Chakra Workshop - The Three Granthis

After a week of silence and transformation at the Magical Zendo, I was so happy to teach a Chakra Workshop the next day. The irony was after returning from silence and serenity, I made my way through literally the chaos of the NYC Marathon FINISH line crowd, to make my way downtown to The Lovely OM Factory, it was so fun. This workshop was particularly special as the "teaching" was energetically shared it with my Sensei/Friend/Student, Joseph. Actually, while I was away at the Zendo (away from internet and phone) Joseph took the lead to arrange and invite all the people to participate for the workshop, thank you so much Joseph!!! It was lovely to see some familiar faces at the workshop. Joseph being an amazing Yoga Instructor & Reiki Master, provided Reiki Hands On Adjustments, did a remarkable Crystal Grid of the Room, and brought his magical energy to the room. Some people were lucky enough to get some impromptu Psychic Readings from Joseph after the Workshop.

The energy in the room was absolutely magnificent. With Candles light in front of the Yoga mats arranged in a Circle (Chakra/Wheel). Our workshop worked its way through the Granthis (Knots), highlighting the power chakras: The Root, The Heart, and the Third Eye. With Yoga Asana work, Chanting, Meditation and even a Stomping where we transformed our bodies into drums to awaken the Kundalini at our Muladhara Chakra (Root Chakra). The reality is, our subtle body is so deeply connected to our development of our Yoga Asana Practice. The Subtle body connection illuminates a deeper understanding of our emotional, mental and spiritual connection to our physical bodies. We are limitless, and once we experience this reality in our body, we can soar.

While we had two amazing live musicians who were eager to play, they had prior gigs so were unable to play. Since we had promised Live Music, I played guitar with an original take on a chant "Om Namo Narayana", Narayana being a common name for Vishnu, the 8th avatar of Krishna, who is the Lord of the Heart Chakra. The chant led people into a candle lit Savasana.

It was a magical evening, and it was so lovely to be in the room with the Yantra for the Heart Chakra painted on the wall of the amazing Om Factory. Thank you to all who participated, sharing in the collective consciousness of the room, thank you to Joseph for sharing the incredible energy. For those of you who signed up and missed the magical energy, there will be more to come!!! ~ Om Shanti

Aerial Yoga @ Om Factory

Last Sunday after teaching some classes, my lovely students at Bamboomoves Bronx, informed me I was joining them at Om Factory for Aerial Yoga. My students take my classes, and sign me up to take classes with them, how amazing! I was reluctant because my recently fractured toe was still sore, and I also had to teach my evening Yoga class, but I still ventured with them to fly. We walk into the Om Factory and see the room filled with lovely draping orange sheets that hang from the ceiling. Then we are greeted by a kind spirit at the front desk, sign up and ready ourselves for class. I have tried Aerial Yoga before in Brooklyn, but this was my first time with this particular teacher and studio. One of my lovely students, Latesha, loves it so much she wants to get certified in Aerial Yoga, and based on how awesome she was at Aerial Yoga, I am sure she will, and be wonderful at it! In walks our lovely teacher Ameilia. She introduces herself to us, and invites us to all enter the room and pick a Hammock. She gives the health concern questions, and instructs us where to place our hammock in relation to our body. Soon we sit in meditation in the hammock. I was taken back to my childhood days when most every child would hang in a hammock in India to fall asleep. It was very relaxing (both back then and on this day at Om). One at a time, Ameilia leads us in the Aerial Yoga flow she had designed with Handstands, Hasta Padangusthasana, lunges, downward dog and much more. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately for me, I had accidentally hurt my toe placing it into the Hammock early in the class, so I was in my own world of "Oh Noooo Did I break my toe again?". I kept focusing on sending loving energy to my toe, rubbing it, and pretending not to be in pain, which all distracted me from listening to cues and even at times trying poses. When we straddle our legs out to the side, the length of my legs was enough to hit everyone around me, and my concern was my sore big toe. Ameilia was amazing at adjusting and assisting, I probably should have mentioned my toe to her, but I just kept going on my own. The class was a lot of fun! At one point in the end of class, I was upside down in downward dog, and I had to ask my amazing student Latesha what to do next, luckily she was able to cue me what to do next. Thanks Om Factory and Ameilia for giving a fun class!