I haven’t met a single YB yogi or yogini who isn’t a huge fan of the insanely talented, warm, focused, and hilarious Edna Barr. I recently moved to San Francisco, and have been dropping in at different studios just for fun, and NO ONE holds a candle to my beloved Yoga Belly. The instructors here have spoiled me, I’m not just impressed with any old yoga class anymore!

Anyway, as many of you know, we will be hosting an upcoming teacher training this spring. I was curious about it myself, so I asked Edna to sit down and answer a few questions about what the training will cover. Here are her insightful answers, and I thought I’d pass them on to anyone who’s still on the fence…

-What will this class cover/involve?

This course is accredited with Yoga Alliance so we have to cover everything they require in order to register with them. Yoga philosophy, history, all eight limbs in detail.

-Who would benefit from taking this class/training?

Anyone & everyone! I have been on staff teaching this course internationally for the past 3 years & I fall in love with it over & over again. Even though we are covering the same information; it is so profound each & every time. Information ministers to us on different levels during different times in our lives. It is always an awakening as well as a reminder of what is truly important.

-What will a typical class look like?

The course is broken down into 3 hour sessions that cover a variety of topics so there no real “typical” session. The teaching style is repetitive so we will do a daily review of Sanskrit to ensure memory retention. Other than that, each session will be a new experience!

-How did you train to become a yoga teacher?

Haha! I have never heard this question before but the more I think about it, the more I feel that they should be a very common question. Yes, we absolutely must train to become a yoga teacher… There is a misconception that once you complete your YTT course; one is ready to start teaching but nobody trained them to teach…
You train by first being taught how to teach. Then you practice, get feedback, practice some more & get more feedback. A teacher training course is a safe space to learn, practice, get feedback & sharpen your skills before making a public debut. Too many courses out there do not prepare you for this. Rather they leave you to debut as an amateur instead of a professionally trained instructor. Becoming a teacher takes time & experience, but one should have a solid foundation from which to build upon.

-What do you hope to share with your students?

Wow, everything. I hope to share yoga… The full meaning, the full experience, the complete satisfaction & joy of yoga. That samadhi, even a tiny morsel of it, is wondrous.

-How is this program different from other teacher training programs out there?

Well, I mentioned some of it above where this course will prepare you to actually teach. There is a difference between an instructor who calls out cues & instructs and a teacher who can asses the room & actually teach. Once again it takes time & experience to learn to teach but standing in front of a crowded room reciting a generic script is not going to help anyone deepen their practice. I have students who have been practicing much longer than I have; never would I assume that I could teach them something but I do have the ability to assist them to go deeper.

This course is different because it is completely interactive. We don’t just give you a reading assignment & hope that you fully comprehend it. We come back & discuss it, find out if & how it resonated with you. We don’t want you to simply memorize the philosophy; we want you to understand how to live by it & make this life the best it can be.

We spend each day going over hands on assists & adjustments. I was speaking to the owner of an award winning studio last week & she said mentioned that they don’t teach assist in their YTT because of the liability. I responded by saying, “well even more so the importance to teach instructors the proper way to assist.” She nodded her head in agreement…

-How is teaching this program different from teaching your regular asana classes?

Oh gosh, another fantastic question! When we teach an asana class that is what we are there for. Too many teachers insist on cramming every element of yoga into a 60-90 minute class. Many students also expect a full yogic experience in this same amount of time. The truth is none of it can be rushed… If you want to learn philosophy, study it. If you want to learn meditation, study it. If you want to learn more pranayama techniques, study it. You come to an asana class to learn asana. Sure we practice a bit of pranayama but only as it pertains to the asana. Perhaps we throw in some calming, restorative breathing or meditation techniques but to think that 5 minutes of pranayama, 10 min warm up for asana, 30 minutes of asana, 5 minutes of restorative, 5 minutes meditation & 5 minutes of savasana with the instructor constantly talking you through each minute is a complete yogic experience… *sigh* That isn’t it…

More often than not people say that my classes are not spiritual enough which makes me laugh because I have practiced yoga my entire life. I grew up with meditation, the wonder & awe of life, spent a lot of time in the Hare Krishna temple as a teenager. Just because I don’t feel the need to preach one thing in the classroom & turn around & live another doesn’t mean that I do not live in a constant state of truth & bliss… How I can teach others to obtain this same bliss? I cannot… It is their journey to learn to surrender, seek knowledge & accept.

This is what I truly hope to share in this course. I hope that it will change everyone who attends the way that it has changed me. I have always been able to see the divine light in others but it took a lot of work to finally see the divine light in myself.

We’re spreading the love, y’all. Our signature yoga class, Rainbow Flow, is hitting the road to other studios in the Bay Area.  The first workshop in this new series will be a donation based workshop at Groove Yoga.

Spread the word, and spread the love!

Rainbow Flow Yoga Workshop – Benefit for GenEq

March 10, 2012
2:00pm
Rainbow Flow is designed to celebrate diversity and the LGBT community, where Yoga meets Lady YoGa-Ga. Rainbow Flow puts a clubby spin on yoga complete with dance music for the club kids at heart. Be prepared to sweat and have a ball. All levels are welcome.

This workshop is designed to bring the LGBT yoga community and supporters together to benefit LGBT causes while strengthening and conditioning our bodies and minds. All proceeds from the donation based Rainbow Flow workshop at Groove Yoga on March 10, 2012 will be donated to GenEq Berkeley, CA.

Donation based to benefit GenEq (Suggested donation is $20)
Groove Yoga 2240 Oxford Street  Berkeley, CA 94720

If you’re an experienced yogi or have always wanted to try it there will be something for you at this workshop. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us @ (510) 280-5092

A few weeks ago, Will and Aaron took us on a team training excursion: aerial yoga in Campbell. I envisioned Cirque du Soleil type trapeze stuff, I was all about it. The second we arrived in the studio, Stasha and I just started playing… getting a running start, we’d swing in the hammocks, flip ourselves upside down, and take boat pose just inches off the ground. It was SUPER fun.

Once class started, we all felt pretty awesome. Like, even though we’ve never done this before, we can totally do aerial. We’re yogis. We can pretty much do anything. When the instructor complimented our bulldog-style breathing (“I love a class that can breathe!”) we felt pretty confident. We used the hammock like a strap to open our shoulders, which felt amazing. We did chaturangas with our feet in the hammocks, which made them infinitely harder. I, being the accidental-yoga-slacker that I am (I always forget to engage SOMETHING that should be engaged, even when I focus), felt my core fire up way more than normal. Perhaps this is what it should always feel like? Hmmm. What a thought.

After warming up, it became clear that aerial yoga is not just fun, it’s HARD. We started doing the upside down stuff. This is where it got a little difficult for me. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE going upside down, but I hardly ever do it for more than a minute at a time. In aerial, we spent a lot of time upside down, and it was significantly more than I was used to. I’d have to come up and let the blood drain back into my body, I’d have to shimmy around and get the hammock to sit more comfortably on my hips, I’d have to raise my hands above my head to get them to stop feeling so puffy. I turned red as a tomato, and sometimes forgot to breathe, and wondered if I was the only one in the room who felt like my head was possibly going to explode.

Then I saw Stasha totally rocking her upside-down-dancer’s pose. It was beautiful, she was hanging upside down, her face calm, both feet gripping her foot behind her, letting the motions of the hammock twirl her gently in the sunlight. It was just stunning.

“Wow,” I said, “That looks awesome. How can you even do that?”

“You can do it too,” she said, “Your foot is right there, just grab it.”

I flailed my fingers around a little, felt something warm and chubby, and felt a tingling sensation somewhere just above my head.

“Holy shit,” I said, “There’s my foot!”

And right then, I felt like I “got” it.

Maybe I had to give up my dream of Cirque du Soleil (s’ok, Loran’s going to go represent us all) but I did learn something from my afternoon upside down. Literally, it came in the form of my foot: I can never quite reach my foot in eka pada rajakapotasana, but for some reason, I could when I was inverted. More importantly, it was fun to play around, and to step outside my comfort zone, push the boundaries of the familiar. It gave me a sense of heightened awareness, a freedom to fool around, and permission to say Umm, that feels weird.

So. Would I trade my vinyasa flow for aerial? Probably not. Would I do it again? Definitely. Was it awesome to bond with the very people who make Yoga Belly the amazing, quirky studio that it is? Umm, yeah, because anytime your ass is spinning around upside down offering all your neighbors a panoramic view, it, well, builds some trust. Did I learn that defamiliarizing something you love can open up possibilities that you didn’t know existed? Absolutely.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why it’s important to, on occasion, step outside of your comfort zone. Even if it’s just with a baby toe. Like, a baby toe, in your hand, right above your head, which is upside down.

Let’s just all pretend that made sense.

Oh, and savasana in a giant hammock-cocoon thing? Best. Thing. Ever.

Yoga is, by nature, an accepting, less “judgy” practice than a lot of other fitness regimes (for lack of a better word), but there is still an unspoken code of conduct. Here are some bits of yoga etiquette that I wish I had known early on:

Before Class:

-Arrive on Time: If you must be late, (it happens), be quick and discreet about it. If you’re going to be more than 10-15 minutes late, you may opt to come back another day.

-Turn off your Cell Phone: For reals. Nothing takes you out of your hard earned savasana like the “I’m a Slave for You” ring tone going on in your neighbor’s purse.

-Take Off Your Shoes: No shoes in the studio! Gross!

-Don’t Be a Mirror Hog: Be aware of mirror space, and try to avoid plunking down right in front of a fellow yogi, or otherwise hogging the mirror. All you need is a few inches.

During Class:

-Modify Appropriately: Be the master of your own practice, and by all means challenge yourself. Make the practice yours.

-Don’t Fall on Anyone: That said, please don’t fall on anyone. It’s dangerous and not at all cool.

After Class:

-Try Not To Leave Early: But if you must, don’t interrupt savasana for others.

-Thank Your Instructor: Respect your instructor by thanking her for guiding you through the poses.

-Give everyone sloppy kisses, heartfelt good byes, and loving booty-smacks!

Heh. That last one is optional. Maybe after you’ve had a few weeks of bonding with other yogis : )

And now, in case for some reason you ever need to change in public, here’s a guide on how to change clothes after practicing yoga without inflicting on God and everyone the sight of your splayed buttocks.

Good morning lovelies,

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween / Dia de los Muertos, and are enjoying the weather that is finally starting to feel like fall. I am reveling in the joy and soreness of another private lesson with Edna, which I’ll post about later, it was a game changer. There are so many little things to remember in yoga, and though they seem little, they feel pretty significant when you actually dial everything down. But, more on that later, my calves are still twitching.

Anyway, if you’re going to be around this weekend, check out the Vibhasana yoga conference put on by Almaden Yoga… looks pretty cool!

For those of you looking for a little more adventure a little further from home, Edna still has two spots left on her Kauai Yoga Retreat… there will be lots of yoga, meditation, outdoor excursions (snorkeling, hiking, beach combing!) and… wait for it… a PRIVATE CHEF. Yes, please! If you’re interested, sign up online or talk to her after class.

xoxo,

T

Good morning lovelies,

For those of you who haven’t yet had the chance to bear-hug our yoga-mama, Edna’s back! Yaaaaay! And, because apparently she can’t function without getting on an airplane every few weeks, she’s hosting an aMAzing looking retreat next month. Rumor has it there are still a few spots open, so get it while the gettin’s good… a week of yoga, meditation, a private chef, snorkeling and beach adventures… yes, please!

If you’re interested, holler at your girl or send her an email at edna.barr@gmail.com

Happy Monday yogis and yoginis! I am grudgingly back from Puerto Vallarta, a little tanner, with a little cold, and with a yoga-less week behind me… I’m jonesing for my yoga fix, hard core.

Luckily, we’ve got a ton of events coming up! For those of you who missed the email (or just need to hear things twice):

Date Night

Date night returns on Friday, October 21! Led by Edna and Rodney, couples can enjoy an evening learning partner yoga and Thai massage. Space will be limited to 12 couples. For more details or to book your spots here.

Thriller Night

Come join us for our very first Halloween bash on Saturday October 29th. The theme this year: Fitness-wear of the ages. Please come in your most fabulous retro fitness wear (leg warmers, head bands, tights, you name it) and let’s get the party started. Please bring your drink of choice and we’ll provide munchies. Party goes from 8-11pm… Bring a friend like Jane Fonda or Richard Simmons.

You guys.

A little bird told me there’s a place in Mountain View that has slurpee-style sangria. We know it’s not at Cascal. But we. Must. Find.

I think it’s high time for a Yoga Belly happy hour. So, I propose some serious business: Let’s put together a task force. A fearless, valiant team of yogis and yoginis who can brave the MV bar scene and report back with their findings.

Your mission: Find this elusive slurpee sangria.

Then: We sweat it out, YB style, and then go get drinks. And then summer is complete.

Any takers?

xoxo,

T

Image courtesy of liquorologist.com

I received an email from the lovely Laurel Thompson, an ER nurse in Palo Alto who just started practicing at YB. She asked the same questions I was asking a few months ago, so I thought I’d share them on here in case there are any other newbies out there who are curious.

Disclaimer: I am a beginning yogini in EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. If you have serious questions, please direct them to one of our capable, accomplished instructors… I can only speak for myself, and I don’t even have a solid idea of where my hip flexors are, so take all this with a grain of salt.

Anyway, take it away Laurel!

“Today was invigorating, I sweat more than I thought I ever could and was very impressed with William and how friendly everyone was. I will be returning to yoga belly! From a beginners stand point what do you recommend? Would you stick to the yoga belly classes for awhile then move to the power yoga? How many days should I aim to go to a class. Let me know what you think I would love any suggestions!!!”

So, here are my thoughts.

Personally, I find the Yoga Belly classes to be just as much as a cardio workout as the power classes, though the power classes do a little more in terms of technique, and it helps to be familiar with some of the basic poses because we move through them really quickly in power. I don’t think the power classes are HARDER (some people do, but I still sweat my brains out in Yoga Belly), but instructors will say things like, “Come up into Warrior 2″ instead of “Turn your front foot to face the mirror, square your hips to the parking lot, relax the shoulders, tuck the pelvis under, find the 50/50 weight distribution, and gaze over your middle finger.” You’ll also do a bunch of funky poses in power that you don’t really do in YB. Most importantly, you’ll see all levels in all the classes, and poses can be modified to meet your particular needs on that particular day. So, don’t be intimidated, just go to class and make it about YOUR practice.

If I were you, I’d try both and see which you like! I started with the Hour of Power classes, did a few YB classes, and then worked up to the 75 and 90 minute classes a few months later. 90 minutes of power is still pretty intense for me, and I still go to the YB classes, especially if I need to revisit my foundation.

As far as how often you should practice, that all depends on your goals, schedule, and other fitness interests. Since I don’t do much else besides yoga and snowboarding in the winter, I try to go 4-5 times a week, which means I usually go 3-4 times a week. If I’m too sore to hold a pose for longer than a split second, I take a day off, but I find if I go less than 3 times a week I don’t really progress the way I’d like to. Also, when I first started practicing, I was doing some running and kickboxing at the gym. However, I found that I ended up with tight muscles, and it really affected my yoga. I decided to take 6 months off from everything else and just focus on yoga, and that really worked for me. So much, in fact, that a year later I’m just now incorporating running and other activities into my routine : ) But, that’s just me! Some people come once or twice a week because they do triathlons and circuit training or just work 60 hours a week, so everyone’s different. You’ll find a stride that works for you.

So, welcome new yogis and yoginis! We hope you’re settling in and getting to know this wacky, sweaty, sexy new family of yours. If you have any other questions that a yoga newbie can answer, please feel free to ask! For the hard stuff, there’s a yoga mama or yoga daddy out there who will be much more helpful than myself.

Coming soon: Yoga Gear for Newbies: Mats, Towels, and Tanks, Oh My! A Collection of Gear For Every Budget

Image courtesy of lululemon.com

On the significance of dots and other tiny things:

“”What would happen if a plane dropped you in the middle of the Sahara Desert and you picked up a single grain of sand… and moved it one millimeter?”… I said, “I dunno, what?” [Dad] said, “Think about it.” I thought about it. “I guess I would have moved a grain of sand.” “Which would mean?” “Which would mean I moved a grain of sand?” “Which would mean you changed the Sahara.” “So?” “So? So the Sahara is a vast desert. And it has existed for millions of years. And you changed it!… If you hadn’t done it, human history would have been one way…” “Uh huh?” “But you did do it, so…?” I stood on the bed, pointed my fingers at the fake stars, and screamed: “I changed the course of human history!”"       — From Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

*

By now, you’ve all seen them: the striking pointillist pieces adorning the walls of Yoga Belly. The prayer hands, the rippling abdomens, and my personal favorite, the hands in pockets. The first time I saw them, I didn’t realize they were entirely composed of dots: I just saw them and thought, “Whoa.” But then I looked more closely, and recognized the painstaking craft and care behind each image, and the way the artist combined something as simple and unremarkable as a dot into a compelling, arresting visual experience. One seemingly insignificant dot plays an important role in the overall composition… such an apt metaphor, especially in a yoga studio.

For those of you who haven’t read the bio, Kyle Taylor is the man behind the art. You’ll find him in the studio on Wednesday nights, getting his Warrior 2 on with Will and the YB family. He is largely self-taught: beyond a survey course in high school, he hasn’t had any formal training. Coulda fooled me!

Kyle grew up in the midwest and now studies Cellular and Molecular Biology at Stanford University. His friend introduced him to yoga, and he relished the chance to get out of the lab and onto the mat. Since then, he has (no surprise!) fallen in love with the YB community, and yoga has increasingly informed his art (Hence, the Namaste hands).

When it comes to his art, Kyle is both a lover of challenge and a glutton for punishment. While explaining the inspiration behind his work, he says, “The hands on the ‘Namaste’ piece annoyed me, so I decided to do a piece that highlighted the parts that I didn’t like – hands.” While Kyle sometimes approaches his art with a dogged sense of determination (that no doubt bolsters his academic career), art also offers him an escape. Both art and yoga grant him a brief respite from the helter-skelter of life at Stanford, and a glimpse of possibility beyond Things We Can See and Things We Can Measure and Things We Can Explain. “[Art] helps me access my more emotional and irrational side,” he says, “Something that I find incredibly challenging to do.”

Art has also offered Kyle insight. Because it forces him to tune in to his intuition and emotions, it also helped him recognize and respect his sexuality. “This is basically how I came out to myself,” he says, “and dealing with those issues is the motivation for this burst of artwork.  Long story short, I started with a couple of self-portraits.  I had always thought I’d wanted to be other guys, that I wasn’t ‘man’ enough.  The self-portraits were a silent scream saying no I am man enough.  From there, I explored wanting to be with other guys, and then just wanting to connect with people instead of being (largely) alone.”

So yes, Yoga Belly, meet Kyle. A fantastic artist, budding scientist, and humble yogi. The best part is, besides his obvious talents, he’s so down to earth. When I asked him about his art and “aesthetic” (sorry, I’m a writer, I can’t help it), he said, “Ma’am, I’m from rural Kansas, I’m not sure I’ve ever thought about my aesthetic.” Well. How ’bout them apples.