Yoga at Life Time Fitness Life Time Fitness in Columbia, MD Hot Vinyasa: Sun 11am, Mon 6pm, Sat 8:15am Yin: Wed 9:30am Hatha: Thu 6pm
American Tribal Style® Bellydance
Please contact me for private instruction, or to be notified when group classes are offered again.
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"I have had the fortune of watching Flissy turn from a student to a strong, giving and attentive teacher... Recently, speaking throughout the preparation as the students attempted a familiar posture, she taught an awareness of very subtle yet important ways to improve one's position in the pose..." read more
In April, I’ll be heading to Portland to study and test in the first course of Rachel Brice’s 8 Elements training for bellydancers. This is one part of upping my game in bellydance. In fact, I already blogged about how I planned to intensify my home practice to prepare. Still, I felt the need to go to Belladonna’s Practical Magic Workshop, which was all about creating a home practice. It was a great workshop, and she provided a huge amount of resources and worksheets that are effective tools for building a practice system. Many of the techniques she suggested are things that I have already implemented in my own yoga, dance, and meditation practice at some point. As I sat and wrote down how much time I invested in practice, I started to feel a little sheepish. I actually do not need to learn how to practice more. I practice up to two hours per day Monday through Friday. That does not include the classes I teach and attend, troupe rehearsals, or the time I spend in meditation, reading about yoga/dance, going to performances, or other kinds of enrichment activities. That is way more time than many people who are struggling to squeeze in five or ten minutes after work between classes. I am already at an advantage because the work I do is the area of my passion. I’m incredibly fortunate because I have the time, resources and energy to continue working towards my dreams. Wow, what a realization.
Three weeks ago I crushed my thumb in a grisly accident that doesn't need repeating. I fractured the bone so I am still in the process of healing.
I am just now letting go of anger and frustration about injuring myself. I was really mad about it because so many simple things were difficult or impossible for me to do, that's all I could focus on. I had no vision for what I could do, and I had a hard time accepting that it would just take time for me to be running full tilt again. I also realized how much I valued my independence and felt really guilty for counting on my husband to do everything for me (although he was happy to do it!). I'll be honest and admit that my slightly improved attitude has as much to do with the physical healing and being able to do more things as it does with any mental shift on my part.
I've taken the opportunity to work on drilling some dance technique more intensely. It was easier to ramp up my dance practice than to frustrate myself with trying to erase any hand pressure from my normal asana practice. Mat time is now reserved for some restoratives and a love affair with Supta Hasta Padangustasana. I've managed to convince myself that my entire body won't atrophy if I lighten my load for a few weeks, although I'm sure my first few Chatturangas are going to be really pathetic.
I've also been listening to Erich's talks and meditating more, because I was supposed to be doing that all along and with the sudden abundance in my schedule, I really have no excuse.
One of the exciting benefits of my teacher training program was getting to know a diverse group of yogis who all had different approaches to their practice. I am alway curious about what excites people about yoga, and how they practice. Do you go to classes? Do you practice at home with DVDs or books or just by your own creativity? Do you have a routine that you stick to or is it freeform?
My practice has definitely ebbed, flowed, shifted, and advanced over time. During my teacher training program, I maintained a morning sun salutations practice. After a while that practice dropped off, and instead I usually did my yoga in the late morning or early afternoon, depending on my schedule and my inclinations. I've been stuck in a rut so I decided to pick it back up again. I forgot how much I loved this practice! I get up, have a big glass of water, set an intention, and then hit the mat for 12 rounds of sun salutations. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and I am refreshed and set up with a better attitude for the whole day. It's invigorating but gives me room to continue if I am feeling energized, and I'm more inclined to revisit my asana practice later in the day if I have time because I know how good it feels.
In the end, that's really all I want out of yoga... I want to feel good inside and out. How about you? If you're stuck in a rut or don't know where to start, share your hangups, too!
At the end of this month, I'll be teaching a DIY Yoga workshop all about building a personal yoga practice. I've attached a flyer you can download if you are local! If you are not currently a member of Life Time Fitness, contact me and I can get you a guest pass for the day.
Sometimes I am amazed by how everything in my life is so connected. Unintentionally (or maybe subconsciously?) I've spun a web wherein all my passions are intertwined, and I can float along on all of this creative goodness no matter what I'm doing.
Friday night I went to an AcroYoga workshop. It was seriously the most fun I've had in an asana practice, maybe ever. I could not stop smiling the entire time I was there! So fun!
Acroyoga blends the practice of yoga with acrobatics (obviously) as well as Thai massage. For the workshop, we did a brief warm up both individually and then working with partners, then we jumped right in to working on inversions with a partner. Working with a spotter on my inversions was really helpful to me for identifying some alignment issues I need to work out. After the inversions, we went flying! The basic flying practice consists of a "base" a flyer, and a spotter. The base lays on his/her back with legs and hands up. For the sequence we did, the "flyer" has his/her hips on the base's feet to move through postures. To close the practice, we did some very basic Thai massage on each other. Yummy!
The reason the flying part of Acroyoga "works" is bone-stacking. This is something that works for an individual asana practice, too! When our skeleton is stacked in alignment, the bones are doing the work of supporting our weight, and the muscles are just assisting in stability. With a bone-stacked foundation, I can lift and hold a person bigger than me with virtually no additional effort. It's yoga magic!
The real magic of Acroyoga is not just the yoga stunts, it's the connection with your fellow practitioners. It's fun to smile and share energy with a yoga friend, building trust in addition to the physical and spiritual connection. This is lila in action!
The full practice of acroyoga, includes improvisation with your partner, and in the case of this beautiful video of the founders, partnered, non-verbal improv to live music. Is it any wonder I'm in love?
The weather has been pretty powerful around here! The sudden onset of cold, overcast, rainy weather is telling me that autumn means business! Autumn is a time of transition as the weather cools, leaves turn, and days shorten. It's also the time of year when school starts, and families settle into a new routine after a summer of vacations and outdoor fun. During this time, you might notice personal transitions as well. It's important to stay in touch with how your feeling physically and mentally and to honor that in your practice.
For me, this means striking a balance between heat-building sequences to keep me energized and quieting down into some restorative postures to nurture my tired body. Round up some blankets and pillows for a juicy little restorative sequence!
Recharging Autumnal Practice
Start in Tadasana. Take a few breaths and allow your body and mind to open to possibilities. Cultivate an optimistic, accepting attitude in the face of change.
Go through 3 - 6 sun salutations, enough to get your body nice and warm and supple.
Transition from down-dog into Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon), for the sheer delight of it.
Grab some blankets and set yourself in an easy Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero) for a few minutes.
Move your blanket pile in front of you and take a supported Balasana (Child's Pose) for even longer.
Move the pile behind you again and strap yourself into Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle). Cover up with a blanket.
Stay as long as you like.
Come back up to a seat and sit for a few moments, savoring the feeling of a renewed body and spirit.
