Ohashiatsu Intermediate 2

Ohashiastu Intermediate 2 class is slowly ending. The lovely people in my class and myself were instructed by Sam Berlind. Sam was also my Beginning one teacher, and has a very wonderful way of bringing occasional humour into practical Ohashiatsu training. We explored the secondary Masunaga meridian lines, crawled on each other, floated in deep relaxation, and enjoyed as we understood the elements in a deeper way. I was thrilled to know that my previous teacher Millie also joined our group. Every Tuesday, has been a relaxing treat with this amazing group of people.

Yogalaties Every Wednesday Night!

So after a lovely petition was put together by the members of Bamboomoves, the Yogalaties class now has a weekly time slot (Wednesday nights, 6:45pm), along with our every other Saturday class at 4pm. Our first Wednesday night, we had nearly 20 people!!! Every Wednesday night, we will begin with a half hour of yoga, followed by pilates inspired core related exercises.. I like to add in some additional abdominal exercises to really get the harmonizing moans and groans out, in order to guarantee that every participant leaves class feeling like they really worked their core, and of course, remembering all the hard work the next day. The class is tons of fun, and a great way to get "beach body" ready for summer! Come and join every Wednesday night @ 6:45pm.

Bamboomoves Tree Pose

With regard to the aspect of grounding and focus, the kids Yoga class generally love to explore tree pose. Tree pose, allows them to ground their feet into the earth, discover balance, and focus their attention. Along with the many benefits of tree pose, we generally do it with a song that I composed, and the students pick the tree that they want to be. While they stand in tree pose, they adjust their arms to be a coconut tree, bamboo tree, linden tree, orange, apple etc. Picking the tree is sometimes the most fun!

Coconut Water- Health and Beauty Benefits

Many Yogis, Vegans and vegetarians enjoy the health benefits of coconuts. We are nuts for coconuts. To list a few benefits (low carb, low sugar, 99% fat free). Along with that, coconut water contains organic compounds that help to keep the body cool, raise metabolism, promote weight loss, detoxify & fight viruses, improve immune system, cleanse digestive tract, control diabetes, and it is high in potassium. For me personally, on many trips to India, I have bathed by taste buds in the heavenly juice straight from a freshly picked coconut, and there is nothing more refreshing on a hot day! In India, they chop the top, pop a straw in, and you sip the most cool, sweet, refreshing water ever! And no preservatives or added sugar, corn syrup and all the other nastiness that most beverages have! While you may not be in a tropical country that allows fresh coconut water, there are some companies that are working to making it into a commercial beverage. It is also wonderful for those of you (like myself) with Pitta in your Ayurveda constitution.

Beyond the coconut water, organic coconut oil is the traditional hair/scalp oil treatment of most Indian Girls (the reason for the thick lustrous black locks), it is a fantastic facial/body moisturizer, and does wonders for baking and light sauteing of foods. Most moisturizers today promise anti aging, and moisture, while alcohol which is known for drying tendencies is a primary ingredient. Stop being a slave to celebrity endorsed marketing campaigns, save yourself tons on these tiny tubes/tubs of empty promises, that wind up costing more because of packaging, and head to the grocery store to pick up some organic coconut oil. Soon you too will be coco for coconuts! It is loaded with nutrients, omegas, and moisture to keep your skin smooth and youthful. But make sure to get the Organic one, so it doesn't smell too strong.

Pictured: Myself and my daddy enjoying refreshing coconut water in Perumthuru, Kerala, India

Dharma Yoga

So, as I had mentioned in an earlier post, I worked up the courage to go to the Dharma Yoga Centre here in NYC, only to be delightfully enlightened. While, I have enjoyed classes with Amitai and Marvin because it worked with my schedule, I decided I wanted to take class with Sri Dharma Mittra. The wonderful people of Bamboomoves were kind enough to allow me to have a sub teach the evening class, while I took class with Sri Dharma Mittra himself. Ironically, while I took class at Dharma Mittra, there was a Dharma trained Yoga Instructor covering my class at Bamboomoves. The same day, my old wrist injury pain started to creep up in the worst way, I wrapped it up, and I told myself that it could be psychosomatic.

So it's Wednesday night, after teaching two Yogi Bean classes, I took a cab to the Dharma Yoga Centre. Luckily, as per Adams advice, I had registered the night before, and made it just in time. I quickly changed and noticed the sea of eager (obviously regular yogis) had filled up the carpeted area of the studio, facing the entrance way. This meant that with my sore, wrapped wrist, I would have to lay my mat in the direction facing them, and surrender to my breath. There were maybe four other people in the section I was in.

Class begins, with incredible Sun Salutations, and after what seemed to be 10 sweaty sun salutes, Sri Dharma Says "Let's Race and see who finishes first". Most everyone was damp and feeling it. As I was in plank pose, I peeked up, only to see that this nearly 80 year old Yogi, Sri Dharma, was pretty much done, and he did the salute with full extension of each pose. WOW!

We proceed, into twists, and he adjusts me into a pigeon variation that I haven't done in a year only to realize that sometimes when I teach a lot of beginners, I avoid allowing my body to go to full extension. From then on, I closed my eyes, concentrated on God's love and abundance in my life, surrendered my injured wrist, and my every breath as an offering to deepen my practice and grow closer in faith. IT WAS DEEP! I went into poses that I haven't done in a long time, and maintained closed eyes throughout class. The biggest challenge was the Side Plank on the side where my wrist was injured, but I did my best. Towards the end of class, I placed my legs over my head with ease, peeked my eyes open, and met eyes with Sri Dharma. He nodded his head, which gave me great comfort, and I closed my eyes and focused on my breath again. It was so profound to be a student in this class. Twice he adjusted me deeper into poses. Thankfully, we did not do headstand (which is a pose I need to work on), however, being in Shoulder Stand for as long as we were, FELT GREAT!

I had the best Savasana experience I have had in years. I saw Chakra related lights, felt tremendous love, and my wrist no longer hurt as it did all day, so I experienced a healing. I left class feeling light and free, knowing that any areas of my life that I needed to find forgiveness were made pure. I knew that this was the Spiritual experience I was yearning for. I decided to stay for the Psychic Development Course after the Yoga class, which was so wonderful!

While many yoga centers in NYC offer a great workout, with asana focused practice, and former dancers/performers as teachers (myself included), my spiritual upbringing longed for this experience. With every possible excuse not to go (the fact that I had to teach a yoga class, my sore wrist, my need to improve my headstand, and the fact that I had my mat facing the entire class), I am so thrilled I left my ego at the door and experienced a deepening of my yoga practice. I recommend everyone take a class at the center with Sri Dharma Mittra. The experience was truly life changing, so much so that I actually submitted my application for 500Hr teacher training with Sri Dharma Mittra the next day. Regardless, if I get accepted into the teacher training or not, this Yogi Guru has inspired my yoga practice tremendously, and words cannot express my gratitude for being able to take part in yoga class led by Sri Dharma Mittra. ~ Peace & hugs, Ambria

Kids Yoga Dog Tunnel @ Bamboomoves

Kids gain so much from a Yoga practice. They improve focus, flexibility, and HAVE FUN!!!! At Bamboomoves, Kids explore the Sun Salutation, Warrior Poses, Pranayama (breathing exercises), Meditation, Sing Yoga related songs, and play various yoga games. One of the favorites is the "Dog Tunnel" where we line up our mats, get into downward dog pose, and one by one crawl through, to the lovely sounds of our own dog barking. They especially love when I crawl though. On Halloween, we made our Down Dogs into Down Wolves, and howled.

Yogini Joke of the Day! - Meditation

The meditation Student asked the Guru:

If I am open minded, won't my brains fall out?

The Guru responds:

No, just be sure to keep your mouth shut at the same time.