Sunset Yoga on Wall Street Rooftop

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Wall Street area is a slice of heavenly peace. High on the rooftop is where you find it. This week I had the pleasure of teaching a group yoga class, on the rooftop Terrace of a Luxury Condo on Wall Street. The view was breathtaking. The Sunset was glorious. The Yoga was bliss. To be able to practice outdoors is so wonderful, but when you have such a glorious view, with a setting sun, and gentle breeze to set the scene....WOW is the word. Thank you for inviting me to share your Yoga practice. ~Peace & hugs

Taking Class at Nalini

Once upon a time while browsing in LuLuLemon, I saw a huge picture of a lovely Indian girl who from a far looked like my cousin. Of course I was so thrilled and confused, and then I read the small print name to discover it was not my cousin, but Rupa Metha. Rupa is the founder of the Nalini Method. I looked her up online and made a mental note that when I have a chance, I would like to take a class with her.

So this week, as luck would have it I had a break in my early schedule and decided to take a class. I ventured to the Upper West Side, where I had a yoga client soon after. I buzzed the buzzer and went up. It seemed like an odd location, and that is what I kept feeling. The door opens and I am face to face with a tiny, sleepy, pyjama clad Rupa. This explains the feeling I was having about the oddness of the location. We were both embarrassed, because I foolishly buzzed her apt instead of the studio next door. Did I mention it was embarrassing? What a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the instructor for the first time! She redirects me to the studio and the lovely receptionists sets me up.

A cushy mat, two sets of weights, two blocks and ankle weights. In walks Rupa, we both laugh about what had happened and she begins to instruct us to work our arms. My arms were burning! We progressed into thighs, buttock, core, and did seemingly a gazillion repetitions. Just when you think it is done, she calls out for 20 more. I felt like this was my Karma (pay back) for how I instruct the Yoga-laties class. I was amazed when we went to the ballet bar to do squats on our tip toes with a ball or a block between the thighs, because I looked down to see my thighs shaking as though they were in a blender. While this was a little out of my element to do work with weights it was an enjoyable experience. Rupa has a wonderful spirit and encourages every student individually to maintain momentum. The class combines Yoga, Ballet, Pilates, and weights. As Rupa trained with Lotte Berk, some people may recognize that influence in her class style. The Nalini Method is a great challenge for the mind and body because being present while your muscles are screaming is a profound experience. Thank you Rupa for making my experience at Nalini so enjoyable! ~Peace & hugs, Ambria

Flying Warriors at Bamboomoves

The ever popular Kids Yoga class at Bamboomoves is always a joy to instruct. While we do Sun Salutations, Warriors, and Yoga related games, the kids yoga practice has improved by leaps and bounds. While many of the kids are progressing into Sirsasana (Headstand) and various other challenging poses, the bottom line is always FUN! Throughout the practice we laugh, and enjoy! Kids have a brilliant way to maintain that joyful spirit. The kids have quickly learned my Warrior Song, which is how we do the sequence. Here we are doing our Flying Warrior or as they call it Vira 3.

Pictured: L-R: Kamilla, Jaleen, Milta, Veronica, Ambria, Emma, Olivia, Karla, Imergen

Monday Morning Office Yoga

For a few months now I have been teaching a lovely Monday morning group at 8 am at Wall Street. This class is usually taught by my friend and fellow yogini, Katie, who is currently assisting Swami Shivam in India with Teacher Training. I had the pleasure to work with these lovely folks before, and they maintain that it is a wonderful way to begin the work week. These office yogis look forward to their Monday morning yoga and demonstrate discipline and enthusiasm towards their yoga practice. We meet in a gray Board Room, and progress into a lovely Hatha Yoga practice. As it is Monday morning it is not extremely challenging, but as with most of my classes, participants leave slightly damp. With light music playing we deepen our practice, and settle our minds to face the work week with a brilliant sense of inner peace. While the size of the group fluctuates from week to week, we spent weeks working on Balance (Tree Pose) and Tripod Headstand. Both poses, I am thrilled to say were done with ease and collective consciousness towards this last week. As Katie is making her way back to the US, I will miss this lovely group! Thank you guys for making Monday morning so much fun! Your dedication displayed by coming to work early on a Monday morning (of all days) to practice yoga, is admirable. You all did so wonderful! Hope to share a yoga practice with you guys again some day. ~Peace & hugs, Ambria

Guru

While the question of Guru can come into play for many people who practice yoga. In Sanskrit Gu translates into darkness, and Ru translates into light therefore a guru is someone who takes you out of darkness and brings you to light or enlightenment. These people often times have profound knowledge and wisdom and can often times be considered saintly. My first guru is my mom. With Mothers Day approaching, I have to admit that I miss the presence of my dear mom. She was my best friend, and her love lives in me every day. She inspired my faith, and my love for music. Telling me to always be true to myself, and keep God first in my heart. Teaching me to treat the world around me with love and have gratitude in my heart. While I have been blessed with many amazing teachers, music teachers, and students who have enlightened me in many ways, my mom and my dad did such an amazing job of leading me to light, I never really regarded many other people as a Guru.

Now in the yoga world, someone who I would be happy to call Guru is Swami Shivam. Swami Shivam is the Yogi at the Siddhartha Yoga Center in India. Not so long ago, I wanted to meet this gentle Yogi when he was coming to NYC. I had wanted to do a meditation workshop with him. While It was a time in my life when I was unsure if I could afford the sessions, and they seemed to be full, just how the universe always works, his dear friend (who ironically worked in a lovely Indian restaurant that I had frequented) arranged for me to meet him. If it is meant to happen, it will. I was so thrilled to experience his meditation workshop and did my best to arrange for him to conduct workshops at various yoga studios in the NY. Those that participated experienced the authentic loving heart this yogi brings to the practice of yoga. At the time I was a new "Full Time Yogi" who was experiencing obstacles in the yoga community. He said many profound things to me, and one was when he explained to me something so simple, I had already known, but obviously forgot.

"The universe is abundant, never say you want only 10 clients, because you may not even get 10, rather say you want 10,000 and witness what an amazing Universe we belong to. We get what we focus on." My current date book is testament to this truth. This philosophy goes with many areas of our lives. Thus, the importance of practicing healthy habits, surrounding ourselves with positive energy, and maintaining a zest for life. Thank you Swami Shivam for shinning light into my heart. Swami Shivam is currently conducting teacher training at his center in the lovely northern region of India. I hope you return to NYC to share your light with more people.

Picture: Swami Shivam & Ambria

Yogi of the Month - Lady Bug

Bamboomoves has a new Yogi of the Month. She is bright young yogi. Her name is Jaylene, also known as LadyBug. This lovely young girl is on her way to a Black Belt, brings fierce competition during "Yogi Says", she is enthusiastic about her Yoga practice, and has decided that for Movie Night we will be seeing the new Shrek Movie!!! Go LadyBug!

BOOGIE DOWN Pellham Bay

In the heart of Pellham Bay is the lovely Bamboomoves. This location has authentic Bronx energy (friendly & feisty all in one). Saturday was a record high day of heat in NYC, a sizzling 90 degrees. After teaching level 2, Kids, Level 1 yoga, I decided that I will not necessarily demonstrate everything in the Yoga-laties class. Because I had a meeting at 6:30 in the city, I was avoiding getting sweaty. While yoga-laties is the fun, sweaty class that promises to having you laughing, sweating, sighing, praying to God, and maybe even cursing me out under your breath all at the same time, it is usually always a packed house. The playlist I create, promises to be a collection of upbeat and high energy hits meant to drive us through these core inspired exercises. I do my best to tease and encourage participants to keep momentum. But this Saturday, I decided to just call out the exercises, again to avoid getting too sweaty. Well that lasted all of two lines in the fabulous Madonna song "Holiday".....special thanks to Dorris for calling me out, reminding me to get back into it, by jokingly asking "What about you?"! I LOVED IT!!!! It was clear everyone shared in the laugh. So much for me avoid the sweat. It was a highlight of the day for me....and has inspired an extra special yoga-laties class for Wednesday. See you all then! Special thanks to Carissa for giving me the packet of wet nap things, that I could cleanse myself off with. What a life saver!