A View From the Floor

Friday, June 21, 2013, the first day of summer and it was a great day to play hookie from work!

So I left my suburban neighborhood in Bay Terrace, took a short ride on the Staten Island Ferry, caught the 1 train to Times Square and rolled out my yoga mat in the middle of the street.

Yes...in the middle of the street.

Not only did I have the opportunity to lay my yoga mat down in the middle of Times Square without getting a citation from the NYPD or being brought away in handcuffs (or a straight-jacket for that matter), but I had the opportunity to join with thousands of yogis and thousands more onlookers, to celebrate the first day of summer at the 11th Annual Summer Solstice in Times Square, New York. I stood in my greatness in "yoga" (or "union") at a crossroad of the modern world, inspiring others to be bigger than they are now, amidst the chaos of New York City and the world. All proceeds for the event went to Bent on Learning, a non-for-profit yoga effort that teaches yoga to New York City Public Schools.

This year 15,000 yogis registered for the event and I joined forces with them in one of the five sessions to mark the special day when the sun is at its highest point in the sky for the longest period of time. Similar traditions, some centuries old, such as gatherings in Stone Hedge, have celebrated this transformational moment in the universe. Today I participated in a modern celebration, 11 years young, with a growing community who use mindfulness, breath and intention to counter the turbulence of the big city.

Before getting into the vinyasa, I almost got caught up in the fixation of looking good and posing in my incredible yoga postures for the camera (later to post of Facebook), but I soon realized where I was and why I made the journey.

When opportunities come to you, you have two choices:  

You can take it

or 

You can ignore it

I chose to take it! 

Taking it meant breathing in every moment with my entire being.  I soon realized that rather than getting caught up in "autopilot", taking pictures or chatting away, I needed to reflect on what I was a part of.  I laid down on my back looking up at the world I walk through on a daily basis to view it from another perspective: A View From the Floor.
  

From the floor I could see and feel the vibrations of the sun go through me. Looking up meant a whole other world that we are closed to. From the floor I realized the importance of this opportunity that only a few of us had, an opportunity to change our perspective and stand in our greatness.

As the practice commenced, not only did I feel the energy of the sun but I felt the energy of the thousands of yogis practicing. Through our collective silence, I heard every noise in Times Square. Soon, onlookers were mesmerized at our commitment. I peeked up to catch a glimpse of those around me and I could see glimmers of curiosity and introspection coming out from onlookers, questioning if this could be something they have been searching for in their journey. 

From that moment, I realized what Summer Solstice was really about.

It is a time to reflect on things in our lives that have peaked and need to transform. The sun, in it's greatness, merely supports the way :)

Life is short, so get messy! 

Escape Your Prison Through Breathe

Yoga Room at an Airport (but not at LAX)

While traveling home from a weekend of training, I arrived at the airport with all of my electronic devices on the verge of zero battery life. With a pending 4 hour flight and desperate to charge up, every gate in my terminal was packed to capacity and because of that, every outlet at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) was occupied. Needless to say, LAX needs to rethink their outlet situation (and perhaps their Yoga Room situation since they still lack a formal space for practice.)

In an attempt to obtain at least one outlet, I hovered near an outlet stand where a swarm of 8th graders from California were waiting for their flight to Washington D.C. to celebrate their graduation. I chatted with chaperones and students and before I knew it...BAM! ...their flight was boarding and two free outlets were made available to me.

Not the actual lady but a reenactment.

All charged up and ready to board my flight, I walked to my gate and noticed that my group, Group 4, had already boarded. Group 5 was already lined up and slowly moving onto the aircraft.  Since there were roped off entrances for each group, including Group 4, I made it my business to go through my designated line and merge into Group 5 who was boarding the flight... And that's when trouble erupted.

A woman in Group 5 noticed that I had arrived late and now had a big problem with my merging into her lane. She proceeded to exclaim out loud to everyone on the line, "Who does this woman think she is?" and "She's getting on the line now, when they called Group 4 ten minutes ago." As my Brooklyn blood started to boil, I reflected on my weekend training with James Fox (founder of the Prison Yoga Project) who exposed me to breath and its anchoring ability in stressful environments such as prison.

My old behaviors creeped in and I turned around to see who was bad mouthing me. Now mind you, a disciplined yogi would not even have turned around but I am still developing my impulse control and I am a work in progress.

We made eye contact and she remained silent.  I looked at her and thought to myself:

"Definetly passive-aggressive."
"This woman is making assumptions about why I am late."
"I was charging my battery, lady."
"I paid for my ticket too."
"We are all going on the same plane."
"You would have to wait for me anyway."
"I can't believe you are judging me with that yoga mat on your back."

And YES - she was carrying a yoga mat!

A million things were sounding off in my head. I could have gone Brooklyn on her and thought to myself, had this been 10 years ago, I would have. Heck, if this was 6 months ago, I would at least given her a tongue lashing for pretending to live a yogic life...but I didn't.

Flashback to training at the Prison Yoga Project (PYP) and how those prisoners are met with confrontation consistently throughout their day. Think about it... a small beef in the prison could turn into a full out brawl that can lead to far worse repercussions. With a program such as the PYP, individuals who have access to a yoga practice while in prison are taught to use Pranayama (or breath) as a means to anchor themselves in challenging situations.

Pranayama translated means the "extension of the breath" or the "extension of the life force".  I thought  to myself, if those who are incarcerated could use breath to ground themselves in one of the most unpredictable environments in the world, prison, why couldn't I do the same in an average situation like this. Rather than allow my body to be on autopilot, I slowly began to breathe in and out through my nose, ujjayi breath, gaining control of my mind.

"Pranayama is considered a cleansing process by increasing the heat in the body.  By directing areas of the system into the increased heat or fire (agni), obstructions are burned and removed." 
- Mark Whitwell,  Yoga of Heart 

ZAP!! Take that! Soon my focus shifted and the tension that was boiling through me ready to expel outward in a wrath of recycled negative energy, dissipated. Clarity took over my body and I shuffled off in silence into my seat in Group 4.

A Brief Intro to Pranayama

"The mind is the king of the senses and the breath is the king of the mind." - B.K.S. Iyengar

I made my way to my seat and continued my breathing. Now sitting, I realized that this notion of breath could really take me places. Calming, peaceful places, that are more powerful than any Brooklyn reaction I have ever exhibited.  If I can control my mind and my reaction to the drama unfolding around me by using my breath, I could really have something here. I opened my books and started to explore aspects of Pranayama subsequently quelling any need for digital devices on my airplane ride back to the East Coast.

Pranayama, the 4th of 8 Limbs of Yoga, comes in many different forms and uses, some of which are briefly described below (reference "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga" by Deepak Chopra, M.D.)

Note: Always consult a qualified medical professional before beginning any exercise program.   

• Ujjayi (Ocean Breath/Success Breath/"Darth Vader" Breath): This diaphragmatic breath is the foundation of asanas, allowing focus without mental friction. With your tongue/mouth soft,  inhalation and exhalation is slightly longer than a normal breath and of equal duration through the nostrils and through the back of a relaxed throat. This breath is also helpful in regulating the mind/body in "aerobic exercise". 

• Nadi Sodhana Pranayam aka Anuloma (Channel Clearing Breath/Alternate Nostril Breath): This breath reduces mental turbulence leaving a calming affect in the mind/body and is used to "invoke a state of calm inner awareness". Smoothly inhaling and exhaling, close off the right nostril and inhale through the left nostril, then closing off the left nostril to exhale the air through the right nostril. Alternating sides, inhale through the right nostril, then close it off and exhale through the left nostril. All inhalations and exhalations should be filling and expunging the lungs of air.  Repeat this procedure for a few minutes. 

The below pranyamas are considered more advanced and should be practiced with care and understanding:

• Bhastrika Pranayam (Bellows Breath): This breath is used to revitalize/reenergize. In a seated position, this breath is supported by deep inhalations and forceful exhalations, in and out of your nostrils not to exceed 15 seconds, a breath per second. After completing the first round, pause for 15 to 30 seconds, noticing the sensations your body, before starting the next round lasting 20 seconds (a breath per second) in duration. After a pause of 30 seconds, perform a final round of 30 breaths. 

• Kapal Bhati Pranayam (Shining Forehead Breath): With similar affects of Bhastrika, this breath is supported by a slow and unforced inhalation and a sharp and forceful exhalation, contracting the stomach muscles to force the air out. Taking a seated position, forcefully expel the air from your lungs allowing the air to "passively" refill your lungs. Complete these breaths 10 times for 3-4 cycles.  

Empower Others to Breath: The Prison Yoga Project

So my weekend of training doesn't end using my yoga practice to counter some lady on an airplane. It becomes a platform for me to teach yoga to people who may not necessarily have access to it. Here's how...            


The Prison Yoga Project (PYP) training is a creation by its passionate founder, James Fox, to empower yoga instructors with the tools to teach "the practice of Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation" to "at-risk populations in prisons, residential rehabilitation facilities and community programs". Fox founded this program at the San Quentin State Prison, where he has been teaching yoga to "determinate and life-sentenced prisoners since 2002".  This program attempts to counter two main themes prisoners are facing: violence and addiction.

Fox has crafted a teaching training program that empowers yoga instructors with the tools needed to develop their own at-risk program or sync up with an already existing one.  Fox synthesizes critical academic research on complex trauma with timeless yogic studies to formalize a yoga practice that carefully assists in developing "self regulation" or "impulse control" for these individuals. Subsequently, these individuals not only learn how to deal with their own emotional issues but reduce the overall negative conditions within their environments.  Finally, through what Fox describes as "emotional intelligence work", individuals come to the realization of personal accountability for their actions through the concept of "Restorative Justice".

Throughout the training, yoga instructor trainees participant in group discussions about research concepts, practice typical asanas specifically designed for these at-risk populations, learn about the daily realities of prison life, understand how to interact with prisoners and prison staff, hear success stories from primary sources and are empowered with resources to commence a program in their own community.

Come to your HIGHER BEING:

• Learn More: Check out this AMAZING PYP video, "How Yoga Can Help in California's Overcrowded Prison" or visit the Prison Yoga Project website HERE.
  
  
• Buy a Book: Fox's book, Yoga: A Path for Healing and Recovery, was developed in direct response to prisoner requests to continue their yoga practice on the inside. This is proof that prisoners are searching for a way to get to their "Higher Being". For just 10$, purchase a copy of Yoga: A Path for Healing and Recovery for a prisoner in need by clicking  HERE.  

• Get Trained: Attend an upcoming PYP Training...Registration is ongoing.

San Francisco Bay Area Training/Workshop

June 29-30, 2013

California Institute of Integral Studies

Register HERE or email jennifer@insighprisonproject.org

Sacramento Training/Workshop

August 3-4, 2013

Asha Yoga Sacramento

Just confirmed - 

Denver/Boulder, October 4-6, 2013

New York City, November 16-17, 2013

See the Prison Yoga Project website for registration details.

• Join a Program and TEACH - *WANTED* Male Yoga Teachers (or Women Yoga Teachers): There is a huge disparity between the amount of males in prison (93.4% of the prison population in the United States is male - reference Bureau of Prisons) and the amount of male yoga teachers in the United States (72.2% of yoga practitioners in the United States are females - reference Statistic Brain).  This has a significant impact on the amount of male yoga instructors who attend the PYP training and ultimately who facilitate training for these predominately male at-risk populations. There are many programs currently working to help at-risk populations.  Find out whats available by clicking HERE or be in creation and develop your own program within your community.  

Life is short, so get messy!