The Go Yoga Brooklyn Blog

Ashtanga Update

ashtangabk — Sat, 21 May 2011 15:08:22 +0000

The AYB program is changing hands. Audra Duran will begin teaching on Sunday, May 22, 2011. Keep up with Elise at her website www.eliseashtangayoga.com

The Stories Behind the Poses

Danielle — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:17:23 +0000

Admit it: Sometimes in yoga class, you have no idea what the instructor is talking about when they mention certain poses by their Sanskrit names. Sure, Virabhadrasana I and II are pretty familiar by now, as is Baddha Konasana and Trikonasana, but your mind draws a blank when your teacher leads your class into Bhujangasana or Vrksasana, and you find yourself looking around the room to see what everyone else is doing, thinking in frustration, Why can’t they just say the English version?

The truth, though, is that each pose’s original Sanskrit name derives from an ancient tale, a fable, if you will, with a lesson to be learned, which renowned yoga instructor Alanna Kaivalya and author Arjuna van der Kooij so graciously share in Myths of the Asanas. Through each character, animal, or other being introduced, a human flaw is revealed, making the stories that lie at the heart of the yoga tradition more accessible and relatable to readers. “The myths behind the asanas are intended to serve as inspirational guides that can enhance our yoga practice, fueling it with a deeper, meditative quality,” says Shiva Rea. “They provide us with a fresh prospective on ourselves, helping us connect our everyday lives with yoga through the postures.”

Take Bhujangasana, for example. You’re probably better acquainted with its English name, Cobra Pose. With our torso and legs on the ground, hands planting down alongside our upper ribs, chest and head slightly lifted, the posture surely resembles its namesake. But did you know that snakes have no ears? As Myths points out, they have to make contact with the ground with their jaw in order to conduct vibrations through their aural nerves; they are literally listening internally, which is but one aim of our yoga practice. When the Buddha was meditating under the bodhi tree, a group of cobras gathered near him, and the Buddha’s calmness and stillness soothed the snakes’ minds so they decided to stay near him to protect him. A group of people had gathered around the scene, but did not dare approach the Buddha for fear of the cobras. Then it began to rain. The onlookers wanted to protect the Buddha from getting soaked, but dared not approach him with the snakes nearby. It was then that the king of the cobras slithered his way behind the Buddha, rising as tall as he could–about a third of his body came off the ground, similar to our yoga pose–and opened his great hood to offer protection for the Buddha from the falling raindrops, where he continued to meditate undisturbed.

Then there’s Tree Pose, or the name you might not be so familiar with: Vrksasana. For centuries, trees have held a special place in yogis’ hearts. They provide shelter and food, symbolize a simplistic life void of materialistic possessions, and create shade–thought to be one of the best places for a teacher to pass on knowledge to his student. We look to our yoga practice as a means to permeate our minds, bodies, and breath with strength, balance, generosity, and tolerance–all qualities associated with trees. With one foot rooting into the earth and both arms reaching toward the sky, Vrksasana “represents the flowering spirituality in a material environment.”

Each pose we come to on the mat has a specific meaning, with a special story or association that can help to illustrate some mystical, hidden potential within us. You may not know or understand the Sanskrit names for the poses you’re familiar with in class, but after reading Myths of the Asanas you’ll be sure to remember them. And after getting a better understanding of how each pose came to fruition, you just might take a little bit more from it each time your teacher leads you into it.

~Jessica Mahler

Ashtanga ~ Special Led Class

ashtangabk — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:48:51 +0000

Ashtanga ~ Special Led Primary Series Class

Sunday, February 20, 2011
8am

Join the Ashtanga Yoga Brooklyn practice community as our Sunday Mysore class switches to a counted led primary series. This is an excellent opportunity to meet Elise and fellow Ashtanga practitioners, get a taste for what the Ashtanga yoga practice is about, or simply to round out your regular vinyasa practice. Experienced vinyasa students and athletic beginners interested in joining the Mysore program are encouraged to attend.

Included in AYB tuition. $20 single class, cash only. This is a special event, Go Yoga class cards are not applicable.

Email for information: info@ashtangayogabrooklyn.com

and visit the AYB website: www.ashtangayogabrooklyn.com

photo: Elizabeth Bick www.onceiblink.com

Winter Restoration: A Yin Yoga Workshop with Dana Courtney

ashtangabk — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:41:38 +0000

Winter Restoration: A Yin Yoga Workshop

with Dana Courtney

Saturday, February 19th 6-8pm
$25 Advance / $30 Day-of

Following the wisdom of the natural world, the winter is a time for resting and restoring (or if we were really lucky, even hibernating). In this Yin Yoga workshop, we’ll do just that.
Combining basic breathing techniques with long-held postures, we’ll dive deep into the low back, hips and hamstrings. Melting beyond the muscles and targeting the connective tissue, Yin Yoga is a profoundly nourishing practice that will reboot your whole system, from the surface to the subtle body.
Slow down, go deep, and see what happens in the stillness.

Dana Courtney is a graduate of the Nosara Yoga Institute and a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. In addition to teaching in New York City and Brooklyn, she assists the 200-hour Teacher Training with her teachers, Don and Amba Stapleton, and co-teaches private retreats with her husband, Kevin around the world.

Buddhism & Psychology: Finding Freedom with Dr. Miles Neale

ashtangabk — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:38:40 +0000

Buddhism & Psychology:

Finding Freedom with Dr. Miles Neale

Saturday, March 5th
6pm – 9pm
$25

This workshop centers on self-healing by examining stress and freedom using the Buddha’s Four Truths framework of mind/body science. Through this model participants will discover the nature of stress and its causes, as well as the nature of freedom and its causes. Participants will learn to use mindfulness meditation and their yoga-asana practice to consciously shift out of stress reactivity and cultivate states of tranquility and alertness to support intentional action. Emphasis will be on how to practically apply this moment-by-moment awareness to effectively disengage from distressing sensations, emotions and thought

Miles Neale, Psy.D., is a Buddhist psychotherapist in private practice and Assistant Director of the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science where he collaborates on state- of-the-art clinical meditation research and teaches courses on the Indo-Tibetan tradition. Miles began studying meditation in India in 1996 and is a student of American Buddhist scholars Dr. Bob Thurman and Dr. Joe Loizzo as well as renown Tibetan masters Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Gelek Rinpoche. In 2006, he earned a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute for Integral Studies, and has a particular interest in using the language of contemporary psychology to make the ancient Buddhist teachings culturally relevant and applicable to western lay people seeking a contemplative life. More on Dr. Miles Neale is available on his website: www.milesneale.com.

Ashtanga Yoga (Mysore) FAQs

ashtangabk — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:57:31 +0000

You’re Mysore curious.

Here are some tips from AYB on how to get started and what you can expect.

Observe a Mysore class before beginning practice for the first time.

Commit to at least one month of practice.

You do not have to know the primary series or anything about yoga to join a Mysore class. Although you will be practicing to your own breath, your Mysore practice will be highly supervised by the instructor. You will be taught individually one posture at a time. Your first classes will be short and will eventually be around 90 minutes. Slowly as these postures integrate, more postures will be added by your teacher and you’ll continue to refine previous postures and techniques.

All ages, shapes, body types, genders, ethnicities, etc. are welcome to attend. You don’t have to be strong or flexible or a dancer or a gymnast. The only requirement is an enthusiasm for practice.

The Mysore-style of learning and practicing is different than most other types of yoga practice because:
-it is made of set series of postures which you practice daily
-you develop a practice over time
-the student-teacher relationship is very important
-students practice with one teacher
-it is less about catering to what we are accustomed to and more about challenging ourselves to transform
-Students can take their time, work at their own pace, and are encouraged to marinate in certain postures if there is a therapeutic indication

There are six series of postures in the Ashtanga yoga system. Primary series is called yoga chikitsa which means yoga therapy. This practice tones, increases flexibility, and detoxes the body and mind. Everyone starts their Mysore practice by gradually learning and practicing the primary series.

You can arrive to practice any time that is convenient for you within the designated practice times as long as you are finished before the end. For example, if your practice is 35 minutes long, you should begin before 8:55am if class ends at 9:30am. So, no, your practice isn’t 3 hours long and you do not have to arrive at the beginning of the Mysore class.

Bring a clean towel, a yoga mat, wear clean clothes, take a shower, be barefoot, and arrive on an empty stomach. Do not drink water or other liquids during practice.

Ashtanga yoga is a daily practice. Really, if we are talking the full spectrum of practice, it is 24/7. In terms of being on a mat, students practice 6 days per week. Saturdays or Sundays are a day of rest as are the first three days of the menstrual cycle (called ladies’ holiday). Moon days (full or new moon) are also a day of rest. If this isn’t possible for you at first, do what you can.

Got a question you want answered? Send it to info@ashtangayogabrooklyn.com

Also see:

essential ashtanga reading
2011 Moon Days

-Elise Espat
originally published 3/29/10
photo by Matthew Spiegelman

Led Ashtanga classes for Go Yoga Students are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 – 5pm. These classes are for students and teachers interested in deepening their understanding and practice of yoga. A wonderful immersion into the Ashtanga yoga system for those interested in Mysore classes or simply a positive addition to one’s regular practice schedule. Students will be led through Yoga Chikitsa (Yoga Therapy) to the rhythm of the vinyasas counted in Sanskrit.

Please note that there are no classes on new or full moons (moon days).
View schedule and sign up for class here

Resolution #5 Maintain a daily yoga practice

ashtangabk — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:12:56 +0000

When I first began a yoga asana practice it was easy to maintain everyday. I had my little morning wake up routine that was between me, myself, and Jane Fonda. The movements, positions, and breathing took my full concentration and by the end all I could think of was that I was not thinking at all. It was better than nice.

As time went by, more variables were added between my practice and myself, more ideas, more techniques, more people, places, and experiences. There were times where it was really hard to convince myself that going to practice, practicing at home – or even at all – was a good idea. If I ended up not taking practice, at the end of the day I would get really angry and disappointed that I did not make it happen and that I let the “I just can’t” thoughts win.

Although our relationship with practice may have began as cheery and nice, it is inevitable that we will reach a point again and again where we ask ourselves, the heavens, etc. “why and what am I practicing?” In those moments where the last thing we can imagine is walking uphill both ways through the snow to our next yoga class, it is the answer to these questions that will give us the strength to take just one more step. Or at least that is my experience…

What does it mean to practice?

Lilia Mead (Go Yoga, Teacher and Founder):
For me, practice means the difference between night and day. It is apples and oranges, whether or night I practice. I see the world differently from the eyes of a practitioner. There is clarity, patience, stability, energy and purpose in my life, simply from engaging in a minimum of 20 minutes of conscious breathing and moving exercises.

Ralph De La Rosa (Go Yoga, Manager and Meditation Teacher)
Practice means doing something with an intention of waking up, of being a loving warrior in the world. It could be anything, too. Sometimes I practice lovingkindness (a meditation practice of wishing others’ happiness and freedom) for people on the subway. Other times, it is being mindful and present when doing simple things, like brushing my teeth in the morning.

Smiling in the face fear or adversity…that is a practice, too – a very powerful one. Whether you are moving and breathing on a yoga mat, sitting still on a cushion, helping others in small or big ways, contemplating theory or philosophy, walking to work, talking to your mom, having sex, or waiting in line, almost anything can be a practice – but it is contingent upon your motivation and the quality of awareness you bring to the activity. The importance of knowing one’s intention cannot be understated.

When teaching meditation, a lot of people ask me to clarify what is meant by intention. Some people have a hard time locating theirs, or settling on just one thing. In Buddhism, there’s three classifications of intention. The first is practicing to simply feel better, to practice for the benefits. The second is to practice in order to achieve permanent awakening, nirvana, or liberation from suffering for oneself. The third category is to awaken the heart of compassion fully, piercing the veil of a separate sense of self, attaining complete enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings, so that you can guide everyone out of their suffering and calamity, too.

So, everyday when I sit, I ask myself how I’m honestly feeling. Maybe I’m not feeling so well, and I need to just ground myself and be mindful so that I can nourish and care for myself. Other days, when I feel more motivated or daring, I align myself with the highest goal for human life: enlightenment for the sake of all. This may seem like a daunting task to aspire to, but that’s the point: it helps me to apply myself earnestly; with boisterous effort, and great humor.

Jessica Stickler (Go Yoga, Teacher)
Practice means that you are always evolving. It means that you do it whether you feel like it or not, whether you are having a good day or bad, whether you do well or struggle.

Elise Espat (Go Yoga, Teacher and Ashtanga Yoga Brooklyn, Founder)
Practice is effort towards steadiness of mind. Simple but hard.

How do you maintain a daily practice?

Lilia
It is difficult to practice in NYC with 2 small children, a business and a household to maintain. My favorite time to practice is 10 am. It is after some morning practices of Kriyas, Mantras, Meditation and a light breakfast. I find it really sets me up well for the rest of the day.

Ralph

By just doing it. To paraphrase the fabulous Sri Anandamayi Ma, in the beginning, you just have to tie yourself to it like a child is bound to her schoolwork. After a while, you will get a taste for practice, and it will become much more interesting. After some more time, you cannot imagine your life without it. For me, I start to live in a mind that is filled with overwhelming worry and pain when I do not practice. Just having that hanging over my head is what keeps me on the up and up a lot of times. Also, I have a little phrase I repeat to myself when I find myself squirming around inside my mind, looking for a way out of my commitment to practice: “I welcome the resistance of my ego, for it gives me the opportunity to practice discipline tempered with friendliness.”

Jessica
It is not easy. there are days when my practice is 10 or 15 minutes, but I always try to get something in.

Elise
In terms of asana, it is helpful to have it not be about the asana. That the action (work) is being performed for (and even by) something other than “you”. When we have a responsibility to do something for others (whatever that may be), it can be a very good motivator. For example, maybe you give the fruit of your labor to God. Or maybe by practicing you integrate the tools you need to be a nicer human in society. So you are doing it for your co-workers, your children, your fellow subway riders, etc. There are many ways to look at it. And anyway, it is all the same thing.

What inspires you to practice?

Lilia
Everything; my family (especially my kids), my students and teachers. Honestly, I am mostly inspired by the fear of what my world would look like if I do not practice. Chances are I would be a slave to my emotions and mental afflictions.

Ralph
Honestly? This may seem a little dark, but, suffering. I do not want to suffer or be confused about life anymore. I spent most of my life experiencing debilitating states of depression, addiction, alienation, trauma, and panic. I can honestly say that I live in a much different place these days as a result of my spiritual practice – the nuts and bolts of which are yoga and meditation (there is no substitute for either). Today, I am generally happy, loving, and free. My life is filled with insight, inspiration, really good people and really great work. Do I struggle with things? Yes! Do I have bad days? Sure do! But I also have insights and practices which are invaluably helpful in understanding the problems of life, and knowing how to work with them so that I am not devastated by things anymore. I live with a different mind than I used to. To me, that is nothing short of a miracle.

Also, the fact that there are so many living saints out there can be a tremendous source of inspiration. The fact that so many ordinary people have attained to unfathomable heights through spiritual practice, and have helped so many other beings in their process of getting there, simply floors me. They exist in every spiritual tradition, and many have awakened fully without belonging to any tradition at all. Peace Pilgrim is one such example. Her autobiography is so simple, yet so profound. And that is part of why they exist, too: so that we can all be aware of our full potential for this life, and have someone we can actually relate to as another, simple human being to guide us along the way.

Jessica
I am inspired by my teachers, my students, my breakthroughs, my ever-arising afflictions!

Elise
“Peak experiences“. When I read or hear about something, forget about it, and then all of a sudden it is coming true. The impossible becoming possible.

Why do you practice?

Lilia
I practice Yoga because I believe it really works. For me it is much more than physical exercise. It is an ancient science, a psychology, a path to reach the highest goals in life; ultimate freedom and happiness. Once you see what it truly has to offer, there is no turning back.

Ralph
Because not practicing is not an option. Because the condition of the world around us calls for each of us to stop resting on our privileged laurels and be a part of the solution. Because the experience of expansive love for others is just so freakin’ awesome. Because it is the smartest thing I can imagine doing with my life. Because it makes me better at everything, Because it is fun. Because this life will be over before I know it.

Jessica
To cultivate wisdom and compassion for the sake of all beings.

Elise
I feel like I have to. There are so many reasons I could list, but in the end, I feel like I just do not have a choice. I just have to practice.

Anything you’d like to add?

Lilia
Just that if you are anything like me and feel that something is always wrong, missing or could be better, then why not give a Yoga practice a try? You have to load it like you would load a gun or it will not work. In other words, you must be clear about your motivations and intentions for showing up to class, your mat or any spiritual practice. What keeps me coming back day after day, year after year is that I do it for others (in my mind) I dedicate my efforts and the benefits that come.

Ralph
This may seem counter-intuitive, but please do not practice to “fix” yourself! We all come to yoga, meditation, etc. with a list of things we would like to see improve, and that is to be expected. But if we start out from a mentality that is anything close to “I suck,” we will never get anywhere. We will just keep cultivating more and more low self-esteem and impoverished mentalities. Your state of mind is the most important thing in any situation.

Zen Master Suzuki Roshi said, “You are already perfect, just the way you are…and you could use some improving.” What he meant is, we need to begin our work with the notion that we are already whole, already free – then the way we will go about our work will lend itself to lasting change in heart and mind. In Buddhism, this is called tathagata garba, or Buddha Nature. It is simply the notion that we are all basically good at our core, and that all the suffering and negativity is simply the result of our neurotic confusion. Now, it may be a stretch of the imagination to start with the feeling of “I am basically good, already perfect,” because we simply do not buy it at first. But it is more about the context that this creates for doing practice than it is about believing it.

If we start out with the feeling of being basically good, we are much more likely to do the things that support that notion of reality, and we are also more likely to do our work with ease, care, precision, patience, and clarity. Going to your practice thinking that there is something wrong with you that needs to be fixed in order for you to be happy is a sure-fire way to wallowing in self-loathing, self-recrimination, and unrealistic expectations. So, please, flip the switch on the ridiculous idea of Original Sin! You are truly so much more than that, and you deserve your acceptance and compassion more than anyone else in the universe. This is what the Buddha meant when he said, “There is no way to happiness. Happiness is The Way.”

Jessica
“Practice” can mean a lot of things. asana (yoga postures) are a practice, meditation is a practice, etc. But also very important, practice being kind. Every single day, do something kind for another being, human or animal. That is the ultimate daily practice.

-Elise Espat

ABOUT:
In January 2000, Lilia Mead opened Go Yoga with the help and support of countless others. Her practice and classes include Vinyasa, Pranayama, Meditation, and Chanting. In 1997, she completed her Jivamukti training with her first and most profound teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life. Since then, she’s had the opportunity to study with many great masters, including T.K.V Desikachar, Mary Dunn, Genny Kapular, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally. She traveled to India in 1999 to study with the esteemed Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and in 2002 returned to study with meditation master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. In 2006, Lilia’s spiritual practice expanded to include the birth of her daughter and three years later, a son. Becoming a mother has proved to be the most challenging, yet fulfilling spiritual practice to date.

Ralph De La Rosa is a lifelong spiritual seeker and, more recently, a spiritual finder. Yoga and meditation have offered him the hands-down, best solutions to the depression, addiction, anxiety and trauma that weighed him down for a very, very long time. Ralph is the manager of Go Yoga, teaches meditation with The Interdependence Project (www.theidproject.org), and is studying to become a psychotherapist at Fordham University.

Jessica Stickler teaches musically infused and philosophically amused classes at Go Yoga that aim to inspire, uplift, incite, and ignite! After experiencing physical and metaphysical transformation in her own life through these practices, she decided to teach! Jessica graduated Jivamukti Teacher Training in 2008, and has since completed 800+ hours advanced certification. She would like to thank all of her holy teachers, especially Sharon Gannon, David Life, Matthew, and Nicole for inspiring, teaching, and seeing more in her than she sometimes saw in herself! Classes integrate anatomical and intellectual precision with choreographic sequencing and playful music.

Elise Espat is dedicated to the ongoing practice and study of the traditional Ashtanga yoga method. She is one of the few teachers worldwide to have received Level 2 Authorization enabling her to teach both the primary and intermediate series of Ashtanga yoga. She is honored to have practiced with the late Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and maintains an ongoing practice with R. Sharath Jois and R. Saraswathi Jois at the KPJ Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India. Elise leads the Ashtanga Yoga Brooklyn Mysore program hosted by Go Yoga and teaches Led Ashtanga classes on the ongoing Go Yoga class schedule.

Resolution #4 Recycle E-Waste

ashtangabk — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:00:31 +0000

Want to recycle some electronics? If you have any of the following heading for the sidewalk, this weekend is your chance to make certain they are properly recycled. Read on for more information.
• Computers (laptops & desktops, servers, mainframes)
• Monitors
• Printers, scanners, fax-machines, copiers
• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.)
• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, etc.)
• Components (hard drives, CD-ROMs, circuit boards, power supplies, etc.)
• TVs, VCRs, & DVD Players
• Audio-visual equipment
• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs
• Telecommunication (phones, answering machines, etc.) To recycle media, such as floppies, cd’s, zips, VHS tapes please recycle with Green Disk.

From the Lower East Side Ecology Center Newsletter
8th Annual “After the Holidays” E-waste Events

January 22, 2011 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Flyer(English) Flyer(Spanish) Directions

Ring Garden, Riverside Drive between Dyckman Street and Seaman Avenue, Inwood

January 22, 2011 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Flyer Directions
Habana Outpost, Fulton Street b/w South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Street, Ft. Greene

January 23, 2011 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Flyer Directions
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, 331 East 70th Street between First and Second Avenues, Upper East Side

January 23, 2011 | 10:00am – 4:00pm Flyer Directions
NEW LOCATION: West 63rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway, Upper West Side

The Ecology Center will accept electronic waste (“e-waste”) from New York City residents and small businesses (under 50 employees). Bring your working or non-working electronics to the collection events to have them recycled responsibly. A list of acceptable materials can be found here. We do not accept home appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators or air conditioners.

If the promise of a clutter-free home isn’t enough, we have two additional incentives to motivate you:If you’re a Zipcar member come out to an e-waste event, flash your Zipcard and you’ll get a $15 driving credit while supplies last. Not a member yet? Join now and receive a $60 free driving credit and a $25 discount on your application. Simply enter the promo code “EWASTE” when you sign up! Go to Zipcar.com to sign up.

Tekserve is offering everyone who drops off their e-waste this January a free limited edition t-shirt and the chance to win a new Apple MacBook Air.

We would like to thank Tekserve for sponsoring these events.

-Elise Espat
originally posted at the Ashtanga Yoga Brooklyn blog.

Yogi Got Back

Danielle — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:57:12 +0000

Once upon a time, this yogi was a dancer. Having been introduced to the world of ballet by my mother at the ripe young age of 3, I became enthralled with it; I would daydream about becoming a professional ballerina performing at Lincoln Center, having the lead in Swan Lake, of course.

Yes, it was a big dream–a big dream for a big girl, as I turned out to be at the awkward age of 11. The tallest girl in my class, I was also boasted one of the larger circumferences in my troupe. I had a Buddha belly, as my step-sister used to call it, and my mother joked sometimes that maybe the hospital gave her the wrong child after she gave birth as she had no idea just where my ghetto booty came from; no one in my family had a butt. Except lucky lil’ ol’ me.

Ms. Camille, the owner of the studio I belonged to, also took notice of these traits, unbefitting of a primo ballerina. Since she ran the dance studio, it was up to her to decide who would make it to pointe, the preeminent class in a dancer’s world. Ms. Camille would drop in to our classes, each time she passed me, harassing me, demanding, “Suck in that belly! Tuck in that butt!” Unbeknownst to her, I already was. I didn’t know what I could do to show her I was doing what she asked. I had contemplated not eating, but that notion quickly vanished as I realized I enjoyed food too much to fall into that age-old stereotype. Instead, I tried to focus all my energy on nailing each jump, tondue, arabesque, ront de jambe.. I prayed that I would appear so graceful that my curves would get lost in the movement. I also began wishing that my breasts would soon grow in to hide my unsightly stomach, which would hopefully then balance out my backside. Oh, the insecurities of adolescence!

Unfortunately, my breasts never did grow in how I envisioned they would, and Ms. Camille never stopped directing her jeers toward me. It was around this time, too, that I started playing basketball at the behest of my family and peers. “You’re so tall!” they would exclaim. “You have the height every basketball coach dreams of.” So I started playing at recess, where the school coach saw me and encouraged me to try out for the team. After trying to follow my little girl dream for eight years, I decided I’d had enough. I quit, fed up with all the negativity I encountered whenever I approached the barre, getting drunk on all the praise and encouragement I was discovering in my newfound love of sports, knowing that if Ms. Camille’s relentless criticisms continued, my Swan Lake dream was never going to come true. It was time for a new dream.

So what does this have to do with yoga, you’re asking? Well, apparently my butt is rearing it’s little head again, as I’ve noticed that it’s an area that my teachers are consistently trying to correct in my Tadasana, my Chaturanga Dandasana. And every once in a while when a teacher adjusts me and says, “Tailbone in,” I flashback to my ballet days. The difference, now, though, is that while the 11-year-old me might have thought I was tucking in my butt on command, today the 28-year-old me is more mindful of what, or how, exactly my butt should be tucked. And though I obviously still have some training to do to find the proper alignment, it’s because of my yoga practice that I am listening more deeply, becoming more attuned to how my body reacts to each movement I make.

But yoga isn’t the only thing that’s helping me pay attention in the moment. My meditation practice is playing a huge part as well. And I’m not going to lie: It’s been difficult to keep up with. Sometimes I just don’t want to sit there and deal with the thoughts that come up, but I feel compelled to arrive to the cushion each morning, hoping that if I can’t quiet my mind, I’ll discover something new in the thoughts my mind plays on repeat. And strangely enough, I discovered that Dr. Miles Neale, Buddhist psychotherapist and dharma teacher, agrees. “If you’re not in touch with your suffering, chances are you’re not going to have the fuel to keep up with the practice, because unlike yoga, meditation is difficult. Yoga feels good, that’s why thousands of people are doing it….Sitting and looking at how disturbed your mind is, sometimes not so good.” You can hear more about his five-point approach to mindfulness meditation here.

So how disturbed is your mind? I challenge you to be brave and find out.

~Jessica Mahler

Resolution #3 Yoga Mat

ashtangabk — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:21:27 +0000

Making the decision to replace an old mat and figuring out how to pick a new one can be a little overwhelming. Here is a simple guide to help you navigate your mat matters.

Clean or Replace?
Is your mat breaking up or shredding in little pieces?
Does your mat smell?
Does your mat have black spots where your hands and feet rest?
Do your wrists and hands ache during practice?
Has your mat lost the traction you prefer?
Is your mat made of PVC?It is time to replace a mat if it is shredding at a disruptive rate, if the stink and dirty have become a permanent fixture that withstands even heavy duty washing (see below). Also, if you are having wrist/hand pain it may be a sign that you are not using an appropriate mat.

Jessica Stickler:
“The only one I’ve ever had to “replace” was because it was getting holes in it. I clean my mats depending on how much I’ve been using them, if they smell or if they lose their stickiness, its time to clean!”

Cleaning Tips & Keeping it Clean
Using a yoga towel or cotton mysore rug helps keep your mat clean since you aren’t practicing directly on your mat. Clean your feet before you walk in the classroom for practice, especially during summer months with flip flops. Allow your mat to dry completely after each use and cleaning to prevent bacteria growth and icky smells.

Bryan Johnson:
“I wipe my mat down after each class and wash it if it gets stinky with a gentle soap in the bathtub and let drip dry.”

Ralph de la Rosa:
“I take mine in the shower with me! Scrub it down with my loofah and everything. Then it can just hang dry inside the shower. So easy.”

Jessica:
“Some mats are tough enough to go into the actual wash! I used to literally put my Jade mat in the washing machine on an extra small load with a drop of soap, and then run it through the dryer for 20 minutes.”

What to do with the old one
If it is time to replace rather than clean, that old mat may still be of use…

Ralph:
“Please donate your used mats!! There are tons of yoga programs at schools, programs for at-risk youth, etc. that are constantly looking for any mats to use for their classes. We donate to YogaActivist.org. If anyone has old mats they’d like Go Yoga to donate for them, I’d be more than happy to take them!”

Jessica:
“I cut my old mat up and used it for furniture pads (under the corners of my bed, to keep it from slipping on the floor). Also, there are MANY school programs that can use the spare mats. lineageproject.org is one of them.

What to look for in a new mat:

Eco-friendly / sustainability
The most important consideration is whether or not a mat is eco-friendly and/or sustainable. It is true, you can find a yoga mat at a local variety store for $20. It may be easy on your pocket, but that is where the fun stops.Jessica:
“Be super cautious about buying one at a Sporting Goods Store. Their mats tend to be of lower quality and made out of weird plastics.” (You can read up on PVC at the Green Yoga Association.)

Ralph:
“It has to be eco-friendly.”

Traction
They call it a “sticky mat” for a reason. While a slightly slick surface can be a great teacher in pulling in and up, a super slick surface can be counter-productive.Jessica:
“I look for mats that my hands and feet stick to. I have three mats and the main feature that they all share is traction, my hands have to stick to the mat in Downward Dog!”

Bryan:
“I tend to get pretty sweaty. My Jade Yoga mat has extra cushion without compromising its no-slip ability.”

Ralph:
“I have a Vinyasa practice and I use a Jade Harmony. The traction is great, but I think it is time to switch to the Manduka Eko when my current mat starts to fade. I want firmer contact with the earth.”

Thickness
There are super thin and light travel mats and the thick and firm Manduka Pros. How you choose your thickness depends on your practice and lifestyle. A thin mat will be lighter and easier to carry back and forth from yoga. Having very close contact with the ground has its benefits, but also can be uncomfortable in postures like dhanurasana. A thicker mat is going to be heavier and harder to travel with, but you can always sign up for mat storage. For me, I look for thick and firm (stable surface that also cushions my bones) or very thin with a cotton rug handy.Jessica:
I have mats that are thicker, and I have a mat that’s so thin it feels like I’m directly on the floor. You might want a thicker mat if your knees are sensitive, you might prefer a thin mat if balancing postures are challenging for you. (Because you can feel the floor better with your toes!)

Staff picks: Our Favorite Yoga Mats

Manduka Pro Black Mat:
Thick and firm with a lifetime guarantee. Can be slippery for some people. Add a cotton Mysore rug or Yoga towel.

Jade Yoga Harmony Mat:
Thin and firm or thick and firm. Great traction. They plant a tree with each purchase! Can be too sticky for some people. Add a cotton Mysore rug or Yoga towel.

Manduka Eko:
All firm with a variety of thickness. One side slick and one side comparable to the Jade yoga. Great colors.

-Elise Espat

Contributors:

Bryan Johnson is a yoga newbie and co-manager of Go Yoga.