Buddha Mommy

A local yoga studio has this poster displayed in their common area. I smiled when I first saw it. The more I thought about it, I realized what a great mantra it is. This was designed in World War II Britain as part of a series of posters used to improve people’s morale during a very bleak time. It is funny, but of the four posters in the series, this one was never used. Decades later it was found in a bookshop in Britain among old books. The shopkeeper loved it, displayed it and it became popular.
In the style of yoga I trained, Ananda yoga, we use mantra’s with each asana to bring more focus to the asana. Perhaps this one mantra could be applied to all asanas and to daily life. It certainly follows two of the goals I have for my practice: becoming calm and doing my best.

Come and learn how to stay calm and carry on with us this Monday nite, March 12,2012 from 6:30-8pm for our weekly practice at the UU Church of Fresno on Alluvial in Clovis. Don’t be concerned if you never tried yoga or if you feel you aren’t flexible. You’ll find warm, welcoming students on the same path!

The first Monday of each month we devote our practice to a style of yoga called Yin. If you search this blog you can find detailed information on Yin Yoga and what makes it unique.

Personally, I like Yin yoga. I find that some folks do and others don’t. I think this depends a good deal on why you practice yoga. Our regular practice would be classified as a gentle practice, moving slowly and allowing for time in each pose. This is a “yin” attitude: cool, soft, yielding. A “yang” attitude is warm, hard, demanding (of our body). I would say that our group practices generally with a yin attitude, doing a yang practice. This week, we’ll be yin in both our attitude and practice. Come and see what I mean!
We meet each Monday nite from 6:30-8pm at the UU CHurch of Fresno in Clovis on Alluvial Ave. Wear comfortable, loose clothing. Equipment is provided!

I was surprised to see a little cluster of jonquils in the yard this week! With all the frost and cool weather, I thought it would be awhile before they arrived. It seems as if we just finished with Christmas and New Years.
Moving into the light of Spring may inspire you to get moving and “clean out your cob webs”. If you find yourself ready to invite yoga into your weekly routine, the join us on Monday nites. We meet from 6:30-8pm in the sanctuary of the UU Church of Fresno. Our practice is gentle and accessible to most everyone! See you on 2/27!

I have written several times about the eightfold path of yoga to which breathing, asana practice and meditation are three important steps. During our Monday nite classes, we have been learning and practicing various styles of mediation. Currently we are learning Tonglen as taught by Pema Chodron. This style is in the Buddhist tradition and focuses on compassion. I encourage you to read about it as we continue our exploration.
Please join us this Monday nite February 20 from 6:30pm to 8pm at the UU Church of Fresno. We meet in the sanctuary for our practice. Look forward to seeing you!

Here we are in February. I wonder how many of us have stuck to our New Year’s resolutions. I know that my life has become very busy in the last two months… longer work days in particular. It challenges me to try to find my new life balance that keeps my practice alive. I intellectually know how much better my body feels and my emotional health benefits from daily practice, but it is tough to find time to do it! Keeping my intention in the forefront of my mind helps me to prioritize even a few moments each day to do some breathing and a few asanas.
On Monday nites you can join us at the UU Church of Fresno for a guided practice. We meet from 6:30-8 pm in the sanctuary. This is a great way to start off your week and begin to fit that yoga practice into your life!

The first Monday in February marks 2 years of practicing together for our class! Come and join us for a Yin class and a celebration! We meet Monday February 6, 2012 at the UU Church of Fresno from 6:30-8pm. If your new to yoga, this is the perfect time to join us!

What a challenge day to day living can be! Even when we know what to do to care for ourselves, we frequently get stuck in the realities of our life. As we come to recognize the need to care for ourselves in some significant way(s), we can struggle with fitting those activities into our daily routine. We can feel like the sheep in the photo, “I did I get here and how do I get out of this?”. Starting small with maybe a few moments of focused breathing, to a few minutes daily of seated meditation, to a daily yoga practice can help us find our way back from our being “stuck”.
We are working on our meditation practice the next few weeks in addition to our asana practice on Monday nite. We meet from 6:30-8 pm at the UU Church of Fresno. Come along with us as we explore ways to assist us on our journey.

For those of you who are looking for a Hatha yoga practice in a tradition that focuses on energy flow and relaxation, this week’s practice is for you! If you check thru old posts on this site, you will find more information on Ananda yoga, the yoga tradition that I was trained in. It has alot offer everyone, especially those who are looking to a more internally focused practice.
Please join us at the UU Church of Fresno in Clovis. Our practice is on Monday evenings from 6:30-8pm in the sanctuary. See you Monday, 1/23/12!

Thanks to one of our yogi’s, Maryann, for the picture this week!

My son recently sent me this cartoon. It’s humor and message gave me pause this past week as a discussion has been whipping thru the yoga community. An article in the NY Times entitled, “How yoga can wreck your body” is the source of this debate. I have been closely following the conversation. My point in bringing it to your attention is that I feel it presents an opportunity for each of us to think about our own perspectives on the practice of yoga. How we come to our practice is very individual. By that I am referring to whether it is a purely physical practice or includes the spiritual components. However your practice fits into your life, your physical safety is tantamount. Those of you who practice with me know I am a “safety nag”. I am in teaching yoga for the long haul and desire yoga practice for my students for the long haul as well. In order to accomplish this, we must honor the unique qualities and limitations of our bodies.
Whether you see your practice as a 3 or 4, come join us for our community practice on January 16, 2012 at the UU Church of Fresno. The church is located on Alluvial in Clovis and we meet from 6:30-8pm each Monday nite. A 3 or a 4, you are welcomed!

This week, our Monday nite practice will be guided by one of our own. I will be taking the week to adjust to my new work schedule so Pablo will be be your guide. Please join him and all the Monday nite yogis at the UU Church of Fresno on Monday, Januaury 9, 2012 from 6:30pm -8:00pm. We meet in the sanctuary!