By Jessica Powers There was this gem that I used to pass on my walk into work, written in chalk on the a-board out from a local yoga studio that always flustered and upset me: Healthy Yogi = Happy Yogi Um, excuse me, isn’t my yogic happiness supposed to stem from overcoming my identification with my body? Happiness regardless of whether I'm healthy or not? Aren’t I working to identify and then release my I-amness, my ahamkara? Haven't you people read your Patanajali? Right, okay. You … [Read more...]
About Jessica Powers
Shiva Rea DVD Review & Giveaway!
There are many benefits to living at the bottom of the world. The ability to attend workshops with big name, innovative Yoga instructors at large gatherings or conferences is sadly not one of them. Which is what should put the Great Instructors Series from Yoga Journal on the top of your Yoga DVD Wish List if you are a dedicated practitioner or teacher. I recently sat down with the Shiva Rea Free Flow Vinyasa offering from the series and gave it a critical eye. What struck me was how … [Read more...]
Breaking away from asana and exploring the other limbs of yoga
We have just moved house, my partner and I. In the midst of trying to insure we have all our things in spaces that make sense, I’ve been eyeing the large deck and huge lounge floor. This house is made for practicing Yoga. Which I haven’t done in I don’t know how long. Not specifically the sort that everyone thinks of when they hear the word ‘yoga’, anyway. That is to say: my life has had no asana practice for a couple weeks. Since asana is only one of eight – 1 of 8! – limbs of Yoga, … [Read more...]
Bra-Free Pyjama Practice: Home Yoga Practice versus Group Class Yoga
by Jessica Powers As I’ve grown as a practitioner, I’ve liked group classes less and less. I remember being impressed by people in my yoga teacher training programs who were there only to enhance home practice. While I was there to learn to teach, home practice is so integral to teaching that I’ve barely bothered to take any group classes since graduating my first Yoga Teacher Training in 2004. I like it that way. But why? Group class teachers aren’t bad, or offensive. Some are … [Read more...]
Be a Tree: Interpretive Yoga for Adults
It’s Autumn: trees are delighting us with a riot of colour, littering the ground with jewels from their branches. We can take a hint from Mother Nature and enjoy a similar process ourselves, letting go of old, stagnant, nonessentials. Releasing has many more nuances than just ‘getting rid’ of something. Pay attention to Nature move through a full cycle of gestation, birth, growth, and decay and you’ll see letting go as making space. Indeed, Spring blossoms and leaves come to be … [Read more...]
Chakra Vinyasa: Meeting the Energy Body
You've seen the colours and the shapes - geometric designs in vibrant shades on yoga clothing, jewelry, and various yogic accoutrements. Teachers may have asked you to direct your attention to the 'third eye' between your eyebrows, or asked you to press your hands together in a prayer gesture at the 'heart center.' Some one might have mentioned 'kundalini' or similarly foreign words while directing you through a breath practice, alternatively closing one nostril and then the other. Yet … [Read more...]
How to make online yoga classes work for you
As practitioner who enjoys doing yoga in the morning, before getting ready for the day but after the rest of the house has left to start theirs, I have a limited time slot available. Thirty minutes is the longest I can do without anxiety, and the shortest I can do with results. Many people are similar – morning yoga prepares us for the day mentally and physically. Precious time must be dedicated and we must step on our mats and do a practice. Raise your hand if you’ve dedicated the … [Read more...]
DVD Review: Bhakti – The Path of Love
Win your own copy of Swami Ji's Bhakti - The Path of Love. See the end of this article for details. I’ve always considered myself a bhakti yogini – 4 of my 5 tattoos are overt reminders to myself of my relationships with the Divine. Yet it wasn’t a topic covered by any of my trainings or workshops. Bhakti Yoga is one of the major paths of yoga, alongside Hatha Yoga, yet very little of this particular approach is shared in the West. So I was rightly chuffed to be assigned Swami … [Read more...]
Don’t look at my ass in asana
There are times I fully embrace and enjoy in the relatively hype-free existence of yoga in New Zealand. Coming from Seattle - granola metropolis, yoga studio a stone’s throw in any direction - the lack of flash, and preoccupation with being seen as a yoga practitioner is a relief. How can I worry if I’m wearing the wrong brand name practice pants when there are no brand name practice pants to be bought? In comparison, the American online community - primed by yoga ‘rebels’, issues … [Read more...]
What’s it like attending an Online Studio?
Starting with My Yoga Online was a bit rougher than expected. Sure – my membership came through before the holidays, quick and efficient, but it was also within spitting distance of a two week computer free period (a total treat if I may be so bold to admit) and that made beginning immediately seem silly. Two weeks on, two weeks off didn’t appeal to my slight OCD. Instead I worked out the wee kink in my login, (excellent customer service response – MYO score points!) got my profile page … [Read more...]