"Yoga Extras" Resources for the week of: Fri 5/19-5/23

I am creating these "Yoga Extras" blog posts for those of you resonating with the public yoga classes & Yoga Teacher Trainings I am leading. Inside of these blog posts you will find extra resources that support our weekly class theme. The weekly classes I guide are themed according to the season & collective energetic "weather"--This is of course influenced by many things; for instance, not only national and global events but how masses of people are feeling about and reacting to those events. It is also influenced by space weather (see spaceweather.com) & the current movement/placement of celestial bodies ie: the sun, moon, planets, nodes, stars, etc. You can find me teaching currently at Black Swan Yoga (North-Anderson) in Austin, TX. I am on the schedule as "Erika K." Mention this webpage for a free class.

The physical focus for class this week:

Large (courageous=heart) expression of a heart/front body opener. Gotta open the whole body to get there.

The philosophical focus/theme for this week:

BE STILL & TRUST ie: RELAX (LITERALLY. Thank you, Michael Singer) in moments of fear, emotional pain, uncertainty (our peak poe this week for instance).

...It's New moon in Taurus time: letting go of old mental emotional physical habits (brave & vulnerable) to create space for the new & abundant.

To ride on the coat tails of last week’s theme of "The Beginner’s Mind," I heard an interesting interpretation of the biblical phrase: Be still & Know. “Be still,” in context, I recently heard can be interpreted as meaning to “Put down,” as in “Put down your weapons,” or to stop fighting (mentally, verbally, in deed) the natural flow of life. “Know,” translates into meaning to TRUST that a greater story is unfolding in our lives; an Otherworldly Intelligence has our most benevolent interest at heart (stop even fighting this idea…if you are not living the ultimate message of what "A Course in Miracles," for example, refers to as a state of inner peace (an internal state free of conflict/weapons) set aside your “beliefs”: ie: a thought you simply keep on thinking, and try something new. Or, choose insanity: thinking, doing, feeling the same way over & over and expecting different results. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Put down your damn weapons (the pen: our thoughts & words, mightier than the sword it’s been said, eh?). Drop thought. Relax & release. Literally. This is BIG wisdom in a disguise. Pleaaaase see Michael Singer's podcast below for a full explanation! If you fight, you’ll get thrown down. Literally. Examples:

1. Indoor skydiving--keep your body rigid and you slam into a side wall 2. Can’t be overly-rigid when horse or bull riding or the ride will hurt/break your neck. 3. Slacklining (tense body=fall). I work & speak with lots of folks throughout the week. A theme I am picking up: trying to break the habit of being oneself. The small scared lower case "s" "self." I have big admiration for these people. I myself have had a focus on this for many years (breaking big terrible addictions/habits to “smaller” ones I don’t know that I find any easier).

This week's reading:

Diamonds form under pressure.

Olives are pressed to release oil.

Seeds grow in darkness.

Whenever you feel crushed,

under pressure,

pressed,

or in darkness,

you're in a powerful place

of transformation

and transmutation. When a new, perhaps scary-seeming force presents itself In The moment, like a martial arts fighter might tell you, soften to allow the blow to move through, rather than break you. Again, please see the resources on this page. Some of these have helped me tremendously and are dear favorites.

In gratitude & service. <3

ek

AND...

You can find MUSIC FROM CLASS this week by clicking the image below: