Thank you to all those who attended the workshop, as well as those who worked so hard to make it happen (Laurie Jo and Sandy, I'm talking to you).
Twenty-two people attended last Saturday's iRest yoga nidra workshop. Thank you for making it a success. I felt so privileged to be invited to present to this vibrant yoga community. We explored many different practices: mudra (hand gesture), pranayama, iRest yoga nidra as well as some asana.
I would love to have some feedback on your experiences at the workshop.
Some mudras we explored were Vayu mudra and Prajna mudra.
Prajna mudra is engaged by bringing the tip of the index fingers to the base of the thumbs, the other fingers are softly extended, palms facing upward. Mudras can be subtle, so be quiet and curious about any changes in how the body feels, in the breath or energy body, as well as the quality of the mind and emotions. Does it have an impact on your awareness? This mudra is said to slow respiration, relax the mind and encourage witness consciousness to unfold. Each of us experiences it differently so stay with your experience rather than comparing it to what is suggested.
Vayu mudra: From Prajna mudra, let each thumb wrap over and rests on the top of each index. Notice if anything changes for you, physically, energetically, emotionally, mentally, as well as to your deeper awareness. This mudra corresponds with the element of air and to the flow of prana (energy). It is said to stimulate feelings of lightness and ease. Some say it's recommended for arthritis, but as I mentioned, what's primary in my opinion is deepening our awareness to increasingly subtle shifts. Ultimately, our awareness turns towards itself "who is aware of being aware?".
What was your experience of these mudras? Comment and share if you feel inclined that way.
Have fun!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Inward Journey- CD Completed
This week, I picked up 50 copies of the iRest yoga nidra CD I've been working on since November. It includes two yoga nidra meditation practices guided by yours truly.
The first practice is oriented towards setting intention, gaining body and breath awareness, welcoming feelings and emotions, as well as inquiring into simply Being.
The second session takes us a little deeper into the radiant body, exploring a heart-oriented breath, as well as exploring feelings, emotions and their opposites. This practice asks us to inquire, what is this awareness that holds all of these experiences? Who is aware of being aware?
"I am not my thoughts, emotions, sense perceptions, and experiences.
I am not the content of my life.
I am Life.
I am the space in which all things happen.
I am consciousness.
I am the Now.
I am"
~ Eckhart Tolle
The first practice is oriented towards setting intention, gaining body and breath awareness, welcoming feelings and emotions, as well as inquiring into simply Being.
The second session takes us a little deeper into the radiant body, exploring a heart-oriented breath, as well as exploring feelings, emotions and their opposites. This practice asks us to inquire, what is this awareness that holds all of these experiences? Who is aware of being aware?
"I am not my thoughts, emotions, sense perceptions, and experiences.
I am not the content of my life.
I am Life.
I am the space in which all things happen.
I am consciousness.
I am the Now.
I am"
~ Eckhart Tolle
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Take your yoga practice deeper ... within
Join me in Kenora, ON on February 19th for an iRest yoga nidra workshop.
Go inward and learn to welcome whatever is arising in each moment. iRest yoga nidra is a practice of deep relaxation and meditative inquiry that allows us to learn how to release negative emotions and thought patterns as well as calm the nervous system. We will be gaining tools in establishing equanimity: the capacity to meet all the circumstances we meet in life with peace and heartfelt acceptance. iRest yoga nidra is practiced in a relaxation pose. All levels and abilities welcome!
Time: 10 am - 1 pm
Location: The Challenge Club, Kenora ON
Bring a blanket, pillow, bolster and yoga mat (if you have them).
Workshop fee: $45
For more information, contact me at yoganidra204@gmail.com or
contact Laurie Jo at 807-468-9041 or at lakeofthewoodsyoga@yahoo.ca
Hope to see you there!
Jake
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Yoga nidra in the new year.
I hope winter is treating you all kindly.
The new year is a natural time for embracing something new, or committing ourselves to something that is important to us. Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word that means to imagine unifying that which might be fragmented. It is a yogic practice of intention, where we imagine our heartfelt desire as being actualized. It's the first step of the yoga nidra practice. Whether your hope is for health, peace or enlightenment, if it were true for you, how would it feel in your body if it were realized? What would life look like?
The new session will be starting on January 5th until February 23rd. It has been nearly a month since I taught and I am very much looking forward to resuming the classes.
What to expect?
We begin by centering ourselves, checking in and opening our senses. Then we will do some breathwork (pranayama) and mudra (hand gestures to stimulate subtle sensations). Part of the class is spent with the body in slow mindful movements, where we learn to welcome all the sensations and experiences we encounter. Participants will be in a comfortable relaxation position for the bulk of the class. You will be encouraged to move your attention throughout the body and to become attuned with the breath in its natural state. Feelings, emotions and beliefs will come and go, and an attitude of welcoming awareness is encouraged. Many people report experiencing a deep acceptance, relaxation and peace. By welcoming all that is changing, we can sometimes glimpse that in us that is unchanging.
Experience the power of truly subtle yoga with this meditative session. The focus is on intention and subtle sensation through the most gentle of movements and deep relaxation (yoga nidra). Your eyes will be closed for much of the class to draw your attention inward. Guests may find themselves profoundly attuned to the energies within their bodies after this class, combined with a powerful feeling of restfulness and heightened awareness.
You will find this class accessible no matter your range of movement and can even be practiced from a chair.
Contact Be Yoga for registration
474 St. Mary’s Road Winnipeg, MB R2M 3K6 | Tel: 204.415.6880
The new year is a natural time for embracing something new, or committing ourselves to something that is important to us. Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word that means to imagine unifying that which might be fragmented. It is a yogic practice of intention, where we imagine our heartfelt desire as being actualized. It's the first step of the yoga nidra practice. Whether your hope is for health, peace or enlightenment, if it were true for you, how would it feel in your body if it were realized? What would life look like?
The new session will be starting on January 5th until February 23rd. It has been nearly a month since I taught and I am very much looking forward to resuming the classes.
What to expect?
We begin by centering ourselves, checking in and opening our senses. Then we will do some breathwork (pranayama) and mudra (hand gestures to stimulate subtle sensations). Part of the class is spent with the body in slow mindful movements, where we learn to welcome all the sensations and experiences we encounter. Participants will be in a comfortable relaxation position for the bulk of the class. You will be encouraged to move your attention throughout the body and to become attuned with the breath in its natural state. Feelings, emotions and beliefs will come and go, and an attitude of welcoming awareness is encouraged. Many people report experiencing a deep acceptance, relaxation and peace. By welcoming all that is changing, we can sometimes glimpse that in us that is unchanging.
Experience the power of truly subtle yoga with this meditative session. The focus is on intention and subtle sensation through the most gentle of movements and deep relaxation (yoga nidra). Your eyes will be closed for much of the class to draw your attention inward. Guests may find themselves profoundly attuned to the energies within their bodies after this class, combined with a powerful feeling of restfulness and heightened awareness.
You will find this class accessible no matter your range of movement and can even be practiced from a chair.
Contact Be Yoga for registration
474 St. Mary’s Road Winnipeg, MB R2M 3K6 | Tel: 204.415.6880
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The value of holding postures (asana)
By encouraging longer holding of asana, I direct the student to welcome in (without clinging or resisting) whatever sensations, emotions, thoughts, judgments, beliefs..., and for them to recognize the coming and going of it all. I will suggest the sensations/experiences that are common while holding a particular asana, and encourage the student to be aware of what's present for them moment to moment. If they can cultivate Presence, an understanding of the impermanence of all experience and find a quality of ease in intense circumstances such as a longer holding of asana, those 'skills' might extend into their lives, so that they learn to meet, greet and welcome whatever arises in their lives, without resistance, without attachment, recognizing the ever changing nature of phenomena. I am guiding my students to be the welcoming awareness in which all phenomena arise, unfold and dissolve.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Chocolate Meditation
A meditation practice I taught today:
Drop every memory you have of chocolate (if you need to, imagine you've never tasted/seen/smelled it before like a young child again, or an alien visiting). Then hold a small piece of chocolate in your hand, feel its weight, its texture, let the scent enter your nose and body such that you cannot find where you end and the aroma begins. Then bring it to your mouth, hold it between your teeth, let your tongue barely touch it, and savour every moment, letting it melt and merge with your mouth, without reference to past/future or any thoughts you have about chocolate. PS- you can replace chocolate for any other food for this exercise. There are also a number of similar techniques for the other senses.
Drop every memory you have of chocolate (if you need to, imagine you've never tasted/seen/smelled it before like a young child again, or an alien visiting). Then hold a small piece of chocolate in your hand, feel its weight, its texture, let the scent enter your nose and body such that you cannot find where you end and the aroma begins. Then bring it to your mouth, hold it between your teeth, let your tongue barely touch it, and savour every moment, letting it melt and merge with your mouth, without reference to past/future or any thoughts you have about chocolate. PS- you can replace chocolate for any other food for this exercise. There are also a number of similar techniques for the other senses.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
As the practice continues
I'm still teaching the Be at Ease class at Be Yoga on St. Mary's Road. It really has become my baby of sorts.
I am so thrilled to be able to share the iRest yoga nidra practice that has so enriched my own life. I've had students who've never meditated, never done yoga, who come out of the class, with a really deep understanding about themselves, or who have a profound healing experience, even out of body experiences. Of course, every student is different, every class is a little different.
But what is always offered is a sanctuary of sorts, where someone can come in and not have to do anything, where they can just be. There's always an inner excavation, unravelling and revealing the sensations, emotions, thoughts and beliefs that are constantly coming and going in our lives. What I most want to support, though, is for each student to glimpse at that mysterious something in them that is unchanging. That is at peace no matter what life is presenting. That's why I so love this practice.
October 27th will be the last class of an 8 week session. A 6 week session will be starting on November 3rd. We do need confirmed registration from a minimum of 4 participants in order to proceed.
For the time being, I am not teaching the 5:30pm Wednesday Be Yoga class (hatha flow). For information about Be Yoga, check out their site: www.beyoga.ca
I am so thrilled to be able to share the iRest yoga nidra practice that has so enriched my own life. I've had students who've never meditated, never done yoga, who come out of the class, with a really deep understanding about themselves, or who have a profound healing experience, even out of body experiences. Of course, every student is different, every class is a little different.
But what is always offered is a sanctuary of sorts, where someone can come in and not have to do anything, where they can just be. There's always an inner excavation, unravelling and revealing the sensations, emotions, thoughts and beliefs that are constantly coming and going in our lives. What I most want to support, though, is for each student to glimpse at that mysterious something in them that is unchanging. That is at peace no matter what life is presenting. That's why I so love this practice.
October 27th will be the last class of an 8 week session. A 6 week session will be starting on November 3rd. We do need confirmed registration from a minimum of 4 participants in order to proceed.
For the time being, I am not teaching the 5:30pm Wednesday Be Yoga class (hatha flow). For information about Be Yoga, check out their site: www.beyoga.ca
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