 |
|
|
The term 'sadhana' in Sanskrit means practice. Committing to practicing yoga on a regular, if not daily, basis, reaps immeasurable benefits. Students often tell me that they can't commit to an hour a day- they simply don't have the time. In such cases, I recommend deciding the time frame you can realistically commit to each day, even if it is just five minutes. Much better to do this than to practice for three hours once a month. Experts say build a routine and you are more likely to stick to it. I agree. After a while, missing a practice begins to feel like neglecting to brush your teeth or shower daily. It just doesn't feel right if you don't do it.
"The young, the old, the extremely aged, even the sick and the infirm obtain perfection in Yoga by constant practice. Success will follow him who practices, not him who practices not. Success in yoga is not obtained by the mere theoretical reading of sacred texts. Success is not obtained by wearing the dress of a yogi or sanyasi (a recluse), nor by talking about it. Constant practice alone is the secret of success." --Hatha Yoga Pradipika (ch.1, v. 64-6)
... by the way, don't belittle the value of doing flossingyourteethasana. Anything that you do mindfully and with your full attention is yoga.
Practice staying fully present in each moment. Whether you are driving, washing the dishes or doing a Sun Salutation- be fully engaged in the task at hand.Back to Top
Students often tell me that they feel overwhelmed with the number of yoga styles out there and don't know where to start. To this I say Yoga is highly individual and completely personal. No two yogis are alike therefore there is no one correct practice for everybody. Each of us have different goals, different lifestyles and we all come to yoga for different reasons. So try one and if it isn't the right fit, try another. There is a yoga for everyone.
Back to TopMy teaching style is an eclectic mix with a foundation that is based upon my yogic upbringing and a strong emphasis on spirituality. My philosophy is not to be limited by style but to be guided by the needs of the person in front of me. I recall the words of Judith Lasater who used to say, 'Teach the person, not the asana' and I have always been guided by this teaching.
My classes therefore embody the spirit of Viniyoga (adapting yoga to the individual) and it is not uncommon to see people doing many different versions of the same pose or even a completely different pose to everyone else in the class. For some this might mean doing Restorative or Therapeutic Poses (I am a certified Relax and Renew
® Trainer) for others, a vigorous Vinyasa Flow. There is no right or wrong pose in my opinion. There is only what is working for each person at that particular moment in their journey. I am passionately attentive to building strong and supple bodies through an emphasis on healthy alignment and my background in anatomy and physiology as well as studies of Anusara Yoga gives my class this focus.But reigning supreme is my conviction is that the purpose of Yoga and Meditation is to connect us with who we really are. I use the word Yoga to mean Hatha Yoga but it is really (the way that I teach and perceive it) a meditation in motion. When I refer to Meditation, I am referring to a sitting meditation. Actively being still. Both of these are singularly powerful... practiced in conjunction, each supports and enhances the practice of the other, transforming our bodies, expanding our minds, opening up the heart and strengthening our core, our inner warrior, in order to fulfill our highest potential.
Back to TopThe literal definition of Namaste is 'I bow to you' (Nama means bow, as means I, te means you). The gesture is both one of deep respect as well as an acknowledgement of divinity in ourselves and in others. It is most often performed by bringing the hands together in front of the heart. At the same time we bow the head and (often) close the eyes as this helps the mind turn inwards and surrender to the divine within our hearts.
When I perform Namaste I feel humility, all sense of ego dissolves and deep respect and gratitude arises. When performed before or at the end of class, I feel a powerful connection, a meeting of hearts between myself and my students. When done with sincerity it is a beautiful meditation in its own right. Back to Top
I am available for private
sessions, group classes, as well as workshops and seminars. Please contact the office at
If you are just starting out, here are some guidelines which can start you off. As you gain confidence, feel free to experiment by trying out variations or playing around with sequence orders. Keep it fun.
Back to TopWe are busy- let's face it. We juggle work, family, relationships and social lives. How do you find time to fit in a daily yoga/meditation practice?
One of the key things needed is interest. Enjoying the process is paramount. If you're doing it because it is supposed to be good for you then it is going to be challenging to stay motivated when you don't have sensational experiences all the time (and you won't). If you cultivate an enjoyment of entering into the self regardless of the outcome, it becomes that much easier to get onto the mat.However, even seasoned practitioners have difficulty from time to time. If you have been practicing yoga for a while, whether on your own or by taking a class, you will be familiar with that feeling of negativity that arises on occasion. Here are a few of my favorites along with suggestions on how to address them:
Leena's Guidance:
Instead of viewing the accomplishment of the asanas or the number of minutes you spend in meditation as the goal, make getting on the mat regardless of what you do the the achievement. I can't stress how important this. The fact that you did it anyway is such a leap forward. It doesn't matter that you didn't kick up a sweat (and whoever said that more sweat makes you more spiritual?). You don't need to have blinding visions of light and consciousness at every sit. When I'm feeling lazy, I get on the mat and say to myself, 'I'll just hang over in Uttanasana (standing forward bend) or hang out in Balasana' (childs pose). That's it. I have no plans to do anything else. I almost always end up continuing but if I don't, so what? I don't judge myself. I did something and I feel good because of it.
Leena's Guidance:
If you have fifteen minutes, you have time to do yoga. Let go of the judgement that fifteen minutes is not enough. Instead, commit to doing just three poses. Even in five minutes, you can do a few rounds of Surya Namaskar, or lie in Savasana or meditate.
Release the need to do everything full-on or perfect. Be present with what is appropriate for you. Erase the concept of 'shoulds' in your mind and it will set you free.
If this does not ring true, ask yourself what is stopping you and then take a moment to pause and listen inwardly for the answer. You may be surprised at what arises.
When we first start a practice that is new it is normal to feel challenged. Stretching and strengthening various parts of the body leads to better health and an increased feeling of well-being. As we face the limitations of our physical body, the main practice then becomes being attentive to the manner in which we respond to these limitations. Even though to the outside eye we are doing what appears to be yoga, if the reality is that we are fighting ourselves, getting angry, going into a place where we are hurting ourselves, then we are not doing yoga.
If this is you, ask yourself what it is you are doing that puts you in pain. Are you pushing yourself too far? Are you comparing yourself to someone else or to what you were able to do in the past? Do you strive for a picture perfect pose or are you able to embrace modifications when necessary? Do you catch yourself grunting or holding your breath during practice? The word yoga means to unite and there is no harmony if we are pushing ourselves into a pose to gratify the ego.
The pose itself is not the main deal, how we approach it is.
Therefore, the more you practice listening inwards, the more you will feel guided to do what feels right rather than striving to perform the 'difficult' asana that looks good. Yoga is about not avoiding so even if you are working on re-wiring the habitual tendencies of the body, the purpose is still to work with mindfulness, compassion and a sensitivity to your needs at that specific present moment. Be alert to your body's 'bad pain' signals and back off with grace. Be ever present to your physical and mental 'edges'. Know that this subtle place (the place where you feel you are working at your maximum without pushing beyond your present limitations) is in a constant flux depending on how your body is feeling, what you have eaten, whether you have had a good night's sleep, the time of day you practice and many other variables. Therefore do not force your body to go the same distance each time. Sometimes you can go the extra mile, sometimes your body just doesn't want to. The trick is to listen inwards and then act upon your inner wisdom. This is advancing in yoga.Working on yourself at this level is not an easy process so yes, in this way, it can be seen as 'hard'. However, you will discover it to be the quickest and most fruitful way to achieving this state of union. This is why Hatha Yoga is often referred to as a meditation in motion.
Our aim in practicing is then is to be steady and confortable in the posture. Patanjali states it beautifully in the Yoga Sutras as sthiram sukham asanam which means exactly this. Comfort doesn't always mean easy- but you will feel at ease in your discomfort because you are still aware on another level that your discomfort is an avenue for you to see your Inner Self with more clarity. Back to TopAttaining and maintaining the inner state of an
enlightened being is realizing, experiencing and holding the awareness of your
divinity and letting all unfold from this place of understanding.
At its highest, hatha yoga is a spiritual path that leads you to this
awareness.
We practice the asanas to purify strengthen and tone the body, improve the flow
of internal energy and pave the way to enter meditation. Yet performing the
poses themselves are deeply meditative in their own right. We learn much about
our character, attitude and thought patterns through how we approach the asanas.
How we face obstacles and challenges on the mat are directly related to how we
deal with difficulties in our daily life. The practice of hatha yoga moves us
towards wholeness so if we hold the thought that we are getting in touch with
the radiance in our heart, then the various asanas by way of our individual
creative expression become a way to express joy, to know ourselves and to serve
God.
Please check the Schedule page of this website for current open classes, courses and event information. If you have a special request, contact Leena directly.