Inspiration

I often ask myself the question, " What inspires me?" Sometimes the answer comes quickly .. this tends to happen when I've been well fed, I have taken care of myself and have done my yoga asana practice, but sometimes the answer reveals itself slowly, as if unraveling its self from the tangle of over-complication that can be my reality. The tangled web of over-complication is a wake up call to simplify - to delicately remove the tiny fabrics of inspiration nestled into my daily life. If I were to simply these things into 5, they would be: 1. slow down and breath 2. list 10 things I'm grateful for (these 10 usually snowball into 20-30 easily) 3. gaze or go outside and feel what ever Central Oregon has to offer 4. take a minute or 15 to care for myself 5. love

Today, I would like you to please think of 5 things that inspire you and share them with me.

In Gratitude and with Deep Love, Kat 

3rd Trimester

Overwhelmed isn't exactly how I feel, it's more like "whelmed" .. is that a word? because that is how I feel. I gave up most of my class in the beginning of April in order to provide more space for my growing belly. However, all of April I have been recovering from a cough that let to some very intense back pain. All of April, I have worked hard to let go and it has not been easy. I am someone who is used to functioning at a pretty high level. Yoga has kept me healthy and vibrant for many years. Since becoming pregnant, things have changed. My body's chief job now is to grow a child! For me, this has been an inspirational experience. Each day, my body changes and my baby grows and moves. My nesting instincts are strong and my house seems to be cleaner than it has been over the last two year of running Mandala Yoga Community. I am looking for balance - ordinarily I work hard in one area at a time and over time it all balances out, but now I'm looking for balance everyday and taking one day at a time. I hope to see you on Friday, May 13 for Vasudeva - I think this may be my last pre-birth class so come - let us play and move and be inspired together.

Love All Ways,

Kat

Just a few more days ...

Nate and I are expecting our first child, a boy we plan on naming Brendan Arthur, this July. In order to prepare for this life changing event and supreme expression of Shakti, I am releasing my public classes at the end of March. (Ryan Re will be teaching Lunch Hour Flow Tues/Thurs and Shanan Kelley will be teaching Lunar Flow Wed at 6:30pm.) Pregnancy has been a dramatic shift for me - not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually and in terms of priorities. I will be taking this time to recommit to my personal yoga practice and my practice of self-care. The Mother energy is becoming stronger in me as I tune in deeply and listen to her call. Words like nurture, care, honor, love, softness, sweetness, simplicity are clearly written on my heart. I have begun to release the dynamic flow that I have been cultivating since my early years of the practice and have begun to surrender to the introspective, Shanti-inspired and deeply nurturing flow of the Lunar (deeply feminine and intuitive) side of the practice. I have begun to let go of the outward strength of a powerful vinyasa practice in favor of the inner strength I feel called to cultivate.

What does this mean for you dear student-friend?

It means that I will continue to serve you through my teaching in the form of deeper practices, workshops, retreat and teacher training.

I will be focusing my attention and energy on: -The deeply transformative Vasudeva ritual (2nd Fridays 7-9pm) -Therapeutic Yoga co-taught with Laura Cooper, PT (Tuesdays 3:30-5pm - in 3 week series) -Living Yoga Teacher Training (Fall, 2011 - Oct 1-30) + Retreates (Haramara - Suyalita, Mexico - May 26-June 1, 2012) + Workshops + Transformative 2-hour Prana Flow classes

So, I invite you to share this "last" week with me at the studio (Tues/Thur - noon & Wed - 6:30pm) and participate in 4 2-hour practices (Mar 24-27) (Thurs 7-9pm, Friday 7-9pm, Saturday 8:30-10:30am, Sunday 4:30-6:30pm).

And join Shanan Kelley and I next month for an Urban Detox (in town) Retreat. (April 29-May 1). Click here for details.

I will miss my weekly classes with you, but I hope that you will stay connected and join me in the future.

I am available for questions, etc. Just reach out :-)

With Deep Love All Ways,

Kat

Deepen your practice this week with me.

I would like for you to join me, and the current Yoga Teacher Training class, as we more deeply explore our yoga practices. The following transformative vinyasa flow classes will be open to all who wish to deepen their understanding of yoga on all levels: Thursday Mar 17 7-9pm Friday March 18 7-9pm Saturday March 19 8:30-10:30am and 4:30-6:30pm Sunday March 20 8:30-10:30am and 4:30-6:30pm

We'll focus on the 5th, 6th, & 7th chakras and the elements of Air, Ether & Space. Cost: $15 per session (*these classes are seperate from your class packs)

Each one of us is responsible

from my luminary teacher: Shiva Rea

"We must use time creatively. Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative, peaceful extremists (in service to the people)."  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

In our lifetime, there will be a transition from toxic fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to this shift, as our personal energy use is a part of the whole. Oil will run out of production between 2025 and 2040. Only 3% of the earth's water is fresh water and of that only 1% is drinkable for 20% of the world's population that has access to clean water. Waste incineration accounts for over 30% of the CO2 emissions and fewer than 3% of the plastic manufactured is made of recyclable plastics or gets recycled. The good news is that it would only take .02% of the current solar energy from the sun alone to supply power to the entire world. We are abundant in natural renewable energy BUT WE CHOOSE and are dependent on toxic, non-renewable energy sources both as a lifestyle and often as an inner state.

Yoga is about connecting the pathways between inner and outer, microcosm and macrocosm. Now is the time to take responsibility for our inner and outer world so that we can heal ignorance and laziness that is preventing positive change and realize the natural gifts of prana that are inherent in the elements of the sun, water, earth, and air that are being depleted and poisoned. Martin Luther King was an extraordinary example of taking creative personal action at a time of great darkness in civil rights.

Let us honor his life, make making choices that stand for the collective whole, our future and our children's future, not just our individual pursuits.

With Deep Love, Kat