Read in Creative Vinyasa | 8-9am (4/11) "Physical practices are essentially about free participation in the breath. To be with the breath is to be with that which is breathing us. The body remains soft and structured around the breath movement and moving anatomy serves the breath process. The body movement is the breath movement and vice versa. The mind naturally participates in the process and becomes clear as it links to the whole body, the intelligence of Life. This may be a challenge but not a struggle. The challenge is within the breath limits, not in the musculature. Practices are designed for the individual and the real yoga is within everyone's capability. It is not an attempt to impose the mind's predetermined structuring of the anatomy or any cultural proposal. The breath too should not be overly controlled, but flow organically and smoothly within comfortably managed breath ratios. The goal of yoga is to un-qualify the mind, not qualify it. This occuras through intimacy with body, breath and mind as one process. Finally this goal itself is seen to be an obstruction and unnecessary because the living organism already stands in its intelligence; the natural state. There are no steps to be taken." -Yoga of Heart: The Healing Power of Intimate Connection -Mark Whitwell
I would like to invite you all to Rhythmic Flow this Saturday (4/11) at 6pm. Rymthmic Flow Yoga is a style of Yoga created by a teacher of mine from Wilmington, NC - Kristin Cooper Gulak. This first time I took a "Master Class" as it used to be called, with Kristin, I didn't have a practice of my own and .. in that class, I found myself trying to find my own flow within in group of experienced, connected Yogis and Yoginis who were all doing their own thing to loud, engulfing drumming! .. I felt both lost and completely free at the same time. For me, it was a pivotal experience.
To quote Kristin from her website www.rhythmicflowyoga.com, "Rhythmic Flow Yoga is an offering of the joining together of two of my greatest loves-the infinite teachings of hatha yoga and the liberating joy of drumming. It has become a vehicle for me to combine two art forms; and a journey for yoga students to have a deeper experience from live music that I simply can not convey when I am teaching with my ipod. Nothing beats the inspiration of having real human beings with incredible instruments from around the globe providing your own private yoga soundtrack.... jamming away while you move and sweat. It is truly an honor to share this practice and I am so grateful to the yoga community for embracing the creative process and to the drummers along the way that I have shared this creative journey with. It is our hope and vision that through Rhythmic Flow we can create more awareness of yoga as service in a way that is fun, liberating, and open to any and everyone."
I resonate deeply with the creative process that Kristin talks about because that's what life is ... a creative unfolding!
I would really love to share this experience with you on Saturday. (and each 2nd Saturday of the month at the studio.)
Hi Ya'll,
This is an experiment .. my intention is to share with you a summary of what we are learning in class, provoke your thoughts, challenge you to live more fully, provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and to dialog, and most importantly, to let you know that I love where you are in your journey and, to let you know that I am here to humbly support you and learn with you. Who knows where we will go? As students of flow, we know that it all about the ride!
With Love,
Kat