Quote of the Day - Yoga Sutras

By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness - Yoga Sutras 1:33

Picture: Ambria in Tree Pose on to of Mt Cardigan with Michael and Denise standing by

Yoga-Laties at The Bamboomoves Retreat

The Bamboomoves Labour Day Retreat had made adjustments to the schedule to put my ever popular Yoga-laties class on the schedule. This class is my personal creation. It is an hour of fast paced Yoga, with some pilates, Indian Wrestler exercises, and various other yummy routines designed to strengthen the whole body with emphasis on core and glutes. This class is unlike any other yoga-laties class, and the suggestions of the students have enlightened me to change the name to "Zoga-laties" TM, since no sub teacher has instructed the class the same (Thanks guys). It really is an amazing experience. Thank you to all the brave folks who pack the Bamboomoves studio each Wednesday 6:45pm and Saturday 4pm, only to have me conduct the "torture" class as they call it, which they keep coming back for. More than anything, you all make that class the amazing experience that it is! When we were at the retreat, EVERY Bronx member took the class, and special thanks to the people from the other studios who could have went on the nature walk, or attending the Chi Gong, and instead opted for the "torture" class!!! So glad you all had fun! See you tonight! Wednesday at 6:45 for Yoga-laties at the Bamboomoves BX location. Also, Denise is giving a lovely Gentle Yoga class @ 5:30 if you want to stretch out a bit before class!

Picture: The Yoga-laties class at the Bamboomoves retreat taken by the amazing Jody Concepcion (Jody with a y)

More Awesomeness from Bamboomoves Teacher Training

The Bamboomoves Warrior Teacher Training experience is weeks past, but the energy remains. The new teachers are busy adjusting in classes, teaching new level 1 and gentle yoga classes at Bamboomoves and elsewhere. Just wanted to share some more pictures from our experience. Thanks Erika for emailing me these great pics! Pictures include:

• Andrew & myself: yoga teachers being goofy flexing and stretching on top of Mt Cardigan.
• New Yogi Sarah assisting me as I drop back into wheel pose on top of Mt Cardigan.
• Amazing Group Shot on top of Mt Cardigan.
• New Yogi Ricky and myself Jamming while on a break on the porch of the gorgeous Lake House at Lake Sunipee

McNasty

In the past I have mentioned that Yoga is an 8 Limb Practice.

1. Yama : Universal morality
2. Niyama : Personal observances
3. Asanas : Body postures
4. Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of prana
5. Pratyahara : Control of the senses
6. Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
7. Dhyana : Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
8. Samadhi : Union with the Divine

In the West many have adapted this attitude that Yoga is just the Workout, the act of stretching. This is an ancient Science that has deeper meaning than most people are able to grasp. The first Limb, also known has Yamas, has 5 Yamas in total, and the first of the Yamas is Ahimsa. Ahimsa also known as non harming/non violence is the reason behind the Yogic diet being Vegetarian. A Vegetarian Diet, is rich in Prana (life force), nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fibre and all without killing a living being. While there are many famous Western Yogis who proudly eat their burgers before their asana practice, knowing the issue of factory farming in North America, it is hard to believe that chakras can become balanced, shakti can spark, or kundalini can rise, no matter how fierce your Scorpion Pose may be. Should we have this Ceaser like mentality of washing our hands? Especially when the "meat" in question has more chemical preservatives than food content? These chemicals are toxic to the body, and made up of components that bring on various illnesses and disease. When the actual purpose behind the asana practice is to be able to sit in meditation (samadhi) for long periods of time, thus deepening our spiritual side, shouldn't we consider foods with less chemicals? Many people have the perspective, we all will die someday, why not enjoy our food, meaning various meat products? Ultimately, it is an individual choice, and ideally, if we made all our dietary choices based on nutritional content, the marketing gimmicks of our chemically laced fast food chains will serve no purpose. While it is an individual choice, a devotee to Yoga, who is eager to grow the spiritual side of the practice, and adapt the Limbs of Yoga deeper into daily habits usually eats a vegetarian diet to abide by the principal of Ahimsa (non harming to all living things). This Limb of Yoga helps us to see from a Universal perspective rather than an ego or self perspective. Only when you are ready to take that next step will you truly experience the Science behind this Ancient practice we call Yoga....till then, Happy Stretching.

For this post, McNasty comes into play because recently a few people have been keeping their McDonalds Happy Meals, and Hamburgers on the shelf. Literally, on the shelf, and observing that it doesn't decompose. The fries, the bread, the meat, everything just gets hard, no bugs want to nibble on it, and no mold forms. Karen Hanrahan (wellness educator) kept her McDonalds burger for 12 years and it didn't decompose. Nonna Joann purchased a Happy Meal and a year later it did not decompose. Food is supposed to decompose, normally flies would deposit larvae on old moldy meat and eventually that hatches into maggots. If flies ignore your food, if it does not decompose, then how could our bodies metabolize these types of meals? If you still want to claim you have a Yoga practice and eat your McDonalds, knowing that supporting a corporation like this is part of the factory farming issue, or if you believe that you didn't harm the animals yourself, just make a mental note, that you are willfully harming YOURSELF. The human body was designed to have food that acts as fuel and medicine. When you deliberately eat food that is considered "junk food" that contain chemical compounds that could easily embalm us from the inside....for reasons like:

• the fat, citric acid and sodium content are unreasonably high in McDonalds fries for preservative purposes, and reason for their never spoiling life span.
• the calcium/sodium proportionate found in the buns is also unreasonably high and reason for their never spoiling.
• The beef has a higher fat content which is up to 54% of its caloric content which adds to the lack of moisture.
• The factory farmed meat has stress hormones/adrenaline due to stressful situations killing and horrible growth hormone diets, these can affect our body.

Those of you who want to maintain your "stretching" practice with the Hip name "yoga", hey in North America, anything goes. Those of you who want to deepen your practice and embrace Ahimsa, by non violence/harming to yourself and your family, stop going to McDonalds. Stop eating foods that are more of a Lab experiment and replace those fast food choices with real nutrient rich foods that your body can metabolize. For anyone who represents McDonalds and thinks my opinion warrants a legal battle, take it up with Patanjali who wrote the Yoga Sutras because I am just a Yogini who wants to deepen my yoga practice and the yoga practice of others. ~Om Shanti

Picture: Photo by Karen Hanrahan "12 year old burger from McDonalds that did not decompose"

Belly Dance with Kristi at Bamboomoves

Bamboomoves BX location has been really fortunate to have some amazing Belly Dance instructors. We had Yael, Kristin, and now Kristi! Kristi came to know that I had done belly dance before, and one Saturday after teaching my usual 3 morning yoga classes, she pulled me in to the lobby to do a Belly Dance solo. The students applauded and I felt a bit embarassed while the lovely Front Desk Ladies (Jody and Joy) laughed on the sidelines because they avoided the opportunity by directing Kristi's attention to me. Being a performer, I did my shimmy, traded shimmy's with Kristi (as Jazz musicians trade fours), and made my shimmy exit. So glad I was able to add to the roaring enthusiasm of the students at Bamboomoves, really anything to help. Kristi gives a high energy Belly Dance class. She is a brilliant performer who performs regularly in the city, and then teaches folks how to get their Shimmy on.

Last Monday night I decided to join Kristi's class, only if she doesn't make a spectacle of me. In true Kristi fashion, she basically pointed me out, jokingly announcing that she will not be making a spectacle of me, but my moves are groovin. We all laughed hysterically. She is so funny, so talented, and a great instructor. She plays wonderful music, and gets everyone into it, while our abs are screamin, our hips are shimmying, and our faces are smiling! After class we took some fun pictures. One picture did not make the blog because it wound up looking somewhat hillariously inappropriate, Kristi's version of Downward Dog tells me she may need to take a Yoga class. Kristi had asked me why I don't teach the Belly Dance class, and I had to tell her, well because I am not you! While I have had my share of doing belly dance performances back in the day, for a semi intoxicated crowds in various clubs in NYC, the art of Instructing Belly Dance is a whole different ball game. Kind of like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time....that takes a pro. Kristi is this Pro! Thanks Kristi for being such a wonderful Belly Dance instructor! I will stick to Yoga, and hope that one day you take my class after Belly dance. Kristi teaches Saturdays at 1:30 and Monday night at 6:30 at Bamboomoves.

Photos: Kristi and Ambria (pictures taken by Jody Concepcion)

Yoga Maya

Every once in a while I like to venture to a new studio. NYC is full of so many yoga studios. As I am working on improving arm balances with push ups, the recent choice to take Karate classes, and taking Dharma's Master class & class with Isaac at Sankalpah...I had heard about an instructor named Raghunath from Dice and Bri after they did our inversion/arm balance workshop at Bamboomoves. To be honest, I sometimes opt out of the arm balances, due to fear which is foolish, but being in classes where you know handstanding is the norm, can be inspirational. The energy at least inspires a hop. I heard Raghunath is a handstander. I also heard that Yoga Maya is a lovely new studio. I went to Yoga Maya, walked in to see gorgeous intricately cut, typical Indian wood wall dividers decorating various parts of the studios and acting as doors. Lovely colored walls and friendly faces. I sign up for class, and place my mat behind a nice guy (obvious hand-stander) and start to stretch out. The studio is colored with lovely light blue paint, their is nice light from an overhead skylight like window, and the dark wood dividers cover some of the other windows. In walks a vibrant, Curly haired yogini fairy with a British Accent, who calls our attention to her stalk of green veggies she bought at the Union Square Farmers Market. Yummy! She announces that she will be subbing the Open Level Class. She begins with a reading from a book, the Om as she plays along on the Harmonium, and then class. We flow through a somewhat super easy vinyasa class (which I didn't expect since it was an open level class) but I enjoyed. My intuition on the guy in front of me proved right, he was a hand- stander and took any and every opportunity to pop up. The instructor, Deborah gave a really lovely class. Her accent made it seem as though it was yoga with Mary Poppins which was extra fun! After class I found out the the guy in front (Marco) did his teacher training with Raghunath, and that is how he learned his handstand. Hopefully, I will get to come back to Yoga Maya. It really is a gorgeous studio. Thanks Deborah for a wonderful class. It was lovely to meet you!

Pictured: Deborah & Ambria at the Yoga Maya Studio

Namaste Andrew

This past Monday was Andrew's last class at Bamboomoves Bronx. The folks in the bronx and myself love Andrew. He gives a wonderful class. While Andrew is very busy with work for his Guru (Sri Dharma Mittra) and various other projects, he isn't able to get to the Bronx for his Monday night class. I will be teaching his Monday night time slot for now. Andrew will be back for workshops and other special events. Hopefully, Andrew will be giving a special workshop for people who sign up for the 21 days to wellness challenge!!! Thank you Andrew for planting a beautiful seed in the hearts of many people at Bamboomoves, Namaste.

Picture: Andrew in Headstand on top of Mt Cardigan at the Teacher Training Retreat