Spring! Into a New Perspective

Spring is in the air!

Spring 2013 sunrise from Staten Island, NY

An analogy of new beginnings and rebirth, Spring is almost always associated with the world around us coming back to life. From my perspective, the beginning of Spring leaves a certain sheen on the morning sun as it comes up over the horizon. I always notice the ducks migrating back to the neighborhood, my peach tree beginning to bud, and the temperature inside 5 Boro Power Yoga starting to get significantly hotter as the outside temperature starts to increase (*wiping the sweat with my towel).

Vinnie Marino

Like any season change, it is an opportunity to change your perspective. Often we have to change our position to see the change, but with every new season, the world changes around us instantly. All you have to do is be present to it!

In my personal growth, evolving in my yoga practice includes getting other perspectives: examining other yoga styles, experiencing new teachers, and being with broader yoga communities.  What better way to do that than by attending the Yoga Journal Conference (YJC) this past weekend in New York City.

Yoga Journal began in 1975 when a group of yogi's set out to create a magazine to "unite" a growing community with "classical yoga" information coupled with "modern science".  Since 2007, the YJC hosts days long events at various venues throughout the country, where yogis come together to experience training from master teachers and be exposed to innovations in all things yoga. Interestingly enough, all of the New York YJC's have been held in Spring.

Vinnie Marino's Nivasana graphic

My first class, entitled "Wake Up and Flow" with Vinnie Marino from Yoga Works, Santa Monica, was a great way to start my day.  His comedic improvisational fillers included his experiencing "coke"with his friends the night before at dinner ("coca-cola - not the drug coke" he noted - *chuckle) and "Nivasana" (boat pose), where he drew on the education board, making light of our potential slouchiness. Vinnie is known for his "rock n' roll" flow and taught many a Hollywood star. Vinnie workshopped "Warrior", simplifying the pose by grounding the back foot down before lifting the front foot into the abdomen (and rounding the spine), then gently placing it between the hands. This allows for the integrity of the pose, keeping the energy drawn into the midline. Vinnie was charming and witty, commenting on my thick New York accent as any good Californian would, yet encouraging me to take his class when I was in Santa Monica.

Sri Dharma Mittra

My second class, Master Sadhana, with renowned founder of the Dharma Yoga Center New York, Sri Dharma Mittra, was challenging and introspective.  Much of his lecture dealt with the Yamas and the Niyamas, and how to take the practice of yoga into our daily lives. The practice itself was challenging and his style of yoga was slightly different than Power Vinyasa.  What I noticed during this practice was my desire to go back to my comfort zone and practice in a way comfortable to me, rather than trying something new. After several corrections, I eventually submitted to the 74-year old's style.  Interestingly enough, I came out of the lesson really understanding his message of openness and compassion for the everything else around us.

AcroYoga at The Marketplace

After lunch, I attended a workshop by Auracacia, where Charlynn Avery discussed using essential oils and aromatherapy in our everyday life. Aromatherapy has been something of interest to me and somehow this tutorial was just enough to get me started. Soon after the presentation, I headed over to The Marketplace where I purchased some oils and obtained recipes for applications. The Marketplace is a space within the venue where the community gathers throughout the day to experience cutting edge yoga goods and services. While experiencing all that was available, I was exposed to the acrobatic works of AcroYoga, a blend of yoga and acrobatics that focuses on the principles of trust, listening and connection. This opened me up to something new that I may try in the future.    

Tias Little demonstrates location of kidneys
and I made the cut!

My last class of the day was "Healing the Kidneys for Vitality and Longevity", with the owner of Prajna Yoga in New Mexico, Tias Little.  This class was a balance of both educational lecture and yoga poses specifically to target the health of the kidneys. The most valuable lessons learned from this lecture was how significant the health of our kidneys are in relationship to the mind/body experience.

The adrenal gland, which sits on top of our kidneys, releases hormones in response to stress i.e. our "fight" or "flight" reaction in crisis. An unhealthy adrenal gland is often associated with fatigue and overtime, the release of too much of a particular hormone can lead to illness. Through meditation and asana, we learn to regulate our response by imposing non-reaction, which long term, with help condition our kidneys/adrenal gland functionality. While the lecture allowed for an anatomical understanding of the function, positioning and connection the kidneys have in relationship to the rest of the body, knowing how these organs interact provides perspective on how each yoga pose impacts the anatomical structures. For the last half of the class, Tias focused on poses that engaged the health of the kidneys, particularly stretching the inner thighs, where the main descending artery runs from the kidneys to the feet, and the gentle compression/expansion of the lower back, which houses the organs.

Pose that engages kidney vitality:
Side Facing Wide Leg Forward Bend

As it turns out, my exposure to all of these perspectives provided tools that I can bring into my everyday life, on or off the mat. This experience was an example of how much we stand to gain if we are open to new perspectives. Just as we witness how the buds on a peach tree flourish from a little pod, to a beautiful flower, and onward to a delicious, sun rippened peach, allow for your perspective to shift in understanding how the world is evolving all around us and be open to it.

Life is short, so get messy!