What’s Next on the Mat

Yoga Dublin, Ranelegh studio

December 28-30th Set your Intentions Workshop, 3 hours, 3 days to unwind from 2008 and be inspired for 2009!

www.yogadublin.com for all the info!

January 10th Master Class ‘Happy Feet’

January 11th Intro To Anusara Yoga

 

THE Yoga Room

January 17th Yoga Workshop

www.yoga.ie

 

 

Samadhi Yoga Studio, Drogheda

January 18th Yoga Workshop

www.samadhi.ie

 

 

I look forward to seeing you all soon on the yoga mat, 

With light and Love,
Tahnee 

 

 

Level 2 Anusara Yoga Teacher Training in Boston

Wow, that’s all I can really say about this workshop. It is truly amazing and I feel so blessed to be here. There is about 160 of us from around the world, Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Germany, China and more and I am the only one from Ireland. There is also 5 pregnant ladies and one adorable 7 month old girl who joins her Mom on the mat during the workshop. The room is diverse in age, race, shape, size and form yet each one of us attending feels the connection to the energy being created and shared at this Level 2 Anusara Yoga Teacher Training. 

 The Boston Kula has done a tremendous job with decorating the stage full of radiant Autumn colors. There are vibrant orange pumpkins, a basket of apples and beautiful flowers and statues, I especially love the Nataraja. It is full of Shri and wonderful to gaze upon.  The room is ablaze with colors of mats and clothes and the energy is high. I have to say that I’m loving seeing old friends and especially making new ones.

The purpose of this workshop is to deepen one’s understanding of the Anusara teaching method. John Friend, the founder of Anusara truly makes is seem so effortless. And in some ways it really is, but we seem to limit ourselves and deem ourselves unworthy to teach or be able to convey it with the same Grace as John. What we have to remember, is to come back to the Source and know deep within, each one of us is so worthy and full of goodness. We practice Anusara yoga for the simple reason, it makes us feel good about ourselves and the world around us. It is a blessing to be here and I hope to absorb as much as I can to share it back home with others.

What a week! What a buffet of teachings, information, contemplations, this workshop was so full that I found the capacity to eat diminish. My body and mind needed time to absorb the download of data from John. As this was his last teacher training, it was 35 years of study giving to us in one week, like a giant bolt of lightening in a cracker boom and a bang! Straight in and no messing!   

Honestly I was overwhelmed at times,  ”you want me to teach this? in the same effortless and graceful way that you do?!” I felt my limitations arise often but what I realized that this is the best possible work for me, to discover more of my potential and to assist others in discovering their unlimited potential. Due to my situation as a child, I spent many years burying my emotions and moving away from explaining how I was feeling. This workshop a way for me to being to open more, share what I was feeling in such a way that my students can relate. Because at the end of the day we all have stuff, issues that we work on and this is a great attribute of the mind, creating this so we can go deeper beyond to see the beauty of truth that lies within our hearts. There is such goodness there and the more we continue to come to our yoga mats and remember the goodness there, the better this life we are living is going to get. 

For those that know me well,  you know that I don’t show emotions very often and as you can see from the picture with John, I was emotional. I was feeling so moved by the week and everything I was soaking in.  I was so happy to feel that shift, knowing I’m moving deeper into the capacity of my heart to feel and grow. I am so grateful for John Friend as my teacher, who supports my growth and to the practice of Anusara yoga, which just keeps giving and giving. 

Here are some photos of the 160+ of us and John and I…..it was an amazing experience and I want to also send shout-outs to Diana of www.namastenutrition.net who opened her home and her fridge to me that week. Also to the Vancouver Kula, Leanne, Christine and Sjanie, 3 amazing spirits I was so happy to connect with again.

Lots happening over the next few months…..stay close and on your yoga mat and I look forward to seeing you soon!

With Love,

Tahnee

Finding Freedom Within our Hips!!!!

Having tight hips and hamstrings is common amongst more people. How many people do you know head to the gym or go out for a run and ‘forget’ to stretch? Many of us are guilty of it but if we can incorporate these few postures weekly or before any exercise we may find our recovery time faster and that we have more available energy in our legs.

This simple postures done before any activity or on their own will help you to find the freedom within your hips so you can take it to the next level. Remember, do what you can and BREATHE!

Sequence for HappiHips!

Lunge

Have the hands in line with the middle of the front foot. Ensure that the knee isn’t moving forward of the front ankle. The back thigh and hamstring will want to align with gravity so resist that and move the inner thigh up towards the sky. With the breath, draw towards the mid-line of the body and with you exhale, extend the energy out. Soften the upper spine between the shoulder blades, melting the chest towards the earth.  Ensure to do both sides. 

Lunge with knee of floor

Begin with lunge, release knee to floor. Place hands on hips and breathe deep into back body and rise to upright position. Tuck back toes under and with inhale draw energy towards mid-line of body. Scoop tailbone towards the front knee as you lift chest and breathe!

Stage 2

Lift knee and clasp foot with same side hand. Scoop tailbone again and feel the burn in front thigh, enjoy. Breathe and soften. Ensure that the front body isn’t overly arched and that there is a fullness in the back body. Take a few breaths and do the other side.

This one might make you want to vomit!!

Take your right left and place the knee as close to the wall as you can and run your foot up the wall. Place your left foot on the floor at a 90 degree angle. Pause and feel the breath. For a few of you, this may be as far as you can go today so be patient and keep the breath flowing. Try not to be stiff but rather let the breath flow and soften any resistance to the opening occurring.  Don’t worry it gets better.

Stage 2

  

Keep the breathe full in the back body and rise up. Scoop the tail bone and say hello to the front of your thighs! 

 Move the hips over slightly, scoop the tailbone under again and keep moving the back body toward the wall with your breath.  Love it!

Stage 3

 

Take it to the next level! Rise the arms up on the inhale and let the best part of you shine with enjoyment and bliss, finding freedom in your hips!!!! 

 The best way to open our hips is to keep working on them. Your practice and dedication will ensure they open, but please note our hips will open when they are ready and not when we think they should be ready. Never force your body to go beyond what it’s capable of; as you breath, feel and let your body tell you when you can take it deeper. 

With Blessings,

Tahnee

 

Why Men Should Do Yoga

On my recent trip to Los Angeles I attended a three hour practice with Anusara teacher Todd Tesen. There were about 9 of us in the room and 4 were men. The men were of various shapes and sizes but each one of them had an amazingly beautiful practice. They examplified poetry in motion and are a  testament to why I think men should practice yoga. Not only because I think it’s incredibly sexy (which I admit I do find it that) but rather its the presence they hold then they practice.  They are graceful, vibrant,  and powerful with their actions yet able to show a sweetness, a surrendering to their strength. Yogi men move with the intention of embracing more yet at the same time, allowing more of themselves to shine out simply for the joy.  These men had a willingness to play with the body, to discover more of their potential and accept their limitations and to do it  for no other reason, then its damn fun. 

 

  Men seem to be afraid of Yoga, perhaps because so many women have embraced it that there is hestiation to try it. Do they think it’s too easy?   Try a practice with Todd Tesen and one will soon change their mind about that!  One excuse I hear often from men is that they are not flexible enough to do yoga, but that’s the whole point! We come to yoga because we want to become more flexible and stronger, we want more out of lives and this is a great way to achieve it.  A few male yogi friends have told me that they started to practice yoga because they ‘heard lots of hot chicks were doing it’ and while that is true( many of them have stayed with the practice because of what it has given them. A place that is free of judge-ments, a place where they could increase their physical ability as well as their mental focus and concentration. They got strong, increased their flexibilty and improved thier health and checked out ‘hot chicks’! What more can a man ask for?!

 

Yogi men move with an awareness of not only their physical form but also of their inner self. Yogi men exude an inner stillness and confidence that is magical to see. To watch a male yogi have complete control over their body, someone like Todd, who is so incredibly graceful with how he moves his body, yet maintain a humility and a sensivity that shows how powerful he is. One only has to take a class from him to see how he loves the practice of yoga and how  the practice has served him in ways beyond description. John Friend is another one to watch if given the opportunity, he rarely demonstrates in a workshop and only once have I had the pleasure of seeing him in action. Truly magnicificant! So calm  yet the waves of energy flowing off him, inspiring all those around him. I have to admit that I love being in the presence of any Anusara Yoga teacher, male or female because they are simply inspiring. This photo is of Brandon who practiced beside me at Todd’s workshop in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. He offered it out beautifully while I, well, it’s still a work in progress. 

 

 

Men should practice yoga because it will enrich your life, Yoga makes everything better. I love men that do yoga, they are clued in and cool. So get off the couch, bench, chair and just do it!!!  If you have any questions about where to attend classes or how to start, I will be more then happy to help.  Just get out there and I will see you soon on the Yoga mat!!!