True Confessions of a Yoga Teacher
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Posted on Saturday, February 18, 2012 7:05 PM
What is the practice of yoga? It is many things for many people, but for me
it has given the gift of mindfulness, of awareness. Of a greater sense of gratitude as well as
consciously being in my body. Forgetfulness, It is not just a
mental issue; it can also show up in the body.
No one is immune to the habitual state of forgetfulness, CRS (cant
remember shit) as I often call it. We
are told we can keep our minds alert thru mental exercises, so why not the
body. As this forgetfulness or lack of
awareness shows up in the physical body we lose awareness of sensation in
certain muscles and or muscles groups in the body. |
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Kimberly Hardick: Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:48 PM
Reflections on our
Reflections We all have the ability to Sense energy, but many of us lack
the awareness of self, and it is thru this self awareness that we can tap into
our innate ability to accurately sense energy. For just a moment, listen to the sounds around you, both
inside the room and outside. Don’t try
to identify it just sense it. What about
fragrances, do you smell anything? Touch,
can you feel the clothes resting on your skin, your hair on your neck or face,
maybe a gentle breeze made by your breath. |
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Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:41 PM
One of the complaints I hear repeatedly is “Wow, my hamstrings are tight.” But are they really? Could it be that they are just not as strong as your quads and are having to work overtime to compete with the growing strength and tightness of your quads. How many exercises do you do to strengthen your quads? I am sure there a quite a few. How often do you find yourself performing these exercises? Now, name all the different ways you strengthen your hamstrings. Not as many and I would guess you probably do them, o, hardly . |
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Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:40 PM
When talking about forward folds, It is important first that you have a basic understanding of the differences of Flexion and Extension. Flexion is actually a decrease in the joints angle and is used in reference to the forward and backward direction of the body. My goal is not to get to anatomical on you, but to give you a better understanding of the function of the asana as well as the Asana in action.
Let’s Begin with a Forward Fold. Probably one of the most overused, and misunderstood Asana. |
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Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2011 5:33 PM
Patience with self. How many times I use this as an intention in my classes, how very seldom I am finding I practice it outside of the class. I accepted from the onset of my injury that it was going to be a practice of patience and acceptance. I just did not know it was going to take so long! LOL The simplest of tasks took so much more energy as I hobble around balanced on one leg. The right side of my body having to do twice as much work not to mention these arms of mine were getting a daily work out. |
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Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 9:17 AM
I can not emphasize enough the importance of balanced strength in Today’s Athlete. Squats are great and have there purpose but do you really think you can continue to strengthen the front of the legs and continue to ignore the back of the legs with out consequences?
This post will show up in both the Quads and the hamstrings as it relates to both.
If your hamstrings are weaker then your quads a few things could happen
- 1.Your hamstrings can tear from the overpowering load of a contracted quad as you extend your leg back from your hip.
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Posted on Monday, May 16, 2011 3:02 PM
(this post was written over a year ago when I was healing a broken ankle. I am currently transferring my blog from one site to another and as I reread what i wrote and share them again, I am being reminded of the beautiful lessons that can come when we are open)  Patience with self. How many times I use this as an intention in
my classes, how very seldom I am finding I practice it outside of the
class. I accepted from the onset of my injury that this was going to be
a practice of patience and acceptance. |
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Posted on Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:35 AM
It is easy to get ourself hung up on expectations, and it is these expectations that cloud our view of the truth Satya is the second of Yama's and means commitment to the
truth. Once again this principle brings with it a duality. It can be
associated with both your daily practice of life on or off the mat. What you
find to be your truth today, may or may not be your truth tomorrow. This
can be a source of healing as you are then able to release expectations
based on past experiences. |
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Posted on Monday, April 18, 2011 7:41 AM
A practice grounded in strict form only feeds the inadequacy you may feel in your physical body and in your ability. Samtosha means contentment,
accepting the truth 'as it is". Not to be confused with happiness or
complacency. The is the ability to accept your circumstances and learn
how to discern that which we can change and that which we cannot.
Building upon our circumstances to become a better you.
I
am learned this in quite a unique way when I broken my ankle this time last year. |
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Posted on Wednesday, February 02, 2011 8:12 PM
Compassion for where you are today, Do not let
the memory or ideal of an asana be your guide, rather respect and have
compassion for your body today.The Yamas, the foundation of your yoga practice and the first of the 8 limbs of yoga. There are 5. - Ahimsa
- Satya
- Asteya
- Brahmacharya
- Apiragraha
They are also referred to as the ethical disciplines in the performance
of asana, according to Iyengar in his book the tree of yoga. He likens
the Yamas to the roots of a tree, and from here the rest of the practice
will flourish and grow. |
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Posted on Wednesday, February 02, 2011 7:16 PM
Touch! Such a treat in a yoga practice, to receive the gentle confident, guiding touch of a teacher. I call thisThe Art of Compassionate Touchwhen
working with teachers. The confident guided touch of a yoga
instructor has more then just a temporary effect in the practitioners
body. It is often associated with what I like to call an Aha moment. I
am then able to really process and understand what is taking place in
my body while in the asana with a deeper awareness. |
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Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 1:44 PM
You may also find the achievements and
progression decrease as you learn to just be in the asana and it is
here, as the effort decreases that you find the joy.
When
speaking of balance, their are many factors to take into consideration.
You first must have an awareness of gravity, as well as a sense of the
direction of movement. This awareness must be maintained thru out each
and every action. It is here that you will find and maintain your
center of gravity. |
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Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 4:47 PM
Touch! Such a treat in a yoga practice, to receive the gentle confident, guiding touch of a teacher. I call thisThe Art of Compassionate Touchwhen
working with teachers. The confident guided touch of a yoga
instructor has more then just a temporary effect in the practitioners
body. It is often associated with what I like to call an Aha moment. I
am then able to really process and understand what is taking place in
my body while in the asana with a deeper awareness. |
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Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2011 8:05 PM
It is so important to remain whole body aware. Balance! Want to
bring awareness to your balance or lack there of, break an ankle. I
have never been so aware of my balance and the importance of it till
this adventure with my ankle. I am ever so grateful for my strong
balancing practice and the fruits of that are revealing them self to me
daily. Currently balancing for me is the physical aspect of maintaining
my balance on one foot, sitting, standing, extending. |
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Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2011 8:02 PM
How do you choose what style of yoga is best for you? First of
all it is important to look at the intention, both yours and the
teachers. The intention of any true yoga practice is one of growth,
removing obstacles that prevent growth in your spiritual and personal
life, be it a physical, an emotional, intellectual or spiritual
obstacle. The ego and pride, intellectual obstacles, and aversion
and desire, emotional obstacles,are surprisingly the intention of a lot
of the different types of yoga. |
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