Second podcast--sponge pose

Use the same link to podbean, below, to find my next podcast. This one is about the use of breathwork, visualization, and progressive relaxation to open energy channels and boost relaxation. You can use it after some yoga practice, on its own, and before sleep. Namaste!

As far as my own practice goes, since I found out I may have glaucoma forming in my left eye and can no longer do shoulderstand or headstand, I've been enjoying kundalini yoga videos by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh which would the glands with very few inversions. Only one shoulderstand so far, which I skipped. I also tried Sadie Nardini's first DVD. Her classes years ago were always a little much for me, too fitness-y and trendy, but her DVD was a good way to push myself. I was sweating a lot and had an unusual calm in some meditation after, good for someone like me who wants to stay in restorative poses all day long. And also, not yoga, but the Exhale Pilates Plus DVD is great--10 minute killer bursts and some very great energy from the instructors.

I've been taking meditation classes with Bodhipaksa as facilitated by his coteacher Sunada through Wildmind, and it's been a great change of pace. They offer mindfulness of breathing and metta/lovingkindness, no pressure to make classes in person, which I have been unable to do due to work or not feeling great. His guiding is some of the best I've ever heard, and I'm enjoying the support of a female teacher. They've inspired me to do more virtual teaching as well.

First podcast is available!

Check out yogaclass.podbean.com

I'm doing most of my class practice with DVDs so I decided I want to teach virtually too!

Summer update

I haven't been able to say formally what a great time I've had teaching this year once again at the Frost Valley Women's Wellness Retreat! That was in March and I got to teach 5 fantastic classes, and got some beautiful feedback from students who ended up trying out yoga because it was rainy our last morning there. Surrounded by the majestic mountains and pre-blooming trees, "prana", or life force, felt like it was everywhere.

I have done meditation classes and retreats with my regular teacher, and also Loch Kelly, who has honed his instruction so that is very Westerner-friendly and you can truly drop into detaching from thought in each moment. I was blessed to go on a daylong with him at New York Insight Meditation Center in June.

My own dayjob schedule has kept me from going to many yoga classes, but I pratice on my own, of course, and took a karma-clearing workshop about working with the chakras with my teaching instructor, Dr Jeff Migdow, at Greenhouse Holistic in Brooklyn in late June. All of us students were women! Jeff said the tide is turning toward the feminine. I could use some power. I'm sure all our yoga at Women's Wellness is helping to turn the tide.

I've been certified to practice animal reiki, and have a lovely little yorkie as a client. I hope to do more of this healing. The yorkie sniffs and licks my hands as it to say she knows the energy coming from them is ready for her. Her nickname is "reiki sponge."

Well, as far as my teaching goes, I hope to do more of it. I'm focusing on teaching 12 step recovery conscious-contact classes, infertility, triathlete yoga, among other healing needs privately right now, and eventually perhaps in a workshop setting.