earth element is a wonderful support to all of us. It is the body we count on everyday to get us around. It is the ground we walk on. Earth element is naturally the rocks and solid structures that we find all around us in our environment. This energy keeps us connected to the floor; it pulls at us when we need to sleep or slow down. It reminds us of our limitations and our very dimensions as humans. We have this “earthly” body so to speak. Earth energy is the quality of steady, solid muscle energy that we implore in all of our yoga poses. It delights us with form. It is the structure of our yoga mat – finite, four corners, measured and offering boundary. Earth energy is the gravity that holds us to earth; the magnetic force that holds us together – we are drawn to her and she draws us near.
This week at Good Life, we honor our connections to this marvelous energy. Expect lots of grounding, earthy poses to pull you deep into Mother Earth’s embrace. You may also expect to encounter the strength and play of her gravity as you try and move up and off the earth in a play with hand balances and inversions.
by Amber
Spirit Joy
Our spirit sings when we remember how interconnected we are. Who you are and what you do has always mattered. How you speak and what you create has already made an impact on the world around you. Never think for a moment that you are living within a vacuum. You have already done so much in this world just by taking a breath here. Your spirit has unfolded into the gift of your body and has been sending out a vibration unique to you. The world around you has shifted because of you being in it.
Feed the joy in your spirit with this recognition. Wake up and see that every day matters. The level of your participation in the day can be small or great. As Anusara yogis we choose greatness for ourselves and others. However, on the day that you feel the smallness of your human self challenging your sense of purpose, your acts of greatness and in general your sense of Self, remember that by nature, your human self is limited. Step into your center, embrace your spirit and ride her wings to a higher vision of life. A small act that creates Joy is as valuable as a great act. It all matters. When you are lost in that small place – seek joy. Find it in connection. Seek connections with other bright-hearted people. Seek connection in creating joy for others and you will find it for yourself. Use your words, your hands and your mind. Do great things. Do small things. You matter. Your life matters. You have so much to offer. Step into the remembrance of your connection and nourish your spirit with Joy.
This week we step into connection with our fellow mat mates and recognize how much they have influenced our own heart’s joy.