Episode 76: Vasudeva as December Lights, 75 Min Level 2 Yoga Class

A sweetly vibrant house down the street from my home

Casting Light From the Inside Out

I have to be very honest, winter is very challenging for me. I do my best to see all the goodness, I really do, but when winter begins, man does it kick my spiritual booty!

I don’t often have time to sit and meditate on my themes for my classes. I’m working on being more efficient in my themeing and conveying more of the Anusara Principles of Alignment ™ and Philosophy more clearly, but as I’m sure some of you teachers know this requires work, time and study. The clearer and simpler a teacher’s theme is the more skilled and experienced they are (at least that’s my observation). It’s kinda like watching a great dancer, you only see the beauty of the art, you get pulled into the dance itself, not the specifics of the dance, the steps, how many hours the artist had to rehearse in order to make it seamless…

I’m getting more and more adept at allowing nature to guide me into what I teach. This generally happens during my walk to teach my yoga class. I’ve learned to let go of ‘what I have to do’ and simply allow myself to listen and to drink inspiration freely.

Thank God for Christmas lights!

They were so beautiful! They showed me things I hadn’t seen in a while, streets that I walk often shifted and shone in a different way. I was more intrigued by what was going inside the homes that the outside. I saw beautifully decorated houses whose windows shone so bright. I saw shapes and figures all inviting me to step deeper into the homes, into the warmth of the inner dwelling. I realized that the holiday lights where put there in a very strategic way, they weren’t just randomly placed, they weren’t merely thrown out, but carefully thought out and generally speaking, placed in ways that would enhance each individual dwelling. The specificity of the way the light was cast out was a clear reflection of the owners time, thought and commitment. I saw that in order to place these lights optimally the dweller must first be willing to search the closets, the basements, the attics, to get the boxes out and choose what to cast out. What makes this so glorious is that all this beauty wouldn’t be seen if it wasn’t for the shorter and darker days of winter.

The winter serves to take us deeper into the closet of the self so that we may bring out the decorations of light and enhance the world around us by the way in which we choose to cast our own individual light out into the world.

Vasudeva

vasu = dwelling place deva = the light

The nature of the universe is how you choose to pour the light of consciousness into the dwelling place of the self. As you do this oh how it shines brightly all around, showing off those mighty beautiful lights. How do you choose to create a dwelling place of light?

Yes, peeps, this are the thoughts that jump in my head as I walk 🙂

Hope you guys enjoy!

If you would like to support this podcast, how about buying the iPhone App? $3.99, not bad 😀
Also, like I mention in the show, Click here to find out a few other options to support the podcast

Love the Feedback!

• email me- eyogaclass (at) gmail (dot) com

• leave me a message- 310 651 6238 (I’d love to play you guys on the episodes! Plus you can promote your stuff that way!)

• or comment on this blog!

Other ways to connect with me:

This week’s class is a reflection of the theme that I touched on above. It’s a Level 2 Yoga Class and it was recorded on November 30th 2009 at Yoga Matrika 🙂

The Yoga Asana Sequence

Downward Facing Dog/Open Hip/Square Hip

Lunge/Modified Parsvotanasana

Uttanasana

Uttanasana/Ardha Uttanasana x 3

Vinyasa

Surya Namaskar x 2

Parsvakonasana

Vira II

Shins in Thighs Out

Widening Parsvotanasana

Vinyasa

Salabhasana with arms interlaced behind the back

Trikonasana

Vashistasana variation with knee on the floor

Ardha Chandrasana

Pigeon

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

Urdhva Dhanurasana

Easy Supine Twist

Knees to Chest

Episode 75: Immune System Relaxation and Imagery-Strengthen for the Flu Season!

Or just use the player below 🙂

http://cdn1.libsyn.com/scy/75_Episode_75__Immune_System_Relaxation_and_Imagery-Get_Through_the_Flu_Season.mp3?nvb=20091216181745&nva=20091217182745&t=087c1f9244ee4b3f2bee5

Hello All!

Here’s a new one towards the end of the year!

I know I know! It so has been forever. I will now officially stop apologizing. Here’s all I have to say about my lack of posts…Hunter. If you don’t know who that is..that’s my 14 month old daughter.

Anyway,

This week’s episode came about from a lot of your requests for some more meditation/relaxation type stuff. I decided to put this little imagery relaxation to strengthen the immune system as a little treat to get you through the flu season! How about them apples?

The music that you hear in the background is by the talented Vic Hennegan off his CD Desert God and the song is called Gaya.The whole thing runs about about 32 minutes all together. Give it a go and let me know your thoughts!

Oh and I’m already editing episode 76! and guess what…a level 2 class 🙂 yipeee! That should be out before the new year, I promise!

You know Elsie’s yoga class live and unplugged podcast is brought to you by the elsie’s yoga class podcast app. Now why would you want this  iPhone app? Number 1 accessibility. In version 1.2.1 these are the nifty things that you can do with the app. You have all the episodes at your fingertips at all times. You can stream the episodes at your choosing whenever you want without taking up any extra memory on your device. One new functionality with the app is that if you happen to shut of the phone, or someone calls you…or your baby calls you…the app remembers where you left off! how cool is that? so you can continue with your practice right where you left off!

This won’t work too well with the relaxation stuff… but I digress. 😉

Another functionality that I found awesome will benefit those of you that happen to own the iPod Touch. So how about when you know you are going to be away from any wifi hotspots or maybe you don’t get service somewhere, such as on an airplane and you want to do one of my meditation episodes? You can now star any episodes that you enjoy the most, so that you can quickly access them AND you can then download the episode that you want quickly so that when you don’t have a connection you can have it with you! I thought that was pretty sweet 🙂

Anyway, if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch please consider buying the app! It’s only $3.99 and it would be a GREAT gift for a fellow yogi 🙂 plus it does support this podcast.

ok,

enough!

thoughts and feedback: eyogaclass(at)gmail.com or call 310 651 6238! hugs and kisses all!

Episode 74: Sankalpa, 90 min Level 1 Yoga Class

Ready to delve into the depth of your Heart? Yikes!

One of my all times favorite themes to teach is Sankalpa, or Intention. This isn’t a general intention, or a teeny tiny intention but your heart’s truest wish, your deepest heart’s desire embedded in the richness of your Self. I know that when I was first offered the opportunity to meditate, truly ponder my sankalpa, it began to shift me very deeply. In fact it was the mere asking of ‘what is my intention’ that facilitated living a more fulfilled and truthful life. It informs my life every day, and now it becomes even more important as it helps guide me to be a better mother. I also must be honest. The power of one’s own Sankalpa is very powerful, and at times requires a great shift from us if we are going to align with it fully. I felt my Sankalpa, I knew it in my cells and for many years I chose to ‘ignore’ it’s fullness, for lack of better words. I was not ready to truly embrace what living in my truth would require of me. It took me years, plus the help of those around me who knew me and loved me enough to require me to be absolutely honest with myself 😀

I recorded this week’s yoga class at Yoga Matrika in Squirrel Hill, where I’ve had the opportunity to teach series classes, all with a connecting theme. This specific series was called “Yoga With Grace”, just a very welcoming way in which to offer yoga classes that were beyond just the yoga poses, beyond the asana. I had the opportunity to teach more from the Heart, from a deeper place of basic Anusara philosophy, tapping deeper into the Source.

Although this class is a very basic Level 1 yoga class, with a lot of basic alignment and instruction, the theme is always one that we can always step deeper into. If you are feeling a bit down, disconnected, lost, possibly need a tune up, do this yoga class 🙂 Oh, and how about a piece of paper? and pen? Just to write down some thoughts, especially during the opening meditation. Let me know how it goes….

PS

If you would like to support this podcast, how about buying the iPhone App? $3.99, not bad 😀 Click here to go directly to the iTunes Music Store.

Also, like I mention in the show, Click here to find out a few other options to support the podcast

Love the Feedback!

• email me- eyogaclass (at) gmail (dot) com

• leave me a message- 310 651 6238 (I’d love to play you guys on the episodes! Plus you can promote your stuff that way!)

• or comment on this blog!

Other ways to connect with me:

This Week’s Yoga Class is a Level 1 Basic Class

The Sequence of Yoga Poses in the Class is:

Hands and Knees

Downward Facing Dog

Hands and Knees

Downward Facing Dog/Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana/Straight Legged Lunge/Straightening the Front Leg

Downward Facing Dog

Repeat sequence above on other leg

Uttanasana/Ardha Uttanasana x 3

Hands on Hips, Shoulders up/Tadasana

Arm Salutes

Half Sun Salute

Lunge with knee on the floor

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Lunge with knee on the floor

Uttanasana/Ardha Uttanasana

Tadasana

High Lunge

Downward Facing Dog

Modified Plank with Knees on the Floor

Modified Salabhasana with hands off the floor

Cobra Pose

Downward Facing Dog/Tadasana

Arms interlaced behind the Back

Vinyasa

Child’s Pose

Facing to the Side

Parvakonasana

Prasaritapadotanasana

Vira II

Tree Pose

Sitting Poses (grab a blanket)

Agni Stambasana

Sukhasana Twist

Apanasana

Savasana

Episode 73: Skillfully Attune to Know Deeper, A 75 Min Level 2 Yoga Class

How Do We Truly Know Anything?

Man am I always a mess! Believe me, I do try to be neat…and tidy…and organized…but somehow I always end up with fantastic chaos all around me 😉 The worst part about this is that I was like this BEFORE I welcomed my beloved baby, so now with her in the picture my chaos(mess) has escalated to new heights. The good thing is that as the mess escalates my need to find clarity also grows and thus came the theme for this week’s yoga class 🙂

My teacher John guided me to recognize how one truly begins to know something. How do we acquire knowledge? Deep knowledge? How do we align with anything? You soften, feel and attune. We attune to the Highest. We attune by getting close to that which we wish to know. This learning is not a head thing, but a heart thing as we truly begin to ‘vibe’ with and resonate with each other at a much deeper level 😀 Listen and practice to the class and see if you can begin to attune to something bigger!

Finally something other than a Level 1 basic yoga class! This week’s class is a Level 2 Yoga Class, not quite an ‘advanced’ yoga class, but a bit faster in pace and a warmer practice. You will find within this class preparations for more advanced postures such as Urdhva Prasarita Ekapadasana into Handstand (Standing Splits into Handstand) and Archback (maybe even a drop back *yikes*). If you are a seasoned asana practitioner and are acquainted with these poses, please feel free to rock it in the comfort of your own sacred practice space 😉

Love the Feedback!

• email me- eyogaclass (at) gmail (dot) com

• leave me a message- 310 651 6238 (I’d love to play you guys on the episodes! Plus you can promote your stuff that way!)

• or comment on this blog!

Other ways to connect with me:

Connect with the Yoga Podcast Community
Elsie’s Yoga Kula on Facebook Join us!

This week’s Yoga Class Online is a Level 2 Yoga Class

http://cdn2.libsyn.com/scy/73_Episode_73__Skillfully_Attune_to_Know_Deeper_A_75_Min_Level_2_Yoga_Class.mp3?nvb=20090809025652&nva=20090810030652&t=03eed956c1db92c1be9da

This class was recorded at Yoga Matrika on June 15, 2009

The Sequence of Yoga Poses in this week’s Yoga Podcast Episode is:

Downward Facing Dog

Straight Legged Lunge/Straightening Front Leg (hamstring stretch)

Vinyasa

Uttanasana

Urdhva Hastasana (Moving into standing arch back)

Vinyasa

Crescent Pose

Vinyasa

Tadasana

Urdhva Hastasana (Moving into standing arch back)

Vinyasa

Parsvakonasana Prep

Parsvakonasana Full

Uttanasana

Handstand Prep through Standing Splits

Malasana

runner’s stretch or hanumanasana prep

Deep Lunge on Forearms

Twisting Parsvakonasana

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana Prep

Pigeon with Twist

Modified Child’s Pose on Forearms

Lunge with Thigh Stretch

Plank on tops of the feet

Vinyasa

Balasana

Urdhva Dhanurasana x 3

Supine Twist

Knees to Chest

Savasana