My yoga teacher today said, sometimes getting on your mat is daunting, but you show and breathe - so this is what I did today. Being pregnant is beautiful, amazing, incredible and ... it has changed - at least temporarily the way I am in my body. My body's main purpose right now is to grow the child in my womb and all my needs, everything I'm currently experiencing, is in support of this mission. For me, it feels strange narrowing my focus down so much, having to readjust and rearrange and ... show up and breathe. Show up and breathe - isn't that the whole point of a yoga practice anyway?Show up and breathe and pay attention and watch and listen and learn about yourself - to see where you are connecting and disconnecting from yourself, your friends and family, your community, the Divine. Show up and breathe and be a present to and as accepting of what is as possible, without judgement and with love. My body as always been my experiential vehicle and now it is so much more - it belongs to another being as well and I must remember that .. and show up and breathe.
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
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
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
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)