Student of the Month – May 2012

 Chemi has been a part of our Being Yoga family since November of 2002, with 921 classes on the mat.  Always there with a smile and warm greeting, Chemi’s calm, quiet and grounding presence brings peace into the room.  Thank you, Chemi!

 When and how were you introduced to yoga? 

 I have been practicing yoga for 17 years.   When I lived in San Francisco, my neighbor was a yoga instructor at a local studio.  She encouraged me to attend her Iyengar classes.

 What styles do you practice?  What do you like about each style?

 I practice Bikram, Flow and Yin, all the styles of practice that are offered at Being Yoga.  I enjoy Bikram for the concentration and lower body conditioning.  I like Flow for the constant movement and upper body conditioning.  I practice Yin for the meditative and restorative conditioning.  

 Why do you practice yoga?

 Yoga is the only activity that keeps me physically, mentally and spiritually fit.  Practicing yoga brings me tremendous peace.

 How has Being Yoga helped you on your journey?

 Being Yoga is a utopia to me.  There is always a warm greeting at the front desk and a plethora of kind yoginis.  It is a haven for new and old friends to congregate and share their love of yoga.  I find so much inspiration at Being Yoga, it keeps me coming back for more. 

Any final words of wisdom for the students?

 Choose happiness.   Learn to forgive.

During World War I, doctors were running out of medicine to help sick and wounded soldiers. To curb complaints and placate the soldiers, they started administering fake medication. Much to their surprise, however, the doctors noticed that the “fake” medication was actually very effective and had a cure rate similar to that of the “real” medication. Scientifically documented numerous times since then, the “placebo effect” is known today to be a very powerful phenomenon. How does the placebo effect tie in to our Being Yoga Newsletter? Please read on about our Theme of the Month, “The Healing Power of the Mind.”

 The connection between the body and the mind has been clearly demonstrated by modern science. According to spiritual leader and author Tara Brach in her April 4, 2012 podcast, we now know that “our body ‘lives’ our beliefs.” She says that our bodies are like “replicating machines,” that take our beliefs and create a physical biochemistry in response to them. In fact, Ms. Brach talks about a “no-cebo” effect. As an example of that, she sites a study where researchers rubbed what they said were poison ivy leaves (but were actually harmless look-alikes) on a group of people known to be highly allergic to the plant. Amazingly, every single one of them broke out into a rash.  Clearly, the mind has a closely linked and powerful impact on the body.

 But it works both ways. In fact, it’s like an endless loop. The mind affects the body that responds in a way that sends messages to the brain that then takes the information and reinforces the “neurological circuitry” which was used to create the thought in the first place. Then the mind sends its strengthened feedback to the body.  And that’s how “neuronal patterns” are created. For example, a person might think a worrisome thought that creates stiffness in that person’s neck.  The pain created by that stiffness sends messages to the brain that something is worrisome, and that feeling creates more tightness in the neck—and on and on it goes.

Here’s where yoga fits in. Yoga breaks that cycle—both mentally and physically. Kelly McGonigal writes in Yoga for Pain Relief, “Modern science uses words like neuroplasticity to describe the process of learning from past experiences, yoga uses the word samskara…Yoga philosophy teaches that every experience you have—including your thoughts emotions, and sensations—leaves a trace on the body, mind and spirit…Samskaras become the habits of the body and mind that make you more likely to repeat your past experiences and actions and more likely to interpret the world through the filter of your past experiences. These habits keep you stuck, feeling the same emotions, thinking the same thoughts and even experiencing the same pain.” But she goes on to say, through yoga, people are offered “tools of transformation” to help them become unstuck.

“Yoga,” Ms. McGonigal says, is a “time-tested system for transforming your habits of body and mind. “ “A yoga practice that takes the breath as its starting point will influence every system of the body. A meditation that takes the mind as its starting point will give you access to your inner wisdom and help you reconnect to your natural state of joy. A movement practice that takes the body and breath as its starting point can become a moving meditation that calms the mind.” In other words, through the practice of yoga, yogis are able to break through samskaras and begin practicing new, healthful, and productive patterns of perceiving and responding to the world. And the way a person perceives and responds to the world has a profound implication for his or her life. As Ghandi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts; your thoughts become your words; your words become your actions; your actions become your habits; your habits become your character; and your character becomes your destiny.”

Through yoga, we can shape our destiny—one posture, one breath, one thought at a time.

I found my passion for yoga around ten years ago after taking my first yoga class. I walked out of it with a profound sense that I had just encountered a turning point in my life. And, indeed, I had. Almost immediately, my yoga practice gave me a sense of belonging, an interconnectedness with other beings and the environment, which, in turn, began enriching my life with health, compassion, and peace.

From then on, my passion for yoga continued to blossom. Initially I began sharing this passion with my immediate circle of friends and family; however, it didn’t take long before I felt a calling to extend it beyond my immediate circle.

Four years ago I completed teacher training and began teaching yoga. Ever since that day, I can honestly say that I have been blessed to be doing what I love doing most.

As a teacher I try to draw on the principles of discipline and humility, both being key yogic concepts that I have learned through my practice as well as through my teaching. I instruct students to “surrender and let go of your ego,” and “it is not what you do, but how you do it.”  My goal is to help each one of them start down their own yogic path towards a life enriched with health, peace and compassion.

 Diane has been with us for over 11 years now and racked up somewhere close to 800 classes.  She is one of our desk angels who greets us at the early morning classes with a smile and gentle welcome.  Words others use to describe her:  kind, sweet, consistent, caring. Thank you, Diane, for being part of the Being family for over a decade, and for volunteering your time to make this studio our second home.

Tell us about yourself, Diane.

Besides yoga, I occasionally golf.  I love to hike in Tahoe and I am an avid gardener.

How did you discover yoga?

A friend brought me to my first class in November of 2001

What styles do you practice and what do you like about each?

Bikram is my favorite type of yoga.  I have enjoyed Mary’s flow class and Deanne’s Gentle Yoga as well.  I always come back for more Bikram.  Having Bev as a teacher two times a week is very helpful!

Why do you practice yoga? 

I practice for that great feeling afterwards, knowing I have just exercised every muscle and organ in my body.  Yoga keeps me young!

How has Being Yoga helped you on your journey?

Working the front desk was the best thing I ever did.  It has helped me to become a more regular practitioner.

Any final words of wisdom for the students?

When I first started, Kevin said that in order to be a regular practitioner, you should come at least five days a week.  I thought “ack!”  But now I crave it.  I get a little cranky if I don’t get my yoga in.  My family will ask “Aren’t you going to yoga?”

“Nobody knows how much power they truly possess—how much heart power, physical power, mental power, spiritual power—until they can train their mind to a point at which they can silence all the unnecessary chatter and choose a real destination.” This quote by Bikram Choudhury, taken from his book Bikram Yoga, explains why our studio has chosen “Moving in Synchronicity” as our theme of the month. If the connection is unclear to you, please read on:

It doesn’t take long for beginning students of Bikram yoga to figure out the importance teachers place on the synchronicity (“happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time”—Merriam Webster Dictionary) of their classes. After all, teachers are constantly urging students to “follow the dialogue,” to “stay with the class,” and to “not rush in or out of the postures.”

What students might not understand, however, is WHY teachers place a high value on this concept. The answer, however, is quite simple to explain: Bikram yoga is not only strength training for the body, but it is also strength training for the mind.

A major piece of this training for the mind is learning how to focus and to concentrate. “I like to say,” Bikram states in his book, “that concentration brings life to your life…And…my yoga class does the same thing, driving all thoughts from your mind except what you need to concentrate on to successfully perform each posture.”

So, by explicitly following the dialogue and having the discipline to stay in synchronicity with it, students begin to learn how to “silence all the unnecessary chatter” in their minds. They find that by focusing on the present moment and truly listening and responding to the dialogue, they are having an “in-the-moment experience”—not just posing in postures while their minds are wandering elsewhere.

When a teacher sees students out of sync with the class, they know those students are out of sync with their own internal experience. Speeding ahead, falling behind, or even performing postures completely different from the prescribed set of 26 Bikram Yoga postures indicates a disconnect between students’ minds and bodies. They are listening to the loud voices in their own heads, not quieting them. Quieting and focusing one’s thinking helps to train, strengthen, and eventually master one’s mind.

Also, moving in sync with fellow yogis directs the energy of the entire class to perform in a meditative state, one that allows each student to tap into his or her own higher consciousness. At the same time, such concentration allows each student to align with the group’s interconnectedness. In other words, each focused student positively influences the ability of others to focus. We all have an impact on each other.

Let’s be honest, it’s not easy for the untrained mind to stay present and focused on the task at hand. Quoting Bikram again, “When you catch a wild lion in the jungle, it may take awhile before it’s ready to perform in the circus.” But once students have taken the time and had the determination to train their minds, it is then that they find, as Bikram said, “how much power they truly possess.”

“Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevents all men, of all lands, from glimpsing their true nature of Spirit. So long as man possesses a mind with its restless thoughts, so long will there be a universal need for yoga.  –Paramahansa Yogananda

Moving together in synchronicity, we will each find our own powerful “true nature.”

Student of the Month  for March 2012

Hannah is a bright light at Being Yoga.  She joined our studio in July of 2004, and has been an integral part of the community through all 524 classes.  In 2009, Hannah was diagnosed with breast cancer, and preceded to deal with disease in the same way she approaches everything in her life: with grace, with, humor and determination.  She continues to inspire with her fundraising and her dedicated presence to herself and others, on and off the mat.  We love you, Hannah!

Tell us about yourself, Hannah.
I believe in philanthropy and am thrilled when I can help others. I love the arts, travel, family, and friends.

How did you discover yoga?
I have been practicing at Being Yoga for 7.5 years, long before there were stars on the ceiling and bamboo on the floor and walls. I had to find another form of exercise, as my knees were shot, and I was no longer able to run. I decided if I could strengthen my body, become flexible, and relax my mind in 90 minutes, I was game.  I tried Bikram and have not looked back!

What styles do you practice and what do you like about each?
I started with Bikram at the old studio and now practice Bikram and Flow.  In Bikram, the world stops spinning for 90 minutes. I love the feeling I get when I complete a class. It is so satisfying; I feel confident, cleansed both physically and mentally. Flow makes me feel invigorated, alive, strong. Each teacher makes the experience unique, and my practice is always different -  due to the fact that I never know what to expect when I come through the doors of Being Yoga – and I am always pleasantly surprised at what I internalize on my yellow mat and then take out into the world!

Why do you practice yoga?
It is good for my mind and body – it keeps me grounded, centered, forceful and spirited. Not to mention I can eat a box of girl scout frozen thin mints and not feel as guilty!

How has Being Yoga helped you on your journey?
Every time I look up on the wall above the mirror, I see my former self in the dead body pose photo. It is a reminder of life’s fragility. It is also a reminder to do all I can to be healthy. It is a reminder to be grateful for what you/I have at this moment, to not live in the past or future, but here and now.

Any final words of wisdom for the students?
We have one life, one body, one mind – we each must take good care of ourselves and appreciate what we have. I have found yoga to be one of the best ways to maintain balance and keep everything in perspective.

I want to thank Toi Lynn for introducing me to poets and gurus whose words I find poignant and riveting – thank you for sharing! To Mary, thanks for the music. To the Being Yoga family – just, thank you.

Our Being Yoga’s Theme of the Month, “March Toward Inner Stillness,” seems contradictory; after all, “marching” conjures up an image of a deliberate, energetic action that seems to be in direct contrast to that of a quiet “inner stillness.” In order to understand the dichotomy of our theme, please read on:

We intentionally used the word “March” for our month of March theme, because it is a powerful, commanding word that captures the feel of what it takes to find “inner stillness,” or inner peace. (Not to mention that it’s a great play on words!)

You see, most people share the false belief that the feeling of peace should flourish effortlessly within, and, if it doesn’t, there is something wrong with them. In this day and age (and particularly in our culture), however, we are constantly bombarded with ideas, threats, directives, pressures, conflicting information and cultural norms that leave us feeling anxious, stressed and anything but peaceful. And, although there are some people who are more peacefully inclined than others, the majority of us need to discipline ourselves and deliberately cultivate our own sense of peace.

Kriya Yoga Rev. Ellen Grace O’Brien likens the effort not to “marching”, but to riding a bike: “Without discipline we cannot experience balance. When we learn to ride a bicycle, there is constant correction to find balance. On the spiritual path we initially correct our thoughts, speech, and actions to conform with truth until balance is established. Then the ride is effortless.”

So, how do people begin to “correct” their “thoughts, speech and actions” to facilitate a smooth ride?  Excuse the mixed metaphors, but they need to march! They need to march into the yoga studio on a regular basis to release stress and to practice quieting the mind with asanas (postures) and meditation.

It has been well documented by western science that yoga and meditation have an amazingly positive impact on people’s nervous systems, and, therefore, sense of wellbeing. As Stanford Professor Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. has written in her book The Willpower Instinct, “Neuroscientists have discovered that when you ask the brain to meditate, it gets better not just at meditating, but at a wide range of self-control skills, including attention, focus, stress management, impulse control and self-awareness.” All which lead to stillness within.(In addition, yoga and meditation help to eliminate a whole host of stress-related physical maladies such as high blood pressure, headaches, obesity and irritable bowel syndrome—which also adds to a person’s sense of emotional well being.)

So, let go of the myth that you’re either born with inner peace, inner stillness, or you’re not, and start actively trying to find it, i.e., START MARCHING! As spiritual leader Paramahansa Yogananda said, “Try your utmost, and then try again…Then, out of the gloom of mysteries, the all-illuminating light of the Divine Guidance will emblazon your path.” With effort, you will find your own stillness within.

This little equation represents our Being Yoga (BY) Studio’s Theme of the Month. To spell it out, it means that by serving others at Being Yoga, you are sending out Valentines of “loving kindness” to everyone in the studio.

“But,” you might be asking yourself, “how do you ‘serve others’ at a yoga studio?” Please read on to have this question answered.

It is easy to serve others at Being Yoga. One way of serving is by practicing the “golden rule, “ or treating others the way you would like others to treat you! Simple courtesies such as arriving to class early, turning off cell phones and stowing away belongings outside of the practice room serve to keep distractions down to a minimum for fellow yogis. On the rare occasion when you find yourself late, you can serve others by entering the studio quietly in-between postures so as not to break anyone’s focus. (If being late isn’t such a “rare occasion,” you should examine the causes of your tardiness and make it your goal to be punctual. Chronic tardiness is generally caused by unexamined bad habits.) Even before heading to class, it’s extremely thoughtful and kind to practice good personal hygiene—especially in our heated Bikram’s classes!

Practicing “loving kindness” towards others in the room also includes setting up your mat and/or standing on your mat in such a way that you’re not directly blocking those in back of you. Staying on your mat throughout class (sitting down or lying down when you need a break) minimizes disruptions and sets a good example for others who might be struggling to stay on their own mats.

One of the kindest ways of serving your fellow yogis is to stay quiet and calm—before, during and after each posture. Wriggling, wiping, fanning yourself, making adjustments, whispering or talking compromises the meditative experience for the entire class. (Not to mention it creates more heat and agitation for you.)

Another way of exemplifying loving-kindness is by letting go of judgments. If someone around you is being discourteous, use that as an opportunity to focus more intently on your own practice and to cultivate your own calm state of mind.

Given how uncommon it is for life to be tailored to your own specifications, it’s important in the yoga studio to cultivate skillful responses to circumstances outside your control. Letting go of expectations and preferences and being “OK” with what IS (vs. what you WANT it to be) allows you to find peace given any experience. This peace, in turn, spreads good energy to everyone in the room. Allowing yourself to be upset if the environment isn’t “just so” (not hot enough, too hot, fan on too high, fan on too low, etc.) is unskillful and brings dissatisfaction that doesn’t have to be experienced.  Spiritual leader Anam Thubten has said, “When we accept the way things are we are able to love everything and everybody.”

Loving everything and everybody includes practicing loving-kindness for yourself. It’s quite impossible to love anyone else unless you have a healthy love for yourself. Listen to your body, respect it, and appreciate it for all the miraculous tasks it accomplishes on your own behalf. Comparing yourself to others or getting upset when you’re not doing as well as you think you should is unskillful thinking again. By practicing loving-kindness for yourself and being happy with who you are, you are serving others by spreading more positive energy.

So, keep up the good work practicing loving-kindness in order to serve others—as well as yourself. Happy Valentine’s all you BY Valentines!

Click here to read more about Yoga Etiquette.

 Student of the Month for February 2012

Tell us about yourself, Suzanne.
I studied dance in college, and performed and toured in a small modern dance company for 7 years.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, but eventually I decided to find a job with a stable paycheck and benefits.  I returned to school and  graduated with a Special Ed Teaching Credential.  I was a Special Ed. teacher and tutor until I had children.  Now, I’m a stay at home mom with a 13 year old daughter & 12 year old son.

How long have been practicing yoga?
I’ve been practicing Bikram yoga for about 10 years.

How were you introduced to yoga?
One of the mothers in my baby play group recommended Bikram yoga.  She told me the instructors are really good and that they spend the whole class time describing each posture.  I wasn’t able to keep up with my dance training, and I was ready to fill the void with something else.

What style do you practice?
I’ve taken a few random classes in Iyengar & Ashatanga, but I love to work up a sweat in Bikram yoga.  I wish the other styles of yoga were in a heated room, too.

Why do you practice yoga?
Yoga is a good escape for me and it helps me stay centered, calm and grounded.  It has been a good substitute from my dance training.

Any final words of wisdom for the students?
Make yoga a regular part of your routine.  On the days you’re unable to come, you’ll find that you miss it.

“In this new year I am a new person. And I shall change my consciousness again and again until I have driven away all the darkness of ignorance and manifested the shining light of Spirit…” So said Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi and revered spiritual leader.

True to his word, Yogananda lived his life as a beacon of light to the world—so much so that the Government of India issued this statement on a special commemorative stamp in his honor: “…[Paramahansa Yogananda’s] work continues to grow and shine ever more brightly, drawing people everywhere on the path of the pilgrimage of the spirit.”

At the dawn of 2012, we at Being Yoga wish to continue on that pilgrimage, and, in the spirit of Yogananda, strive to shine our own light and help others shine theirs. We have, therefore, chosen “Shine in 2012” as our Theme of the Month. Please read on:

By beginning to practice yoga, those looking for illumination start to open up to a new world of light, and by offering several different but complementary styles of yoga—Kriya, Bikram, Yin, Vinyasa, One Yoga and Gentle—our studio enables students to find a style that suits them best. Below is a brief description of each:

Kriya Yoga, or the study of the philosophical aspects of yoga, offers students many powerful spiritual tools that help to eliminate all that’s not useful in life and to shed light on all that is.

Bikram is a rigorous asana (physical posture) practice that mentally and physically challenges students to stay focused and discover the light within.

Yin Yoga, a relaxed practice, uses postures that stretch connective tissue and stimulate the meridians running through the body, thus allowing students to release tension and open positive channels of energy.

Vinyasa is an energetic yoga practice that connects the postures together with a flow of movement that integrates the body and mind and stimulates a positive connection.

Gentle Yoga offers a more gradual approach to yoga for those who, due to the vacillating nature of life, desire to ease into the asanas and continue enjoying their illuminating benefits.

One Yoga is a combination of different yoga styles that both challenges and relaxes the practitioner, thus bringing to light the “Yin” (feminine) and the “Yang” (masculine) aspects of yoga.

At Being Yoga, we have a team of experienced, passionate instructors—each who work to align with the individual student’s unique way of shining.

We are grateful for all of you who have started “on the path of the pilgrimage of the spirit,” and we look forward to sharing our yoga with you in 2012. Together we will continue “to grow and shine ever more brightly.”

Happy New Year!