The Last Post

Greetings Yogis!

This is the last post!
Why, you ask?
Because of something really exciting!

I am pleased to announce a new website + blog and a new totally awesome project that I've been working on.

Before!

For the past 11 months I've been working in conjunction with a graphic artist on a Yoga Sequencing manual.
When it started, it was simply a "How to Draw Stick Figures for Yoga" book. It was kind of a good idea, but mostly just a fun project for me to work on. And someone told me that it wasn't a good idea, so then I definitely thought I should do it.

Anna Oyer (who's an amazing graphic designer + yogi) did all the layout + editing. She also became a great fountain of ideas which helped grow the scope of the book to be broader and more effective. I don't think I can properly express my gratitude toward her + her amazing work. But let it be known that this project is WAY AWESOMER because of Anna.

For instance, when I started, it was all hand-drawn and I made it Microsoft Word Project Layout, like a true professional.
Here's how it looked------------------------->>>

After!

Now, I'm not saying it wasn't quite charming, but certainly not a high-quality book. 

Plus it was very limited in its appeal. It was basically for teachers of yoga who wanted to class plan with stick figures. 

It's still that, but now it's so much more. Anna came in and whipped it into shape, so now it looks more like <<<--------------- this

The Cover!

Here it is now--------------------->>>
Isn't it awesome?
And here are just a few things that it covers: 

How to draw stick figures in yoga poses

How to incorporate props into your drawings and classes
How to understand body orientation in yoga asanas
How to draw over 60 poses with variations and props
Skillful sequencing ideas which will lead to meaningful and engaging classes
How to create full class-plans with stick figures and intelligent sequences
Understanding a peak-pose approach and how to get your students there

----------------------------------------------------------------------

So, that's the project part. I literally could not be more proud of it.
Additionally, as I mentioned before, I also have a new website + blog.

My friend Allyson Gibbs designed the site and I have to say that it's pretty swell.
Here is a link: http://www.gabriellehoppyoga.com/

The website will include links to my class-schedule and workshops at One Tree Yoga, a link to purchase my new book + a new platform for this blog. Future posts will link directly to the site, heading right to them as before.



Adios for now, friends. Stay tuned for the book's release (in the next two weeks, or so!) and I'll see you on the new site in the near future!

kleshas: the five afflictions

As practicing yogis we will inevitably come up against difficulties in our lives. Sometimes they are related to practice (here's a post I wrote about that--> Obstacles to Practice) Sometimes they are challenges just associated with being a human in the world.
Which is challenging. Seriously.

What creates these difficulties?
In the yogic philosophy, the klesha(s) are five afflictions are the root causes of why we suffer as human beings. The kleshas are at the heart of life's bumps in the road. They are innate to all of us as humans, as we all experience difficulties and subsequent suffering.

Nicholai Bachman calls the kleshas "arguably the most challenging aspects of ourselves to confront, yet the most liberating after they are weakened and eventually removed." (The Yoga Sutras Workbook, pg. 82)
They tend to come up consistently when difficulties arise. So, on top of whatever trial we are experiencing, it may be exacerbated by the onset of a klesha and a deep emotional reaction as a result.

The 5 Klesha(s) 

1. Avidya (ignorance)
Avidya is root the klesha and it is said that all the other afflictions are caused by avidya. It's translated as unclear seeing, ignorance, not-seeing and lack of awareness. I personally prefer to think of it as "unclear seeing" because it suggests that it may be something that we just don't fully understand yet and also gives us the opportunity to eventually see things clearly.
Avidya may result from an inability to see things for what they are or from avoiding the reality of things as they are. Avidya happens when we see things as permanent, despite the impermanence of all things. Richard Freeman, yogi and yogic philosopher says, "This basic misidentification of the temporary as the permanent, of the happy as the unhappy, of the pure as the impure, this confusion generates all sorts of miseries." (The Mirror of Yoga, pg. 168) The antidote to avidya is to try and understand things as they clearly are. In interactions with others, try to understand their perspective. When you have emotions, feel them for what they are. If there is something that you don't understand, avoid talking about it as though you understand it. And if it interests you, try to learn more about it in order to fully form an opinion. 

2. Asmita (egoism)
Asmita is the ego issue and is sometimes translated as "i-ness." Asmita happens when we see ourselves as the epicenter of the universe.  It creates a separation of ourselves from the rest of humanity, as though we are somehow different having a completely unique experience. This may be related to feelings of superiority or feeling misunderstood. Often in asmita, we hold ourselves to different standards than we would others or feel that we can play by different rules. The antidote to asmita is to remember that we're a tiny blip in the grand scheme, but an integral piece in the order of the cosmos. We can work with feelings of ego by treating all humans as equal and valid and trying to imagine ourselves in other people's positions. What if we were all on giant universal team trying to work together harmoniously?


3. Raga (clinging to past pleasure)
Raga happens when we cling to our desires. When something feels good or makes us feel good, we want to perpetuate that feeling. We get attached to "good feels" and try to make them continue. Sometimes we do this to our detriment. Addiction disorders may arise from raga. 
The antidote to raga is acceptance that nothing is permanent and that the world is ever-changing in a constant state of flux. To work with raga we can begin to recognize when we are pursuing feelings of pleasure and joy, based on a past experience of the same feelings. We can work to try to feel emotions and experiences as they arise in each moment.

4. Dvesha (clinging to past pain)
Dvesha is the opposite klesha to raga and translates as clinging to past suffering. Dvesha happens when we are unable to accept experiences for what they were and are attached to their effect upon us. This may occur as a result of asmita or ego, and a feeling that no one could understand our particular situation. Dvesha may also arise when we become attached to something as permanent, which is impermanent and ultimately changes. In dvesha klesha, we perpetuate the notion of our own dukha (suffering). The antidote to dvesha is acceptance that nothing is permanent and that the world is ever-changing in a constant state of flux. Similarly to raga we can notice with our feelings in each moment as they arise and learn to recognize if it's a learned response based on a previous experience. It is okay to feel suffering and discomfort, but problematic when we are attached to a certain way of thinking/feeling based on a past event.

5. Abhinivesha (fear of death)
The final klesha is abhinivesha and it is the fear of death. Put another way, it's "clinging to the status quo." Abhinivesha is another way in which we are unwilling to accept the natural changing and fluctuations of the universe. We fear death because we don't know what's coming next. This klesha is deeply rooted in all humans, even the wise. The antidote to abhinivesha is to begin to accept the nature of the life cycle, not only for ourselves but for all living beings.

One notion that's very comforting to me, is that the ancient yogis recognized these difficulties over 2000 years ago. In other words, it's not a modern problem to experience discomfort and suffering and to wonder what to do about it.
All kleshas are weakened and confronted through yoga practice. Consciously living, making mindful choices about our reactions and interactions help us to work with the effect of the kleshas. Additionally, accepting and exploring our interconnectedness with the cosmos, with fellow human beings, with the ebb and flow of all things is a step in the right direction.

How to Begin (and Sustain) a Yoga Practice

Hi everyone!
I'm recommitting to SantoshaSounds as a goal of mine for the coming year. I intend to continue to write accessible and useful posts about living as a yogi in the modern world and embodying the full breadth of the human experience.

Since it's the first of the year and many of you will be interested in self-improvement and healthier living, I thought it would be useful to provide some tips to finding a yoga that's right for you.

Sometimes (more often than not) people go to a class that they don't like and think that yoga is not for them. Maybe they didn't jive with the teacher, maybe it was too hard or too slow or maybe it just wasn't up your alley. PLEASE try again. There is a yoga teacher and a yoga style out there for everyone. My teacher Theresa once said that if you wanted to buy a car and you didn't like the first one you test-drove, you wouldn't give up your search for a car. Right??

There's no need to be intimidated by yoga. Everyone was a beginner once and they had to start from square one too. The best approach is to take a class geared toward beginners. That way you'll be able to do most of the poses and see some benefits immediately. After a Basics class or two, you can decide if it's the appropriate level for you or if you're ready to move on to a different style/level.

Also, the argument that you ARE NOT flexible does not groove with me. That is precisely why you NEED yoga. To become more flexible. And not just loose in your muscles. Yoga helps to release long-held patterns of tension in the body and breath, rigid points of view, and the notion that we are separate somehow from our fellow human beings. This practice can ultimately be a way for us to be malleable and open in our day-to-day lives.


                                                                                 1. WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

baddha konasana

If you've never done a yoga class before, you may feel intimidated and overwhelmed by the vast options available. There are classes at yoga studios of course, but there are also DVDs, online classes, package deals, yoga at the gym, etc.
So, where to begin? Things to consider at this first stage are your current finances, how much time you have to devote to regular practice (twice a month, once a week, three times a week?), the type of practice you're interested in (yoga for health, yoga as fitness, meditation, breath instruction, etc), and the level of seriousness you're looking for. The most disciplined and traditional classes will likely happen at yoga studios, though you occasionally find them at the YMCA or your gym.



2. CHOOSE YOUR FORMAT

vigorous virasana in anjenayasana

If you are planning to begin from a DVD or online courses, you have a multitude of available resources. I started with Yoga for Beginners with Patricia Walden and found it really useful.
Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Gaiam-Yoga-Beginners-Patricia-Walden/dp/B003H3BRQI She is a renowned Iyengar instructor who's been teaching for decades and has a practical and soothing approach to alignment-based yoga.
There are also many well-known yoga teachers who teach classes online. One particular site is called YogaGlo and features not only yoga classes but also meditation and work beyond your mat. I would particularly recommend classes from one of my teachers Tias Little. He has a deep reverence for yoga philosophy and an alignment-based approach to posture. I think he's brilliant.
Here's a link to the YogaGlo site: https://www.yogaglo.com/our-teachers
Benefits to practicing at home are that you can do your practice whenever you have time and it is quite affordable. In my personal opinion, this is a great way to spark your interest, but eventually a teacher can help you improve your form and take you deeper into your own path and practice through their knowledge. If you're especially interested in understanding the tradition and philosophy, a teacher will be indispensable.

restorative salamba halasana

3. CHOOSE YOUR TEACHER

It's quite challenging to be discerning about a yoga studio, teacher or class if you have no point of reference. But if you are leaning toward a more serious approach, I recommend looking thoroughly through the website of a studio/studios. In fact, I would say check out the websites of all the studios in town. Read each studio's philosophy and history, read through the class descriptions and read through the teachers bios. You may find something that intrigues you or something that turns you off. Pay attention to your intuition. Many studios have a "new person special" designed to give you a couple weeks to do a studio tour and take several classes. You should totally take advantage of these deals to try out multiple teachers and class styles.


4. CHOOSE YOUR STYLE

What type of class to choose?
Earlier in this blog, I wrote some guidelines for picking a class or practice that's right for you.
Here's a link to that post: http://santoshasounds.blogspot.com/2011/12/yoga-is-for-everyone.html

Hatha yoga refers to what people in the West typically think of as yoga. It includes postures and breathing, and occasionally has a meditative component. Within the Hatha distinction, there are many styles of yoga class to weed through. Here are just a few common ones to clear up:

Vinyasa yoga is typically faster moving with a breath focus. If you're looking for something more aerobic, this is likely the class for you.

meditation practice counts as yoga

Hatha classes are usually prop-heavy (don't be afraid of props! they help you get deeper into poses and sustain poses longer! I use them EVERY SINGLE DAY!) and are alignment focused with long holds to really learn each posture.

Yin yoga features long (really long) holds and is usually all passive stretching. It's designed to lengthen your connective tissue and build pranic energy within the body. Some people find it extremely soothing and relaxing.

Power Yoga is a vigorous style which will build strength and endurance. Usually includes abdominal strengthening and a loud soundtrack.

Restorative yoga is a highly supportive style designed to calm and relax the body and mind.

Wall Ropes classes use a system of ropes and hardware to create traction in the spine. The ropes allow for longer holds and create great spacial awareness.

wall ropes 

 *IN SUMMARY*

1. Choose your format (class/DVD/online course).

2. Find a teacher/teachers.

3. Choose a style.

4. Commit! Decide how often you can sustainably practice per week and stick to it. The benefits of yoga will unfold over time with diligent practice and detachment from the outcome of your practice.

5. Have FUN! While there is a certain reverence to the practice and the tradition, it's also supposed to be a dang good time.

If you find a teacher and class (or classes!) that fit your needs, and attend regularly, you are bound to see the fruits of your practice. These benefits are what keep me coming back to the mat day after day and year after year. You will likely see changes in your physical body, your mental state and your interaction with the world. And as a result, it'll be a challenge to keep you away from your mat.

**If you're in Omaha, come and see me! I teach a variety of classes at One Tree Yoga, including 2 beginners classes per week. http://onetreeyoga.com/schedule.html