On Saturday, Sarah Darval and I headed to Telluride to take a workshop with Tim Miller at Telluride Yoga Center. One of the owners, Sharon Caplan had taught some classes for me last May while I was teaching my retreat in Colombia. I had not gotten to meet her before I left but she stayed here with my mom and just became part of our yoga family. So, this was a chance to study with a great Ashtanga master, meet Sharon, get to know the Telluride Yoga Center, and even see my cousins who live there. I had a lot going on in CB and considered cancelling the trip, but knew there was some reason, even beyond all that, that I was supposed to go.
Sarah and I pull into town and I call my cousin while we cross the street. He says, “Hey, are you wearing pink pants?” So he is the first person we see when we pull in and he walks us to the studio. We came just in time for the Kirtan (call and response chanting the names of God), which is my favorite thing ever (besides surfing and lovemaking, teaching, and being with my kids, not necessarily in that order). Now there are hundreds of chants out there, but Tim just happens to chant all my favorites. We talked about Hanuman and Neem Karoli Baba (my guru) the whole time, and even chanted the Hanuman Chaleesa. That might not make sense to all of you, but it was very auspicious for me. I knew it was my guru’s way of saying, “I got your back Monica, and you’re on the right track…”
Knowing that Tim is a bhakti (devotional yogi) like me really made his teaching special. My teacher Shiva Rea will always be my living guru and teaches what I am most connected with, so sometimes I don’t get that much from other teachers. This was very special though and his class was infused with more stories of Hanuman, (strength, courage, fighting for justice, accomplishing great feats and miracles due to his faith and devotion) and a soulful class that was inspiring in a way that only a bhakti and yoga master can convey.
I got to know Sharon in 2 days and know that she is a soul sister and friend for life. I got to see my cousin and his wife in a stage of their life requiring great courage, strength, faith, and devotion, (sound familiar?) and know that I am a part of this beautiful tapestry as well. I know YOGA FOR THE PEACEFUL will begin a beautiful relationship with TYC and many good things will come of our studios collaborating.
Synchronicity at it’s best.
We left Sunday, feeling full and had great conversation on the way back home. Wise twenty something year old Sarah and me. Full of Hanuman strength, courage, devotion, and faith. Knowing I can accomplish feats and miracles for love, justice, and peace.
We all can.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
With Love in my Heart
Last Thursday I got some bad news that really threw me for a loop. On top of that, I have some pretty big stuff going on in my personal life so it was a tough blow. I tried everything in my yoga toolbox to get back into alignment and I when I had to teach my 5:30 class that day I think I did ok, but definitely didn’t feel like I delivered my best. I stuffed my emotions and just pushed through it.
On Friday morning I woke up and again did the things I know to do to get my strength and courage back up. It was getting close to time to teach my 9am class and I was feeling pretty weak. All I could think of to do was either send people home, have someone else teach it, or show up with tears in my eyes and teach from my heart whatever I could. I thought shit; you own this place girl, be a role model and just do it. So, I lit some candles before anyone got there, sat at my alter and cried while I chanted the Hanuman Chaleesa with Krishna Das. I heard people starting to arrive and lay their mats down but knew all I could do was chant and let the tears flow. So I did. And they all just came in and started chanting with me. I knew I was baring my soul but also knew I was blessed to be receiving their love and strength by showing them my need for support. The tears eventually diminished and I slowly turned around to face them. Instantly I saw my family of students with so much love in their eyes. Some new, some old, some souls sisters, even a soul brother I just met who gave me his Shakti strength. More tears. So finally I stood up and taught a class mostly in silence specifically to raise not only my vibration, but also theirs. We raised the roof up, did kriyas and namaskars and asanas and mudras and handstands and backbends and partner work and massaged and ended with Sufi dancing and falling down for Savasana. Rolled over and sat in a circle with smiles on our faces and gratitude for the alchemy that had occurred during the class. Together, we are so powerful, and our love can heal and soothe and awaken and pacify and strengthen and move us out and into wonderlands despite the earthly conditions of our lives.
It took courage for me to teach that class, to be so ME, so raw, so vulnerable. But I could do it because I am so loved and because this studio is so special, people can come here (even me) and be REAL. We can laugh and cry and dream and BE. I learned it is good to be human when you have friends. It is good to show people life is not always easy. It is good to let yourself be loved and supported and held. It is good because now they all know they can come to class when the going is rough and let themselves be supported by me next time.
We all left there with a luminous heart and a radiant spirit, and I knew there’d be magic in store for us all that day.
Thank you to all those who were there with me on that day. And thanks to all who are always there for others in this kind of way. Its good to be human. Show all your colors, and let yourself be held.
On Friday morning I woke up and again did the things I know to do to get my strength and courage back up. It was getting close to time to teach my 9am class and I was feeling pretty weak. All I could think of to do was either send people home, have someone else teach it, or show up with tears in my eyes and teach from my heart whatever I could. I thought shit; you own this place girl, be a role model and just do it. So, I lit some candles before anyone got there, sat at my alter and cried while I chanted the Hanuman Chaleesa with Krishna Das. I heard people starting to arrive and lay their mats down but knew all I could do was chant and let the tears flow. So I did. And they all just came in and started chanting with me. I knew I was baring my soul but also knew I was blessed to be receiving their love and strength by showing them my need for support. The tears eventually diminished and I slowly turned around to face them. Instantly I saw my family of students with so much love in their eyes. Some new, some old, some souls sisters, even a soul brother I just met who gave me his Shakti strength. More tears. So finally I stood up and taught a class mostly in silence specifically to raise not only my vibration, but also theirs. We raised the roof up, did kriyas and namaskars and asanas and mudras and handstands and backbends and partner work and massaged and ended with Sufi dancing and falling down for Savasana. Rolled over and sat in a circle with smiles on our faces and gratitude for the alchemy that had occurred during the class. Together, we are so powerful, and our love can heal and soothe and awaken and pacify and strengthen and move us out and into wonderlands despite the earthly conditions of our lives.
It took courage for me to teach that class, to be so ME, so raw, so vulnerable. But I could do it because I am so loved and because this studio is so special, people can come here (even me) and be REAL. We can laugh and cry and dream and BE. I learned it is good to be human when you have friends. It is good to show people life is not always easy. It is good to let yourself be loved and supported and held. It is good because now they all know they can come to class when the going is rough and let themselves be supported by me next time.
We all left there with a luminous heart and a radiant spirit, and I knew there’d be magic in store for us all that day.
Thank you to all those who were there with me on that day. And thanks to all who are always there for others in this kind of way. Its good to be human. Show all your colors, and let yourself be held.
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