Yoga Etiquette

Yoga is awesome. The problem is that it is practiced almost exclusively by humans. We are by nature fallible creatures. Despite our mostly good intentions, human beings have the innate capacity to ruin almost anything, a Yoga class being no exception. While I doubt that anyone goes into a class with the expressed intent to be a nuisance, it does happen. Often it occurs inadvertently. Usually the issue is either a lack of self-awareness, or a lack of experience. Some people are unaware how their actions impact those around them. Others are unfamiliar with the unspoken rules of the practice.

Being a Yogi involves more than just practicing Yoga. It also means that you conduct yourself with a sense of decorum. It implies that you know how to properly share a Yoga studio with other people. In an effort to make class a more enjoyable experience for all participants, here is my unofficial guide to Yoga Etiquette. All of my recommendations are based on things I have encountered in my years of practicing and teaching. This is all subjective. I am by no means an authoritative source. Draw whatever lessons you can from my observations and disregard those you don’t agree with.

1. Be Subtle:

When I practice Yoga, I like being surrounded by inconspicuous people. If possible, I try and place my mat a respectful distance from the other students. I don’t really care what others do, so long as it is not too distracting to me. I think the key is to exercise a sense of moderation whenever possible. Be aware that too much of anything can be annoying. For example, breathing in a deep and audible manner is fine and should be encouraged. That being said, I don’t necessarily need to hear your breath if we are situated on opposite corners of the studio. On another note, modifying the practice to suit your level of skill is great. Doing a completely different routine than everyone else is a distraction. There is also a time and a place for grunting. Sometimes a Yoga studio is not the ideal location. If nothing else, at least reserve any grunting for the really difficult poses when it is truly warranted.

2. Be Punctual:

It’s basically a given that Yoga classes do not start right on time. There is usually some leeway between the scheduled start time and the actual beginning of class. Those few extra minutes allow any last-minute arrivals to get set up without interrupting those who made it on time. So long as you arrive within that grace period at the start of class, everything is cool. We all know that the parking situation in Encinitas is less-than-ideal. At one time or another we’ve all have trouble finding an open spot. Just try to plan ahead, knowing the lot might be jam-packed with vehicles. Everyone is going to be late on occasion, just don’t make a habit of it.

3. Practice Cleanliness:

While this is good advice outside of a Yoga studio, it is particularly helpful within one. Anytime you have a group of people exercising together in a confined space, the issue of personal hygiene is going to come up. Yoga is a much more pleasant experience for everyone involved when people adhere to a certain standard of cleanliness. At the very least, try to wear clean clothes, bathe regularly, use deodorant, and trim your toe and fingernails. If you happen to be a person who sweats a lot, bring a towel and use it accordingly. One last note, bear in mind that Yoga mats can get pretty nasty with repeated use. A few sprays of mat cleaner every now and then goes a long way.

4. Keep an open mind:

I don’t always like the routine, the teaching style, or the actual person who is leading a particular class. There are plenty of poses that I do not care for. I am not always on board with the playlist. Needless to say, I have certain preferences when it comes to Yoga. I am also well aware that my preferences are my own. They are not universally shared. I therefore try to approach each class with an open mind. I do my best to be agreeable to whatever that instructor is trying to accomplish. Teaching Yoga is a tough job and it is difficult to please everyone. Being a good sport regardless of your own personal feelings is a healthy attitude to develop, both for Yoga and for life in general.

One final note on Yoga etiquette, it also applies to those waiting for class to start and those packing up to leave. Be mindful that any conversations in the lobby can be heard in the studio. If you want to chat before or after class, the area out front of the studio is a perfect spot. There is a bench with really comfortable pillows to sit on. Also keep in mind that the door to Vinyasa Arts can be quite loud when it slams shut. If you are arriving or leaving when a class is in session, try and shut it gently so as not to disturb anyone. Thanks for all your help making our studio a great place to practice!

 

 

What Jenga can teach us about Inversions

Board games. They used to be cool a long time ago. In recent years however, they have fallen out of fashion. Advances in technology have made them rather obsolete. Back before smartphones, playstations, and Netflix, people had to rely on alternative pursuits for entertainment. One of the ways in which humans found communal enjoyment was through the use of board games. A board game is a term that applies to hundreds of different variations on a common theme. Most of them involve a board of some kind, they require multiple players who take turns, and there is usually an objective and an eventual winner or loser.

Many board games teach us important lessons. Monopoly helps us learn about real estate, while Operation is a tutorial on how to preform surgery. Battleship is a great way to get schooled in naval warfare, and Clue teaches you how to solve a murder.

This brings us to Jenga. It is a game of manual dexterity. Players try to beat the laws of physics and inevitably fail in spectacular fashion. It’s fun when you are sober, it’s even better after a few drinks. Jenga’s brilliance in its simplicity. The game is comprised of a tower made of wooden blocks that are removable and stackable. Players take turns removing blocks from the bottom of the tower and carefully balancing them onto the top. As more blocks are taken from the base, the structure becomes increasingly unstable. Eventually the Jenga tower will collapse onto itself.

Nobody ever wins the game, but someone always tastes defeat. Whoever was unfortunate enough to place the final brick that destroyed the tower is considered the loser. They are then forced to pick up all the scattered Jenga pieces and reassemble them for the next game. In addition, the loser is subject to whatever punishments the rest of the group has deemed necessary. We used to always force the losing player to pound a beer or drink a shot. As I said earlier, it is a fun game to play while drinking.

The lesson of Jenga is pretty straightforward. The stability of any vertical structure is determined by the strength of its foundation. A weak base increases the likelihood of collapse. This rule applies equally to wooden Jenga blocks as it does to towering skyscrapers. It also is very relevant for the practice of Yoga.

Humans are bipeds. Our upper torso is supported by the equal distribution of our body weight to our two legs and feet. This is how we are able to stand, walk, run, and do a host of other physical activities. Yoga is a rare exception in that it is a physical activity that does not rely solely on the feet and legs for support. In Yoga, the hands, head, and forearms are occasionally used to support the rest of the body. These poses are known as inversions.

Inversions are challenging. Without the use of our legs and feet, we are forced to create a strong foundation using other body parts. Creating a strong enough base to support the full weight of a human in a vertical position is not easy. It takes strength, bravery, and persistence to develop an inversion practice. It also takes an understanding of alignment. Getting the correct geometric angles down is key to any successful inversion.

Perhaps the best parallel between a game of Jenga and a Yoga Inversion is what happens when the two collapse. Anyone who has attempted enough inversions has inevitably fallen over at some point. Tipping over in a headstand or falling out of a handstand are common occurrences. They both feel horrifying when you initially lose your balance. As the brain realizes that the body is going to fall, it tends to panic. You will instinctively brace for impact. Then something amazing happens when you actually do fall. The vast majority of the time you land on your feet or fall in a way that does little physical damage. Normally the only thing that gets bruised is the ego. You fall, you get back up, and you finish the class. The same is true in Jenga. When the tower collapses it feels catastrophic. Then you just pick up the pieces and the game goes on…..

So you completed your 200 hour teaching training…….now what?

Congratulations! You have just completed your 200 hours of Yoga teacher training. It’s a fantastic achievement and you should take pride in your accomplishment. The last few months have no doubt been a physical and mental ordeal. You have probably had to sacrifice most of your free time and any kind of a social life to spend countless hours in a Yoga studio. It was a grind, but you learned a ton, got into great physical shape, and made a lot of cool new friends. Regardless of what the future holds, you will always value the experience you had and the relationships you forged. The good news is that you are now a registered Yoga teacher. You have all of the knowledge and tools that you need to potentially teach a class. Plus you probably have a lot of free time on your hands now that your training is complete.

The question that most aspiring Yoga teachers ask when they reach this particular crossroads is: what’s next? Where do I go from here? How do I take what I just learned and apply it to the real world? How do I capitalize on that huge financial/emotional/physical investment I made over the last few months? The answer to that question depends on the individual. Everyone who enrolls in teacher training has a different set of goals. Some want to pursue a career in Yoga, others simply desire to expand their knowledge and deepen their practice. There is really no right or wrong reason. Whether you view your training as a means to an end, or an end in itself, rest assured that it was time well spent.

When I initially completed my teacher training, I felt confused and depressed. While I was pleased that I had accomplished something, I was unsure how to take that next step. I felt confident in my ability to teach, but I didn’t think I would ever get the opportunity to do so. I began to worry that I had wasted the last few months of my life. As time passed, those feelings grew worse. Becoming an actual Yoga instructor seemed like an elusive dream.

When I was about ready to throw in the towel, I decided that maybe I should actually look for teaching jobs before I abandoned my goals. I decided to seek out the activities director at the gym I attended. I introduced myself and explained my circumstances. I politely asked if I might be able to get an audition. To my amazement she agreed. I returned a few days later, did a quick 15 minute audition, and was offered a teaching job on the spot. It was actually much easier than I had anticipated, though I do think that luck and good timing played a role.

For those who are interested in teaching, the biggest obstacle is finding that initial opportunity. The Yoga market is Southern California is cut-throat and competitive. The ratio of available classes to aspiring teachers is not favorable. Most established studios are reluctant to give an opportunity to someone with zero experience. They are even less likely if you are not already a regular student at that particular studio. In most cases, they prefer to hire teachers from their own Yoga community. If you are an outsider who has never taught before, the odds of landing a gig are slim.

My advice to any Yoga job-seekers out there is to initially set your sights low and think out of the box. There are opportunities out there, but you have to take the initiative and find them. It helps to be flexible, be open-minded, stay humble, and maintain a sense of humor. You may find yourself teaching in far different circumstances than you originally envisioned or hoped. That is totally cool and it helps to be able to laugh at yourself. Everyone who is a big-time Yoga teacher had to start somewhere. We all have had to pay our dues working in less-than-ideal conditions.

Gyms are a great place to get started. The bar is usually pretty low as far as who they will hire. You can actually get a job with no experience. The catch is that you have to be able to talk your way into an audition and then demonstrate that you have some teaching skills. You may also have to be patient or flexible with whatever classes happen to be available. Sometimes you have to wait months after that audition before a class opens up, other times you get lucky. It could also be that what is available is not at an ideal time or location. You might have to wake up early and drive far to teach. Sometimes those sacrifices are worth it. It all depends on how badly you want to become a Yoga instructor.

While gyms are a great place to start, there are plenty of other opportunities out there. Essentially any group or organization where people congregate regularly and could benefit from Yoga is a potential teaching opportunity. Chances are that you already belong to one of these groups. Maybe it is where you work, perhaps it is a religious organization, an athletic league you belong to, or it could just be a group of your friends. Whatever the case may be, there are a lot of people out there who could benefit from Yoga and either don’t realize it or don’t have access to it. If you have the ability to teach and you are determined to become a teacher, maybe you just need to find the right audience.

The most important thing when seeking that first Yoga gig is to not give up. You will no doubt encounter a lot of defeats and disappointments along the way. It is easy to get discouraged and lose faith. So long as you keep working towards your goals, good things will happen. Keep in mind that teaching Yoga is a lot like practicing it. It takes a lot of determination and perseverance to do either of them. Don’t give up!

The Tipping Point

It is known as the tipping point. It is the moment of change, the instant when things shift in a fundamental way. It is the result of countless small actions preformed over an extended period of time. Those little things accumulate. Given enough time, they can yield tremendous results. It happens in nature, it happens in society, and it happens in our individual lives.

Snow slowly accumulates on a mountain, one flake at a time. Eventually the amount of snow becomes unstable. Its weight reaches a tipping point, causing it to come spilling down in an avalanche. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, the rain and the storm surge gradually overwhelmed the levee system. The water level reached a tipping point and it unleashed devastating floods across the city. In America, our attitudes and opinions on same-sex marriage have slowly evolved over time. Gradually those shifting values led to a tipping point in our society. Eventually more people supported same-sex marriage than opposed it. With enough popular support, it paved the way for legalization.

The tipping point can manifest itself in both positive and negative ways. For example, if someone smokes a pack of cigarettes every day for years and years, they may eventually reach a tipping point where they develop lung cancer or suffer a heart attack. The collective result of all those bad decisions and poor choices is a serious health condition. Yoga on the other hand is the perfect example of the positive effect of a tipping point. If an individual starts practicing regularly, they will slowly develop more patience, strength, and flexibility. Given enough time, those attributes will express themselves in spectacular fashion.

Anyone who has done enough Yoga can attest to those breakthrough moments. After countless failed attempts at a difficult pose, one day everything falls into place and you nail it. Perhaps you find that moment of balance in an inversion or those few seconds of lift in an arm balance. Suddenly all of that work and effort that you put in has yielded results. Your Yoga practice has just reached a tipping point. What was once an obstacle is now achievable. Furthermore, that newfound confidence usually leads to further breakthroughs and achievements, more and more tipping points down the road.

Yoga is slowly becoming the most powerful force on the planet. That probably sounds like lunacy when you first hear it. However when you consider the facts, it is a completely valid statement. Compare the growth rate of Yoga to any other organization or group on the planet. It dwarfs the competition. Given enough time, it will inevitably reach a tipping point. Unlike nationality or religion, Yoga is a unifying force. It is inclusive. It brings people together regardless of race, gender, wealth or any of the other distinctions that divide us as individuals. As more and more people begin to identify themselves first and foremost as Yogis, the potential for fundamental and lasting change on this planet becomes a real possibility. That will be the ultimate tipping point.

 

The Humanity of Squatting

Human beings were designed to squat. It is one of the more natural positions our bodies can take. Our hips rotate in their sockets, allowing the legs to angle out, while the knee and ankle joints hinge, providing support as the torso sinks towards the ground. In this position, the weight of the body is equally distributed, creating a stable foundation. Anyone who is familiar with Yoga will recognize this as Malasana. It is arguably the most-practiced Yoga posture on the planet. Upwards of half the world’s population engages in this pose on a daily basis, usually for lengthy amounts of time. Many of them are completely unaware that they are doing Yoga.

For countless millennia, humans have squatted down to cook, tend fires, plant crops, hunt, relieve themselves, and do a host of other activities. In most developing nations, squatting is a fundamental part of daily existence. In the Western world however, many individuals have difficulty lowering themselves into a basic squat. For some people, too much sitting, coupled with a lack of physical exercise, have made squatting all but impossible.

Tight hips are the result of a lifetime of chronic sitting. People who have spent years and years of their lives in a seated position tend to have shortened hip flexors. As a result, the lumbar spine is pulled forward, resulting in an overall lack of mobility and balance in the body. That lack of mobility tends to limit the number of physical activities that we can engage in. That in turn leads to even more sitting.

I teach Yoga to a broad demographic of people. I have students of all ages, races, body types, genders, and skill levels in my classes. Within that diversity however, I see some common threads and noticeable trends. One of the things I have observed is that I get a lot of elderly students who are new to Yoga and have very tight hips. This is not to say that all old people have narrow hips. I am getting a bit long in the tooth myself and my hips are pretty open. However I have been doing Yoga for 15 years and I started when I was relatively young. I am referring more to people who have found their practice much later in life, usually at the urging of a doctor or in response to a medical issue.

They will take that courageous first step and decide to try Yoga regardless of age or physical ability. If they continue to come back, they will start to see the benefits. Eventually they become regular practitioners. While I do see many of them make tremendous progress in different areas, I have noticed that hip opening seems to remain the most challenging obstacle for this particular group. Malsana, Pigeon, and Figure Four continue to be a struggle for these individuals long after they have mastered other poses. It takes a lot of Yoga to undo a lifetime of excessive sitting.

The key to healthy hips is to properly maintain them as we age. This is particularly true for those individuals who work in offices, have long commutes, like to binge-watch TV shows, or anyone who spends a considerable amount of time in a seated position. Developing a regular Yoga practice is one of the best ways to counteract all of that sedentary behavior. Although a full Yoga class is not always accessible, squatting is pretty much universally available. Just coming into Malasana for a minute or two each day can do wonders for the hips. It’s not glamorous or sexy, your co-workers and fellow family members may think you are strange, but it definitely beats hip-replacement surgery.

New Class Spotlight: Yoga Nidra with Melinda

I have always been envious of people who sleep with ease. You know who I am talking about. Maybe you are one of them. Those fortunate few who can drift off anyplace and anytime with a minimal amount of effort. People who lay down at night for eight hours and actually get eight hours of sleep. Individuals who no doubt wake up feeling refreshed and renewed every morning of their lives.

I am jealous of that lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, I have had a taste of it. On those rare occasions when I do get quality sleep for an extended period of time, I have experienced the jubilation of waking up with an abundance of energy and optimism, feeling absolutely ready to conquer the day. Unfortunately those mornings are few and far between.

Sleep has always been elusive. I think I have every sleeping disorder known to man and a few additional ones they have yet to discover. I have sleep apnea, I get night sweats, I toss and turn constantly, I suffer from recurring nightmares, and I have been known to sleepwalk. These conditions seem to come and go with no rhyme or reason. Nothing I have done to this point seems to have any impact. I considered trying medication but I don’t want to become reliant on pharmaceuticals. I have simply grown to accept the fact that sleeping just isn’t my jam.

I had never heard of Yoga Nidra prior to last month. It was a random confluence of events that brought me to my first class. I was covering someone’s shift at the front desk of Vinyasa Arts. It just so happened that I ended up working one of the nights that we had a Yoga Nidra pop-up class. I hadn’t originally planned on staying for it, but after reading the description and having a quick chat with the instructor Melinda, I decided to give it a shot. It looked simple and easy. Maybe I would get lucky and finally discover a way to improve my sleep? I had little to lose. I laid down my mat, got my bolsters and props ready, and prepared for what was billed as a nice relaxing hour of gentle movement and guided meditation.

We were about 30 minutes into the class when I realized that I was in over my head. Melinda was guiding us through this really detailed meditation and it seemed that everyone else was in a deep trance. It was then that I started fidgeting. It was subtle at first and then it got progressively worse. I felt like parts of my body were moving on their own volition. I would feel a leg twitch and then notice an arm shake. Then I would realize that I hadn’t intended to do either of things. The more I tried to remain still, the harder it became to avoid moving. Time slowed down to a crawl and every passing second became a struggle. After what seemed like days but was probably more like 20 minutes, I finally felt my body start to relax a bit. The fidgeting at least stopped and I managed to stay immobile until the end of the class. I left the studio feeling a bit defeated. Everyone else seemed to be relaxed and in good spirits. I was confused and wondering what was wrong with me. Needless to say, I did not sleep well later that night.

Having described my initial experience with Yoga Nidra, you may be surprised to hear that I was back again the next week. I’m a bit stubborn when it comes to Yoga. My philosophy is to keep at it until you succeed, be it a posture you are attempting to master or a class you are trying to endure. So long as you don’t give up, you will eventually get there. I figured the same would be true with Yoga Nidra.

The second class went only slightly better than the first one. I made it through the first 30 minutes with no issues. That was when the itchiness took hold. It started with this impulse I had to scratch my leg. I resisted as long as I could but eventually relented. All of a sudden, a half-dozen other places on my body became super itchy. It felt like I had hives or poison oak or maybe I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. My brain just decided to run crazy with these thoughts and I was able to visualize each of them in vivid detail. Again, this lasted until just about the end of class. I was able to finally calm my mind and body for the last few minutes, but by then it was all but over. As we filed out that night, I again observed the demeanor of the other students. Just as the week before, I seemed to be the lone outlier who was not feeling chill and content. I did not sleep well later that night.

It was the final Yoga Nidra pop-up class at Vinyasa Arts. I wasn’t going to miss that thing come Hell or high water. I was determined to at least make some progress. I came prepared and even brought my own pillow. I wasn’t messing around or taking any chances. Like the previous 2 classes, I made it through the first 30 minutes fine. At that point I kind of braced for something bad to happen. I was actually a bit curious what obstacle my body was going to throw in my way this time. As I awaited my fate, something curious happened. I didn’t experience any fidgeting or have a bout of uncontrollable itchiness.

Instead, I reached a deep state of mental calmness and my body felt almost transparent. I was able to follow along with the guided meditation and sink further into relaxation. By the end of the class, I felt weightless and completely at ease. As I left that night, I felt triumphant and satisfied. Although I had only scratched the surface of what Yoga Nidra has to offer, I was content that I had finally gotten something out of it. Later that night, I had some of the best sleep I have ever experienced. I woke up the next morning feeling happy and energetic.

Yoga is essentially about improving the quality of one’s life. Whether you want to get in better shape or calm your mind, the ultimate goal is to make yourself into a better person. Yoga helps us maximize our human potential. Given that we spend roughly half of our lives either asleep or attempting to sleep, it was only a matter of time before Yoga evolved to address this state of being. Yoga Nidra is a natural, safe, and non-addictive way to improve the quality of one’s sleep. It uses guided meditation to take students into deeper levels of relaxation. As we descend further into these relaxed states, the brain waves start to slow down. The student goes from a Beta or an awakened state, into a series of progressively relaxed ones known as Alpha, Theta, and Delta. Yoga Nidra mimics the process of falling asleep, but we remain relatively lucid and conscious the entire time. Doing this practice regularly leads to better overall sleep. One is able to fall asleep faster and consequently reach a deeper level of sleep, thus allowing the body to fully rest and recover.

If you have never experienced a Yoga Nidra class before, it is well worth your time to check one out. If you are fortunate enough to have taken one in the past, then you already know how awesome it is. Either way, I have good news to share. Melinda Quesenberry is an fabulously gifted Yoga Nidra instructor who is going to be bringing her talents to Vinyasa Arts on a regular basis. Her new class will be held every Wednesday night from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. starting in April. Melinda’s voice is hypnotic and she has a very calming presence. We are extremely fortunate to have her on the schedule. Yoga Nidra is still a relatively unknown practice that very few studios can offer. Having this unique option on the schedule is just one more thing that sets Vinyasa Arts above the pack.

Arm Balances and Fried Ice Cream

There was a time when Mount Everest was considered too tall to climb. Rising 30,000 feet out of the Himalayas, the mountain was thought to be unscalable. It was just too high and there was too little oxygen at the top. For years, even the most skilled mountaineers were wary and intimidated by its massive size. Many of the early expeditions ended in tragedy and death. Finally, in the year 1953, a brave New Zealander named Edmund Hillary did the impossible. He and his Sherpa guide Tenzig Norgay reached the summit of Everest. They cemented their names in the history books and proved the naysayers wrong.

On the North shore of Oahu, there are countless surf breaks of unparalleled quality. Dubbed the “Seven Mile Miracle,” this stretch of coastline is world-renowned for huge waves and perfect conditions. Over the course of the 1950’s, as surfing became popular in the islands, most of these spots were conquered. The lone break that remained unridden was called Pipeline. Even by Hawaiian standards it was dangerous. The reef at Pipeline is perilously close to shore, creating a gigantic wave that breaks in extremely shallow water. Much like Mount Everest, it dissuaded even the most talented surfers. In the year 1961, an ambitious young man named Phil Edwards paddled out at Pipeline, caught a wave, and safely rode it into shore. Once again, the impossible became reality.

As miraculous as climbing Mount Everest or surfing Pipeline may seem, I think they both pale in comparison to the wonder that is fried ice cream. I have no idea how it is possible to fry ice cream.  I just know that it is delicious. Especially at a Mexican restaurant on a hot summer evening after a few margaritas, but I digress.

Getting back to other things that are considered impossible. When I teach Yoga and offer arm balances in my classes, people get scared. They immediately assume that such postures are impossible for them. Despite my encouraging words, thorough instructions, and visual demonstrations, many students are hesitant to attempt arm balances. They either conclude that they lack the requisite upper body strength, or they worry that falling is going to cause injury. Both of those concerns however are false.

While upper body strength does help with arm balances, it is not nearly as important as proper alignment. The key is to get the underlying geometry correct. If you create the right foundation, the pose will follow. The universal thread that connects all arm balances are bent elbows. In the Chaturanga arm position, the elbows are bent at a right angle, the forearms are perpendicular to the earth, the upper arms are parallel or slightly angled, and the palms are spread into the ground. This particular arm and hand placement allows for an even distribution of weight. No matter what arm balance you are attempting, having Chaturanga arms is going to be the key to your success.

The other false assumption with arm balances is the danger in falling. Take it from someone who has fallen out of every arm balance on multiple occasions. While it can be humbling and a bit uncomfortable, rarely does it cause injury. The fact of the matter is that all arm balances are done fairly close to the ground. It just seems like you are frighteningly high up when you are in a pose like crow or crane and there is nothing between your face and the earth. In reality, your nose is only a few inches away from the mat. However if you are not used to it, that short distance can feel like hundreds of feet. There is a psychological hurdle involved in any arm balance. Again, it has nothing to do with physical strength or even flexibility. It’s all mental. You just have to convince yourself that everything is going to be fine despite the fact that you are using your arms to support your body weight in a manner that feels completely unnatural at first. It takes some time and practice, but you will eventually get there.

The next time you are on the mat and challenged with a seemingly impossible arm balance, just think about Mount Everest or Pipeline or fried ice cream. Everything is impossible until someone does it.

A Confucian Take on Handstands

“In order for things to stay constant, there must be constant change…”

We live on a planet that is spinning on its axis at a tremendous amount of speed. At the same time, the Earth is orbiting around the sun at roughly 1,000 miles-an-hour. Those forces, working in conjunction, create gravity, give us daytime and night, and are responsible for the passage of the seasons. Yet while all that motion is taking place at the cosmic level, most of the living organisms on the surface of the planet are blissfully unaware of it. What we consider to be normal living conditions are the result of continual change and adjustment by forces far beyond our control.

On a smaller scale, our bodies are composed of trillions of cells working in harmony to maintain life. We have a respiratory system that provides our lungs with oxygen. The cells of our circulatory system transport blood throughout our bodies. The nervous system provides us with sensory feedback so we can navigate the world around us. Our digestive cells allow us to break down food into energy. All of these different cells are perpetually at work to help keep us alive. A human being is continually changing at the cellular level in order to maintain the consistent state that we call life.

I’m not sure if Confucius was thinking specifically about astrology or cellular biology when he concluded that there must be constant change for things to remain constant. I’m fairly certain that Yoga was not at the top of his mind either. I don’t think there were a lot of studios in 500 B.C. China. So while Confucius probably did not have much of a handstand practice, he certainly had some deep insights about change and consistency.

The handstand is one of the more elusive Yoga postures. It is intimidating. It feels unnatural. It is challenging to get into and even harder to maintain. To master this pose, one has to be willing to fall and fail. Repeatedly. You have to become comfortable with the idea of toppling over and losing your balance on a regular basis. There is also the matter of core strength. You have to develop the muscles required to hold the body upright while being upside down. There are a ton of different forces working together to make this posture a reality.

I have struggled mightily with handstands for a few years now. I always felt that my hands were better suited to say holding a beer than trying to support my body weight. Regardless, I have made every attempt to try and achieve this posture. However it wasn’t until very recently that I made much progress. The breakthrough moment for me was when I stopped looking at handstands as a static posture and began to see them as dynamic. I realized that in order to maintain this pose, I had to be continually adjusting and changing. Ironically enough, the key to this posture was literally always at my fingertips, I just did not realize it before.

The fingers are the key to maintaining a handstand. They are what is going to allow you to manipulate and adjust your equilibrium. By continually changing and fluctuating the weight and pressure of your fingers, you will be able to sustain the balance that keeps your body upright. It requires very subtle movements in the fingers. It also takes a good deal of practice to get it down correctly. It is almost like playing the piano for lack of a better analogy. However, instead of creating a song, you are creating a state of stability.

Perhaps you too have struggled with handstands. I suggest to try looking at them in a new light the next time you practice. Take the Confucian view. Keep in mind that in order for things to stay constant, there must be constant change.

New Class Spotlight: Gentle Flow with Shantaya

At Vinyasa Arts, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our classes and our instructors. As the studio has evolved over the last few years, we have added a number of new and innovative classes to the existing schedule. One of the latest offerings is the Thursday evening Gentle Flow with Shantaya. If you have not had the opportunity to attend this amazing class, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It can best be described as a mixture of Vinyasa Flow and Yin postures, combined with Kirtan chanting, while accompanied by live music. It is a fantastic blend of different elements that Shantaya weaves together into a unique Yoga experience.

Bhakti Yoga is known as the Yoga of devotion. It is an incredibly broad term that is open to interpretation. It can involve chanting, singing, live music, art, storytelling, dancing, or really any expression of human emotion or thought. It is a more spiritual type of Yoga. It incorporates Hindu mythology. There is less emphasis on the asana or the physical movement. It is more about connecting to the divine through other forms of human expression.

When I first got into Yoga, my motivation was to get into better physical shape. I viewed it as a form of exercise. I wasn’t really seeking any deeper spiritual meaning in my life. Coming from that perspective, I initially viewed Bhakti Yoga with some skepticism. To be honest, I didn’t see the point of chanting in Sanskrit, nor did I really want to learn more about Hindu deities. I was okay with the occasional OM at the end of a class, but I had no desire to delve any deeper into the spiritual aspects of Yoga.

I think that Bhakti Yoga is something you have to experience before you can truly appreciate it. It is kind of like going to a Grateful Dead concert or standing up on a surfboard for the first time. It is not an experience that you can properly articulate to an outsider. My initiation to this form of Yoga happened very recently. I attended a concert at Vinyasa Arts by Shantaya and the Radiant Soul Band. Their set consisted of songs based on Sanskrit chants which they blended with some more contemporary music. It was one of the more unique shows I have had the pleasure of attending. At some point during their performance, I had that Eureka moment where everything clicked into place. I got what it was about. I felt the powerful energy that comes from chanting. I was speaking the same words that have been said by millions of others over thousands of years of human history. I experienced a connection to the music and the performers and to every other person in the room that night. I felt that I truly understood Bhakti Yoga.

Shantaya’s Thursday night class takes that same Bhakti experience and adds movement to it. In her words, “it is more of a work-in than a workout.” It starts off with chanting, it moves into a Vinyasa Flow, it transitions into some Yin postures, and it ends with collective singing accompanied by a live Harmonium performance. If that last part sounds intimidating, don’t worry. Shantaya creates an atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to participate regardless of their vocal skills. I’m tone-deaf, I lack range, my voice is completely monotone, and I am horrified of singing in front of others. Despite all of those shortcomings, I really enjoy the singing part of her class.

If you want to experience Shantaya’s class for yourself, it is held every Thursday night at 7 pm at Vinyasa Arts. We are also hoping to get her full band back to the studio soon for another night of incredible music. Once the next date is set, we will post it on our website. Keep checking back for that as well as all the other cool workshops and events we have coming up.

I hope my Mom’s ghost makes it to my Yoga class.

I think I was around 6-years-old. It was the early 80’s. One morning as I was walking past my parents’ room, I saw my Mom doing these odd stretches to a television program. It was on PBS. Like all shows on public access TV, it was a no-frills affair with limited production values. I think there was a single camera and no music. It was just this skinny lady in a leotard leading a Yoga class on camera. I saw my Mom following along and doing these postures. I found the whole thing very confusing. I didn’t really understand the concept of exercise at the time. I’m not sure how our conversation went, but I think it was along the lines of:

“Mommy, what are you doing?”

“I’m doing Yoga.”

“Why are you doing Yoga?”

“Because it is good for you.”

I found her explanation lacking but I did not press the issue. I certainly had no interest joining her or trying it myself. I had more pressing matters to attend to at the time. I had sugary cereal to eat and cartoons to watch. I probably made some mental note that associated Yoga with good health and stored it away for the next 20 years or so.

My Mom maintained a fairly regular practice for the next decade. She would alternate between her Yoga show and her Jane Fonda workout VHS tape. I am pretty sure that this was around the time that we got our first VCR. Every morning I would see her doing either aerobics or Yoga. This was long before the first studio opened in Encinitas or they taught it at gyms. That PBS show was probably the only game in town if you wanted to practice. I know that she eventually started adding in her own music. I would continue to walk down the hall to watch my cartoons. Only now I would have to walk past my Mom doing Yoga to the likes of Neil Diamond and Gordon Lightfoot. I still found the whole thing baffling, but I grew to accept it.

She kept practicing for as long as she could after the diagnosis. I was around 15 when she got Leukemia. As the cancer slowly began to erode her health and strength, the Yoga sessions got shorter and fewer between. They eventually stopped completely. After she passed away, I didn’t give Yoga any thought or consideration for years. I still had no interest in doing it myself. Thinking about it only brought me sadness.

I finished high school, went off to college, and eventually moved back to San Diego. It was the late 90’s. Times had changed. The great Yoga boom was just in its infancy. Studios were beggining to pop up in the trendy beach towns. Gyms were starting to offer Yoga classes to members. I was fortunate enough to work out at a place where they added a few classes to the schedule. I remember walking past the aerobics room, seeing people doing Yoga, and experiencing a weird sense of Deja Vu. It took a few months of observation before my curiosity got the best of me. One night I took a class. It was awkward and confusing, but I enjoyed it and felt great after. Little did I know, my life would be forever changed from that moment on.

My Yoga journey involved a number of twists and turns over the years. It took a long time before it became a consistent part of my life. I had to battle through injuries and addictions, and overcome my doubts and fears. Eventually I was able to reach a mental state where I could maintain a consistent, daily practice. As my confidence and skills grew, I started to consider teaching. That inevitably led to my 200 hour training. Once I was a certified instructor, I was lucky enough to find a job teaching Yoga. It started with one class a week. Gradually other teaching opportunities arose. Over the next two years, I subbed and taught any class that was available and gradually filled out my schedule. Before I knew it, I was a legitimate Yoga instructor with a full slate of classes.

There is very little regret involved in Yoga. I have never felt bad after taking a class, nor have I ever felt that going to Yoga was a waste of my time. Furthermore, I have found teaching it to be the most rewarding experience of my life. In fact, there is only one regret I have when it comes to Yoga. I regret that my Mom died before she could take my class. I think she would have been really stoked on it, aside from the fact that her son was teaching it. I think she would have been amazed at how Yoga had evolved since the 80’s. She would have been fascinated by the creative sequences and all the cool, interesting music. I also think she would have loved seeing people coming together and collectively enjoying something that was only available to her on an individual basis.

I’m not sure what happens in the afterlife. The best explanation that I have heard comes from Albert Einstein. He argued that all matter is composed of energy. Energy cannot cease to exist or disappear, it can only change form. I hope that my Mom’s ghost, or spirit, or energy, or whatever you want to call it, is able to continue her Yoga practice from beyond the grave. I think it would be really cool if she is able to make it to my class.