Resurfacing

Well I tried my best but eventually the school year enveloped me and I stopped posting here. Finally it is over though and I am back and giving my full attention to yoga again. Here are a few updates...

First since I am out of school, I have picked up a lot of classes to sub as well as a couple of regular classes. I am still teaching my regular classes at Yoga Vida Westlake on Mondays 6:30-8pm and Saturdays 4:30-6pm. I did pick up a new class at Castle Hill Fitness on Sundays at 10:30-11:45am! This is an all-levels community class which means anybody can come an practice for $7!! It is bittersweet that I am taking this class as it used to be my friend Jeremiah's class who recently moved to San Francisco. I already miss him!

Also I am teaching a beginners series at Thrive Fitness (formerly known as NiaSpace on South Congress) starting Tuesday June 14 at 4:30-5:45pm! It is a 6 week course and pre-registration is required. There is a discount if you sign up by Friday so visit this website soon - http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ngwulfcab&oeidk=a07e3xun41qbf1d7eba

If you are interested (or know of somebody who might be interested) but would like to sample a class with me prior to signing up, please come to a free happy hour class on Friday at Yoga Vida Westlake from 6:30-7:30pm. This class will be heated unlike the series so do bring water and a towel!

Finally I am subbing a lot at both Yoga Vida and Castle Hill Fitness so check their websites for my name or to make it easier, visit kellie yoga on Facebook!

Okay I think I got all my self-promotion out now. I plan to write each week as I used to, just discussing a bit about my classes for the week and any other yoga musing that come up for me. Thanks so much for supporting me and the Austin Kula!

still radiating

So I have been feeling guilty about not posting but still trying to give myself a break as it is TAKS season and the pressure is on! For those of you who don't know that I also teach fourth grade math, that's what I'm talking about. Sounds crazy but this job is way more stressful than when I was a petroleum engineer...

But I am still alive and well. If you come to my classes, you know I have been working my way through the sutras. As I started to prepare for class tonight, I read yet another suggestion from Patajali on how to calm my mind. This one was something like "experience inner radiance free from sorrow"! Oh it sounds so easy. The explanation goes on to mention that we should dwell on feelings of inner illumination and joy. Sure, no problem. But then it goes on to say that we may find ourselves without these feelings sometimes....okay, finally something I could relate to. And ultimately it goes on to say that in these times it is useful to begin with recognition of being alive and go from there to spark the inner radiance. "Gradually" she says, "the heart opens a little and we begin to experience the real feelings we had hoped for". And now we come to the reason, I was drawn to Anusara yoga.

I have always been a little cynical and sarcastic to say the least. And though I loved yoga from the start, sometimes it got a little ooey gooey for me. I felt inauthentic in some of the love fest. When I discovered Anusara yoga and it's tantric philosophy, I got the message that yes, sometimes you do feel sorrowful. But that doesn't mean you have lost the light inside. It's still there. And when you practice and open your heart to the grace inside, it will radiate from you authentically and blissfully. That really spoke to me personally and I offer it to you if it speaks to you. Needless to say, we'll be opening to grace tonight in a backbendy, arm balancey kind of way with our inner bodies bright and radiant=)

Abhyasa

So I'm still on a high from the weekend with Amy & Christina (along with all my other yoga friends)! Even though I couldn't make all the sessions, I enjoyed both Saturday and Sunday mornings immensely. It was great energy and self esteem work, not to mention just a bad ass practice! I did finally get my feet to touch my head in Rajakapotasona which I'm hoping to see a picture of on Christina's blog soon!

These practices were pretty intense and it got me thinking, especially after I followed the weekend up with a Charlie Pivert practice at noon today. I'm still going through the Sutras and I've arrived at the discussion on the importance of abhyasa (practice). It sort of goes along with the Anusara "A" of action. Sure you can set intentions and study the theory, alignment, etc., but nothing really happens until you actually DO something. Today is MLK day and my friends were quoting him a lot today. And there were great intentions behind those quotes as well as plans to see them through. But what if nobody actually did anything?

So as I tend to procrastinate sometimes, I decided to stop and get my blog entry in today. Now I'm going to teach and get some work done for my other job tonight. As Amy said in our workshop, I'm going to keep cleaning out drawers which in turn should continue to elevate my self-esteem. I hope to see you in practice soon!

inner brightness

So I've decided to go through the Sutras again this year, this time really focusing on each one as a class. After reminding myself of the purpose of yoga, I have now gotten to the reasons for stilling the mind. We still the mind to rediscover our true nature. And yet, what tends to happen is that all the fluctuations of the mind cloud this nature and make us believe we are the clouds instead of the light beneath.

Such a nice thought as I stumble through my cloudy and cold day today. I often guiltily dwell in my thoughts, ruminating until I can't take it anymore (or my friends can't take it=) I start believing every little thing that comes to mind and then I steep in the cloudiness. So after reading those sutras, I am reminded to be attentive, not to the fluctuations of the mind, but my light within. It's warming on this freezing cold day...

Happy New Year!

It's 2011! Can you believe it? I believe it today as I struggled to get out of bed to go back to work. It was a little sad to leave my vacation time behind but I am looking forward to this new year. So many possibilities...

I started the year as I did last year - a class with my good friend, Jeremiah. It was fun because I actually formally met him and took his class for the first time a year ago. Now to see how far we've come...now we're friends who actually spent new years eve together! Along with some other new friends I've made this year. I'm so grateful to have met them.

Then I spent Sunday practicing with my very first Anusara teacher, Mark, who was back in town for the holidays. It was fun to enjoy his familiar teaching along with all the new Iyengar tips he's picked up. It was also fun to reflect on how far I've come since that first class with him.

So in all, it has been a weekend of joyful reflection. I am starting my way through the sutras again this year and with the first verse "Here, now, is the teaching of yoga" I am inspired. I have enjoyed the reflection and intention setting but am also currently rooted in the present. Happy new year to you all. Thank you so much for being a part of my life!

good enough?

Wow it's been awhile again. December has been a crazy month for me. But finally I am done with school until next year and things are winding down. It's interesting what takes place when I get so busy. I start to tire and wear down. I feel a bit of a cold coming on. I have also noticed my mood getting a little lower when nothing is wrong. I start noticing my faults more and my attributes less. I really fall into that "I'm not good enough" mode.

It's so frustrating sometimes but I keep using my yoga training to remind myself that this is just a mala talking. I really am good enough and I know this. But when I'm tired, I think it's harder to remember. Or when I'm in a situation that challenges me more than normal. Take my video for instance. I know I am good enough to become inspired but every time I make a video, I think "well that wasn't good enough!" Also as I meet new people I even think I may not be good enough to be around them.

So I turn back to the teachings and continue to remind myself. I turn into myself, much like we do in inner spiral, to remember and then to expand to the back, the universal as well as shine forth again with my heart. And I do this with kindness in mind, toward myself. I offer this to you as I am so grateful when someone reminds me...

Drama

I've been hanging out with my yoga friends a lot recently (which is such a treat!) and we were discussing the dramas of our lives=) It was funny because so many people think that yogis and especially yoga teachers are supposed to be without drama or something. Or perhaps just able to deal with it better. That being said, we also discussed the fact that most of us who are drawn to yoga were drawn to it for a reason. There was some sort of drama in our lives that we couldn't or didn't want to deal with and sought out yoga as relief. And yes, it has taught us so much about dealing with our drama but it doesn't necessarily put an end to it. Nor does it stop our samskaras from coming up and showing themselves when faced with adversity. So thus, the drama.

My week was blissfully without much drama though as I did get to spend some awesome quality time with these good friends. Not so much of a family week for me - that comes during Christmas time. But my yoga family was a fabulous substitute. I even had a lovely practice with Anne down at the Clear Springs Studio. It was an Iyengar practice which I have little experience with; however, since Anusara does have some roots with Iyengar, I found the practice to be quite amazing. I even played with some binding that is difficult for me and found a new transition thanks to my newest Iyengar friends!

It has been a wonderful rest and though I do dread starting back to work a little, I know the rest has rejuvenated me for the next 3 weeks. My awesome friend Sam has asked me to sub for her at Castle Hill so look for me there on Thursday at 4:30pm! And take a look at this updated blog site with my new pics!