The Spaciousness to Start Again

   I was at a meditation and kirtan retreat with Sharon Salzberg and Krishna Das a few weeks ago. They both encouraged exercising our abilities to let go of all that stuff that inevitably comes up when we sit. When we've noticed that we've lost focus of our breath, body, the mantra, it's an opportunity to begin the practice again. And again. And again, and again, and again... 

   There was a person who I had made up a challenging story about. It sounded something like this: that they had been giving me the cold shoulder and things were generally awkward since things changed from a friendly neighbor vibe. This was a story that didn't sit harmoniously with me and I had intended to transform it. I didn't know how it would happen, but was in for the ride to see how things might unfold. This person is someone who I regularly see through mutual friends and events. I was at a party this weekend and saw my practice in action. When he entered the scene I noticed my story about our relationship arise. I could feel my front body almost thicken in an expression of armoring. Then, I let the story drop. I allowed my armoring to soften and began our friendship again with an open curiosity. Delightful conversations followed, along with a deepened appreciation for the freedom to practice.

 What are the stories you're holding onto right now?

 Take a few breaths to check in with that. Do you notice any stories about your relationships? Your life situations? 

  Notice what happens in your body as you observe the narratives.

  Find a yoga pose that enhances your ability to be present to the sensations in your body. 

  What's Happening Now?

  Explore for as long as serves you, respect your edges. 

  Allow your process to guide you into other postures and places for observing what's happening in each successive now. 

"Never underestimate the power of compassionately recognizing what's going on."-Pema Chodron

   

Gentle Partner Yoga Practice

I've been getting more and more into the arts that allow space for contact and connection. If you've had any experiences with partner yoga, acroyoga, contact dance or any other form of movement involving touch, you may have noticed how a familiar pose can become new territory. 


One of my Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy clients had been practicing yoga for over a decade. He had a long term, intimate relationship with himself through Yoga. For him, being assisted into postures he knew so well provided a new space for him to witness how his body reflected his ways of living. He left the session with a clear intention to be more present to his wife. What wisdom does your body want to share? Are you giving yourself the space to listen?
Try the following gentle partner yoga practice


Throughout your practice, do your best to be a welcoming host to whatever arises. As Pema Chodron says, "Never underestimate the power of a compassionate presence.

Sit down back to back with your partner. 
Take a few deep breaths, in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
See what it's like to bring your breath to your back. Imagine you can massage your partner's back with your breath. Stay here for several full breaths.

Place the palms of your hands together. Rest your thumbs at your heart center. Take a deep breath in, extend your arms to the side and up. Weave your arms around your partner's arms. As you exhale next, bend to one side. Ground one pair of hands or forearms on the floor and reach up and over with your other arm. Take a few breaths here as you feel the qualities of sensations where you and your partner's bodies connect. When you're ready, switch sides.

Come back to center. Let your shoulders soften back against your partner as you lengthen your spine. Reach your right hand back to your partner's knee, reach your left hand to your right knee. As you inhale, root into your sitting bones, lift through your crown. Exhale, to spiral into your shared twist. Take a few breaths here. Switch sides when you're ready.

Feel free to keep exploring movement with your partner. Share a savasana, corpse pose, when 
your practice together feels complete. Let me know what your partner yoga practice was like :) 


If you want to meet yourself more through your body, come to PRYT partner yoga class at Hollow Reed Holistic's community space every other Saturday at 10:30 or book a PRYT session by calling or emailing. 

Have a Blissful day

Namaste

Yoga this Spring, Guided Meditation

Namaste and Happy Spring! 

In what ways have you been caring for yourself on this journey of sacred self discovery? What new growth are you celebrating? What are you letting decay to nourish that new life?

Even though we didn't have as full on of a winter, I'm still feeling myself letting go of a few layers as I open up to the fresh possibilities of the blossoming season. As I let relationships, roles and ways of being die and transform, I allow more space for that which is aligned with where's I'm at right Now. A part of that means giving myself time for writing, which means more blog posts! yay! 

One of branches of new growth I'm really excited for is the start of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy at Hollow Reed Holistic's community space next door to their apothecary. (http://www.hollowreedholistic.ca/)

Between the other radiant healers, the soothing smells of the plant medicines, and the friendly people who flow through, I'm so grateful to connect more with the community by sharing what I'm passionate about. Here's where you can find me this spring:

Morning Yoga at Hollow Reed's Community Space
Thursdays
8:00-9:30-$10

Partner Yoga-Phoenix Rising Style
April 21, May 5, May 19 etc.
10:30-12-$10

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy sessions
45 m-$40
90 m-$75

Go here  to listen to a guided PRYT centering meditation. Use it to create space to check in with yourself. Let it be one of the gifts you give yourself today, and feel free to let me know what you get out of it. One thing I appreciate most about what I do is that I get to see unique journeys people of connecting more fully to themselves. 

'"Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy."-Joseph Campbell