patience

How poor they are that have not patience!What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

-William Shakespeare

from Meditations from the Mat, but Rolf Gates

The growth we encounter in yoga is dramatic. Physically, mentally, and spiritually we are born anew. But for all of us there is a honeymoon during those first few months, and years, as we imagine all our problems quickly evaporating .. In some ways this honeymoon is very helpful, because it provides much-needed momentum in the difficult process of change.

Inevitably, though, the honeymoon eventually gives way to some issue that simply won't budge. Even in the bloom of our new passion, we realize there are still grave problems at work or at home. Liberated from our obsessive thinking, we discover the depression, grief, or pain that was hidden underneath. As our spines become increasingly flexible, we being to understand the extent of the physical consequences of decades of compensating.

Then we embark on a period of reconstructing. And this is where the real work begins.

In a Course in Miracles, the adage "Many are called but few are chosen" is used to suggest that although life offers all of us countless opportunities for growth, all too few of us bother to pick up the signals. We don't choose to hear the message. In yoga, the first real setback has the potential to be the last, unless we are willing to persevere with patience.

BKS Iyengar call faith a "yoga vitamin," and patience is truly an unsung aspect of faith. Our practice takes us into the unknown. We deliberately head out into new terrain, off the charts of our familiar world. Such exploration calls for radical faith ... Shakespeare reminds us that we heal by degrees. We will have bad days and good days, in practice as in life. Sometimes the progress of yesterday seems to have evaporated today. And yet there is always movement.

As long as we show up and do the work, healing will happen.

This is the message but we must be willing to hear it. We must be prepared to bear witness, patiently, to the degrees by which we move forward.  As we learn to celebrate these moments in our practice, we refine our appreciation for subtlety and learn to appreciate growth in those around us as well. And as we practice patience on our mats, our ability to stay .. both on and off the mat - grows.

The Ritual of a Class (Sadhana)

article by Shiva Rea

Classes are ritual sadhanas (a groove to one's self). Prana Flow classes are breath inspired journeys that offer a complete spectrum (ha-tha) of rhythms from meditative and rejuvenating to the challenging and empowering. The wave of a class is created through cycles of effective and creative sequences (vinyasas) linked together through the breathwave. Every class is well-rounded : following the mandala of the body and asanas - to create whole body transformation of strength and fluidity, circulation and centering.

The emphasis in Prana Flow sadhana is on:

Bhava or feeling mind: Bhava is a deep yogic concept that extends to all of life as the feeling state of being sometimes translated as mood that forms the inner soil from which all yoga experience arises. Bhava is a whole body experience that athletes, artists, gardners : anyone who is bringing the power of inner unification with the state the are experiencing into action. Technique without bhava is like food without taste : it is the inner state that brings trasformation and satisfaction to the flow of yoga.

Evolution: Through vinyasa krama of stages of development, peak asanas are cultivated as pathways of evolution on all levels. Classes are sequenced around the function and energy of the asana in a way that allows every student to find their developemental and emotional current that is appropriate for them that day in relation to the flow of the life. There is no hierarchy between child's pose and scorpion, reclining meditation and seated meditation.

Integration: Through multi-dimensional sequencing the mandala (wholeness) of the body is cultivated through an integration of intelligently sequenced asanas where all of the major groups of asanas - standing poses, arm balances, twists, backbends, hip openers, forwards bends and inversions - and all the major structures of the body are alchemically chosen for their relationship to a peak asana, state of transformation (rasa) or particular exploration and then integrated through a system of sequencing, related asanas and counterposes through the sutra of the breath consciousness. Chanting, visualization, chakras, marmas, and pranayama are also often integrated within asana.

Energetic Alignment: is an experiential approach to conscious inner and outer alignment that invites you to discover the natural relationships, actions and energetic flow from within your body. This approach involves accessing alignment during the flow of practice through a three-part vinyasa method that brings awareness of key actions, the movements of prana, union of opposites, and lines of energy as it relates to the awakening the inherent function and benefit of a pose. The emphasis in on the unbroken stream of internal meditation and alignment within the flow.

Collective Flow: Our orientation to a daily group vinyasa flow is not so much a class or workshop as a collective journey along the river of prana that flows within us and all around us. When I go to Kauai I love to kayak in the lush river tributaries and see the locals out paddling together in synch with their own breath-energy, with each other and most importantly the currents of the river that ultimately leads out into the open ocean. A Vinyasa class has those three dimensions that create the state of flow:

• connect fully to your experience, syncopating the waves within you (your breath, thought/emotion waves, movement and energy)
• open to the power of the group dynamic (field) while attending to your own flow.  Move together. This relaxes all kinds of suffering from cynicism, self-obsession, and separation.

Yoga is the means of yoking our awareness to the deep rhythms that heal and integrate us in an age that challenges our inner compass to stay in the flow.

Common Elements of a Prana Flow Class:

Chanting and Music We always begin with universal and natural chanting of om with movement that is related to the intention of the class. Yogic chants, bija mantras are also integrated for experienced practitioners during the flow of the class. Music as a universal tool for cultivating the flow is invoked creating the experience of vinyasa as a dance of breath and rhythm.

Movement Meditation: We offer dozens of movement meditations rooted within kriya (rhythmic movement for an energetic effect). The movement meditation introduces the direction of the class through invoking movement patterns within asanas and specific energy awakenings that initiate the state of flow.

Namaskars: Sun Salutation Variation We explore over 25 namaskars or : salutations as the consummate vinyasas with their own complete energy and effect. The state of namaskar is to bow, to realize the essence whether it is the energy of the sun as in sun salutations (surya namaskar) or the moon as in moon salutations (chandra namaskar). From a base of 5 classical namaskars, I offer 20 different namaskars that have developed over the past 15 years of teaching. These are focused on different purposes for circulation, rejuvenation, multi-directional or circular movement, and honoring the elements and for women, the different Devis or Goddesses. Once beginners have integrated the basics, students have experienced the wonderful effect of the opening of new pathways within their being.

Multi-dimensional Sequencing In the main body of the class, multi-dimensional sequencing is offered to integrate standing poses, arm balances, backbends, forward bends, twists and hip openers in a effective, creative, dynamic method based upon vinyasa krama (stages of evolution), pratikriyasana (counterpose), fluid body cultivation, kosha and chakra models of integrating the body. The effect: whole being vitality cultivated with creativity and exploration that never habituates or dulls living the power of yoga.

Mudra Meditation and Pranayama Mudra meditation is offered as a way to enter into the natural, inherent state of meditation and to cultivate bhavanas (healing states of consciousness) that are related to the focus of the class. Pranayama is cultivated throughout the class as the continous flow of the breatwave and specifically at the end of class to balance and pranify the whole being.

Healing Shavasana Shavasana is the great return to home base…the source within yourself. Often includes yoga nidra based visualization for deep relexation and healing

Steve Gold - June 5 | 6pm

Saturday June 5th, Kat will be teaching a fluid vinyasa class to the beautiful live melodies and music of Steve Gold & Anne-Emilie Gold which will be followed by an inspirational night of singing & stories.

“I am so honored to have the opportunity to follow in the foot steps of truly incredible visionary teachers like Shiva Rea & Saul David Raye and teach to this soulful and very moving music played live. It is a rare honor and I intend to bring myself fully to this class. It would be even more of an honor to have you there.” -Kat

Saturday June 5

6-7:30pm all levels fluid vinyasa yoga with Kat Seltzer accompanied by Steve & Anne-Emilie Gold 8-10pm Kirtan with Steve Gold & friends class: drop-in rate + $5-$10 donation kirtan: $15 in advance, $20 day of. Everyone is welcome!

You Can Sign Up By Clicking Here.

ABOUT STEVE GOLD: Steve Gold is a singer, songwriter and yogi who composes original songs that are a blend of American blues, Sanskrit mantras, with Western pop and folk melodies. His music has become a soundtrack for yoga classes since the release of the widely acclaimed CD, So Much Magnificence. His distinctively rich vocal timbre and his engaging enthusiasm encourages the listener’s heart to open. Steve and his wife Anne-Émilie travel the world offering their gifts of heart melting harmonies. For more information and to listen to the music please visit Steve’s official website http://www.somuchmagnificence.com/

“I have witnessed rivers of tears flow from people listening to Steve Gold’s version of this incredible praise of the ocean” says Shiva Rae about the song So Much Magnificence.

“Magnificence is ‘pure gold.’ Steve Gold is a down to earth, soulful being who creates powerfully positive music that heals, connects and inspires. These healing vibrations come straight from the heart, and weave a sacred space for yoga, healing or being. I have had the pleasure of welcoming Steve and Anne-Émilie into my class and sharing music with them. The effects are miraculous, people all over the world are responding to this music. I whole-heartedly embrace and recommend this sacred music.” Saul David Raye, yogi, healer, activist

“Steve Gold and Anne-Emilie … shine forth clearly as conductors of prana, seeking the note that brings the whole group together in song.” Lorin Roche, Ph.D., Author, The Radiance Heart Sutras

Beautiful ones, seriously – don’t miss this!

You Can Sign Up By Clicking Here.

convergence

The American yoga world needs more connection to the elemental raw energy of nature in order to manifest the creative force. The sanskrit word is sahaja, a spontaneous realization of the divine flow ... (We) recognize how important it is to dance if you are a human being on "the path" and how every movement can flow as yoga. How do we introduce people to the external flow of dance vs. the internal practice of yoga? .. We can by pass the mind and talk directly to our cells .. the core energy of cells is not biased. The cells are born dancing and they need help. They want to be happy and literally have freedom to dance in the body. Coax the cells to dance. It works every time. When you grow up in the West, you have to learn how to devour the root of your own inhibitions and two thousand years of conditioning. We can all be translators or poets of the non-verbalized world of movement, the one language everyone shares ... This is the understanding.

Living Yoga

"Eastern Philosophy says that human beings have forgotten what they came here for. With all the stimulation outside of ourselves, we have lost sight of the Beloved, our creator, and have lost ourselves as a result. I truly believe that we have the answers within up, but it takes incredible discipline and hard word to gain back those abandoned gifts we were given as a birthright. Many of us have lost the ability to feel things, and to look to others for clarification and purpose when the answers are deep inside of ourselves. We are each a part of our divine maker and creation itself, and when we accept that divine connection, we have begun upon the path of enlightenment.

Yoga allows up to experience this connection. Through the yoking of our bodies, minds, and hearts to a higher power or existence, we awaken the shakti, or spiritual energy hidden within, and our highest capabilities are revealed. With this realization comes a confidence, which cannot be destroyed. This is Self-Realization. Once the connection is established, the source is accessible at any tie to find the answers that we may be searching for.

Through practicing yoga, you will also become more conscious of your behavior in the world, and how the behavior of things outside of yourself can affect you. You learn that you can go out into the world and affect others in a number of positive ways.

We are each born with unlimited potential and a deep inner knowledge of what is right and what is true, but life would be without meaning if we did not have to work (at least) a little toward this self-discovery. We are our own God-given tools to attain this knowledge and the freedom that will come when it is realized fully, so we must strengthen and sharpen our tools, in preparation for this divine union. This is essentially the practice of refining ourselves holistically and specifically for this deeply spiritual purpose.

Yoga is the practice of disciplining the mind, body, and spirit to optimum capacity. It is the practice of mindfulness, compassion, grace, and love through all actions. If you are seeking joy, bliss, happiness .. enlightenment, for yourself and to share with others. I invite you to explore the magnitude of this philosophy so that you can come to learn, along with me, how to better our lives with its many teachings." 

-Christy Turlington