Yay, for Queer Yoga!

Yoga, in its best sense, is for everybody who wants to engage in it, but we all know that some environments are more welcoming than others.

One of the more tasty-beautiful human beings I know, A.J. Durand is offering a Queer Yoga Workshop every Saturday in July.

Something I’ve learned from A.J.—a walking gender education machine—is that Queer is way more than gay. And, according to a recent article at Elephant Journal:

“queer” means only failing to fit expected categories or definitions.

I really appreciate this explanation. A couple of weeks ago in conversation with A.J. I remember saying that I don’t identify as “queer” but I definitely identify as “weird”. I am a unique human being and don’t see myself as fitting into “expected categories or definitions.”

More info about the Queer Yoga Workshop at Yogaview from A.J’s facebook note:


Hi there,

My Yoga Workshop for queer, transgender, and gender non-conforming folks is primed and ready to go.
It's EVERY SATURDAY IN JULY! 2-3:15PM - 75minutes of FIERCENESS in your life once a week in July!!
$20 per session or $75 for all 5 - $100 gets you a sweet yoga mat!

Please register at www.yogaview.com (CLICK ON THE WORKSHOPS/EVENTS TAB) - here is a direct link to the workshops page.
This workshop is happening at Yogaview’s Division St. studio at 1745 W Division St, Chicago IL 60622

I love teaching and practicing yoga - it's not wierd or freaky, or only intended for middle class moms in pink spandex - I want you to try this and I want you to see how much this practice has majorly shifted my identity and given me a safer space everyday to handle my queerness in a not-so-queer world. I want to share with you

I'm not promoting this through the studio, so if you have contacts, friends, colleagues, mistresses, misters, organizations whose members or clients could benefit from this please highlight and paste this into an email for your finest. I'd like to keep doing this -but I need this one to be successful to prove that there is a community out there who is interested.

Give it a shot. I won't disappoint you. You deserve this invaluable asset in your life.

Much Love,
AJ

FAQ's

I've never done yoga before, can I come?
YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES! THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU! We won't be putting our legs behind our heads (this time) But don't feel like you need to be a "flexible person" to do this.

Do I have to sign up for all five sessions?
WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY THE BEST DEAL - BUT NO - YOU CAN COME TO AS FEW AS ONE OR ALL FIVE - just take a look at the descriptions and see what you think.

I don't have a yoga mat?
WHAT???!!?? JK - that's fine we have mats at the studio - there is an option to register for all five sessions with a GREAT tapas mat that you can keep forever and I recommend having your own for the future.

Is this religious?
ARE YOU KIDDING?? HAVE YOU MET ME? Although I will say, this is a MINDBODY practice and not a workout...

What do I wear?
WHATEVER MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU! This is a safe space and I am specifically trying to market directly to folks who will help support this environment. No Becky's and Stacie's plus strollers here. It's totally radical queer. But in the event that you need to bring your kid - just make sure that someone can tend to them - I HAVE A WORKSHOP TO RUN!

HA HA! Let's have fun!

Passionate Yoga Talk

There is a unique event happening at Yogaview in Chicago this weekend that I’d like to tell you about. I think that it’ll be pretty interesting. Definitely worth checking out if you like to think about wider implications of yoga practice, and how we might want to consider using our minds to make the world a better place.

Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad, authors of ‘The Passionate Mind Revisited’ and other books are offering a series of talks about relationships and spirituality. They have interesting things to say about power dynamics in relationships in their recent book, so I’m looking forward to hearing what they have to say in person.

I see it as a way to exercise my mental muscle. I’m not going because I’m some kind of Joel and Diana convert or anything (I don't think that that's what they're going for anyway). I’m just interested in hearing what they have to offer. Perhaps my understanding might grow. I think there’s a little something hidden in going to hear a “spiritual” talk, like perhaps an anticipation (or fear) of being “converted” or something (that might keep some people away unnecessarily).

I think it could be helpful to address spiritual concerns without the umbrella of religion. It’s definitely a touchy subject, but for the fearlessly caring and interested people around, this could prove to be an intriguing discussion. We’ll see…

Read more about this exciting event (there is also an option to sign up) here:

An Evolutionary Approach to Spirituality and Yoga: Talks by Joel Kramer & Diana Alstad November 5-7 at Yogaview.

I mean, how often do we really talk openly about this stuff? Maybe I'll see you there. I hope it's fun.

Warrior Cool

A workshop offering at yogaview with Brooks, Saturday March 6, 2010 from 2 to 4:30pm.

Centered and Calm, Ready for Action

A plenty vigorous afternoon of yoga practice that is sure to include some Warrior poses. We will refine the actions and alignment of these, and explore what the warrior poses might help us embody. The story of Virabhadras, the warrior who's name the poses bear, will be told during the class.

Just as the physical positions of the yoga poses help us to release from the confinement of muscular tension, so also do the mental forms created through words have the potential to help us release from the bounds of mental tension. The sanskrit names (like "Virabhadrasana") of the poses connect to a rich mythological story, which can support psychological awareness, just as the poses cultivate physiological awareness along with strength, steadiness, and flexibility.

Come and enjoy an experience that is intended to affect physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects, resulting in a lighter, more relaxed and centered sense of self. Clearheaded and calm, ready for the tasks at hand.

Appropriate for all levels of yogis.

I am so excited to offer this warrior and warrior goddess-inspired session to yogis at Yogaview! Thanks everybody! The class will include elements of invigorating vinyasa flow, stabilizing alignment, and creatively clarifying language.

Link to PDF of the flyer.

Call yogaview to register: 773.342.9642

Notes about Yesterday

Yesterday I spent the day with yoga teacher and teacher trainer, Mitchel Bleier for his workshop at yogaview, and I am grateful for the experience.

In the afternoon practice, he taught a class using what I perceived to be a forceful voice. It worked for me because it got me moving. Also in the morning session he had reminded the group that the word "Hatha" in Hatha Yoga means "to force" so from this rooted understanding it made sense.

In yoga I do want to change something, and shake it up! In particular what I am working to shift is my relationship with myself. My self when regarded as my soul, or who I am, is without question because it is the mystery. What is suspect is my interpretation of myself, especially when I am trying too hard to tame my nature and hide my love.

What was so great about the afternoon practice is that the "force" of the practice brought me to a really open place. I felt insecurities and sadness that I've gotten pretty good at hiding from coming up midway through the backbend sequence. And then after doing tons of backbends we sat (actually lying on our backs) there for a while in that place while Mitchel said some words about the experience that included the word "doubt" which made me chuckle involuntarily. Noticing my reaction, I thought about how I do doubt my loving feelings. It was a realization.

I am left with a sense of how important it might be to be with that lovely openness--and not to counter-pose too soon. When I release that backbend high too soon with a comforting forward fold I might be missing out on an opportunity to experience myself in this expanded way.

I also admired the way Mitchel had the courage to hold the class for these kinds of moments. In my own teaching sometimes I think I might feel too much of an obligation to keep things moving and the group entertained when really each individual has so much to offer for their own experience of themselves.

New Yogaview! And a Day to Honor Ashtanga.

I am very excited to be on the schedule at Yogaview/Division opening Tuesday May 26th! My classes will be at 4 pm on Mondays and Fridays. I hope you can check out my classes there sometime. For more info stay tuned into the Yogaview Web site.

It's heartening to walk into a freshly painted, beautiful yoga space, and to imagine the classes that might happen there and the people who might come through. And I imagine myself learning more through teaching at this new venue. There is a lovely fountain burbling in the back courtyard. Love it!

Strangely enough on this very same day that I was dreaming a yoga future, there was also the passing of an important teacher of yoga, the founder of Ashtanga yoga: Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. I feel sad as I connect with these thoughts. He was 93 years old. I never met him, and yet through his teaching he has affected so many people, including friends, and including myself. His Primary Series gave me enough to chew on for a long time. I learned so much about myself as I hit my mat to practice this way. It was the first time that I trusted a process that I didn't understand. Even when I got injured I trusted that my body was working something out. This trusting initiated radical transformation in myself that is still in process. I am so grateful for the lessons learned in the sweaty yoga dojo. Blessings to all the people who have been affected by this practice!

So on this day that I was dreamily projecting forward, I also found myself rooting deeply into my past, and thankfully I spent many moments in the present. Wonderful life! 

The Ashtanga Mirror

In an Ashtanga yoga class you are doing the same poses in the same sequence every time. It is the Primary Series. So rather than the poses or sequence being different with each practice, the difference is you. As you put yourself into the same poses/sequence every day you can begin to detect differences in your body’s day-to-day energy. You might feel fatigued on one day and king or queen of the world the next. You will notice differences in flexibility. On one day you will break all previous records with a super-deep practice, and then the next day you might feel tight in the same set of poses. The breath is easy on one day, and hard the next. On one day you might feel in love with yourself and your practice, and on another be totally self-loathing. When the sequence is set as in the Primary Series, it highlights the changes that we go through every day. Ashtanga yoga becomes a mirror of observation for our selves.

Last week I took Bill Shapleigh’s Tuesday night Ashtanga class at YogaView. His class is done according to the traditional way. He calls out the poses, counts out the breaths, and adjusts students (with permission). There is almost no instruction about the poses. It is not a class for beginners, but it is a great class for those with experience who want to practice Ashtanga. This time I felt like a totally different person from the last time I had practiced the Series. In the last few years I haven’t been as committed to this style of practice as I once was, but I do appreciate it’s ability to tell me how I’m doing relative to the last time I did it. This time I felt more confident and sure in my body. A friend who was doing Ashtanga around the time I started yoga said she remembered when I first started how my legs would shake like a newly born foal in down dog. And now my legs feel sure like they are drinking healing sap from the earth. I was strong during the practice, and strong after it.

The biggest difference I noticed after doing Ashtanga yoga for a few years is that I began to feel comfortable in my own skin. The healing balm of yoga worked. Then, after three-plus years of this practice, my emotions became difficult to process. I was going through a difficult break-up and making the first real decisions of my life. I eventually slowed down my practice, studied Iyengar yoga, and started to teach yoga. And now I have come into a better balance with myself spiritually and emotionally. And I still like Ashtanga!