Today we welcome Sarah as our latest student spotlight…
…Sarah is a long-time participant in our Monday night Yoga for Strength & Fitness class at NECC and she and her mom have attended some of our Live Sitar and Yoga seminars as well.
In addition, Sarah is a nurse with experience at the Dept of Health and she and her husband are the proud parents of Caroline (b. June 24, 2010), with another one coming soon (!), as Sarah is now 6 months pregnant.
Here is a video of Sarah’s practice and below that is a sit-down talk we had with Sarah about yoga, life, pregnancy, and more – so please do listen to her audio file as well.
Down Dog => 3Pt Down Dog => Bound Side Angle => Lizard => 3Pt Down Dog [Left Side] => Down Dog => Chaturaunga Dandasana => Upward Dog => Down Dog => 3Pt Down Dog => Bound Side Angle => Lizard => 3Pt Down Dog [Right Side]
=> Down Dog => Jump to Squat => Down Dog => Jump to Hand Balance => Down Dog
High Lunge => Twist to Side => Rise up => High Lunge => Warrior III => Standing Split => Revolved Triangle => Half Moon => Flip Dog [Left Side]
Down Dog => Chaturaunga Dandasana => Upward Dog (2x)
High Lunge => Twist to Side => Rise up => High Lunge => Warrior III => Standing Split => Revolved Triangle => Half Moon => Flip Dog [Right Side]
Down Dog => Supported Side Plank => Standard Side Plank => Child
Seated Bound Angle => Seated Wide Angle Fwd Bend => Double Toe Hold => Squat with Leg Extension (both sides) => Upward Table
Here is another unscripted podcast to add to your collection of home practice routines.
Level: Intermediate +
Time: 30 min
Yoga Mat (required);
Block (recommended)
Feel free to download, put on your i-Pod and play and practice whenever.
Feedback about this home practice and wish-lists for future podcasts are always helpful and welcomed.
Here is an overview of the sequence of this practice:
Child => Downdog (up on ball of the feet) => Plank => Modified Upward Dog => Down Dog with twist variation => 3pt Down Dog w/ left leg up => 3 pt plank => 3 pt dolphin plank => 3 pt plank => 3 pt Down Dog => Plank => Low Plank (Chaturaunga Dandasana) => 3pt Down Dog w/ right leg leg up => 3 pt plank => 3 pt dolphin plank => 3 pt plank => 3 pt Down Dog => Down Dog => Left Foot Fwd => Reverse Warrior 2 => Warrior 2 => Reverse Warrior 2 => Triangle => Revolved Triangle => Down Dog => Plank => Side Plank (both sides) => Down Dog => Right Foot Fwd => Reverse Warrior 2 => Warrior 2 => Reverse Warrior 2 => Triangle => Revolved Triangle => Down Dog => Wide Angle Side Plank => Supine Bound Angle => Plow => Shoulderstand => Plow => Shoulderstand => Fish => Supine Spine Twist => Shavasana
Don’t have a lot of time? Just finished a run and need a cool-down routine? Had long day and need to refresh? Or just need a change of space – physically or mentally?
Then this 19min routine may be just the practice for you.
Here is an unscripted, unedited podcast for your home and personal use:
Supine => Legs in Air Arms Overhead => Seated Breathing => Cat-Cow => Child => Balancing Table => Down Dog => 3 Pointed Down Dog series =>Lunge /Twist => Lizard => Down Dog / Plank / Cobra Pose / Down Dog => 3 Pointed Down Dog series =>Lunge / Twist => Lizard => Down Dog / Plank / Low Plank / Down Dog => Wide Angle Forward Bend (Seated) => Supine Bound Angle => Supine Spine Twist => Shavasana (corpse pose)
Feedback and Requests: We are officially in podcast making mode!! Give us constructive feedback and send us your wish-lists for future podcasts. Thanks and see you next time!
Note: If the play/download bar is not showing, please email me and I will re-install it. This one seems to be vanishing on me from time to time. Thanks!
Meet Anna – and do listen to her podcast below. Anna has been coming to classes for years – generally on Friday mornings.
In fact she was the first in her family to attend. Since then 2 of her daughters, her son, and one of her grandchildren have also come.
Anna has a grand family – her idea of a family get-together is 30+ people, easy. And about her yoga? We all know that yoga starts & ends with a positive, “can-do” spirit. Along this theme, Anna has got us all beat. What comes her way she meets with an open mind and courageous heart – always seeing the bright side of life. And she does not worry about things that have yet to happen.
In the past year, Anna has been through a lot and underwent an extended hospitalization – with various complications. But you know what? You would never know it now. Anna is upbeat, independent, mobile and headed soon to Mexico for a little r & r to close out the summer – and did I tell you she did a cross-country road trip this summer? Life goes on and so does Anna.
We still meet most Fridays for yoga, one-on-one at her house, where we work on movement, balance & strength. Each week there is noticeable improvement, which to be honest comes as no surprise at all.
“This project is but a microcosm of what we all encounter in life: Challenges and our inherent ability to overcome them. Our hope is that this short piece serves as inspiration to anyone anywhere immersed in a challenging transition. May we all strive for and ultimately achieve the same success as Ashleigh. Omn Shanti…Omn Shanti…Omn Shanti…”
(Note: Further down in this post is more explanation about this video project.)
If you liked this video please take a moment to leave a comment for Ashleigh below.
As powerful a media as video is, no single avenue can tell an entire story. Here is a bit more about what was going on behind the scenes. After all, is it not impossible to encapsulate ten months or so of human life into but ten minutes of video.
The seed idea of making a pregnancy video first came to mind around 16 months ago when a much-loved student of mine performed a beautiful side plank in one of our strength and fitness yoga classes when she was 6 or 7 months pregnant. Actually, at the time, all I wanted to do was take a picture (not make a video), and indeed we planned on it, but the opportunity never presented itself. The impression remained in my mind: Show what a practitioner can do when pregnant. That was the spring of 2010.
Right around that time, Ashleigh started coming to class again – she was not yet pregnant so obviously I had no idea she and I would ever engage in such a project. In brief Ashleigh had come with a friend to some of our classes a year or so earlier, let’s call it the summer of 2009; and then there was a long gap until she started up again that spring, April 2010. As I would learn much later, Ashleigh re-entered our classes in the wake of having been through a miscarriage.
During the spring and summer of 2010, Ashleigh was extremely regular in her practice – attending 4 classes per week – and we quickly became reacquainted and the relationship grew. She and her husband Matt attended our Eating Healthy seminar (June 2010) & Matt also came to class when his schedule permitted. In addition, during those summer months, Ashleigh and I would often do loads of arm balances after class on Fridays.
Early that fall Ashleigh wrote me and apologized for having been remiss in coming to class and informed me that she had some personal / medical issues. I soon learned she was pregnant and that her doctor had initially instructed her to rest. In due course, after getting clearance from her physician, we discussed her return to class and how we would proceed. By “proceed” I mean what precautions and modifications we would take to ensure her comfort and safety in class.
I really have no idea when I first talked to Ashleigh about the prospect of making a pregnancy yoga video with her as the subject. But it became quickly evident that she would be a great candidate – for many, many reasons on many different levels.
So there we were: A great candidate with a never-done-it before camera guy. Here I should probably say that I did in fact shoot all of the footage and did conduct all the audio interviews; but the skill, expertise and magic of putting it all together rested solely upon the shoulders of my trusted videography team – Halaja Productions.
Since I’ve mentioned filming – let’s go down that road. As Ashleigh’s pregnancy progressed, I made sure to always have my video camera around. But the main problem was that I was teaching all the classes as well. How was I to do it – teach class and film? Well, on occasion, as I was able, I would shoot (and, er, teach) during class. This increased especially in the latter months of her pregnancy. But to be honest, it was extremely difficult to do: Both physically and psychically. While I tried to do it as discreetly as possible and while everyone else in class was always extremely supportive, it just was not feasible to shoot much during class. Mostly I would think, “Oh, if only I could have gotten that on film.”
Hence, Ashleigh and I would plan to shoot afterwards. That meant after she had already been through a moderately engaging or quite grueling yoga class, Ashleigh and her pregnant body would be called upon to re-do all the poses which I had wished I could have filmed during class. Ashleigh, in essence, was doing double-duty. But like everything else, it rarely phased her. On occasion, she had to attend to other life callings, but most of time she was completely up to the task.
Actually, she carried on in her pregnancy and with yoga with such a presence of calm. She had great trust, confidence and I dare say courage. She came to class very regularly and performed at an extremely high level. I cannot forget how in month 8 or so, some new people entered our strength and fitness yoga class and I was explaining to them beforehand what to expect and if they got tired they could do child pose etc. One person promptly set-up her mat next to Ashleigh, who was very big bellied; and I could tell the new person was thinking, “How hard could this be. If she (Ashleigh) can do the class, then certainly I can too.” Well surprise, surprise – things are not always as they seem. Indeed that new participant and I talked and joked about this later.
Ashleigh would march through those classes as if being 8 months pregnant was but a piece of cake. Around that time another one of my longtime students informed me that she too was pregnant, but warned me, “I know I can’t keep up with Super Pregnant Yogini Ashleigh!”
Really speaking, there is no such thing as “keeping up” in yoga. We do what we can given how we feel – pregnant or not. But the spirit of her comment was well-taken: Ashleigh seemed to be moving through the classes with the ease of one who was not really pregnant – somehow that was what was natural for her. She was mindful, careful, yet extremely active & energetic.
Certainly her consistency in coming to class (3 x per week) had a lot to do with it, as did her overall level of fitness, and most definitely her “can-do” mind-set.
Here I just want to say that there is a tremendous difference between starting yoga when one is pregnant and continuing yoga when one is pregnant. These days so many seem to start yoga upon learning they are pregnant. And that is a great thing: Breathing, gentle stretching, and meditating. It is certainly beneficial for both mother and baby. That said, on the more physical plane, I think only one with an already established yoga routine can expect to maintain a more challenging level of practice through pregnancy.
Ashleigh was able to do just that. Though in one of our audio sessions, she commented that she felt she even “expanded” upon her practice during pregnancy. And it is probably true!
On the point of consistency, Ashleigh’s attendance was like clock-work: Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning, plus our extra sessions after class for filming. On the rare occasion she missed class, she came for make-ups. One time she came for a make-up at a different site where the other students did not know her. They only saw she was quite pregnant. When it came time for some arm balances, they were a bit surprised to see Ashleigh kick up into forearm balance without a moment’s hesitation. All along for Ashleigh though, it was always always about practice and engagement, and never ever about any type of display per se. She just took it all as a matter of course and would do what the day provided.
Speaking of her consistency, in fact in her last week, which at the time we did not know would be her last week, Ashleigh came to class on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. And on that Friday, April 22, she even renewed her monthly pass. She left class that morning and I clearly recall thinking what we might video next week. But alas, the very next day (Sat April 23, 2011), after being at the birthing center for a mere 21 minutes, Ashleigh delivered Eliza Jane (7 lbs, 21 inches) at 3:09pm.
Ashleigh sent me an e-mail Sunday morning and I was totally surprised – even shocked. I think part of me was thinking that she would be pregnant forever and I would just keep on filming! In fact her due date was May 8, but by the way she was developing, medical professionals told her long before that she would be on the early side.
While there is much more to say – just as there was much more video and audio footage which could not be included in the above piece – there is one more thing I would like to share.
Ashleigh’s husband, Matt, is a helicopter pilot in the Air Force and he was called away on duty the entire 8th month of pregnancy. Being a military couple, they moved to Maryland from out of state and had no family local to the area. I told Ashleigh if she needed anything (from the store or whatever) while Matt was away that either I or one of the other students could help, but she just carried on just fine. She came to class, worked at the veterinary hospital, and we filmed.
Since her birth, Eliza Jane has been to class many times. She is very quiet and usually sleeps in her carrier next to Ashleigh’s mat through most of the class only to make a grand appearance (and sometimes performance!) afterwards, which of course we all enjoy. And we all joke how she already knows the routine since she did upwards of 80+ classes while in the womb!
So that is some of the background of this project – at least my perspective anyway.
The theme however is much more simple: In life we all face challenges and periods of transitions, may we aim to meet such circumstances with courage, joy, and composure. May we have respect for our bodies and minds and carry on the best we can, accepting our limitations, while striving for greatness.
Please do share this video with friends and family, with expecting mothers as well as with doting grandfathers, with anyone you wish. If this human story serves as a bit of inspiration, that will be true success.
As our student spotlight series develops, today we have both a youtube video and a podcast (audio) from Sherrod. Please find both below.
Sherrod, a regular on Monday nights (NECC), is always ready for the next “move” – both in life and in yoga. She enjoys being challenged on and off the mat – physically and intellectually. A career environmentalist and educator, Sherrod has had her hand in many local green projects from designing nature walks to directing ecological programs for kids & much more. Sherrod is also a wife, mother & grandma. Please find her podcast below…
Jennifer first came to class some years ago and has become more regular in the last 1/2 year or so. Along the way her husband, Dan, and daughter, Sierra, have also attended. Jennifer also has a son, Nathan. Both kids are in their early high school years at Southern.
Jennifer hails from southern California and in fact just last week she made a surprise visit back home for her mom’s birthday. Ever the gracious one, Jennifer cooked grand meals every evening for her entire extended family. They came over to eat every night!
In her practice, Jennifer is quite graceful as well – as you can see from the photo. She has a natural sense of balance and enters her poses with a wonderful composure – most of the time!
Many of you know Annie as she is a die-hard participant in a number of classes – plus she never misses a workshop / seminar.
By day Annie teaches 5th grade, and by evening she is a dedicated yogini, wife, mom, and so much more.
Here Annie is featured as the first in our student-spotlight series. This is a time when you get a chance to tell your tales about yoga, life and the intersection thereof – it is a wide open venue. It is a time to share inspiration and insights. Hearing Annie, I hope you too will choose to participate in this student spotlight series.
As you all know, this year’s Eco Yoga Day program explores the field of biomimicry. But what exactly is bio-mimicry?
Well here in the below podcast, our eco presenter Karen McDonald tells us about biomimicry and its many benefits. She also reveals projects we will be doing on Eco Yoga Day. Please do listen to the below podcast to learn more about this fascinating field and great event.
All proceeds – every penny – from Eco Yoga Day go towards local green projects.
On Sunday, Sep 26, we held our first-ever Yoga Anatomy seminar. It focused on the back & hips. The short piece below is footage from that seminar. We look forward to holding our next Yoga Anatomy seminar in January 2011. It will focus on the neck and shoulders. Do join us!!!
Well, here is the 5th and final video of this series. This one is of a little different genre – it is another way of looking at what we do (though we never play this type of music in class!) – we hope you like it.
Once again our sincere gratitude to all who helped in this project. We see this 5-part series not as an endpoint but rather as platform from which to go further and deeper.
Looking forward to sharing more in the future with you.
Namaskar and welcome to one of our gentle yoga classes. Basically, any class on our schedulenot named as Strength & Fitness or Absolutely Abs comes within the domain of “gentle yoga”. These classes are for everyone. Do join us – look forward to having you there!
Here is the latest in our ongoing series podcasts for you home practice library.
Here is another unscripted podcast to add to your collection of home practice routines.
Don’t have a lot of time? Just finished a run and need a cool-down routine? Had long day and need to refresh? Or just need a change of space – physically or mentally?
Meet Anna – and do listen to her podcast below. Anna has been coming to classes for years – generally on Friday mornings.
Jennifer first came to class some years ago and has become more regular in the last 1/2 year or so. Along the way her husband, Dan, and daughter, Sierra, have also attended. Jennifer also has a son, Nathan. Both kids are in their early high school years at Southern.
Many of you know Annie as she is a die-hard participant in a number of classes – plus she never misses a workshop / seminar.
