Yoga Philosophy

Gratitude practice.

Gratitude practice.

We finished the 3rd week of my Shiva Yoga 200hr Teacher Training, with a 108 Sun Salutations morning practice, in the park, near the studio.
The Sun Salutations are essentially a gratitude practice. Practicing gratitude helps to lift the mind up. The yogis understood that the mind was constantly falling down and never satisfied. Modern psychology is starting to recognize this as well. Recent studies have shown that practicing gratitude changes your brain chemistry. Grateful to be right here in this moment!
The Sun Salutations also help to warm the body up, connect body, breath, and mind, balance the nervous system, and help us to connect the idea of the sun as the brightest thing in our world to the idea of our journey in yoga inward to experience the brightest part of ourselves.

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Last week of 200-YTT!

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Last week of 200-YTT!

I’m a little slow to post. We are in the final week of my Shiva Yoga 200hr Teacher Training. Putting out a huge amount of energy. Have barely had time to look at all the pictures and videos from the training. Every day is just so packed and there’s so much to do!

These pics are from our 3rd week. Wrapping up our deeper exploration of Hatha Yoga — Cleansing, Asana, Pranayana, Mudra, and Bandha.
The students are learning how to separate the breath and isolate as much as possible the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and secondary breathing muscles. These three types of breathing are often called Diaphragmatic breathing, Costal breathing, and Clavicular breathing.
We mostly want to focus on diaphragmatic and costal breathing in yoga. Clavicular breathing is not ideal, as it stimulates the right nostril — sympathetic nervous system. A lot of people are doing this in everyday life without realizing it and creating a lot of stress and tension around their neck for no reason. Teaching about breathing and pranayama is one of my favorite parts of these trainings

Tantra Philosophy.

Tantra Philosophy.

The students are working on some mandala’s in these pictures. One of the key concepts of Tantra is connecting the microcosm with the macrocosm. A mandala is a picture that represents the entire Universe. If we look at the yoga story of the wave and the ocean — Tantra says that you are both the individual wave and you are the water that is connected to everything and everyone. You are the wave and you are the ocean. Tantra philosophy primarily influences Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Laya Yoga. Some of the tantric practices are also found and were practiced alongside all of the other orthodox and heterodox philosophy teachings of the Classical period. Tantra reexamines the role of the feminine. Darkness isn’t meant to be overcome or avoided. Tantra instead speaks of transformation. Turn your darkness into light. Reimagine your darkness as light. If you want to experience God, become like a God.

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Chakra presentations!

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Chakra presentations!

I do this exercise where I ask the students to think of someone who is in their life who is dominant in one of their chakras. And then for each person to imagine they are your yoga student who has come to you for advice. How do you help them find balance?
When we are doing our practice you want the energy to rise to the 6th chakra and take you inward. But in your daily life the 24 hours of each day need to be divided equally. How much of your day do you spend on survival and earning a living? On seeking pleasure? On asserting your power? On being kind and compassionate to others and being of service? On expressing your truth and letting creativity flow through you? And I’m going inward to experience the true nature of your Self? How are you out of balance? What would help you find more balance?

Find the right teacher for you.

Find the right teacher for you.

We are all vibrating at different frequencies. Same attracts same. Like attracts like. You will be drawn to a teacher who is offering the amount of knowledge and the amount of truth you are ready for. When you are ready for more knowledge and more truth you will be drawn to a teacher with more knowledge and more truth. Everything is unfolding the way it is supposed to. We are all helping each other along. I’ve been very fortunate to have so many wonderful teachers in my life. Each one has helped me so much. One of the ways we honor our teachers and pay off the debt we owe to them is to pass on the teachings to our students. Thank you to my students for a great first week. Thank you for letting me honor my teachers and for being so open and receptive and letting me share their teachings with you.

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Really fun Shiva Power class at Aroma Yoga in Zhuhai!

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Really fun Shiva Power class at Aroma Yoga in Zhuhai!

What a great group of students. A very hot and sweaty class. We went deep into the fire. My dharma talk at the beginning of class was all about tapas. There’s no yoga if it’s not challenging. What is challenging is different for each of us. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Focus on your practice. Work hard and get out of your comfort zone. You have to work out of your comfort zone. It’s supposed to be challenging. Yoga is not about being comfortable. It is about sitting in the discomfort, staying calm, staying present, looking at the things that come up for you, and practicing letting them go. Are you fighting your way through your class? Or are you breathing into it? Are you fighting your way through your life? Or are you breathing into it? Keep it light. Keep it fun. But don’t turn the heat down. Go towards the fire. Don’t run away from it. Thank you, everyone for going into the fire with me!!! Such a wonderful experience sharing the teachings with you. Thank you to Yan for inviting to teach at your studio. And thank you to Stella for organizing and translating. Namaste.

Connecting with Community!

Connecting with Community!

our energy affects everyone around you. Let your line shine brightly. Some days you will inspire the person next to you and help lift them up. Some days they will inspire you and help to lift you up. Push yourself to work a little harder and challenge yourself to go a little deeper. Go into the fire and stand your ground. You’re surrounded by friends. You’re surrounded by family. You’re not alone on this journey.

Back to Basics.

Back to Basics.

You’re taking a journey to the center of your Self. You’re walking to the center of the wheel. You’re not going to suddenly burst into flames when you experience the true nature of your Self, or turn into light and disappear. Yoga won’t make all your problems and all of life’s challenges go away. But you can change your relationship to those problems and challenges. Yoga will help you shift your perspective. You change your relationship to your Self and you change your experience of the world.

Men do yoga too!

Men do yoga too!

You want to be a better athlete? Do yoga! Train your mind to concentrate so you can accomplish more and work more efficiently? Do yoga! Reduce stress and prevent injuries and disease? Do yoga! Hang out with a room full of hot and sweaty beautiful women who are impressed that you are the one guy who “gets it”? Do yoga! What are you waiting for guys? It’s time to get on your mat.

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“Copy the teacher!"

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“Copy the teacher!"

A happy belated birthday to my teacher — Dharma Mittra, who turned 80 yrs old last month. I’m so excited that I will be able to see Dharma this week while I am in New York. I’ve been lucky enough to take 3 Teacher Training programs with Dharma over the past 8 yrs and have come to New York on several additional trips for intensive study.

Urdhva Mukha Vrkshasana! Upward Facing Tree Pose.

Urdhva Mukha Vrkshasana! Upward Facing Tree Pose.

Yoga has been so good for me on every level. It’s exciting to see more and more people embrace the practice and see how it’s changing people’s lives. When I first started practicing there were hardly any men practicing. When I did my first Teacher Training program I was one of three men in the training and there were over fifty women. I love seeing more guys getting on their mat and experiencing the benefits of the practice. Yoga is not just for girls. Guys! This practice will challenge you on every level and will kick your butt.

A hot and sweaty Shiva Power class at Float Yoga!

A hot and sweaty Shiva Power class at Float Yoga!

A hot and sweaty Shiva Power class at Float Yoga! Thank you, Stella for inviting me to teach at your studio. It was a really humid day and, WOW, did we go into the fire!!! Strong students!!! Great job, everyone. It was fun practicing with all of you. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

Keep your mind open. Listen. There’s so much to learn.

Keep your mind open. Listen. There’s so much to learn.

Sometimes the students inspire me so much! This student came to my class on Sunday afternoon in Fuzhou. She worked so hard! She listened to everything I was saying and paid such close attention to my cues. And she tried so many advanced poses and variations, even though many of them were out of reach. I was so proud of her. And the whole time she smiled and even laughed a few times when she fell out of some of the more challenging poses. I love teaching students like this. They are so easy to teach. No ego. So much light. The irony is that these students are already practicing so much of what we are teaching in yoga. They don’t need the practice as much as some of the students who are the hardest to teach. Sometimes students are rude and disrespectful and don’t pay attention and don’t listen. It’s hard to teach these students. Their mind is closed off. But really they need the practice most of all. Master teacher, Krishnamacharya has a famous quote about only wanting to teach the beginners and the really advanced students because they both know that they don’t know anything. He said the ones in the middle, the students with a little bit of knowledge who think they know everything are the hardest to teach. Keep your mind open. Listen. There’s so much to learn. Be a good student. Learn as much as you can from the teacher. Are you done learning? Is there no more room for growth? Really? You’ve got it all figured out? There is so much more to learn. You just have to stay open.

Grateful for all the help in Guangzhou!

Grateful for all the help in Guangzhou!

There’s so many people helping me on this trip! I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you, Wendy for all your help seeing me off to the airport. Appreciated you waiting for me.
At the end of my class, I always encourage my students to give thanks for everyone who helped them on their journey. I always take a moment and thank my teachers and my parents during this time, and sometimes someone else who has helped me that day comes to mind and I make sure to offer gratitude for them as well.
We are never doing it alone. So many people to be grateful for! Sending you all gratitude now. Thank you for your help, big and small. Know that you made a difference and it didn’t go unnoticed. Namaste.

The story of Vacistasana.

The story of Vacistasana.

The story of Vacistasana is a story about a Great Sage, a sacred cow, and magical powers. But it’s ultimately about the journey from darkness to light. There was no sacred cow that gave the Great Sage Magical powers.
The power is within you! You just have to do your practice. Be consistent! Be patient! Train your mind to focus! Keep waking up. Everyday, wake up a little more. And a little more. You can do anything you focus your mind on. Some people might think you have a secret, a sacred cow, or are lucky, or have magical powers. But you know your power comes from your practice, from your dedication and hard work. The power is inside you. It’s inside all of us. You just have to learn how to access it! And then you can do anything.

Copy the teacher! Copy the teacher!

Copy the teacher! Copy the teacher!

My teacher, Dharma is a master at the Head Balance pose or Headstand. You might have seen him in pictures balancing with no hands? Dharma tells this great story about practicing with his Guru and doing his best to copy his teacher during one of the practices.
We are following in the footsteps of the master teachers who have come before us. Think of how incredible it is that we don’t have to search in the darkness alone for the light. There’s others who have come before us who are a little farther down the path. All we have to do is follow in their footsteps. So grateful for Dharma and all my wonderful teachers. I am doing my best to follow in your footsteps. Copy the teacher! Copy the teacher! Copy the teacher!

Where is your journey taking you next?

Where is your journey taking you next?

I’m off to the Yonion Festival! Excited to be teaching at this festival in Xiamen for the first time. This is one of China’s largest yoga festivals. I’m honored to be presenting with some of the world’s leading international teachers, including my friends @tymihoward @diceyoga and @yogawithbriohny I’m in Brussels now. Waiting on my flight to Beijing. Where is your journey taking you next? If you show up with an open mind and an open heart the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the ride and breathe into every moment. The thought of all the travel I’m doing this year and being away from home for so long - several months on this current trip - made me very nervous at first and definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I’m loving being challenged like this, though and being forced to give up control. It’s such a beautiful practice. Let it go. What are you holding on to? Let it go. Trust. Have faith. The Universe has a plan for you. Just keep taking steps forward. Breathe. It’s not supposed to feel comfortable. Are you really nervous? Or are you excited and you’ve forgotten how amazing it feels to be excited, vulnerable and alive! Namaste, my friends. Thank you to all of you who I’ve met so far on this path who have inspired me to get out of my comfort zone. We are walking this path together.

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