Its all yoga, all the time for me! Throughout my day - doing bodywork, teaching yoga, running a business, working in the garden, relaxing with friends and puppies in this beautiful state of New Mexico - my life is infused with yoga. I love the deeper awareness of my body, mind, soul that it brings me; love the deeper connection it enables me to experience with the world around it; and REALLY love that I am able to share this beauty with others.

I know its not always possible to connect with other yogis, that we all need extra inspiration in our own practices, and sometimes even a little kick in the butt to get into that yoga zone. I hope this blog will help you with that (and me, too!) as I share pieces of my classes, practices and inspiration with you.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The Ocean's Breath

I've spent alot of time in the ocean this past week , as I explore Maui.  The ocean is not a place I've always felt comfortable but it's really growing on me.  Its like a good friend that it just took a while to connect with.  As I connect with it more and more, I've been noticing the subtleties of how it moves, how it breathes, the rhythm and flow.  It's like a pranayama.  I'm not quite sure of what is movement, breath or energy but it all comes together into this amazing, life affirming experience.

As the tide is rising and the waves are getting more intense, I've noticed there is a distinct pattern that lets you know how big the wave will be.  There is a moment where you feel everything pulling out to sea, even your feet if you don't anchor yourself.  Then there is a moment of stillness.  Finally the wave rises behind you, a gentle arc, then rolls over itself into shore, crashing and rushing yet still maintaining its calming essence and energy.  

If I try to breathe like a wave, I find myself with a steady inhale til I am completely full, a pause at the top, then I let the exhale come rushing gently out.  That gentle quality is important.  The wave maintains all the way to shore, it just gets smaller; it doesn't become anything else, its still a wave.  Less about change, more about the cycle.

Combining this breathwork with my asana practice gave a lovely vinyasa.  Ebbing and flowing from posture to posture, using the wave to inspire my movement led to undulating, spine releasing postures that move the whole body and balanced my energy, carrying me into a state of bliss.  My favorite flows? There were three...  Inhale to child's pose --> pause --> exhale to cobra.  Inhale to downward facing dog --> pause --> exhale to upward facing dog.  Inhale to bridge --> pause --> full puvana muktasana/apanasana.

The movement changes, but the breath, the breath keeps its cycle - taking you deeper into each expression, inside and out.  

Blissed out at the beach...