Musings on Anusara Yoga and life with Robyn Smith

following through with our intentions

2012-01-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

I realize I didn't mention a couple important things in yesterday's post.

Re. the Releasing Practice and letting go of past habits, beliefs, etc:
One thing that helps me, as I mentioned, is once I recognize I'm doing something habitual, I stop and really feel into it. I feel the bodily sensations associated with the thoughts or actions. (And often a "negative" habit pattern is associated with intense feelings). And I take a deep breath.
I recognize them as energy, shakti, and I watch their vibration (spanda) and how they often transform when I pay attention. When I can see the feelings or thoughts as simply energy, then it helps me to soften around them. To recognize everything is vibrating energy/shakti helps me to let go of the story of it and just rest in the energy. This helps me relax around the contracted feelings of attachment that arise when I'm believing my story or stuck in a "negative" habit or thought pattern.

Re. following through on our New Year's resolutions:
What has worked for me this year is to schedule my new "positive" habits right into my daily calendar. I don't just remember my intentions, or even look at a written "to-do" list, I actually put down the new habits directly into my calendar exactly when I'm going to do them. Of course, this works better for an actual task than for a belief or thought-pattern. So with new tasks: for me one of them is practicing my cello, I write down exactly what time each day I'm going to practice and for how long. Then it's best if most other events of my day are also scheduled with realistic time frames (this is key) so I'm more likely to follow through on my plans.

At first, I found it useful to put down absolutely everything I intend to do each day and for how long. For example: I put down what time I meditate and do my asana, what time I'll be eating, when I'll call to make a doctor appt. or a date with a friend, what hours I'll be working, doing errands, what time I take a walk, cook dinner, laundry, etc. (In the working and errands time slot, I make a list of tasks I intend to accomplish and when I don't accomplish them, I put them into the next day's schedule).

It seems very rigid at first, but for me, it's actually been very freeing. It's given me a sense of peace to know it's all written down and I don't have to remember everything. I stick to it as best I can and move things when necessary. After a while, a couple months or so, I notice that I am following through with certain new tasks; they become a new positive habit that I want to do and I automatically budget them into my day. So now, I find I schedule only the non-regular stuff and the daily rituals are already accounted for.

Best of luck and please let me know how it goes and whether you find this helpful!
Namste,
Robyn

Happy New Year- expanded version of 1/1/12 email newsletter

2012-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope this Holiday time has been filled with great love and restoration for you.

This darkest season and time of transition into a new calendar year is a traditional time to reflect on the past and clarify our visions for the future. I like to do what I call a Releasing Practice. I look back over the last year to acknowledge what I've learned and recognize where I can continue to grow. Then I intentionally release any unhealthy habits or beliefs. A great way to empower this is to write on a piece of paper, in present tense, all that you want to surrender from the past. For example: I surrender my worrying about the future, I release my habit of blaming others for my experience, I let go of the belief that I'm not enough. Then you burn it ritually in a fire with the word Svaha! which means hail! or so be it! The ritual fire has been used in India for thousands of years. It symbolizes the burning of impurities and the offering of our prayers to Spirit through the rising smoke. This year, I am keeping it simple and only writing two things down which I want to focus on the most.

But how do we actually release our unhealthy habits and beliefs which are so deeply ingrained? Oh, this is a process. I believe we must return to them again and again with new consciousness and discipline ourselves to do something different, anything besides the old habit. It really helps to ask our loved ones to support us in making a change; they can remind us kindly when we're behaving in a habitual way, but it's up to us to stop the habit. Having support is super helpful in making change.

The complimentary practice, I call Intention Practice, is to write down what you want to manifest or focus on in the next year. A nice thing to do with this piece of paper is to make it beautiful using colors or artistic writing, etc. and put it on your altar or somewhere visible as a daily re- minder of your intention (sankalpa in Sanskrit). This year, I'm writing just one thing for each of these categories: creativity, spiritual life, social life, work, play, home, and health. Other areas might be family, finances, relationship, body, community, studies. Do you know most New Year's resolutions only last about 2 weeks? They say it takes 8 weeks of a new practice to create a habit. So don't let your resolutions slip away. Keep coming back and ask for support!

Ultimately, it is best to start with acceptance if we want to grow or change. Trying to force out the "bad" habits or beliefs is like fueling an inner battle. So we welcome all of who we are first, fully feeling into our sadness or pain or discomfort. Then with compassion, we embrace our whole self before choosing what to release. And every time we catch ourselves in the old habit, we compassionately acknowledge it and then choose to let it go.

I wish you the best in your 2012 journey of yoga off the mat!

Happy Solstice!

2011-12-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Solstice!

This morning, I enjoyed Winter's call to sleep in late and linger in bed for longer than usual. And I reveled in the stillness of the morning to sit in meditation longer than usual.

Winter beckons us to slow down and nurture ourselves like the womb nourishes a fetus. It is a call to go inside, to inquire into our true nature, to get quiet and listen to the wisdom of our beings and honor what we discover. Although we are returning to longer days, this is still the darkest season. It is in nature's flow to honor this precious time by reducing busyness, spending time with loved ones and practicing restorative activities like yoga and meditation that help us renew and rejuvenate before the Spring.

May you cherish this rich opportunity for inquiry and self-honoring. May your Winter Holidays be blessed with much love, deep presence and the radiance of the returning light.

Compassion and Kindness

2011-12-11T09:01:00.001-08:00

- alternate version of 12/11 newsletter

I love this holiday time where we practice opening our hearts towards others by giving gifts to loved-ones and generously making offerings towards those in need. In Yoga, one of the highest practices of generosity is to generate compassion and kindness for all beings, but especially for those people who trigger you the most.

I've recently been faced with the opportunity to practice this quite a bit! While it has been very unpleasant to feel somebody's frustration pointed towards me, I've been able to appreciate the unique growth that has evolved from it. I've been watching my impulses to react defensively against the perceived threat; my ego wanting to defend it's position or wanting to counter-attack. This kind of response is so natural, so human. And yet as a conscious being, I've been doing my best to choose compassion and kindness instead. (Using e-mail has greatly facilitated this process as it's given me the space to think before I respond).

As I've shared in classes this week, what helps me to respond with kindness is first generating compassion (karuna) for this person. I try to see the ways we are alike and I try to feel how I imagine this person is feeling. I remember that it is because of their suffering that they are being unkind to me and that helps me to feel genuine compassion. Once I experience compassion, I can more easily respond with kindness.

I always feel better when I generate compassion and kindness than when I react out of my habitual or animalistic tendencies. And I know my words are much better received that way as well.

May you experience the true compassion that supports your kindness towards all beings

2011-11-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

YOGA IN THE DARK?
We just got back from an overnight in a small town a couple hours up the coast from our house. Another beautiful ocean town. I taught 2 workshops and Patrick saw 4 bodywork clients. It was fun to be their first visiting yoga teacher. Many of the students had never done a yoga workshop so we started with the fundamentals of Anusara Yoga. I love teaching the basics and opening people's minds and hearts with the power of the alignment and Tantric philosophy. I talked a lot about Opening to Grace; opening our senses and being more receptive and sensitive to our inner energy and to the energy around us.

So it was auspicious that there was a blind student there with her hearing-impaired husband. I was inspired watching her navigate through my instructions using only her senses of hearing and feeling and the occasional whisper from her husband. She was definitely practicing being receptive! Luckily she is a regular yoga student so she knows the basic form of the poses. Since I'm so dedicated to clarity in my communication, I loved the challenge of having to articulate the details of what to do with the body. She would certainly show me when I was not clear by following exactly what I said, not what I meant or showed. She never got frustrated or upset and her teacher was always ready to dive in when needed.

Although I've read and watched films about people with visual impairments, I have never had an extremely visually-impaired student before, nor have I had an acquaintance or friend in my life who could not see. It has me pondering again what it must be like to live in the darkness, to rely so heavily on hearing and other senses to interpret what is happening, and on others to explain what they see. I wonder what it's like to have those senses heightened so much to make up for sight. I suppose it's a form of Opening to Grace, of really opening to What Is around you in the moment (especially in public spaces), and tuning in acutely in ways the rest of us can't even imagine.

This ability to tune in differently with the eyes closed is why I often ask my students to close their eyes during various times in the practice. I love the way it takes them into heightened receptivity; they feel their energy vibrating, their heart beating, the movement of their breath and the sensations in their bodies in ways they don't tend to notice with their eyes open.

May we all appreciate this great gift of sight and may we also remember to allow our other senses to teach us about the present moment and to help us Open to Grace.

2011-11-01T08:44:00.001-07:00

Happy Samhain. This is the Celtic festival of endings and new beginnings. It's the end of Harvest season and the beginning of going inwards for winter. It is said that the veil between the worlds (this one and "other" worlds) is thin at this time of year, October 31 and November 1. And therefore, it's a great time to put out prayers to the Spirit realm, especially for your hopes and dreams for new beginnings. It's also a great time to connect with the spirit of those who've passed from this lifetime as they're more likely to "hear" you.

It was fun for me to teach on this for the first time last night. I could really feel it in the room. We had a small group because of Halloween. When we started, there was tremendous activity out on the Arcata Plaza as all the little kiddies and their parents were Trick or Treating in costume around the plaza shops. There was also a live band on the grass. And yet in our classroom above the mayhem, we felt the absence of many missing students and the impending darkness and quiet after the festivities that ended shortly after we began.

I told the students about Samhain and asked them to consider anyone who's passed who they wanted to offer their practice to, or any prayers they wanted to send out for this new season. I talked about how yoga makes us more sensitive; more aware of our selves and each other and the other energies in our environment. So clairvoyance is a natural gift that some have, but I believe we can all develop it through our practice. And especially at this window of the year, we may be able to see more clearly, to sense energy and to engage with it. So we practiced opening our senses and tuning in and making prayers and offerings.
The intention in the room was palpable.

Fall Equinox - Taking Responsibility

2011-09-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Equinox!It's hard to believe our precious Summer is officially over. (Luckily around here, we have what we call Indian Summer, so it's the one time of year we can count on a lot of sunshine). In the Celtic tradition, Fall Equinox is a time of celebrating the harvest while also reflecting back on all that has been created and how to use those creations. This is perfect for me as I've begun a lot of inner reflection lately, looking at what I want to release and how I want to refine.

I've started doing some personal coaching with somebody who has a system and a style I really resonate with. This is awesome because I'm excited about clearing out some old habits and theories and stepping up more fully and powerfully in my life. And I love having support for this!

So one of the things we're working on is clarifying my dreams in several areas of my life. This has been a great process of putting the magnifying glass on how things actually are and why they're not a 10 and later we'll work on how I can step up to design my life as I want it. I think I've always been a self-starter and that's partly why I was attracted to yoga and meditation; because I could do it myself and help myself and empower myself. It's also why I love teaching and private sessions; because I love helping people help themselves and get empowered. I love giving people the tools they need to make a change and especially to find inner freedom.

The other thing we're looking at is personal integrity, like being honest with oneself and others. Luckily, I've trained a lot in this over the years. It's another aspect of self-empowerment and an important part of yoga (Satya = truth or truthfulness and part of the code of ethics in yoga). My time at Heartwood was so awesome in this way. I think it was there that I learned to "own" my feelings and to "take responsibility" for my actions and feelings, not that I've mastered it, but awareness is the first step! My later training in Non-Violent Communication was another great tool set that helped me to distinguish my observations from my feelings and needs and again to take personal responsibility and not to blame others or situations for my feelings. I've also been tuning into the tendency to complain.

So blaming and complaining have been on my radar lately. I am not proud when I hear them coming out of my own mouth as it shows me I'm avoiding taking responsibility; I may blame others, the weather, my body, my habits, etc. for why something isn't going the way I like. It's like an excuse I don't even see until later that I didn't "own" my part. And it's a way to get out of being completely honest. Luckily, I'm already recognizing these habits and catching them earlier in the process and often before they come out of my mouth.

Since my awareness is heightened around this, I'm easily triggered when others blame or complain at me. It's no fun being blamed or whined at. And I notice how hard it is for me not to get defensive in that moment, or even to want to blame them for blaming me! I've gotten tested a few times lately and I can't say I've passed with flying colors, but I can certainly say that I've done my best (with room for improvement) and learned a lot, and that I'm fairly proud of my ability to use good communication skills. Emails help for sure as they give me space to think. I can write it and then let it steep for a while, edit again and then steep before another possible edit before sending. Even better is sleeping on it. I am very committed to NOT sending anything impulsive.

This communication stuff and really knowing what is true is part of my karma yoga, the yoga of action and of service. I serve myself and others so much more when I'm honest with my feelings and needs and when I can share with kindness. My great practice is to breathe, to honor my truth, to not take it personally, and to speak from my heart with kindness and compassion for myself and for others.

Onward into the Fall!

The Wonder of Play

2011-09-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

- from my latest newsletter
Dear Yogis,

We've just returned from three great weekends of yoga and play: our annual Trinity River Retreat, a great workshop with Desiree Rumbaugh, and a super fun AcroYoga Intensive.

These events have sparked my intrigue about the spirit of play. What is it that makes an activity playful versus serious? Is it just the outer activity or is it how we approach the activity? I'm espec- ially interested in this now as I head from Summer into my more busy and focused season of Fall. How can I keep that playful spirit alive in these busier times?

I've definitely noticed I'm more likely to have fun when I'm with others, like in these Summer yoga events. It was a huge delight to use our bodies together in partner poses or celebrate each others explorations on the mat or in the river.

In the yoga teachings, play is known as lila, and it refers to the play of divine consciousness. The one big conscious energy (Shakti), freely and spontaneously creates all forms just for the play and the joy of it and ultimately, to know itself more fully. It plays by concealing and revealing itself to us like a cosmic game of hide- and-seek with the idea that each time there is revelation, there is greater knowing and greater wonder and joy.

And this sense of wonder or marvel (adbhuta), is an important ingredient in play. Young children model this perfectly when they get extremely fascinated in seemingly the most mundane things: an ant, a weed, a tire, a cloud. When we're in wonder, we're lighter and more expanded because we're free of attachment. The teachings tell us grown-ups to explore life in a similar way, like a big game; to remember emotions and situations are a play of energy that we can watch come and go with a sense of wonder and curiosity. When we can do this, we feel expanded and lighter, like when we play. It's when we get attached to our story as Me or My body or My beliefs, or My stuff, or how it Should be, that we get stuck in a state of contraction; life gets too serious and the wonder and lightness get lost.

So remembering to be curious, full of wonder, and free of attachments to outcome are keys to keeping life expansive and playful, even in serious times.

May your transition into Fall bring you great wonder and delight

(You can sign up to receive monthly newsletters on our website: innerfreedomyoga.com)

Weekend with Desiree Rumbaugh

2011-08-29T09:40:00.001-07:00

We just got home from a full weekend of workshops in Ashland with the fantastic Anusara yogini, and our friend, Desiree Rumbaugh. We've been studying with Desiree since 2003 and it's so fun to see what cool stuff she comes up with. She has a great flair for creativity and is always inventing new ways to get the alignment across and to help people deepen their practice.

Originally, I was just planning to attend 3 of the 5 classes, and Patrick just 1, but we were having such a great time, we stayed to assist the Therapeutics class and then took the last arm balance class as well. It was awesome to assist as many people were in pain or having questions and we loved the opportunity to help. It was also sweet the way Desiree honored us as certified teachers and gave us lots of kudos and support and even promoted our upcoming trainings! She really turned a lot of people on to Anusara Yoga in Ashland so many of them are excited to join our upcoming Immersions there and in Arcata!

This time, I was quite impressed that after the first 2 classes, all the neck tension I'd been having from the computer and the car drive had vanished, just through intense focus and alignment in back bends, shoulder and head stand. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised because the principles really do work when we apply them deeply and sometimes it takes an intensive workshop like that to get in deeper than we normally do at home.

So I learned lots of new tricks and was reminded of many older tricks I'd learned from her which I'm excited to share with my students in classes this week. Desiree has a great gift of keeping the yoga experience real, authentic, and yet light and accessible to everyone. She makes it fun and playful and like a big game that we all want to play. And she just kept me laughing! She would crack jokes in class and crack herself up, cackling out loud and just her laugh and smile would get the rest of us going. Such a bright spirit she is.

We are super lucky to have her coming to Arcata October 7 - 9!!! Don't miss it! It's been since 2007 since she taught here and it could be a long time til she returns! Check our website for more info on this.

The Shri of Speech

2011-08-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

Patrick and I are back from a delicious two week vacation, visiting for a week in Oregon with family and friends, then a week at the Wanderlust Music and Yoga Festival in Squaw Valley, Ca.

The Wanderlust festival left us especially full of joy. We had the great opportunity to enjoy classes, trainings, and socializing with our beloved teacher, John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga, as well as some of the top instructors in Anusara Yoga and two great scholars of Tantric philosophy. Each day, we felt our heart exploding more as we received some of the highest teachings of non-duality delivered with incredible grace and mastery. We felt completely embraced by the kula (community of the heart) as we communed with old friends and students from all over California and the world. It was a great time of celebration for all.

One teaching that was especially potent for me was one that I shared in classes last week. It is a core teaching of Anusara Yoga: seeing the shri (pronounced shree): the good, the beauty, the auspiciousness, the divine splendor. Shri is the nature of the Divine and thus it's the true nature of every one of us. Although I've been exploring shri in numerous ways over the 10+ years I've been with Anusara, I was especially struck by one of our teachers' living embodiment of it. As John said: "You will never hear her say anything bad about anybody." Wow, that is no small deal.

Our thoughts and speech are incredibly powerful; we all know how sweet it feels to be appreciated and how awful it feels to be condemned. Her example inspired me to look more closely at what I think and what I say about others. I can see how I embody shri more easily in a positive, celebratory atmosphere like the festival. Kindness and loving energy seem to flow more readily when we're surrounded by loved ones in an uplifting setting.

But where the rubber meets the road is when we're back in the daily grind. Can we see the shri and speak kindly of others when stuck in traffic, dealing with back pain, listening to the news, or speaking about the person who triggers us the most? Can we drop the judgments and seek out the positive in each person or situation? And can we be kind to ourselves when we fall into old undesirable habits? (I'm not suggesting that we paste on a smile in the difficult moments with a false "it's all good" attitude, but I am suggesting that with awareness and practice, we ride the waves of what we're feeling and then seek the highest response. More on this in another article soon).

In yoga, the power of speech is called matrika shakti and it relates to all levels of words: concept, thought, written word, spoken word, songs, etc. It even relates to the foundational attitudes we cultivate that form our thoughts and our beliefs. As we inquire into our own matrika habits, we understand that thinking or speaking negatively of ourselves or others is never helpful and that cultivating shri can be truly life-changing for ourselves and everyone we meet.

Through the practice of aligning ourselves with the highest intentions again and again, and aligning our energies with the highest vibrations (through clear attitude, alignment and action in asana, and all activities), we increase our awareness of our thoughts and beliefs and we can begin to consciously choose what comes out of our mouths. Or if we say something we wish we hadn't, we're more likely to catch it right afterward. Then with practice, we can self-edit before we even utter the words.

Ultimately, I believe we can live from shri, where kindness naturally flows from our lips because our internal landscape rests in love.

May your eyes open to the shri around you and in your own heart

Self-Honoring Through Discipline

2011-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Since the finish of my cleanse a couple weeks ago, I've been thinking a lot about discipline. The cleanse is a deep commitment to healing the body by restricting food to only fruits and veggies, making fresh veggie and fruit juices and taking special herb products 2 - 4 times per day.

It is a great journey into self-discipline. I've done many cleanses in my life and I've noticed that because of my strong commitment to the cleanse, I don't find the discipline difficult. I discipline myself because I have a desired outcome and because I enjoy honoring my body through cleansing. And truthfully, after the first few days of getting into the groove and exercising self-restraint, it no longer feels like discipline. The cravings subside, and it's just something I'm doing for myself because I want to. There's no more inner struggle about "should I or shouldn't I eat that stuff?" or "why am I doing this to myself?"

Immediately after the cleanse, I notice how hard it is to stay disciplined in this intense way. Not that I want to or think I should keep up the diet, but it's fascinating to watch my process around what I "should" or "shouldn't" eat. I get so burnt out on all the salads, the extra efforts of juicing, the cutting and cleaning up that I'm happy to do something different. So it feels good and natural at that point to let go of the disciplines and allow for some freedom to eat other healthy foods; to stay committed to my health while relaxing to find more balance.

I've been tuning in to other areas in my life where I'm exercising self-discipline and I realize that I generally do it where I have a certain desired outcome, otherwise, why not just relax or blow it off? My yoga and meditation practices are a regular place where I discipline myself. I ask myself to take this time aside for something special because I know the rewards are great. I feel better and more connected to myself when I practice. And since I've been doing it for so many years, this, too, doesn't feel like discipline most of the time; it's just something that I build into my day and that I want to do for myself.

But there are days when I feel rebellious. I resist the discipline of sitting down to meditate because I have other things I want to do or that I think I "should" do. On these days, if I manage to resist the temptations and meditate, it is because I used great discipline to get there.

I love the idea that self-discipline is sort of like making a promise to myself instead of "shoulding" on myself. When it feels like a "should," I find myself rebelling. But when I remember the positive outcome, then I'm much more likely to follow through.

Perhaps in a lot of cases, the discipline needs to be more fierce in the beginning of starting something new, and as we progress with the new activity or habit and appreciate the positive outcomes, then it no longer feels like discipline and we can find our balance between the effort and the release.

It was fun bringing these reflections to my classes the last 2 weeks. People seemed to relate. I think we all struggle with discipline in some way, whether it's around diet, exercise, studying, working, or getting to yoga class. We dance with when to deepen discipline and when to relax it; hopefully finding that ideal groove we want to sustain.

May you find your sweet groove while navigating the great path of discipline and freedom.

Until next time,

Robyn

Independence from the cleanse

2011-07-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

We've been in Denver for a few days now, having a family reunion with Patrick's family and celebrating his mother's 80th birthday. It's been a great joy to get to know his siblings and their kids more, not to mention having more time with his own two daughters and his two grandsons and his mom. Great folks.

The interesting part has been the fact that we decided to continue our Ejuva cleanse for a couple more days while here. We got some extra herbs and brought our cilium shake mix and even have a juicer to use, so we're set. It's triply being around SO much good food. They are feasting on bacon, quiche, steak, salmon, pancakes, grilled veggies, corn, alcoholic beverages of all sorts, etc. and we are either watching while drinking juice, or eating our simple fruit or green salads. For me, I haven't been craving "real" food, but it's kind of a head trip to be around it and not partake when I am a great lover of food. I am too committed to the great results I'm getting to want to stop just yet.

We are both bummed we didn't have the time scheduled for the 4 full weeks the cleanse is designed for before this trip, but…what to do? We did 3 full weeks and now 2-3 more days here and it's going fine. We are stoked we could do it at all this year and it's been a great process. Nice to see the body still have decent energy, or sometimes great energy, while eating very little. I always marvel at this, actually. How can I feel so good and eat so little when normally I eat like a cow? (The truth is, I notice I don't have as much endurance on the cleanse and there are those low energy times. Not much protein consumption happening). But still, I feel pretty great overall with such a clean, pure diet.

I also love how doing the cleanse together brings us closer. We bond over making almond mild (super tasty), preparing our apple-catelope juice together (another sweet favorite), or discussing our energy level or bowel movements. It's awesome to have support in this often exhausting or trying journey and to have somebody to celebrate the wins with as well.

And so yesterday, we started coming out of the 3rd phase and back to the 2nd. We added a second meal. We had a small fruit salad with the family as they indulged in pancakes and eggs, etc. for brunch. It was yummy and filled our little stomachs. Coming out of the cleanse can be the hardest part. It's so tempting to indulge in salty, greasy foods again, especially when it's all around! I am looking forward to my favorite foods again but also want to remember the benefits of eating so clean and not let that slip away. Moderation, I always say. Pray for me!

Happy 4th!

Sankalpa for the Summer

2011-06-27T15:21:00.001-07:00

This is from my latest monthly newsletter with some editing:

I hope this finds you enjoying these first glorious days of Summer. Summer is definitely my favorite season of the year. I cherish the warmth, the gardening, the beauty, the play, and the feelings of spaciousness and lightheartedness. So I've been contemplating: Can I generate these feelings from the inside, every season or every day? And the answer: Of course! I can create whatever outlook I want. And I am responsible for how I respond to every experience I encounter.

So, I brought these sentiments to classes all last week. I asked my students: What is your favorite feeling that Summer invokes? The answers were things like: laughter, playful, fun, and freedom. Then we worked with embodying those feelings through our asana. We set the intention (sankalpa), to generate one specific feeling/mood (bhava) for the class, and constantly returned to that in our minds and then breathed it into our bodies in the poses. We let it expand and radiate through our poses from the inside - out, so the poses were "moved" by our feeling, our bhava. This is elemental in Anusara Yoga and why I love it so much. Our asana is inspired by the heart's longing and it is potent.

I truly believe that through the power of intention and consistent long-term practice (abhysasa), we can turn our minds towards whatever we want. We see this when we decide to notice the color red. We start seeing it everywhere! Well, can we decide to start feeling spacious or lighthearted every day? I think we can. We have to want it and we have to practice. This is the power of sankalpa and this is the power of sadhana, a spiritual practice.

May your summer be sweet and filled with light and love.

2011-06-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Solstice!

I love this poem by the great American poet, Mary Oliver:

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

A few weeks ago, I used this poem as the theme for my classes, as the last line had called to me so strongly in my quest for clarity and truth:
Tell me, what is it you plan to do  with your one wild and precious life?
In addition to this call for clarity, I love the overall feeling of solace, prayer and reverence she generates in the poem (especially because it can be such a great support for the clarity we all seek)! It reminds me to slow down and listen to myself, to the nature of my own being, and to seek my answers there. What is it I plan to do? What is it that truly resonates with my soul?

For me, the summer time can be a wonderful period of deeper listening. I find myself with less work and more time at home, in the garden, dancing at festivals, teaching and playing at yoga retreats, and exploring the wilds of nature. Even though I may be traveling more, my activities are often geared towards play, connection, and relaxation. This is so deeply nourishing for my inner being!

This year, I feel myself taking a big pause, like a retreat, to re-evaluate the trajectory of my life and what I want to create and manifest for the busy season of Fall and the new year ahead. So I'm basking in this precious pause, truly letting myself slow down, eating in silence, writing, reading, taking longer baths, and soaking in the present wonderful moment.

Tell me, what do you plan to do with this wild and precious summer?

Which reminds me, if you are needing some sacred retreat time for yoga in nature, communing with friends and frolicking in the river and on the mat, there is still room in our August Trinity River Retreat (see side bar). We'd love to share it with you and help you to dive in deeper to your practice!

The Inner Cleanse

2011-06-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

written on 6/11/11

One year ago this weekend, Patrick and I finished our first Ejuva cleanse at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa. We had bright energy and a great time dancing to great music, seeing friends, shopping at some amazing vendors, and eating solid and salty food again after a month-long cleanse.
Yesterday, we started the cleanse again. I love the ritual of honoring my body in this way at this time of year, clearing out toxins, spending extra time with food prep, indulging in avocados, and all the luscious fruits and veggies of the season, anointing my body with rose oil, and making special treats like organic almond milk, YUM!
I've been pining to go to Harmony this weekend, but we've opted to stay home. It feels right. Another cool and cloudy June day. It's not my preference, but it seems supportive to the pensive state I'm in today. Last night, after the first day of the cleanse and a big salad with about 80% raw veggies, mucho avocado and soaked almonds and pumpkin seeds, I woke up around 1:30 a.m. wide awake and buzzing with energy and clarity. (Not a time I usually wake up). I was not anxious or worried about anything, I just had energy. Hmm, it must be all that salad. Perhaps I was hungry. Perhaps one of my organs was working over-time. Tonight I'll have some alkaline grain with my dinner and see if that makes a difference.

The interesting thing is, after lots of dreaming and not quite enough sleep, I feel very lucid today. My meditation was quiet, serene, present. As usual on Saturdays, Patrick has gone off to teach and see body work clients, and I am home alone. Although I have a big list in my head about all the gardening projects I want to accomplish today, I feel very peaceful. The house is quiet and I am choosing to write in my blog for the first time in 16 months. This is a sign. This is a good sign. I feel an inner shift in my being, one that I've been praying for. I can sense it is here by the way I've been sleeping more deeply recently and by the quality of my meditations.

I am happy to be home. I love our beautiful home and garden. It feels so nourishing. I am home a lot these days, since I changed my teaching schedule in April (another good sign). I only teach one class Monday eve, three classes on Weds and one on Friday morning. It feels so simple and so luxurious. This is the least amount of weekly classes I've taught in over 13 years. It feels spacious and it was an important shift to support the extra teaching I've been doing on weekends. So I am savoring my days at home. I am living the life I want to live in so many ways and perhaps this is why I feel that inner shift. I am following my heart. I am prioritizing my practices of some pranayama, meditation and an asana practice on these home days and gardening and taking walks near the beach. I feel much more balanced and at peace when I practice and spend time outside. And I feel much more connected with my Self.

This idea of following your heart, one way to translate the Sanskrit word, Anusara, the kind of yoga I teach, has been a theme for me my whole life, but especially for the last month. All week I have been using a variation on this theme in my classes, after one of my Immersion students introduced a partner exercise at our Heartwood Retreat, where you repeatedly ask your partner, "what are you passionate about?" What are you passionate about? I loved the exercise: you sat across from somebody you didn't know very well and one person asked the question repeatedly for 2 minutes. You had to answer it quickly in one word, and they responded with "thank you" and then asked you again until the time was up. Then you switched roles. I could really see how each person had small revelations about what makes their heart sing. And I am truly passionate about helping people to find what makes their heart sing, helping them to follow their bliss. In fact, I find it quite sad when people live their lives feeling trapped doing things they really don't want to do, in jobs they dislike or with partners who pull them down or limit their fullness in some way. So in classes, we explored the question. I asked them to answer the question out loud in the class opening, and then periodically throughout the class, I asked them again (to answer it silently), with the idea that the movement and breath and presence of yoga would help them to know themselves more (chit = self knowing), and discover more of the truths about where their passions lie. It seemed powerful for some people. I'm sure I could develop this for many more weeks. We'll see what happens.

The funny thing is, I just keep finding myself teaching on some version of this theme. In my last newsletter, I asked the question, "what do you really want?" I wrote about desire and the Tantric idea that desire is a good thing as it motivates us to act and to listen to our hearts. The newsletter before that, I wrote about being deeply inspired by stories of people who make big life changes like leaving an unhealthy relationship (as I finally did over 10 years ago), losing weight, changing careers, etc. because they are learning about who they are on a deeper level and seeing that their "old" ways/lifestyle choices are no longer serving them. They are choosing to follow their hearts.

So this is what I'm passionate about right now, probably because it's something I'm inquiring into for myself. I love what I do, but I've been realizing that I haven't been striking a healthy balance between work and play and practice and relationships, etc. So, changing my teaching schedule was a start. Hiring a part-time helper who comes and works with me at home was another move in that direction. Taking more time to garden and to write, to play music, to spend quality time with friends; more moves in the right direction. Seeking balance and refining, refining, refining. I think for those of us on a spiritual path, life is always about refining. We contemplate, we get clarity, and then we refine based on what we learn. This is following the heart or aligning with Grace, as we say in Anusara Yoga. We may just refine something on the outside, like change our diet or take up yoga classes, or we may refine something on the inside, like letting go of blaming, of being the victim, being greedy, or playing small. And ultimately, I think, we refine not only our actions or our character or our beliefs, but we refine our energy, our very inner vibration. Or perhaps better said, as we refine our energy, the frequency with which we pulsate, we come into greater harmony with our True Nature/Inner Essence, our true Self (or whatever you want to call it), that unchanging Inner Being who we truly are on the inside, and we open to greater ease, greater joy, more radiance, and more pure love can shine forth.

So this is what I'm up to in this life time: refinement and finding harmony and ultimately, living in a place of deep love. I am on the path of yoga to know myself (chit) and to celebrate and radiate this knowing as love and joy (ananda) and offer service to others (seva) so that they may find it too. And this path of Tantra non-dual Yoga is a perfect road for me, because I get to play with and explore my physical body and investigate my mind and my self in relationships with myself, with others, and with the world. Want to join me? It will be fun!

Hawaii Retreat - Last full day

2010-01-30T00:33:00.000-08:00

It was an incredible day on the island. They say we're having summer weather right now. Hotter than the winter usually is, and No Rain!
We started the day with a meditation out on the point at 6:30 am, to watch the sun rise on this full moon day. It was truly divine. We finished with some impromptu partner yoga stretches. And then as we were taking pictures, 3 humpback whales showed up, breaching and spouting! What grace! They did it several times! What a perfect way to end our morning. And today was the day to focus on joy!!!

After lunch, I got an Ayurvedic massage and fell asleep. Tough life!

After dinner, we had a floating full moon kirtan! We had a kirtan planned, but since it was full moon and we hadn't been to the hot pools yet, in front of the ocean, we decided to have our kirtan there! Kelley and her husband played harmonium and Tablas on the edge, and the rest of us floated around on our foam noodles and joyfully sang along. What a great way to chant the names of the divine!! Now it's bed time!

Kalani Food!

2010-01-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

I am loving all this tropical fruit! We get fresh papaya, mangoes, pineapple! Plus blueberries and more every morning. They make the most amazing granola sweetened with maple syrup! Eggs, oatmeal, toast, even rice bread and sunflower butter are available too! We've had Mahi Mahi (not endangered and no mercury), plus seared Ahi tuna, Hawaiian chicken, great baked tofu, a delicious seafood salad, an amazing carrot-parsnip soup, and other incredible savory dishes. And a great salad bar with homemade dressings twice a day. And the desserts! Chocolate cream pie, orange-walnut cake, a delicious chocolate cake, and recently, a vegan cheesecake that melted effortless on the tongue. It just keeps getting better!

Hawaii Retreat - 5th night

2010-01-28T23:55:00.000-08:00

We have an incredible chocolateer with us who brought several of her bars and truffles made from African, Madagascar and Dominican Republic chocolate. So, we had a chocolate tasting session before class today! How heavenly! I never knew how different each country's chocolate can be! Some fruity, some with a punch. Wow! I loved the Dominican one with nuts and cranberries. It's redder than other chocolate and has a fruity, astringent quality. I think I may have to become a chocolaholic after all!

Hawaii Retreat - Day 4

2010-01-28T23:38:00.000-08:00

Aloha!
Well, it's been an incredible week. I just love hanging out with great people in the tropics, talking about yoga, and helping people open to new places in their bodies and minds. Plus, there's nothing like having amazing meals cooked for you 3 times a day, 80 degree weather, no driving, a pool, hot tubs and sauna (plus a bath tub in my room)! to assist in deep presence and letting go.

Each day, I've taught on a different theme. Here's the themes for the week: Intention, Awareness, Shri, Grace, Joy, Celebration- one per day. I've been complementing the theme with poetry from Hafiz and Rumi, among others, and great music. Each morning we have an early Somatics, meditation and pranayama session before breakfast. I've loved watching the dawn and listening to the morning bird songs as we sit in meditation.

Then for 2.5 hours, we have asana before lunch. Each day has gotten a bit more challenging and we have been focusing on back bends! Today, lots of anjaneyasana and pigeons! Tomorrow: Back to assisted wheel pose - 2 partners this time. Saturday- Drop backs (assisted of course)!

We have a long afternoon break after lunch where people head off to snorkel, to the local black sand beach, get massages, nap, swim or whatever. Today, 9 of us went to the local Green Lake, known as a sacred site for the Hawaiians. A gorgeous and tranquil spot.

Each afternoon session, before dinner, we've focused on deep hip opening and restorative poses. It's been so sweet to hear the evening tropical sounds of birds and frogs begin as we finish in savasana. Tonight, lots of yummy shoulder work too, like cow face pose and twisting child's pose. Yesterday, fire log, twisting pigeon, upavishta among others. Woa, that was a deep one! People were swaying their way to dinner!

Hawaii Retreat Journal

2010-01-25T22:34:00.000-08:00

Aloha!
I am having a spectacular time on the Big Island! We are having incredible sunny and warm weather. In fact, they say it hasn't rained for months! (probably not so good...)

Kalani Retreat Center:
The first night I arrived, totally exhausted from getting up at 4 am and jet-lagged from a 2 hour time difference. Luckily, I came in time for an excellent dinner and got my favorite cottage across from a yoga room and a group that was just finishing. Well, it turned out, their last night was a Marimba concert and workshop! It was great music, but I was ready to sleep and it was very loud as there's no glass windows, only screens. Fortunately, they followed the curfew and stopped at 10 pm (midnight to my body) and I got to snoozing right away!

First Morning- I left my room at 7 am to go get a meditation mat, and promptly locked myself out of my room! There was no way back in and I couldn't get a key as the office wasn't open yet. I decided to go sit in the yoga room instead. Unfortunately for me, people from the yoga group were practicing in there. What to do? It was a cool, beautiful morning, so I walked to the Blue Moon room, where my group was scheduled to meet. I thought I could sit there. but no! There were people in there doing chi kung. What to do? I kept walking on a path I hadn't seen before and found a Passion Fruit tree overflowing with fruit! It was all over the ground and totally ripe. What a score! I crouched down and ate two, ripping them open with my hands and squeezing the juice all over my face. They were heavenly. I felt like an aboriginal forager. Then I kept walking and was drawn to this sunny area off the road. I thought I could do my meditation there and it would be comfy and warm. As I got closer, I saw that it was a small labyrinth made out of black lava rock, perfectly set in the morning sun spot. I settled in front of it for a slightly-too toasty meditation facing the rising sun. Great tropical morning bird sounds, warm breeze. This is paradise. I was so happy I'd locked myself out of my room and couldn't use any of the yoga spaces. This was just what I needed; time in nature. What serendipity!

After a huge breakfast of eggs and tons of fresh mango, papaya and banana, I met with Omkar, my group facilitator and he apologized about the marimba concert. I hadn't even said anything. He offered to move my room as there was a belly dancing group coming in next and they were having night classes - not so conducive to sleep! He showed me the new construction. These are great clusters of cottages and meeting spaces with kitchens. The one-room cottages are bamboo and very sweetly decorated with local art, gorgeous african mahogany cabinetry, woven bamboo walls, painted glass doors, painted concrete floors, and deep bath tubs. What a score! I moved in after lunch. I got to meet an older couple from California who purchased one of these homes and styled it out with their own fine hand crafted knobs, mahogany bed, hand-painted tiles. They stay much of the year and rent it out the rest of the time. Hmm, very intriguing idea....!

I taught my first public (pre-retreat) class at Kalani at 4:30 - 6 pm yesterday. 14 people came. It was very cool to meet some locals and even to see an Arcatan walk in the door who's been living near Kalani for a few months! Small world. They all liked it and many of them were interested in joining the retreat. I don't usually do this, but in the aloha spirit, I offered them to come to classes with us (if they could commit to at least a few) even if they couldn't do the whole thing. A few have come so far and it's worked out just fine.
We started the retreat after dinner with an opening circle. It's a lovely group of folks - from Maine, Arizona, California (bay area and Arcata), Quebec, Switzerland, and Hawaii. Half of them are new to Anusara, many newer to yoga in general. So, we're starting with the basics- Opening to Grace, muscle energy and inner spiral and some shoulder opening today. We had a sweet hip-opening and restorative class in the evening with some live kirtan from the local Kalani kirtan wallahs. Tomorrow, more inner spiral. I'm loving sharing poetry and creating new ipod play lists for our classes. Been having some great conversations, enjoying meeting new people and getting to know familiar folks better. And the food has been phenomenal! And the weather couldn't be better! And the hot tub, pool, bathtub. I'm truly on retreat! It's been a great first retreat day!!

Yoga Retreats - How to Choose The Right One

2009-12-22T20:32:00.000-08:00

As a leader of tropical yoga retreats in Hawaii and Mexico, I’ve researched numerous resorts and retreat centers to find the locations most suitable for the clientele I want to draw. Retreat centers range from the rustic to the luxurious, from mountain to beach settings, and from remote to city center. Below are some considerations for what to look for in your search for the ideal yoga retreat.

Know what you want. Do you want to retreat into yourself or have a social outdoor adventure? Some centers have several groups intermingling at meals, at the pool, dance parties, or are centrally located in a town with street noise, music, etc. Others have space for only one group, or are in remote locations with no cars in sight. Many are in between. I’ve found that even if there are plenty of extra activities offered, one can always choose to abstain, stay quiet, take naps, receive bodywork, etc, as long as the setting is tranquil.
Creature Comforts: Are you wanting an exclusive resort/5-Star hotel experience, or do you prefer the somewhat rustic or low-budget experience? Yoga retreats cover the full range and are usually priced accordingly. Spend some time researching what is offered and the quality of the accommodations before you sign up.
Is the retreat located at a center that caters to yoga retreats? If not, they may not be equipped with yoga props or have the familiarity with how to best serve the yoga group’s unique needs.
Is it located at a retreat center or at a hotel? Depending on what you’re wanting from your retreat, one of these is better for you. Would you rather be removed from the daily distractions of shopping, driving, internet and busy streets, or would you prefer to be in town where you can walk, bike, drive or bus to local attractions? Being at a retreat center where there’s plenty of acreage isolating it from the outside world can be very conducive to going inwards and focusing on your practice, personal well-being, rest and relaxation. Many retreat centers offer both, where you can choose to stay exclusively on their campus or you can elect to attend excursions to explore the local environment and attractions.
Are all meals included? I have found that sharing meals with my retreat participants is a very bonding experience for the group. It’s a time when we can get to know each other and strengthen our connections. It is also a treat not to have to fuss with money and tips at each meal when it’s all-inclusive. However, if you’re more of the adventurous or solitary type, you may prefer a retreat not including all meals where you can go off to explore the local fare.

Are extra sight seeing trips included in the retreat price? Again, depending on your goals for your retreat, you may prefer extra adventures are included. If they are, you can be sure you’re paying for them, whether you attend them or not. If you want to explore the area around your retreat, then the extra adventures can be a blast and another great way to bond with your group while deepening your understanding of the local culture and environment. On our retreats, we like to make these extras optional and then the participants can decide which trips they’d like to attend and the facility will still offer a reduced rate for minimum group sizes. Some centers may have more than one group staying at a time, and they offer a different adventure each day for whoever wishes to attend.
What kind of yoga is being offered? There are so many styles of hatha yoga taught these days, that it is important to know what style you prefer in order to avoid getting stuck with a teacher or style that is extremely challenging or unsuited to your nature. Most ideal is if you know the teacher you’re signing up to spend your week with. Next best is if you at least know that you like the style of yoga that they teach.

Best of luck and have a great retreat!

Robyn Smith, E-RYT is a certified Anusara Yoga instructor and teacher trainer from Arcata, California. She offers winter week-long yoga retreats in Yelapa, Mexico and Hawaii’s Big Island, and weekend summer retreats by the rivers of northern California. http://innerfreedomyoga.com/retreats.php

YOGA MYTHS

2009-12-05T13:29:00.000-08:00

Printed in the Arcata Eye newspaper on Nov. 25, 2009

Have you been meaning to start yoga for the last 5 - 25 years? Have your friends been telling you how great they feel after yoga class and nudging you to come along? Are you afraid you’ll be too tight to do it “right?” If you replied yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. Although millions of people are now incorporating yoga practice into their daily lives, many more millions are still interested but too intimidated to start for several reasons. As a certified Hatha Yoga instructor teaching in Humboldt County for the last 15 years, I have heard many of them. But mostly, I hear how much better people feel when they finally begin classes. I’d like to help you enjoy yoga by dispelling some of the myths out there that are just not true.

The Myths:

Yoga hurts

Yoga is for flexible people/pretzels

Yoga is standing on your head

Yoga is a religion that will conflict with my current beliefs

Yoga classes are too easy and I need a workout

Yoga is too hard and I just want to relax

Branches of Yoga

Let’s begin by clarifying that the kind of yoga we’re discussing here is called Hatha Yoga. It’s the physical branch of yoga incorporating postures and breath. Originally practiced as a way to open and clear the energetic channels of the body in order to achieve higher states of consciousness, it is now more commonly practiced as a form of exercise and as a great way to achieve optimum overall mind-body health. Some other branches of yoga are Karma Yoga (the yoga of service, ex. Mother Theresa), Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotional love, ex. the Hari Krishnas), Jnana Yoga (the yoga of Self-knowledge, meditation). Within Hatha Yoga, there are numerous styles, based on the wisdom of the individuals who developed them. Many of these are mentioned below.

Unlocking the Myths

Yoga hurts. If yoga hurts you, you are either pushing too hard, you are in a level that is too advanced, or you are not getting enough instruction to stay safe. In choosing a style and teacher, choose one that can address your physical limitations. In Anusara Yoga, we are highly trained to teach with good alignment and to offer modifications to those who need them. Iyengar Yoga also emphasizes proper alignment and the use of props to modify poses. More gentle styles of yoga are Viniyoga, Bliss Yoga, and Restorative Yoga. If you have injuries or pain in your body, consider some privates with a qualified teacher, or starting with Yoga Therapy Workshops to start unwinding your tension before you step into regular classes.

Yoga is for pretzels. Yoga will make you more flexible and relieve your stiffness. Sure, you may never be able to tie you legs behind your head like some people, but you will certainly find more ease in your body if you start going regularly. In our classes, we have a full range of flexibility levels, from the circus-acrobat teenager to the 70-something senior. Again, finding the right style, level and teacher who can help you with your limits is key to finding joy and relief in yoga.

Yoga is standing on your head. There are hundreds of postures that we can do with our bodies besides standing on our heads, from various standing poses, to sitting, to lying down, bending forwards and backwards and twisting. Inversions (going upside down) are not for everybody although they can be extremely therapeutic. You are always welcome to skip any poses that are not appropriate for you.

Yoga is a religion. Although it comes from India where Hinduism reins,

yoga is not a religion. It is a science and a philosophy for harmonizing our body, mind and spirit. It teaches what most religions share: there is a deeper essence that is bigger than our individual identity, and through the practices, we can connect more fully to that essence, or Self, which is eternal. Yoga, which often translates as union or to yoke or join, is about unifying the individual with that universal source/essence/spirit (or whatever you choose to call it). By opening, aligning, and clearing the body/temple, Hatha Yoga helps us to feel whole and to realize this great inner truth.

Yoga classes are too easy and I need a workout: Oh, not to worry! There are many styles of yoga that will ask you to work muscles you have never felt before. Some will make you hold poses longer, some will flow you more quickly from pose to pose, often with music, working your whole body, from shoulders and back to legs, hips and buttocks. Many people work up a great sweat in practice and have to bring a towel to dry off! Some styles that offer more of a workout: Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram/Hot, Flow, Iyengar. Just start with the most basic level and make sure you are getting good alignment instructions, as when we don’t align our joints properly, injuries can occur.

Yoga is too hard and I just want to relax: Try Restorative, Yin, or Bliss Yoga. They are more gentle or completely geared for relaxation, holding poses (often supported with props) for 5 minutes each or longer. Just remember to find a qualified teacher who brings in good alignment.

Just as we each have our favorite flavor of ice cream, we will each find our favorite style of yoga, if we’re willing to do a taste test. And not only do we test the style, but we test the teacher. Ultimately, we will find that we must resonate most with the teacher and their unique presentation of their style. We may also find that on some days we prefer a more gentle yoga while on others, we crave more of a workout, or that as we mature in our practice, our needs change and we seek out a new style or teacher to fit those needs.

Yoga has been gaining popularity all over the world in the last decade because it works. It has helped millions of people improve their health and well being at very little cost. Overall, yogis notice feeling less pain, increased flexibility, more strength, reduced stiffness, less stress, more energy, more inner ease and joy, increased immunity and so much more. Now are you ready to start classes? Just find a level and a time that works for your schedule and take the leap into a new adventure!

Robyn Smith, owner of Inner Freedom Yoga, is a certified Anusara Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer who is fascinated with the body and its ability to heal and transform. She has a keen eye for alignment and loves to weave poetry and spiritual contemplations into her classes. She offers classes, workshops, trainings, Yoga Therapy and retreats in Arcata, Westhaven, and beyond. Find out more at www.innerfreedomyoga.com.

2009-09-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how we get so busy during the summer months, with garden and house projects, family gatherings, travel, weddings, music festivals and camping trips? I love how in the summer time, we’re called to spend more time outside communing with friends and nature and basking in the joys of life.

In Anusara Yoga®, basking in the richness of life is part of our spiritual practice. We endeavor to engage with the full range of life experiences as they arise in each moment. Like the tomato plants stretching towards the sunlight, we strive to drink in life's rich nectar through our whole body and the five senses: the taste of sweet summer berries, the touch of the warm sand between our toes, the delicate fragrance of the roses, the precious bird songs of early morning, and the outrageous visual displays of flowers and grasses shining in their full glory. When we let our senses guide us, we find that we can open to the present moment just as it is, and we feel more joy in our heart, awake in our body, and alive in our spirit.

With summer’s abundance of delicious scents, colors and tastes, it’s a perfect time to practice drinking in life through your senses. Next time you see a sunflower, take a moment to let its exquisite radiance pierce your heart. When you pop a blackberry into your mouth, pause to savor the rush of flavor hitting your tongue. Next time you’re at the beach, stop to let the ocean’s roaring vibration penetrate your being. Next time you’re in downward dog, open your mind to all of the senses simultaneously and notice how alive you feel.

This is fully experiencing life. This is fully living. This is yoga.

May you joyfully drink in the precious nectar of these final summer days as if they were your last. May you take this opportunity to practice opening to the full spectrum of sense experiences, without judging one as greater or lesser. May this practice open your heart with gratitude for the many gifts of this life, and may the gratitude of your heart touch everyone you meet.

2009-07-08T15:11:00.001-07:00

Ok, just to clarify, we are here to visit with family and friends, and Patrick is working on my parents' fireplace. It just happens to be the week of the M.J. memorial. Loving taking lots of yoga classes and being so warm every day and night!

Michael Jackson

2009-07-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

We're down in LA during the Michael Jackson memorial. It's going to be huge! Many streets are blocked off. It's the night before and there's lots of buzz about town. What an icon.
How sad to have lost such a great entertainer and inspiration. And how sad that he was so poorly treated as a child and then so very troubled as an adult. Another reminder that the price of fame is often quite severe.

2009-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's already Summer and the last day of June! We are loving this incredible coastal sunshine. For me, the sun brightens my spirits and encourages my heart to shine even more brightly. I love how the sunlight is so generous, it shines on everyone, every plant and tree equally, without holding back. It makes me want to do the same.
As Rumi says: Your generosity is vaster than the sea. It doe not wait for tomorrow. No need to ask for anything. Does anyone ever ask the Sun for Light?
May we always recognize the sun's generosity in giving us this precious life, even when it's shining through the clouds.

Summer time for me is a time of celebrating the sensual joys of life and nature. With the fullness of the flowers and the expansion of the daylight, I find myself enticed outside, to play in my garden, to explore the wilderness, and to join in the company of friends and family in gratitude for the beauty and abundance we all share.

This practice of celebrating life is a key component in Anusara Yoga. We endeavor to fully engage with life in each moment. Like absorbing the sun's rays, we strive to drink in the nectar through all of our senses: the taste of sweet summer rasberries, the touch of the warm sand between our toes, the delicate fragrance of the roses, the precious songs of the early morning birds, and the outrageous displays of flowers and grases shining in their full glory. When we can truly open to all that life has to offer in each day, we feel more full on the inside; our inner radiance expands and gratitude pours more readily out from our hearts.

May you fully drink in the sweet nectar of summer. May it open your heart with gratitude for the many gifts of this life, and may the gratitude of your heart touch everyone you meet.

Enjoy!!!

2009-05-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

Spring Musings
I am quite pleased to see so much awareness in the media about "Greening" our lifestyles.
Please read below about some of our favorite ways to live Green.
What a glorious time of year this is!! Spring is in full swing! Inside, I feel an up-welling of excitement, a desire to expand my body and mind like the new plants sprouting from the earth. The teachings of Anusara Yoga remind us that we are the fullness and expansion that we see everywhere in nature right now. And, as we practice, we can unleash this uplifting feeling.
Patrick and I came back from a great weekend workshop in San Francisco, and Kendra is back from her Yoga Therapy training in North Carolina and we are all still feeling this great inner fullness of light. There is nothing like doing a bunch of yoga in a room with 100 people day after day, all with the same intentions to explore the body and mind open-heartedly. After each class, I found myself more expanded than the last. I noticed that the practice of exploring the edges of my body's abilities brought me a feeling of inner radiance that just keeps growing. I left feeling happy, connected and noticed that even with stragers, I was more kind and present. It really shows the power of the yoga to bring us to higher states of being, to the Self.
I think these musings on Inner Peace must have been written by a yogi:

Symptoms of Inner Peace:
(Watch for these signs of peace. Many hearts have already been exposed. It could reach epidemic proportions).

an unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment
loss of interest in judging others or yourself
loss of interest in conflict
loss of ability to worry (very serious symptom)
frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation
contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature
frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes from the heart
tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen
tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fear based on past experience
susceptibility to love extended by others and the uncontrollable urge to extend love

If you have all or most of the the above symptoms, be advised that your condition of peace may be incurable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting these symptoms, remain exposed at your own risk. These conditions of peace are highly infectious. --Unknown Author.

From our radiance, may we exude kindness and compassion towards others and this Mother Earth. May we treat others and this Earth like our best friends: with respect, with honor and with deep appreciation.

Much love from Inner Freedom Yoga

From the Isis Scrolls

2009-01-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

Ask the Yogi! Yoga Therapy for Pain and Injuries with Robyn Smith.

In this monthly column, certified Anusara Yoga Instructor, Robyn Smith, will answer your queries about healing pain and injuries through yoga poses. Please send in your questions to robyn@innerfreedomyoga.com.

Dear Robyn,

I’ve been experiencing pain in my right shoulder when working at my computer for the last few months. I thought yoga was supposed to help, but now I notice downward dog and table position aggravate my pain. What do you suggest? Thanks, Anne.

Dear Anne,

Yoga can actually help your situation quite a bit. The funny thing is that the poses that can worsen your injury if done incorrectly are the same ones that can be the most healing if done with proper alignment and action. Downward Facing Dog Pose is a great example. Often in this pose, the lower and upper arm bones succumb to the pull of gravity and the shoulders and base of the wrists collapse, causing wrist and shoulder misalignment and thus pain. However, activating the muscles that oppose the gravitational pull can lead to great shoulder relief. To work in this pose properly, I would suggest first learning to apply the proper actions in the pose I call Half Dog. This is like downward dog on your knees.

Half Dog Pose: To start, set the intention to be kind to your self. This will create a sweet tone for your practice. Now, from all fours, place your wrist creases parallel with the front of the mat, align the middle of the wrist with the outer shoulder muscle, and spread your fingers out like a sunflower. Then allow your heart center to “melt,” creating a valley between your shoulder blades as you recognize your desire to heal your body. (Avoid collapsing fully here if that melting action easy for you). This opening of the back of the heart is the action you’ll need to recreate once in the Half Dog pose. Now walk your knees back about 8 inches and reach your hips back over your knees, so your thighs are vertical. To protect your wrists and shoulders, root down through the finger pads while strongly lifting up through the arm bones. Lift them up so much that your armpits get hollow (without letting them roll inwards towards your ears). Maintaining that action, allow the area between your shoulder blades to “melt” down towards the floor again as you stretch long from your hands to your hips. The opposing actions of the arm bones lifting and the heart melting, create great strength in the arms and upper back, while also opening the upper back. In fact, these actions, when applied daily in this and other poses, will realign your shoulder and may even completely resolve your shoulder pain, especially if your computer position is ergonomically correct! Once you can perform Half Dog without pain, attempt the complete Downward Facing Dog with the same actions. Please keep in mind that many people have an inner torso rotation which needs to be addressed before applying the above actions. This is where a yoga teacher with a trained eye becomes invaluable.

HOW IT WORKS:

We often have to use under-used muscles to create proper joint alignment, working against our habitual postural or movement habits. When this happens, those under-used muscles get stronger and are more apt to hold the joints in proper alignment. In turn, when the joints are aligned, the muscles are closer to their optimal length and they are “happier!” They no longer “complain” from being over-stretched or over-worked from misaligned positions

Please e-mail me if you have any questions!

Namaste.

Robyn Smith is a certified Anusara Yoga Instructor, Integrative Yoga Therapist and Hanna Somatic Educator who has been teaching yoga since 1994 and helping individuals with chronic pain through Somatics and Yoga Therapy since 1998. She offers classes, workshops, teacher trainings, retreats and privates in Arcata and beyond. She can be reached through www.innerfreedomyoga.com or at (707) 440-2111.

Ask the Yogi: Yoga Therapy for Pain and Injuries

2009-01-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

Originally printed in the Isis Scrolls.

In this monthly column, certified Anusara Yoga Instructor, Robyn Smith, owner of Inner Freedom Yoga, will answer your queries about healing pain and injuries through yoga poses. Please send in your questions to robyn@innerfreedomyoga.com.

Dear Yogi,

I always have trouble "feeling" the correct position that my body should be in for Plank pose. Usually my teacher comes over and tells me that my middle is sagging. But I feel that if I raise my middle, my butt also goes up and my lower back gets irritated. Any ideas?

- Janet

Dear Janet,

You are correct to be concerned about your lower back alignment in Plank pose. Plank pose done properly, activates your Third Chakra, the center of your individual power and confidence, and should feel steady and solid like a wooden plank. A sagging middle or a lifted pelvis in Plank pose is an energy drain, allowing your power to “spill out” from your middle. It suggests your core strength is not being used, or is not yet strong enough for the pose, potentially leading to wrist and lower back discomfort.

Good Plank pose alignment is exactly like good Mountain Pose alignment: your thigh bones should move toward the back of your legs and your tailbone should move toward your heels, toning your lower belly. However, in plank, the inner thighs and belly muscles have to work much harder against the pull of gravity to keep your lower back, legs and pelvis (the heaviest parts of your body) in good alignment! To rediscover your personal power and access these important muscles, I suggest finding them first in Mountain pose and then practicing Plank pose on your knees for a while (an easier version), before returning to the full pose.

Here’s How:

Mountain Pose: Come to a standing posture with your feet parallel and hip width apart. Place a yoga block on the narrow setting between your upper inner thighs. Slightly bend your knees and pull your block back with your inner thigh muscles, without locking your knees. Your legs should be straight. Feel how your sit bones expand and your lower back curve increases? This is an important action for creating a lower back curve. Now, keeping your block pulling back and more weight in your heels than usual, lengthen your curve by gently scooping your tailbone down toward your heels. You should feel your pelvic floor and lower belly tone and lift. These are the core muscles you will need to call upon for the full Plank pose. Now if you lift your arms up parallel to the floor, you’re doing a standing plank pose! Let’s put these exact instructions into Plank pose on the knees.

Plank Pose on the Knees: Come to Plank pose with a yoga block on the narrow setting between your upper thighs and your knees on the floor. Because of gravity’s pull, your pelvis and belly will want to hang toward the floor. To use your inner thigh and belly muscles for good alignment, inhale and lift the block with your inner thighs and feel your thighs and sitting bones lift and expand, increasing your lower back curve (see picture A). Now, keeping your thighs lifted, exhale to scoop your tailbone toward your heels with confidence. Feel your legs firmly hug the block and your sitting bones narrow. This strong movement should tone the pelvic floor and lower belly muscles and lengthen the lower back curve you had before. However, it should not be so powerful that it overrides the first movement: pushing your hips and thighs down or sagging, flattening, or rounding your lower back. Now try pulling your hands and knees isometricly towards each other. This action strengthens your core even more to prepare you for the full pose. You are now in the optimal position for the pelvis and back in Plank pose (see picture B). The block is a great tool to help activate your inner thigh muscles, but is not required once you have found them. I also recommend using a mirror at your side to check your alignment.

When you are consistent in your alignment and strength with the knees down, try the full Plank pose again to restore your individual expression of confidence and power. The instructions are the same as above with the knees lifted.

Take care and enjoy your new personal stamina and core strength!

Namaste.

Robyn Smith is a certified Anusara Yoga Instructor, Integrative Yoga Therapist and Hanna Somatic Educator who has been teaching yoga since 1994 and helping individuals with chronic pain through Somatics and Yoga Therapy since 1998. She offers classes, workshops, teacher trainings, retreats and privates in Arcata and beyond. She can be contacted through www.innerfreedomyoga.com or (707) 440-2111.

Somatics

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INCREASE AWARENESS, FLEXIBILITY AND RANGE OF MOTION.

CONDITIONS SOMATICS CAN HELP: low back pain, bulging discs, sacro-iliac joint subluxation, sciatica, frozen shoulder, knee pain, limping, constipation, shallow breathing, headaches, scoliosis, TMJ dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, bunions, poor posture, limited flexibility, stiffness, all the “itis” family, and many other conditions that may be the result of chronic muscular contractions.

2 METHODS: SIMPLE FLOOR EXERCISES AND HANDS-ON TECHNIQUES

HOW: Through neuromuscular re-patterning. Somatics tells your brain to stop sending the repetitive unconscious messages to your muscles and they relax.

CAUSES: Unconscious tension patterns can start from physical or emotional traumas or habituated movements associated with injury, stress or aging.

SOURCE: Thomas Hanna, P.h.D., founded Hanna Somatic Education based on his studies with Moshe Feldenkrais, Bio-feedback and Hans Selye’s stress response.

For more information on Hanna Somatic Education, see their website at www.somaticsed.com or www.hannasomatics.com.

CLIENT COMMENTS:
“I’ve experienced chronic lower back pain for about 3 years, which no other therapy seemed to completely release. With 3 sessions with Robyn, and the exercises she gave me to practice at home, my pain is gone and I’ve been consistently pain free! “ -D.H.

“The somatic session gave me hope about my chronically tight shoulder and neck area. It greatly released in one session and I now have tools I can use to continue my progress.” -M.R.

The class Schedule

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These two classes are held at The Westhaven Center for the Arts, 501 South Westhaven Dr. (Just 5 mins south of Trinidad, 12 mins north of Arcata). * This class meets at Trinidad Town Hall. All other classes are at the Community Yoga Center in Arcata. See Location below. Holidays: All classes will meet on Federal Holidays unless noted.
Monday	5:30 – 6:45 pm 6:00 - 7:30 pm*	1 1	Robyn Patrick
Tuesday	9:30 - 10:30 am Noon - 1:20 pm** 4:00 - 5:15 pm 5:30– 7:00 pm	1 - 2 All 1 2-3	Patrick - new time! Robyn Kendra Robyn
Wednesday	9:00 - 10:30 am 10:45 am - 12:00 pm	1 - 2 1	Robyn Robyn
Thursday	9:15 - 10:30 am 10:00 - 11:30 am* 5:45 - 7:00 pm	1 All 1 - 2	Kendra Robyn Patrick
Friday	9:00 - 10:30 am 10:45 am - Noon	1 - 2+ Basics	Robyn Kendra
Saturday	10:00 - 11:30 am	1 - 2	Patrick - new time!

A new year, a new blog!

2009-01-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! We offer to you some yogic practices for enhancing your life this year:

Yoga Off the Mat: Practicing yoga in your daily life includes how you relate to yourself, to others, and to the planet. With the symbolic time of this "New Year," we can bring our yoga off the mat by taking the opportunity to reflect on the past and to set conscious intentions for the future.
To bring consciousness/awareness to your life is a central element of yogic practice. For me, I notice where I hold myself back with limiting beliefs and habits. I may tell myself I'm not good enough or that things aren't going right. Then, when I remember the Tantric teachings, I ask myself, "says who?" These teachings remind us that we are limitless, perfect and supremely intelligent. They tell us that we already have everything we need to flourish. We need only remember this truth and open to the abundant offerings of Grace, to see the perfection and beauty in ourselves and in the unfolding of each moment.

A New Year's Ritual: Make a list of any habits, burdens, beliefs, or attitudes that no longer serve you that you would like to release from your life. They are like stuck energy inside blocking your experience of inner freedom. On a separate piece of paper, write a list of new habits, beliefs and attitudes you would you like to magnify in the new year. Then make a simple affirmation summarizing each list. "I release insecurities and fear. I live with compassion, faith, and abundant joy." Build a fire and as you remember your affirmation for the first list, repeat the word "svaha!" three times, throwing the list into the fire. Watch it burn into oblivion, symbolizing the dissipation of this stuck inner energy. Do the same for the second list, offering your wishes into the fire to be taken up like a prayer of smoke to some higher spirit. Remember that you can continue to use your affirmations by visualizing a fire of transformation each time you find yourself stuck in limiting thoughts. ("Svaha," an ancient Sanskrit term of renunciation, is traditionally uttered with the gesture of making offerings in a fire ritual).

Thanks for all of your heart-filled offerings to us each year!

May your year be full of sweetness, beauty and joy!