Chris Coniaris to teach in Talkeetna on March 3 & 4

Studio Z Yoga is hosting Tucson yoga teacher for a weekend workshop.  Chris teaches with depth, clarity and humor.  His meditation experience and love of nature, philosophy and athletics enrich his teaching.  Saturday, 10 am – 1 pm & 3 – 5 pm; Sunday, 10 am – 1 pm.  Cost $100.  Chris will also be teaching a meditation class on Sunday 5 – 7 pm.  You can visit Chris’ website to learn more about his teaching or click here for the workshop flyer (pdf).

 

Sitting with feeling

I’m trying to start a regular meditation practice.  It’s always interesting to see the things that go through your mind as you’re trying to follow the breath.  This morning a lyric from long ago came into my head.  Sometimes people think that everything will be good if they do certain things.  But life isn’t like that.  Why meditate?  Will it make things better?  It helps us be present.  It isn’t that we’ll feel good.  It’s about making time to feel.  So I thought I’d share the wisdom of  Crosby, Stills and Nash…

“You are living a reality

I left years ago

It quite nearly killed me

In the long run

It will make you cry

Make you crazy and old before your time

And the difference between me and you

I won’t argue right or wrong

But I have time to cry…”

 

Class canceled January 10 and 11

There will not be class tonight or tomorrow morning due to winds and the fact that I haven’t plowed!  (Mr Snow blower extraordinaire will be home soon!) There will be class at NSI on friday 9 am for level 2 and 10:30 am for beginners.

January Focus

The focus for classes in January is mula bandha.  Mula bandha is translated as “root lock” or root support.  By creating support at the base of the spine and pelvic floor, there’s more energy and stability in the body.  We’ll explore ways to create this support in numerous poses with particular emphasis on standing poses, inversions and twists.

 

No Class on January 4th

It’s 20 below this morning so there won’t be any class in the yurt.  There will be class at NSI on Friday.  9 am multilevel or 10:30 am for beginners.  It’s a good day to start your home practice.  How about a few sun salutes?  Add a triangle, warrior I, pyramid, and revolved triangle.  Or check out the online classes at yogajournal.com.

 

Powering your Resolution

Listening to the radio today, I heard an author speaking of his recent book about will power.  His premise is that will power is what is missing in most people’s attempts to make lasting change.  As I listened to him I found myself thinking, “that’s what yoga practice is about”.  Will power is the energy that sustains right action.  And, like most things, it gets easier with practice.  Every time we come to the mat we strengthen our will power “muscles”.

As I look ahead to the new year and think about my desires, I also think about how much power (energy) I’m willing to give to make those things happen.  It is said in the Upanishads “As your desire is, so is your will.  As your will is, so is your deed.  As your deed is, so is your destiny.”

May your New Year be fueled by your desires.  Careful what you wish for!

May your days be merry and bright

Thanks to everyone who made this a great year for me and Studio Z yoga.  Wishing you all a delightful holiday season.

Let it Snow

There’s so much skiing and shoveling to be done.  No time to sit and write blog entries.  The regular yoga schedule will continue throughout the holidays and into the new year.  We’ll be doing Sun Salutes at Birch Creek Center on solstice.  Time to thing about a word for the new year.  Hmm, kick or glide….

Beginning Yoga class Starts This Friday

I will be teaching a beginning yoga class at the Northern Susitna Institute on Fridays from 10:30 – 11:30 am.  My current Friday class will also be happening at NSI.  It will be a level 2 class from 9 – 10:20 am.  The Tuesday and Wednesday classes will still be held at the yurt.  Contact me at ziggy@mtaonline.net if you have any questions.

The class focus for December will be hands and feet.

Gratitude Practice

As the temperatures drop, okay, plummet if you’re here in Alaska, it makes sense that early winter is traditionally the season to reflect on one’s blessings.  Short cold days, long dark nights give one ample time to look inward. And yet, it’s easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of the holidays.

This past week the Talkeetna yoga community was fortunate to have Sarahjoy Marsh teach us.  Sarahjoy brings yoga philosophy alive in her classes.  She connects the teachings to our modern lives through her understanding of their essence and her ability to fuse them with the physical practice.  During our class time together she invited us to find the spaces between the activity.  Often the focus is on the movement, the sensation, the feeling, the sound.  But what about the empty bits?  Can we hear the silence?  Can we take refuge in the cessation of movement?

Those who know me, know that I’m not too keen on holidays (an understatement).  I resent the bustle, the consumerism and indulgence.  What would happen if I focused on the message, the underlying “reason for the season” as they say?  Hmm, not sure but I’m grateful for the chance to practice.   Thanks to all my teachers and students (who are also my teachers).