The Primary Series

Ashtanga Yoga is made up of thousands of different postures, or ASANAs in yogini speak. In the tradition that i follow and practice, each pose is memorized and built upon each other. Its a little bit like a REALLY long, never ending dance routine... dancing with yourself, for yourself.
For the basic practitioner there are six major "series" or groups of asanas. I am working on the first series. My teacher told me recently that I might be ready in about a year to move onto the second series. I am in it for the long haul I guess... ;)
Here is the first series in picture. I have almost memorized the sequence of poses, but that is JUST when the mastery begins!

koreayoga.com

I don't know any more if this looks easy or hard... haha. It looks so small and simple from this perspective, but each pose plus the daily, silly dramas of life and all the excuses I make in my head.... makes this primary series quite a mountain for me...

Yoga break downs.

One of my top three favorite people in the world also has a blog. Hers is not about yoga. Its about life and what makes her come alive. This is her blog: http://wollypollydoodle.blogspot.com/

The other day she had a beautiful break down on her yoga mat. She called me and we talked about it. And we laughed about it.The next week I had a gnarly life changer kind of break down on Shari and Avis yoga mat during my practice with them. I called her and we talked about it. And we laughed some more about it.

When these break down moments come in life, one of the most important things is to have someone who will laugh at you and with you about them. During my practice sometimes i get into these CRAZY pretzel kind of poses nd i GET STUCK. When you are learning something new, sometimes you get stuck... but then i always manage to giggle my way out of it and live to try again the next day. Sometimes I cry and giggle at THE SAME TIME! And then we move onto the next day. But either way, once you express it, share it and keep going... it changes and what was once your Mammoth Mountain is now an ant hill. And when you laugh, along the way, its so much more fun!

Thank You My dear Bashley for laughing with me, on and off the yoga mat...

Post Yoga feelings...

On any given yoga day, I can feel a range of emotions after my practice. Today was particularly amusing to me....
I try not to judge what I'm feeling, i just try to rolll with it and to just accept myself...

Today I wanted to simultaneously Run  marathon and to cry my eyes into oblivion... EXPLAIN THAT ONE! HA!! its  good thing i don't have to!

love love love...

The not so silent week....

Its a little bit embarrassing that it has been such a silent week for the blog, sure hasnt been that way for my heart...

I have been moving my home around and my car broke. Ive been stressed and the worst part, I'M ON MY PERIOD. So, on top of all that "life" business, NO YOGA.
I realized it has become kind of coping mechanism. My practice is my safe harbor. My Body has REALLY become that temple. Its where i turn for the answers. My DNA, my cells, my organs, they all carry that vital wisdom that was passed down to me from the women (and men) who came before me and yoga is a way I can go back to that place. When I am knee deep in my practice, i am fully aware of my body as this temple and suddenly every action I take is an act of worship. Not to the outside vanities (although watching my arms change is FUN), but to the inner working and tick tockings of my bodies ancient rhythms. I want to feed it the best things, move it in the best ways and sing it the sweetest songs.
Yoga is kind of like this jungle path that leads me to the hidden temple. I'm sure there are other paths, but this one has been faithful so far.

As I sat in my new (literal) Jungle Hut, I was contemplating my hectic heart. I was singing songs trying to sooth myself with the words of the melodies. Then i just stopped. The songs hadn't been working. I was just singing to no one. I thought, maybe its not MORE WORDS my heart needs. Maybe the place that my heart will find rest is the place with NO WORDS. Without words, I can go back to that ancient place of wisdom Ive been searching for, that place i cant explain. When I do Yoga, there is no music and by the end, if its been a focused practice, there are no more words either. Just me and my cells and the breath that fills them.

Now I have to go to my yoga class.... FINALLY! ;)
some peace and quiet....

The Arm- Week One

I am a Goal Setter and Achiever in the highest sense.
So much so, that i set TWO sets of new years resolutions, one on the mainstream new year and one on the Jewish new year...
SO, I take the two goals I set for this year VERY seriously. Thus, I am tracking my Madonna arms as they undergo their transformation. Every Sunday(-ish) Ill post a picture of my arm for you to laugh at. At this point I cant even do ONE push up..


Here is Week 1:

Where in the Hell?

Where in the Hell can you go in Maui to find a yoga studio?
 HA!! My question lately has been more like, where can I ESCAPE the yoga??
The answer: You cant.
Maui is like the Medina of Yoga, not THE Mecca, but one of the three pilgrimage spots for sure. And Boy do they pilgrimage here! Every week I meet a new couple or 60 year old woman on a spirit quest following their guru around the globe... Its really weird, and really beautiful all at the same time... Hell, I used to live in Jerusalem (btw, that's the OTHER holy city of Islam) and I KNOW 'weird'. And honestly, I think I love it too...

I am more of the 'fall into my teachers arms after I jumped off some huge spiritual cliff ' kind of student than the dedicated, 'ill follow you off the cliff' kind. Well, I jumped over three oceans and landed here, at the Maui Mysore Style yoga studio. I'm pretty sure it was completely fate. Lord knows, I had NO part at all in the decision to start with this kind of yoga. I just 'took what I got', and wow, I definitely could not have picked better.

Mysore Style.
You have a small idea about what ashtanga yoga is. Well, in terms of class style, there is two different kinds of approaches to learning this ashtanga. There is the led class style, which I'm sure more of you are familiar with. Everyone follows the teacher and does all of the poses at the same time.

The second type of class style is called Mysore. (its named this after the city this style came from) In Mysore style, everyone is at their own pace. A practitioner can come into the 'class' any time between 730 and 9 for example and practice until they are finished. Part of progressing in the Ashtanga practice is memorizing each pose, or Asana. I LOVE this. Like i said before, I'm not really the follow the leader type. In Mysore style, IM THE BOSS! o yeah.
 I love this style also because I can have a 15 year practicing yogini on my left side and a 1 month practicing old man on my right. We all just laugh together as we are constantly challenging ourselves to get deeper into whatever pretzel move we are up to in our sequence. And DO WE LAUGH! The day you get to the point of putting your feet over your head (and it comes a lot sooner than you'd think) and rolling in a ball all around your yoga mat, you've earned a good laugh.
Everyone in the class is holding the same space, focusing on the same place, and moving the same kind of energy, but at the pace that is right for them. Its a very special thing to struggle with your body and mind in a group that is having the same exact struggles as you. The person on my left is inspiring me to deeper levels, while the person on my right is reminding me where i came from.

Another cool thing about Mysore style is that it is more of a reflection of real life than a traditional led class. While the environment is a meditative and sacred one (we do pray before we start after all!) it can also come with distractions every now and then. People are having their own struggle right along side each other. These struggles include, crying, farting, giggling... all kinds of distractions, like I said. This small microcosm forces me for an hour every day to accept the world around me as is and to struggle with my own focus only. I cant change anything around me, only whats within me. A Mysore style class is an amazingly forgiving and gentle learning pad for this.

Basically, in Mysore style, I feel like I'm in my own little yoga class, in my own little world, on my own little yoga mat (well, the one i borrow from them)...
My teachers come and correct me or encourage me or tell me to quit bitching and just breath.
After yoga, we sit and have tea. Ah, the Tea. If you come to Maui Mysore Style for just one reason, it should be because of the Chi Tea. Some days the thought of the chi at the other side of my down ward dog keeps me going.. and so does the smiles and laughter of Shari and Avi, my teachers.

I'm not trying to show favoritism, but I think my teachers might just have a special touch. I'm just sayin'...
Everyone one of my friends who comes, never leaves... kind of annoying when Im trying to avoid them, but I think that's quite the testament to the power of this style and this Shala (yogi for 'yoga studio')

Here is the link, in case you were wondering:

www.mauimysorestyle.com

When in the Hell?

When in the Hell do I practice?
Simple enough question eh? Doesnt sound so complicated at first. To do yoga, you need two things, your body and air to breath. THATS IT. I do not even OWN a yoga mat actually. Still saving up for that one... Now its not the yoga or food conundrum, its a surf board or yoga mat one. Im happy for the upgrade, But since I can do yoga where ever, when ever, Ive been saving for the board more feverishly.

As i develop in my practice i learn these kinds of details, like timing, very slowly and usually the hard way. They dont give you an instruction manual when you start... I requested a change in procedure, but its about the journey and these discoveries apparently are normal and should be embraced. No such Manuel was given... Just a pat on the back and understanding smile. Im learning to love these moments, but it hasnt really been that way up to this point.

There are three major times in a month that i do not practice yoga... So, six days a week, minus:

1) Shabbat. Saturdays are not just a holy day for jews apparently... In ashtanga yoga traditions, Saturday is the day of rest too! ha, maybe there is some ancient wisdom there???

2)Full/New moons: So this actually happens twice in a month. When the moon is at its fullest, there is too much energy floating around, its harder to focus the energy and easier to get hurt. Im sure you've felt what i mean, a little crazy at the full moon... ;) The new moon is the exact opposite, too little energy, making it easier to get hurt as well.

3) "the ladies holiday"...
I had been in yoga just about one month when my period came. Like a lot of single women, i was grateful, and annoyed all at once. I just wanted to ignore it and go on with the rest of my life. I went to yoga and about ten minutes in had a totally emotional break down. My teacher came to make a simple and gentle correction and i just BURST into tears. "IM ON MY PERIOD!! BAHAHAA"...
She just smiled and laughed, "ah, well thats why you are having trouble! Sit down, no practice on your period!" Rest, sit, stretch, meditate, but not practice.
So I sat there and cried a little bit more. I was so shocked, "GREAT, ONE MORE THING I CANT DO ON MY PERIOD!!" I was kind of pissed. I said after class that day, "When in the hell am i supposed to practice then?!! I only get three weeks out of the month?!" Come on! She explained to me that yoga is about pulling your energy up and in, your period is about pushing it out... best not to go against your bodies ancient wisdom I suppose...
My yoga practice has been about integrating all the parts of me. And my reproductive cycle is no different. I cant ignore it in yoga. I can bitch about it until I am blue in the face, but something is there to learn from. Im starting to come around to accepting my period a little bit more now... starting. Maybe one day ill be able to actually embrace it! Im more gentle with my body now, and i try to take the time to listen to my heart especially at this time.
Some days with all these time 'restrictions', I wonder when ill ever practice. Other days, I triple check the calendar, just in case i might get a day off...

One thing is for sure, Im damn well aware now of the cycles all around me... and in me. And sometimes my crazy is just a little more understandable... Ill blame it on the moon!

xox

What in the Hell?!

This is another question I have been frequently asking since day one of my Yoga practice.
What in the hell are you doing?
What in the hell are you saying?
What in the Hell was I thinking getting involved with you people?!


Well heres What Ashtanga is (According to Me):


Ashtanga is a long standing tradition of movements and meditations that help the body integrate all its many parts.Yes, i mean body, mind, soul, but also foot and arm, kidney and heart, liver and spleen, all the parts start working together and health is usually one of the results. once you have a healthy body, the healthy mind and soul follow... at least thats what they tell me...

Im not really a copy and paste kind of girl, but I kind of appreciated the simplicity of this explanation I found on Ashtanga.com:

"Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga transmitted to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind."

Just as a side note, this 'internal heat and profuse sweating' thing is NO JOKE. I might just dedicate all of next weeks posts to complaining about this part of my practice....

My favorite part about Ashtanga is the tradition is follows. Each teacher had a teacher who had a teacher. There are pictures of my teacher's teacher and his teacher all over the yoga studio. Before we start our practice we pray in Sanskrit that our teachers will join us (or something like that... ITS SANSKRIT!) When i pray alone and cant remember the prayer, I just make up my own... and there, I DEFINITELY ask the teachers of my teachers to come and teach me... kinda weird? Yeah, i know.

Here is the link to a sample video for you:
http://www.youtube.com/user/AshtangaWorld#p/u/41/E3Q0oGdXyWQ

This isnt my yoga shala, but this is pretty much exactly what it looks like... ;) Just a coincidence that its also in Hawaii...

Shalohaaaaaaaa.....

How in the hell?!

This is a question I have been asking myself a lot lately, especially in my practice,

From
How in the Hell am I supposed to do THAT?!!
to
How in the Hell did I DO THAT!?!

Well, this is how in the hell I got to Maui, and to Ashtanga...

Next to India, Maui might be a close second in amount of spritiual guides and yogis concentrated in one area.
I didnt realized this when i packed up my two bags and moved here from Tel Aviv. All I knew was that people in Hawaii spoke english and surfed and thats all that really mattered to me.

Funny enough however, one of the three goals I set before making my move was to deepen my yoga practice.I wanted to find a guru or a yogi or a WHOEVER to help me realign and move forward.

Another kind of important detail of my move... I came with only $300.00 in my pocket...

My first disapointment in Maui? Learning that YOGIS NEED TO EAT TOO... Its not so cheap to eat here and thus, it is also not so cheap to do yoga. The average class here is about $15. So, I was faced with a bit of a delema when i landed on this magical yogic island... To eat or to do yoga?? I chose food for the first month. There was this serious kunundrum for me for the first 6 weeks here, how can i make enough money to do yoga and still have the time to do it... maybe you are famliar with the problem??

One of my personal angels on the Island called me one day and as we were chatting about my many maui kanundrums, she got into a very excited high pitched kind of heady voice, "wait!! What about the 'Challenge'?!".Uh, yeah its all a challenge...

It turned out that one of the Israelis on the Island actaully taught yoga. And not only did i know him and his yogini partner, they also had a program called, "The Yoga Challenge"! Yoga? Challenge? Yes is all i could hear ringing in my ears....I emailed them that day and we set up my first day of the challenge for the next sunday.

The Challenge:
http://www.mauimysorestyle.com/ashtangayogachallenge.htm

5 days a week comitment to practice ashtange yoga for one month= FREE YOGA!

I felt like every planet aligned in my favor on that day. And that was the start of my love affair.....

Ashtanga Arms

What do me and Madonna have in common??
Besides looking amazing in a pointed bra, and our mutual disdain for poverty in Malawi, me and Madonna also share Ashtange Yoga.

Ashtanga is the rigorus form of yoga that shaped Madonnas now famous arms.
It is a practice with a long standing tradition and deeply integrated principles. It is truly a mind body soul exercise (and by that i mean tool for growth, not just physical fitness)

I recently moved to the North Shore of Maui from Tel Aviv, Israel. I had three goals, write, surf and DO YOGA. I had NO CLUE what i was getting myself into by making these three goals for myself. And, like goals often do, they have led me to a place i never imagined. Ive fallen in love people! I will let my love story unfold for you as we go, and Here i go...

I am committing myself to a 6 day a week practice of this same tradition for the next year.

My 2 major objectives:

1) Answer this question: Will I get Madonna Arms?

2) DONT GIVE UP


I invite you all to follow my journey into myself, my practice and my narcism.

Ill leave you today with my "PUMP ME UP" song, I have a feeling Im gonna need it through this journey...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlxB9zGH8GU&ob=av2e