Sri Dharma Mittra

The most amazing Yoga Instructor, Sri Dharma Mittra has inspired my life and the lives of many other Yoga enthusiasts in NYC and all over the world. Yesterday at Master Class, my body was tired and he gave the most challenging class I ever encountered.....IT WAS AMAZING!! At one point he came to adjust me in the fourth round of Vasisthasana (Side Plank)....and my arm was ready to collapse from fatigue. While the asana sequence can be challenging....the part I love about Master Class is that it is truly a Divine experience. Some of my friends say it is like visiting God, because Dharma encourages us to surrender & be receptive to the Grace of God throughout the class. You can go to the class and whatever you are going through, he will speak of in his words, teach through the asana, challenge you, inspire you and bring you to a healing experience. He is 72 years young, and an inspiration to everyone to take up the Yoga Practice. I have been soaking up as many Yoga Classes this week with Sri Dharma as I could because he is really that amazing! Myself and many of my fellow Yoga Instructors take his class as often as possible....because he is the best! After class we had our psychic development with pranayama exercises that awaken the energy in our nadi channels, purify and stimulate the pituitary gland, and leave you feeling like you can soar in the sky. I thanked Sri Dharma for being such a huge impact on my Yoga journey & was grateful to have a picture with this Amazing teacher.

Photo: Sri Dharma Mittra & Ambria

Two AMAZING Days with Sri Dharma

Recently I participated in two days, back to back with Sri Dharma Mittra at the Dharma Yoga Center. Sri Dharma is a blessing to the city of New York, and especially to Yoga Instructors. As thursday is usually my day to go, my summer schedule has blessed me with a little more flexibility that allows me to take amazing classes! His class is remarkably challenging, inspirational and healing. While I have written many posts about Sri Dharma, it is because he is my favorite Instructor, and the favorite to many. From my Inversion Workshop on Sunday, to teaching 2 classes and taking 2 classes on Monday (one with Dharma), and then last night with Sri Dharma again, my body was a little sore.....but Dharma goes into the fullest expression of the pose with ease, grace, smiles and a sense of humour, as though his body has no tension at all. It is AMAZING!!! At the end of Monday nights class, my body was shaking with joy and fatigue.....as we laid down in Savasana, Dharma said one person is laying the wrong way.....I looked up and noticed it was me, and Dharma had a sweet jovial smile on his face and hands on his hips....I quickly adjusted myself & smiled back at him. After class he gave a wonderful talk on the Bhagavad Gita and pranayama. The way he ties in the Spiritual aspect of the practice to daily life is so amazing, and he lives it too! It is always lovely to meet friends and fellow Yoga Instructors in class as well.

During Savasana last night, Dharma came around and shook my legs and arms, any tension was gone, and I felt like I could sleep for days. After last nights class, my friend and I were speaking about how wonderful class was, and I said to my friend that Dharma's picture is on my altar, right next to Jesus, we both giggled, but she knew that it was true (it really is). He really is an incredible Teacher!

If this is what 72 years young looks like, everyone should practice yoga. I love how Dharma emphasizes the importance and aspect of vegetarianism as it relates to the Yoga Practice. Many times you will hear him say "without Yamas & Niyamas there is no yoga". He embodies Yoga in every way, and regardless of your level of ability, you can benefit from hearing his wise words, participating in his guided meditations & pranayama, experiencing the brilliant energy of the class, and witnessing inspirational Yogis as they practice with respect and reverence for their Guru. When you don't try to do the asana, he will encourage you to try, and advise you to not act like an old person (so fun)! While he has earned the title of "The teachers teacher", it is advised that everyone take the advantage of taking a class with this amazing Teacher. Sadly, I may be leaving NYC for a short while, and I must admit, I will miss Sri Dharma's classes very much! Thank you Sri Dharma for inspiring me, deepening my practice, inspiring my students, and teaching many people the beauty of Yoga.....you are a blessing to my life.

Yoga Inversion Workshop with Amitai

Today my student & Karate Sensei Joseph embarked on the "Inversion Workshop" requirement for his Teacher Training. For those who don't know, Joseph isKung Fu & Karate Black Belt, A Reiki Master, A Crystal Healer, an ordained Minister, and an amazing friend. While my friend and fellow Yoga Instructor Agustin was set to teach the class, he sent his friend Amitai instead. Both Amitai and Agustin are remarkable Dharma Yogi's. I have taken many classes with Amitai at Dharma East, and he truly has a remarkable gift for teaching, and a humble energy that one can only attain with sincere devotion to the practice of Yoga, and their Guru. The class was at the Reebok Sports Club in the Harmony by Karate Dojo. Amitai entered and introduced himself to Joseph. After a very challenging yet beautiful weekend, I was excited to deepen my asana practice too. Even though many people think my asana practice is strong, I personally think it could be stronger, and never hesitate to share that, and continue to take classes to learn and grow. After our Om, Amitai began with beautiful guided meditation/pranayama using the chakras & alternate nostril breathing which is a common exercise Sri Dharma does after Master Class. We progressed into Bandhas, Surya Namaskar and then straight into inversions. Amitai gives amazing verbal cues, and assists in ways that make you feel like you can do everything upside down. He lead us through many variations of forearm balance, hand standing, and scorpion with highlighting the importance of how the prana flows, the importance of bandhas, the proper alignment of our body, and it was super fun!!! It goes without saying that Amitai's demonstration of poses are inspirational, and more than once Joseph and I turned to each other with a full "OMG" expression on our face after Amitai would effortlessly demonstrate!!! Thank you Amitai for an incredible experience. Thank you Joseph, it was so amazing to alternate forearm standing variations with you.

Photo: 1) Joseph working into Scorpion 2) Ambria, Amitai & Joseph

Happy Birthday Dharma

Last Thursday I had the chance to take Master Class with Dharma Mittra again. One of my lovely Teacher Trainees was taking class as part of her requirements and I was happy to join her. As always class is magical. I enter into the Temple, and the class is packed. The mats are configured different, rather than Dharma being positioned by the windows, he is near the wall by the entrance, and the carpet area is full. I walk to the back wall, catch a couple waves from fellow students, and situate myself. While my body was sore, and my allergies were activated, I was so grateful to be there. I surrendered my practice at the feet of God as an offering as I always do, and prepared for class. Ironically, my student, Stepanie was right in front of me. This is the second time that happened. We progressed into a class that was not nearly as physically challenging as most classes I had taken. My head was hurting as well as my shoulders due to a recent incident, so when it came to inversion, which if you know Dharma is pretty much the 4th pose in, I stayed in Childs Pose. Dharma came all the way to the back and knew something happened. He said "were you in an accident?" "did you hurt your neck", I tearfully said yes, and he laughed and said just do Shoulder Stand. He watched me go up and put my legs into lotus, and he saw that it was challenging, so kept close watch on me with loving eyes, and care. This was an amazing moment of surrender for me. I did not care that the entire room of yogis were facing me, or that I could not do a pose, I was in the moment and it was so magnificent. Again he came and suggested to kick myself up on the wall for handstand if I did not want to do forearm stand. He is so amazing when he demonstrates poses. I could feel that when he returned to the front he still maintained loving eyes on me, watching to make sure I was safe in my practice. Like with every class, he maintained his witty charm. At the end of class when we sat for psychic development, some beautiful cupcakes with candles were brought out, and the entire room of Yogis chanted Sita Ram, Happy Birthday and Dharma Blew out the candles. Afterwards he announced that he is 60 plus 12. It was such a beautiful class, and I am so thankful to have shared in the experience. Happy Birthday Sri Dharma Mittra.

Yoga with Yoshio

One of my favorite teachers to practice yoga with is Yoshio. From my very first class with Yoshio I was amazed at his mastery of the Yoga practice and his humble generous spirit. He leads a challenging class with nurturing adjustments that facilitate the deepest experience for your mind-body and spirit. He is a Dharma Yogi, and an amazing human being. Last year, I was sadly unable to take classes with Yoshio, as his classes were scheduled at times when I was teaching my own classes. Sometimes, I would see Yoshio and his beautiful wife, when I had the opportunity to take Master Class at Dharma Mittra's studio, and myself and many other yoga enthusiasts would be in awe of Yoshios practice. Just when you think you have done an advanced variation of a pose, Yoshio will show you a deeper variation, WITH EASE. Key words in that statement, is WITH EASE, unlike many people who push and pull into poses, Yoshio shows people how prana connection is done right. Floating from crow to handstand, to crow to handstand, to headstand to anything really, he does it all! If you want to witness a teacher who flows through poses, with grace, strength, brilliance, humility, excellence, and reverence for the Supreme force of love in the Universe, you want to take class with Yoshio. This same brilliance that Yoshio has in his own personal practice is always present in his yoga classes. This friday, I took the opportunity to take Yoshio's class alongside my students at Bamboomoves. Yoshio led us through a brilliant dynamic Yoga class with an energy that only a Dharma Yogi can bring, an energy challenges your body and inspires reverance for God. While in class, my body was incredibly sore from taking a few too many classes this week, along with my own practice and teaching, Yoshio still adjusted me deeper into poses and abolished any sense of fear, or awareness of soreness that I entered the class with. I felt so much amazing towards the end of class. This is the kind of trust that an excellent yoga teacher creates with their student. I am so grateful to take class with a teacher like Yoshio, he is an inspiration for all yoga instructors and students in so many ways. If you have a question regarding your practice, Yoshio's response is guaranteed to be compassionate and wise. While I always write about my experiences on my journey, and have highlighted some of my favorite teachers in past articles about Dharma Mittra, and Isaac Pena, Yoshio is also one of my favorite teachers, and I recommend everyone to take at least one class with this brilliant Yoga Master. As a yoga instructor it is important to maintain the heart of a student, and when you find a teacher that creates an amazing class experience you always want to have your mat rolled out in their class, Yoshio is that amazing teacher! He teaches two evening classes every Friday at Bamboomoves,BX. Thank you Yoshio for always providing an amazing Yoga experience!

Intro To Flight with Dice and Briohny

Later Sunday evening I was invited to the 2 hour Intro to Flight Workshop held at Bamboomoves Englewood with Michael's (Co Owner of Bamboomoves Bx) Yoga Instructors who are based out in LA. Dice and Briohny flew in from LA, to conduct Yoga Flight Workshops, teach classes, and experience the NY yoga scene for the week! While I have had a history of hang ups when it comes to Inversions, due to past injuries (Car accident, wrist injury, etc), which had translated into fear of having a reoccurring injury, I have spent much of the summer at Sankalpah with Issac who kind of nurtures you into Inversions, class with Andrew at Bamboomoves who has the "just go up" method down packed, and classes at Dharma where you are surrounded by such amazing energy, you never look back, thus I was semi prepared. Dice and Briohny are an amazing couple who took us through almost every arm balance and inversion you could think of. It was phenomenal! The 2 hour workshop goes by very fast with so much information, and flight to experience. To have these two teachers lead us into Flight, with a warm up flow, demonstrations, and each pose ushering in a new one, was so wonderful! The grace and ease they display of floating up into handstand and various other arm balances, is very inspiring. The best part is, they have brilliant allignment cues. If you are afraid to go upside down, stand on your hands or just afraid in general, this is the yoga class you want to take, they are fantastic! If you are wanting to experience these fabulous instructors come tonight Monday August 23rd to Bamboomoves, BX where they will be teaching the 7:45pm class, or on Thursday August 26 at Bamboomoves BX where they will do another Intro to Flight Workshop that evening.

Picture 1: (l-r) Charles (Bamboomoves Forrest Hills Instructor), Briohny and Dice, Ambria, and Michael (CoOwner of Bamboomoves BX)

Picture 2: The Englewood NJ Bamboomoves family with Charles, Briohny and Dice and Ambria.

Happy Yoga Monday

Good morning Monday. Off I go for the early 7am yoga with Isaac at Sankalpah. My body was a little tired due to a weekend of 4 yoga sessions I teach on saturday (one of which is referred to as "torture") and 3 on Sunday. Nonetheless, I was grateful to be there. Drenched in bliss yet again. Stripped of my ego, as my legs and arms were shaking throughout the class. Then off to Shiatsu practice class, and then teach a few yoga sessions. Fast forward to the later part of the gloriously hot summer day and I am at Bamboomoves. Finish teaching the kids yoga class, and watch Milta (the first yogi of the month) in her sparring class upstairs at the Karate school. When bzzzzzz (the vibration of my cell phone) Andrew is stuck on the train at Park Slope and would like me to lead the start of the 7:45pm yoga class. Sure I said. I head downstairs, lay out my mat, jokingly introduce myself as Andrew Tanner to a class of all familiar faces who laugh at every one of my silly jokes (thanks guys for being a captive audience to my budding comedic talents) and let them know he is on his way. Some of the students thought I was teaching, as I have subbed a lot for Andrew in the past. As I was starting the meditation, in walks Andrew (my yoga brother from another mother) and I casually move to lay my yoga mat on the side between Jody and Denise. Early on when I met Andrew, he told me my only flaw as a yoga instructor is my Headstand practice lacks strength. I LOVE IT, because I agreed and I am working on it. Andrew is a brilliant yoga instructor. He is a Dharma Mittra disciple, and gives a wonderful yoga class. He led us through a terrific yoga class while my gentle cloud music on my iPod played in the background. My arms were kinda sore but he had me up in forearm stand up the wall and various other poses. Did I mentioned that I was sitting next to Jody? Well Jody makes me laugh, a lot! I love to laugh, so choosing to lay my mat next to Jody, who already makes me laugh, and I am already pretty giggly, well, let's just say it was a giggly class. Before Andrew requested us to get into plow pose, we were both giggling because we had gurgling tummies. Luckily, Andrew gave a variation. I am a big fan of Andrew Tanner, he gives a complete classic yoga class (asana, meditation, pranayama and more). It echos of Dharma style with Andrew's own genuine witty one liners. The best is how he leads the class through a good sweat, and proceeds to say "now that we are through with the warm up" which is always well received by sweaty confused lifted eyebrows. He introduced us to "bouncey ball asana" his own creation to open the sacral area, it was pretty fun! Andrew was the original founder of the quickly growing Bamboomoves chain, and teaches at various Bamboomoves locations, as well as Dharma Mittra studio on occasion. Andrew is another NYC yoga teacher that I respect and revisit. He gives wonderful cues, helpful assists, demonstrates awe inspiring variations, usually ends class with pranayama work, and cracks the occasional funny joke. You leave Andrew's class knowing that you did your mind & body good. Since I have been part of the Bamboomoves family, Andrew has been very encouraging, and helpful on my yoga journey. He knew I was reluctant to take the Dharma master class, and he invited me. Taking the Dharma Master class beside him was great, because I probably would have found an excuse to avoid it without the comfort of knowing a familiar face was beside me. Andrew has given me the chance to do a lovely Yoga photo shoot with his talented photographer buddy, getting me to volunteer at the Yoga in Central Park to adjust participants and much more. The giving nature that Andrew brings to fellow yoga instructors and students makes him a phenomenal yoga instructor. Thanks again Andrew for yet another lovely class.

Yoga on the Great Lawn at Central Park

Since my ankle has been hurting me so much I was in need of a break. Somehow the Universe, with the help of Andrew of Bamboomoves, arranged for me to be an assisting instructor at the Central Park Yoga on the Great Lawn. Ironically I wanted to attend the class as a student but I usually teach a class on Wall Street at that time. It actually worked out. My already scheduled Yoga class on Wall Street was taught by my dear friend and fellow yoga instructor, Katie. I left the Yogi Beans studio, teaching a class and though I was happy to assist people in this wonderful experience of yoga on the great lawn, my ankle issue was making me want rest. I got there, and had to change behind a tree (which I have never done) into the instructor uniform. I was being "shielded from view" by the tree and fellow Yogi Bean teacher, Amy. We are asked to make sure that people fill up the front section of the lawn and then the back. I had to go to the bathroom and used a porta potty (another first time experience). I find my way back to my post and notice that people have rolled out there mats in my section, and my crowd control skills clearly lacked the intimidating abilities that the position may have required. Oh well, it is yoga after all. I was happy to see some students who come to my monthly chakra workshops from Bamboomoves, and other friends that I knew. One friend was unable to eat his Vegan Chocolate Cupcake due to being on a diet, so I was more than willing to assist. There I was eating his delicious Vegan Cupcake from Otarian while standing in Tree Pose. A fellow Berklee College of Music Alumni & Canadian was on stage playing bass, Garth Stevenson. The brilliant Dharma Mittra led the Om. Elena Brower led what seemed to be a semi Sun Salutation while tiny drops of rain fell from stone grey clouds, and the thousands of people who laid out there yoga mats left the great lawn, due to a monsoon like rain! Sadly there were still thousands of people lined up waiting to get into the sectioned off area of the park. They said it would be rescheduled, and oddly I was happy because the pain in my ankle was not pleasant at this point. Myself and a friend peacefully walk to the exit and get drenched on our way to the train. Before getting to the train we stop at Starbucks for a tea, I changed out of my uniform top, and I create a rain poncho from a trash bag that was given to me by the Starbucks lady. While there was really no yoga on the great lawn, like every yoga experience it was life changing and unique. I changed in a public place, used a porta potty, ate my dieting friends Vegan cupcake in front of him while doing a tree pose, made a lovely rain poncho from a trash bag, and was inspired to be serious about seeing a podiatrist for my foot. I guess I was meant to be there. Before the rain came down hard, they announced that they will repeat the event later in the summer. ~ Peace & Hugs, Ambria

Hanumanasana @ Dharma Mittra Center NYC

Hanumanasana is the pose named after the Chief Monkey Hanuman. This pose celebrates Hanumun's giant leap from the Southern tip of India to the Island of Sri Lanka. In America we also call this pose the splits. This past Monday, I was invited to join Andrew (Bamboomoves Yogi) to attend a Master Level Class at the Dharma Mittra Center. Admittedly, I was intimidated as I do not have a very advanced yoga practice. Aside from the fact that I was tremendously sore/tired from teaching 13 classes since Sunday that same week, and taking a few classes, I decided to go anyways. The class was as advanced as you can get. We came into Handstand in the second pose, I shouldn't say we because I kept one toe on the wall and prayed I wouldn't land on my face every time we went up. I say every time because we revisited the pose many times. We flipped from Side Plank to Wheel, and more. To be in the presence of this group of yogis was absolutely inspirational. Sri Dharma Mittra kindly adjusted me into poses, teased me when my attempts were comedic and demonstrated humble brilliance with his yoga practice. All the other students who were in class are truly inspirational to watch, and on occasion I found myself in Watch-asana. One of the poses we did in class was Hanumanasana. Sri Dharma and his advanced yogis demonstrated switching legs in the pose without moving from the position. WOW! I must say I loved every minute of the class, which has been my experience thus far at the Dharma Yoga Center. At the end of class, Andrew told me that the class was actually more challenging than usual, and I was feeling so elated like I was floating, it didn't register to me till later that it was a challenging two hours of advanced asana practice. Special thanks to Andrew for inviting me and to Sri Dharma Mittra for yet again providing an amazing yoga experience. Hanumanasana is an advanced pose and it is important to stretch out the legs and warm up before. Ultimately we want to be all the way down to the floor with arms over head, but since Yoga is a practice not a perfect, I am still working on it.

Image by David Blottner

Sri Dharma Mittra

Sri Dharma Mittra is well known as a teachers teacher. He is heralded in NYC and around the world as a Yoga Guru. If you have seen the famous picture with 908 yoga poses, you might already know that the "model" or yogi in the pictures is the wonderful, Dharma Mittra. Before I decided I wanted to get certified to teach yoga, I thought I wanted to do my training with Dharma Mittra. After extensive research, I appreciated his authentic approach to the spiritual path and self realization that Yoga really offers. Unfortunately, due to a few physical injuries my asana practice suffered and I was highly intimidated to do my teacher training with Sri Dharma Mittra. For over a year, I have written in my journal a list of things to do, and attending a Dharma Mittra class was one of them. Somehow, a music gig, a yoga session, studio session etc became reason or excuse for me putting it off. I also knew that my asana practice has yet to embrace a strong headstand practice.

Recently, Andrew, the founder of Bamboomoves and devoted student of Sri Dharma Mittra encouraged me to go. He told me that the vibration of the studio was enough to help me get past my own yoga asana needs. I listened and went to the studio as a student (Thank you Andrew). From my first step into the studio, I was transported to the peaceful energy that I have felt every time I stepped off the plane when going to India. If you have been to India, you know what I speak of. A serene, spiritual energy, joy, vibration that is out of this world. Somehow, Dharma Mittra has captured the essence of India in his NYC studio. The simple studio, with Indian Music playing softly, fragrant incense burning, lovely garland adorned photos of yoga gurus, and the "vibration" that Andrew mentioned. I took a Beginner class with a wonderful instructor, Amitai. My yoga mat faced a picture of Paramahnsa Yogananda who is one of my favorite authors (Autobiography of a Yogi, Laws of Success, The Yoga of Jesus, Metaphysical Meditations, and many more) I knew as I looked to Paramahnsa's photo during my warrior poses, that I was meant to be there. I hope to go back to the lovely Dharma Mittra studio, and take more classes. It is important for Yoga Instructors to take classes, and be a student as well, thank you Amitai for providing a lovely experience. Hopefully, I will get the chance to take a class with Dharma Mittra one day. If you have a chance to take a yoga class at the Dharma Mittra studio, it will be an experience you will embrace forever.

Picture: Sri Dharma Mittra