Sunday, June 20th

There will be no classes Sunday, June 20th or the 27th due to travel. Please stay in touch for future class info, Michael.

no class sunday june 13th

there will be no class this sunday the 13th. classes should return to a normal schedule soon. i have been traveling every weekend lately. hoping all is well, michael.

No class on Sunday, June 6th

Hello yogis. There will be no class this Sunday, June 6th. I will be traveling and won't be returning as soon as I thought.

Namaste

Breath of Joy is a great way to start your day! Better than any amount of java!

There will be no class on Sunday...Mother's Day, May 9th.

Apologies for the late notice. There will be no class on Sunday, Mother's Day, classes will resume next week. Michael.

Hi kids!

Good morning, I hope you're having a beautiful spring weekend! Class is on for sunday at 4:30, I hope to see you there.

Thank you!

I personally felt the practice yesterday to be very healing, heart opening and exploratory. Moving from posture to posture as the spirit moves us allows our bodies, minds and spirits to converge in choice and breath. Suddenly I was discovering new movements, and places I wanted to be, that were not a part of my plan for the day. The journey is the destination. M.

Through the light in you I see the light in me.

Hi all, so we are on schedule again for Sunday at 4:30. I am looking forward to practicing with you. I attended a kirtan on Friday night. Chanting, amazing music and musicians, and a group energy and vibration that was deeply felt. Kirtan is a form of call and response singing common to Indian tradition. There were two harmoniums in use last night, they are beautiful small piano-like instruments that are played by pumping a bellows while playing the keys. And there was fantastic food, kitchari, and wonderful company. Chanting and singing were an important part of my experience in Costa Rica as we chanted daily and came together on Friday nights for satsang. Satsang means 'to sit with the truth', and was a chance for us to share any personal stories or experiences in complete trust, compassion and embrace. Sharing was always voluntary and without restriction of any kind. This kind of powerful group experience has meant a lot to me and I feel that spirit in class with you each time we share yoga. We can lift each other, carry each other, hold each other, simply by witnessing our journey together, without judgment. I will post the next time there is a kirtan so that you can come and check it out if you are interested. Namaste.

Brain plasticity and yoga

There is a lot of great information available right now on brain plasticity. On just how changeable the brain is and what we can do to influence new neuron growth. Many previously held assumptions about the brain are falling by the wayside. All helpful in their own way, but as it turns out this brain of ours is fantastically malleable, more able to build new, more desirable connections than we imagined. So two things come to mind, Einstein and yoga. Einstein famously said something to this effect: 'A problem cannot be solved in the same consciousness that created it'. If something, some problem, is created from a certain consciousness, whether personal or cultural, it cannot be solved without a change in consciousness. And confirming this idea brain science says: 'Neurons that fire together wire together'. There is a physical relationship in this dynamic of problem and solution. How do we get beyond our conditioned response? Patanjali's 4th yoga sutra says: 'Vrtti sarupyam itaratra : In states other than yoga the mind, or self, is identified with its contents'. In other words yoga recognizes the need for a change in consciousness and calls that change yoga. So neurology is just beginning to catch up with the 5,000 years of accumulated yoga knowledge! What is yoga that it speaks of, promises, a place of separation from the status quo of our mind? And is that even possible? Can we create new relationships in mind and body through yoga? Neuroscience says yes we can. And through the inquiry of yoga we may come to find the very act of witnessing our own consciousness a great place to start.

Yoga as science

I like to think of the early yogis as scientists. The importance of what they were doing, and what they learned, is being rediscovered constantly. Brain plasticity is an area that reflects the wisdom of yoga. If we allow ourselves to experience our bodies in new ways we rewire the brain and the body. The body is the way in, inseparable from the brain itself. Yoga is an opportunity to explore, or inquire into, what it means to be human, what it means to be.

Bija Mantras

Thanks for a beautiful class Sunday. Opening the heart chakra in many of our postures allows the chest and sternum to rise, sometimes resulting in a feeling of lightness after practice. We have moved up and out of our base, up and out of our solar plexus and raise the heart. So many postures involve the heart and when we allow the heart to lead the way many postures can become more beautiful and fluid. Bringing awareness to where the heart is in practice can bring change. Much of the Surya Namaskar that we did near the end of class involves bringing the heart into the vinyasa on all of the back-bends as well as the forward folds.

Classes continue, Sundays at 4:30, I hope to see you there.

Feel free to spread the word, or the blog address. The more the merrier. In the event of any snow cancellations I will post here at least by the evening before.

I attended a one-day training on trauma and yoga this week and it has me thinking very deeply about the direction I may go with teaching, or at least has opened my mind to some new possibilities. I'm looking forward to exploring on my own and in class.

Three-part breath

Thank you to all of the Super Bowl Sunday yogis! I might start calling this class the Sunday surfer yoga class ; ) Wow. Just want to refer back to some of the things we touched on today. The three-part breath: breathing deeply into the abdomen first, then filling the ribcage, then the upper lungs, each to the count of 2 or so, or whatever is comfortable. And reversing this on the exhale: upper lungs, ribcage, abdomen. This breath is very meditative and calming and allows the breath to deepen by bringing awareness to the breath itself. Where in the body the breath is, and how we are breathing, and by noticing each aspect of the respiratory system as the breath moves through. Our awareness begins to ride the breath. If you are interested in getting these blog updates without having to check back then subscribe at the right, you can unsubscribe at any time. Namaste, Michael.

Yogash citta-vrtti nirodhah

The second of Patanjali's sutras, and perhaps the one that all of the rest are built on. The idea that by recognizing the vrtti, by becoming witness, a new relationship to self is born. The selective awareness of thoughts. Yoga is then perhaps the ending of a limitation. The certainty of freedom.

Feldenkrais would say every action is reversible, we only think it is not.

Sweet Namaskar!

My parents were in one of my classes a few weeks ago, it was great to have them both there. A very happy and enjoyable experience for me, and very special too. The class focused on breathing, in particular Anuloma Viloma, and on an introduction to Uddiyana bandha and Surya Namaskar. They happened to be going to Mexico this past week, on the ocean, and as their week unfolded they found themselves on the beach, looking to the sun doing sun salutations together, all while bringing attention to Uddiyana bandha. My mom was so cute in telling me the story, and the joy that they shared was so evident. I am so thankful to share in their trip, and their experience, in this small way.

From my mom..."It was special doing the Surya Namaskar in such a beautiful place. It was fun feeling free to do it together on the edge of the shore. While walking, your father would get silly holding his bandhas—being stiff and upright, only moving his legs. But he could really see how it made a difference in his posture and his balance."

Surya Namaskara

Great class today. By incorporating the breath into the Surya Namaskara it becomes much more meditative for me, each posture moving into the next in a flow of inhale and exhale. I'm looking forward to sharing another breathing technique next week and some juicy assists. Namaste.

Expanding the boundaries of yoga or over the top? Feel free to comment.

An interesting article on what yoga might or might not be, some different takes on where it is in the culture at large in the US.

'When Cocolate and Chakras Collide', New York Times article.

Anuloma Viloma

So much fun teaching today, thank you for coming. We started with an introduction to Anuloma Viloma, alternate nostril breathing, and varied our practice trying different techniques. We also began an exploration of Surya Namaskara and Uddiyana bandha. There was time at the end for some pranassage, which I really miss doing more often. I'm looking forward to next week. Namaste.

Honor the Protectors

Teaching tonight brought up something for me that I want to share : guiding movement inquiries raises more questions than it answers. We all have different thresholds for pain and suffering in our lives. No two of us are the same. And what we have experienced is living with us now, on a physical as well as mental level. Physically these experiences are somaticized, stored in the body. The energy of experience went somewhere, and has helped to shape and support our selves - helping us to survive while also turning on like a switch thrown on the railroad. We head down that track. 'My tight hamstrings, my bad back, my stiff neck, my hips', we all hear these things and feel these things. But the first impulse, which may be to fix ourselves, doesn't honor the protectors. Now I am very curious, respectful and playful as I explore what I have built. I have learned that making new choices means litening with new ears. Becoming aware that my hamstrings hold much more than my torso allows me to move with sensitivity into that place. What IS in here? What isn't? I am learning to let the protectors know that I am thankful, and that now it is okay to let go.

Thank you!

I want to thank everyone for coming out to class this afternoon. It was moving! ha, and exciting to have a room full of people willing to explore yoga and movement inquiry. I am looking forward to the next 3 Sundays. Feel free to spread the word and have anyone drop me a line who might be interested. Namaste.

Breathing in awareness

As we read about and hear about the tragedy that has unfolded and is unfolding in Haiti our thoughts and prayers and love goes out to all those living in the area and to those with family and friends there. Taking a moment to return to ourselves when external circumstances beyond our control seem so disturbing can remind us of where we find our own strength to survive, and the strength to support when we can help. Finding our own breath, 'catching' our breath, brings awareness to the fact that we have been affected, are caring, and can breathe deeply while engaged with difficulty. Sometimes I get that feeling that says, 'Oh yeah, I haven't been breathing because I've been worried', or stressed or 'somewhere else' other than in my body with my breath. So take a moment today to simply turn off the radio or television, the computer and give yourself a chance to return to the depth of your breath for as long as it takes. You'll know. In this way we rejuvenate, and reengage, the very idea of who we are.

The Yoga Fire, free drop-in class!

The blog kickoff, old news now...thank you all for coming. (Hi all and welcome to The Yoga Fire. My name is Michael Manning, I am a student of yoga and a teacher. I want to invite you to free drop-in classes at the Watertown Healing Arts Center, at 22 Mt. Auburn St. in Watertown Square. The classes are donation only. All offerings are welcome, none is required. The space is beautiful, no need to bring anything but yourself and comfortable clothes.

The first class will be Sunday, January 17th at 4:30 and we will go until 6pm. The series will continue for the following 3 Sundays, January 24th, January 31st and February 7th, all from 4:30pm until 6pm.

The classes will be held in the Mt. Auburn studio and directions are located at the top right of the site, the link is below. Lots of parking and easy public transportation if desired:

Watertown Center for Healing Arts

Please use the email link to let me know if you plan to come, as space is limited. If you subscribe to the blog, at right, you will receive new blog posts by email, and updates to the schedule, and of course yoga-love. I will often share some thoughts about each class. If you would like to be on my yoga mailing list mention that in your email. Feel free to post a comment or share with friends who might be interested.

As my own yoga education and journey continues I hope to share with any and all who are interested the healing, energizing and spirited exploration that is yoga. In these classes we will be moving deeply and purposefully through movement inquiries, Yin yoga and breath work. We will be bringing attention and awareness to the introduction of asanas and postures, exploring our practice in a new, perhaps more subtle way. For people completely new to yoga, no previous experience is required, you will be cared for and nurtured as we all learn together.

Namaste,

Michael)

It's Official!

Class is on for the next 4 Sundays at 4:30, sign up by email, and subscribe for updates, and yoga love! Thanks, Michael.

Yoga and health

I am currently working with a local mental health organization on developing healing yoga classes as an addition to other client health services. It is exciting being a part of the planning process and it is encouraging that yoga is seen as an important addition to more tradtional approaches to well-being! The plan is for weekly classes, four 6-week sessions, for both men and women. So 24 weeks of yoga! The space is beautiful, accessible to public transit, and the class design is underway. I am looking forward to sharing Self-Awakening Yoga in addition to adapting classes to reach all levels of experience. I believe we should all be able to practice together, learning and being nurtured wherever we are in our own exploration of yoga.

Thoughts on teaching

In particular my interests are around bringing healing, rejuvenating yoga to people through slower movement, while bringing awareness and sensitivity to the body and to any injuries, discomfort etc. I believe the body and mind have the ability to heal themselves given the time and attention and nurturing possible in a yoga setting. A Yin yoga approach which incorporates Self-Awakening Yoga can be deeply healing. Generally 60 minutes to 90 minutes per class or session allows time to get into the practice. I am also familiar with many breathing techniques which can be used to energize and heat the body, as well as help deal with stress and anxiety. Whether in a meditative seated practice or implemented in a Vinyasa or Hatha practice, the breath becomes an important component of the yoga, and is, paradoxically perhaps, at the seat of the physical practice.