http://onesourceyoga.com/index.htmlHot News!engmantoan@mac.comCopyright 2007 GM2009-05-06T10:20:33-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Wed, 06 May 2009 10:33:14 -0700gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2009-05-06T10:20:33-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/b6918f7ea808bd1b6bb667874998a059-31.html#unique-entry-id-31http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/b6918f7ea808bd1b6bb667874998a059-31.html#unique-entry-id-31
I began to think about my own growth and the growth of my students. I realized that if I stop nurturing for a week or two (myself or my students), the growth stops. The relationship can even die all together. The more I take care of myself, the faster I grow! Right now I am taking better care of myself than I have in 10 years. Not surprisingly, I am sprouting like a weed in many areas of my life! It is interesting because we think we do not have time to nurture ourself and yet we expect change to occur. It just doesn't happen.

Furthermore, the Universe does not keep track of time for us. It has no preference for when we want to do the work. We could spend a lifetime doing very littler personal growth and it is no big deal for the Universe. However, it is a big deal for our personal health and our relationships. If we grow and transform, we will have less suffering. I don't know about you, but less suffering sounds good to me!

My yoga teacher once told me that the amount of nurturing we do for ourselves (deep nurturing, not superficial) is equal to the amount of self-esteem that we have within. So if we never take time to nurture ourselves, we likely have low self-esteem. When we begin to nurture ourselves our self-esteem will grow accordingly. A pretty interesting idea to think about! I know that my Type A friends give me a strange look when I tell them this. But in the end, most admit that their high self-esteem is closely tied to their competence- and thus may not be high self-esteem at all.

So maybe we should all begin to garden as a form of self-reflection (svadyaya). I think it has been a lovely yogic teaching tool for me!]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2009-04-25T10:25:47-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e60f56c8bbbc3aea9692efe9ef298984-30.html#unique-entry-id-30http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e60f56c8bbbc3aea9692efe9ef298984-30.html#unique-entry-id-30
I think clearing our space is the same thing we do in yoga on an internal level in our minds. We must clear out the junk that is clogging us up and only leave the things that help us to feel joy and transformation. Some of the old ideas that I would like to clear out have to do with lack of abundance, thinking of the worst case scenerio and feeling heavy in my mind. What would you like to clear out of your mind and also your physical space?]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-06-17T20:32:47-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/10dc0f5f4dbe815b739845c09e7e2933-29.html#unique-entry-id-29http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/10dc0f5f4dbe815b739845c09e7e2933-29.html#unique-entry-id-29gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-06-09T16:57:47-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/18e61df93ecc88efc1b14533e6e8626f-28.html#unique-entry-id-28http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/18e61df93ecc88efc1b14533e6e8626f-28.html#unique-entry-id-28gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-05-30T13:54:59-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/69b99e68623095bc54d3dfe106696e94-27.html#unique-entry-id-27http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/69b99e68623095bc54d3dfe106696e94-27.html#unique-entry-id-27gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-05-19T09:27:43-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/351416348fb80542f6e1de14084c4ff1-26.html#unique-entry-id-26http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/351416348fb80542f6e1de14084c4ff1-26.html#unique-entry-id-26gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-05-16T10:43:24-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/fe87a1761dbc586ac7ff8683599b9d9b-25.html#unique-entry-id-25http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/fe87a1761dbc586ac7ff8683599b9d9b-25.html#unique-entry-id-25gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-04-25T08:06:43-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/8f56a27a1083df4faaa16e416dfe8b26-24.html#unique-entry-id-24http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/8f56a27a1083df4faaa16e416dfe8b26-24.html#unique-entry-id-24
]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-04-12T17:18:53-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/0ea5f47302a36fe1349ee299e6ee58e1-23.html#unique-entry-id-23http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/0ea5f47302a36fe1349ee299e6ee58e1-23.html#unique-entry-id-23
Many of the group's leading thinkers wanted to talk to the Dalai Lama individually so that they could present their ideas to him. Others in the group were happy to put their ideas together and allow one person to speak for the group. When they did present, the Dalai Lama usually agreed with the people who had common sense ideas, not the big plans to save the world. It boiled down to practicing compassion within ourselves.....one person at a time.....to change the world.

]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-04-07T07:45:32-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/3f6b2338905273ae0fc4950f698fa86f-22.html#unique-entry-id-22http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/3f6b2338905273ae0fc4950f698fa86f-22.html#unique-entry-id-22
Chapter one begins with a commitment sutra which says "I am ready to take a new path- the old path is not working for me and I am suffering." Then it goes on to tell us that yoga is creating a on-pointed focus in the mind (which is why you can use it to achieve just about anything). Next Patanjali discusses the benefits of having a yoga mind- that we will see more clearly, make better decisions and ultimately suffer less. He also warns us of the other path- that we may not see clearly, make poor decisions and suffer more.

I could go on and on because I love the sutras so much! But for now I must go and do my practice! ]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-04-04T09:46:06-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e387ca77653ed4a7fc0cf2c019d5ba5e-21.html#unique-entry-id-21http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e387ca77653ed4a7fc0cf2c019d5ba5e-21.html#unique-entry-id-21
I have been encouraging my students to look at their reactions to the workshops. I tell them that someone else had a very different perception and it is usually very interesting to them to hear this. I ask them to think about another time in their life (maybe something from childhood) that they had similar feelings and to explore what is deep inside of them that this experience has kindly brought to the surface for them. I tell them that these difficult moments are when spiritual growth is occurring and to be thankful for the opportunity to clean the mind of samskaras. If our buttons are pushed, there is something inside of us to take a look at.

Now the hard part is listening to my own advice!!!!! Please remind me next time my buttons are pushed:-)

]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-03-27T20:22:20-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/d8c142749e83a5e480cf9f3e0312847d-20.html#unique-entry-id-20http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/d8c142749e83a5e480cf9f3e0312847d-20.html#unique-entry-id-20gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-03-19T09:41:15-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/4ee773a72d7a1b9c09903aa6ddfa050d-19.html#unique-entry-id-19http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/4ee773a72d7a1b9c09903aa6ddfa050d-19.html#unique-entry-id-19
I find myself wanting to chant at each moment when I have free time. The latest chant I am learning is is "Puspum", a chant for abudance and fertility- a great one for Springtime. It talks about the earth, fire, the rain, the water, the starts and the constellations, Basically it says that fire cleanses, water comes to create life with perfect timing. This is such a metaphor for all of the goals which we have in life. There is a krama to each goal, moving step by step, until the perfect time when the goal is achieved. Just like nature, we must live within the seasons. I find that many Vedic chants follow the patterns of nature. This, combined with the vibrations that are created in the body when one chants makes the experience especially rich and rewarding. I think I will go chant!]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-03-19T09:26:39-07:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/f9ed00a31c5d92870cefff26d48116e6-18.html#unique-entry-id-18http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/f9ed00a31c5d92870cefff26d48116e6-18.html#unique-entry-id-18
Sri Desikachar says that our relationships tell us how we are doing with our yoga practice. The Yoga Sutras say that good communication is one of the keys to obtaining a sattvic mind. The NVC (non-violent communication) crowd says that by studying our communication style we can transform our thoughts, word and behaviors in the world. I think it boils down to knowing yourself, communicating with satyam in the present moment and then reflecting on how each situation plays out over time. Sometimes we do not see the seeds that we have planted until many months or years later. All I can say is that this yoga thing is really hard work!]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-03-02T15:37:15-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/b3eaf46dc040c8d9dee68b7857f27061-17.html#unique-entry-id-17http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/b3eaf46dc040c8d9dee68b7857f27061-17.html#unique-entry-id-17
Another idea the Yoga Sutras talk about in Chapter 3 is the modern idea of transference. When we help people to heal, they will project their problems/ views on to us unconsciously in an attempt to resolve repressed conflicts from childhood. For example, a student is angry and instead of recognizing this in themselves, they tend to think that everyone else is angry. This is challenging as a teacher, because it means that the teacher must know what "stuff" is hers and what 'stuff" belongs to the student and is simply a projection. Which is why every teacher needs a teacher; to have help discerning who's stuff is who's.

Another idea from the Yoga Sutras that applies to modern psychology is that of "cognitive restructuring. To replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Basically this is why yoga was created, to change the patterns of the mind. But the Sutras warn us that when an old mental habit is replaced by a new mental habit, that the old habit is dormant. The old habit could reappear at any time if given the right soil, sunshine and water.

So Patanjali was an early psychologist, providing a strong foundation for modern psychologists like Freud, Jung and Skinner.]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-02-27T08:08:11-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e9e71423f8655b6fbba80c7631246804-16.html#unique-entry-id-16http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e9e71423f8655b6fbba80c7631246804-16.html#unique-entry-id-16gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-02-23T07:43:58-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/454c3af72775e791d55ad530998857f7-15.html#unique-entry-id-15http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/454c3af72775e791d55ad530998857f7-15.html#unique-entry-id-15gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-02-15T18:34:24-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/01f63b8ec8a750d7857013f4cc01d085-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/01f63b8ec8a750d7857013f4cc01d085-14.html#unique-entry-id-14
So why did T. Krishnamacharya say that "Running is for horses, not humans"- suggesting that exercises that increase the heart rate are not good for us? It boils down to this. A healthy person that is not over-weight and eats a balanced diet of small nutritious meals probably does not need cardiovascular exercise in addition to yoga. They are is a sattvic state already and do not need to add bramhana (heating and expanding) or langhana (cleansing and reducing) to their body, mind and spirit. However, if someone is in a state of Tamas (lethargic, body and mind are like sludge), then yes- they need to add some bramhana and get the system moving again. The chosen tool might be to jog 40 minutes a day to bring the person into sattva. But this would be a choice based on the fact that the excess weight is causing health problems and something needs to be done quickly to help the person in poor health. Once the person has lost weight and is in a good state of health- it is not good to keep up this bramhana exercise because it tends to overwork the systems and eventually causes problems like injury and extra stress on the body systems. Then they would go back to a more balancing practice like yoga and daily walking to maintain the health with little risk of injury and over stress for the body and the mind.

This is why my teacher does not consider this article to be bad news for yoga. The article is simply saying that yoga needs to be done correctly and that as a general rule, other exercises might be better for a specific goal like weight loss or building muscle mass. But yoga, done correctly, is the best for good body, mind and spirit health.

Check out the TIme Magazine article but copying the following link into your browser:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668470,00.html]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-02-13T08:26:00-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e7ed64aeb741e480b0f946b648c4e284-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/e7ed64aeb741e480b0f946b648c4e284-13.html#unique-entry-id-13gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-02-04T10:34:23-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/621cb90080f706ebfcc0757db5de6ae7-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/621cb90080f706ebfcc0757db5de6ae7-12.html#unique-entry-id-12
I am looking for weeks and weekends to go see my parents. It is so important to me to see them several times per year. They live in Minnesota and Oregon. As I look through my schedule, I see only a few spots left for visits. I think next year I will schedule the visits to see family first and the work second. After all, what are my priorities!?! Just talking on the phone every few days is not the same as giving a big hug in person.

When my husband George was in Portland for 2 weeks to film the Yoga Sutras with Kausthub Desikachar, I realized how much my family supports me and gives me the foundation so that I can work so many hours. Suddenly I had to walk the dogs twice a day, cook, clean, do laundry, pay bills, answer calls, fix cars, keep the fire going in the wood stove, shovel snow,.........all by myself! I suddenly appreciated that my car is shoveled out and warm for me when I am ready to hop in it to go to work. The poor dogs looked at me as if I were abandoning them each day when I left for long hours. I could not concentrate on my work when I got there because I was distracted about the things I had not done at home. My world had suddenly changed without my support system. This is the support system that I take for granted on a regular basis. SInce he has arrived home, I suddenly feel more grateful for what he gives to our marriage. I often think I am the only one working hard to keep things together. Nothing could be further from the truth.

So today I am grateful for family. ]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-01-28T11:12:14-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/a793cb2139247efa8f6cd4a1028dbcdb-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/a793cb2139247efa8f6cd4a1028dbcdb-11.html#unique-entry-id-11
I was able to see the situation clearly because I was not involved. I knew about the previous conference and how painful it was to experience a conflict about lineage in front of so many people. I could also see that the woman at this conference was just simply passionate about her style of yoga and wanted to share it with others. Both parties wanted to be heard more than they wanted to listen. I could see how each party felt that their style was the best and that the other style had serious flaws in the methodology. I saw her laughing and passing notes to her friend during his lecture, just before she decided to leave the lecture for good. I felt sad for everyone involved. Both parties left the conference feeling unheard, without connection and maybe with nothing learned.

This is an example of Yoga Sutra 2.16- Prevent the suffering before it happens. Unfortunately, the Yoga Sutras tell us that we cannot be sure that we are perceiving something correctly at the time that it happens. Our mind, senses and emotions begin to lead our soul astray. The only way we know that we have perceived correctly or incorrectly is to wait and see what seed was planted with the action and how it grows with time. Then, we practice svadyaya (self-reflection) and see how our past thoughts, words and actions have played out in our lives. It is from this svadyaya that we gain the wisdom to do Yoga Sutras 2.16- Prevent future suffering. It takes time and patience to grow in this way- very slow development. Many of us never do the svadyaya and keep repeated the same painful mistakes. I think this is especially true when our "intuition" tells us to do something, or we have a "very strong feeling"........ How do we know if our current actions will cause us suffering or peace? Again, first svadyaya. Second, is the decision in alignment with our dharma (life responsibilities and benefits). I have a feeling that both parties in this situation felt that it was their dharma to pass on the word about their lineage. The key point is to pass it on with satyam..........and to listen as much as we speak. We can also practice vairagyam- detachment about our tradition. Easier said than done!

I for one do not know if Yoga Stura 2.16 will be practiced by my colleague or the woman who felt so passionate about her lineage. Thank goodness yoga tells us that we do not need to worry about analyzing everyone else's problems. I have enough to do just practicing my own svadyaya and trying to prevent suffering in my life. Trust me when I say that this is a big job! Ha! Ha!]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-01-23T04:23:27-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/4664d90733cd0a3c07771bbf3a765a33-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/4664d90733cd0a3c07771bbf3a765a33-10.html#unique-entry-id-10
My ego feels that if I do not defend my tradition, the misperceptions will live on. The pacifist approach is so, well.........passive! My heart feels that if I do talk about why I feel the education I am receiving from the son and grandson of Krishnamacharya are so full of wisdom, then I am making someone else wrong. Both positions feel awful and leave me with a bad feeling in my stomach and sleepless nights.

I am struggling with how to apply the yama of satyam (speaking the truth) to this problem. I see that my teachers are able to do this and I am not yet. Although they do not agree with how yoga has been taught to mass audiences in the western world, they are still kind and visit family friends like Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar at their homes. They are friendly, kind and compassionate when it comes to discussions about Krishnamacharya's work. When in public they are often asked what they think of other traditions, and they choose to take the high road, either dodging the question or giving a carefully thought out response that does not cause himsa (violence).

Ahimsa (non-violence) is the first yama (social etiquette), before satyam. Non-violence is the foundation for satyam. The Yoga Sutras tell us that our truth should always be balanced with kindness, and sometimes even kept to ourselves if it will harm another. However, if sitting quietly will ultimately cause more harm, then one must speak his or her truth. And this is where the challenge lies. How does one speak the truth with kindness and non-violence toward another.

First, we must remember that actions speak louder than words. Live your yoga and let who you are speak for your tradition. Are we angry, rigid, controlling and egotistical? I guess the style of yoga we have chosen is not working for us. Are we patient, kind, non-judgemental, and friendly yet strong? Then our chosen yoga style is working for us. There are no best styles of yoga, just a best style for a particular person based on his or her needs at this moment in time.

Second, patience is sometimes necessary. Sri Desikachar's name means "patience". So the "facts" that I want to force upon someone should be spoken mindfully, carefully and slowly and only given if and when the person has ears to hear it. If there are no ears open to hear the message, there is no point in wasting breath to speak. We must always remember, the student will arrive when the teacher is ready. The teacher will arrive when the student is ready. Until then, be patient and let the truth be revealed through action.

Satyam is one of the most challenging yamas for me. This is why I have turned to studying Non-Violent Communication. It is the practical application of Satyam. I would highly recommend it to anyone who feels that his or her style or yoga is the best. Non-Violent Communication will set you free! ]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2008-01-01T18:43:00-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/85487baa2c9b61db81e6b59a199382f2-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/85487baa2c9b61db81e6b59a199382f2-9.html#unique-entry-id-9
But more than just taking a group class with Kausthub, I look forward to the time I will spend with him personally. I have emailed him today with some questions that I had and hopefully we will be able to get together to talk about them. I am wondering what direction I should proceed with in my Vedic Chanting, as my teacher Jayanthi recently passed away.

The day I get home, my husband leaves for 2 weeks to study the Yoga Sutras chapter 1 and 2 with Kausthub. Kausthub is also his teacher and George has only studied chapter 1 of the Yoga Sutras, so he is very excited to go also. This means time apart, but it is well worth the effort and time. Also, I think that is to good for a relationship to have a spiritual center, where each partner has his or her studies alone, but also together. We are very thankful that Kausthub is the teacher to both of us. We also finds that he helps tremendously in our relationship trials and celebrations. We would not have the relationship that we do (which is cherished by both of us) if it were not for Kausthub.]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-12-24T08:02:08-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/7ec68f1492ccb396ff0de3aa65c31dff-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/7ec68f1492ccb396ff0de3aa65c31dff-8.html#unique-entry-id-8gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-12-22T16:58:01-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/543ab1bc38c7dca7c8aedd9ce545b40d-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/543ab1bc38c7dca7c8aedd9ce545b40d-7.html#unique-entry-id-7
]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-12-21T11:35:21-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/0d9a454805cbe50a236fcfe3351cc170-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/0d9a454805cbe50a236fcfe3351cc170-6.html#unique-entry-id-6gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-12-16T08:58:15-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/b2d3b9b86cc2939510314132933764a1-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/b2d3b9b86cc2939510314132933764a1-5.html#unique-entry-id-5gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-12-09T07:09:46-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/71690ff595d02688aceaf14782cb9a7a-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/71690ff595d02688aceaf14782cb9a7a-4.html#unique-entry-id-4
Now that we are home I put the dog beds near the fire and begin to have a cup of Chia as I think about the workshop I am giving later today. It happens to be on the Gunas (rajas, sattva and tamas) and how they impact our bodies. Specifically how to manage these energies in our bodies to help us be more stable and content. I hope that people will be able to come in spite of the snow on the roads. That is the beauty and the difficulty of living in the mountains with 4 seasons. However, I learned a long time ago that whomever shows up for workshops are exactly the people who are supposed to be there. There always seems to be this magic in the group when I am willing to just let it be what it is. Detaching from the outcome. Last month only 7 came for the Yoga for Women workshop and it was one of the most lovely workshops I have ever given. Seven women, seven stories and an abundance of connection between us. ]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-12-05T09:49:01-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/d2a73b7119d5bff3ee3bca296f4d184c-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/d2a73b7119d5bff3ee3bca296f4d184c-3.html#unique-entry-id-3
So this is what yoga is all about- relationship to others and self. Yoga is about getting a clearer perspective on life, understanding the causes of pain and suffering and hopefully not repeating them, connecting with loved ones at a deep level, and ultimately understanding who I am. Just a few days ago my mom sent me a package of old report cards, pictures I had drawn as a child, stories that I had written. It was really strange to see that I am not so different from that little 9 year old girl. Little Amy loved nature, animals, helping others, was horrible at spelling and good at science. She loved physical movement and her teachers called her "sunshine". There was even a story about me going to India, playing with the Indian children and finding a King Cobra Snake. The details of the story were incredibly accurate, so many feelings that I now have when I am in India. For example, when Little Amy decided to come home she yelled, "Hooray, hooray- back to the USA!". I am always so ready to come home and regenerate after an extended stay in India.

So what has meaning? Your relationship to yourself, your loved ones and society. Yoga helps me be at peace and balance all three! ]]>gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-11-30T08:52:00-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/a8c5d60ad1283834df0731247d96deb2-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/a8c5d60ad1283834df0731247d96deb2-2.html#unique-entry-id-2gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-11-19T08:43:44-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/af2411f4444e5b9ca915c52f285c8720-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/af2411f4444e5b9ca915c52f285c8720-1.html#unique-entry-id-1gmantoan@mac.comHome Page2007-11-09T11:56:47-08:00http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/c5b299cbc1e4dfeb858bc4065f2cc4d8-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://onesourceyoga.com/page7/page31/files/c5b299cbc1e4dfeb858bc4065f2cc4d8-0.html#unique-entry-id-0Welcome to Amy's blog about Being a Yoga Teacher

It seems that every day I learn something new about my teaching, my relationships and how to live with less suffering and more joy. This week I was teaching yoga at California State University. I was teaching about pranayama ratios and how the four phases of the breath create certain effects in the body. I had studied the theory of pranayama in an educational way. I had even experimented with the effects of breath ratios using my own body. But I had never really studied how pranayama ratios could impact individuals in a large group class (35 students). One student came to me and told me that she felt panicked after the hold on exhalation. I asked if she was asthmatic and she said yes. Another told me that she felt tightness in her chest when she focused on a long inhalation. Turns our she has heart issues. So I began to think about how I might provide each individual in the group with the experience of coming to meditation (at the end of the class) with a clear, calm and alert mind. Was it even possible? The next day I described to the class which techniques promote certain states in the mind and body. I talked about the goal of coming to a calm and alert place by the end of the practice. I then demonstrated each posture briefly and asked them to do several minutes on their own using the pranayama ratio that would bring them to the place they wanted to be (for some students needed to energize and others needed to relax). I walked quietly around the room listening and watching the different breath patterns. It was a beautiful sight to see so many college students tuning in to their bodies and modifying the practice as needed. At the end of class we sat in meditation. It was the most serene meditation period we have had all quarter.]]>