I was so exhausted from all the inspiration this weekend that I almost skipped the group savasana led by David Swenson. For some reason, just as I was turning to exit the revolving door of the Hyatt onto the San Francisco streets, my feet veered right and I made my way to one last class.
I am glad I slithered down the stairs to the giant ballroom and wearily let my mat unroll one last time. David's southern accent and light humor soothed a room packed with tired yogis one last time, allowing us to share in a communal renewing of shared breath, soaking in the bombardment of knowledge, subtly rearranging our bodies, and finally reawakening us to a deep sense of peace.
My body is tired, but my spirit is renewed.
Saul David Raye was one of my favorite teachers of the conference. He has a glowing, calm presence and an ease in teaching that is without entirely without ego. We spent the first hour discussing as an introduction to the Life Bliss meditation and then went deeper into the five sheaths (body, mind, emotions, intuition and soul) and the transformation we would work on in five techniques for each area (chaotic breathing, humming, chakra awareness, un-clutching and chanting). It's difficult to explain a meditation without experiencing it, but the techniques truly worked to turn off the logical mind and create that nice "blue sky" spaciousness of the vipassana traditions. He also touched on ways the meditation has been used for somatic therapy and specifically in the treatment of depression. He said, above all it is not so much about what you do, but it is how you do it that matters. We ran out of time at the end, but he gave us a brief overview of the chakras and the key to unlocking each one. 1. fantasy...learn to be here now 2. fear...learn to trust your creative flow 3. worry/negativity...learn to have faith and trust yourself 4. need for approval...learn to cultivate self-love 5. jealousy...remind yourself of the scientific fact of your distinct uniqueness 6. ego/seriousness...teach yourself simplicity and sincerity 7. discontent...learn to be grateful for small miracles such as breath and sunrises
Much like the members of the panel, I don't know where to start with this one. Each member of the panel (Sianna Sherman, Rod Stryker and Sally Kempton) was packed with valuable knowledge and adept at sharing this information. Below are a few highlights, paraphrased because the good quotes were coming in such rapid timing.
Briefly, what is Tantra?
Any moment of awe, wonder, embrace.--Rod
Also: tapestry, weaving of spiritual experience into the fabric of everyday life, scientific system or method, freedom and the thread that unites all the aspects of yoga in one.
How does one become initiated or find a teacher?
Only he who becomes mad with the idea will truly see the light.--Rod
Wet log or dry log? The wet one cannot be lit, but the dry one is ready to be ignited.--Sianna
A teacher's role is to guide transformation, creating space for this kindling.--Sally
How does one do the work of tantra?
You can overcome any obstacle. You can achieve almost anything, if you can only learn to harness your power. --Rod
Dissolve the elements that restrict freedom...emotional indulgence, etc.--Sally
(As a follow up) Where is the best place to start?
Find a powerful mantra, and believe in it whole-heartedly. Mantras are very transformational.--Sally
This was my first class with Seane Corn, and it is easy to see why she is such a yoga superstar. Her sequencing is scientific and her personality is magnetic. Seane, with her distinctive east-coast accent, has a way of conveying large amounts of information in digestible segments: at the end of two hours I knew she grew up in and idyllic town in Jersey, why she was passionate about the environment (dumping in a local stream and high cancer rates in her town), all the causes she supports (Haiti, Aids, Africa and urban areas in the U.S.), that a whiff of styrofoam makes her homesick(her family owns a styrofoam plant), emotional eating patterns (sugar addiction and lonely cravings for perogies), religious background (Jewish mother and catholic father) and even a little about her digestion (lets just say traveling screws it up). I also know how to sequence a strong detox flow class (open, compress and twist), why I need to detox in the first place (chemicals, pollution, processed food), and I have a new diet plan to improve every realm of my life (more energy, less headaches, emotional stability). Also, after she explained some of the places she visits, I am curious to learn more about the Seva Challenge and Off the Mat, Into the World.
I was breathless after this one. Her passion and efficiency was inspiring.
"It takes a long time to play like yourself."--Miles Davis
Dana Flynn's super fun flow sequence was loosely based around this quote. She expertly weaved in philosophy and the symbolism of Shiva dancing on the dwarf, encouraging students to remember to embrace their bigger selves and flow with the play of the universe.
Dana taught a flow with warrior variations and Kali posed linked fluidly with Shakti and Shiva expressions and also gave students a chance to freestyle to her upbeat playlist. This class definitely got every one of us out of our minds and woke us up first thing on a Sunday morning.
Great class!
Like lots of people, I have a history of lower back ickiness. Sometimes, because I did something too intense in a yoga class, or even just bent down or slept the wrong way, I wind up with back pain that makes me feel like a granny, holding my lower back as I achingly rise up from or sit down into a chair, and unable to touch my toes (or do much of anything, really) in a yoga class.
But in recent years, I have found some great ways of unwinding that injury faster than than was formerly possible, particularly through Shadow Yoga practices and Gary Kraftsow's therapeutic teachings. Today, I learned more low back healing techniques in Tias Little's class, which was entirely about unwinding the lumbar spine and releasing compression from the sacrum.
Tias talked about how most of us have an imbalance in the sacrum, where one side is higher than the other because of muscular and fascial constriction. He showed us a number of variations of reclining, rolling twists done with the back to the floor, as well as some new techniques for downward dog in which we bring the sacrum close toward the legs to elongate the spine.
It was quite useful. On another note, I liked the first slide he showed (which I think was by accident) of him doing a headstand out on a very hard, rocky, high cliff. He admitted that he may have done a bit of spinal compression with the pose that he was still working out of his neck--but, all in all, he felt that it was worth it. It did look pretty awesome.
Today did not go quite as planned for me. I slept late, missed my train, forgot my notebook. Heck, I didn't even have time to wash my hair. By the time I got to the Hyatt, I was beyond flustered. Let's just say, I wasn't exactly in a peace, love, and yoga kind of mood.
When David Life came in to lead the class, I didn't know what the topic was. (I had been so rushed this morning, I didn't have time to review the schedule.) You know how people say the universe gives you exactly what you need when you need it? The class was appropriately called Time Warp. When you really think about it.. time doesn't matter so much. It's all relative, David said.
You know how some classes yoga that aren't going so well seem to drag on forever? And others that you're enjoying seem to finish up really quickly? Well, this one flew by for me and really brought me out of my funk. I had so much fun practicing a playful sequence that felt more like a dance (I just loved clapping along to the music in Warrior 1 and snapping in Warrior 2!)
Peace, love, and music are as relevant today as they were in the 60s; yoga is thousands of years old but it's wisdom lives on; and it doesn't really matter if I get to the conference at 8 or 10 am.
Amazing.
 This year, Yoga Journal worked in collaboration with the Green Yoga Association to greenify the conference. One of the biggest initiatives was making sure that there was less paper waste from all of the fliers and brochures people sprinkle around the halls of the Hyatt. To address this problem, the Green Yoga Association set up a wonderful wall (see left)of organized flier holders that you've all probably seen when you enter (it's right on the first floor).  If teachers or businesses want to flier, they pay the GYA a $20 deposit and secure one of the flier slots for their business. Then, at the end of the conference, they get the $20 deposit back when they collect all of their left over printed materials. (If they don't, the GYA ships it back to them using their deposit.) What this means is that nothing gets thrown away! It also means a way better organization of materials, and an improved promotional presence for all involved. In all: a win-win. Learn more about the GYA at its Website: www.greenyoga.org.
As I was sitting in Sally Kempton's class today, which focused on karmic relationships, I overheard two women talking behind me about how this year's conference felt more introspective than those of years past. They were excited about all of the philosophical and meditative offerings, which I also really appreciated this year, from Sally Kempton to Kate Holcombe to Christopher Tompkins. And they were also talking about the general tone of the conference feeling more spiritual. Anyone else feel some extra special spiritual ju-ju going on?
Master teacher Aadil Palkhivala opened his class on twists and backbends by saying "they have nothing to do with yoga." What he means is that asana, which he says is "not important but utterly necessary," is the first step in the yogic path towards freedom and enlightenment. We do asana because the body is the vehicle for the spirit.
What can I say about Aadil? I love him as a teacher and human being. He is meticulous, hilarious, kind, and precise. He is a big, burly, laughing redwood tree of a Buddha, so grounded in his practice that his spirit can fly big and free.
We did some intense twisting, including a supine variation of Matsyendrasana (hello quads!), and explored how to keep the vertebrae between S1 and T5 safe in backbends.
Here are some tidbits from the Master himself, in no particular order:
"Our practice must serve our individual dharma."
"Through the consequences of our past actions, we can make decisions about our present."
"There is great comfort in mediocrity. I urge you to rise above that to find your potential."
"You are creating your body of tomorrow now."
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