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.