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the journey begins

I arrived to this beautiful country of Rwanda, known as the land of “a thousand hills,” just a week ago.  The landscape is breathtaking with lush green vegetation and rolling hills surrounded by a wide open, blue sky that makes this world we live in, feel small.  Although the scenery alone sends visitors into a state of awe, I have found the people are even more extraordinary.

While coming to this land with one of my main goals being to teach yoga, I am surprised to find that Africa and those who reside here have taught me infinitely more about yoga then I could ever teach them:

Being Present.  Life is slower here.  To some extent, the society and culture provides no choice.  But, even having spent time in the capitol city of Kigali, I find that many people I’ve met DO choose this way of living.   The teachers, students and residents in the village nearby are consumed with whatever task they pursue, whether it be studying, planning lessons, spending time with children or tending to the gardens.  It is this act of being present in the moment that we in America tend to lack the ability to do, because often times, either knowingly or not, we choose distractions.  The distractions, be they work, money, or technology, keep us from sitting quietly with the discontent and discomfort within our lives and our spirits.

Gratitude.  The people I have encountered exhibit a pure and limitless joy.  The smiles and laughs are contagious and freeing for any observer to witness.  Living in a culture where people endure war, poverty and death, they are continuously grateful for health, livelihood, and opportunity.   Rather than being trapped in a state of comparison of what our neighbor has that we lack, we instead need to learn lessons from those who are truly happy, those who have the ability to find joy in everything, persevere continuously and direct energy on that which they do have.  By leaving the possibility for that which we want open–while not becoming attached to a certain outcome–we free ourselves from that which binds us to control and unhappiness and brings us to a place of gratitude for whatever it is we experience.

Unity.  Everywhere I go,  I am overcome with a feeling of one-ness.   Languages, customs, skin colors, and ideas make us all “different” but we are all united in spirit.  If we take the time to look beyond that which we see and direct our awareness towards that which we feel, we are able to connect with each other in a way that can only bring us to this profound realization.

People come to Africa and say that it will change someone forever.  But, what people don’t realize is that when you connect with humanity, genuinely and honestly, regardless of where you are, the impact that Africa has to offer is everywhere.  This union with humanity has left me with the surreal feeling that Africa and every person in it is already a part of me.  And, I think that I would feel this way no matter where in the world I was.  This ability is within us all.  When we mindfully intend to be a part of the limitless web that joins ourselves and the rest of the world, we become one another.

 

about the author:

Sam Werme recently completed evolation teacher training in Missoula, Montana. She recently traveled to Rwanda to teach yoga at a school for girls. Sam will be sharing her experiences as a new teacher with us over the coming months.

 

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the abyss

By Amy Ratto Parks

Well, it’s a new year and with a new year comes a new calendar. This morning as I began the ritual of entering birthdays and major events into the new, beautifully blank pages, I started to reel as I entered dates for December of 2012. A year from now, I thought, what a mystery. This led me to wonder what I had been doing on this day a year ago and since I am still not a digital calendar kind of gal, I just opened my old calendar to investigate.

And what did I find for a year ago today? This: “organize the abyss.” That’s all it said. I seem to have some vague memory of what I literally meant, though honestly I can think of a variety of places in our house that have abyss-like qualities (basement, play room, garage, office desk, kids’ bedrooms, etc.). But I was more humored by the metaphor implied in the vague phrasing: there is an abyss and I should organize it or things are chaotic and I should control them. Does Bed, Bath, and Beyond sell color-coded bins for abyss organization? Can I find a coupon online for buying the abyss-organization bins? I think we would all like an easy way to tidy up all of the confusing, messy parts of our lives, (and actually, those bins are pretty helpful) but we also know that we can alphabetize book shelves and spice racks until the cows come home and it won’t solve any of our actual problems.

The word abyss means an immeasurably deep chasm, great space, or void, but in our colloquial understanding, we also know that it implies chaos and confusion. We don’t want to feel “lost in an abyss” of anything. Instead, we prefer to feel the security of structure in our lives. Our relationships, jobs, hobbies, phones, computers, calendars, etc. keep us from feeling that sense of openness that becomes so open that it feels, well, bad. It’s human nature to create structure in this way, but it is also human nature to notice that there is still something else out there that can’t be scheduled or budgeted for and we can ignore it completely or we can begin to let ourselves look at it little by little.

Thomas Merton, priest, poet and mystic wrote, “What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery.” Isn’t it true that when we decide to take control of our lives by doing things like organizing the spice rack what we’re really doing is clearing the clutter so that something more important (like making cookies) can happen? Isn’t that also why we come to yoga? Yoga can be about heat or calories or mirrors, but for many, it is as much about meditation and Merton’s voyage of discovery as it is anything else.

We organize our books, spices, and schedules because they are tangible things and frankly, it makes other things in life easier. But what happens when the clutter in the way is the chatter of the mind? In his book, Bikram Yoga, Bikram Choudhury writes, “All you need is the yoga.” That’s a big reason we show up, isn’t it? Sometimes we practice in order to organize the spice rack of our minds but sometimes we can take a moment to look into the abyss of the self and see that actually one cannot organize such a thing. It doesn’t need us to put it into categories for easy browsing, it just is, and if we can befriend it we might just be able to breathe more easily.

 

The Author: Amy Ratto Parks

Amy recently completed evolation’s teacher in-training in Missoula, Montana. She is also a parent, poet, and writing teacher.

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creating a sanctuary in the yoga room

Leave your shoes and other belongings outside the yoga room

The yoga room is a sanctuary. Leave your shoes, worries, and attachments outside.

We all love yoga because it’s so much more than a workout. In the yoga room, we find inner strength and focus. We find patience and serenity. And most importantly, we find our Selves. In this way, a yoga class is very different from a gym or a fitness class. And for this reason, we invite you to think of the yoga room as a sacred space – a sanctuary – where we heal our bodies, yes, but also where we enter into a state of moving meditation, share energy with our fellow yogis, and nurture our spirits.

Practicing with Intention
Because yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual endeavor, it’s important to practice consciously, with intention. That intention begins the moment we set foot in the studio. The etiquette that we encourage in the yoga studio grows out of this idea that every action has an intention behind it, and every action can contribute to the energy and success of others.

  • Arrive on time: Be in the yoga room, settled in, and ready to begin when class is scheduled to start. Everyone gets the most benefits when we start promptly. The teacher can devote adequate time to each step of our practice, and students worry less about running late or what they have to do afterward. Strive to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before class time to give yourself plenty of time to sign in, get situated, and find your focus before we begin.
  • Travel light: Bring only your mat, your towel, your water, and your Self into the yoga room. Other belongings–cell phones, keys, wallets, shoes and yes, your watch–should stay outside the yoga room, either in the lobby or in your car. These items can become distractions during practice. Even if you don’t touch them or leave them in a corner, these items are visual clutter that reminds us of “life outside of yoga”: our responsibilities, obligations, and attachments.
  • Be sip savvy: You may have noticed that there’s only one “official” water break during our 90-minute hot classes, and no water break during 60-minute classes. That’s because the best time to hydrate for class is…before class! It takes your body at least twenty minutes to absorb fluids once you drink them, and stopping to drink water can break your focus. If you really need a drink, make sure it’s water–and wait until the entire class is between postures, so that your action is less distracting to your fellow yogis.
  • Embrace the sweat: Sure, sweat may be running down your face, and it’s tempting to simply wipe it away. But the sweat does more than expel toxins from our bodies — it helps our bodies cool down. Wiping the sweat away actually may make you feel hotter (not to mention using up valuable energy best saved for the next posture)! Save all the towel action for your post-practice shower.
  • Strive to support your classmates: During yoga practice, we gain strength from the shared energy and support in the room. Help classmates maintain their focus by maintaining your own! Save conversations for outside the yoga room. Aim to move in unison with your fellow students. Think about how your actions in the yoga room will impact those around you.

Bringing this added level of awareness to your practice will deepen your experience right away. Being conscious of others helps break us out of our own mental “bubble” and allows us to plug into a group energy that is uplifting and energizing. Not only that; it’s remarkable to realize how often – both on the mat and off – we mentally go on autopilot. Moving with intention in every aspect of your yoga practice is the key to elevating your daily workout into something truly transformative.

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clear water only in the yoga room

Lately, we’ve been noticing a lot of interesting and tasty-looking beverages coming in to the yoga room . . . coconut water, juice, Power Aid, and other electrolyte beverages.  We love these kinds of replenishing drinks, but they are best for AFTER class, not DURING class.  Why?  We’re glad you asked!

1) Most of these drinks contain sugar (even coconut water has natural sugars!) and other additives which the body must work harder to process.  This takes energy away from your yoga practice, not to mention causing spikes in blood sugar and heart rate that we don’t want, especially in a heated room.

2) Who wants to practice on a sticky or stained yoga room floor?  Clear water, like sweat, is easily mopped up so the yoga room can remain clean and inviting for everyone.

3) While it is important to nourish and hydrate your body well before and after class, DURING class, your body has a different job – to detoxify and heal.  The purpose of your water is just to wet your throat a bit if it becomes dry (and, let’s face it, provide some psychological comfort!).  When you feel tired and hot and need refreshment during your yoga practice, the very BEST thing for you is not any beverage at all, but rather a long, slow deep BREATH.

4) Your body, like the earth, is composed mostly of water, and clear, fresh water is second only to air as the #1 sustainer of human life.  If you consume anything at all during your yoga practice, it should be the most simple, elemental, and pure substance there is.

So, for all these reasons, please save the fun drinks for after class – in the yoga room, all you need is your mat, your towel, your Self, and maybe a small sip of cool water.  Happy practicing!

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ashtanga? hatha? it’s all sanskrit (and yoga) to us!

December 5, 2011

“What does asana mean?” “Will my body ever bend that way?!” “What if I can’t move tomorrow?” These are all questions we hear from first-time students. Another frequent question: “What kind of yoga do you offer at evolation?” Usually people expect us to name a specific kind of yoga, like Ashtanga or Bikram. And while

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Keeping the Dream Alive

November 16, 2011

By Lou Stokes Amazing!!  Six weeks have already gone by since I completed evolations teacher training and left the the US. Don’t they say “time flies when your having fun”? Australia’s Sunshine Coast is beautiful country, with beautiful people, amazing light, incredible energy, and of course plenty of sunshine. And yes, the sun does shine literally every

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Trikanasana beside the Lazy River

November 2, 2011

I’ll bet after you read “lazy river” you thought about a beautiful river winding through a deep green forest, deer bending to drink from the cool water, fish rising slowly to the surface. Mmm, that would be a lovely place to feel inspired to Triangle. But despite living in a state known for its gorgeous

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Home Sweet Home

October 26, 2011

By Amy Ratto Parks Amy Ratto Parks is an evolation teaching in-training who lives in Missoula, Montana. She is also a parent, poet, and writing teacher. She began our extended teacher training in August and shared her thoughts with us after completing the first segment of training. It’s been nearly a week now since I

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Following a Dream

July 19, 2011

After many years of going round and round in circles, not really knowing who I really was, what I wanted to do with my life and what was my purpose on Mother Earth….I discovered YOGA….not a day would go by without practicing, it became part of me, a deep part of me, unexplainable and all

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off to school we go #4

June 28, 2011

The Author: Nick Mattos Nick is a writer and blogger based in Portland, Oregon. His column Remember to Breathe, an ongoing love letter to the city he calls home, runs in Portland’s alternative newsweekly Just Out . His essays and fiction work have appeared in such publications as the Portland Mercury, New Queer Media, On Uneven Ground, Litigulous, Non-Prophet

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